1 year on

summer in japan is awful, so to make summer more bearable, fireworks displays are held all over the country for people to enjoy.

at least, that’s my theory for all the fireworks displays that occur in summer.

the yodogawa fireworks are today, and it’s all very, very surreal.

when it occurred last year, it was national day back home, and my 3rd day in osaka i think. i recall that g.t. was here, and we had gone up the umeda sky building and explored tenjinbashi 6-chome, where i bought my 2 kitty bowls and had takoyaki for the first time in japan.

i recall being amazed by the sheer number of people in yukata, and the wide-eyed fascination with which i stared at each and everyone of them. there was a festive mood in the air, and lots of bustle and hustle. there were so many people about, and the crowd and busyness of it all made it seem a bit unreal too.

it’s surreal for a different reason this year though. i’ve just spent 2 weeks in china – very different a country from japan – and i dont think i’ve quite adjusted back yet, since i’ve been stuck at home for the past 3 days upon landing and havent been out and about. i was out just now, and \was looking at the stream of people heading towards the river to secure a spot from which to view the fireworks and feeling not quite there, as if i were sort of detached from the sight before me.

it’s all very very odd. maybe it’s my fevered-brain trying to deal with reality, but it’s just.. the same thing is happening this year as it was last year. a year has passed, yet everything seems exactly the same. where has the past year gone to? i’m not sure. i was looking at the girls walking past, struck by how everyone here is perfectly made up, compared to china where makeup doesnt really seem to exist. and the disbelief that there are girls in shorts/above-knee pants AND tights, with 2 layers of clothes on top. in summer! yet people here bare their thighs in winter..

less when it’s cold, more when it’s hot. it doesnt make sense!

one would think that i would be used to this by now, but apparently not.

it’s just all very weird, and a bit too much for me to deal with right now. :S