I'm so happy to be back. The walk home from the station was so nice. The sunlight was really beautiful, and I really felt at home. Tokyo has calmed down a bit while I was gone. I was really relieved to dine with my host family and sleep in my own room.
I started working regular hours on the 6th, and it was great seeing the people who were there.
We've been in great contact all along, but it's nice to see people's faces.
Then on the 7th the biggest aftershock this far hit. I want to say it wasn't that bad, but the truth is that when it was over I realized my arms and hands were shivering strongly. At that time Kaori had fetched me from my room, and we were watching the latest information on television. Luckily the tsunami warning was called off.
On Friday I had the pleasure to do something completely unrelated to the earthquake for the first time in more than 3 weeks: The WHITEOUT exhibition.
I fell in love with this little chair.
The exhibition was nice and playful.
I loved comparing all the shapes and textures.
But not all the chairs where that comfortable...
Later that evening Tokyo Design Center held a Hanami.
The moon and sakura! The Design Center didn't seem concerned with the power shortage...
Kaori drinking wine at Scandinavian Living's shop at the Design Center.
Saturday I went to my colleague's house for another small Hanami. He and his partner are big art lovers, and I really enjoyed myself drinking wine, watching paintings and talking to some young Japanese artist, who were there.
I think the one I talked to longest was Kanagawa Shingo, who showed me some of his photos, and promised to give me sightseeing tips for my upcoming Kyoto trip. Another artist who made a strong impression was Ozawa Ei. He is very young and very shy, but a fun guy, and his paintings were amazing. But they were all really fun, and I hope we can hang out again.
Sunday I just relaxed at home and watched Otoko wa Tsurai yo with Kaori's mother. She invited me to her kindergarten the following day. The kids were so cute! We played for 4 hours. On the way there I got stopped by the police, apparently for no reason. Though they did check that my bike was not stolen!
Kaori and I went to Keep Left, an amazing store run by a married couple she knows well, to pick up a bag I reserved ages ago. It turned out the wife and their two sons had been in Sendai at the time of the earthquake, totally cut off from the world for a couple of days. Every time I meet someone I haven't seen for a while, we can talk for hours about that day. It seems everything we do is somehow related to the earthquake.
That day three strong aftershocks hit, killing four in Tohoku.
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