Farewell Morning in Japan
On December 7th, I finally left Japan. Before heading to the airport, I opened my backpack and found a side dish my father had given me the day before. Even though I was already full, I ate it as a last taste of home before stepping into the departure gate.
As I walked through the terminal, the whirlwind of the past week kept playing on repeat in my mind. So many memories, so much energy absorbed and spent. I knew I couldn't hold onto those moments in their purest form forever, but I wanted to burn them into my memory as deeply as I could. I didn't know when I would be back again. Maybe in a few years, maybe not until after I've completed my seven-year journey around the world. That uncertainty made every conversation, every moment in Japan feel precious.
Unexpected Obstacles at Departure
At the check-in counter, things suddenly became complicated. The staff handed me a paper stating: "There is a possibility you may be denied entry into Malaysia."
The reason was simple: without proof of onward travel to a third country, Malaysia could refuse entry. To avoid taking responsibility, the airline required me to sign a waiver. In fact, they almost didn't let me board without a ticket out of Malaysia. It was frustrating, but I ended up buying a cheap bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore—about 1,000 yen—as a "throwaway ticket." With that, I was finally cleared to board.
Travel is full of unexpected hurdles like this. And yet, it's through these moments that we sharpen our ability to adapt. In a way, this flexibility is just as important as the journey itself.
In the Air
My route was set: Japan to Beijing, then on to Kuala Lumpur with China Eastern Airlines. I appreciated that meals were provided on every flight, and this time I ordered a pork bento—something I wouldn't find once I entered the Muslim world.
But the flight itself was far from peaceful. A man stood in the aisle for hours because of leg pain, children ran around freely, and at one point someone leaned across me with a smartphone to capture the view outside the window while I was trying to sleep.
Part of me was annoyed—such self-centered behavior can easily irritate others. But another part of me couldn't help but see a kind of raw honesty in it. These people were living without restraint, without the heavy weight of worrying about what others thought. In Japan, we often hold back to avoid inconveniencing those around us. Seeing people act so freely, I felt both uncomfortable and strangely envious of their uninhibited way of being.
Arrival in Malaysia
Hours later, I landed in Kuala Lumpur. The flight had left me drained, both mentally and physically. With no energy left, I simply found a spot in the airport and rested until morning.
It wasn't the smoothest beginning, but it was real. And in that exhaustion, I reminded myself: every journey begins this way—messy, unpredictable, but full of lessons.
