Sublimity.
It Is a Love beyond reason.
Sophistication without Measure.
Compassion due to Radiance.

Indeed, it is almost impossible to characterize the emotions one feels when seeing something that strikes awe into their very being. An overwhelming concept, sublimity is defined as that which fascinates an individual due to the complexities associated with what they are viewing. Such is what I experienced when I stepped onto the tarmac from the jet-plane, and saw Tōkyō for the first time.

Even at midnight, Tokyo is not a quiet place: the subway continues on its way into monotonous route, club patrons run to their local hangouts, and foreigners tend to tour the capital with whoever comes along. My companion for that particular night was a woman named Sophia who was studying at a local university on an exchange agreement from Spain. She was lovely, radiating with all the brightness that supplies the happiness of the universe. We had met through mutual friends, and had agreed the night before to meet up at a Starbucks within the Shinjuku ward. I paid.

From the coffee space, we took the train to a delightful, mountainous area, high above the city. On our way, we discussed each other’s various interests. Apparently, Sophia had come to Japan in the hopes of learning about its long aesthetic history. She told me about her trip to the ancient capital of Kyoto, and the expedition to the top of Mount Fuji. Each one had tale that continually gave immeasurable dimension to her identity. It made me happy.

Once we got off the train, she took me to a remote outcrop from where we could view from the city. It was from that point on that my life changed. Ensconced against the beauty of the stars, Tokyo shined with exquisiteness, colors springing off in all directions from the skyscrapers spread about the capital. The city became a living canvas representing the collective actions of some thirty-five million people living about their daily lives.

Sophia and I looked at each other, holding hands amidst the wonderful observations of that moment. Without explanation, we were awed into happiness and compassion for one another. Nothing between us could have made one another understand what remarkable aspect of Tokyo put us in that moment, but we were enthralled with love. For the rest of the night, we sat there, lying silent and staring at the beauty of one of the greatest cities on the world.