Hate: Racism

I anticipate encountering a not-insignificant amount of racism in Tokyo over the long haul. I feel that as a guest staying on vacation, my presence is appreciated and almost celebrated, probably because as a foreigner, i'm inherently something of a curiosity. I'm interesting and welcomed specifically because my visit is a limited time affair. It's my understanding that as a resident, the sitation would be quite different. I've heard tales of discrimination when applying for credit cards or opening bank accounts, i've heard of landlords who discard applications immediately upon seeing the applicant's name in katakana. Having spent my whole life at the proverbial top of the racial food chain here in the US as a white male, i assume it's going to be quite a shift when i'm suddenly part of the"out group."

Love: Courtesy

The Japanese have a certain ingrained politeness to them which floors me every time i'm there. Tokyo is a positively massive city, but the people there are amung the most courtious and polite people ive ever been around. this is a stark contrast to how things are in New York, LA, or just about any other major city ive been to. The idea that you can have the excitement and intensity of a big city with the politeness and courtesy of a small town is simultaneously baffling and extremely appealing to me.

Hate: The Weather

I’ve heard some unsavory tales about how hot and humid Tokyo gets in the summertime (and by, “summertime” I apparently mean June up until the end of September) and I can only speculate on what Osaka might be like, since it’s alleged to be even more fiendishly warm then Tokyo. I have never had a very good relationship with heat, and even less with its evil, electronics-destroying cousin, humidity, which apparently make their living ravishing the Japanese islands with alarming regularity. Combine that with the somewhat traditionalist methods that the Japanese tend to employ when dealing with the elements and you have a recipe for a sweaty and incredibly uncomfortable Puma.

Love: Kuidaore

I really love the culture there surrounding the Osakan concept of kuidaore. What it means is to bankrupt or ruin oneself on extravagance in food and drink. For practical purposes, it means that the Japanese play hard. It's not uncommon at all to enjoy happy hour at an izakaya, then go to a restaurant for dinner, and then to go another izakaya for an after dinner drink or two. It’s extravagant, sure, and I’m sure that most Americans would consider it to be very wasteful, but it's fun.  Interestingly, it reminds me that my father is often very much like that. He's always had a fairly firm "you can't take it with you" attitude which led to more than a few extravagant meals over the years. I can't help but there's some connection there... and that my father would have loved Japan if he had gone there 

Love and Hate

So I’m in a place where I actually consider moving to Tokyo, like, I really, seriously consider it. I try to be realistic about things like this but at the same time; I do have a tendency to get a little carried away. In an effort to keep a level head and not get as swept up in the idea that "the grass is always greener," I am going to log things that i expect to love and hate. This initiative is somewhat inspired by the somewhat contentious, but often rather insightful blog, 1000 Things About Japan, wherein a nameless blogger describes items she would and would not miss about Japan if she happened to leave there. In my case though, I'm going to go with things that I currently believe i would either love or hate about living there. If I eventually move, it would likely be very interesting to see how this stacks up against how i really end up feeling.