Ramen For A Loner

From the oval window of the Shinkansen to Tokyo via Shin Osaka station, I silently said goodbye to Hiroshima. The rain finally poured, and my heart was sinking. The city taught me that human’s altered ego on war has its lethal cost. The town was once flattened out on the ground, Burnt, beaten and defeated. On the other hand, I also learned how humanity brought men together to rise from the ground. Resilience, love and hope is indeed the power of all. The darkest days of the past are never forgotten. The city was rebuilt as the wound slowly healed. Hence Hiroshima has grown up to be the city with a reluctant charm.

Having been travelling for almost three weeks, the first thing I learned from Japan was patience, discipline, and mindfulness towards others. I began to be hesitant to use the word Japan because the word itself doesn’t correlate well with the nation’s history, culture and tradition. I personally prefer ‘Nihon’, the sun of the east, as it corresponds with the true identity of the nation.

Back in Tokyo for another four days, I was once again lost in the endless multi-level floors of Shinjuku station. I was on my way to Ameya Yokocho market. Soon I got out of Okachimachi station, just before my eyes, Just like watching the film’ blade runner’ on a giant 3D screen — without those fancy flying cars, of course — I was greeted by a cinematic hustle and bustle street market. Trains…