世界に一つだけの花

During my first visit to Japan in 2008, my Japanese teacher at Niigata University played this song during class where we studied the lyrics and was told it was one of the most well-known songs in Japan.

Not only do I like the song but also find the lyrics to be relevant and meaningful.

作詞	槇原敬之
作曲	槇原敬之

Ｎｏ．１にならなくてもいい
もともと特別な　Ｏｎｌｙ　ｏｎｅ

花屋の店先に並んだ
いろんな花をみていた
ひとそれぞれ好みはあるけど
どれもみんなきれいだね
この中で誰が一番だなんて
争う事もしないで
バケツの中誇らしげに
しゃんと胸を張っている

それなのに僕ら人間は
どうしてこうも比べたがる？
一人一人違うのにその中で
一番になりたがる？

そうさ　僕らは
世界に一つだけの花
一人一人違う種を持つ
その花を咲かせることだけに
一生懸命になればいい


困ったように笑いながら
ずっと迷ってる人がいる
頑張って咲いた花はどれも
きれいだから仕方ないね
やっと店から出てきた
その人が抱えていた
色とりどりの花束と
うれしそうな横顔

名前も知らなかったけれど
あの日僕に笑顔をくれた
誰も気づかないような場所で
咲いていた花のように

そうさ　僕らも
世界に一つだけの花
一人一人違う種を持つ
その花を咲かせることだけに
一生懸命になればいい


小さい花や大きな花
一つとして同じものはないから
Ｎｏ．１にならなくてもいい
もともと特別な　Ｏｎｌｙ　ｏｎｅ

The Sartorialist in Tokyo

"Some cities are women's cities where the women always look really good. Like New York is a women's city, Paris is a women's city - Tokyo is a men's city. I think the guys look much better here." - The Sartorialist

I always thought the men's fashion in Tokyo was very unique, interesting and fashion-forward. But the women's fashion there, in general, is more the "kawaii" style with lots of cute patterns, frilly skirts, lace etc. Not exactly my thing which is why I mostly shopped at Zara or H&M whilst living there. Let's not forget about hair and makeup in Japan which is another whole separate topic.

I definitely preferred the men's fashion there, in the sense that if I were a guy I would've wanted to learn a thing or two from the Tokyo fashion scene - just the fashion.

Peaceful Hakone, Japan photos

Colourful Hakone

London Calling

In the near future, I hope to create another blog titled as 'Life in London"

D-8 YCAT

Kの最後の日だった。実感ができない。１１月前に一緒に日本にきたのに、もう帰国するって、私も後一週間残るって、信じられない。

Thと最後の出会いから一緒に焼肉を食べに行った。

D-9 Lazy day

Woke up at 12, in bed til 3 (with you)
ate at 5, went out to Sakuragicho at 8, came home at 11.


I really love bookstores.

D-10 Gakugei-daigaku mae

今日は学芸大学前の周りに一人で行って散歩した。
一人で音楽聞きながら新しい発見した町に歩くことが好き。
ほとんどの人々は理解ができないけど。。。
でも、私自由が丘のほうが好き。

後で横浜でVと会って家に戻った。

D-11 Indian and Russian

Indian with K + co
Russian with M, M's mum + co

そういう経験ある？
１時間に人間が持っている感情を感じること？
夕べに怒ったり泣いたり笑ったりした。
私たち本当に異常だ。

D-12 White Valentine's Day

iPhone 写真

D-13 Iceskating in Minatomira Redbrick warehouse, Yokohama

VとJと中華街に見に行ってみなとみらいにあるアイスリンクに行った！
行きたかったのについに行けたから良かった！

D-14 Glorious meat

最近肉をいっぱい食べている！
上から：TGI、ペル食、ステーキ

１２時半にM, A, PとPのペル人友達とペルレストランに行った。
やっぱ、ペルの食量は私の好みだ。
後は、Vと渋谷で会ってけど寒すぎって雨が降ったからNUDETRUMPとTSUTAYAに行って横浜に戻って一緒にTS３見た。

D-15 Lunch and Dinner - Dean & Deluca Japan

Dean and Deluca, 多分私が日本で一番好きなコーヒー店。

お母さんが帰った後一日中休んだ。次の日（金曜日、D15）にはVとJと横浜のTGIFRIDAYSで昼ごはんを食べた。Jと学校以外に一緒に食べたことが少なかったから久しぶりに外に会って楽しかった。
午後５時に小倉さんと最後の食事をした。小倉さんは私の日本の留学生活の中で特別な人で本当に優しくていつも感謝の気持ちを持ってる。

これから

そうなんだ。ブログで日本語で書こうって思ったけど忘れちゃった。
今学期が私の大学生活にとって最後の日本語の授業だったからこれから頑張らないと日本語を全部忘れるかもしれない。

では、今からブログには日本語で書きま～～～す！

D-16 Back in Gumyoji (Meiji jingu photos)

My mummy left Japan today :(
Now that she's gone, I miss her even more. But then again, like we said in the airport, we'll see each other again in two-weeks time anyway.

Back in my dorm room, blogging and skyping!

D-17 Kamakura & Enoshima

My mum's last day.
We hired a car in the morning and drove down to Kamakura and Enoshima as my mum wanted to see the quaint and traditional side of Japan. It was my first time to go to the actual Enoshima shima, i.e., physically cross the bridge and look around the island. It was a really nice day and it was such a long time since I've seen the ocean too.
At the end of the day we drove to Narita because we thought driving in the morning would be tiring. We found a hotel nearby, went for dinner at an all-you-can-eat shabu shabu (we were sooooooooo full), drove around Narita and back to the hotel!

D-18 Yokohama & Odaiba - Oedo Onsen Monogatari

I got to stay at the hotel with my mum since she didn't want to me to travel back to my dorm at night. No complaints! Teehee.
The next day I showed my mum around Yokohama (Sakuragicho and Kannai, really) - Yamashita Park, Osanbashi, Red Brick Warehouse, World Porters, Landmark Tower, Cosmo Clock 21.
Afterwards, we went to Odaiba where we made our way to the Oedo Onsen Monogatari.
For anyone visiting the Tokyo/Yokohama and want to experience a Japanese hotspring (onsen), this is the place to go! The whole place was built to replicate an onsen during the Edo period and customers also get to wear a Yukata, enjoy the outdoor and indoor baths, then relax in the Tatami rooms and end the day with a Japanese dish and softcream.
.

Cat street shops in Harajukua - photos of displays!

D-19 Shibuya crossing & Harajuku with Mum

My mum's second day in Japan.
We went around Shibuya and Harajuku and throughout the whole day my mum kept saying how interesting Japan is, in particular, the people! She was staring in shock at the Cosplay kids in Harajuku, the Shibuya girls with fake eyelashes and outrageous hair and the Lolita girls on Cat street -basically, at how individualistic the fashion is here. The kind of fashion you can only find in Japan and no whereelse in the world, but I guess that's what makes Japan such an interesting and unique country!

D-20 Mum in Japan!

My mum has arrived in Japan!
I haven't seen her in 10 months! I'm still processing the fact that she is here in Gumyoji with me! She has a hotel booked in Kannai so I'll be showing her around Gumyoji and Yokohama tomorrow.
It's so nice to see my mum after all this time. It's her first holiday in 7 years so I really want to treat her for the next few days because she has been working so much to support us.
After arriving at Narita Airport at 9pm, we caught the limousine bus to YCAT and had dinner at Gumyoji. It's currently 2am so time to hit the hay :)