Living in Japan, it’s always interesting to observe the various “when worlds collide” moments that come along every once in a while. I remember back when J-List’s Tomo came to work here, nine years ago. Like many Japanese who grew up in the postwar period, Tomo has always had a lot of respect for the music culture of the West, and he basically taught himsef English by translating and memorizing songs by the Stones and Led Zeppelin. I don’t think he ever expected to meet an American who had done the opposite, embracing Japanese pop culture in order to learn his language, as I’ve done. One day we were talking about the classic 1972 song “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan, which a student of mine had ironically played at her wedding, not understanding the words. I was sure was a Beatles song for some reason, and I’ll never forget the look of utter shock on his face that an American could get a fact like that wrong. Ever since coming to Japan I’ve loved onsen, Japan’s volcanic hot springs, and I’ve been to dozens all over the country. When Tomo told me that he almost never went to hot springs, I was equally shocked that a person could live here and not love the bathing culture as I do. It was quite an educational experience for both of us, and these days, he goes to hot springs and I know more about Gilbert O’Sullivan.
29th June 1966
