NIHON BLISS

by Lucy Mokua (Kenya)

A leap into the unknown Japan

In Swahili, we say, “Asiyesafiri, taa haing’ari.” This simply means that one who does not travel has no shining lamp. No story to tell. This saying resonates loud in my head like my alarm at 4:30 AM. I am a neophile by nature. I seek experiences that open my mind to a world beyond my surroundings. I am always lurking and thirsting on pages of exuberant globetrotters such as, Jessica Nabongo (@thecatchmeifyoucan) whose Instagram feed tells us a beautiful tale of different cities, cultures and is an axiomatic testimony of the beauty of the world that we occupy. My first international trip on September 03, 2018, was in a suburban, neon-lighted cosmopolitan area of Japan known as Tokyo. I did not know what was scarier, leaving my family for one year or traveling solo to a country whose language I barely spoke and understood. Regardless, I was more excited than a homeless man who has just been given a $100 bill by a philanthropic passerby. There is a place you paint in your head. A place that is colorful and exquisite. A place that is filled with rich delicacies, vibrant cities (in this case, wards) and has culturally refined inhabitants. That place, for me, is Tokyo! As a black African woman from a developing country, witnessing the yards of development and technology in Tokyo left me in indescribable awe and profound contentment of the world. I might go on and on about Tokyo’s intricate pastries, the picturesque restaurants or how the city is a gastronomical capital and looks overwhelmingly beautiful during Spring when sakura (cherry blossoms) are in full bloom but despite the verdant and slightly mountainous landscapes Tokyo boasts off, there were experiences in other parts of the metropolis that were quite memorable. For instance, when I lost my Cuban friend, Ana, in the huge organic mass of pedestrians in the Shibuya Crossing scramble, I had to talk to an officer, who barely understood English, to help me find my friend. “Aaa… watashi… aaa… tomodachi… aaa” I almost broke into a game of charades in order to illustrate the scramble and how my hand was unwoven from my friend’s. Ha-a. Japanese are known for their penchant for seafood. I was itching to visit the famous bluefin tuna auction that is usually held at the beginning of every year in the popular Tsukiji Fish Market. I entered an online lottery application one month in advance and, I was lucky enough to be chosen as a viewer. Hey, you cannot spell ‘lucky’ without ‘Lucy’. No? Okay. Before the crack of dawn on January 15, 2019, I was in the waiting area of the Toyosu Fish Market, where the 2019 fish auction was held. I was eagerly waiting for the doors to open. Chanting “1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi…” did not calm me down. After waiting for around 30 minutes, the doors were opened for the guests to view the auction. After confirming my name was on the list, I had to put on a red mesh vest with a black hem. Then, I was shown to the observation deck. The hall boasted off very high ceilings and huge pillars. On one part of the room was the bluefin tuna laid side by side and on the other side, boxes of foam were heaped one onto the other for packing the fish. I spotted officials in blue overalls, black gumboots, and gray hats, carrying a clipboard and taking what I assumed to be bidding prices. The highest bidder of that day was a renowned sushi restaurant owner who goes by the name Kiyoshi Kimura, also known as “The Tuna King”, who bagged a bluefin tuna for JPY 333.6M (USD 3.1M). WHOA! That was the highest ever bid for a bluefin tuna. When it comes to my Tokyo travel, it feels quite formidable to minimize my piece in 700 words or less. Despite the myriad cultural differences and the language barrier, nothing is more liberating than stepping out into the unknown and allowing yourself to live every minute, savor and enjoy every moment. Sekai wa anata no kakidesu! -Lucy Cynthia Mokua