Businesses in Ginza
Ginza shoppers churning about...
Models for UNIQLO (American Apparel crossed with Walmart)
Shibuya scramble crossing
Rock Band, baby.Consumer Wilderness
Week 42
Another short one here.
After the usual slow recovery on Tuesday due Rock Band Night at Ben's, I was on to another fairly typical week. I started jogging again seriously, which was nice despite a few cold nights out in Koganei park.
It's occurred to me over the past few months while out running that there are a few songs that I'll associate with my time in Japan for the rest of my life. Chief among those I'm sure is The Killers track, 'Spaceman' which I have both sang many, many times and also listened to while running quite frequently. Also, basically any song by Coheed and Cambria. I pretty much live my life to a soundtrack.
Speaking of the Arts and Entertainment, during the week I watched Sean Penn's excellent film, Into The Wild. I'd read the book a few weeks earlier and decided to give the film a shot. I was pleasantly surprised, I thought it was quite good. Obviously not the equal of the book, but still, very sincere. I kind of missed Jon Krakauer's narration though, as I feel it really bolstered the story by giving it a context within the author's own experiences.
Which brings me to my own impression. I wrote something down after I watched the movie to remember what I was feeling right after I finished watching it. Looking at it now, it's a bit incoherent, so I'll try and rephrase as best I can with a month or so of sweet, sweet 20/20 hindsight.
Traveling to Japan is in many ways my own McCandlessian journey, just far less self-destructive. Self-constructive perhaps? Sure, it's not nearly as dramatic and full of adventure, but I undertook it for much the same reasons: being in a situation I wasn't happy about, wanting to know myself better and hell, oddly enough, discovering The Wild.
That last point is wickedly ironic.
Who would be stupid enough to leave one of the world's least populated countries for one of the world's most populated in order to explore the wild?
Me
But that was more unintentional. I had no idea that climbing Fuji last summer would have struck such a resounding blow within me. From time to time I wonder what would have happened had I not made that fateful ascent...But that's another path.
Speaking of another path, my mom must be happy as hell that I didn't follow the path that Krakauer took. The scribe of Into the Wild, also having been stuck in a situation he disliked, decided that the best way to overcome his problems would be to head up to the Stikine ice cap in the Boundary range to climb a mountain called the Devil's Thumb. Almost died doing it too.
I just went to Japan.
But what struck me most about this was that one of the major reasons he cited for his departure was the end of a four year relationship. The relationship was also the only major one he'd head in his life at that point when he was in his early twenties.
Damn if that does not have some parallels with my own experience.
It just sort of hit me that sometimes everyone has to change their situation. For someone that used to get stuck maintaining the status quo easily, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one. But I'll stick to hiking thank you very much. Ice climbing screams "death wish". No offense to any ice climbers out there. And I can unequivocally state the following:
I feel that this time abroad has already been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.
And it's not even over yet, that's the best part!
Deep spiritual reflection and all, I really dug the movie.
Rest of the week was standard fare though. Sunday I relaxed at my place before heading out with Melissa to check out Ginza for the first time on Monday. It's THE upper class shopping area of Japan and, although definitely living up to the name, was somewhat disappointing. Namely due to our lack of millions of dollars. We would end up back here a couple of weeks later (stay tuned).
We also walked from Shibuya to Harajuku, just looking around at a few of the clothing stores. I've walked that street many times. Nice walk, fun to soak up the sights and a few neat stores to check out always.
Monday finished with the standard thrashing of plastic drums and guitars at Ben's place and back to work on Tuesday.
Prepping for Sunday's hike at Tsukuba-san...
Ian "Mello Yello" Cantello
Speaking of another path, my mom must be happy as hell that I didn't follow the path that Krakauer took. The scribe of Into the Wild, also having been stuck in a situation he disliked, decided that the best way to overcome his problems would be to head up to the Stikine ice cap in the Boundary range to climb a mountain called the Devil's Thumb. Almost died doing it too.
I just went to Japan.
But what struck me most about this was that one of the major reasons he cited for his departure was the end of a four year relationship. The relationship was also the only major one he'd head in his life at that point when he was in his early twenties.
Damn if that does not have some parallels with my own experience.
It just sort of hit me that sometimes everyone has to change their situation. For someone that used to get stuck maintaining the status quo easily, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one. But I'll stick to hiking thank you very much. Ice climbing screams "death wish". No offense to any ice climbers out there. And I can unequivocally state the following:
I feel that this time abroad has already been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.
And it's not even over yet, that's the best part!
Deep spiritual reflection and all, I really dug the movie.
Rest of the week was standard fare though. Sunday I relaxed at my place before heading out with Melissa to check out Ginza for the first time on Monday. It's THE upper class shopping area of Japan and, although definitely living up to the name, was somewhat disappointing. Namely due to our lack of millions of dollars. We would end up back here a couple of weeks later (stay tuned).
We also walked from Shibuya to Harajuku, just looking around at a few of the clothing stores. I've walked that street many times. Nice walk, fun to soak up the sights and a few neat stores to check out always.
Monday finished with the standard thrashing of plastic drums and guitars at Ben's place and back to work on Tuesday.
Prepping for Sunday's hike at Tsukuba-san...
Ian "Mello Yello" Cantello
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