#5 Welcome to Sendai, "City of Trees"
Middle of September, 2018
Departure from New Chitose Airport, arrival in Sendai Airport
It's been a few years since last time. After one-year exchange study abroad, it was the first domestic trip. Anyway, the purpose of this trip was a birthday party inviting relative families to celebrate my great-grandmother's 102nd.
But it's not the subject for today. The party was held at a hall, in a hotel, with buffet-style dinner. Youths were bored to listen to aged karaoke songs with their mouths just opened. The protagonist, who was born in Taisho period sang so old songs that weren't found on karaoke.
A few hours earlier, the case, or it would be rather to be said "bizarre phenomenon" trapped me.
You can get a comfortable transportation, Japan Railways, from the airport to the city center without any transfer. I came along with my mother for this short trip. My grandmother had already arrived a few days earlier, so that we were agreed to meet up later on that day.
The "phenomenon" has, in the JR, alreadyyy! beguuun!
Right or not, since it's Saturday, the train was full of passengers and seats were all occupied, and that forced two of us to stand, but that wasn't a problem because it doesn't take much time.
"Monday & Thursday" are for "Household Waste" in Aoba ward, Sendai city
On the train, of course there are straps, and passengers stand facing to those who sitting. This is quite the same in buses and subways in Sapporo, so it doesn't make any problem either.
It seemed like both of us noticed the "weirdness" at the same time.
There was a seat for three in front of us, and it was occupied. I don't remember what kind of person one of them was, but the "strangeness" was the rest two passengers.
I had already got them in my sight when we got on the train because they were seated right in front of us. A few minutes after the JR left the airport, we chatted like, "Many young people are out here today, don't you think?", then suddenly, we found some sorts of "bizarre phenomenon" was happening right around us.
Two women (probably). Both are early 20s, possibly college student (approximately). With the same clothes. They aren't talking much.
Perfectly the same clothes.
Not only the clothes. Shoes, bags, even hairstyle were exactly the same. It's not something ordinary such as just colors or shapes. They both have them of the same brands. Not the uniform or whatsoever.
The only difference was their faces.
Although Sendai is a large city, it is known throughout Japan as a modern city in harmony with nature. The city possesses beautiful scenery, such as the Hirose-gawa River that runs through central Sendai, and the lush zelkova trees that line its streets.
--- Overview of Sendai City
Retrieved from Sendai City's website (https://www.city.sendai.jp/koryu/foreignlanguage/en/sendai/profile.html)
It is possible for two people to wear the same clothe. The most common case would be parents making their kids put on. Especially that seemingly happens for twins more often. Those two could be sisters. No, do girls like them, aged at college student, wear things like that? At least they are not identical sisters for their faces.
This doubt was wiped away soon.
Another pair is there.
As soon as I found a strange couple in front of us, I looked each other with my mother. We couldn't say it out of our mouths because they may hear us, but looking around to hide that I'm upset, I soon realized there's another pair.
Completely the same situation. Two girls with the same clothes of the same brand with the same colors. The even have the same umbrella.
This is "unusual".
I talked to my mother by looking her eyes.
She found one more thing.
Another pair is there.
Three pairs in this small space. It made laughs up to my throat. I've heard of "twin fashion", but is it even possible to encounter three of them at once?
We eventually arrived in Sendai station, and it couldn't be helped to talk about that. Something is wrong, is this usual in Sendai?
As we talk, one more another pair walked away in front of us. Now I found it even "scary".
There's atrium at the main entrance of the station, and you can look widely from the second floor or escalators.
As I imagined there was a number of "pairs" at the station.
Beef tongue is a must-eat in Sendai.
We were scheduled to meet up with my friend and her mother. They took us to a beef tongue restaurant for lunch. Even though it's been about ten years since we've seen each other last time, I rushed into the question. If I could get an answer soon, I would be able to "understand". "Understanding" gives me "relief".
But, but, it's BUT. They had no idea. They didn't even notice that at the station.
In the meantime, famous Jazz festival was held in the city, so they say it might be a part of that, but do girls at 20s listen to Jazz? Excuse me, they might. I asked to help for civilized machine, but I couldn't get any clue or information. What a useless technology. No, I can't rely on it too much.
Three days later, until getting back to Sapporo, I couldn't find any answer after all. I still don't know. If you have any idea, please let me know.
It was raining in Sendai.
↓ Japanese version of this article
↓ Spanish version of this article
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