Heroes of My Past, Shapers of My Present: Embracing Nostalgia in Japan
It’s 10:37 am, there is a piece of dried squid in my pocket, and a ninja 10 feet away from me just got savagely assassinated. What is happening!?
Surprisingly, it’s not a dream. I’m actually just living in the Edo period… in 2023. So, of course I’m surrounded by ninjas! It’s May 1st, and I’m in Japan. As part of my travels during Golden Week with two friends, we had stopped at Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura–a theme park village dedicated to the Edo Period (17th-19th century Japan).
This day was the first on this trip that I had a significant realization: my childhood interests had shaped me as a person more than I realized. I couldn’t shake it. As Noah, Katherine, and I watched live ninja dramas, magicians, and reenactments of Japanese royalty from the Edo period, I felt completely in my element. Despite my dislike for dried squid (which ended up in my pocket while I waited to find a trash can), we enjoyed eating soba and completing a ninja certification obstacle course. After throwing ninja stars and winning an inflatable blue katana, my nostalgia convinced me I had completed my childhood dream of becoming a Ninja Turtle… or at least I had come close enough.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a huge part of my childhood. Huge. It started early, too. My mom has told me the story of when she confessed this obsession to my preschool teacher. “Are the Ninja Turtles okay to watch??” Mrs. Huntsberger assured her it would be okay, and that I wouldn’t grow up to be a violent, fighting, bad-guy ass-whooping ninja (there are still days I wish I could be the latter). I am thankful for Mrs. Huntsberger’s reassurance. I had such a blast watching Cartoon Network and collecting VHS tapes of the 2003 Ninja Turtles series. I used my Ninja Turtle action figures more than any other toy. One time, I found an old Leonardo figurine from the '90s cartoon in my grandma's backyard. Even though he was missing his right arm, I felt like I had discovered a national treasure. When we visited my uncle in New York City, I remember being excited every time we saw a sewer manhole cover. I was convinced the Turtles lived underneath them, way down in their lair.
Now, as a young adult, it’s rare that I just randomly think about the Ninja Turtles or other childhood obsessions and their impact on me. However, here, in a land dedicated to ninjas, I thought about the Turtles, what I learned from them, and who I am today. I recognized the significant aspects of myself that were affected by my love for the NYC heroes. One of my favorite part of the Ninja Turtles was their athleticism. The way they could jump from building to building, maneuver in battle, and skillfully use their weapons was mesmerizing. Today, my favorite activities are still sports. I remain active–at the gym, playing soccer and tennis with friends, participating in charity runs, etc. Not only are these things fun to me, but they also play a significant part in my identification as an able-bodied person. Looking back, it makes a lot of sense that the Ninja Turtles would have encouraged this athletic outlook within life. They were cool. And I wanted to be like that. True story, I was able to convince my parents to put me in a couple gymnastics lessons because I wanted to learn how to do flips in the air… A short-lived experience–stretching for an hour on Day 1 was a sobering reality–but worthwhile nonetheless.
Other than an interest in sports and being active, I believe the Ninja Turtles also influenced my commitment to brotherhood, family, and altruistic goals. I loved that the Turtles were brothers. Their dedication to each other had no boundaries. Any conflict between them was always followed by a stronger act of loyalty. My relationship with my own brother is one of my closest. The Turtles may not be the reason I have a close relationship with my brother, but they still set a beautiful example of the same brotherhood and family support that I strive to exemplify. Each episode of the Ninja Turtles revolves around some issue threatening New York City, and the Turtles efforts to preserve the peace. This altruism, along with the example of brotherhood, was a great influence. What things are worth fighting for in life? Peace, family, and the greater good? Certainly.
Later, at the Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, I had similar reflection. My wanderlust and taste for adventure? Certainly influenced by the great world of Pokémon. As was my understanding that patience and discipline are required to achieve goals. Each season of the show and Nintendo game required these traits. Along with this discipline and goal-oriented mindset, Pokémon teaches that the journey is equally important. New places and people are an opportunity to build relationships, create memories, learn, and have fun. Thinking back on my own gap year–in some ways, it was like my own Pokémon adventure, by my meeting of people, learning of skills, and discovery of new places.
At Edo Wonderland, I see a group of 20 young children run by with their instructor. He is teaching them a ninja run, and they are in pursuit of a bad guy. It is heartwarming. On the surface, things like this are just for fun. However, these ninja activities and the other interests the kids are pursuing play a significant role in shaping the person they become. I’m thankful to both the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokémon franchises for being formative in my own life. The themes that underlie them both have influenced me in positive ways, I encourage everyone to be reflective of their childhood too. It’s a cool feeling to see things go full circle.
