People, Tokyo

Around the city you will still find many refrences to Astroboy, even Tokyo now being advertised for vacations with him now!

You can also find him in Yokohama at the aquarium, at least when I was there last year their was a group singing the theme song and selling shirts and other things, never got that close to see what it really was all about.

Also Harajuku had the jingle, loved to hear that everytime. ;)

If you're interested to know what life is like in Tokyo for foreigners, there's a funny novel called Tokyo Stories which was featured in The Japan Times on March 6 and in the Tokyo Weekender on March 5. These publications have websites so you can check them out.

Information on Tokyo Stories is also available at www.tokyostories.net

Pick up a copy of the map in both English and Japanese, when ask for direction, Often you get better result by just point to the Japanese characters and speak English slowly. With the combination of sign language, as least you get the general direction of where you are going.

Some observations of the local Japanese: Business casual hasn't caught on here, most salarymen dress in conservative blue or gray suits. Women seem to have
excessive downtime, the vast majority of shoppers in Ginza and Shinjuku are women and the stores reflect and cater to them...how many shoe stores does a city need? Cellphone penetration is extremely high, not
unusual to have >2 mobiles.
Catnaps on the train are common, heated cushioned seats and smooth rides make
it all the more accomodating.
Shoppers, especiallywomen love Louis
Vuitton products--from handbags, umbrellas, hats, etc.

I'll say over 90% of Tokyo women have some hair coloring done, while the number for men is alarmingly high as well. Was told that since hair coloring is seen as a rite of passage as it is prohibited when attending school. It is more uncommon to see a Japanese adult with his/her natural hair color.

I am asked or almost on daily basis about how is like to live in Japan? "Two extremes!" I 've been told, regarding my "Latin culture" and the Japanese ways.

Well , it is not that different if you pay attention to the details and forget a little bit about the many times digested predjuices you could have about Far East and "Latin Culture". But there is, indeed, a big difference in how the regular Japanese citizen tackles certain problems. In case of failure or accident, the Japanese would never automatically blaim others to save face and responsability. Perhaps, very innocently, it will make an introspective analysis of his/her faults and will come up with a more balanced view. If it has to accept a degree of responability, or the whole responsability, it will.

I have learned a lot in this in 20 years, but I do recognize that I still get very upset when I have to deal with western people that automatically blaim others, and happily call name others, when failure and/or accidents occurred because their own faults.

I'm not exactly the best person to write about female fashion. However when it involves high heels, even if they are platforms and miniskirts then I'm your man.

In Tokyo we came across several Ganguro's - an attempt to look 'western' in a weirdly sterotyped way - with very non-japanese dark make-up, high platform heels (to make up for the Japanese lack of height), girlie type clothes and strong make up. I thought the attempt to stand out was fine, as they just looked like 24hour party girls - good luck (or look) to them.

The more punky / gothic style of the Yamanba (or Japanese witches) was perhaps less appealing asethetically - but at least they are enjoying it !

Opinions are very divided about the homeless who live in such places as Uneo park. I must admit it came as something of a shock to find so many older men, in suits, who were homeless. Their neat rows of turquiose coloured taupaulin tents in the park seem to give them some kind of dignity.

When you learn that many helped re-build Japan after the war years and are now seen as useless to the heartless economic machine you sympathy is aroused.

In comparison to the "got 30p for a cup of tea, guv" merchants of London or the varoius smackheads found in every other large city across the world, it seemed to speak volumes about the values of that particular generation of Japanese.

On the other hand I came across a very sourbugger on the internet indeed who described Uneo park and it's homeless thus :

" Japan's ugliest park is filled with homeless people, illegal phone card venders, and drug dealers. The grass is sparse and sickly, and there is too much concrete. Although it is home to the excellent National Museum, you go there in spite of its being in Ueno park, not because of it. There is also a zoo, whose animals are said to be unhealthy and depressed. If you live in Tokyo, there is a good chance that someone will invite you for cherry blossom viewing in April. Unless you like looking at mountains of garbage, listening to portable karaoke machines, and stepping over drunks passed out in their own vomit, give it a miss. "

It made me feel quite fluffy in comparison!

It seems that I spend most of my day telling children to wear their school uniform correctly. They hit the age of 13 and the shirt must be untucked, the tie skew-wiff and the blazer adorned with a silly badge.

It therefore comes as something of a shock to see thousands of well turned out school children in Tokyo. They really do seem proud of it, even wearing it on their days off !

Ignoring the fact that it must have been designed by middle-aged men with a middle-aged men's fantasies in mind, and the fact it has spawned a vast pornographic industry - it is ceratinly a feature of Tokyo life.

The ruffled up socks really do look a bit dated though - very Olivia Newton-John in a pink leotard.