TokyoShoes: First Hello from Tokyo

#10. Any immoral or unruly behavior will not be tolerated.

- from "rules to be observed when using the pool and surrounding area" posted at my apartment building.

Another great one at the subway: "any behavior that might inconvenience another person is not allowed."

Might inconvenience someone? That kind of covers a lot.

In fact, the Japanese are in general polite and courteous, passive, helpful. Considering Tokyo is nearly triple the population of NYC, I guess people have to be nice to each other.

I am quickly getting settled here. The subways are efficient; the air is dirty. Glass fa�ade skyscrapers boarder shacks. The food is delicious. A melon costs $35 (but they wrap it really nicely!) Someone described Tokyo as a third world city tied up in a first world bow. I see what they mean.

My visa has come through making me �legal.� I've started work at WestLB, a German Bank, which I love. I�m doing corporate communications (since I am the only one in the group I guess it makes me head, right?). I handle developing a new corporate identity, the website, events, and PR. I currently sit in the boss�s massive office while he is on vacation. His secretary organizes my meetings.

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Congratulations on being able to live like a well-fed ex-pat! If you want to know what is really going on in Japanese life I suggest you try living under the same conditions your Japanese co-workers have to survive in. You could save a whole shit-load of money while you get a priceless education.

by SM Yoshihara | 09.11.03 @ 05:52 AM



Main \| About Tokyo » First Hello from Tokyo #10. Any immoral or unruly behavior will not be tolerated. - from "rules to be observed when using the pool and surrounding area" posted at my apartment building. Another great one at the subway: "any behavior that might inconvenience another person is not allowed." Might inconvenience someone? That kind of covers a lot. In fact, the Japanese are in general polite and courteous, passive, helpful. Considering Tokyo is nearly triple the population of NYC, I guess people have to be nice to each other. I am quickly getting settled here. The subways are efficient; the air is dirty. Glass fa�ade skyscrapers boarder shacks. The food is delicious. A melon costs $35 (but they wrap it really nicely!) Someone described Tokyo as a third world city tied up in a first world bow. I see what they mean. My visa has come through making me �legal.� I've started work at WestLB, a German Bank, which I love. I�m doing corporate communications (since I am the only one in the group I guess it makes me head, right?). I handle developing a new corporate identity, the website, events, and PR. I currently sit in the boss�s massive office while he is on vacation. His secretary organizes my meetings. Posted on 10.01.02 @ 07:18 PM \| Permalink Comments Congratulations on being able to live like a well-fed ex-pat! If you want to know what is really going on in Japanese life I suggest you try living under the same conditions your Japanese co-workers have to survive in. You could save a whole shit-load of money while you get a priceless education. by SM Yoshihara \| 09.11.03 @ 05:52 AM Post a comment (If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.) Name: Email Address: URL: Remember personal info? Comments:	Search this site:

First Hello from Tokyo

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