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Custom and tradition make much of Japanese culture, courtesy and respect is demonstrated in many aspects of everyday life. Engrained into the culture from an early age with moral class being taught in school 2hrs a week. It comes through in basic conversation and seems ro grow into all aspects of life. So far I have found a majority of my encounters with nationals humbling.
Food here in Tokyo is great. Sushi is amazing, I don't think I have ever enjoyed sea food as much as I do in Japan, picking up plates from the conveyer eating anything from roe to horsemeat is a fun experience. Noodles or ramen are good too, some shops ask you to pay at a machine which is really convenient, take the ticket to the waiter/waitress serving, within minutes you are tucking in to something delicious, hot and spicy .. Ramen for the hungry traveller, can usually be picked up for under £3(550¥) location dependent. So far I have tried cow intestines, horse, mini sardine pizza (thought they were bean sprouts) octopus and fish head soup. Octopus was garnished with horse radish (wassabi) kinda stole my taste buds for the night.
On the subject of machines, efficiency and user experience.. There are so many things we could adopt from this culture.. I'll start with the crudest.
Toilets in Japan are high tech, with heated seats, multi function mist sprayers and my favourite novelty design.. Nature, the sound of leaves blowing in the wind, birds tweeting and water flowing.. a buddy from Denmark remarks 'its like you are taking a dump in a forest stream' with alot to do with politeness. Gaseous noises are unwelcome here.
From the smallest key ring design allowing ease of purchere when adding a key to a chain, to concepts such as how people are dealt with e.g. I arrived at the capsule and sauna hostel and waited in line, as I waited the queue built behind me, it was clear I did not speak Japanese and I would have taken a great deal of time in checking in, the owner clearly showed me to the side and began to deal with the queue, effectively and quickly. Finally came round to me, and checked me in (not before i chearped for help from a fellow traveler who explained) at the time I was a little confused wondering whether I made a mistake. This i understand is part of the culture, which takes the collective into consideration over the individual. Again very humbling.
This concept, the collective is transferable to most socisl etiquette. For example a group of people at a bar will more likely all drink the same. Not for being sheep but to save time and energy, for its important the whole group are looked after collectively ensuring nobody feels out of sync or left out.
After checking into the hostel in Shibuya, known for its scramble crossing similar to that of Piccadilly circus. A real party district, this place never sleeps. Restaurants are open till 7am, pachio parlours pound on the eardrums relentlessly throughout the night. Bright lights and masses of people make up the hustle and bustle which is Shibuya.
In the donzenka area, small bars line the roads where owners passionate about there personal interests develop there collections into theme bars, the ability to share a passion is so important, what better to share your hobbie whilst serving upsingle malt.
Last night a group of us visited a local bar playing Jazz and providing whiskey, the owner a 65yr old man. Had been collecting vinyls since he was 15. Major interests in jazz and 80's hip hop. Listening to Marvin gaye, Common, among others I started picking up on his energy. How someone develops a passion, sticking to it truly helps to explains a person. Surrounded by 10,000 or more vinyls all kept in mint condition, starting to resonate with his passion and in the words of another traveller' we can only aspire to have a retirement as cool as this chap'. Living out his retirement sipping single malts and appreciating vibrations from around the world each and every evening. Truly inspirational, this concept in Japanese is called Otaku, where people follow there passions to the point of hoarding. Generally not deemed positive in the west or here, however these the masters of obsession, and ultimately there own passions and desires. I wonder how many people along his journey put him down and told him how crazy he was.. But look at him now I wonder how many Japanese 65 year olds there are who are truly self empowered as he.
During the day myself and a fellow traveller went to another hostel to check it out, we ended up going to Harajuko where cosplay enthusiasts roam the shops and display their original or emulated fashion sense based on anime and popular subculture figures. The Japanese really are very well dressed people. Items such as footwear are generally looked after and many people still visit the cobbler to have there shoes polished or repaired. Sunday is the day to check out the cosplay area, we only saw a few true cosplayers, the main street where shops full of clothing, fake jewellery and what I would only describe as tat was absolutely rammed, made difficult to navigate through the slim road. I have learned that in Japan you are best strolling with the collective, walking at the rate of everybody else else. . well why rush.. I am on holiday after all.
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