As a result of a small incident in Ginza where a man did not let me sit down to eat for not speaking Japanese, I reflect and learn from a society that isn’t like any other. Edited by Kathelijne Bonne. Japan efficiency A similar situation happens several days before. I am on the phone with a salesperson from the Internet provider. I am a potential customer. On the … [Leer más...] acerca de Kicked out for not speaking Japanese
English
A walk around Shinagawa
In this article, there are no consumer signposts, no invitations to explore places. Just images of people and places, and what literature evokes. English edition by Kathelijne Bonne. Blurred senses in Japan In the streets of Shinagawa the contrasts become clear. Elsewhere in Japan, they are never very obvious. Because everything seems attenuated. The cheese, although … [Leer más...] acerca de A walk around Shinagawa
About plastics in Japan
English edition by Kathelijne Bonne. Omnipresent. Polyform. Opportunistic. They have the misfortune to linger. Japan loves them, perhaps because they reflect the values they adhere to. Plastics prevent skin contact with objects and with other beings. No odors, no noise One of the most striking things when you arrive in Japan is that nothing has a distinctive smell. … [Leer más...] acerca de About plastics in Japan
Nikko: about onsen culture
A getaway to Nikko made me ponder on twilight, naked bodies and the onsen culture in Japan. Edited in English by Kathelijne Bonne. On the impossibility of truly understanding Japan Tokyo is beautiful and inviting, but I get the feeling I'm living in a theme park. Any outing, no matter how leisurely, becomes a tourist adventure. A little alley, a temple, a … [Leer más...] acerca de Nikko: about onsen culture
On gauchos and samurai
The Sengaku-ji temple appears in the guide books and is well signposted, so it deserved a visit. I'm not much of a tourist, but it's close to where I live and it seemed a good plan. Going there, I learned about an anecdote that has become a legend. Sometimes it amazes me that, from such small, petty and banal facts, a whole foundational story is built. This is what I am talking … [Leer más...] acerca de On gauchos and samurai
