Why I am excited to be going back to Japan

Before going to Japan for the second time, I have been practising my origami skills.

I love the way a simple square coloured piece of paper can be magically transformed by a series of crisp folds into an object of surprising elegance and beauty.

In Japan, I am hoping to learn a few more paper-folding skills. But in preparation, I have already made a couple of mobiles, one composed of 50 paper cranes for my granddaughter Julie, and one consisting of a mix of rabbits and flapping cranes for our grandchildren’s playroom.

Our tour of Japan takes us to Takayama, Kanazawa and Kyoto as well as to the lovely island of Miyajima, mainly to see the beautiful fall foliage colours.

But we will also visiting Hiroshima for the first time. And I’m looking forward to seeing the statue of Sadako Sasaki, the little girl who set out to fold 1,000 paper cranes before, sadly, she died from radiation sickness caused by the atomic bomb that was dropped on the city on August 6, 1945.

For Sadako, the little paper crane represented a wish for peace and health, not just for herself, but for all children of the world.

Like others around around the world, I love her thinking and was deeply touched by her efforts to fold so many cranes; if you have ever folded just one, you will know what a challenge it can be to do it perfectly.

We will be starting our trip at the weekend in Tokyo, a city that has always impressed me, not simply because of its sheer size – 35 million people, making it the biggest in the world – but also because of the amazing calm and peace and quiet the city enjoys in its many, compact neighbourhoods, and how politely the people live together in such confined spaces.

This time, I want see a little more of the Shibuya area, especially at night when the neon lights are at their best, and I am also keen to explore more the Ebisu neighbourhood, famous for its narrow streets and many tiny restaurants and bars.

In preparation, I have been learning a little Japanese and I feel much more prepared to deal with issues such as removing my shoes to walk in sensitive places; I got in trouble last time for sneaking up some stairs at a restaurant to see what was there, only to be told off for not having removed my shoes.

All was quickly forgiven when I apologized but I will never forget what an offence it can be to walk with shoes where shoes are not allowed.

My plan is to post some photos and write some short pieces on our trip as we move, so you can follow along. Please feel free to leave comments.

swhysall@hotmail.com