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Post by Jaga on Jul 1, 2018 3:31:42 GMT -7
I just thought I would update you periodically from our stay in Japan. We spent today almost all day in public transportation system in great Tokyo area. It was better than I expected in some aspects. It was Sunday so majority of people in the trains were just youth dressed casually rather than lots of people in business suits like they show it in the movie. Tokyo seems to be much more normal and livable than its image as a perfect but almost unhumanly sanitized. On the way from Narita airport we saw many apartment complexes with balconies filled with dried hanging laundry.
There are not that many foreigners or Europeans in Tokyo as I expected. We were usually the only white people on the train, still nobody really paid attention to us as well as people did not really pay attention to each other. Almost all Japanese youth is addicted to their phones, they dob't talk to other people but either play games, read or text....
I guess, for us looking at other people is still the novelty, but Japanese spend so much time in public transportation system that they really don't look at each other.
I was surprised by the variety of human types, some resembling more of the Siberian, Mongolian types, some Chinese... there is just so much variety; the girls are really pretty and fashionable, sometimes almost resembling the dolls, also skinny and sporty, compared to our obese American style' Young boys definitively outgrew the elderly population, they have often fashionable hair.
People go shopping on Sunday a lot, they buy in expensive European brand stores.
Tea is amazing, I wonder why we cannot buy such good green tea in the US. Hotel rooms are equpped with complementary tooth brushes, slippers, bathrobes.
There are almost no immigrants seen on the streets no poverty, almost everybody is Japanese.... I realize that Japan was never really immigration friendly country.
The most surprising was that we cannot pay for any of the rail ticket with the credit card, only in the cash.
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Post by pieter on Jul 1, 2018 6:35:38 GMT -7
Japan is the country of tea and tea ceremonies. So it doesn't suprise me that the Japanese tea is good.
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Post by pieter on Jul 1, 2018 6:52:32 GMT -7
Jaga,
I am glad you are having a good time there and I liked your anthropologic view on the Japanese people. You saw the Siberian, Mongolian types, some Chinese types. I can see the differences between the Asian peoples due to my Dutch Asian migrant community and adopted children experience. I can see the difference between Chinese, Japanese and Korean people. Vietnamese, Burmese, Thai and Indonesian people are different.
The Japanese culture has some old Chinese and Korean influences. I read, heard and saw (TV documentaries, reports, news items) that Japan has Korean and Chinese minorities. Japanese people in the view of (non-German) Western Europeans are Prussian. Disciplined, strict, structured, have their Japanese system which is a mix of Old Japanese tradition and European/American and Korean/Chinese influences.
Historically influenced by Chinese law, the Japanese legal system developed independently during the Edo period through texts such as Kujikata Osadamegaki. However, since the late 19th century the judicial system has been largely based on the civil law of Europe, notably Germany. For example, in 1896, the Japanese government established a civil code based on a draft of the German Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch; with the code remaining in effect with post–World War II modifications. Statutory law originates in Japan's legislature and has the rubber stamp of the Emperor. Japan's court system is divided into four basic tiers: the Supreme Court and three levels of lower courts. The main body of Japanese statutory law is called the Six Codes.
I wonder if you will see or experience something of the wonderful old Japanese culture, traditions, history, their own Shintō indigenous religion, Zen Buddhism and general Buddhism which are over there. Everything will be in Japansese calligraphy, and youn will see Japanese architecture, infrastructure and their way of life. You are aliens there, so you will feel being a minority. But due to your Krakow background and international connections and friends of your parents you are used to foreign cultures and interested in them. I see that in the way you describe your journey as a professional travel reporter.
Have a great time over there with Ela, and I hope you will be able to connect to Japanese people and make new friends there.
Cheers,
Pieter
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Post by karl on Jul 1, 2018 8:43:05 GMT -7
Jaga
Many thanks to you for taking the time to update to us your travels and arrival in Japan. I well imagine your self and Ela finding the Japanese experience as very different for what ever your expectations were. In the manner of people you experience with whilst on public transportation sounds normal for in such crowded conditions, for each protects the others privacy and should be normal.
I have never experienced travel in Japan and have never thought of it other then curiosity but yours should be an experience in learning and understanding of their lives and them selves.
Japan is such an icon of export of things that are house whole items, such as Toyota and electronics.
As your time allows, it will be interesting to hear of your further experiences in such a vastly different culture as Japan. For it is a sharing experience for those here on the forum.
Karl
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Post by pieter on Jul 1, 2018 8:58:34 GMT -7
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Post by pieter on Jul 1, 2018 9:06:02 GMT -7
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Post by Jaga on Jul 2, 2018 16:41:45 GMT -7
Pieter, thanks for the update on Japanese law. Yes, we went to the buddist or hindu temple that was on the way yesterday. It was very superficial experience, but it gave us some ideas. It was like an altar with bell and budda sculpture, the elderly lady was praying. There was also a place with a scent and fume burning out... and the story behind the goddess who was originally a mean woman but then she lost her child and became a child protector.
Karl, seeing Japanese culture from inside gives me the appreciation to another culture and how arrogant, we europeans are with thinking that somehow we are supreme.
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Post by Jaga on Jul 5, 2018 5:59:01 GMT -7
We stay today in a small town, Takayama, after spending two days in Kanazawa visiting castle, garden, geisha and samurai district.
I worry a bit since we have torrential or rather monsoon type of rain. It is really pouring so heavily and we are in a family hotel with matts to sleep on and the community bath.... it would all be good if not this rain that soaks through everything
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Post by Jaga on Jul 6, 2018 4:56:53 GMT -7
Pieter, thanks for posting videos related t Japan and its religion. I am quite impressed by their relgious and ethica system.
we have a flood here in the town, these torrential rains did not stop. Japanese news show areas affected by bad weather including Hiroshima where we are going tomorrow. we might be stuck on the way for hours and also here in this family run hotel.... who knows how long....
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Post by karl on Jul 6, 2018 13:43:48 GMT -7
Jaga
The storms sound very bad, if in your area is bad, so possibly further on as well. At least it sounds you and Ela are in a safe area, perhaps fate has dealt you both a good turn. For most every thing, is the good, some times we as people some times over look what is apparant. For now you both have the good fortune to meet with others for friendship and exchange. Objects and tourist areas are one aspect of travel, but not to overlook others as people.
Every thing will come to you when the time is right.
Karl
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Post by Jaga on Jul 7, 2018 1:36:35 GMT -7
Karl, thanks. We had to stay one more night in Takayama. The trains were stopped so we cannot go to Hiroshima today. It is still raining but hopefully we can move further on the way tomorrow. You are right we should not overlook other people and other opportunities Jaga The storms sound very bad, if in your area is bad, so possibly further on as well. At least it sounds you and Ela are in a safe area, perhaps fate has dealt you both a good turn. For most every thing, is the good, some times we as people some times over look what is apparant. For now you both have the good fortune to meet with others for friendship and exchange. Objects and tourist areas are one aspect of travel, but not to overlook others as people. Every thing will come to you when the time is right. Karl |
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Post by pieter on Jul 7, 2018 15:27:51 GMT -7
Jaga,
I saw terrrible immages of extremely heavy rainfall in Japan with dangerous situations like crumbling highwaysm, viaducts and bridges. Japanese women, children and men being rescued by the Japanese Army. The Dutch national tv news 'NOS journaal' mentions 47 dead and that 1.6 million poeple are evacuated. 3 million other people were told to move away from the rain area. The Japanese authorities warn for earth shifts, rising waterlevels and tough winds. Mud avalanches, flooding, the damage in Japan is enormous.
I hope you are okay, safe (secure), healthy, and that you receive protection or good guidelines what to do by the Japanese authorities, and that you can communicate with Japanese people or foreign expat people with experience with Japanese people and extreme bad weather like this. Take care of yourself, stay safe and let us know how you and Ela are doing.
Cheers,
Pieter
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Post by Jaga on Jul 10, 2018 7:23:49 GMT -7
Pieter,
thanks for your concern. It was really bad in Takayama even when we were leaving, so we had to change plans several times and finally we ended up staying in Kyoto longer instead of Hiroshima, but the weather is good here in Kyoto and we ended up taking one of the fast trains and just spend a day in Hirshima today. It was hot and we could see some swampy, dumpy parts, but everything else seems to be OK.
I guess, Japanese are so used to the natural disasters that they deal with it quickly and efficiently
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Post by Jaga on Jul 15, 2018 1:46:00 GMT -7
Friends, I tried to post a message through my cellphone, but it did not allow me even via unregistered e-mail. It has some extra security precautions that throw it up off the system.
We are back in Tokyo going back to the US in two days. Everything else after our flood to Takayama went well, we went to Kyoto, Hiroshima, and mount Fuji. I climbed mount Fuji yesterday morning to see the sunrise. We spent a night two days ago in the tourist shelter and had to wake up at 1:20 at night. Going up was OK but descending back was a gruesome experience for me. I got blisters since I didn't have good shoes and even now I ealk like an elderly lady.... I hope it would get better.
John and Ela and some other people from our group also decided to stay at lower altitude and not try to go up. Ela had some asthma, John need to watch his hydration level. At least they are in much better shape than me today
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Post by pieter on Jul 15, 2018 3:55:02 GMT -7
Jaga,
Enjoy your last days in Japan. I enjoyed the images on your Facebook page. It is a nice family holiday for the 3 of you. Ela is becoming an independent young woman now. I remember her as a kid and that you were always the proud mother of Ela and talked about her school and activities. Time goes fast and now she is a young woman. Great that John could go with you. Nice to have some quality time together in an interesting part of the world. Hope you learned something in Japan, experienced a different atmosphere, culture and people. That is always the nice thing of travelling.
Cheers,
Pieter
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