Leaving Tokyo after five days of non stop stimuli. Comiket was an eye opener on Japanese manga production and distribution. Indie authors set up booths to sell their work and network with publishers. I was personally attracted to the unique customized little print books. I bought a little seasons print book which is the size of my thumb. They are not mass printed and can only be bought from the creators themselves who make and sew the books.
When I purchased their merchandise, I feel I am supporting their artistic creations in a small way. Maybe one day they will become world famous, but for now they have a little wooden table that they set up once a year to meet prospective buyers and their fans. I got some folders and key chains. I saw a cat comic ezine using real pictures of cats infused with comic style dialogue and I just had to buy one for 500 Yen.
I love and hate Tokyo. I love visiting here but I don’t like the claustrophobia that comes with being in such a highly congested city. There is almost no personal privacy – there are people everywhere. No hidden nooks, everything I do including typing this post on my phone is in full view of everyone. The moment I speak in English they know I am a foreigner and they hand me an English menu and greet me in English.
The distinctions between age, gender and districts is so apparent that it is totally opposite to what I prefer which is a classless society like Australia. Men and women behave in total different ways and the answers are always expected. I noticed they announce the closing time to no one but just by talking to mid air – it is a daily habit and part of their job procedure and they follow the “automation” process by doing their job. It can get really weird. My taxi driver made his own sounds by announcing “cho cho cho” when reversing as his car did not have the reverse sound. When a girl dropped her phone she made an announcement by remarking, “oh oh oh!”. Not to forget, entering and exiting even the most tiniest restaurant is always followed by a loud announcement greeting. I jumped a few times because the directed attention is so awkward but I am used to it now.
The train is still announcing stops and instructions. There are signs everywhere on what to do and what not to do. “Please switch your mobile phone to silent mode,” the instruction behind the chair says.
I think if I stay here long enough, the rigid-ness and procedures will drive me insane. I believe Japan is a war state and they are geared this way due to their history of warring for limited agricultural land. They had to have a subservient class of peasants who will do what the Master says. Hence, written instructions and laws began. Now, with modernization, the culture hasn’t changed but the execution of obedience now is more so in the daily lives of people.
It’s amazing how there can be no dustbins and the streets have no litter in Tokyo. The public toilets in the train stations are magically clean. The populace is in a state of massive obedience to the law at the expense of their own personal individualism by being considerate to others around them.
Time to munch on my chocolate cake with an extra “gift” of a wet disposal towel from the convenience shop in case my mouth is smudged with chocolate sauce…
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AVERRAL writes under pen name Scarlet Risqué. She stars in Scarlet Queen YouTube with over a million views. She holds a degree in business. The RED HOURGLASS is ranked Top 50 Espionage Thriller on Amazon. She is currently writing the sequels to the Hourglass Series. Grab a free copy of her novel now RED HOURGLASS on Amazon |
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