The crowds along the Ginkgo Avenue in Gaienmae were overflowing with inbound visitors this season.
Back in my university days, I would come here almost every year with close friends. For us, the end of the golden leaves always signaled the arrival of winter. Yet now, the air feels much warmer than it used to.
Another striking difference from those days is, of course, the presence of smartphones. Many young women can be seen eagerly taking photos in search of the perfect “Instagrammable” shot. To me, it feels as though they are photographing with all their might—less about capturing nature as it is, and more about how beautifully it can be presented on screen.
Smartphones are undeniably convenient, allowing us to revisit memories anytime, anywhere. I use mine as well. Still, the golden glow of the ginkgo trees I imprinted in my memory more than 30 years ago remains far sharper than any pixel. I can recall not only the fashion trends of the time, but also the clothes I wore and the expressions on my friends’ faces.
The scenery itself has hardly changed, yet the way people engage with it has transformed dramatically. Fascinating.
The National Stadium, too, has changed greatly—now a refined, urban space. In fact, I even saw a line of Lamborghinis parked nearby.
Jingu’s Second Baseball Stadium, where I once cheered for Sankō, is gone, and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium is being renewed. At the old National Stadium, when Health and Sports Day was still held on October 10, I used to volunteer for the annual “physical fitness tests.” I even recall measuring Prime Minister Kaifu’s grip strength at the time.
The new National Stadium began with the spectator-less Tokyo 2020 Games, and has since hosted the World Athletics Championships and, most recently, the Japan national rugby match. In this way, the city and its people weave history—blending what changes with what endures. And inevitably, time passes, and we are getting older…
