Tomorrow is the question. I guess that’s how most of us felt or still feel when it comes to 2020. Uncertainty about many things we used to take for granted. I don’t like routine but I like the small rituals I established for myself.

When I’m trying to sketch my daily routine during the state of emergency here in Tokyo, I got to say that I had everything but a routine. In the middle of the Corona pandemic, my partner and I decided to move into an old house in West Tokyo. It meant that I had to leave my tiny but cosy one-room apartment in Shimokitazawa, a neighbourhood that’s only a short bike ride away from Shibuya. I took me some time to get used to the idea that I had to leave my home in the middle of this uncertain situation. But here in Japan, it’s pretty common to refer to “timing”, and now looking back I think it was one of those moments. Things fell into place very naturally.

Our top 5 records

Wataru Takada - Go Aisatsu [ごあいさつ] (1971)
YMO Yellow Magic Orchestra (1978)
Kunio Maramatsu - Animals (1985)
Sandii & The Sunsetz - Immigrants (1982)
麻里圭子, 杉並児童合唱団　さよならロボットばあや

Once the decision was made, we had quite some work to do at the old house. Tidying up, unpacking, some fixing here and there. We juggled so many things at the same time. At night we would fall asleep exhausted, wondering what the next day would bring. I don’t recall having spent that much time with anyone before. Looking back at those photos I took during our little adventure, I can’t help but think that we were stuck in our own small bubble. Corona haircuts, home office, Corona birthdays, bento box lunch on top of a moving box mountain, total chaos and always a great record playing in the background. Takahiro is a passionate record and CD collector and there would be no day without him pulling out some records saying “Oh you have to listen to this one, I think you will love it”. New home, new rituals.

LOCKDOWN DIARY PART 8. YAMAGUCHI IRENE