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• My love/hate relationship with Tokyo

  2008-12-16 7:01PM / 標準BLOG / 會員可以看
  8個評論

  Disclaimer: For those of you wondering, "Where the pictures at?!" scroll past the massive chunks of text below. Though, I'd much rather prefer if you read and commented!
  
  I love Tokyo.
  
  I really do.
  
  It's so clean, efficient, and it's just a marvelous city -- a veritable playground with so many nooks and crannies I can't possibly uncover them all. There's so much to love about this city -- cheap food, awesome entertainment, and above all else -- incredible hospitality.
  
  But really, that's a trait about Japan in general that I love. If it's anything the Japanese really are great at, it's hospitality. A Japanese friend of mine discovered that I'm traveling to Japan by myself and told me that he was considering moving his "leave-Tokyo-to-visit-family-for-New-Year-date" back by one day (from January 1st to the 2nd) so I don't "have to spend the first day of the new year alone." I thought that was probably one of the sweetest, most considerate things anyone's ever thought of for me, and such a gesture is, at its very root, very Japanese. Of course, I told him to go visit family -- I have more than enough friends who'll be in town, but even still, I was incredibly touched. Taking in consideration of the fact that he's not just some average Joe, but an incredibly high ranking executive from one of Asia's biggest record labels made the impact of the gesture hit me like a 500 ton mack truck. Packed with explosions, too.
  
  Yeah, Japan, your culture of hospitality is awesome.
  
  I've been to Tokyo 4 times in the 15 months, and in about 32 hours from now, I will be making my 5th trip out. The previous 4 times were all for work. This time, it's way more personal. This time, I actually will get to do things that I want to do and experience and explore the city in a way I never have been able to before. I'll actually have time to visit Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Akihabara, and stop by Tsukiji Market to sample fresh fish at dawn. I'll actually get a chance to soak in an onsen -- Japanese hot springs, for those of you who don't know what that is -- and let the heat and nature just  melt away all my stress. I'm already starry-eyed just picturing it.
  
  But things to hate about Tokyo?
  
  As a New Yorker used to the most efficient transportation system in the world (or so I say with full bias), I hate Tokyo's lack of unlimited transportation passes; the fact that their transportation system is not one, but multiple; furthermore, everything closes at midnight when it comes to trains, and then taxis are exorbitantly priced! Good god! Transportation in Tokyo is probably the one thing I spend the most amount of money on, believe it or not. If that's not ridiculous, I don't know what ridiculous is.
  
  And then there's just about a million crazy rules as well such as no using mobile phones on trains, requiring manner mode just about everywhere, not checking makeup on trains or anywhere public, etc. etc. 
  
  There's also the fact that as advanced as Tokyo is, it's still the center of quite possibly the most repressive industrialized country in the world, especially for women's rights. Women as a whole are still treated as a second-class citizen; and when they are not, they are being horrifically objectified and sexualized in every single way possible. Tokyo's unquestionably phallogocentric, but as a feminist I shouldn't be surprised about that, seeing as America's not all that much better. But at least it's not nearly as bad as it is in good ol' Japan.
  
  But there are so many things to love about Tokyo.
  
  If you've been to Tokyo and you haven't had crepes from Harajuku, you are totally missing out.
  
  These thin, chewy, flaky crepes are prepared quickly and wrapped around all sorts of different condiments from your chicken-curry variety to incredibly rich and calorie-packed cheesecake slices with fresh, succulent strawberries, blueberries and thick cream to send you straight to dessert heaven.  I'm hungry just thinking about it and I just had a Boston Creme donut. (Sweet tooth, much?)
  
  Then there's the nightlife. Even for a New Yorker, I must say I'm pretty impressed by the quality of Tokyo nightlife. Japanese people really know how to get down, let me tell you. While they can't dance very well (unless you're lucky enough to be in the right hiphop club on the right night of the week to catch actual dance crews tear it up), they really know how to party. Tokyo nightlife is an unending playground, and unlike New York where last call is at 2am and the party stops at 4am, the party never stops in Tokyo. It just keeps going. And going. And going. Of course, drinking in moderation is important and knowing how to pace yourself is even more so. But I'm not the type of person who needs to get drunk to have fun anyway!
  
  Nightlife aside, there's a gazillion things to do during the day. Just about every time I've been there, I've had the pleasure of catching a street matsuri (or festival) go on. Parades and all sorts of fun stuff happen at any given moment in Tokyo and it's totally amazing to see it all -- and that's without mentioning all the sights!
  
  I can keep going on forever about all the things there are to love or hate about Tokyo. But at the end of the day, I think I love Tokyo more than I hate it. What I hate the most about Tokyo is the fact that every single time I've been there, I've never, ever had a chance to truly experience it cuz I was always busy working!
  
  This time, it's going to be a totally different experience, and I'm definitely looking forward to it. I'll be bringing my trusty laptop, camera, and USB cord, and will be sure to update while I'm there!
  
  Until next time, AnD.
  
  
  EDIT: Before, I forget, I totally thought I was done for the night, but I just remembered I had some photos to share!
  
  I attended the Women In Music holiday party last Monday and had a blast. I'd met one of the board's directors, Hadley Poole, at a networking event back in July or so and she invited me to go. I decided to get kinda dolled up and camwhored a bit in the bathroom before I went.
  
  Here is the evidence:
  
  
  
  
  And here I am with an incredible violinist, Heather Paauuwe, Alissa Turchen (EMG's Administrative Marketing Assistant/JRR's East Coast Director of Events) and artist, writer, photographer and model, Tré:
  
  
  
  We had a fabulous time. Unfortunately, it was wayyy too packed to take too many pictures of us, but this one at least came out somewhat decently!