Japanese Mysteries With Kindaichi

Some novels by Japanese authors in my collection

Beautiful Writing And Ingenious Plot

When Your Taste Buds Change

Embracing A Pescatarian Lifestyle

I have been self-studying Japanese seriously since I made plans to visit Japan in October 2025. I wanted to spend a couple of months attending a language school in Fukuoka, while exploring the country, and I wanted to go with some basic knowledge of the language. As I've mentioned in previous posts, anime gave me some happy childhood memories and made me feel less lonely. I have been into Japanese music, dramas and movies for years, so it felt normal for me to want to learn the language.

Although I understand Japanese due to my interest in anime and dramas, I can't speak or read the language. There are many books and manga without French or English translation that I would love to read. That's why in Spring 2024, I bought some Japanese textbooks to self-study before my trip to Japan. As you already know, I couldn't make the trip last year, but I'm still learning Japanese on my own. I listen to podcasts during my commute and practice Hiragana whenever I have time. 

It's been going well, but I have to admit that I feel stuck; it seems like I haven't been making any progress with my reading and speaking. I don't have anyone to speak to, which is understandable, and I'm planning to go to Japan this summer for a few days. It would be a good opportunity to improve my language skills and finally make my childhood dream come true. I know Summer isn't the best time to visit Japan, and I was thinking of going in spring for my birthday, but I want to watch the new Kingdom movie in cinemas when it's screening in Japan. 

My Motivation To Learn Kanji

Japanese Literature Books and Manga

I visited Kyoto Garden for the first time after moving to London this summer. I had plans to visit Japan in October, as autumn is my favourite season, but I had to cancel due to a change in circumstances. I've been dreaming of going to Japan since I was a teenager, and it wasn't an easy decision to make.

I thought about learning more about Japanese culture here in London until I can finally make the trip. I had heard so much about Kyoto Garden, so it made sense to go there. On a weekday, I left home in the morning to visit Kyoto Garden, located in Holland Park. I would like to go before it's flooded with tourists, as it's a popular spot in London.

The journey to Kyoto Garden took nearly two hours, but it was worth it, as I didn't expect to find a corner of Japan in London. It was my first time seeing a Japanese garden in real life, and it was breathtaking and an oasis of calm in a busy city.

Kyoto Garden: A Symbol Of Friendship In London

Before setting off on my journey, I tried to find out more about Kyoto Garden and why there was a corner of Japan in London. Kyoto Garden is a gift from the city of Kyoto to the city of London, as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the UK. The garden opened in 1991 and was designed by Shoji Nakahara.

It isn't just a symbol of the friendship between Japan and the UK, but the garden is also to mark the 1992 Japan Festival in London, which is still held each year. I attended the Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square for the first time this summer.

My interest in Japanese culture began with anime, then gradually shifted towards music, food, movies and dramas. As much as I'm interested in the culture, I've never been to Japan, so there's still a lot for me to learn. That's why I visited Kyoto Garden, and it was an amazing experience to walk around the garden, listening to the waterfall while standing by the koi pond.

A stone lantern by a koi pond with a yellow koi in Kyoto Garden

An Oasis Of Calm In London

Life has been unpredictable since starting over in London last summer. I'm still trying to find my place in this beautiful city, and spending a few minutes in Kyoto Garden gave me a much-needed moment of peace. It was such a serene moment to stand by the koi pond and watch the wildlife while listening to the waterfall.

Things haven't been easy for me since I moved to London, but I've found peace while walking around the garden. Nothing mattered but the colourful koi swimming in the pond, the bright colours of autumn, the soothing sound of the waterfall and the fallen leaves paving the ground. The garden isn't big and can be explored in a few minutes, but it's such an oasis of calm in a busy city like London.

It felt like taking a stroll in the garden of an old Japanese house; it was a beautiful and healing moment. After walking around the garden, I sat at a bench to look at the people taking photos in front of the waterfall. I spent less time exploring Kyoto Garden than I did travelling there, but it was worth it. I highly recommend adding Kyoto Garden to your list of places to visit in London!

As a teenager, I read a book called Les Roses De Dublin by Louis Valentin, in which the story takes place in Dublin. I loved it so much that I promised myself to visit Dublin one day; it finally happened in December 2023 when I started my solo travel journey.

I chose Dublin for my first solo trip to make a childhood dream come true, but also because of its proximity and familiarity. I put all my travel plans on hold to care for my daughters, and since becoming a mother, they haven't left my side until they moved in with their dad.

I was unsure if I was ready for my first solo trip, so it was best to choose a European destination that's both close and culturally similar to England or France. Dublin was both affordable and perfect for a first solo trip.

Feeling Nostalgic For The '90s

I went to Dublin for a couple of days, thinking it would be enough for me to visit the city. I travelled in December, and the Christmas decorations were stunning as soon as I landed at the airport. I took a coach from Dublin Airport to the city centre as there is no train connection.

The journey was less than an hour, and Dublin may not be as big as Paris or London, but it has a unique charm that made me fall in love with the city. So I didn't go straight to my Airbnb and went sightseeing first. The Ha'penny Bridge is a landmark I've been meaning to see since I read Les Roses De Dublin.

It felt nostalgic to walk down the streets of Dublin, even though it was my first time in the city, and I suddenly found myself thinking about life in the 90s. Back then, most people didn't have access to mobile phones and the internet, so as a kid, I laughed at my dad's jokes during dinner.

Things I Miss From The '90s

This might come across as biased, but I think our generation had the best childhood growing up in the '90s. Those days were amazing, and as a mother with two preteen daughters, I wanted to share that experience with my daughters. I began collecting vintage items, including porcelain tea sets, chandeliers, VHS tapes, and vintage consoles, among other things.

I had an impressive vintage collection before moving to London, and on my first day in Dublin, I felt nostalgic about the things that made up my childhood. Still, I had to leave them behind to keep up with the times, and what I miss the most about the '90s is handwritten letters and postcards. My parents were strict and didn't allow me to make friends in school, so I spent most of my time in my bedroom, watching anime and reading books.

When I was 15, I picked up one of my sister's magazines and came across the pen pal section while flipping the pages. It piqued my curiosity, and I started reading the messages. One stood out to me: a German boy, a couple of years older than me, was looking for friends around the world. I went back to my room and started writing a letter to this boy, as I wanted to be his friend.

My First Handwritten Letter

It took a couple of days to write what I thought was a good letter, and then I sent it to the address he provided in the message. It was the first time I did something without asking my parents first, as I thought they wouldn't let me send the letter. I was nervous and kept wondering if he would be interested in being friends with me. We didn't even speak the same language; what if he wants to be friends with boys only?!

I couldn't sleep for a couple of days after sending the letter, and I checked the letterbox every time I got home from school. Life wasn't convenient back then, as it is nowadays with emails, mobile phones, and apps for almost everything. Handwritten letters were the most common way to communicate; the house phone was also used to stay in touch with friends and family, but it was expensive. I was so anxious to hear back from the German boy that I had a tightness in my throat for days and kept telling myself it was fine if he wasn't interested in being friends with me.

But it wasn't fine, as I could barely eat or sleep, and to be honest, anticipating a letter that might never come is the only thing I don't miss about receiving handwritten letters. I was losing my mind waiting for his response; it took up to two weeks for international mail to arrive back then, and it felt like I had been waiting for months. It finally came when I gave up and moved on. I went straight to my room after school that day without even checking the letterbox, when my mother walked in and handed me an envelope.

The Charm Of Handwritten Letters And Postcards

I opened the envelope without waiting for my mother to leave the room. There was a handwritten letter and a postcard inside, both written in French. He sent me a postcard of his hometown. It's been years, and I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was one of the happiest days of my life. I received a handwritten letter and a postcard from abroad on the same day; it was almost too good to be true for a girl who had no friends.

The uncertainty of getting a response kept me on edge for days, but I was happy I took the initiative to send a letter. When I read his letter, it felt as though we were in the same room talking to each other. I didn't know what he looked like, but I could picture him saying those words to me. He asked his French teacher to help him write the letter, which is why it took so long to hear from him.

I always looked forward to receiving his letters or postcards. We even exchanged photos and spoke on the phone at some point, although we didn't say much and had some awkward silence. It was a beautiful and innocent friendship, and for the first time, I understood what it meant to be someone's friend through his handwritten letters. We talked about meeting in person, but my mother was against it.

The Warmth And Closeness Of Handwritten Letters

Our friendship lasted over a year, but we eventually grew apart as we each found new interests. It happened decades ago, and I have no idea where he is now, but I'll never forget the excitement I felt expecting one of his letters. It's one of those feelings that stays with you even after the memory starts to fade. A handwritten letter is just words on a piece of paper, but there is warmth and closeness to it that you can't feel from emails.

Although communication is more convenient nowadays, I do miss the charm of handwritten letters, and I wish I had friends to exchange them with. I received my last handwritten letter from a stranger back in 2023. He purchased an item from my vintage collection and sent me a thank-you note afterwards. During my trip to Dublin, I realised that I didn't have to wait for a family member to send a handwritten postcard. I could send them to myself in every city I visit. It was a great way to keep track of the cities I visit while enjoying the charm of handwritten letters and postcards.

The anticipation won't be the same as it would if it came from someone else, but it would be exciting nonetheless. So I purchased some postcards in Dublin and sent them to myself, which were displayed on a board in the corridor at my old house. I have yet to start collecting them since moving to London, and would love to have a friend to exchange postcards with...

I share my thoughts on my podcast The Hushed Journal, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episodes on Wednesdays and Sundays; feel free to join me for a chat. See the links below.

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Thank you for reading!