@edje: It took me a little bit of time to find the album you talked about. Even Discogs is in Japanese writing, a character system I don't master at all :) Though I just skipped a bit through the album, I can imagine this album grabbed you so much. It's not the average day pop music with the orchestral, electronic, rock ish elements mixed with an out of this world voice (reminds me a little of Björk). But really? Just this album got you to decide to move to Japan? WOW! That's a crazy story! A bummer that you eventually discovered Shiina was more an exception to the rule. I do believe over here in Europe from where I am, we have musicians and music that can touch our souls as well. Therefore am so much wondering what would've happened if you would've listen to more European music. Ok ok ok, I make a lot of assumptions, here. One: you are originally from the USA. Two: you may not have listened to the music of European origin. Boy, what a nice story ;)
@ai-summaries: Discovering a Passion for Japanese Culture and Music In this captivating story, the speaker recounts their journey of discovering a deep fascination with Japanese culture and music, which ultimately led them to move to Japan and live there for nearly a decade. The speaker's interest in foreign cultures began at the age of 19, when they started exploring different cuisines from around the world with a friend. This sparked a desire to learn a new language, with Japanese, Spanish, and French emerging as the top contenders. While the speaker had some prior exposure to Spanish and French, Japanese intrigued them the most due to its completely foreign writing system and sound. As the speaker delved into exploring world music, they stumbled upon a Japanese artist whose music had a profound impact. The speaker describes the music as "brilliantly crafted and so emotional" that it felt like it was "penetrating [their] soul." The sense of beauty and sadness in the music made the speaker eager to understand the culture that produced it. This experience solidified the speaker's decision to pursue learning Japanese. The artist in question turned out to be Shiina Ringo, a renowned Japanese singer songwriter. The speaker admits that even years later, they still do not fully understand the meaning behind Ringo's lyrics, as they are incredibly complex and difficult for even native Japanese speakers to comprehend. However, the speaker chose not to analyze the songs in a methodical way, as they felt it would diminish the magic and emotional impact of the music. Reflecting on the pivotal role this music played in their life, the speaker acknowledges that if it weren't for discovering Shiina Ringo's work, they might have ended up living a very different life, perhaps in Brazil, France, or India. The speaker expresses gratitude for the way things turned out, emphasizing the importance of following one's passions and excitement, as it can lead to unexpected and fulfilling experiences. In conclusion, this story highlights the transformative power of art and music in shaping one's life path. The speaker's chance encounter with Shiina Ringo's music not only sparked a deep interest in Japanese culture but also ultimately led them to call Japan their home for nearly a decade, a journey they cherish and are grateful for.