The first writing of this blog described the Japan 3 numbers, an introduction that some have probably found cold. This article proposes to define Japan by "flavors". If I were to summarize and Paris in some sensations like a haiku, I probably mention his furniture retro shades of brown, cobblestones, its zinc roofs, tile, and the smell of the subway. Japan itself, as its characteristic sensations, and I chose to talk about the power of the yen, the "retro modern, concrete and chaotic forest.
The rising sun is more than France, a place where everything is paid. Young student coming from France and used to "card 12/25" and cheap, I discovered a country where 300 kilometers of ordinary train costing 50 Euros necessarily where the entrance to a museum often represented in ten euros (student or not), where even the hostels are relatively expensive, and where the contract for the work just stopped at the station needed to charge me to pay extra if I wanted to go shopping in the nearby neighborhood on weekends. The "cheap" French certainly have their advantages, but I learned to appreciate everyday life especially in Japan, we look more carefully landscapes through the window when the train is expensive, and we appreciate more in a walk a nearby neighborhood which will cost 1,000 yen (7 euros) back and forth as if simply uses her orange card "professional." I also got acquainted with the "gardens pay" (the Shinjuku Gyoen 新宿 御苑 example) who taught me to appreciate the effort to develop green spaces. I look now the venerable (and free) to park the golden head of Lyon as a wonder, then it was just commonplace to me. I appreciate all the more to spend in Japan that the quality of service is excellent, whether the food served (even for a modest flat noodles), the cleanliness of buildings and public spaces, or the arrival of trains on time. There are of course exceptions, but customers are almost always better treated than in Europe or the United States. We travel and peace of mind, being always sure of for money. Japan gives the pleasant sensation of a well-oiled machine BODY, that we put coins in it, will always produce what we ordered.
We often come to Japan hoping to find futuristic cities. Yet one of the charms of Japan is the "retro modern": the presence of objects or held very inspired a few decades back. Friends from across the Atlantic have told me they found some aspects of contemporary Japan America their 50s, with some changes, and an excellent level of service. The manga is perhaps the best example of successful adaptation of the comic strips "of the 50s, since fallen into disuse in the U.S., but still very active in Japan. The costumes of "elevator girls" and hat "groom", or even drink vendors in the Shinkansen and their little aprons are good examples. Tokyo taxis also have a small air Mercédes years 80, especially since their online rather square is often accentuated by colors a bit retro, like an assortment of pale orange and red piping, and sometimes small guard headquarters in lace.
Rakes of commuter of 201 series (201 系) style decidedly "square steel" also have their charm. Although they have now disappeared lines Chuo (中央 线) and Sobu (総 武 线) in Tokyo, there are still some in the Osaka area. Kansas residents might also enjoy lees rowing blue and green beyond Keihan line (京阪 电车) whose rounded shape reminiscent of the early electric trains. In central Tokyo district of Marunouchi remember much, more modern style of building "Chicago" of the 1900 United States (see for example Monadnock Building in Chicago, Marshall Field or Building and Company), both dating from the late 19th century).
A distinctive aspect of Japan is the total architectural freedom left to the owners of parcels of land. This great respect for the land allows propritété wildest styles. It also allows a style "concrete provisional" without complex is not necessarily synonymous with social housing in Tokyo cheap. The oldest structures are now blackened with moisture, and can recall the building of Bombay.
They are also a reminder that Japan was in the years 1960 and 1970, yet a country's standard of living "medium." In 1960, Japan's standard of living (GDP per capita) is in 29th place between Jamaica and Uruguay, in 1972 to 24th place between England and then Italy in crisis in transition. Japan is a rich country only since the mid 80's, being ranked at that time in 9th place worldwide between Denmark and the United States more recently. The newer buildings allow themselves follies style more or less happy, but who still hope for a surprise during a trip to town. The result is a mosaic of pop-art giant is not unpleasant. In this chaos, the telephone lines and electricity have a special place: to save money, and to facilitate the return to service after the earthquake, most of these lines are still air, and columns are transformed in a cluster of processors and cables.
The forest is like concrete, a base fabric of Japanese geography. Is it the brighter light in the land of rising sun, is this particular species. The forest has in any case a particular grain here, and serves as a backdrop becoming to most of life in the country, be it the hills surrounding Kyoto, or the cliffs of the Izu Peninsula . These mountains are also the country's last wild spaces, and only available to the hiker who wants to escape the cities.
The forest is often at the heart of the temples and shrines Japanese, and is staged with talent, playing on the trees, carpets of moss, and the contrast between the texture of rocks and plants. The weather in Japan is different from that of Europe and one of the joys of the country is to enjoy great days of autumn and spring sunshine. Some trees have their leaves most of course, but the clear air can often see the snow-capped mountains surrounding the city of Tokyo.
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