Quote of the Day: For People Not At Home
“My hometown… was always there, at all times, unchanging. What I think… is not that we go back to our hometowns, but that someday our hometowns come back into each of our hearts.”
Thoughts About the Quote
You know, Jirō Taniguchi really gets to the heart of what a hometown means. It’s more than just the place where we grew up or spent our early years. It’s this whole mix of memories, feelings, scents, voices, streets, and seasons that shape who we are long before we even realize it.
When we’re young, we often feel like we need to break free. The hometown can seem too small or too familiar, making us crave adventure beyond its borders. And sometimes, leaving is what we need to figure out who we are. Distance can be liberating, but it also gives us a clearer view of where we came from.
As time goes by, the hometown changes — buildings vanish, people age, favorite shops close, and familiar streets start to look different. But deep down, we hold onto another version of our hometown, one that exists in our memories. It’s not stuck in time; it’s alive within us.
Maybe Taniguchi has a point: when we revisit our hometowns, we’re not really going back to the same place. Sure, we might walk the same streets, but we’ve grown and changed. What really comes back is that feeling — a quiet recognition, a random memory, or a piece of ourselves we thought we’d lost.
As we get older, it seems like our hometown comes rushing back, but not always in a happy way. Sometimes it brings along pain, unresolved questions, or stories that are still hanging in the air. It returns because it’s woven into who we are.
In the end, a hometown isn’t just a dot on a map. It’s this inner space that travels with us — across countries, through years, and throughout our lives. And who knows? One day, when we’re least expecting it, it might just pop back into our hearts.
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