Back from Tokyo

One week and 200 pictures later, Justin and I comfortably return from Tokyo on the Shinkansen (bullet train). Went all over the place: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara, Asakasa, Akasuka, Ueno... pretty much every major part of Tokyo. I'm not entirely sure how to write about everything I experienced; there's just too much. So, I'm just going to pin point some of the more poignant moments and write about them in detail.

The first that pops into mind takes place in Roppongi, a cornerstone of consumerism in this great city. A great example is "The Roppongi Hills".


This fortress of goods was created by Minoru Mori, far and away the most powerful single architect in Japan, also one of the richest men in the world. His idea in building this monstrosity was to create a self contained city, the pinnacle of which is the building above named, not surprisingly so, "Mori Tower". The other buildings in the plaza are, for the most part, residential and business buildings, with the lower floors occupied by clothing shops, jewelers, grocery stores, and other useless jargon, all of which is insanely over priced. Created on 4 billion dollars and taking no less than 17 years to construct, it's said this plaza attracts over 1 million visitors a weekend. Apparently - because of it's ridiculous proportions most likely - there have been certain political parties and angry individuals who take the ride to the top of the tower and promote their propaganda.
(click to enlarge)


As a side note, Roppongi is, topographically, relatively flat. The hills were artificially made, and come in at a height around 10 feet or so, if that.

At any rate, one night I was taking a walk through Akasaka and stumbled upon Roppongi by chance. This being my second time there, and it being a Friday night, I was surprised to see how many gaijin there were. People forcing me to take flyers, following me down the street demanding me to enter their generic, Americanized club; women standing on corners asking me if I want a "massage", which I politely decline; drunk business men throwing their weight around, objectifying women, and women prancing about dressed appropriately to be objectified. All around terribleness.

And then another stroke of fate. I run into two of my friends from my Japanese class at UW, and we go out for some drinks. After trying out some bars and clubs, we realize that we all hate clubs - in fact, most of Roppongi as a whole - and decide to go our separate ways. As we chat about our various experiences in Japan, I see a completely passed out, thoroughly drunk man on the sidewalk, sprawled in the middle of the busiest part of town. There are a few people standing around him talking, not about him, but about where to go next or where to eat. I, surprised and not familiar with the area, almost pass him without checking it out, but I finally decide to see if he's alright. I bend down next to him, all eyes on the gaijin trying to help out a passed out drunk guy on the side of the road, "Are you alright?" I ask, "Can you understand me?" Nothing. After repeated shaking's and shouts, I stand, kind of at a loss about what to do. Thankfully, another man comes by, checks his pulse, opens his eyes, and calls an ambulance. I walk away and think about how long he must have been there and if he's alright. But, most likely, he won't remember any of it anyways.

I go back to my capsule hotel and sleep.