Tokyo saw light snowfall from January 2 to 3. Our local government had sent us a Big Snow Alert, and I couldn't help laughing — the snow was all of an inch deep. But I know it's dangerous to walk on [no article] thin snow, so I was careful when I walked to the park for Radio Taisō that morning. Cars were moving very slowly, but I didn't think they should be on the street at all. I bet they didn't even have snow tires.

It had already stopped snowing and the sky was a perfectly clear blue. On the way to the park, I saw a tree full of vivid yellow citrus fruit, partly covered with snow. When I arrived, the people were chatting more loudly and animatedly than usual. They looked happy, enjoying the beautiful snowy view from the hill in the park. In my hometown, only children are happy when it snows.

In Tokyo, snowless winters are common, and even when it does snow, it usually melts by afternoon. It's really different from the snow in my hometown, which falls from a dim sky, keeps piling up, and covers the entire landscape.

My mind was flooded with memories that morning, which depressed me a bit, I must say. Elliott Smith has a song called The White Lady Loves You More. I don't know what he's singing about, but to me, the snow is the white lady.