3.6, A Night in Japan

On April 1, 2018, my sisters, Robin and Carolyn, and I sat around a table 5,970 miles away from home. 

Japan had been Carolyn’s “new” home for the last six years and during a two-week whirlwind, she was showing Robin and me around the central part of the country. While the extended sister time was amazing, we were cranky from spending 24-hours a day with each other for the last week and a half. 

It was at this point in the trip that we found ourselves exhausted but seated around the most magnificent display of fresh nigiri sushi.

The Yokoyamas, an entire family that Carolyn had befriended—from grandparents to grandchildren, had invited us over for the evening. Robin and I weren’t sure what to expect and were a little nervous about how the evening would shake out. Not even five minutes in, however, we realized there was no need for concern.

My sisters and me with the Yokoyama family.

They fussed over us as soon as we stepped into the house, as if we were old friends. Carolyn and the adult Yokoyama kids bridged the language barrier while we made our introductions and situated ourselves around the impending feast. 

Robin and I balled out on sushi—Carolyn preferred the steak alternative—while the grandpa plied us with gold-flecked sake, or rice wine. Four hours flew by as we pieced together translated conversations and laughed at the cultural differences. (The Yokoyamas chuckled at the idea of us prudey Americans enjoying a traditional (i.e. naked) hot spring the week before.) We exchanged omiyage, or gifts/souvenirs, and toured the room of their ancestors.

Lots of sake later, and realizing it was a weeknight, we were beginning to worry that we would overstay our welcome. Yet, the mom and kids looked dismayed when we packed up to leave. They wanted to bring us to the sakura, or cherry blossom, illuminations.

After securing a stash of late-night snacks and Asahi Super Dry (open-container is legal there 😊), we headed to the local park to walk among the blooming cherry blossom trees as they were lit up from the ground. We stayed for another couple of hours meandering, snacking, talking. The ease and novelty of the evening paired with the genuine human connection created such a unique, contenting experience that has proven hard to forget.

Looking up at the sakura illumination.

As I drank a beer under a glowing tree, I checked the time on my phone and smiled. I was winding down my day with a belly full of sushi and surrounded by good people while my friends at home were just waking up. It was their turn to find the magic in April 1, 2018.