This is the 10th and final installment of my 作る series…where I recreate some of my favorite photos of Japan with my apple pen and tell a short story about what they mean to me.
Although it’s taken me since June to make all 10 drawings, I feel a sense of accomplishment rounding them out and putting a nice end to this little project. This may mark the end of this series but I am going to continue challenging myself creatively by working on a few new ideas and seeing where those take me.
Here is my last and final 作る piece (for now):
“CONBINI”
This is the 7-eleven that was right next to my apartment in Japan. Literally…the building right next to me. And I love it. I find it quite comical that I now have an emotional attachment to a convenience store, but for anyone who has ever spent a significant amount of time in Japan, you will know what I mean.
This 7-eleven store felt like that safe, welcoming, neighborhood friend that always waves to you when you’re walking along the street. A place that makes home feel more like home. My favorite moments were Saturday morning, when I would wake up early and walk down the stairs of my apartment building and over to 7-eleven to get a cup of coffee (Medium size) and a pastry (butter an-pan my fav). I would push the door open and immediately be greeted by Taki-san, the nice middle aged lady with short hair and a calm presence, who always worked at this particular store. Taki-san would smile at me and ask how my week at work was. I always enjoyed our little chats.
Along with Taki-san, there was also a younger guy around my age with big round eyes and a thick head of hair who never said a single word. I would smile at him and he would just glance up at me for .0005 seconds with those big, dark eyes and then look away without making a peep. I eventually gave him the nickname “Drama-boy” because he reminded me of some mysterious character in a drama series. One more employee I always saw, other than Taki-san and Drama-boy, was an older man with the most cheerful presence. He reminded me of my grandpa Sumio, with short white hair, a tall face full of freckles, and a gentle voice that would raise an octave when he greeted you. “ohayouuuuu gozaimasuuuu!” This man was so kind and worked quickly with his hands, always processing your order in record time. I gave him the nickname, “kind-grandpa”.
After about a year of frequenting this 7-eleven on a daily basis, I basically memorized the employees work schedules and knew who I would be seeing depending on what time of day I was going there. Taki-san in the mornings, drama-boy every night and kind-grandpa almost every weekend. 7-eleven became a place that grounded me to home in Kashiwa, this tiny shop in the middle of Japan where I payed my bills, got cash out, bought coffee, got snacks and food, and lived my life on a daily basis. I loved it.
Then, the craziest thing happened.
I was talking to Taki-san one day. I asked how she was doing, just casually. No one was in the store so she had a moment to pause and talk to me longer. She said she was having a hard time actually, because her husband was sick. He couldn’t work so she was worried about her family. I felt very concerned for her and my mind raced for all the right words to say to comfort this sweet lady who had become my friend. Then she said the line that shocked me most, “my husband works here, at this store too.” WHOA. WHOA. WHAT?? If he works here that means…I definitely know him. “Who is your husband?” I asked eagerly. “You know, the old man who works here. That is my husband.” KIND-GRANDPA IS TAKI-SANS HUSBAND??? But, the shock didn’t end there. She followed, “my son works here too.” WHAT!!! YOUR SON?? My mind raced. I was pretty sure there was only one other male employee at this store…and she confirmed, “The boy who is quiet that works here, yeah that is my son.” DRAMA BOY IS TAKI-SANS SON??? How had I lived for more than a year not knowing they were a family!???
I told Taki-san I would be praying for her husbands health. I knew she wasn’t a Christian, nor had she any idea what I meant by that, but Japanese people are spiritual by nature so she was appreciative of my offer to pray for him. I went home that night in shock of this convenience store family who all worked so diligently at this one store…becoming my neighbors and friends… and I just felt this overwhelming love in my heart for them.
The day finally came, when it was time for me to move out of my apartment in Kita-Kashiwa after three years and head back to the states. I remember the day vividly. I packed up my apartment with the help of my good friend Naomi, who was visiting. I locked my door one last time and knew I needed to stop by the one important place. I walked those 2 minutes to 7-eleven, full of emotion, went to the counter to see Taki-san who was on her usual shift and I said, “I am leaving Kita-Kashiwa today. I’m going back to America soon. Thank you for everything.” Taki-san quickly waved her hands at me, “wait here…” as she swiftly went to the back office for a minute. What was she doing there? She came back with a big box of things…and started throwing them in a plastic bag. “Here, this is for you! Take these cookies, this chocolate, this drink…” as she proceeded to put a bunch of food in this bag for me to take. My eyes swelled with gratitude. She was so kind. Over three years she really became a friend to me and someone who made Kashiwa home.
I left that day with these finals words to Taki-san, “i’ll be back to visit!”
More than a year from my last convenience store goodbye, I found myself back in Japan. I finally got to visit Kita-Kashiwa again. I couldn’t wait to walk back to see Taki-san and her family at 7-eleven.
Sure enough… I walked back through those all familiar doors and was immediately greeted by the cheerful, kind and welcoming face of Taki-San- still working hard, in her usual work attire, on her normal schedule, in a convenience store in the middle of Japan. “YOU CAME BACK!!” she said. That is a moment i’ll always treasure.
Taki San and I on the day I moved out of my apt, August 2018.
That glorious comforting cup of 7-eleven coffee! My go-to!!!
Taki San and I when we reunited in October, 2019!