When going to EJC seemed to be almost as impossible as marrying Emma Watson
I was 15 years old. Or maybe 16.
I was at a juggling store, NARANJA in Tokyo.
It was probably the first time, or the second time to visit there.
For a kid who lives in Yokohama, going to Tokyo by train which requires an hour and half was quite an adventure.
I was young.
Back then, juggling was such a fresh hobby for me.
At the shop I was so excited to see various props that I had never seen, and on the shelf, I found a juggling video called "EJC2006". (*1)
It drew my attention somehow, so I decided to play and watch it.
(The shop had a free-to-use DVD and "VHS" player)
The video showed various performers and casual practice sessions in a huge hall.
It was a full documentation of a "juggling convention" in Europe.
I had never seen such a thing, nor imagined that such a thing existed.
I was shocked.
Before that moment, my image of "juggling" was merely a private hobby that you do in a tiny room, privately (I was a juggling OTAKU back then).
One of the shoppers had been to EJC, so I talked to the guy to hear lots of stories about the "convention" thingy. Then I told him,
"I wish I could go somewhere like that some day..."
Yes.
"I wish".
I just wished it. Never thought I would make it there.
I had never been, nor traveled alone even inside Japan.
Going abroad by myself?
No, no. It was way too scary for me.
Going to EJC seemed to be almost as impossible as marrying Emma Watson.
I tell you. It was that kind of "impossible".
Something that could happen technically, in your dream, probably.
But something that would't happen in real life.
10 years later, now I am one of the most frequent participants of EJC from Japan.
EJC2018 in Azores will be my 6th EJC.
In this blog, I will share stories like this to illustrate an example of how a Japanese hobbyist juggler experience the world, through juggling.
(*1) European Juggling Convention is an annual juggling gathering organized by EJA.
Written by : Naoya Aoki
(Japanese Juggling Magazine PONTE / Editor in Chief )
I was at a juggling store, NARANJA in Tokyo.
It was probably the first time, or the second time to visit there.
For a kid who lives in Yokohama, going to Tokyo by train which requires an hour and half was quite an adventure.
I was young.
Back then, juggling was such a fresh hobby for me.
At the shop I was so excited to see various props that I had never seen, and on the shelf, I found a juggling video called "EJC2006". (*1)
It drew my attention somehow, so I decided to play and watch it.
(The shop had a free-to-use DVD and "VHS" player)
The video showed various performers and casual practice sessions in a huge hall.
It was a full documentation of a "juggling convention" in Europe.
I had never seen such a thing, nor imagined that such a thing existed.
I was shocked.
Before that moment, my image of "juggling" was merely a private hobby that you do in a tiny room, privately (I was a juggling OTAKU back then).
One of the shoppers had been to EJC, so I talked to the guy to hear lots of stories about the "convention" thingy. Then I told him,
"I wish I could go somewhere like that some day..."
Yes.
"I wish".
I just wished it. Never thought I would make it there.
I had never been, nor traveled alone even inside Japan.
Going abroad by myself?
No, no. It was way too scary for me.
Going to EJC seemed to be almost as impossible as marrying Emma Watson.
I tell you. It was that kind of "impossible".
Something that could happen technically, in your dream, probably.
But something that would't happen in real life.
10 years later, now I am one of the most frequent participants of EJC from Japan.
EJC2018 in Azores will be my 6th EJC.
In this blog, I will share stories like this to illustrate an example of how a Japanese hobbyist juggler experience the world, through juggling.
(*1) European Juggling Convention is an annual juggling gathering organized by EJA.
Written by : Naoya Aoki
(Japanese Juggling Magazine PONTE / Editor in Chief )
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