MAKING FRIENDS

In Japan, April is Sakura season. We look up at the trees and wait for that perfect moment when the buds finally burst into color. But if you look closely, new friendships are blooming all around us—sometimes even on the morning subway.

A couple of years ago, I noticed a man who waited at the same subway doors as I did, twice a week. At first, we were just strangers in the same space. Then came the mutual nods. Eventually, we graduated to "hello" in Japanese.

One morning, I said, “Good morning! How are you today? “That one sentence opened a whole new world. It turns out he was a massive fan of American and British rock music! Because of his love for those bands, his English was fantastic. Now, those two mornings a week aren't just a commute; they are a deep dive into rock history. Like a cherry blossom tree, that friendship took time to "bud," but the result was worth the wait.

I hope you can make many new friends in April!