You are left with many different impressions after a visit to Japan and this is an attempt of sharing a few of mine. There might, in time, be one more page
of these. As I have mentioned, impressions need to be processed a little before written down and published.
Having seen the film with the same name three times (as well as many other Japanese films) before going to Japan I already had some idea of what I was expecting. Or so I thought.
I had some idea of the level of noise, size and speed I could expect in Tokyo, the people, culture and more. But this is something one has to experience for onself.
In Tokyo I could understand the point of the film; how they could feel lonely and lost in the mecca of people, lights and sounds. I did not personally feel lonely, but
there is an aura of solitude in the, at times, extreme crowds. It is like everyone blends into one, in the attempt to stick out. of course, some actually sticks out:
The ultracolorful, fashionable young kids, whose hairstyles top eachother and fashion is a combination of tasteless and very stylish. Maybe this is an attempt to stick out, to make onself
visible - to be somebody. Then again, how different are you, when "everyone" in Shibuya is trying to stick out?
NOTE: I actually felt peaceful in Tokyo. Why? I don't really know. Maybe because I thought, "I am glad that is not me!" After all, like Ghandi said:
"There is more to life than increasing its speed!"
Another thing about translation is of course misunderstanding. After a few days in Japan I noticed, like I have heard before, that "everything" is backwards
here. One example was on the train from Kyoto to Takayama. We expected our car, nr 1, to be at the front. But no, it was at the end. Books are being read backwards...(more).
I find myself happy being confronted by my expectations. What I believe is "right" is just habit. Who says the first car has to be nr 1?
And who is backwards, Japan or us?
In Tokyo, impressions seem to come at you like a whirwind. Like Robin wrote, "I was amazed with the accuracy, prestige and effectiveness
of which everything moves!" And that is the essence: Everything works! The subway and trains arrive exactly on time. Each car is designated to a particular
line on the platform, and they stop exactly in front of you if you stand there.
At Kyoto station bus stop, you could see on a screen how far away you bus was, where it was. Impressive.
People seem to be looked after to prevent accidents and mishaps, which is nice, although it can appear to the westerner that this is overprotection. Exiting from
carparks, drivers area faced with a STOP sign, mirrors, flashing lights, and in addition, a person directing traffic with a huge lightstick. Same thing at construction sites.
You would think that barriers and lights alone would prevent people from driving or walking into these places, but hey, they have people there as well.
And one last thing: In how many countries can 6-7 year old kids walk alone home from school in big cities? As Robin pointed out, in London they would all fear kidnapping.
I guess this has something to do with the above. Despite having seen almost no trash bins, I could never see any garbage lying around. No
cigarette stubs on the pavement. No gum to step into. It seems they have made it work, like I have never seen before. How can you make a city like Tokyo, with over 12
million people living there, look cleaner than Trondheim, Norway?
Japan is a safe place to travel. There is hardly any theft, and mugging is rare. The closest I came to see violence was two drunk elder Japanese guys
playing on a bridge, like kids wrestling. At Tokyo station, on our way to Kyoto, we stopped for something to drink in a 7/11, and we decided it was better if I waited outside
with the luggage. Standing there guarding the suitcases, I could see a man aged appr. 50, and on his way inside, he parked his suitcase outside and walked in. Amazed I stared at his suitcase
and thought, I have to tell Robin this, upon which he answered: "Now, that would never work in London...!"
Same thing on the train. People left their seats for a long time, leaving computers, cameras, bags and stuff in their seats, and did not seem worried that people might steal anything.
Now. In how many countries in the world can you do this?
When we arrived at Andon, Tokyo, on the first day we spoke to two young Englishmen who were just about finished with their trip. Actually, they were
the first people in Tokyo we talked to. Of course, we had to ask them what they had done and seen, as they had been there for a week or so. We asked them how long they'd stayed
in Kyoto, and they said, "two-three days. It was more like 1 1/2 day really as we came and left".
"How was that then", I asked, "did you see good stuff, temples etc?" Upon which he answered, "Hrmpf, well, if you've seen one, you've seen them all."
Yes, you should not try seeing everything in too little time. You need time to take it in, instead of rushing along with the tourist buses. But here is a limit!