Rues of Roo

Open Skies

I have a friend leaving for Japan soon.

When I think of Japan I think of intense neon lights, and rising skyscrapers, I think of that famous junction featured in every movie based in Japan where all the business men and women cross, normally at a high fps. I think of quiet train rides through the suburbs with miles and miles of power lines silhouetted against the setting sun and the crammed houses below. I think of winding roads wrapping themselves round rising hills, and precariously built houses lining the slopes. I think of vintage bicycles, you know the ones with the curved body and in dark green, ringing bells as they cycle past the crowds, and cute little kids in their cute little school uniform grinning in their age of innocence. I think of the sakura in the springtime and couples lazing in the sun.

I may be wrong. Because, after all, I’ve never been there and my impression is based mainly on Miyazaki and Shinobu Yaguchi movies. But oh well. The above photograph just gave me a vague semblance of it. I don’t know why. I think it reminds me of a scene from the movie ‘Swing Girls’ when they dance by the roadside.

In case you’re wondering it’s actually in Serangoon.

私はそれはよく見ることをことをこれが意味するが、私が確かめるものを知らない