A National Infection...?

By the end of the year, the number of people wearing a mask gets increase so much, and it ends in the end of spring. If you go outside, you'll see a lot of people on the train or passing streets with a white mask. Maybe it looks so weird for you, and you might think that a big infection is spreading. Actually, my friend from another country asked me why a lot of people were wearing a mask so much. It can be classified into two main reasons.

Firstly, during winter, it's because of the flu. It's so dry in winter, so flu becomes popular. People don't want to catch it, so we try to avoid it by wearing a mask.

The second reason is pollinosis. It is said almost 40% of Japanese population is allergic to Japanese cedar's pollen. The condition of the patients depends on the person, but it cause sneezing, nose running, and itching eyes. The pollinosis is characteristic in Japan, because we have a lot of Japanese cedar trees in the main island, and it's unique in the world. Why do we have the tree this much is, after the Second World War, government recommended planting Japanese cedars to the places trees were cut off during the war. Because the tree grows up straightly, and it's easy to process. So a lot of cedar forests were made in the era. But after a while, a lot of cheap woods from abroad came to Japan, and the cedars prise went down. The owners of the cedar forests couldn't make money with them anymore and stopped taking care of the forests. Therefore the neglected forests' pollen spreads trough Japan by the wind and cause pollinosis patients. We even have some pollen forecast on TV in this season. It might be so funny when you see such a thing, but pollinosis is that serious thing for us.

Anyway, in the winter, you should care because you might get flu from someone. But in this time flu is almost over. Maybe you won't bet allergic to Japanese cedar if you grew up in other countries, so you don't have to be scared of people that are hanging around with a mask.

Wandering at Night

Walking around at night is something fresh. The view changes into another face; the quiet street, dark forests..even the park you know well looks something mysterious and makes you feel like a stranger. I like a silent park at night. It feels strange if I sit on a bench and listen carefully. The wind blowing, leaves rustling, humans living noises from somewhere...while sitting there, I notice that temperature is cold with the air touching my cheeks. It feels like my sensitivities are sharpened.

I've heard that the 80% of information from outside comes from eyes. It means, we get most of the information through looking at something. And I also heard if we lose something of our sense organs, other ones get more sensitive. Maybe that's why. The weak light showing me the things in the park with deep shadows doesn't give me information enough. So I'm like a blind and my other antennas pay attention to get as much information as they can. I like the small tense atmosphere like this. It doesn't feel like the atmosphere that I feel at work, or when I'm doing something. It is something special for me.

Anyway, I like walking around at night. And I like staying somewhere during the stroll. Sitting somewhere, listening carefully to small noises that I don't pay attention normally, looking at mysterious light and shadow...It makes me feel special sometimes and helps me to cheer up myself.

A Small Happiness

I want to live a life that I can feel a small happiness in the future; for example, I don't need to go movie once in a week, but want a big TV (It doesn't have to be too big), get some rental videos sometimes and watch them with my friends or who I like. Sometimes want to buy small yummy sweets and eat them with tea or coffee. I think my life will get a little bit happier if I can make good tea and coffee at home. I think food is important. If I can eat good and healthy foods a lot, my life will be much better. It doesn't mean I'm not eating good food now, but I want to eat some impressing food sometimes. Going eat outside is good too since I can taste something that I can't eat at home.

I want to go shopping sometimes. Want to see clothes, accessories etc. I don't care about other people's eyes. I don't choose clothes to be popular by guys; fashion is my self satisfaction, so I just wanna wear what I like.

I want to go somewhere sometimes. It doesn't have to be a big trip (of course I'm so happy if I can travel a lot). Going to some small mountains, rivers, and lakes is good enough. Feeling nature, smelling natural air feels good.

In total, maybe I just want some good spice and a few good companions in my life. At the same time, I don't wanna be a person that can't be impressed by every little thing. Hopefully, I can be happy with small things and spend time without getting too stressed and unhealthy life. I don't wish to be young like now permanently, but want to be pretty as my age. Not just outside but inside too. If I can always feel a small happiness, maybe that will be the ideal future that I picture now.