The Duality of My Tokyo Life

Back in September of last year I wrote about the Duality of Tokyo. Tokyo really is a city with two personalities. It is like being in two different cities. Yet, I have noticed a change in my own personality. Humans, by nature, process the ability to have duality in our personalities. We can change depending on our situation and personal emotions. This is a unique trait in the animal kingdom, found only in humans.

So yes, I have noticed a big change in the duality of my personality since moving to Tokyo. It is almost as if I am two different people at times. The person I am at work is very different compared to the person I am outside of work. I work at least five days a week; in rare situations even nine or ten days in a row. On these days, I wake up and start the process of becoming a corporate dick for a private English language company. It was not by custom to wear a suit and tie most days until I started living in Tokyo. Actually, I had very little interest at all in suits back in the states. These days, I have to put some effort to look all prim and proper before heading off to work.

Once I am in full suit and tie I must behave in a manner which is odd for me.I tend to be very straight laced and polite. I let a lot of things go for the sake of doing my job and maintaining the `right` image. I can feel myself become a very different person. I am more gentle and thinking about business, making money, and doing my best to be a quality teacher. At the time of doing all of this there is one thing I am not thinking about; the person I am deep down inside. I know this may sound strange but at times I feel as there is a switch in my brain. Ｉturn `it` on and off at a moments notice. In the past, before Tokyo, I never really found myself doing this kind of thing. These days it seems to be second nature to me.

So, am I cracking up or is all of this meant to be of sorts? Have I found some strange balance? One thing is for sure; I have become two different people. Yet, I wonder who is the real me. Well, in time I will understand such things much better. For now I am trying to enjoy the ride.

Tokyojin really need to chill

For the past several days I have been hanging in Hamamatsu. It is pretty far removed from Tokyo. In Japan, I spend most of the days knee deep in the insanity that is Tokyo. I have to admit, Tokyo has the ability to drive even the most stable person a little nuts. It is a pretty hardcore city; in fact it is the largest city in the world. Well, being away from Tokyo for a few days has open my eyes to something important; Tokyojin really need to chill the fuck out!

Brfore I go any further, let me just say that I love Tokyo. It is one hell of a city. I really get into all the excitment and adventure Tokyo provides. Everyday something happens which feeds my need for chaos. Yet, there is a certain attitude within a lot of people living in Tokyo which gets under my skin from time to time. It seems to be the habit of far too many people in Tokyo to eat each other alive. People will wait for you to say something they can use to make you look bad, while at the same time, make themselves look so good in front of others. I have tried so hard to understand this thinking but I still struggle. At times living in Tokyo is like being in a den of hungry lions. Someone is going to get eaten.

I guess this comes from the nature of Tokyo in general. It is a real fast city. People tend to gave little issue with stomping down anyone who gets in there way. They call it being polite, but in reality it is nothing more than being a bully with a coy sense of manners. People are able to get away with this kind of behavior because Japan has a passive society. While I have adjusted to the stance of,` I am stomping you in the mud because you are getting in my way; this is for your own good because I am the best thing since sliced bread,` it still gets under my skin from time to time. The crazy thing is, this attitude is usually not acted out though violence. It is a mental trip of talking shit in a manner which is coy and uptight.

Here are a few examples:

You are at a pub talking a rather attractive J-gal. Another dude joins you at the table. He also wants her attention. He will start to point out every little thing wrong with the way you look and give `advice` on how you can be better.


You are at a business dinner/drinking meeting. You are having some success networking with a important counter-part in your company. A fellow co-worker sees that you are making the right connection with the right person. Feeling that he may be getting pushed out of the loop, he/she will start to point out all the good things he/she has been doing; which you have not been doing.


You are enjoying a night out with a new friend. They decide to bring along one of their friends. You are getting along well with your new friend. The other person, feeling that you might become more popular, starts to point out all the fun things they can show you in Tokyo, while at the same time, giving you crap for not knowing about these things.


There are just a few examples but I think you get my point. So, Tokyo lets just relax a bit...Okay. It is not the end of the world if you are not the center of attention all the time.

All Ready for Golden Week!

So, are you ready for golden week? I have asked this question to many people and it seems that many people are not so up for it this year. People tend to response with a sort of sadness about dullness about the whole event. As first, I was confused as to why so many people express aloofness concerning golden week this year. After some thought I think I may understand the reason for this feeling. The Japanese just might be suffering from mass depression.

For some reason it seems as if Japanese people are easy to fall into a pit of depression. Maybe this recent bout with depression stems from the state of the economy. I mean things are bad, but why are so many people acting like it is the end of the world. The Japanese have been bumming me out as of late. If they are so unhappy I suggest they either get tough and deal with the situation, or simply jump in front of a train.

Golden week is a time to have fun and relax a bit. Life will keep going despite the current state of world affairs. Personally, I don`t want to deal with people who are ready to roll over and die. I do not enjoy feeling like shit everyday. Yet it seems that many people living in Tokyo love all the doom and gloom. So, I have decided to get the hell out of Tokyo for a few days. I will be going to Hamamatsu to enjoy golden week. In my opinion, Hamamatsu is the best city in which to enjoy golden week. The people there so completely crazy for GW. For the entire time during golden week the city turns into a drunken rampage of Edo period inspired merry making.

I remember going to Hamamatsu last year for GW. I had a blast! I have a honorary membership into one of the local communities. I get to wear the traditional Edo dress, march around the street drinking sake, and the best part is I get to drink all the free beer I can handle. It is a great time for sure.

The one event I enjoy the most is the Giant kite battle which happens at the beach. This is something which everyone has got to experience. Each community has its own giant kite. They battle it out in the skies. The object is to knock the other kites out of the skies. There are a few rules to this amazing event. You cannot battle a kite which represents a new born baby or someone who has reach 100 years old. The kites are very colorful; so all you camera obsessed folks have a reason to check this out.

Anyway I am leaving Tokyo on Monday and will not return until Wednesday. I look forward to getting the hell out of Tokyo for few days. It will be good for me I am aure.

The Way to a Ghost`s Heart is to Buy Him a Case of Samuel Adams

If you want to get in my good graces real quick, all you have to do is buy me a case of my favorite beer. One of my instructors, Tony the sailor, understands the value of friendship. When he arrived at work yesterday he presented me with a case of the greatest beer created by the good old red, white and blue; Samuel Adams. I like Tony actually. I have even put my neck on the chopping block for him once. It was worth it because I feel that he has real potential as an instructor. Hell, how can I not like a guy who buys me a case of Sam.

I am, in effect, Tony`s boss. Although, I feel that I have been able to connect with him on a level that other management has failed to do. That is the secret to successful management; you have to make the personal connection with people. They have to feel that are working for you, rather than the company. Lets face it, most people hate the company they work for. Many people would rather stab their company in the back than take one for the team. This attitude can be changed and manipulated if you, as a leader, can make a personal connection with the workers. They will forget about how much they hate the company if they like you. They do things against their better judgment if they feel they are doing it for their friend rather than the company.

So, after receiving such a graceful gift from an instructor, I assume he feels that I am his friend. In truth I really am his friend. I know about his personal situation and what is happening in his life. I have taken the time to care about this fellow human. I buy him a beer from time to time,let him relax, and talk a little shit about various things. I try to get a good laugh out him. I want him to be a success. Although, I have had to bitch him out a few times about some professional things, he understands who butters my bread.

I hope to make these connections with as many instructors as possible. Hell, it improves moral greatly and give me a much more healthy social life. Sometimes I can talk an instructor into hanging with me totally removed from work; i.e. when we both have the same off day. This is good for them and good for me. We can have a good time and network about certain happens within the company.

So, here is a salute to Tony the sailor. May he become one of the best instructors in the company!

Communist Japan?

The idea of Japan becoming Communist truly boggles my mind. I am aware that the Reds have had a foot hold in Japan for decades. From my understanding they had been put in their place by Yaks after WW2. Yet, as I was reading an interesting article at makepolicy.com about the recent raise of the Communist party in Japan, it appears that the Reds far from gone in the land of the raising sun.

It seems that the recent economic down turn is being seem as the reason for the increase in membership of the JCP. The people are worried about having a stable job and the future of their society. With a government that has been controlled too long by a failed political right; many Japanese youth are turning to the Communist for leadership though these tough times. The truth is the JCP has been increasing in numbers for the past several years. Not just from following the news but from my own experiences with the Tokyo punk/rock a` billy scene, there are more Communist living in Tokyo than one might expect.

For example, one evening I was hanging-out at a punk bar deep in the heart of Tokyo. I had this Japanese gal, who had been running around with me a lot at the time, with me. She sees come guy wearing a commie hat and says, `Communist are cool. They care about the people. I like Reds.`As shocked as I was by her statement, I was not surprised considering we where in a punk bar filled to the brim with Japanese youth. The JCP is using the same tactic others Communist groups across the globe have used in gain influence in society; win the hearts and minds of the youth. Mao`s cultural revolution is a classic example of how Communist will employ the discontent of the youth to gain power and influence over society. Currently, the JCP seems to be recruiting members from the `freeters` and the Japanese youth punk scene.

So, one has to wonder if the Communist party of Japan will ever gain strong enough influence in society to be in the drivers seat of the government? I would like to say no but considering the unstable government of Japan; anything is possible. For now the JCP holds a minor number of seats in the Japanese government. The majority of people are still smart enough not to give in to the lies of Communism.

Create your very own Pandemic

With all the talk of Pandemic these days, you might be wondering how something like this gets started. The wonders of the internet provide us with a way to experience the thrill of infecting the world with a deadly illness. Enter Pandemic 2 the game!

Oh yes! Enjoy the excitement of creating your very own Pandemic and killing off the world`s population. This game provides hours of fun featuring three different illness types and lots of options to make a Pandemic the world have never seen.

Japan is actually kind of hard to infect because it is an island. You can challenge yourself to see if you can wipe out the land of the raising sun. I know featuring such a game may be in bad taste at the moment, but I just cannot resist a game which brings reality to shocking life.

Go ahead and try this game out. If you are not worried about the swine flu yet, you will be after playing this game.

The Americans got Pig Flu

It looks as if a deadly flu is spreading across America. I am shocked but not surprised by this latest development. I mean, old glory has fallen on some hard times. The fatherland has been hit by the worst economic down turn in the nation`s history. Some people are losing everything. Near a million jobs have disappeared and children are going hungry. If America has not hit rock bottom yet, a deadly flu should make the country sink right to the bottom. I can only hope for the best in these dark days.

Lucky for me, I live in Tokyo where is no sign of the pig flu at all! The Japanese are so picky with their food that they are able to keep the pork flu free. I do wonder if there is any real risk of it landing on Japanese shores? I mean, Godzilla attacked Tokyo many times so what is stopping a little pig flu?

I know one thing, if a air born pig flu attacks Tokyo it will spread like wildfire on the trains. Trains are usually pretty packed during the morning hours. Those sleepy and pissed off salary men will pass that shit to each other in a matter of days. Even if they do get it I am willing to bet they still will not be late for work. They might show up squalling like a pig, but still early enough to have a cup of coffee.

All joking aside, this whole pig flu thing looks to be kind of serious. A lot of people are getting this shit. Hell, even a few nations in Asia are reporting cases. Japan has started turning away folks from Mexico as a way to prevent the disease from spreading. I hear that is no real cure for this nasty swine flu. If you get it you have to tough it out and hope you don`t die. At this point I am not extremely worried because it is not killing people world wide so much yet. We should be careful here in Japan because the pig heave love to screw, which could spread the flu faster, as evidence in the video below.


Pigs Have Sex During Japanese TV Broadcast - The most amazing home videos are here