Visiting Japan

By Masako Yamada

Although I've been living in the States since I was four months old, I haven't completely been isolated from the contemporary Japanese lifestyle. This is partly because I've always spoken Japanese at home, and partly because I attended Japanese schools in the States. Another big factor that has helped me maintain my sense of "Japaneseness" is visiting friends and relatives in Japan every few years. They keep me rooted to this place that I have never really been a part of.

Every two or three years, my father's company pays our travel costs for an ichiji-kikoku (temporary visit home). Most Japanese firms offer this perk to their overseas employees. The typical Japanese family in New York goes back more often than my family does, though, and they must often pay their own way. In the past 10 years, I've spent a total of only two months in Japan.

When I arrived at Shinjuku Station this time, I felt confident and ready to take on the world. I've gotten a good feel for New York, Boston and Chicago _ all cosmopolitan cities _ so I thought I could easily handleTokyo.

Unfortunately, after changing trains in Shinjuku and getting off at another stop, I realized I was lost. I couldn't even find a public phone to call my friends, Yoko and Akiko Yoshida. They were waiting for a call before picking me up.

Finally I approached a random passerby and asked him if he knew where a public phone might be, but he said, "No." I told him I was visiting from the States so everything was new to me. I suddenly felt like a country bumpkin, but I realized it's better to be humble sometimes. And it paid off, because the man then handed me his cellular phone and told me how to use it.

I had never used a cellular phone before _ in the States it seems that they are mere toys for the "nouveau riche." But it allowed me to call the Yoshidas and arrive safely at their house. I was struck by the man's kindness, and so was everyone else I've told this story to.

After spending a fun night at the Yoshida's, I went to my paternal grandparents' house in suburban Tokyo. I hadn't seen any of my relatives in three years, so it was nice to be pampered by them. My grandparents are not getting any younger either, and I guess they were enjoying the rare chance to see me.

I have really been trying my best to be a good guest for my various hosts on this trip. Unlike my past trips to Japan, I didn't come with my three brothers and mother this year. Instead, I came on my own and set my own schedule. This has enabled me to spend more time with the people I came to visit and to waste less time ironing out logistics for a five-person group.

So I spent my time running around Japan, often with two or three meetings a day. I wasn't really able to enjoy the slower-paced beauty of the country. A couple of friends invited me to visit Kamakura with them, but I didn't have time.

I did work for a day as a "campaign girl" for a Tokyo department store, though, and I think I got a taste of what an average summer day is like for a female arubaito (part-timer). I'm glad I experienced it, but I hope I won't have to go through that kind of job too often in the future.

My trip to Japan this time was also rather short. Before I started college, I toyed with the idea of spending a whole year in Japan, but now my grad school work has taken precedence. School starts at the end of August, so I must get myself in academic shape by then.

So far I've always visited Japan in the summertime, never in winter. My gut impression is that Japan is hot, crowded, and expensive. However, this time especially, I felt comfortable here. I think there are enough things in Japan to make anyone want to stay longer. Maybe this time, when visiting Japan, I could feel more acutely the deep love and small kindnesses that I have always taken for granted before.

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