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| Ginza Tokyo |
I've longed wanted to travel to Japan. I dreamed of practicing aikido at Honbu dojo. Now, I'm back from a three week long sojourn in the Land of the Rising Sun with Susan, after the trip of a lifetime. I didn't manage get to go to Honbu dojo for some aikido, which was just down to a matter of practicality.
I've reached an age where that wasn't practical.
Being an old fart means the time I have left to do all the things I dreamed about doing requires more time than I have left lived. Just an acknowledgement that can't do everything you want in life, and is not meant to be a downer.
Everyone's life has an end date. It's just what it is.
Now I'm back, and I have some thoughts. Japan is awesome, in both meanings of the word. Amazing, yet overwhelming in how it leaves you feeling. It's a strange combination of the future, which somehow manages to feel like the late 1970s.
As a Japanophile I thought myself prepared for the trip.
I already have a smattering of Japanese, from practicing aikido. Though I've been told most of what I know is either technical, or rather old fashioned ways of speaking. None of which is surprising given how formal Japanese martial arts are.
However, I diligently spent time learning new words.
Spent a whole bunch of time watching YouTube videos making copious notes, and repeating useful phrases. It wasn't enough, but probably better than not trying my best.
Then you step off the plane and reality hits.
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| The signs. |
Arriving in Tokyo, is to experience what feels like to suffer aphasia after a stroke. I couldn't understand what I was reading, even when in it was in Romaji. Later in Osaka we witnessed Taco Bell's victory in the franchise wars.
That's a joke referencing Demolition Man, for those who have never seen the movie.
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| Just look at the menu. |
The culture shock isn't the fact that Japanese dress conservatively. Men in white shirts and ties, and women wearing twin-sets and jewellery. Or, that everyone is polite, and all the other superficial stereotypes we're all know.
What puzzled me were the shopping outlets.
These ranged from multi floor stores, to what I would describe as 1960s style covered markets, and corner shops. Both seemed to defy economic sense. In Britain, these sort of shops have gone out of business, or exist in niche places.
An example would be Brixton Market, and the more tourist driven Camden Market.
But, while there were a bunch of tourist from all around Asia, some of the places we visited were off the beaten track,because we weren't just there for tourist spots, even if we did go see the tourist sights.
But, enough for now. I took 300 pictures, and I have to process them before I can write more on our itinerary. Catch you all later.
