Here’s the first of my Tokyo series. Some will include Taipei stories too but wtf, it sounds cooler to call it “Tokyo special”. When I told people that I went to Japan, they immediately go like “omg omg, did you see the Fuji-yama? waaah did you visit amazing temples?” to what I usually reply “you’re annoying-get-the-fuck-out-of-my-face”.
Seriously, who cares about the Fuji-yama? Wanna see the Fuji-yama? There it is… that’s right it’s just rocks and snow.
To me, the Shibuya crossroad is far more impressive that some dumb mountain. If you ever been to Shibuya, you know exactly what I’m talking about. People waiting for the green light, facing each other like two armies ready to eat your nuts. And when it’s on, you better not fall because if you do, even Dr.House will have problem to see what happened.
This brings me to another subject, personal space. Here in Europe (and this is more true as you go more south), people don’t care if they invade your personal space. I’m sure that in some countries, it’s actually polite to spit on your face. In Tokyo (that’s 13 million people), I never felt once trapped by Japanese. I don’t care if their politeness is hypocritical or BS, I want to be in a place were people care and apology when the bump you with a shoulder (which by the way never happened to me in Tokyo, even in the most over saturated subway).
Also the fact that I’m way taller than them and could fuck them up easily might play a role in “let’s not bother that dude ok”…
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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C’est sympa que malgré la foule tu n’ai pas été écrasé par des centaines de passants… Ne va jamais en Inde, sérieusement.
En tout cas, hâte de voir la suite!
Oui en Inde j’imagine même pas. Mais sans blague, je ne pense même pas exagérer en disant qu’on était plus de mille à ce croisement… Tokyo est vraiment démesurée…
Hey, that’s really interesting! Here’s my take on things: be a blonde foreigner in Tokyo and people (especially males dressed for work) bump into you all the time… not in an interested manner but in a you-dumb-foreign-chick-get-the-fuck-outta-here.
It seriously started pissing me off after four days there.
It’s not the youngsters, nor the women, it’s those that are a superior race… or consider themselves superior to a) women b) foreigners c) foreign women d) foreign blonde women who speak English and hence can be thought of as American.
It blew my mind how much things changed, on the taxi for example, when I would speak on the phone another language than English. Suddenly the driver knew perfect English and was even remotely polite. Gosh, there ain’t nothing like feeling stereotype-induced-judgement imposed upon you.
Nevertheless, I Love Japan
I had more personal space in India than Tokyo, though. No one EVER bumped into me anywhere in India. After Japan, it made me feel I had the plague or something ;D
The least personal space I’ve ever had was in Nepal, especially on that crowded bus that was designed for people about half my size
And the most personal space I’ve ever had is in my good old native country: Finland 
Excellent strip by the way! I think it conveys the Shibuya mood perfectly
Thanks for passing by Leiju and I totally understand what you’re saying. Once I was in a Japanese department store and all of the sudden here comes 4 american girls screaming and jumping with their backpacks. The word “shotgun” came into my mind right away.
But I hear you. Not easy to be a foreigner in such extreme country. Never been to India but I know that they have even more respect for people depending again on what cast or social rank you are, but Silver may correct me.
Passing by? I’m probably one of your most ardent followers
I love your stuff! And I agree with about 110% of your comments! Keep up the more than excellent work!
… and yes, shotgun is the right word for those particular instances… I’m not a big fan of loud, brawling tourists, especially those who think they are better than everyone…
“OMG! LOOK! They have the SAME stuff WE have AT HOME except here it’s called FUNNY! LOOK! LOOK!” … *ugh*
“Passing by? I’m probably one of your most ardent followers ”
awwww ty ty <3
haha!!!
bien!