What a trip! Have you thought about adapting this as a story or the beginning of a book? The further you went on, the more it felt like prose itself wanted to shift into a higher (more spiritual?) register. I think you mentioned that you had previously been working on a novel set back in the states, but perhaps this might be a way in to writing about your experience in Japan.
I haven't! But if I were to write a memoir about being in Japan, a reading diary with chapters centered around experiences like this would definitely be my choice.
What a trip! Have you thought about adapting this as a story or the beginning of a book? The further you went on, the more it felt like prose itself wanted to shift into a higher (more spiritual?) register. I think you mentioned that you had previously been working on a novel set back in the states, but perhaps this might be a way in to writing about your experience in Japan.
I haven't! But if I were to write a memoir about being in Japan, a reading diary with chapters centered around experiences like this would definitely be my choice.