A Day In Tokyo

One problem with this blogging thing is that I am being overwhelmed with sights, sounds, sensations and ideas. It is impossible to keep up. Japan is that different from anything that I have ever encountered before. To give you an idea, consider the following, which illustrates what one runs into in just one day in Tokyo!

We are going to Roppongi Hills; an affluent area of Tokyo where there are many embassy facilities, and many gaijin [foreigners], as a result. This is immediately apparant. Living in an outlying area of Tokyo, there are very few Westerners about, and one immediately notices them. So I kept doing double-takes when I spotted another non-Asian face.


At left: so, you want a little exercise after all of that stuffing your face for the holiday? No problem, just sign up for a course at the Kununaokala Hula Studio!! (wasn't that first word in an Elvis song lyric; if so it means I Love You in Hawaiian?)









At right. I am not sure what this business is, but they are really happy in there!






Nice car! What is it, anyway? Why, a Splitfire, of course! (Do you think that might have been intended to be a Spitfire, but someone misunderstood the word?). Obviously, from the picture on the right, I was reflectiing on the idea.




Of course this is a legitimate business! What do you think that we are, some kind of a Rinky Dink Studio?


The business in the photo is actually a lumberyard; there are scads of these small businesses scattered throughout all of the neighbourhoods. Businesses operate on a very small, local scale here, in sharp contrast to the big-box monster stores back home. (Having said that, there is a single Costco open in Tokyo, but it is difficult to get to if you don't have a car) The philosophy of commerce is different; the business goes to where the customer is; it doesn't count on the customer to coming to where the business is located.



A winter scene in a pleasant park in the heart of Roppongi Hills, where the locals are passing a pleasant day fishing. Fishing? The pond is about 6" deep, and the fish have been removed to a warmer area for winter. Besides, they are Koy (Carp) fish anyway. Maybe you get it; I know I don't!



Japan has full employment now. Anyone who wants a job can find it. What do they know that we don't? Here is a photo taken in the International Market; you can see in this one area alone 9 employees! There are two more just out of camera range to the left, and at least double that amount of staff on duty in the store. Only one employee is actually working! Note also that they are all young females. Japan is a very traditional culture; married women stay at home with their children. All you typically see in the shops are the young and the older women. I will detail in a future column the Japanese philosophy and approach to work. Like many other things, it is very different than back home!

Some of the stock in the International Market. You can tell that Kona beer is trying hard to make inroads with its promotion. And what is that to the right? Well, bless my heart; its Labatt's Blue. About the only spirits from Canada one sees regularily are ice wine, and Canadian Club Whiskey. The Japanese love their whiskey and scotch. Rum, gin and vodka are rarely seen. As for the ice wine; the Japanese taste for high-quality products explains that.



Speaking of philsophy, a Smoking Area Sign also dispenses advice, like - Smoke Gently (or you might get a hernia). And, oh yea, we gotta do something about that World Peace thing!!!


In Japan they take truck farming quite literally! A small entrepreneur outside the subway station.





Some of the locals pulling Booty Duty. The Japanese love their boots; especially cowboy boots. There is going to have to be a blog on styles here in Japan; I only want to state here that the temperature is very close to zero, but these two are hot.

Wendy's Hamburgers; Japanese style! Looks pretty normal, except for the giant Corona bottle over the beer cooler! Plus, they have beer on tap. Super-size that!





The facade on a shop; I didn't have time to inquire as to its origin and meaning.




A sleazy local pub? The Lingiere Pub seems a bit flimsy to me, but then again, a round for the boys might be in the offing!






In case you wanted to know, this Pub / Lounge is a Busy House!






Maybe a definite social faux pas at home, but here you can get away with a Pink Beer Truck. In fact, real men actually wear pink here!



Now what exactly makes you think this might be a pet store?





The Japanese vend many things; here is your local Liquor Shop. What do you do with the empties if you just can't wait to get home; why, put them in the handy return cases provided!




Here is your handy-dandy Zippy Bar. I don't know who Stella is, but she can be found at the same place!


This is a hairdressing salon named Snob. Your hair may be messy now, but once they are done you will be Stuck Up! Come on in, they are open!






Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!. A neighborhood Shinto graveyard in the foreground. (remember what I said about bringing the business to the customer?) The wooden sticks are prayer-sticks to the gods. In the middle is a typical residential neighborhood; the graveyard is right next door. Behind, high-rise buildings appear in the background, signalling an end to the traditional way of life in the area.

Signs of the times. Clockwise from the upper right; you might think that the triangle is a Yield sign but you would be wrong. It is a Stop Sign! Below is the sign for a Pedistrian Crosswalk. At its left side is the Japanese symbol for No Parking. Above it is the Speed Limit Sign, and on top is yet another symbol, whose meaning is entirely mysterious to me.

Spider man? No, its another of those famous metal sculptures that are entirely familiar to residents of Ottawa, since a clone stands in front of the National Arts Gallery there. A third example in is Paris, but if there are more, I don't know where.

Jean and myself with the Tokyo Tower in the background. This structure was errected in 1959; an obvious knock-off of the Eiffle Tower. You can't mess with perfection!



I Lucked Up!! My theory is that this shop was actually supposed to be named Destination, but some of the letters failed to arrive, and the staff did the best that they could with what they had. What do you say?

So lets see. First we have the Pet Forest Academy (for slow dogs?), then we have the Pet Forest itself, (is that for strays). Then, after the requisite 'Coffee Experience' with your 'Coffee Specialist Team' (- which can now charge you double), we can all chill out at the Dog Garden Hotel. Doggedly Decadant, I would say!

A local bar all duded up with an American theme. Complete with Happy Hour Shots! Is that a drink, or the hurtin' kind?





The welcome mat at a Roppongi hair salon. It is called Hairies, whatta think?




A domestic automobile called Gloria. As in G-L-O-R-I-A!! It's around midnight, and it really rocks!!



The triple threat of the Japanese road-ways; the bicycle, the scooter, and the automobile. In the background is that well-known Japanese institution; TGIF Fridays. Dude, I told you this was Giajin Ground!




Finally; the Clinic of Cleaning. If you didn't know how!






Remember, this was all in just one day. I actually have more, but the site will not let me upload more photos or interesting stuff I saw. No wonder my head is spinning!

Doug-San in Japan

Saying Sayonara for now!!