Toby Nicholas

I’ve been thinking about the Japanese word Kodawari.

It means ‘an uncompromising devotion to doing what you love’. It’s the pursuit of perfection for its own sake. Caring less about how your work is perceived, than the soul you put into its process.

You feel Kodawari in your bones in Japan. The soulfulness of their culture, and deep appreciation for what life’s all about- music, food, art- it can’t help but affect you. Even after 2 weeks, I feel changed by the experience. In my 35th year, at the end of a difficult 6 months, it’s surely the most meaningful trip of my life.

Maybe it’s not surprising. People close to me & Josh know about our family’s connection to Japan. I even found out on this trip that I was conceived in Tokyo. In a funny way it does feel like home.

There’s other reasons too. Sharing the trip with 2 of my best mates. But also travelling solo, and doing things I wouldn’t normally dare to do. Becoming an uncle to Santi-chan, and feeling something in me I’d begun to wonder existed. Travelling for travelling’s sake, not just DJing and flying home the next day.

And not least, kicking a hash habit (out of necessity) which had become unhealthy, and fogged my brain in ways that affected who I really am.

Thankful to @hertz.sound, @querico_tokyo, @redbar_2003, @room303radio, and all the sweet people I met along the way.