The Return of Ichigo Ichie
Chance encounters are the chance of a lifetime
Kia ora Koutou, Tim Bunting, Kiwi Yamabushi here on the Japan you never knew you wanted to know.
Ok, I’m one week off, but this time last year I wrote one of my favourite pieces on a concept of Japanese culture that we can all relate to, and one that we all should relate to: Ichigo Ichie.
This week (right now, not last year) was a weird moment in time for me because of four chance encounters. Well, it was two pairs of friends I met, but they were all for the first time, and they were all because of the content I publish on the inter-webs.
This kind of serendipity doesn’t happen in real life. Actually, it does if we get off our phones, but for whatever reason, it felt like meeting old friends. A sort of dream encounter.
Today though, I’m writing this because I think you too would be interested in learning about my (new?) friends, who I wouldn’t have met had I not been producing this stuff. If you’re on the fence about whether to start making stuff, just remember that things on the Internet can be seen by absolutely anyone, including people who you admire.
If you have an idea that has value, share it, in other words.
Because, people are listening. The sort of people that can and do make a shift in the world like Nicholas Petricca of Walk The Moon fame.
You know that song Shut up and Dance?
That absolute ear worm? That sent me in on its own wormhole and made me a bigger fan, especially of this performance:
Nicholas and his friend Brandon were extremely down to earth, and extremely humble knowing the heights they have both reached. We spent a bit of time in Sakata and I was honoured to show them around Haguro-san a bit too. Although it was short, the love was certainly there, and I for one am really looking forward to what’s in store for these two!
In other news
Not to put my meeting of Nicholas and Brandon into the shadows, but the very next day I met yet another friend Oscar Boyd, a journalist whose work I have read multiple times (especially for The Japan Times), who publishes their own newsletter here too:
Oscar is about to end a journey travelling the length of Japan by bike, and I met him when he was staying just down the road! Our meeting was very short, and meeting his travelling companion Tom even shorter, but I felt it was a fruitful meeting that I wouldn’t mind repeating. I also invited my friend Natsuki (those who watch Abroad In Japan should know him), and we got together for some good-old Yakitori!
Chance encounters are to be cherished.
Also the means in which you can have chance encounters too. Like the Internet! But do me a favour and stay off your phone if you don’t need to use it (this is more me talking to myself!).
Daily Yamabushi for This Week
Daily Yamabushi posts for the week of May 16 to May 23, 2024.
Read Daily Yamabushi for free at timbunting.com/blog or Medium.com.
Mountains of Wisdom: Tell Your Friends!
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Ka kite ano.
Tim.
Great to meet you in Sakata! Thanks for a wonderful evening and for sharing the blog.