Traveler's Notebook Tokyo Novels & Stories

“It smells like something burned.” “That is the firewood scent.” “Then the product is accurate.” She laughed and bought it anyway. At another stall, she found a green notebook similar to the one she had purchased during our bookstore visit. “You already have one,” I said. “That one is almost full.” “What do you write in them?” “Things.” “What things?” “Private things.” “That answer creates more questions.” “You don’t need every answer.” “I’m learning that.” She bought the notebook and slipped it into her bag.

Tobias Bernstorff I hear the pilot's deep and melodious voice announcing the landing at Berlin airport, and my senses sharpen. I widen my eyes, searching for the woman who sat beside me the entire flight. I glance around, but I don't see anything until I get up and spot a colorful notebook with a butterfly on the cover, presumably a diary. Carefully, I pick it up in my hands, and that's when I see Nihara near the exit of the plane. I try to get her attention, but I'm stopped by the flight attendant, who instructs us to follow the disembarkation order.

"I don't know. Maybe? New York feels like where you go to prove something. Not necessarily where you go to live." "That's surprisingly insightful." "I have my moments." I glanced at him. "What about you?" "Tokyo," he said immediately. "No question." "Why Tokyo?" "Have you been?" "Once. With my mom for a some thing I can't really remember. Barely saw anything except the hotel and the event space." "You have to go back. Actually see it." His eyes lit up. "The city is insane. It's like—imagine if someone built a place where ancient temples exist two blocks from robot restaurants. Where you can get a Michelin-star meal for twelve dollars from a vending machine."