Tokyo, Japan

Sunday, August 17, 2008

A Dog's Life

I took this picture outside the 24 hour bookstore and cafe (Tsutaya) at the corner of Roppongi Hills. Nothing very Japanese about it, but this is where people in the area come to rest with their dogs. The area is quite wealthy, so there is a huge variety of dogs -- small and large, regular and exotic.

If I could own a dog, this would be it. Big, sedate, and always looks concerned. What is that about aging labrador retrievers? He probably spends his days in a large air-conditioned apartment with a skyline view!

Big Freezer, Big Tuna

Foreigners visiting Japan never tire of Tsukiji. This is the central market famous for its tuna auctions. Probably more "sushi-quality" tuna is actioned here than anywhere else in the world. Admittedly, I don't visit this place enough. About once a year when someone is visiting, I take them or recommend it. I realise during my visit each time, how much find the trip can be.

The tuna auctions can be hard to find, even for people who speak little Japanese and can read the signs in Japanese (me!). Fortunately, a friendly shop merchant gave a ride on his buggy to some friends and I. Don't be discouraged: Tsukiji is enormous, but each time I go there are more signs to guide tourists. Finally, merchants are realising these so-called "tourist" people come carrying cash.

At this rate, in about twenty years, Tsukiji fish market management will get their heads in order and make a full show of the morning auction. Think: tour buses, entrance fees, interviews, picture taking, and Ye Olde Gift Shoppe.

One tip: The lighting is quite low inside the main freezer where the auctions happen. Using a flash is too intrusive, so bring a tripod, or be prepared to waste many frames getting lucky with a still hand. Any big electronics store in Tokyo has cheap tripods for 3,000 yen or less (about $30). These are also handy for taking photographs at night.

You cannot see it in this picture, but above us are giant chillers trying to keep the room at freezing temperatures. This place felt like a giant meat locker. When I used to shop at Sam's Club in Ohio, they had giant refrigerators for dairy products. Similar effect, but here was much colder.

Free Baby Car Parking

This picture reminds me of National Geographic magazines. When living in the United States, I was a faithful reader for many years. (Unfortunately, overseas postage rates are quite high, so I no longer subscribe. Not a hint, just a fact.) Often, an interesting photo is featured with an explanation.

This is mine. Where is this and what are those? I went to see a exposition in Tokyo of children's toys at "Tokyo Bigu Saito" (Tokyo Big Sight). You can imagine how many children attended. In this city of eight million, surely ten of thousands visited over the weekend. In the West Hall (See the kanji 西?), one large area was reserved for baby car parking.

From the looks of it, there was no cost to enter, no security guards, and no locks on these cars. Thank you again, Japan, for reminding me how safe it is to live here. If this were New York City, either armed guards from private security firms would demand entrance fees or thieves would fill their trucks!

I didn't plan the blurring effect, even though it looks very National Geographic-ish. It just happened; the lighting in the hall was low enough to cause the shutter on my automatic camera to stay open longer than usual.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Chiyoda Chunnel

I took this picture at the Meiji Jingu Mae station on the Chiyoda line in Tokyo. It reminds me of pictures I saw of the The Chunnel as a kid. Chiyoda is a subway line built in the 1970s. Period architecture dominates! Even the trains themselves feel dated, like a Gerald Ford suit.

Chiyoda line stations always look faded, even other lines much older. Something about the depth and quality of construction caused many of the walls and tunnels to leak. Tokyo Metro has the odd policy of taping plastic sheets over these leaks. In no time, the water has sprouted a healthy colony of green scum. I have even seen two litre bottles strategically taped to the ceilings of stations to catch drips.