Do you have any “crazy” friends?
I don’t mean that in a negative way—and honestly, I might be one of them (haha).
This article is inspired by a piece I originally wrote in Japanese, but it also carries something I truly want to share with my friends around the world. As you read, I invite you to think of someone dear to you—your friends, your family.
Original Article is here (only available in Japanese 🙏)
(日本語記事は上記here(青文字)をクリック)
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It has taken me a long time to search for the meaning of my life—and I am still on that journey.
I have friends from different parts of the world. Recently, one of them asked me during an online chat:
“Tell me about your crazy celebration this year, hahaha.”
She used the word “crazy” with a smile. While it can mean something wild or unusual, it can also mean something beautiful, bold, or full of life. Since we studied together in London and have remained close ever since, I knew she meant it with warmth, not sarcasm.
She had probably seen my birthday challenge on social media and was curious about how I celebrated this year. As it turned out, I spent my birthday organizing a dance workshop—working closely with a sign language interpreter and preparing extensively in advance.
It may have been an unconventional way to celebrate, but when the workshop ended, I saw the participants smiling, moving freely, expressing themselves. In that moment, I truly felt: this is the life I am living.
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I had encountered this word “crazy” before, in an email from a classmate in my dance therapy course:
“Enjoy your crazy life!”
It was right after I returned from the UK. At the time, I remember thinking, “This life in Tokyo is crazy,” feeling overwhelmed as I tried to readjust and settle into a new environment.
But her message gently held all of that chaos inside me.
Recently, the meaning of her words has shifted in my heart:
“Go beyond yourself. Leap! A ‘crazy’ life is waiting for you.”
Perhaps she was encouraging me to keep moving forward.
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She has since passed away.
We used to call her “Black Bear,” and her smile still brings me back to our days in London.
In 2025, the kanji for “bear” was chosen in Japan, as real bears began appearing more frequently in towns and cities. Were you one of them…?
Also, this couple passed away on St. Valentine’s Day and Tanabata—the Star Festival based on a Chinese legend, where Orihime, a weaving princess, and Hikoboshi, a cowherd, are allowed to meet only once a year, on July 7th.
How “crazy” is that? I can’t help but laugh a little here…
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By sharing these “crazy” episodes, what I am really doing is storytelling.
I take what has happened in my life, translate it into meaning, and weave it into something that helps me move forward.
For me, this is a deeply precious practice—and I have continued it through dance.
The words you are reading now also come from my body.
They are embodied words.
So—why don’t you tell your own “crazy” story?
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【後記】
英語で書いたので、伝わりにくいこともあったかもしれませんが、
元々日本語で書いたものを、是非海外の友人や先生方にも届けたく、
翻訳＆再編集バージョンでお届けしました。
その時触れていた言葉、言語で思い返すことで、
その瞬間に引き戻され、同時に
今の自分を、鼓舞してくれる感覚があります。
この言語こそが、今私が大切にしたいものであり、
同時に未知の領域。
私はダンスを通して、対話を楽しんでいます。
お話ししてみたい方、ぜひ【あやかダンス部】をご検討くださいね！
次回は4/18(土)！！
詳細はこちら
