Tokyo sojourn In The land of Rising Sun

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Tokyo sojourn
- In The land of Rising Sun -

Pengba Aruuba Eshingee *

Ever wondered why electronics items made in Japan are as tiny as it can be and packed with as many features as possible? Why do their scripts look like pictures and how on earth can anybody read it?

For someone, who grew up in large open spaces of sub-urban Imphal and who has has been lucky to visit mainly English speaking countries, those were never a million dollar question and not even something worth pondering.

The familiar Tokyo

The care-a-hoot attitude, however, went for a pleasant change during a week-long trip to the Land of Rising Sun.

The self-styled "in case" people, as our intrepreter Izumi (pronounced as e-zoo-me) described, Japanese love to economise everything--from space to time to money and even speech (no wonder why they speak so less).

The first day, by the time we got out of the Narita Airport after picking up the luggages, it was 4.30 pm. To one's amusement, it was almost twilight and it very much reminded of those wintry days in Imphal when the Sun would set early.

Having chosen a hotel in downtown Tokyo--Daiba to be precise--it was quite a drive from the airport. Nevertheless that drive was an eye opener to a city which one had first learnt about way back as a kid through the 'Japan Pictorial' that father subscribed every month.

The umpteen skyscrappers, endless flyovers and countless cars that dotted the route proved my father's magazine was indeed true!

Nevertheless, the English articles that the monthly published so nicely was no way a reflection of the real picture in Japan. Except for Izumi'san' (by the way san is akin to 'ji' as they do in hindi), it was indeed a tough task to find an English speaking Japanese in the vicinity.

In between the hectic schedule, programmed to work like their own robots by the Japanese host, it was experience of a lifetime trying to come to terms with a dichotomous society of modren Japan.

The youngsters--seen hanging around in couples--are more westernised than their western counterparts, their ipods, as we were told, perhaps play mostly rock numbers, but they can't utter a single word in English.

Japanese girls in traditional costume playing Koto

It therefore was a pleasant surprise to see two girls in traditional Kimono playing the musical instrument 'Koto' for us and the group that gave us exhibition of Samurai fights and traditional dance.

The older generation, however, are stiff traditionalists and sticlkers to time and schedules. A stray here and there would throw them in fits but unfortunately or fortunately in those short time of stay didn't learn how swearing sounded like in Japanese!

No.. its not Sekmai .. its at Utsonomiya

A three-hour drive from Tokyo to Utsonomiya gave one a chance to witness Japan's countryside that resembles a lot like what we are used to in Manipur (oh only in terms of scenery, not infrastructurewise).

Yet the trip was another lesson of how the rural and urban divide could be bridged. All that is needed is the will to do so...

Check out Tokyo Gallery here.

--Next:: Rendevouz with modern automobiles at Tokyo Motor Show

Pengba Aruuba Eshingee, a pseudonym, is a regular contributor e-pao.net. You can email the writer at penbga(AT)rediffmail(DOT)com. This article was webcasted on 03rd November 2007.

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