I posted a while back that I was gonna spend all this month studying Japanese like a mad bastard. While I have studied quite a bit, I haven’t stuck to my ambitious schedule as I’d hoped. Who’dha thunk it?

But it seems I have more things to worry about besides my Japanese language proficiency. My girlfriend is of the opinion that I simply can’t go to Tokyo dressed in the same clothes that I wear here in China everyday:
“Nobody wears pants like those in Japan!”
“We need to get you new shoes.”
etc, etc…

Tokyo just doesn’t seem to be a t-shirt and jeans kinda city, apparently.

Fashion aside, my main concern going there is that I’m gonna get run over by cars driving on the wrong side of the road. Not only because they’re driving on the wrong side of the road, but because I’ve picked up the habit of wandering out into 4 lane highways Chinese style, with total disregard for traffic signals.

From what I hear, that just won’t fly in Japan:

It is OK to cross the street against street lights at night but not during the day. The nearest car could be miles away, but as long as that cross walk sign says “don’t walk” you should stay put. If you cross, you risk confirming every horrible stereotype Japanese hold about foreigners. I’m sure this is a regular conversation in Japan:

Wife: You know what I saw today?
Husband: No, what?
Wife: I saw a foreigner cross the street against the cross walk sign, in broad day light in front of at least three other people including myself.
Husband: Jesus! are you OK?
Wife: I told you this was a bad neighborhood! Why oh why did I ever let you move us here? I want a divorce! Source: illogical operation

Well, I’m only gonna be there for 4 or 5 days, so as long as I come back in one piece I’ll be alright. I’ll be picking up some books for sure while I’m there. There are still a few Murakami novels I need to read.

This trip will hopefully also be marked by my long-awaited re-union with Leo. For those of you who don’t know, Leo is a 3-inch tall action figure who’s been travelling the globe, and is just getting back from Croatia (via Tokyo). Next on his travel itinerary is either a dart to the Amazon, or possibly Madagascar.

China Stolen-Video-of-the-Day: Tokyo Drift

My brother Jeff will like this one. Check out the 3rd installment of The Fast and the Furious, Tokyo Drift, all here in streaming youtube-like video.
The Fast and the Furious, Tokyo Drift
(Note, if the above link doesn’t stream continuously, try these: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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