Dear All,
It’s almost like, we are in the cross point of parallel universe. You know that you are in your normal life but at the same time, you feel that the world is something completely different now. I’m getting to see the good side of it. I feel that we are more open-hearted than ever. Everyone I encountered these days in Tokyo, they are my new friends, is so interesting, caring and very insightful. Crisis changes people into philosophers? Maybe.
I think you know this feeling too. We are, probably for the first time in human history, in a shared reality. It’s not only in your head, it’s real. We are very aware of the fact that we are no longer a spectator. Yes. No spectator anymore!
Yesterday, my mother phoned me and we got into the conversation about what is happening in this country, and also in other countries. When I told her about the severe situation in up north, the fact that people are still soaking wet in this cold weather and starve to death, I happened to say “ it’s not North Korea, it’s in Japan“. Then she told me that last night, she was thinking about North Korea, she really felt heartbreaking sadness for them too. She admitted that she never cared about people in other countries, used to be almost indifference, all she used to care was about her/my family and her world of 1 kilometer radius. I mean, that’s used to be a technique to get things done in everyday life, all the news and „unfortunate“ people on TV didn’t seem so real- it was so hard to relate to you so you needed to rationalise things to think that they are just images or virtual reality. And even worse, you don’t even appreciate your daily life. But, that was ok. We used to think that’s the only way to cope with the painful reality. I can tell you now, that’s so wrong! Such an underestimation! We are a lot stronger than that. We are not that vulnerable and the world is filled with beauty whatever happens.
As you know, I’m not like a voice of nation or anything and just a normal person who lives in Tokyo, I don’t need to prove myself by telling you this(I do this because I just want to), but I’m just trying hardest to be honest as possible as I can about what I feel and think. That’s the only rule I have. Also my mom, she’s just a normal person and we are just an average family in Japan, as far as I concerned we are not an entirely idealistically functional family (parents used to be my worst housemates from hell!). Then, to realize how much our perception changed since, is quite amazing. Yes, I feel for the people in northern area in this country, also for the people in other countries who’s suffering right in this moment and more than anything and quite importantly, I feel for the people around me in my small world. This is strange new feeling I have, but I can tell you, this feels pretty good. It’s a physical and real sense of not being alone; maybe that’s the reason why I feel fearless now. As I told you in my first letter, I love people in all over the world, I love YOU and that’s not just saying. I say it with my truest honesty.
Have a great day and please try to enjoy every single moment of your action you make today. I’ll do the same. It’s a radical experiment, join me now!
All my love,
Akira