|
This week’s writing ended up circling around the small moments that make Japan feel close, even from far away. Before I get into that, a quick personal note from the airport. I am at SFO right now, waiting to board my flight to Tokyo, laptop on my knee, people-watching between paragraphs. Next week will not look like a normal week here at all. It is technically a work trip, but the calendar is already a cheerful mess of client visits, friend meetups, and culinary ambition. I will also go to Kita-Kamakura for an ohaka mairi in my husband’s stead, something that always pulls me right back into the memories of living there. Expect a lot of posts. Truly, a lot. Earlier in the week I wrote about finally trying satsuma imo gohan, which is almost comically easy to make but carries a quiet depth once you start looking into its background. it’s the kind of dish that feels instantly familiar and reassuring, and the kind that disappears faster than you expect while you stand there “just tasting.” I also wrote about a small AG1 info session in San Francisco, the sort of gathering that lets you actually talk to people rather than shout over music. We had good conversations about Japan as a startup market and how much you learn simply by being there. If you are interested in joining a startup program in Japan, that one is for you. And then there was the piece about the unexpectedly charming statue in Odaiba, the one that stands by the water with the rainbow bridge glowing behind it. II didn’t even know that when I scheduled that post, I would be on my way to see it again in person on the same day! And then hopefully later this year I will finally see the real one in New York, which feels like closing a small but oddly satisfying loop. Tokyo replicas first, Liberty Island later. As I sit here waiting to board, I keep thinking about how these tiny threads shaped the week: sweet potato rice, thoughtful conversations, a statue in Odaiba that always surprises me. Next week will be completely different. Jet lag, konbini snacks, nostalgia, business meetings, and probably a few overly sentimental reflections brought on by noodles or trains. You know how it goes. Warmly,
Saskia
|
