Heroes and Memories

Japan has always played a big part in my childhood and teen life. So many cartoons and anime, tv shows, video games, manga, toys, so many things that have claimed big parts of my memory bank of my childhood and teen days came from Japan. I grew up in the city with the largest Japanese population colony in the world. The culture of Japan was very embedded into my life growing up.

It's really rough seeing everything that is going on right now. I understand now the problems with idolizing things of all sorts, but that is what I used to do with Japan. It was always my number one spot in the whole world that I wanted to travel to, I have always had this love for this country that I hadn't even been to yet. So many of my memories of my entire life have involved Japan in one way or another, through all periods of my life so far.

Fast-forward to the last few days: Every time I read news of the disasters in Japan I get really upset, of course, out of compassion for the horrible things that are happening to all of those people and the country.

But this special spot always gets hit in my heart, and it always brings up these somewhat faded memories of me as a child, inside japanese stores in Brazil, which I remember in great detail as if it was earlier today, where I'd gawk at all the toys on the shelves and talk to the elderly shop owners, hoping my mom and dad would buy me something.

Every news of these disasters I see, all that comes to my mind is me holding this action figure from one of my favorite shows, in this little toy shop that my parents used to take me to after school sometimes, when I was around eight years old. It's almost as if, I was transported back to that age, and looking into Kamen Rider or Jaspion's action figure face I somehow let them know of the catastrophes that were to eventually occur.

These heroes never fought against these types of enemies in their worlds.

In all of the DragonBall Z movies I grew up watching, most of the time what always ended up happening was that unable to defeat a greater evil, all of the heroes would then lift their hands together, and transfer all their powers to the main hero, Goku, who would then finally have the strength in him through the support of his friends to deliver the final blow and overcome the evil forces trying to destroy the earth and all of life.

This time I lift my hands and pray for the country and people responsible for so many wonderful memories of my life.