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2017.9.22 Column

“In Traveling, Companionship, in Life, Compassion!” Part 2

I don’t have the courage to travel as I did when I was in my 20’s “staying at a dormitory and exploring with a backpack,” but I have restarted my somewhat independent travel again now that I am a little past my 50’s.

Even if I was to spend a long time in one place or have a fixed start and return date, my local traveling would be just roughly decided. I would play it by ear in a rental-car.


Last year, like an American road trip movie, I drove some 3000 kilometers (~2000 miles) around the U.S.

Fully loaded and not knowing what route to take except the place I wanted to go, I headed inland from Los Angeles. I drove to Death Valley, Yosemite, and then the west coast, using the highway along the coastline to San Diego while staying at motels.

Due to a bushfire, the gas station had been shut down and I was running out of gas. I was in a pinch. There was a huge event going on nearby so there weren’t any hotels I could stay at either!

Yet, even though there were a lot of things that made me panic, it was a lot of fun.


This summer I went to the UK, driving from the north to the south, from Scotland to London.  Golf, British rock, and drinking; within those I had my favorite: gin and whiskey, so it was a real pilgrimage journey.

Scotland’s fight for independence, separation from the EU, immigration problems, repeated terrorism, etc. etc.

It is a country with a deep connection to Japan while being affected by many influences. I hadn’t quite experienced those problems myself, however, I had caught just a small glimpse of it.

Alas, it felt like the “Local & Global” problem.

During the 17th to 18th century, Japan created a peaceful culture in the Edo Period due to isolationism. England, for its own country, was the exact opposite. They created a history of vast ocean exploration. Although both an island country with a similar history (civil war and unification), those in power chose completely opposite choices.

The choice of vast ocean exploration, both good and bad, greatly influenced a lot of people in the world. The culture and fashion born in England, a multitude of things such as sports, etc. were spread from England to the world. Not only Japan, but many countries have learned from the economic and political systems of England.

It is an admirable country, and if viewpoints changed, it would have been a very troublesome country to deal with.


The oldest golf course, Old Course, is located in a small city called St. Andrews in Scotland. The Old Course seems to have been created in the 16th century and the course designer was written as “GOD.”

I visited that golf course on the seacoast.

No. 17 Green. Evening... although it was already past 9pm.

This golf course, the most famous in the world, greeted us like a park in the city with surprisingly low thresholds.
Sunday was a day off for the golf course, so I was able to freely roam the area.

Within these almost 500 years, I wonder how many golfers played here? What kind of memories did they make?

“No. 17 Tee shot crossing the hotel”
“This bunker, Pro Nakajima had...”
“No. 18 The green on this side of the valley of sin is surprisingly inclined...”

Many scenes played out here where I stood. I walked the Old Course in the early morning, in the afternoon, before sunset, and at night.

Tommy’s Bunker

The tee shot crossing over the hotel is like this.

The all too famous Swilcan Bridge.

What kind of club will a golfer be playing with 100 years from now I wonder?
No matter how much a golfer has progressed, they have probably continuously worried about a 1-meter short putt. I think it’s similar whether today or 500 years ago.


While messing up at the roundabouts more times than I could count, I drove from Scotland towards the Lake District famous for Peter Rabbit and Wordsworth, which was almost unlike me. I saw the most beautiful scenery in all of England here. 
A travel of golf, rock, and gin: it was like a moment straight out of a fairy-tale! 
Not bad I thought, taking in the nature, scenery, and the old feel of the townscape.

The Lake District, Lake Windermere

At several of those old cities, the lodges I stayed at were extraordinary, old hotels inside. (Well, manor houses they seem to be called.)

“When was it made? How old?” When I asked the woman (she looked about my younger sister's age?) at the front desk thinking she would answer, “What? I’m 26 years old!” but instead answered, “14th century!”

A 14th century building turned hotel.

14th century, huh...What era was Japan in? I googled.

In that ancient building with about 600 years of history, I took a trip back in time while drying my sneakers that were done in by the rain with the Dyson hairdryer I found in my room. I accidently scorched my favorite New Balance sneakers.


After visiting the sacred place of golf, I headed to the sacred place of rock, Liverpool, the hometown of The Beatles.
I knew Liverpool was a port city, but it wasn’t an exciting port city for traveling to, as it was a rather a dull city.
It is the World Heritage city of Albert Dock and The Beatles.

The city of Liverpool

In 1962, The Beatles had debuted “LOVE ME DO” the year I was conceived into this world. Even more, during their early days the title of their live was named “BIG BEAT.”
I had instinctively thought that this was more than just some kind of mysterious connection, it must’ve been fate.


The revival stage of the Cavern Club where they performed their debut was a terribly small place.

The live poster for The Beatles during their early days.

Revival of Cavern Club’s stage


While driving to various cities, I was having a tough time with the highway roundabouts and the pouring rain as usual. I finally arrived at my final destination: London.

Abbey Road

Just then, I got a message from my old middle and high school classmate of some 40 years.
“I saw your Facebook. I’m also in London right now and I’m doing a beer festival event at Olympia, the oldest exhibition center. You’re in advertising and a heavy drinker, so you have got to come here tonight! Let’s drink!” he said. 
It was a heart-pumping invitation.

Olympia, the oldest exhibition center, transformed into an enormous beer bar.

Suddenly reuniting with my old friend from Kochi is the epitome of the digital SNS era.

What’s more, it was the 40th Anniversary of the beer festival.

That being the case, it seems that no matter where in the world, we don’t change: “Drinking heavily and ending the night with ramen.” Just some fools, I suppose...


The scenery of Scotland, the cities that I visited on the way, and of London differed considerably. The English-like old cityscapes were the same, but it was the diverseness of the people overflowing in the big cities and the diversity of the races.

The slogan, “London is Open!” was put up here and there around the big city, a city where terrorism has repeatedly occurred.  
England, being a mature country with a long history and various relationships with neighboring countries, has previously proactively taken in immigrants.

The government must go to extremes with such difficulties in order to create a future for a country with such pride, I felt.

“Local & Global” and “Live & Digital” capture the magnificence of today’s era, but at the same time it also seems to be the keyword of a difficult era. Certainly, it’s something I feel when in St. Andrews and in London, when in my hometown of Kochi and when spending my days in Tokyo.

It is precisely because of that era that we must think, 
“In traveling, companionship; in life, compassion.”

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

With John, a caddie at St. Andrews