Living in Tokyo in the 1960’s was different than it was when I was little. In the 50’s we were all just happy that the war has ended and we were finally looking forward to rebuilding our society and just forget about the horror of the war. It is now 1960 and things have changed. I mean things are getting better but now ever since the protests have sprung out, it has been different for the past year. |
It all started at the University of Tokyo, which happens to be where my dear sister goes to school. I can’t help but think about how she is doing and if she will be alright where she is or if she is safe. I have heard of incidents of people getting hurt during the countless protests. My parents keep telling us that we don’t need to worry since we are only 13, but how can I not worry. I mean these protests are not stopping and more people are starting to join and more people are getting hurt. I don’t even know much about what started these protests and why people are angry over something this bad. My parents don’t even want me to know what is going on. Whenever they are watching the news, they turn off the television when I walk into the room. They always change the subject whenever I ask about it, they say that “ I am too young to be hearing these problems” or that I wouldn’t understand. I wish they would stop looking at me like I am a little kid or something, I mean come on, I am thirteen now.
“ Hey are you okay Yuuto? You have been spaced out ever since we started walking” said my best friend Sajonara.
“ Yeah, I am just thinking I guess, about all that has been happening recently.” Sajonara looks at me and nods at my response and we continue to walk to get to the school bus.
“ Do you know anything about the protests going on? I feel like I am the only one that doesn’t know”, I asked Sajonara. She looks at me confused and responds.
“ Well all I know is that all these people are yelling and holding signs over something that pisses them off and they want things to change. Whenever my parents drive by protesters, they tell me to not listen to them because I guess they are protecting me. But I don’t really know anything about it. Why did you ask?” she asked me.
“ Because my parents don’t tell me anything about it and I feel like it would be important to know.”
“ I mean, if it's that important to you then just ask our teacher, Mr. Watanabe", she tells me. I nod at her answer and we both continue to walk again. As we walk, we notice people yelling and holding signs across the street we were walking on. Sajonara and I look at each other concerned. I was debating whether or not we should stop by to listen at what they were chanting about or if we should just continue to walk to school. Sajonara looked at me wondering what we were going to do.