The entrance of a shop called “Irie”.
Hi fellow hivers and ReggaeJahmmers. This week’s dashout is coming in true Jamaican-time, a bit late😆. However, we know the saying, ”Better late than never”.
I’m spreading some Irie vibes this week.
Recently I passed by a shop and saw the name “Irie”. Irie is a cool Jamaican word that means “good”, “okay”, “nice” and other words around that meaning. I’ve also seen “Irie” as a family name in Japan, though the pronunciation is different.
Either way, whether you see it or say it, it brings some positive vibes.
I assumed it was someone’s name.
It so happened that I was unable to find my “destination”. I was in the right building but the elevator systems were a bit confusing.
I went back to shop Irie to ask for assistance. The staff were helpful and with the owner, I had this conversation in Japanese:
Owner: Where are you from?
Me: Jamaica 🇯🇲
Owner : (face lights up) Really?!!!
Me: Yes😃
Owner: I love reggae!!! Look! Look! (Points to the name of the store) Irie!! (Jamaican pronunciation)
Me: That’s Irie as in “Jamaican Irie?!
Owner: (excitedly) Yes! Yes!! That’s because I love Jamaica so much and the word brings such positive energy.
Me: (excitedly) You know I actually saw it but I thought it was just a family name !
Owner: No. I really love Jamaica. I’ve been operating this shop for 15 years. Many foreigners have come here but it’s my first time to meet a Jamaican!!!! Do you know Chronixx?!!!
By this time, she was so excited, I was so happy that I knew Chronixx. There are so many modern artistes she could have mentioned that I probably wouldn’t have known. 😆I was able to “buss” (sing) a little line.
“Smile girl smile, smile for me Jamaica”.
😂I’m not sure if sub-consciously I felt I had to prove that I’m Jamaican. Music however, goes beyond borders, languages and nationalities. It unites us and brings a good vibe. Irie!
It would have been too much to buss (do) a skank but there was good vibration.
I realized that she felt the need to show how much she loves Jamaica. She ran for her phone to show me her Irie phone case.
Me: May I snap it?
Owner: Sure!(poses with her phone).
As small as Jamaica is, it’s reach through reggae music is wide. Jamaica is popular but here in Japan, I go through most days without even thinking about where I’m from. It’s actually refreshing to see a random shop with the name “Irie” and to have a conversation regarding it.
I’m dashing out some yuzu ice-cream I had. It was so good. I think I can say yuzu is my favorite citrus. I had just a dash of it but the effect is lasting.
As irie as this ice-cream was, it’s the irie vibes from the shop owner that I really wanted to showcase this week.
Enjoy the rest of your week. One Love. Irie.
