In a few hours Alan, Noriko, Peter, Sammy, Satô Kenji, and I are boarding a plane for Hong Kong to attend the Society of East Asian Anthropologist conference. I’m the discussant for the panel Alan, Noriko, Satô, and another are giving papers on. This is the main reason for my coming to Tokyo (to go [...]

Zero Point Japan, Nihonbashi

This is the marker at Nihonbashi from which all points in Japan were measured under order of the Tokugawa shoguns from the early 17th century. It has been moved from its original position to a spot just off the bridge.

Parco Grand Bazaar
This was this week’s Parco sale poster. The pig farting a “buy” bubble while wallowing in pearls seems appropriate. Parco is among the hip department stores in too-trendy and too-expensive Shibuya.

Tsukuda from the Sumida

A view of the old fishing community of Tsukuda from the bridge across the Sumida River.

Sumiyoshi, Tsukuda, Tokyo
This is an island crossed with canals near where the Sumida River spills into Tokyo Bay. It is here where in 18th century the Tokugawa shogun granted fishing rights the fishing community there. It is one of a few old neighborhoods in an area rapidly being given over to new high rises.

The Old Man of Shibuya
This was probably the oldest guy I saw in Shibuya today (July 12). He seemed lost, out of place, scrubby among the fashion-conscious youth. But I found him the most interesting person to look at there, far more interesting than the artificially tanned, dyed-hair, mini-skirted, high-heeled, lip-sticked girls. I wonder what [...]

The Problem with Shibuya
I can hardly stomach Shibuya these days, what with the fashion victims and hyper mega excessive consumerism. This display of the social reproduction of fashion victimhood in the form of daughter as mommy’s accessory sums up what’s wrong with Shibuya, a place where I used to enjoy hanging out. Knee-high stockings, preferably [...]