Sunday, April 28, 2013

My new life in Kichijoji

"Humans are cowards in the face of happiness" ~ I heard this from some crazy (Yanki) girl in Japan.

Yanki are one of the many subcultures in this crazy cartoon country I live in. They typically have dyed blonde hair streaked with remnants of brown or black, wear dark, torn clothing, ride on majestic scooters into the sunset after some scheduled Wednesday night brawl with the rival gangs. They love to loiter, smoke cigarettes, down wine coolers in front of the local Don Quixote or convenience store. I've never been bothered by one, but they seem to be looked down on by the majority of the populous. I heard some of them upgrade to Yakuza if they're lucky. But what do I know. I'm white XD.



It's not easy being a foreigner in Japan sometimes. I moved to Tokyo, recently, to start my new job as an underwear model ;). I also write when I can and teach English; typically to doctors, businessmen, and international departments at my new company. The lifestyle here is drastically different from the Kyoto area. Millions of fashionable people crammed into sardine can sized streets, trains, and department stores mindlessly stampede in cycles around the city on a 24 hour basis. Despite the density of this ant-farm, there are days where I feel I have hardly spoken a word to anyone. Foreigners are always foreigners here. It takes time to sort through the hoards of solicitors, for people actually interested in your genuine friendship. I should wear a sign or T-shirt with the answers to the routinely stated comments or asked questions:

Where are you from? o_o
Can you teach me English? x_x
What did you come to Japan, of all countries? Z_x
You're Japanese is really good isn't it? -_-
You're (cool/handsome)! (-_-);;
You have a tall nose! I_I

It was flattering and exciting the first 200 times.

 I live in Kichijoji now. It's 15 minutes from central Tokyo, an incredibly good area I'm told. I love it. I'm a 9-10 minute walk from the train station. A labyrinth of shopping arcades, restaurants, bars, chains, department stores, coffee shops, grocery stores, pachinko parlors, and movie theaters riddle the space in-between my apartment and the station. I find myself on many late night strolls exploring the area. The day is infested with shoppers, families, couples, and youngsters. The night seems to belong to other solitary people like myself. I run into the occasional pack of drunken salary men or cackling young girls looking for the next drink.





There's a beautiful park, as well: Inokashira Park. The pond is a battlefield, controlled by swan boat pilots and the resistance. I don't know who's winning the fight, yet. There's a small zoo, which boasts one elephant, and seemingly every single bird from every single Disney movie.



I haven't forgotten the handful of friends I have made in Hikone, almost 2 years ago now. On occasion, I have a run in with them even while dispersed across this tiny country. They haven't changed a bit...

I wonder if I have.