Kōjimachi
Mao Abe
Text

The trains and bus stops of the Tokyo I arrived at after leaving the South shouldering my bags
are overcrowded; you can go anywhere, even places you don’t know

One day some adult said
We’ll provide you taxi vouchers, but even before that
They said with a face as if it was ordinary: “The next meeting will be in Kōjimachi.”

Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is which way?
Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is which way?
You’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that, who are you?
Who are you?
Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is where

The billboards of Tokyo are all covered in writing
I have no clue if it’s because kindness or to cause bewilderment
The taxi drivers talk as if to confuse
Setagaya Street, Komazawa Street, 246, Kōshū Road,
Kannana Street, Kanpachi Street, Daisan Keihin Road, Kyūyamate . . . by the way

Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is which way?
Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is which way?
You say "That’s a lie right? That’s a joke right?" Who are you?
Who are you?
Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is

I’ve lived in this town for eight years, now I’ve already become a splendid Tokyoite but
Because of the meeting that eventually happened that day I still don’t know

Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is which way?
Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is which way?
You’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that, who are you?
Who are you?
Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is, Kōjimachi is ...
Was it here?
© Shane D. Anderson 2015. All rights reserved.