Long Living Tortoise's Walk in Tokyo
"Notice of absence"
Yoshie Iimori
November 5, 2001
When meeting with new people, we often lightly ask "What do you do for a living?". At times like that, if the atmosphere permits, I always reply "My regular work is to walk. But I also go to the office as a side business." I'd say that my regular work reaches its peak in autumn. First of all, it's because the weather is generally fine, and the moderate temperature is very favorable for walking. My walking plan for this year has become quite large-scaled, rather like a trip. To Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Okayama...a turtle somehow get wings and flies out just as it pleases. (Though some of the trips are on my side business) Thus it's a bit disappointing, but I don't have a lot of time to walk in Tokyo.
That's why I've been getting into the troublesome habit of going and exploring a town whenever I get a minute of time before an appointment or something. In spite of myself, I can't help becoming unaware of the passage of time, and I'd check out the structure of a shopping street, observe the exterior of an ancient-looking café, and sip a cup of coffee which is a bit on the high side as compared with one at a big chain coffee shop. Then when I finally become aware of time, I would find myself dashing out of the shop saying "Oops, it's the time for the appointment!" The day flies by so swiftly. It's just as if I were watching pictures in fast forward. Since there are a great variety of spaces in Tokyo, the way time flows varies from one place to another, and it's quite interesting to adjust myself to go along with it.
I'll be away from such enjoyable Tokyo exploration for a while. I'm going to pass over Tokyo for this month, and enjoy autumn throughout the country. I wonder what sort of things I will be able to come across.
Translated by Maiko Noda
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