First, let's start with the prejudices:
- Japanese people are not dwarves, and this I insist on. They're actually the same size as any European people on the average. Maybe the only really small people you will encounter in Japan are "Oba-chan" (Grandmothers), who alike our own grandmothers, get a bit backbenched and smaller with time.
- Japanese people eat a lot of fish. Actually, they eat much more pork and chicken.
- Japanese cuisine consist of sushis only. Truth is sushis might not exceed 5% of their daily meals.
- Japan is expensive as hell. Appart from fruits, nearly everything is as expensive as in France, if not less (i.e. booze and cigarettes).
- The Japanese system is very respectful and kind to its elders. Most of the insecure, low-paid jobs are filled with old people (shoe-shiner, fast food waiter, cleaner,etc). I will write a column very soon on how hard the system is on old people.
- Only Japanese people live in Japan. As a matter of fact, I was really impressed by the number of gaijins actually working and living in Japan (Tokyo at least), sometimes for generations. Numbers of Indians, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Turkish, French, Spanish, Italians, Australians, Americans and so on, turn Tokyo in a real melting-pot.
-Tokyo is all about skyscrapers and futuristic urbanism. You actually find wires running everywyhere in the streets, small traditional japanese houses and many gardens/parks right in the middle of business centers.
-There is none or very little crime at all. This explains why police officers have so much time and put so much effort in helping you (they have very few to do).
-It is hard to find your way in Tokyo. Actually, after 3-4 days of candering around the city, you feel really at ease finding your way.
Now, with the truths:
- Some areas in Tokyo can REALLY be crowded (Shibuya, Shinjuku) and the crowds can be just crazy. AMAZING.
- Big screens, flashy city lights and sounds everywhere (however, only in certain neighbourhoods: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro)
-Traffic jams (especially during rush hours) are crazy in Tokyo: this is why taxis work on a distance-basis fee system, not on a time-basis fee.
-Fruits (appart from bananas imported from Okinawa) and cheese are VERY expensive (i.e, 3 euros for a peach, which is however a local product)
- Birthrates are the lowest in the world. It is striking how few infants, babies and young children you see, even compared to ther developed economies whose birthrates are falling.
- MANY salarymen ( typical medium-qualified employee), that are all dressed the same way, finish working at the same time and go drinking together at the same Izakayas (Japanese pubs-we'll write an article on that) before going to sleep in a "capsule hotel" (the name is self-explanatory-another article should be coming on capsule hotels)
-Japanese pop-culture can assimilate any culture: from Japanese R'n'B/Hip-hop nightclubs to Japanese reggae concerts (another article will be dedicated to the Japanese "Nigger Culture").
-Japanese people have very little feet. I really have trouble finding appropriate shoe size.
Now about Unknown facts:
- You're not allowed to smoke on the streets while walking, but you have to stop at some "Smoking Areas" (because of the cigarette butts and the risk of burning someone if smoking in a crowd). HOWEVER, you're allowed to intoxicate other customers with your smoke in restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
- Beggars will NEVER ask you for money, even though they will appreciate you giving some to them, should you be a Japanese or a tourist.
-Taxes are never included in displayed prices, only on the bills....
- Policemen are VERY nice and will give you their best in order to help you, whatever your request. Same for clerks, front-office workers and bureaucrats. Really, everyone will try to help you if you're in any trouble.
-The Japanese bureaucracy is even more rigid and slower than the French one. However, this is compensated by the kindness of Japanese bureaucrats, who will make up for such unefficiency by accompanying you in all your administrative procedures with smiles, care and respect (unlike typical French ass administration workers).
-Streets have no name, but a series of number (i.e. 1-12-8, "1" being the number of a main section of the town -Tokyo is divided in many different towns, "12" the number of the neighbourhood, "8" the number of the building).
-The system of bounty rewards still exist for capturing wanted criminals or finding missing people. If you feel like a bounty hunter, then...
-Lots of shops and restaurants have French names, from clever names ("Café à la Criée") to ridiculous ones ("Doux Pédale").
Well, I think I summed up in a non-exhaustive way the most striking features that I have observed in the last 10 days. Photos will come soon, along with new articles on the "Salarymen", on Japanese bureaucracy, on Japanese "Nigger culture", on Japanese non-liberal capitalism, on the fate of Japanese old workers, on how to trick the system in order to manage expenses and much more.
じゃまったね!! (See you soon!!)
