🍙 Over a decade ago, my friend Jim Mullins, aka MULLY, aka the Black and Orange Shadow, and I created a series of videos called The Bench. Back then, in the early 2010s, we worked together at the same school in Shizuoka, Japan 🇯🇵 and would meet at the FamilyMart bench to livestream conversations about life in Japan, personal stories, challenges, funny anecdotes, and more—all while enjoying snacks 🍙 and drinks from the FamilyMart convenience store behind us.
That bench wasn’t just a seat; it was part of the FamilyMart experience, a fixture in our lives that made those chats so memorable. Fast forward over ten years and an ocean apart—I spent that time in the U.S. raising my daughter and focusing on my career—and now, I’m back in Japan, reconnecting with MULLY. The friendship? As strong as ever. The banter? As sharp as it was a decade ago.
🎥 A Note About Filming: As I filmed this reunion, I made sure to be considerate of others nearby. It’s important to me not to make anyone feel uncomfortable by pointing a camera in their direction, especially here in Japan, where people value their privacy. I chose angles and moments carefully to respect the space and the people around us.
The FamilyMart bench is more than just a piece of furniture—it’s a symbol of friendship, time, and the shared experiences that transcend both. So come sit with us for a while, relive the good times, and share in the nostalgia of The Bench, where life’s little moments became memories worth revisiting. 🛋️✨
➡️ Discover more about my journey and philosophy in my book, Going Alone. Secure your copy here (hardcover edition recommended): a.co/d/6SORY8N
🌐 Website: goingalone.org/
📧 Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
👍 Support my endeavors on Patreon: www.patreon.com/softypapa
Be safe… But not too safe
#TheBench #MULLY #FamilyMart #JapanLife 🇯🇵🛋️🍙 #FriendshipThroughTime #ReunionStories
CREDITS:
“Japanese Falls” image: Lane Brown | View More: lanebrownart.blogspot.com/p/portfolio.html
“Song For Kurt” theme: Nowherians | Listen Here: nowherians.bandcamp.com/
☀️softypapa