As my stay in Tokyo comes to a close at the end of the week, I feel as though it’s time to compile some of the notes that I’ve kept in a travel journal for the past month and a half…
4/7/2010
…in a small bar in Shinjuku, a side street. One of hundreds. Nearby, malls that don’t seem to end, with products you may or may not need. Vendors on the street offering things I don’t understand. Tokyo-ites all seem to have their watering holes… corporate chains stand next to shops that could be a hundred years old. The English that one sees on the fashionable clothing seems to be a vague interpretation of well-known idioms. Rules that govern the city, especially in these narrow alleyways, come more from people’s general respect for each other rather than overt authoritarianism. Nowhere in the States can you feel so safe and at the same time, timeless.
The occasional gaijin can be seen wandering around Shinjuku, but mostly it is Japanese.
4/9/2010
Almost a week into my stay in Japan, and more specifically the megalopolis of Tokyo, and I have started to realize what a unique experience Tokyo life is. On the way to school, I pass by hundreds, if not thousands of different people… the sense of “civilization” is refreshingly intact. Compared to American lifestyles, Japanese are more conservative. Punctuality, organization, and politeness are held in the highest esteem. Within my host family’s apartment, laughter and play are the dominant activities, and the living room/family room/kitchen is illuminated by children’s progamming on the television. The youngest daughter まり (Mari) is enthralled by the colorful and kawaii shows.
Walking through the streets, I’ve observed an array of fashions. The businessmen, easily the most common sight, wear well-tailored suits. On the other hand, women wear normal and sometimes slightly exaggerated business attire. Dotting the morning crowds on the sidewalks are people speeding by on bicycles, navigating through some of the most intense foot traffic I’ve ever witnessed. But unlike New York City, with it’s million subcultures and ethnicities, Tokyo’s diversity is subtle if not non-existent. That sociological order is pleasant to say the least, as an American used to having no idea who is about to enter a restaurant or other public place. Here in Japan, you’ll never be harassed by anyone, save for the Akihabara girls advertising maid cafes.
The city has a completely unique “vibe”. It’s truly a landmark of global importance. When at home, I find myself looking at my computer and becoming impatient with it’s ability to transport me out of the sensory stimulation of Tokyo. I breath a sigh of relief every time I close my laptop after checking e-mail.
I also feel as though my time in Tokyo is short, but in reality my trip has only just begun. A real inspiration.
By the way, I get where the idea of giant monsters destroying cities comes from… Tokyo is a monster in itself.
