Day Ten: Hibiya

Mothers day in japan is very much like mothers day in America.

There are a few things that we as human beings inherently possess regardless of race or culture. Some of these things might be the need for love. Some baser instincts like greed also transcend these cultural barriers and bring the whole world together, which is ironic in that greed is the cause of so much devastation and sadness in the world.

Im just sitting here minding my own business, continuing to play music, maybe even write a song about whats going on in my mind.

A Japanese couple holds hands in the park as they watch a young couple doing the same. They tell one another that they love one another. A father with a Mohawk holds the hand of his young son, just barely learning to walk. Another couple calmly walks by pushing a stroller, smiling so wide at their new baby that it seems as if that is the only expression they could know.

As was the story in hibiya park. As I was sitting and noticing all these things, thinking deeply and beginning to try to write a song, a dude named Jessie came up and started playing some blues songs on the guitar with me.

Then after a while, his friend makoto showed up.


these pictures of course were taken after the two had both arrived on the scene, otherwise their guitars wouldnt be in each others picture.

We eventually found ourselves performing for lots of people in the park. I told some guy to take pictures for me playing, but I reckon he didn’t get the point.

makoto was, for all intents and purposes, just the japanese willie nelson. we played bob dylan songs for a good twenty minutes.

And this is how I spent the most eventful three hours of my mothers day. The rest of the time was spent making balloon creations back at harajuku. For the most part, that was a bust, I didn’t get any tips and the amazingness of the ballooning was drowned out by the usual avant garde harajuku street performers.

i couldnt tell if this beautiful japanese woman was pre-op or post-op.

Which brings me back to my original point about the inherent qualities of human beings.
One of the most important ones of all is the love parents have for their children. It may in fact be the most important one of all. We learn from our parents and we have children of our own, continuing the cycle based upon our own experiences with our parents.

I was personally blessed to have the finest mother in the whole world.

My mother has always been my friend and given me a safe place to go during times of need. She has offered me unconditional love and given me the courage to live my dreams.

Aside from being my mother, she has served as my guidance counselor, shrink, dermatologist and barber.

The love of a mother for her child is a marvelous thing, so perfect while appearing so subtle, it is powerful.

No matter what any other folks think, my mother is in fact the best one in the whole world.

I thank god for such a wonderful mother and love her from the bottom of my heart.

Happy mothers day to all mothers, but especially my own!