Two and a half years in Tokyo and I finally walked through Kabukicho. After working part-time in Nagoya’s Nishiki district, I thought I knew nightlife areas — not even close.

The day after GO!FES, a classmate’s wedding afterparty in Nagoya — old friends, marriage talk creeping into conversations, and the end of a packed month.

I went to GO FES! First time back at a festival since COUNTDOWN JAPAN 09/10 at the end of last year — three months in between.

After surviving an 18-month crunch at work, I wandered Nagoya Station and Sakae — the TV Tower nearing the end of its broadcast duty, Matsuzakaya closing, a cityscape about to change.