Free Announcer Aika Kanda, “Increasingly, Things I’m Not Good At.

Things I have become less skilled at compared to the past.

Do you have anything that you’ve become worse at or have developed a dislike for over time? I have a few.

First, there’s lilies. Around my 38th birthday, I received a large bouquet with two beautiful lilies, which I displayed in my living room. Soon after, I began to feel itching around my wrists and shoulders, and small bumps appeared. I hadn’t touched or eaten anything else that could have caused it. The bouquet was the only change in my home. Until then, I had never had an allergic reaction to flowers, so I found it strange. However, since the itching wouldn’t stop, I had no choice but to get rid of the bouquet. After that, the symptoms subsided.

A few days later, I received another bouquet as a birthday gift. Again, I experienced itching and bumps on my wrists and shoulders. The bouquet contained lilies. When I removed just the lilies, the symptoms immediately subsided, confirming that they were the cause. Lilies are flowers that bloom from early summer to summer, and since my birthday is in late May, they often appear in bouquets. Unfortunately, whenever I see lilies, I take them out without hesitation before displaying the bouquet.

Next is the issue of pillow smells. I love to travel and have stayed in many hotels and ryokans without any problems using their pillows. However, after I turned 40, I suddenly found that I could no longer sleep unless it was a pillow that smelled like my own bedroom. I wonder why my older self has become more sensitive to smells.

It’s not that the pillows in hotels have unpleasant odors; somehow, no matter how tired I am, it now takes me over an hour to fall asleep, and I wake up several times during the night. Analyzing my sleep, I realized that I often sleep on my side, which brings my nose very close to the pillow. I noticed that “breathing while sleeping equals inhaling the smell of the pillow.”

So, during a business trip, I decided to try taking my husband’s pillowcase, which he uses every day, and putting it over the hotel pillow to sleep on. To my surprise, I fell asleep almost immediately and didn’t wake up once until morning. The familiar scent made me feel at ease, and I realized how it calmed my mind.

In our bedroom, my husband’s scent is the main element. Now, I wash his pillowcase less frequently and ensure it has plenty of his scent so that I’m prepared for any overnight trips. Whether it’s a one-night domestic trip or a long overseas journey, I always pack it in a plastic bag to keep the scent intact.

The night city I can no longer go to.

Lastly, there’s nightlife. It’s not something I would openly boast about, but I truly loved going out at night. Since my university days, I wanted to be an adult who could confidently say that nightlife was my hobby. I believed that navigating areas like Ginza, Roppongi, and Kabukicho without fear, despite warnings like “It’s dangerous at night!” was the mark of a “capable adult.”

I don’t go to clubs or engage with strangers in those cities. Instead, I enjoy karaoke and izakayas, having normal conversations with friends until morning. In those moments, not being swept away by the city’s energy and simply being myself makes me feel truly alive.

However, after getting married, I suddenly started feeling scared of nightlife. There was a time when I was shopping at Isetan Shinjuku and realized it was closing at 8 PM. In the past, I would have thought, “Wow, where did the time go? Let’s take a little stroll through the vibrant streets of Shinjuku!” Observing the various lives illuminated by neon lights filled me with excitement. But in recent years, my thoughts have shifted to, “Oh no! It’s that late! I need to get home quickly to avoid any trouble with drunk people. I should steer clear of the neon district.” Now, I rush home instead.

 

Even when riding the Yamanote Line, I’ve noticed a change. In the past, I didn’t feel anything no matter what time I traveled, but now, when I ride between Gotanda and Ikebukuro in the evening, I feel uneasy because of the high-energy young people heading out to drink. I used to be one of them.

I’ve gained knowledge and learned to protect myself better. I don’t get approached as much anymore. When I was younger, I was likely in more dangerous situations. So why do I find nighttime so frightening now? I can’t pinpoint the reason, and it makes me feel pathetic and sad. How do others feel about this?

The author’s first book, “Which Path Does the Royal Road Lead To?” is now on sale to great acclaim!

Aika Kanda, born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1980, graduated from Gakushuin University with a degree in Mathematics. She joined NHK as an announcer in 2003 and left the network in 2012 to become a freelance announcer. Since then, she has primarily worked in variety shows and is currently a regular host on the daytime program “Pokapoka” (Fuji TV).

From the September 20, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY.’