A Girl Named After Cherry Blossoms

Before AndroJane I kept another brightly colored journal/ scrapbook of sorts.

It was made with random brightly colored paper bound together. I filled it with pictures of my family, pictures of friends, Malaysian stamps, phone cards etc to show off during my exchange student stay in Japan. It was sort of like a blog because I used it to let people know more about me & I would ask them to write, draw or scribble something.

Some people would painstakingly create pages of art using markers, color pencils, bus tickets, crayons, glitter, stickers & almost anything imaginable. Some would write long messages, lyrics, quotes, events and of course their contact details. Sometimes silly, sometimes pretty, sometimes sexy even. Whatever they wanted.

One of the most memorable entries was by this girl named Sakura. She made it about this time of the year over 8 years ago but sometimes I remember it like it was yesterday.

Although I knew five girls named Sakura, she was the only one who was truly named after cherry blossoms. It was autumn & the trees were getting ready for winter. Like the trees I was feeling cold & had to change with the times. It was hard to communicate with the people around me & all of my exchange student friends had left Japan.

Sakura wrote a long letter of sorts in complicated Japanese decorated with little pink Sakura flowers which she then read to me as we overlooked the school gardens. She had one of those classic voices seeded with compassion & a tinge of sorrow. The letter went something like

****************************************************************
Dear AJ-kun
Its been very fun getting to know you. Our art lessons & summer trip to the mountains was most memorable. You were always laughing and playing. But recently you look more serious. Is it because of the cold weather? I know Japan is very different from your home country, but aren’t the changing colors of the leaves beautiful?

You most probably miss your family & friends but don’t worry we are all here for you. Ithoyama Sensei really takes care of you & you should be thankful.

Are you studying hard for your Japanese Language Proficiency Test? Gambate! You have worked so hard, I am sure you can do it!

Please enjoy your stay here and please write. Friends forever!

Sakura

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She was so insightful. So genuinely sweet. So Japan. I will always remember that moment & cherish it. I was feeling so lonely/ insignificant at the time. But knowing someone actually noticed my change of mood brightened my mood.

Fast forward to today. Shame on me for never writing to her. Shame on me for storing the journal somewhere I can’t recall. But some things are meant to be cherished & not questioned. Like the trees with brilliant hued leaves, we all have to change with the season. Some times when I hear the right song or the right picture I think back to that day & smile. Who knew?

Deep river runs its course
To a warm horizon
Shadows of falling leaves
October moon and rusty skies
Ever changing feelings
The seeds of autumn in my mind

The hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Feels like it's just begun
The hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Waiting for summer sun

Hiding summer's age no more
No more leaves in summer sky
Turning dark on empty car lots
When summer was my only friend

So you're back this way again
Winter's one breath away
So you're back this way again
Winter's one breath away
It's turning cold...

Like the hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Feels like its just begun
The hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Waiting for summer sun
The hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Feels like it's just begun
The hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Waiting for summer sun
The hiding sun, like the hiding sun
Feels like its just begun.

Chicane ~ Autumn Tactics (End Of Summer Edit)