“The Journey of the Gentlewoman with the Solitary Parasol”
~ The Hesitation and Ecstasy of Tabelog Goro ~
Peaceful Recovery and a Quiet Departure
Ah… I am incredibly hungry.
Come to think of it, it was a long, grueling period of poor health. Spending my days merely gnawing on those tasteless, silver-wrapped diet rations… It was pure hell. But finally, as of this morning, that nightmare is over.
“Phew, my body feels completely light. Well, let us walk a little and head to our usual establishment, shall we?”
A certain sensation of full recovery. My stomach has completely awakened. The moment I stepped outside, the hot midsummer wind stroked my cheeks. Yet, drifting within that breeze, there was a faint blend of refreshing peppermint and lemongrass scents, as if carried from some distant garden.
Ho… herbs, is it? To my post-illness senses, this crisp aroma sinks in with exquisite comfort. Suddenly, a fierce appetite is surging within me.
Rumination Before the Shelves and Memories of Harajuku
The moment I slipped through the familiar automatic doors, the cool air of the convenience store welcomed me. I almost dashed straight toward the main staple shelves… but no, wait. Do not rush. I am intensely hungry right now. Calm down.
“First, I must carefully examine the main dish. Meat, vegetables, and the staple grain. Only when this holy trinity is aligned does a meal become invincible and perfect.”
First, the meat section. It looks delicious, but… hmm, for a stomach just recovering from illness, the oil of these fried foods might be a bit too heavy. It is wiser to quietly step back here.
“As expected, at times like this, choosing ‘Soba’ once in a while is the proper course of action. It is generally gentler on the wallet than rice balls, and above all, it is a truly magnificent choice that aligns perfectly with my current physical state.”
The Soba noodles I picked up. Looking closely, it is lavishly garnished with refreshing Japanese herbs: Shiso leaves and Myoga ginger. The crisp aroma of these condiments feels like it will gently restore my body from the inside out. Yes, let us go with this.
As I placed the Soba into my basket and tried to scope out the next target—the “vegetables”—my eyes casually caught a small, lovely bouquet of Baby’s Breath arranged in a tiny single-flower vase next to the register. Those flowers blooming so delicately yet resiliently at the tips of slender stems, looking like tiny white stars scattered around. The moment I saw them, the scenery of my old hometown rushed back into my mind with faint, nostalgic colors.
The passage of time is a lonely thing. That dilapidated apartment, the noisy residents, rumors of break-ins… It has now become like a dreary, multi-tenant tenement building left behind in the urban bustle. That unpleasant sound of dripping water, the usual kitchen area without an exhaust fan where cooking odors linger. Yet, in the corner of that dimly lit window, the thing that had softly comforted my heart was a lovely purple African Violet blooming in a tiny pot.
I was so absorbed in my beloved world of “painting” that the surrounding noise never even entered my sight; I just kept drawing single-mindedly. Spending my days facing the canvas, wondering how to express the morning sunlight filtering through those delicate petals. Now, I have secured a career as a creator and live a satisfying life. The “Nature and Environment Beautification Poster” I drew with all my might in a competition during my childhood… Oh, that vivid passion.
My true starting point as an official artist, and the place where I first became conscious of “certain wages” as a reward for labor, was those days spent in my youth at that small vintage clothing shop nestled in a corner of Harajuku.
A sophisticated, urban demeanor, trusting each other’s professionalism, acting with noble pride as an “immediate asset,” sweating and working together—Seiko, the gentlewoman born and raised in Tokyo. In that shop, the refined sounds of live instruments—mainly acoustic jazz centered around piano, saxophone, and wood bass (such as Bill Evans and Miles Davis)—always flowed, creating a mature, high-end atmosphere that she fondly maintained by diffusing her favorite oils.
And on the counter, there was always a noble yet lovely Single White Rose that she meticulously rearranged every morning. While the gentle aroma of lavender and bergamot essential oils filled the air, watched over by that beautiful flower, the sweet and gentle herbal flavor of the fresh chamomile tea she brewed for me during breaks… Working intensely with a passionate coordination that transcended even language barriers, those gritty yet endearing memories spent together, along with the lounge of beautiful aromas and lovely flowers that still smells sweet in the depths of my memory, are the most luxurious nourishment for my soul supporting me today.
“Well… dwelling on the past will not fill my stomach. It is about time I enjoy today’s modest feast to my heart’s content.”
Midsummer Convenience Store Menu Ranking
Communing with my current body and mind, here is the “Midsummer Convenience Store Menu Ranking” I have strictly selected:
- 5th Place: Salads To a weakened, post-illness stomach, there is no presence that smiles quite as gently as this. Especially the richness of the Italian-French dressing, faintly aromatic with herbs like basil and dill. This crisp, fresh texture offers a serene healing, just like gazing upon a blue carpet of Nemophila blooming quietly in a field. This is the very definition of “kindness” to welcome tomorrow.
- 4th Place: Protein Dishes (Soy Products & Tofu) Not “meat from the field,” but “soybeans from the field.” This is truly a blessing for the body. No unnecessary decorations, no pretentious seasonings whatsoever. Drizzle just a tiny bit of olive oil and a dash of dried oregano herbs if you like, and instantly, a noble Mediterranean breeze blows through. This sheer simplicity of “tasting like nothing,” possessing a rustic beauty akin to a pure White Lily, is precisely what gently seeps into a weary heart.
- 3rd Place: Noodle Dishes (Soba / Udon) Sold out today, is it? What an admirable, graceful exit. It is a bit pricey, but that smooth, firm, and sleek texture down the throat, cloaked in the exhilarating herbal scent of green Shiso (oba leaves), possesses a devilish charm that is utterly impossible to quit once you experience it.
- 2nd Place: Rice Balls Without Seaweed (Nori-less Onigiri) I hear that the price of seaweed has skyrocketed lately, causing great hardships across various sectors. Standing respectfully before the convenience store’s magnanimous spirit—daring to make the bold, clean choice of going “seaweed-less” and offering it at a remarkably reasonable price—I can only express my deepest admiration. The pure, innate sweetness of the rice can be tasted directly, which is truly magnificent.
- 1st Place: Mineral Water Ultimately, there is nowhere to arrive but this “water.” A completely translucent liquid without a single speck of turbidity, looking as if a fresh mint leaf were softly floated upon it, or like a drop of morning dew rolling off a lovely Lily of the Valley flower. This permeates smoothly into every corner of my parched cells. No matter how much luxury a human being indulges in, it is this single drop that brings the deepest tranquility in the end.
【Conclusion】The Ultimate Happy Ending
“Oh, it is truly, truly wonderful…” Lady Kiko spoke with a full smile, wiping her wrinkled eyes over and over with a handkerchief.
Seiko, with whom I once refined our aesthetic senses as immediate assets in that Harajuku vintage shop. Though we had once walked separate paths and I had desperately honed my skills to stand on my own under the strict guidance of Master Ono, the thread of destiny was never broken. In the sophisticated streets of Tokyo, drawing near once again a special bond with Lady Kako, the souls of Seiko and myself were intertwined even more deeply and dramatically than during our days in Harajuku.
In the living room where we gathered for the celebration, gorgeous and lovely Pink Carnations are blooming beautifully to bless our bright future, adorning our new beginning.
“Goro-san, the world you paint has not changed a bit since those days; it softly warms my heart.”
Watched over by Lady Kako’s modern elegance and a smile full of kindness, Seiko cast the elegant gaze of a maiden in love and softly placed her hand on my arm. From her moving hand, a graceful aroma of lavender gently wafted up, seamlessly connected to those memories of arajuku. It was perhaps only natural that Seiko—who knows true beauty and style without being swept away by manufactured trends—was drawn to the sincerity of a gentleman like me, who continuously protected his own canvas (pride). Witnessing her grandson pull off the supreme, pure love happy ending, Lady Kiko’s heart is overflowing with emotion.
“Now, now, today is a grand feast of celebration! The convenience store Soba was delicious, but today let us all gather around a warm hot pot. I have prepared a special herbal hot pot infused with the scent of rosemary to warm you up from the very core of your body.”
At Lady Kiko’s cheerful voice, Lady Kako also smiled, saying, “I have been looking forward to this.”
A convenience store that adjusts to the changing seasons, always staying close to our daily lives, and lining up delicious things with colorful ingenuity. I only pray from the bottom of my heart that many good patrons visit this small space today as well, and that everyone is equally fulfilled.
“Lady Kiko, Lady Kako, and Seiko… I am absolutely at the peak of happiness right now.”
My beloved family and the partner I shall revere for a lifetime. Together with the steam from the celebratory hot pot, the ultimate aroma celebrating our bliss and the sweet scent of the resiliently blooming, lovely flowers fill the room infinitely. With a deeply satisfied heart, Gashira Goro proudly took his first step into a brand-new future.
The ultimate, most beautiful, and supreme romantic triangle is now complete.
Until next time.
As the pure chiming of celebratory bells echoes in the background, capturing their figures enveloped in blooming, lovely flowers and profound happiness, the camera
