Tokyo Trio

For a four or five year period in my thirties, I got right into screenwriting. One technique that works well is called foreshadowing. It’s when, early one, you subtly include an element that will relate to what is to be occurring later.

This picture of me and my brothers made me think of that. It was ‘66 according to the Dymo label. (Loved that early gadget!) So, I was five, Mook - three and Rich - just one a half. Mum and Dad had been to Tokyo on a business trip and brought back these ‘happy coats’ (from Oriental Bazaar in Omotesando most likely) and they looked pretty cute and fun to wear. We wouldn’t have had any idea of their future significance - but there we are; a full four years before presenting ourselves in Tokyo, already wrapped and ready.

We three have always been very close and I think that our adventure in Japan brought us together even closer. We did everything together. A real team. It was great having each other to share experiences and explorations with. We certainly packed in plenty. Every day was an adventure and our playful and curious natures contributed to countless exciting exploits. It was not uncommon for our Mum to cut us loose in Shibuya or Ginza for example, setting a specific meeting point and time for reunion. During those pre-teen years, the things we sought out were pretty simple: toys, game centres or playgrounds. If none of those could found - a stationary shop (stickers!) or a book shop (comics!).

Back at home we watched the same shows together, with the same recurring commercials with their catchy jingles which we would often sing out randomly for amusement. Ads for House Vermont Curry, Oranamin C and Caramel Corn spring to mind immediately but we would have had at least fifty in our shared repertoire. Little advertising catch phrases would be repurposed for our own use, for specific situations, insider jokes. We even made up and used our own secret language - which we used when needed - and it worked! When we returned to Australia to visit every couple of years, our cousins would BEG us to teach them but we never did. It was an exclusive club of three: Mook, Rich and me. ​