Edit 56: Ten Things—June
A gratitude list for a full, fast, beautiful season.
01The Return to Japan
Going home to Japan is never something I take for granted. What began as the adventure of living abroad in 2009 has become one of the greatest constants in our lives. Each return feels wonderfully familiar and comfortable, yet we still manage to discover something new, and that has only deepened our connection to a place that has shaped our gamily in countless ways. I leave every visit with a heart that is in two places at once: feeling somehow both full and already looking forward to coming back.
02 One Month Together as a Family
As our children have grown into adulthood, time together has become one of life’s greatest, and most precious, gifts. This month wasn’t only about the four of us being in Japan, it was about the moments we shared with one another. Madeline arranged a family photo session just as the first bands of a pair of approaching typhoons began to move in, giving us photographs and memories we’ll treasure for years to come. Shannon and Jackson enjoyed father-son meals and outings together, while Madeline and I spent an unforgettable evening exploring Tokyo’s fascinating underground car culture. Our youngest turned 18—which we celebrated in true Quon fashion over yakitori at MM and playing pachinko. Beyond those moments, each of us found opportunities to spend meaningful one-on-one time together, something that becomes increasingly rare as life grows busier and the children come into their own.
03 The Trips Within the Trip
Hakone with Madeline and Hiroshima and Miyajima Island with Shannon and Jackson became some of the month’s most treasured memories. Hakone was a first for Madeline (as was the Shinkansen), while Hiroshima and Miyajima were long-awaited firsts for Shannon.
We can thank Jackson for making a request for that return trip!
There was tremendous amount of gravity while navigating the Peace Park and museum through the typhoons, but an equal amount of beauty as we explored the island. We watched boat races before boarding the ferry, walked up to the “floating” torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine now that it was no longer under construction. We grabbed soft serve at our preferred spot near Omotesando. And the most charming moment was watching Shannon’s little shadow, one of the local deer, following him around, at his side, quietly waiting for a nibble from his own sweet treat. He didn’t get one obviously, but he did teach us a little something about the virtue of patience! Sharing those adventures together reminded me that one of the greatest joys of travel isn’t simply seeing somewhere yourself, but watching the ones you love experience it for the first time. Second hand joy is a real thing.
04 Morning Coffee Rituals
If you know me, you’ve probably heard me say this before, but I have three favorite coffee spots in the world, and two of them happen to be in Tokyo. One is a tiny neighborhood coffee shop tucked away so discretely into the streets of our old neighborhood that most people walk right past it without even realizing it’s there.
And if you’re a regular, you kind of like it that way.
Being welcomed back year after year is a heartfelt reminder that home can exist in more than one place. The other spot is actually an international chain that serves the closest thing I’ve found to a proper New Orleans brew outside of Louisiana—but it makes sense since part of the coffee is made with chicory. This New Orleans ice blend combined with the best avocado toast I’ve ever had are things I miss until our next visit. Those mornings became one of the rituals I looked forward to most, setting the tone for most days before they even began. They were my HQ for planning out the day for myself or others, the spark of familiarity lighting up the servers faces when we saw each other across the counters. They were communal spots for all, but for me, small pieces of what continues to make this particular neighborhood the spot I’ll return to again and again.
05 Friendships That Don’t Fade Over Distance
Oceans and time have never seemed to matter with the people I’ve been fortunate to meet in Japan. We exchange Christmas cards, celebrate one another from afar, and keep in touch throughout the year. But when we’re finally together again it never feels like starting over.
It’s more of a homecoming touched by happy tears, long embraces and the happiest conversations.
Each gathering is different, some at cozy local spots while others are new and still quite exclusive, and while I never have time to see everyone during our visits, it never really seems to matter. The relationships remain constant, the conversations continue, and we always part ways knowing there will be a next time—and that always leaves us anticipating our future reunions. See you in 2027!
06 The Nezu Museum
When you live (or visit) a city as large as Tokyo, more often than not everything about your person begins working at a faster pace, but in the gardens of the Nezu Museum my mind, my breathing—even my feet—began to slow. A great deal of tension I had been carrying over the past few months finally began to release. Surrounded by trees rustling from summer breezes, winding ancient pathways, and a landscape lovingly shaped over generations, I found myself thinking more deeply and reflecting on things I had unintentionally set aside. This wasn’t because they didn’t matter, but because life had been moving too quickly to give them the attention they deserved. Wandering, then sitting, for several hours gave me the space to begin copmosing many of the reflections that shaped this month—as well as a few others still waiting to be shared.
07 Always Something New
One of the greatest joys of returning to Japan every year is realizing there’s always something new waiting to be found. This visit led me into neighborhoods where I don’t normally spend much time, and tucked away from the busiest streets were wonderfully little family owned kissatens and subdued corners I overlooked in years past. At the same time, I loved seeing traditions evolve. After collecting goshuin since 2009, it’s been fascinating to watching temples and shrines embrace the colorful, beautifully designed versions alongside the traditional calligraphy and vermillion seals. Japan has a remarkable way of honoring its past while continuing to grow, and every visit reminds me that I can do the same.
08 Photography
This month reminded me that my love for photography doesn’t stem from the action itself, but from observing the world around me. Whether I was photographing gardens, fast cars, golden hour skylines,Tokyo Tower illuminated for the Fourth of July, the beautiful lines of the home we’d lived in for a month, or families creating memories together, each subject filled me with the same sense of wonder.
In paying closer attention, I naturally slow down.
It’s a privilege to document the beauty I have the opportunity to witness, and an even greater one to share those moments in the hope that others might experience them through my eyes.
09 Finding my Voice
Some trips fill your camera roll. Others fill your journal. Our trip back to Japan did both. The more I wrote, the more I realized the stories I wanted to tell had been waiting patiently for me to find the room to slow down long enough to hear them. I returned to Japan hoping to create, but I left feeling as though I gained something even more valuable: a deeper understanding of my own voice and the confidence to follow where it may lead.
10 A Full Heart
Every departure from Japan is incredibly bittersweet. I’m always sad to leave, yet genuinely happy to return home—to my own bed, to everyday life. It makes my heart so happy to see the friends and family waiting for me there. Somewhere over the years I’ve realized those feelings don’t compete with one another. They simply remind me how fortunate I am to have two places that have shaped my life in such a meaningful way.
As the plane begins to taxi, my habit is to look out the window one last time. The ground crew waves and bows as each aircraft departs, a gesture so simple, yet so deeply representative of the kindness and thoughtfulness that have made Japan so special to me. It is a simple courtesy, but one that somehow says everything I love about this country.
