Thoughts while drinking coffee at Fujisawa Station | A livable city and the uncertainty of where one is headed
Fujisawa, one of the most livable cities in the country.
It is often called that, but when you actually walk through it, the contours of that description are surprisingly vague.
JR Fujisawa Station is always crowded.
It is a terminal station where the Tokaido Line and the Odakyu Enoshima Line meet, and it is also the starting station for the Enoden.As the gateway to Shonan, many people pass through it, and many people get off here.
The Odakyu Enoshima Line performs a switchback here in Fujisawa.
Even those who are not familiar with railways notice the moment the direction of travel changes.Couples heading to Enoshima for sightseeing
laugh softly, saying, "Huh? Did it go in reverse?"Such casual scenes are typical of Fujisawa.
Right now, Fujisawa Station is in the middle of construction.
It is a redevelopment to make transferring between the Odakyu and JR lines easier.On the temporary construction hoardings, there are images of what it will look like when completed.
It is clean, easy to understand, and smells a little bit like the future.It seems this city still intends to change.
The area around the station is already changing its appearance significantly.
Saikaya has closed, and the Fujisawa Meiten Building is also drawing its curtains.The Odakyu Department Store has changed completely, and OPA seems a bit lackluster.
A little while ago, Ito-Yokado also closed.The flow of shopping is gradually disappearing from the city.
Even so, the area in front of the station is overflowing with people.
Centered around the ticket gates, people scatter in all directions.It feels like the flow hasn't settled yet, but
once it is completed, the movement of people will likely change as well.
Only Bic Camera radiates an unchanging presence.
An electronics retail store at the gateway to Shonan.It is a bit mismatched, but I feel it also symbolizes the city of Fujisawa.
Is it livable, or is it unlivable?
The answer to that probably differs from person to person.If you walk a little, you can see the new Fujisawa City Hall building.
A city that is easy to raise children in.The facilities and systems to back that claim up are certainly in place.
At the station, there is a banner celebrating the Nihon University Fujisawa High School's appearance in the national high school soccer tournament.
In this era of declining birthrates,I wonder if another athlete who will spread their wings to the world will be born from this city.
It might be soccer, or it might be baseball.Or, it might be a completely different path.
When I watch the people coming and going through the ticket gates,
everyone looks like they are heading somewhere,but in reality, it also looks like they don't know where they are heading.
That overlaps a little with my current self.
The city, the people, and life itself,
are not as decided as we think they are.The city of Fujisawa quietly teaches me that amidst its bustle.
The cakes lined up in the showcase at Kajitsuen Liber
all looked delicious.I hesitated for a moment, crossed the pedestrian bridge, and entered Subway.
I order an iced coffee.
With a paper cup in hand, I go outside.
Not something sweet, but a bitter choice.That was my mood today.
Amidst the hustle and bustle in front of Fujisawa Station,
I take a sip of coffee.Now, which way should I head from here?
To the sea, or inland?Or, am I just going home?
Fujisawa was a city that naturally posed such questions.