Top Story: 21. October 2008

Aoyama Story

By Editor in Chief, Jaakko Saari

Recently, a fellow colleague mentioned about Japanese tree that blooms in autumn, called "kinmokusei". The soapy scent of this flower is very unique, and awakens nostalgic feelings for Japanese people. But kinmokusei blooms only for a week. The leaves from a tree nearby my house have already fallen, and the scent is almost vanished. It is similar to sakura, and awakens similar feelings in Japanese.

My colleague's story reminded me of a certain autumn I spent in Aoyama, Tokyo. Well, I didn't exactly live there (I'm not that rich), but I used to go to hang out in a bar there almost every night. During this period of my life, I met two interesting people, and I could observe a time that I would think was special, and magical.

Not only for two of them, but all of us, who once shared that same time and place, in that autumn.

I wanted to share this story with you, because I think it expresses some characterictics of Japanese. I cannot tell the names of the people involved, so I refer to them only with the alphabet from their family name. I will do my best to tell the truth I felt from their presence.

The bar stood in uphill street in Aoyama, Tokyo. Aoyama really bloomed during the economic bubble. Many expensive mansions and condominiums were built that time, only to be abandoned since the economic crises hit Japan in 90's. Now, the streets are filled with fashion shops, restaurants and coctail bars, all that seem too expensive for me.

The bar was just a simple Japanese style bar, with a long counter, and few tables. I never saw anyone sit in the tables though. Most people in the bar drunk either wine or beer. Hardly nobody ordered heavy liquer, except two regular customers who always got drunk. Friendly atmosphere in the bar soon made me a regular customer.

One night, my attention was drawn into a middle-aged man in the corner. Somehow his character was crystal clear and vivid. It seemed like he didn't belong to that smoky and dark bar. The sleeves of his white shirt were shining and made him stand out. He was meticulous about his style and clothes. I must say, he was a handsome man. On top of the shirt, he always wore a cardigan. I shall refer to him as Mr. K.

Mr. K was a man very fond of Japanese literature. He had a childish smile when he talked about books of Kawabata or Tanizaki, or say, Natsume Soseki. He was especially fond of Kawabata's Yukiguni. It was he who gave me the inspiration to read the book. He had great curiosity about my country, Finland too. You could soon understand that he had been around the world a lot. He was also fan of languages, especially French. A pleasant, sophisticated man with a twinkle in his eye. I would like to think that language and written literature was his way to express his own values of life, and interest for human nature. He was that kind of person.

He was a very popular person in the bar. The bartender too, was very fond of him. I was the only foreigner there, and I didn't talk much with anyone. But I too felt great curiosity of him. What was his work? Why he always came to the bar alone? Does he have a children or perhaps, a lover? But it struck to me, as well as others soon that perhaps Mr. K is not a person who especially likes chatting. Then, although he kept to himself most of the time, he sometimes came to say hello to me, and eventually we made friends. He always came to the bar in Thursday night, and left before ten a clock. It seemed he really made a point of leaving the bar before ten. You would expect that the reason would be a wife and children waiting at home. This is however not the case. Mr K was a single man.

So then, eventually, of course, he got a female admirer, Miss S. She was younger than him, a drop dead corgeous woman. But she was not just another kid from rich neighborhood. There was sense of skill and intellect about her. Maybe she is a doctor, I thought. She was very clean and proper. She kept her nails trimmed, and smoked Pianissimo cigarettes. And she was kind.

There was something about her what kept ordinary mortals away from her. I witnessed couple of hit attempts, which she rejected in a fashion that was very cool. She lifted a glass to her lips, looked up to the roof, and poof - the intruder was gone in a blink.

Mr. K came to the bar only in Thursday evenings. Miss S soon adjusted to his rhythm. Soon, she started to occupy the chair in the corner of the bar next to K, so I lost chance to talk to him. Together, they soon seemed to find their own little world. Mr. K would smile every now and then while they chatted. The couple were amazing. They just kept talking, as if they were brothers and sisters. Everyone then, seemed to forget them too. They seemed like people who had found their place in the this dark, lonely world. They were no longer standing out, but became a standard feature of this expensive Aoyama bar.

But I, as well as bartender, remained interested to these two extraordinary people. Every night, K left the bar earlier than Miss S. After that I sometimes chatted with Miss S a little. She had also interest to my origin, as well as K. Sometimes I asked about her. She didn't tell me much to be honest. I found out that she was an enterpreneur. She owned a fashion salon in Minato-ward. And her father was a famous someone. A performing artist, if I remember right.

Everyone guessed that perhaps these two people would soon make a couple. They were such a brilliant pair. Someone told me that Miss S was a widow, but I'm not sure if that was really the truth or not. Once I asked Mr. K if he likes her. He said smiling "of course I do". That was all he said.

Then, one night, the bar was quieter than usual. As usual she sat alone, waiting for K. I don't know, but somehow I felt there was something different about her. She didn't smile, and she kept smoking more than usual. She ignored me and the bartender. When Mr. K came, she smiled and greeted him. Because there was almost nobody except us, I chatted with the bartender. But at some point, I noticed that Miss S's eyes seemed wet. Mr. K also looked serious. The couple just sat down there, without saying a word. When it got ten a clock, Mr. K followed his usual routine, and left the bar, smiling and waving his goodnight to us as usual.

I never saw him since then. Miss S too, stopped visiting the bar soon after that. She came few times after and I chatted with her shortly once. She asked if I knew whereabouts of Mr. K. I told her honestly that I didn't. I never got even his business card. I had given him mine, but he said he had ran out of his.

What really took place that night, remains as a secret of these two people. Soon after that, it was time for me to return back to Finland, so I really can't say what really took place after that. I kept in touch with one of the regulars some time after that. Months after, he said he haven't seen Mr K since then.

I would guess that Miss. S had approached him that night, and for some reason, he had rejected her. I can understand that much. It upsetted him, or then, he saw it's just time to move on. Perhaps he had fell in love with someone else. But I cannot write this off as a casual affair. These people were made for each other. Their atmosphere was that much amazing.

After that, I felt no desire to visit that bar on my next visit in Japan. Times had changed somehow, and I saw it's better not to return there. The place just wouldn't be the same without these two people. And the season, also would never be same.

The properness, and simple manners of Miss S, and K moved me. In my mind, I saw them as people who I feel are truly Japanese. But also I reckoned soon that they were not the kind of people you can meet everyday. They were people out of this world.

We meet new people and share sometime with them. Then, in next moment it's time for us to move on, and we never meet these people again. This, I believe is the natural tidal wave that keeps the universe fresh. We should naturally accept and follow this flow, like fishes in a deep sea.