The Hikone Street Musicians
...written on 11.09.01, @ 3:13 a.m.
Thu November 8, 2001
I was really having fun browsing the big department store in Hikone after my class tonight. It takes about an hour by train to get to Hikone and I haven't been here that many times, so the shopping allure is still fresh. I looked at clothes, shoes, scarves, suspenders. I even went through the CD shop and bought a new CD (which I hope I will give a second chance, since the first listening didn't go well) and looked for a must-have CD that was sold out.
After the clerk wrapped up my purchases, I looked at my watch, gasped and put the pedal to the metal. I knew I would be mad at myself if I missed hearing the two young men singing and playing guitars in front of the train station. For the past three weeks I have heard them from afar. They have been on opposite corners from me and I haven't ventured close enough to take a peek at them. Instead I've just lurked in the park bushes or stood on the train platform listening to their honey-toned harmonies. I saw them today setting up in front of the train station as I walked to class.
By the time I got there, I could see they had a small appreciative audience of mostly high school girls in uniforms. I sat across the street on a ledge in the park and listened. Hikone has a different feel than Ogaki does. It has an edge. I think I see this in the young people that walk around, they seem to be cooler, hipper, more cosmopolitan. I scanned the park and saw other young people with guitars in hand giving semi-private concerts for their friends. I turned my attention back to the two young men and tried to decide which one I liked better vocally and couldn't really choose, they fit together so well.
I watched a woman in her 60's watching the singers. After each song, her appreciation grew and grew until I saw her break out in a big smile, and clap fervently before turning to grasp the door handle of a car that had just arrived to pick her up. Her smile and joy seemed to fade as she opened the door and took the seat next to the likewise stoic male driver. As they drove off I saw her, staring silently ahead and I wondered if she still held the sweet tunes in her head or heart.
My perch on the stone ledge was getting too uncomfortably cold, so I crossed over and joined the rapt audience. Most of the girls were sitting on the concrete on top of advertising flyers. One of the musicians also had one under his knees as he kneeled on the pavement, striking a tamborine as he sang in time with his partner.
I listened to about four more songs and noticed a pile of cassette tapes on the ground in between them. I knew I had to get going, so as the guys took a break to get more harmonicas, wipe their strings, etc. I pardoned myself and asked if they had any tapes for sale. They indicated the stack mentioned above and I asked how much they were. I could have sworn the guy said "200 yen" which is not even $2 US, but I know for sure it was less than 800 yen. I told them I wanted one, and they debated about which one to give me and finally gave me the one at the bottom of the pile, which from their body language, I think they had decided was the most precious. I thanked them as I struggled to get the money out of my purse and one of the guys said something to me that I had to admit to not understanding. I handed the fellow a bill and wide-eyed he turned to his partner and told him what I had given him. The other one hesitantly lunged for change, probably thinking that he didn't have enough, but I indicated that I expected no change. I told them that their music made me happy and that it was an honor for me to be able to contribute to their expression of creativity. They said "thank you" many times and bowed from their seated positions, still clutching their guitars. I smiled and waved as I headed to the stairs of the train station, newly warmed by my impulsive act. As I walked up the steps, I heard many insistent "Bye-byes" and turned to see all of the high school girls waving at me.
I'm listening to the tape right now and I love it! Those guys sound great! I can't wait until next week's trip to Hikone.