Chibi-Robo merits my commendable points.
Akihabara was being inundated by rain. The maid girls wore an additional layer of clear raincoat, and I was pleased to see that almost every store sells inexpensive plastic umbrellas for 500 yen. After traveling the whole length of the nation by train for two weeks with a rucksack that was almost the size of a refrigerator, I was worn out. The only thing I could fit in my stomach that night was a donut and a cup of tea from Mister Donut since I had a knot in my back, was having trouble sleeping, and was constantly sick.
2014 saw most people around me in disbelief that I would be visiting Japan by myself. The thought sprang out of nowhere. I had never gone on a solo trip before, I seldom had a day without experiencing worry, and I had been a very finicky eater for the most of my life. I wasn't exactly the worldwide traveler—I was a homebody and an introvert. What then changed abruptly? Why did I go to such lengths to see another nation?
That was an online game. One that was never released in the United States.
When I was a child, I often saw Japanese video games released that were never released in North America. Fortunately, it's less of a problem now that we have businesses like Atlas, NIS, and Xseed bringing otherwise esoteric games into our possession. This wasn't always the case, however. Doshin the Giant, Giftpia, Mother 3; a lot of information was withheld from me since I was unable to comprehend the language.
Kaeri! Chibi-Robo Happy Richie Osoujii! on DS was the mother's backbreaking crack. After the 3DS replaced the DS in 2011, I ultimately lost up hope that it will ever be launched in North America. It was first introduced in Japan in 2009. I became so frustrated that I had had enough. I got some reading material and started trying to pick up the language.At the time, my sole exposure to Japanese culture was from video games. Even though I was a geek, I hadn't really explored anime outside of trite shows like Pokemon and Robotech. I didn't know much about the nation, so I didn't start learning more about its culture until I started my language learning journey. And I fell in love right away.
It seemed harmless enough at first. I obtained a Crunchyroll membership, imported a few Famicom games, and studied. When I eventually found Game Center CX, things started to really take off. I went to onsen and game centers, saw Shinya Arino reminisce about the good old days of gaming, and had peculiar delicacies. I learned about vending machines on every corner, tatami flooring and futons, and an all-encompassing train system via my studies. The calm countryside, the ever-present mountains, and the busy city streets. It was totally out of context, but it felt so comfortable and familiar.
There were several obstacles in the way of my very instant desire to travel there. You may think that my nervousness or my lack of language skills would be my main worries, but no—it was my finicky eating. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but my family always said that I was really choosy. Heaven help you if I see anything green on there; my sandwiches were turkey and mayo, and my tacos were meat and cheese. In retrospect, I'm not sure how I made it through, but I managed to locate the most basic items by navigating the culinary landscape.
It's hard to get past finicky eating, but I was committed. I included as much as I could into my diet as soon as I could. Vegetables, sushi, and curry—a crazy rush to detach my mind from my stomach. I would tell myself to "put it in your mouth." "Score it on flavor alone, not ingredient content." That may seem absurd to those who haven't experienced the issue, but mentally, it was upheaval.
I had a rather open itinerary for the trip. That was my goal: to fit as much as I could into the two weeks while yet allowing myself enough time to savor each location. I simply leaped the seas with a huge rucksack, a tablet, and a camera, and a list of sites I wanted to visit. Yes, you read correctly—I was without a phone. I made reservations for a few hotels ahead of time, but I made reservations for a lot of the locations I visited the night before.
My first action upon landing in Tokyo after a 13-hour journey was to take a bath. My second action was to vomit up, which was the first time I realized that was a manifestation of my anxiousness. I woke up that night tightly hugging my bedsheets. Why? The room was located on the 43rd story of the APA Hotel in Chiba, and I'm frightened of heights. In the middle of my sleep, for whatever reason, my body became intensely aware of my altitude and decided I needed to know right then.
I'll give you a brief overview of the trip instead of boring you with the whole journal. Everything went well! Actually, everything went really smoothly. As far west as Fukuoka and as far north as Nagano. Although there were occasional problems, I never spent any nights sleeping at a train station. I watched a mass salaryman migration, won a refrigerator's worth of crane machine rewards, tasted a lot of the menu from the vending machine, and actually ate food that I didn't recognize. What matters is that I saw a great deal of the nation, experienced a great deal, and departed with all of my fingers still connected. the objectives of all travelers, I'm sure.
This takes us full circle to my last night in Akihabara. I intended to bring home two souvenirs: a Wonderswan Crystal and Okaeri! Chibi-Robo!. After searching stores throughout the nation in vain, I at last found what I was looking for in Tokyo's storied electrical sector. At last, I could return home feeling successful.
And ever then, I've want to return, but things have changed significantly in my life. Perhaps in the future.
Since then, my studies in Japanese have stalled. I mean, I achieved my objective, and these days, Japanese-only releases are far more uncommon. I can now fully comprehend Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! and can even share it with my mother thanks to a fan translation. My motivation isn't exactly the same, but I still want to learn the language well.
I don't regret my sudden decision to go, even if it may have been motivated by some little concern. It provided me the assurance that, with enough work, I could get beyond any obstacle and realize my goals. That hasn't always been the case, kids—anxiety may prevail occasionally. Nevertheless, I don't believe I would be here if I hadn't discovered that it's OK to take chances and follow my desires. And for nothing more than the inability of a little robot game to pick up my language.