Category: Japan

I had little patience for cyclists. Most people have mamachari – the ladies bikes with baskets on the front – just for getting to the station or shops and back. So cyclists have all the rights of pedestrians as well as the rights of vehicles, but most people stick to the footpaths. I’d been hit… Continue reading Cycling

Chauvinism is only the visible surface in the Japanese culture. Outwardly, it’s a very male dominated society where men work and women look after the home. In a traditional relationship, the women walk behind the men. My father had seen an example of this at the station where he watched a man, seemingly oblivious of… Continue reading Chauvanism

Pride is the factor that makes it impossible for a gaijin to really integrate into Japan. Most Japanese take pride in having a gaijin friend, but we’re usually seen as a kind of pet – a mascot. We’re proof that the Japanese are superior because we make mistakes and fail to understand the Japanese culture.… Continue reading Pride

All the men and boys wore business suits, most of the women were in elegant western dresses and older ladies and girls wore kimono. “Which is the couple?” “They don’t come until everyone else has arrived.” As if on cue, the groom entered the room in a commanding short, white kimono with divided martial hakama… Continue reading Wedding

A couple of hours later, we were in a ski shop in Osaka where Kayo was trying on various boots. The shop assistant was very knowledgeable and helpful, explaining how long the board should be, what shape she’d need for downhill as opposed to freestyle, and the benefits of ‘step-in’ bindings. Typical of the Japanese… Continue reading Snow

“What are you doing up here?” she asked when she finally came out, obviously just as angry as I was. “Why did you keep ringing the bell?” “You said to come in. Why didn’t you open the door?” “Because you shouldn’t be here! How will it look if I have a man in my house?”… Continue reading Date

The urinals were along the wall perpendicular to the corridor, with the door beside them in the corner directly opposite the door to the classroom next to mine. Standing there, I could see the girls in the class and if they didn’t look while they were in their room, they couldn’t help but see me… Continue reading Toilets

Fear gripped me before I realised what was happening – or perhaps because I didn’t realise what was happening. The building jumped from side to side. My chair banging against the desk. My jug spilled water into a small puddle that crept towards my laptop. People around me screamed and dived under desks. I knew… Continue reading Earthquake

There were a few on their balconies looking down at the scene, but none inclined to get close. “Well, at least we should call the police.” “They’re on their way. Any of these people can give them the message more quickly, and more accurately, than I can. I don’t even know what number to call.”… Continue reading Police

The Japanese revere their highest mountain, which spears out of the surrounding flatlands near the coastline west of Tokyo. For most of the year, it hides in cloud, but when this creature deigns to appear, the sight is spectacular. Its conical form changes costume with the seasons, but as we approached in summer, lucky enough… Continue reading Fuji-san