Final Night in Japan Part 2

So we set off for the full moon party in the forest glade in the mountains of Minakame. Walking along the river gorge to the distant thumping sound of the music It was beginning to dawn on me just how much I would miss Japan and the friends I had made there.

It was certainly a much colder experience than the first time there. A lot of time was spent huddled together around the fire or dancing just to keep warm. There was also a highly amusing mechanical bull that saw Chihiro pulling of one of the funniest slapstick set pieces I have seen in a long time. She was too short to actually climb onto the bull herself and so watching her try and pull herself up onto the static bull was hilarious. The icing on the cake was when she dizzily turned with her back to the bull, finally giving up, only for the thing to spring into life, knocking her flat on her face with a prompt blow to the rear. You couldn’t have planned it any better.
So the night went on we danced and drank and enjoyed each others company for my closing hours in Japan.

At 4oclock in the morning everyone was beginning to get more than a little chilly so we headed down towards the car. As we were leaving we passed the smallest, tribal themed dance stage and then decided to just start dancing again, nobody really wanted to leave and sometimes I think I could have lived in that moment for the rest of my life.

5 o clock AM was the big crunch time, Noritaka had promised to drive me to the bus station. Heart-warningly, everyone else came along as well. Saying goodbye was tough but I still felt comfortable that I would see them again. Sitting at the bus station an old lady struck up a conversation with me. She was impressed with my level of Japanese after only 6 months, as all Japanese people were whether they meant it or not. She told me of a family member in Oxford but stumbled on Oxford the other passengers in the small waiting room assisted her immediately and then continued to join in the conversation. It was a small encounter that reflected the Japanese peoples interest in other countries and cultures. No longer do they live in a self contained bubble, the old closed minded population is dying out making way for a genuinely inquisitive and interesting people.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, I looked up and saw Noritaka and Hiro slapped against the glass. Otosan had called to make sure I had got the bus OK and this prompted them to stay and wait with me until the bus came. So the painful process of say goodbye happened again. Hiro was especially lively, joking with the bus driver that he was going to New Zealand.

The bus route circled around Tokyo city and eventually arrived at the airport. Unfortunately for me I had departed at the wrong terminal so as I was making my way back to the bus station I was slightly unnerved to find three Airport security types waiting for me. Even more alarmingly they knew my name and details about where I had been staying in Japan. I still don’t know what they actually wanted from me as they simply asked a few questions about where I was going?!? More Problems ensued at the check in desk when the receptionist wouldn’t accept my ticket because it had no final destination date printed on it. I explained that I had to arrange by phone at a later date but still she was very wary. 2 hours later and I was free to go. The experience suddenly transported me back to the extremely tiresome process of trying to get a New Zealand Visa and I began to wonder whether I should be staying in Japan because getting to NZ was proving more than a little difficult.

3 months down the line and I still think about Japan a lot especially the language. I go over sentences I used to say and think about how I would answer questions when I am asked them in English. I still regret not staying there for 8 months and just doing 4 in New Zealand but it was out of my hands. The only thing I can do now is fulfil the promises that I made in Japan…