Chasing Winter

 

Hokkaido

Have anyone of you ever heard of the famous Japanese love song First Love by Utada Hikaru? I’m 100% sure it’s my favorite Japanese song—and the only one I’ve managed to memorize completely. This song was actually released in 1999, but it became famous again in recent years because of the J-drama First Love. I first listened to it when I was in primary school. My dad would play it all the time and even made it his phone ringtone. So every time his phone rang, this song would play—and this went on for at least the next ten years.

I’ve always had a thing for the Japanese language—probably thanks to watching NHK channels. I love how NHK comes up with all these creative ways to introduce Japan to the world. They showcase so many interesting cultural aspects, and the best part is how much the Japanese people themselves love and take pride in their culture. It’s so cool how they’re always eager to share it with others! 

When I got a little older, I decided to Google the meaning of the lyrics of First Love. That’s when I finally understood the real meaning of the song! Before that, I only knew the English part of the lyrics. After searching, I was like, 'Ahh, now I get it!' Maybe it’s because of the influence of the Jdrama First Love, but every time this song plays in my playlist, a snowy, wintery Japan instantly pops into my head. And when people talk about winter in Japan, it’s definitely Hokkaido! Tokyo used to be the place I wanted to visit most in Japan, but now, it’s all about Hokkaido. There’s just so much I want to do there—experience the snow festival, try the local Hokkaido ice cream made with Hokkaido milk, stroll along the snowy lanes, and soak in the unique smell of winter.

the famous scene!

Another big reason I really want to visit Japan is probably because of Detective Conan! They always visit so many places in the anime, and it’s so cool how it’s often based on real-life locations. The latest movie, Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram, was set in Hakodate, Hokkaido. After watching it in the cinema, my urge to go to Hokkaido got even stronger! If I were to rank Japan in my heart, it’d probably go like this: Hokkaido, Kyoto, Tokyo... (with Tokyo still holding a special place, of course!)

Hakodate city