Bathroom Self-Portrait (Kachi-Kachi)

Bathroom Self-Portrait (Kachi-Kachi)
Originally uploaded by Tokyorosa

This photo was taken (by me, of course) two years ago almost to the day. It was October 11 and I had gone drinking with Ken, Akiko, Seth, Junko, Ellaine, Ben, and (I think) Yuko at Kachi-Kachi Yama after work. I took this picture when I was chotto yopparai--a bit drunk.

I'm posting this photo and not a current one because Tokyo--Japan, really--is calling me back insistently this week. Last night on the travel channel, there was a feature about Tokyo and I watched with an aching heart, looking at the people walking down the street in Ginza near The Kaisha where I used to work, or being interviewed in Shibuya, in front of the Starbucks near the Hachiko exit where I used to wait for Muji so we could go drinking at the three-coin bar near the station.




Those were beautiful days.

And on the History Channel, there was a special about Tokyo, too, about jishin--earthquakes--and the fault line that lies just beneath Tokyo. If the big quake they're expecting hits Tokyo, tens of thousands are expected to lose their lives. Tokyoites know this and they continue to risk their lives because living in Tokyo is that important.

Would I risk it--my life--to return to Japan?

Yes. Yes, I think I would.