It's impossible to describe the emotions that hit me when I yesterday received the news about Junya's passing.
I will forever cherish our friendship and moments together, and it feels like yesterday reminiscing the first time we met, where you walked up to my team kicking off a conversation in fluent Swedish, explaining that you had taken the gigantic leap from Tokyo to a small village in Sweden, to pursue your dream: to go pro in Counter-strike.
If we shared Facebook, MSN or email that day, I don't remember, but in touch we stayed and almost two decades later I am so grateful to be able to call you a friend.
I'm particularly fond of the memories of our time together in Taipei, where our path eventually and somewhat accidentally converged. We had both reached the end of our player careers and now had to figure out life and everything that comes with it.
I may never have told you this, but it meant the world to me being able to share that experience with you. Punctuality was maybe never your thing but at the same time you were never late for a pint, and a night out.
Was looking forward seeing you next Spring at our mutual friend's wedding, but since that's not possible we will raise another glass in the sky in your name, and thank you sincerely for the kindness, friendship, and memories.
We will miss you, kungen.