What kind of wealth did you notice in Egypt? ── Actor Shogen’s Travel Story Vol.1 (Part 2) | GQ Japan

Meet a Nubian family

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In the evening, take the sleeper train to Luxor. We took a ferry from the east bank of the Nile, where Thebes is located, to the west side of the Necropolis (city of the dead). In ancient Egypt, people lived east of sunrise as a symbol of life, while west of sunset was considered a symbol of death, so the Valley of the Kings and the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut were built.

Even in Luxor, touts often encouraged me to join tours, but negotiations were cumbersome.

“I should at least borrow a bike,” I said slowly, when a local stopped me. “Why are you walking around here? Tourists drive.” I replied, “I don’t have money, I like to walk.” Gave me

His words were blunt, but he didn’t seem like a bad guy, so I decided to follow him. His name is Muhammad. It is said to have inherited the Nubian (people of the country that once existed in the Nile Valley from southern Egypt to northern Sudan). He lives with his wife and three young children in an emerald green house standing alone in a dilapidated place. The children were surprised by the sudden visitor, but smiled shyly when they pointed the camera at them.

After enjoying a home-cooked meal, Mohammad took us to an Ahowa (coffee shop). It felt like a men’s hangout, drinking shyness (Egyptian tea), playing dominoes, smoking shisha and chatting.

I often see men holding hands when walking, and I think it is a relatively open country, but in Egypt, it is normal for male friends to hold hands, which seems to be evidence of intimacy. . When I said, “You can’t do that in Japan,” Mohamud’s friend said, “Poor thing. You don’t have real friends.” He shook my hand and joked, “I’m your first friend.” The men laughed.

It was late at night, so when I asked for leave, Mohammad said, “Stay at home.” I declined, saying, “I’m really sorry about that,” but he told me that in Egypt, where the majority of people are Arab, , dark-skinned Nubians have a history of persecution. I was convinced that because I have suffered a lot, if someone is in trouble, I can understand their feelings and it is natural to help them, so I honestly decided to take advantage of their kindness.

The next day, I said goodbye to my children and wife to whom I was so attached, and bought some souvenirs at Mohammed’s store as a token of appreciation for their stay and meal. After the terrorist attacks in 1997, tourists plummeted, and his souvenir shop was hit hard.

“I’m really sorry that the Japanese were also affected. Please go back to Egypt one day. Don’t forget that there are Nubians like us,” he said with a firm handshake.

They lived a simple life and shouldn’t be rich by any means, but being with me who was generous with them made me, a stranger, think about what real wealth is. It was an oasis encounter for me, fed up with all the hype. When I watched the city of the dead go away from the ferry, I wished the proud Nubian family happiness.

positive yuan actor
Born in Okinawa Prefecture in 1978. After college, she backpacked around the world, modeling in Paris, Milan and London. Returned to Japan in 2004 and started working as an actor. The following year, he made his debut with the movie “Habu to Kenkotsu” depicting post-war Okinawa. Play the protagonist of the third line player. Impressed by the realistic theater he encountered in New York, where he was invited to a film festival, he decided to study acting seriously and moved to the United States at the end of the year. Currently based in Japan, he has starred in many overseas works and Japanese films. The film “Kokoro, Odol” (directed by Kishimoto) and the Malaysian film “Romusha” (directed by Opie Zami) are scheduled to be released this year.