In
a world of technologically driven exponential change, the Japanese have
an acquired edge: They know how to live with it. Nobody legislates that
kind of change into being, it just comes, and keeps coming, and the
Japanese have been experiencing it for more than a hundred years.
William Gibson, Distrust That Particular Flavor
Overall, I had an incredible time in Japan. As I've said before, I
travel because it gives me a sense of adventure, and Japan gave me that
in full measure.
If you're even slightly a geek, and a lot of your immediate associations for Japan come from video games, manga, anime or science fiction novels, it's a fascinating experience to visit the country in person. There were times in Tokyo when I felt like I was visiting the backlot of some kind of cyberpunk video game – I kept expecting a first person shooter HUD to appear as we dodged through Tokyo Station in search of the Kyoto shinkansen platform.*
In my case, William Gibson** is probably the biggest reason for that view of Japan. Books like
Neuromancer and
Idoru had created a sort of mythical Japan in my mind, an exotic neon-lit setting for all sorts of futuristic high-tech mayhem.
Of
course, really, it's not like that. Except that it was, a little bit,
with things like Fuji TV's rectilinear head office and its globular
centrepiece, or the
Minority Report-style interactive maps on the observation deck at Sky Tree, Tokyo's soaring 634 meter broadcasting and observation tower. In everything from toilet seats to bullet trains, Japan seems to be just ahead of the power curve in terms of technology - just a little bit into the future.
It was also wonderful to share this adventure with my
lovely lady Karli. Japan was our first extended trip together, and after
ten days of being almost literally joined at the hip*** I was sorry that
I had to go back to work and not be with her.
Not only was she was the
perfect sightseeing companion, but it turns out that we have strongly
complementary skills in terms of locating hotels and train platforms.
Thank you so much for making the Japanese trip a perfect one, my love.
Last,
but not least, I would like to express our extreme gratitude to the
Bertram family. Terry and Misaki were our hosts for several days out of
our ten day adventure. They helped us plan our schedule, made
reservations on our behalf, acted as guides and translators, opened
their home and even gave up their bed for us. Thanks again to both of
you for contributing so much to our vacation - it would not have been
the same trip without your help and hospitality.
有り難うございます。
- Sid
* Karli, I hope this explains why I kept crouching behind pillars and muttering about save points while we were trying to catch a train.
** To get Gibson's full take on Japanese culture and his love for it, I strongly recommend that you pick up a copy of Distrust That Particular Flavor and read the essays on Japan.
*** The seats were a little close together.
