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!
View of Mount Fuji from Shinkansen to Shizuoka 2016 - Photography: Francisca Hagen
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.
View of Mount Fuji from airplane home 2016 - Photography: Francisca Hagen
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!
