Starting the Journey

I guess you could say this is the beginning. But is it really?

My Journey to Japan started much earlier. I was a little girl trying to find a place to explore on a rainy afternoon. Outside was forbidden - mother did not appreciate mud - and I was a little girl searching for an escape from the grey indoors and the sound of thunder, despite the fact that I consider myself a pluviophile.

I ended up tucked away in a corner of our sitting room. Father had just received an order of books that now graced the solemn shelves of the bookcase. I balanced one on the knobby points of my knees and began to travel in a world of ink and paper. This was but the start of many journeys, and certainly not the last.

The world of paper explored the cultures of the past and the history of many lands. It was here that I was introduced to the magical land of Japan. Here I saw ancient cities rise and fall, fairy tales and magic explored, and elegance summarized in a simple cup of tea. Since then Japan has been a small passion of mine. Now I am here in a land steeped in culture and tradition and I can’t wait to start my own personal journey to find Kaizen.

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