It's interesting how one notices the change in mood when you visit a place after a certain amount of time. I think you are more aware of it when you don't actually live there but are familiar with the place. It was 8 months since I last visited London and I definitely sensed a change in the feel of the city.

When I first arrived in London 20 years ago,it was just emerging from it's recession. I remember that so many shops were closed and that my impression was that everyone seemed to be wearing black! There was definitely a "heavy" feeling to the city.It was a big contrast coming from Japan which was starting to enjoy it's "bubbled" economy. As a musician though I thought this was as near as I would get to heaven.I loved how people put so little importance on money (and food!) and really seemed to know what mattered in life. The culture seemed so rich and so integrated into everyday life and people seemed to be so much more thoughtful than in Japan.

In the next ten years,I saw a definite but gradual change in London,but I have to say the next ten years after that have just been mind boggling. First of all,the food! All these amazing restaurants emerging - and the variety is unbelievable.I still have a hard time convincing my friends here in Japan that the food in England is actually really good now! The bad reputation had stuck for so long that everyone can't believe that all that could change in just a decade! I am so impressed to see people eating sushi walking down the street. Japanese cuisine was unheard of in London 20 years ago - now you can get it in Tescos!!!
The other big difference which I sensed was the colourfulness of the city. So many people wearing bright colours! Black is now a minority!

But sadly I have to say that I have seen the down side of all this prosperity as well. People seem to be putting so much importance on money and material things that I think it has taken away a great deal of their time which used to be poured into cultural things and matters of the heart. I used to always see people giving up their seat on buses and trains for people who were in need of it - I haven't seen this happen in London in the past 5 years!!!

Going back this time though,I really sensed a change of mood.The whole city seemed a bit quieter and there was less of a buzz to it - less people around and about and everyone seemed much calmer. There used to be this sort of over confident feel to the city but I guess this is calming down. I hope the economy won't be as hardly hit as it was in Japan,but I hope that at this time,London will be able to rediscover it's greatness that it already had and combine it with what it has gained.