My journey to Japan begins today, and I want to invite you to join me, even if only a little, along the way. At Christmas, I shared a picture on my Facebook page, accompanied by the words:
“It is more important to build bridges than to destroy them.”
This thought will accompany me on my journey. I plan to describe my trip while reflecting on bridges – both real and metaphorical. To be precise, I have decided to divide this journey into seven chapters: Seven Bridges. Ironically, before I was born, there was already a song called “Über sieben Brücken musst du geh’n” (“You must go over seven bridges”), which was later even performed in English by Chris de Burgh.
The song carries a somewhat melancholic tone. My journey, however, is meant to be joyful and enlightening. But as the saying goes: every journey begins with the first step. For me, this first step leads from my front door to Hamburg Airport – the Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt – and from there to Frankfurt, Germany’s major international hub.
And here begins the first bridge – or more precisely, a tunnel that functions much like a bridge. It connects places that would otherwise be difficult to reach. In Frankfurt, it links the domestic and international sections of Terminal 1, passing directly beneath the passenger boarding bridges and the aircraft parking positions. In this way, it forms a connection that ties passengers, terminals, and operations together – a kind of “underground bridge” right in the heart of the bustling airport. From here, my journey continues without interruption, directly to Tōkyō – my first, temporary stop in Japan.
Not long ago, reaching Japan from Europe was only possible with great effort – either via the long route of the Trans-Siberian Railway or by ship. In between, there were the first flights with multiple stopovers, which felt more like an expedition than a single flight. These early routes connected continents, but required patience, time, and a sense of adventure. It wasn’t until the 1980s that nonstop flights made a direct connection possible, greatly simplifying travel. In 2008, I had the chance to travel to Japan – specifically Okinawa – for the first time. Back then, my route still went from Frankfurt to Taipei and then onward to Okinawa.
Travel has become much more comfortable since then, and I hope to get some sleep on the plane… because many more bridges in Japan await me. Of course, many karate-related experiences and other fascinating things are waiting for me this time, and I will describe them in detail in the coming days.
Until then… wish me a good rest over the clouds.
Karate Kenkyū Shitsu 