Transcending Limits

第7話 Onset of Depression Once Again

I took entrance exams for several universities, but I only got accepted into the Economics Department at Kansai University. It wasn't because I was particularly clever. I really did sleep through most of my classes, so it was truly a miracle. At the time, the bubble economy was in full swing. On the stages of Juliana's, girls in bodycon dresses fluttered fans as they danced. I saw their images in weekly magazines and thought, "Are they serious?"

On the first day of school, as I passed through the gate, a senior from the karate club tried to recruit me. However, I declined, thinking that the intense training I had experienced in the Shorinji Kempo club would also be present in the karate club. I had another reason for declining the karate club. I wanted to join the light music club and play music like Eric Clapton.

Looking back, I realize that I should have focused on playing the blues, which is the root of Clapton's music... If only I had known about the blues jam sessions held in bars in Osaka at that time, my life might have taken a completely different turn.

There were two or three light music clubs on campus, so I joined one at random. Since I had expressed my interest in playing the guitar to the new members, the vocalist, who approached me, said, "Kakkun. How about playing together in a twin setup?" I believe there were two female members in this band, and it was a copy band of Ann Lewis.

I reluctantly went to the studio, thinking, "Please spare me, I'm more into Clapton." However, I ended up missing practice several times. Feeling guilty, I decided to quit the band.

Next, I was approached by a guitarist. For the freshman concert, we planned to perform Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," but we were missing a bass player. I initially thought I would be playing the bass, but since I had listened to Jimi Hendrix's rendition of "Johnny B. Goode" on the Wide Island multiple times, I painstakingly transcribed it by ear and made some slight modifications.

On the day of the performance, it was an impromptu act, but I was satisfied with the result. However, I was told not to move the bass. What on earth was this about? It's not like it would hurt to move a bit. How are we supposed to create new music if we stick to the same old routine?

While attending university classes, I also started working part-time at a beer garden. I thought, even though the pay was low, they're making me work this much? I worked as a waiter, and orders for beer and food kept coming in non-stop. When large groups arrived, I sometimes had to hurry and carry ten pitchers at once.

During this busy time, a customer once asked me, "You're a university student, right? Where are you going?" I replied, "Kansai University," and he said, "Oh, that's good. Deliver the beer with a smile, it's nice." He advised me.

"Then, I'll order one more, so bring it with a smile this time."

"Understood."

I brought another pitcher with a smile, and he happily said, "Yes, that smile."

This advice was invaluable. The key to customer service is a smile. I think most mistakes can be forgiven.

Furthermore, while I was working, there was an altercation between customers. I didn't get involved because I was too busy with work, but one customer stepped in and said, "This is a place for everyone to enjoy. Stop the fighting." I thought he was pretty cool.

When the beer garden closed, the manager, the assistant manager, and the part-time staff held a party every night. This was because the beer in the tubes from the refrigerator to the tap on the floor above needed to be processed for hygiene the next day. So, we thought we might as well drink it, and if the food needed to be processed by the next day, we'd eat it.

This summer, the profits seemed to be sufficient, so the manager told me, "You can start giving your friends freebies. It's fine since it's on the house," and I called my childhood friend Mamoru and his girlfriend Asami. At first, I had them order beer and food, and gradually made them drink more beer. I wondered how much they would drink, but when I brought another pitcher, they said, "Alright, alright."

With the salary I earned from the beer garden, I went to Tohoku for a training camp to get my driver's license and a medium-sized motorcycle license. I was more interested in motorcycles than cars. I think I was greatly influenced by the scene in the movie "Rambo" where he escapes on a motorcycle from the prison. This movie depicts the story of Rambo, a mentally troubled Vietnam War veteran and former Green Beret, who goes on a rampage. It touched me deeply.

From Wikipedia:

"'First Blood' is a 1982 American action film and the first installment in the 'Rambo' series. It is based on David Morrell's 1972 novel 'First Blood' and depicts the struggles of John Rambo, a traumatized Vietnam War veteran, and a sheriff who tries to forcibly remove Rambo, a transient who happened to visit the town, leading to a battle. The film portrays 'America's wounds caused by the Vietnam War.'"

I watched this movie in high school with my fellow students from the Shaolin Kempo club. By the way, I quickly bought a Yamaha XJ for 100,000 yen, but a friend asked me if I would sell it to him, so I sold it to him for 100,000 yen. With that money, I got a Yamaha motocross XT from my cram school teacher for 100,000 yen. However, the bike I sold to my friend was stolen a week later. I thought, "This is bad. I should probably give back two or three thousand yen," but I didn't.

While I was in university, I did attend classes, but at the same time, I developed depression.