Monday 29 December 2014

Puzzled in Tokyo


I hope you had a good Christmas.   Ours was really fun, a good mix of seeing friends and family, and down time. And finally I have had  the chance to put together a couple more posts,too, which is even better!   

It's been fun looking at our very first photos.( The one above is a Russian Christmas doll in a Shinjuku store.)  When I was taking them, there wasn't much chance to think because we were running around and seeing things. But now they bring back how charming yet bewildering Japan seemed.   Bewildering of course partly because neither of us can speak or read the language, so I had the usual type of problems-  like buying a pot of jam under the impression it was a tub of yogurt, and so on.

We were so grateful to our Japanese friends for helping us out and so some things that were initially puzzling became clear.  These small figures standing beneath a large statue, dressed in their red woolly hats, I think represent babies and small children who have either been restored to health from illnesses, or are there to represent children who have died, so that Jizo, the bodhisattva who protects travellers and children, can protect them.


 I learned that these figures in the hallway of a house I visited were not cute ornaments, but kami, representing spirits, essences of life or forces-of-nature connected with the Shinto religion.  They can bring good luck if treated right, although they not exactly gods. 




Objects to do with religion are always full of symbolism, and very fascinating to learn about, but the following photos are some of the things we saw when we arrived in Tokyo, that still baffle me. Not all of them are to do with old traditions. Some are quite modern. Others.... well, probably they are just the way that things are done.  
 --
First, I loved these grand looking white rabbits which were dressed up beautifully. But they don't just look like toys. It is as if they are wearing traditional fabric designs, and perhaps even traditional garments, and so I'm guessing they are something to do with Japanese folklore.   But what?


 I saw these arrays of artificial flowers lined up in an alleyway.  They are not window boxes. 


Opposite them were these circular objects. I think they have cranes on them, which is a symbol of happiness and youth? Or are those winged things some kind of insect?    I just don't know what they are or why they were kept in this side alley.


Now for a modern puzzle.  This machine explains clearly how you put your umbrella in, and then get the umbrella out again encased in plastic.  My question is, why? There is no need to encase a dry and rolled umbrella in plastic. And if the umbrella is wet, you should leave it to drain so it will be dry. If it's been kept wet inside plastic, surely it'll cover you with water when put it up again? 


Mind you, I did not have an umbrella, so I didn't try it out. Perhaps if I had, I'd have understood!

And talking of umbrellas, I wondered why people in Tokyo cycled along with umbrellas in wet weather instead of wearing wet weather gear?  It is not as if umbrellas protect you all that much from the rain when cycling, and what is more, it's very difficult to see the traffic properly if you're holding an umbrella. It's also pretty hard to steer the bike safely with only one hand. I suspect that is just the custom, perhaps one that began when traffic was lighter.


The famous Japanese toilets can cause some confusion with foreigners. This was a simple one, but some had many more buttons than this and one or two had no obvious means of flushing.  I was never quite defeated because I found that if you pressed all the buttons, then finally one would do what I wanted.  


  

It is wonderful to be in a place that is so clean.  If you do spot a piece of litter lying ahead of you in the sparkling streets, it is likely that someone will pick it up and put it in a bin before you reach it yourself.    I have never seen quite that degree of cleanliness and care anywhere else. I didn't once notice a dirty vehicle.   But even so, this concrete mixer caught my eye ...

It was making its way along the narrow street at the end of the day. I had watched the workmen on the site as I passed to and fro, and I thought I'd seen them using this very mixer earlier on.  But look at how clean it is.   Could the workmen possibly have cleaned it up after a day's work? To clean heavy machinery only for it to get dirty again the next day -  well, that would be real dedication to cleanliness!





As I said, though, I never saw a dirty vehicle. 

In the evening, walking through a district of small shops, we were confronted with a black and white inflatable dragon on a hand-drawn wagon,(you can see its open mouth from the front in this image). The dragon was accompanied by people wearing unusual clothes and black makeup around their eyes,  and carrying circular placards.


Every now and then they would stop, take out trumpets, stand in a line and play their trumpets in unison, mostly 17th and 18th century European classical music.  They were extremely good -  I would probably pay to hear them.  But what were they doing? Why had they dressed up like this and brought their music to the city?


They were followed by girls in tutus, who attracted the attention of the Marlboro Dog. 


I thought it might be an advertising parade, but nobody was giving out leaflets, and when I showed my pictures afterwards to Japanese friends, they didn't know what it was all about either.So this will remain a mystery, probably. Anyway the parade went down very well among the many people enjoying snacks in the little open-sided cafes along the way. 


We realised very quickly that we were going to like Tokyo - clean, safe, and with so much to see and so much to interest us and make us think. 






72 comments:

  1. Wow, that cleanliness is truly impressive! And it's fun to try and work out what all the puzzling things you saw really meant.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love mysteries, and you have shared so many. We are wrong to think the world is a small place which we are now all so well acquainted with through newspapers, books and TV. Good tip about the loo, press all the buttons, just so long as it doesn't give you a shower too. I suspect that the umbrella covers may have been a temporary measure to prevent you from dripping wet on shop floors etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you have put my finger on it - we DON'T live in such a small world as we like to think!

      Delete
  3. What a fascinating country is Japan, and you have found so many intriguing or puzzling, yet interesting things to share with us Jenny. I also remember the cleanliness and neatness, and the wonder of seeing workers raking gravel into attractive designs, only to be messed up again the next day! We actually have the umbrella wrapping device at our local shopping centre - the idea is to wrap your wet umbrella while in the centre so as not to have it drip on the floors, then remove the cover once you go home. Great post, Jenny, and Happy New Year to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't see workmen making gravel into attractive designs but I did see some sweeping up with dustpan and brush (outside a building site) as they changed into their everyday clothes.

      Delete
  4. A really interesting post, Jenny. You saw so many unusual and intriguing things. No wonder Japanese folk take a lot of pictures when in our country... they're probably capturing shots of all the dirt! And that's nothing for us to be proud of.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's not just another world, it's another planet!
    So many mysteries!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for a wonderful post - so very interesting. Life is full of little mysteries, such as plastic sheathing for umbrellas, but cycling with one seems very impractical. Why not a machine for the plastic sheathing of cyclists, I wonder?
    I love the dressed up rabbits and the little household gods, all equally mysterious.
    Happy New Year to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Judith - and I love your suggestion for encasing cyclists in plastic. Now that would be good, at least for short periods - so long as they left space for breathing . :)

      Delete
  7. Our daughter is off to Tokyo this week to spend New Year's with friends. She loves Tokyo, but even living in Japan she sometimes finds Tokyo overwhelming.
    Love your pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is very crowded. If she speaks the language it must be easier but I think it takes a long time to tune into cultural attitudes. I hope you had a lovely christmas with your daughter?

      Delete
  8. Things are so colorful and interesting - even if you don't know what exactly they mean. I am enjoying the photo's of your trip very much.

    Darla - wishing you a Happy New Year filled with travels

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Darla, and happy new year to you too!

      Delete
  9. FYI left comment and got a try again notice. I don't know if it reached you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello - no - the comment didn't reach me I am sorry to say. Perhaps you could try again?

      Delete
  10. If only where i live could be kept so tidy! It's an uphill battle here, as most people seem not to care.

    An unexpected parade sounds like a treat, no matter the meaning. It seems to me it could take years to get to learn about Japan and Japanese culture, and there would always be more to learn!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I find myself wishing there was a magic tidy fairy in my house. Let alone outside in the street. I am quite ashamed of our street sometimes.

      Delete
  11. Japan is the cleanest country I have ever visited. Except for the very old men who like to pee anywhere in public.
    I loved all the restrooms in Japan always clean, here in America they are usually messy and dirty.

    I can't wait to see more of your photos.

    Happy New Year
    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Luckily I didn't meet any of the old men - -perhaps they have died off by now! :)
      Happy new year, Parsnip.

      Delete
  12. Maybe someone will fill you in one day on the mysteries. But if your Japanese friends didn't even know, maybe that's unlikely--LOL! I was in Toronto in Canada 45 years ago and had never seen a city so clean there, either. Not a speck of paper on the ground or a cigarette butt (and tons of people smoked 45 years ago)--clean streets and sidewalks. I don't remember the cars, though. Might be a mess now, but it was spotless back then. Loving your pics and memories of your trip! Thanks for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always good to read your comments Rita. I remember being a little surprised that Toronto wasn't cleaner last time I visited it since I'd been given rave reviews of its cleanliness years ago. I like the city very much though. Guess cleanliness isn't everything! LOL :D

      Delete
  13. Oh the joy of being somewhere where nothing quite makes sense - in western terms. We have no other contest in which to explore explanations, but it's such fun to try!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, indeed, Jo. It's really quite stimulating!
      Happy New Year to you!

      Delete
  14. When I visited Singapore years ago...it, too, was spotless. If only more countries/people were so conscious of their surroundings.

    How wonderful it would be if all those little customs and figures etc., did bring peace and good fortune. We humans certainly are funny cattle...with our quirky superstitions etc.

    Another interesting post, Jenny...thanks. I hope you and your family have a great 2015. Happy New Year to you, Jenny. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your good wishes! Now you mention it I have heard that Singapore is also spotless. I've been told that is because there are strict penalties for litter dropping. I don't think that's the case in Japan, although I don't know of course, since I don't read Japanese, so I wouldn't know what any of the signs said! But they just seemed to like to do the constructive thing, somehow.
      I hope your 2015 is wonderful, Lee, and I look forward to us seeing more of each other in this virtual world we spend some of our lives in:).

      Delete
  15. A busy post Jenny, and I had a lot of fun! I particularly liked the rabbits and the window boxes. Isn't it always exciting to finally get to peruse all the photos from trips! Memories!
    May your new year be blessed with much health, peace and happiness.
    I loved this post! I hope to see these places one day myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Rose, and I hope your 2015 is lovely too. I'm glad you liked the rabbits. They're my favourites too!

      Delete
  16. The cleanliness is amazing! What however does it say about the group mentality?
    Such a different world. A missionary friend in Chins during the war was interred and found the Japanese way of thinking so unusual, always at a slant from any others.
    Lovely pictures, takes us out of ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a pity that cleanliness should be so amazing, shows how much dirt and mess we'lll put up with doesn't it! Happy New Year!

      Delete
  17. Fascinating photographs. That's the cleanest cement truck I've ever seen, and I'm glad to see there's at least one Corgi in Japan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lovely dog it was. Pity it was advertising cigarettes, mind you! Happy new year!

      Delete
  18. a wonderful time you had - often wished i could visit the east, but no more traveling for me, not yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you get to travel more. If you could send me a link to your blog I'll put it on my blog roll but I seem unable to access it :)
      Happy 2015!

      Delete
  19. A mystery post, for all of us. The cleanliness is easy on the eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is quite good psychologically too when everything is clean. Happy new year to you Joanne!

      Delete
  20. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Jenny :)

    Gosh, you're making me miss Tokyo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know you miss Tokyo a lot! I'm starting to miss it when I read other peoples' blogs about it now...

      Delete
  21. I'm enjoying your reports from Tokyo, beautiful city and beautiful photographs. Take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas to you and yours and that in this new year begins all your wishes are fulfilled. A big hug Carlos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you carlos, and I will continue to vicariously enjoy your wonderful walks! Happy new year to you!

      Delete
  22. One of my favourite cities. I love the toilets!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wonderful photos! Isn't it fun to encounter mysteries in other cultures?

    I remember riding my bike as a kid while holding an umbrella. My mother and grandmother did the same thing. But really, it doesn't make any sense and would be considered quite dangerous nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really used to have my heart in my mouth watching them in the traffic. Luckily the drivers seem quite patient and considerate.

      Delete
  24. Hi Jenny -- I love this post! You saw things I Tokyo I sure didn't see! When I was there I was in such jet lag combined with culture shock it was overwhelming. But you are right about the scrupulously clean. Rick (who has been there many times) has told me that in the schools there are no janitors. Every day a certain amount of time is allotted to scrub the floors and do all the cleaning of the class room by the students -- no matter their age. So, it wouldn't surprise me if that cement mixer had been washed before moving on to its next job!

    Is next year the Year of the Rabbit? Maybe that's why those bunnies were so dazzlingly beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad we didn't have to clean up at school though actually it is a useful thing to learn techniques to get it done fast. I have an idea that the rabbits were some kind of traditional thing, not just for the coming year. But it is so weird not being able to read anything! :)

      Delete
  25. What colour and cleanliness! I like the ide of the umbrella wrapping service to stop you dripping on fellow passengers or shoppers, but better still would be to ban the umbrellas altogether - awkward at the best of times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they are such a nuisance. I prefer to wear waterproofs if possible, but sometimes it is just not possible. Happy new year to you!

      Delete
  26. On the one visit I've had to Japan, I found it lovely and - as you did - puzzling in many ways. I'm sure they say the same after visiting our countries! I believe my favorite activity was partaking of an old fashioned tea ceremony; so formal, precise and full of tradition, yet still friendly.

    What fascinated me the most, though, was their television. I watched many game shows that were almost incomprehensible but which seemed riotously funny to the locals. Seeing old American shows such as "Bonanza" dubbed in Japanese was fun. The best was their professional wrestling which is done up in great pomp and circumstance, with matches choreographed much more realistically than anything here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, other countries' humour is really hard to understand. It says quite a lot about what matters to people, though, I think. I think that loss of face is seen as funny in Japan. Stupidity seems to be seen as amusing in Germany. What do we laugh at in Britain? And America? I am too close to it to be able to tell, I think - it just seems normal.
      Were you thinking of sumo wrestling? ThAt's amazing. I wish we had been able to see some sumo but it was the wrong season. Went to a sumo centre and museum though, in Tokyo.

      Delete
  27. Jenny I asked friends last night while at a New Year's Eve soiree about the plastic wrapping of the umbrellas in Japan...it is done for health and safety reasons; to prevent water dripping on the floors in the buildings etc., causing the public to slip. Hong Kong also does the same. The lass I asked is Chinese; she and her fiancee (an Aussie young fellow, the son of my landlords) live and work in China; not that far from Hong Kong. She works for a Japanese company and they've had a few trips there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thank you for the explanation, Lee. Personally I thinkit would be a bit more sensible to make a law that floor tiles must be non slip where they are likely to get wet. The hotel where the machine was, had really slippery white tiles OUTSIDE and if it was rainy you really had to watch your step. I suppose they were just as slippery inside too but fixing the tiles would have been more practical than supplying a machine for keeping umbrellas!

      Delete
  28. Interesting post, as always.
    Nothing like a Marlboro dog to make me feel at home.
    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! I bet people in LA missed the landmark Marlboro man. Some of those cigarette ads were fun.

      Delete
  29. That's an interesting new year. I like seeing new things too, and traveling. Japan is definitely on top of my bucket list as a place to visit. :)

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lovely intriguing snippets here, Jenny. I never imagined Tokyo would be so clean because it's such a big city, but how lovely that it is! I can imagine it must be a puzzle though. I love all your photos! special insights of unique features. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Val, and I look forward to reading more about boats in 2015 from you.

      Delete
  31. In answer to Rita, Toronto is indeed a mess these days. Far fewer people smoke now, but there are cigarette butts all over the place. :-p
    That is the cleanest concrete mixer I have ever seen. Very impressive.
    I love the Shinto icons. I wouldn't mind have a few of them gracing my front hall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strange about the cigarette butts, we don't see many of those in London now. Happy New Year to you!

      Delete
  32. I always love your travel posts, and am sometimes a bit envious of all the places you get to go. This one though, I think is one of my favorite posts. I would love to go to Japan and China one day!

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - I would like to go to China too, although I'm told a lot of the traditional culture was destroyed by Mao. But it would still be a fascinating place and I am sure there is a lot of it left.

      Delete
  33. A fascinating exhibition of photos! Happy New Year, Jenny.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Very interesting photos and observations, Jenny. I'm also baffled by the custom of holding an umbrella while you're cycling. It seems totally impractical and even dangerous. All those controls on the toilet are bewildering. What on earth do they all do? Isn't a simple flush handle all you need? I don't understand the umbrella machine either. What would be handy though is a machine that dries your umbrella so you could fold it up and put it away without having to leave it out somewhere to dry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got to rather like the high tech loos, not quite sure why they don't have them here, perhaps with the flush button made a bit more obvious. Yes, a brolly drying machine could be a good idea though most people would probably be too impatient.

      Delete
  35. Hi,Jenny
    Wish you and your family the best for 2015!
    Tomoko

    ReplyDelete
  36. Enjoying the travelogue. Really interesting photos.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Happy New Year, Jenny! I enjoyed your curious eyes and reaction (with your background) to these things and I feel no wonder about your puzzlement as I also sometimes get puzzled to some Japanese things as a Japanese. I wonder what the Russian doll is puzzled about… maybe the picture on the floor? Being puzzled, confused, bewildered, surprised pleasantly… are exciting part of travel overseas.

    BTW, here is a puzzle/riddle I forgot to ask you in person; “What do you call a deer without eyes?” Have a happy 2015 ahead.

    Yoko

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I very much agree, Yoko. I like NICE unexpected things when I am travlelling and Japan was full of those. As for the riddle, well, I have no idea :)
      Happy new year!

      Delete
  38. Oh, Jenny, you answered it right! Doesn’t “no idea” sound like “no eye deer”? It is a riddle to play with words.

    Yoko

    ReplyDelete
  39. One of the things about reading a post long after it was published is that there is very little left to be said by way of comment. It was, however, one of the most fascinating pots I've read. So far as the little parade was concerned it made me wonder if Google are developing a search engine which will recognise symbols and tell one what they represent.

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive