Once a year, people in Japan can take a bit of time to relax in the park and have a drink – problem is – most people do it on the same day.
Luckily there is a gigantic park next to my house, so this is where we would make our merriment. Staking out a spot near some trees and some people I vaguely know (I dare you to walk though the park and not see someone you know this time of year) we proceeded on the task at hand – getting blasted!
Eventually there was darkness, and chilliness, and … drunkenness. But musicenness also! After loosing practically everyone in the dark, including my own Mother whom I was charged with keeping safe (actually she just went home it turns out), I decided to go for a walk to the shop.
By the time I got back – after making my way to the same patch of woods – there was no music, no people. Not even detritus or evidence of merriment. It was like turning up after the circus had left town – you know fun was had here, but now it’s gone.
Unfortunately so was the park-worthy mat I stupidly borrowed from my kitchen floor that day.