GregHeadley.com

Nagoya revisited

Just after my last set a guy approached to speak with me. Now, my Japanese language skills were and are basically non-existent, but everyone I met there tried very hard to speak English so communication was never much of an issue. This guy in Nagoya seemed to know some English words but he had trouble with his syntax. All I could tell was that he wanted to express some feeling that the music had instilled in him. He had a strange look on his face, almost hostile, and he was very much in my personal space (which is uncommon in Japanese culture). I figured he had been drinking so I didn't think much of it, and I had the feeling he was trying to express his dislike of the music so I was wondering how to be diplomatic with just body language and hand gestures. Finally, he was able to put English words to his thoughts. He said to me very deliberately, "this night impression: long ago, far away" and gave me a broad smile. Kiyoharu later helped me to understand that this fellow enjoyed the music, especially the trio set with Kiyoharu, Mototeru, and me and he was merely frustrated by the fact that his English was not eloquent enough to express his feelings. I was truly moved by his words.