When planning our trip to Japan in 2012, we decided to visit each of the four main islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu) plus Okinawa, and to make an effort to meet each of the assistant teachers we have known and hosted, even if only briefly. Plus, as usual, any chance to visit an Olympic venue.

As Hokkaido was on our itinerary, once we arrived in Sapporo we decided we had to add the Okurayama Ski Jump, a venue for the 1972 Winter Olympics, to our sightseeing list.

Sapporo in Hokkaido is again an Olympic venue, for Tokyo 2020. Preliminary football (soccer) matches are already underway in Sapporo – well done to our Olyroos beating Argentina 2-0! The marathon and walking events have been moved there too, to escape the Tokyo summer heat.

Back to 2012. Having visited Odori Park and the TV Tower, we took the subway to Maruyama Park, then the JR Bus (always looking for free transport using our JR Passes) to the Okurayama Ski Jump bus stop. It did deliver us reasonably close, but it was a further arduous 10-minute walk up-hill.

Arriving around noon, it looked like we had the place to ourselves. We rode the ski-lift to the top – I think the ski-lift guys were interrupted in their relaxed day of only a few visitors, as they very reluctantly came out of their hut to start the ski-lift and help us on and off.

Up to the “Viewing Lounge” – the ski jump is remarkably steep when viewed from above!

With no other visitors in the observation lounge, we enjoyed the clear views of the stunning ski jump and the surrounds all to ourselves. At the small kiosk counter, we decided to purchase a beer and a vanilla-mango soft cream, touted “the best soft serve”. Where? In Sapporo? Hokkaido? Japan? Who knows? It was nice enough.

We took several photos, enjoyed the views over the ski jump, and thought it was about time to go, when unexpectedly we heard a Japanese voice behind us, “Tom-san … ? Louise-san …?”

A totally unanticipated meeting with Noriko ‘Jane’ (assistant teacher at Tyndale in 2004). Having lost Noriko’s current contact details, we had not been able to let her know about our plans for this trip to Japan.

It turns out she is now recently married – literally two days ago and visiting this very tourist attraction today on her honeymoon. Pleased to meet you, Nakano-san.

What an unbelievable chance meeting – we could not have feasibly planned it. We only added the venue to our itinerary once in Sapporo, and had lost contact with Noriko who is not from Hokkaido. And how about the timing – just after noon on a random Monday in May. “Your honeymoon – oh, we might in Sapporo then too, we might see you there …”. 信じられない Unbelievable!

So good to chat for a while and enjoy lunch together at the restaurant at the base of the ski jump – reminiscing and discussing Japanese wedding customs until the staff threw us out at the end of lunch service.

We exchanged updated contact details, but the sad ending is that we’ve lost contact again. I wonder where we will bump into Noriko ‘Jane’ next time? The Summer Olympics in Brisbane 2032, perhaps?