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Home News AVO Magazine

Editor’s Letter: Why I have to go back to Japan!

Francisca Hagen by Francisca Hagen
21 November 2016
in AVO Magazine
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Editor’s Letter: 2015; wat ging je toch snel voorbij!

In this Japan-loving community, there are a lot of people with dreams of going to Japan. Everyone has a different reason why they’d like to go to the Land of the Rising Sun. I, for example, had a few missions: meeting people, visit concerts of bands of which most haven’t been in Europe and discover the country. I can tell you, all three missions have succeeded! And now I know: I have to go back to Japan! Because I want to see more of Japan, visit a lot more concerts and meet even more people!

I have seen Mount Fuji several times during my first vacation in Japan. The first time was when I was travelling with the shinkansen from Tokyo to Shizuoka, to meet a friend. I was watching out of the window and saw it emerge. I instantly wanted to take a picture of it, because it was the first time I saw it. My Japanese friend even told me I was very lucky to see it, because especially in this time of year (June) it’s more difficult to see Mount Fuji. Once I arrived in Shizuoka I could have a good look at it again. I really felt lucky at that moment, because after all those years I was finally in Japan!

The last time I saw Mount Fuji was on the day I departed from Japan again. I had a very good feeling about the contents of my trip: I have been able to do a lot of things, unfortunately not everything. But I was convinced I would return to make up for my missed opportunities. I was fully charged and was sure that I would take everything with both hands to start working on several projects.

Nothing was less true. Because my dream finally came true I felt a little lost in The Netherlands. I suddenly didn’t seem to have a purpose and started to long back to Japan. My Japanese friends made it even harder by saying that they really missed me and wanted to see me again. But I have to say that it’s a good feeling that people miss you and really want to see you again! Some of my Japanese friends I only saw in Japan for the first time, while I knew them through the sometimes quite beautiful internet for years.

 

But then I remembered the last time I saw Mount Fuji.I was sitting on the plane next to a rather intimate couple. I picked a spot rather quickly at Haneda airport, the window. And that was a good choice. Once the plane came out above the clouds after liftoff I saw the top of Mount Fuji. It was a touching image. It was almost like Mount Fuji told me “Fran, don’t go!” or maybe “Fran, see you soon. Come back to Japan!” And that’s something I certainly want to do!

It’s a bit crazy to think a mountain can communicate to you, but the last meeting with Mount Fuji -while I was flying out of Japan- definitely had a value to me. It’s hard work, but I have to go back to Japan. I have to get better at the Japanese language, be bolder and have more confidence in myself! I am Francisca Hagen and I will be back in Japan soon.

That is my mission, and it will become reality!

Tags: 2016editor's letterJapan
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Francisca Hagen

Francisca Hagen

Never satisfied, always exploring. Started with AVO in 2003. Now active as a writer, reporter, reviewer, promoter, photographer, interviewer and presenter. Can be found regularly at conventions and concerts in the Netherlands and sometimes elsewhere in Europe or even in Japan. Big passion for Japan and music, can be made happy with coffee. (click on Soundcloud logo)

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