i met this lovely old man in ofunato two years ago. he ran a tiny little okonomiyaki restaurant in the tiny quiet town by the sea. he had the kindest smile, chatting happily to me as i sat in front of his counter watching him fry the okonomiyakis. he told me he was from osaka, and had fallen in love with his wife, who was from ofunato. and so he had followed her here to this quiet seaside town. and because he loved his hometown, he opened a little okonomiyaki place in the midst of all the seafood restaurants.

ofunato was a tiny town right by the sea. it's much further up from sendai, but still along the miyagi coast nonetheless. i do hope he and his wife are safe and fine.

my heart ached like it was my country yesterday. i can't help but think about the alleys, streets and roads i walked along, drove along or ate along two years ago. sendai, akiu onsen, matsushima, ofunato and miyako.. matsushima the city that's famous for their oysters, sea urchin, scallops and oddly enough beef tongue. it's just next to sendai and by the sea ): oh matsushima.