City of cities

Megacity. Sounds like terminology out of an Anime, but it’s the real deal.

A megacity [wiki] is a city with more than 10 million people. Tokyo is currently the largest megacity in the world, with a population of almost 36 million. This figure includes some of the surrounding areas, including Yokohama, Kawasaki, Chiba, and others. (So now all of you living in Yokohama yet still tell your friends that you live in Tokyo are justified!)

So if you’re in Tokyo, congratulations, it doesn’t get any more populated than that! And it won’t for quite a while.

According to the an article in Japan Times…

“In 2025, Tokyo is still expected to be the world’s most populous urban agglomeration, with 36 million inhabitants,” according to “2007 Revisions of World Urbanization Prospects.”

This is despite the current aging society and low birth rate which has no hope of making up the difference. This growth could be due to the numbers of Japanese moving to urban areas from rural Japan, and also the number of immigrants moving in from other countries. I’m going to bet that the latter is the least significant contributing factor of the two.

Last year I had a chance to talk to a school teacher and family living in Shimoda, a small city which gets a lot of tourism due its proximity to the ocean and of course, onsens. They said that their town is really feeling the effects of the aging society (少子化: literally, change to fewer children) and a lot of their junior high schools and high schools are closing or merging, leaving huge empty school buildings around the town.

It’s quite the “pinch” isn’t it? The aging society makes it harder to live out in the country and have a satisfying career due to a lack of jobs… Thus driving more and more people to move to the cities. However when you get to the cities, it’s difficult to have a large family due to the hectic lifestyle, small living quarters, and high rent. Does anyone have newly-wed Japanese acquaintances who plan on having more than 2 children? I have a lot of Japanese friends between 25 and 35 years old, and I cannot recall a single one who is married with plans to have more than 2 kids. Quite a few 2 children family, but 3 seems to be quite a challenge…

Me? Kids? Hah. Not yet.

- Harvey

A Visit to Tokyo Tower

Back in March I climbed the stairs to the top of Tokyo Tower and am finally getting around to posting about it. I’m a little behind.

Here is a shot of the Tower in all it’s majesty. It’s a bit taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the tallest man-made structure in Japan.

On special occasions it lights up, and it can even do some fancy tricks. Back in 2003 it was lit green with the release of Matrix Reloaded. You can see pictures of the different ways that they have lit up the Tower on this Japanese Tokyo Tower fan’s web page. Search the page for マトリックス to see the Matrix green shot.

Surprised that the Tower would participate in such a cheesy commercial tie-up promotion? Well… You haven’t seen anything yet…

We decided to walk up the stairs to get to the top of the tower. There is also a high speed elevator available… But where is the fun in that?

This Tokyo Tower photo opportunity backdrop is located right under the tower… I’ve been in Japan a long time now, but even I can see that this doesn’t make any sense. It’s ridiculous that anyone would want to get a picture of themselves in front of this poster, while actually at the Tower… Right? Right??

If getting a picture of yourself standing in front of a picture of the Tokyo Tower while standing under the Tower itself isn’t enough pre-main event memorial fun for you… You can also get a picture with the official Tokyo Tower mascot. His name is NOPPON (ノッポン)… Because, the verb to “climb” as in, the “Tokyo Tower climbs into the sky” is “NOBORU”, and, well… -PON is just cute. The tip-top of Noppon is a little bit dirty and showing a little wear and tear, but he’s a nice guy.

If you want to see NOPPON in action and read his profile, check out the NOPPON official website. Be sure your computer speakers are turned on so you can enjoy Noppon’s hip-hop rhythm. (I can hardly take this anymore. Please make it stop.)

On the way up to the top of the seemingly endless caged-in staircase to the top of the Tower there are friendly signs such as this to help you keep your spirits. A literal translation of this sign goes, “NO SMOKING. Let’s sing a song or something to blow away (our) fatigue.”

The final step! If I remember correctly anyway. I can’t imagine why I would have taken a picture of any step other than the final one… So I think this is it. It was quite the hike. Not very scenic either, as you’re inside of a dingy red cage the entire way up.

Once inside of the tower, visitors are assaulted by gift shops of every imaginable shape and form. Just to put it into perspective for you, in addition to these excellent NOPPON dolls they also had a 4-D Bio Hazard arcade game in a corner, a cafe with a live jazz band, and one of those coin mash-up contraptions that will turn your yen into a Tokyo Tower medallion. I’m sure that anyone who has been to the tower will agree that the goods and services were out of control.

On that note, here’s a view of the city from the top of the tower. The view is great, you can walk around the tower for a 360 degree glance at Tokyo. Which, also happens to be the world’s 4th most livable city!

Also, a quick relevant affiliate link via J-list. They have a larger than necessary (26 inches tall!) replica of the Tokyo Tower available that lights up and displays Japanese on a dot matrix message display.

As many of you may already know, they’re actually working on making a new and improved Tokyo Tower. The project itself is called the Rising East Project, and the Tower will be called the New Tokyo Tower. The New Tokyo Tower is planned to be completed in 2011, and will be 600 meters tall, nearly double that of the current 333-meter Tokyo Tower. There is a Japanese article with more details here, and an English Wikipedia New Tokyo Tower entry here.

And that’s a wrap!

- Harvey

A last shot of the current Tokyo Tower.

Tokyo, world’s 4th most livable city

I came across this ranking of the “The world’s top 10 most liveable cities” on IHT today.

Number one is Munich. I laughed at the thought that Tokyo, or any other Japanese city might possibly make the list.

Then to my surprise…

#4 TOKYO. Integrated transport, breathtaking technology, great service and the best bars make this our top big city. The real Tokyo for the most part confounds expectations. Visitors are rarely prepared for the other side of the city, so unlike its raucous alter ego: the quietness of the subway, the peaceful residential streets, the old-fashionedness of the place.

Here is the complete list to save you the trouble of running through their slide show.

#1 MUNICH

#2 COPENHAGEN

#3 ZURICH

#4 TOKYO

#5 VIENNA

#6 HELSINKI

#7 SYDNEY

#8 STOCKHOLM

#9 HONOLULU

#10 MADRID

I’ve been to Munich, but it was in the dead of winter and only for a few days. I have also been to Honolulu, but only for like 5 hours during transit… I have also been to Madrid, and that was a blast – though I wasn’t there long enough to judge it’s “liveability”.

What does everyone else think about this list? Seriously, how can Tokyo make the list, but not Singapore? New York is no where to be found… Is it that bad?

Regarding Japan… I’m surprised they would list Tokyo before Kobe or Fukuoka… In my opinion both are much more livable.

Anyway, let me know what you think.

- Harvey

Halloween on the Yamanote train line

Maybe you’ve heard of the partying that occurs every halloween on the Yamanote loop line in Tokyo.

This year was a bit special, as the Japanese net crowd (2ch) caught wind of it, and attempted to protest.

JapanProbe has the whole Yamanote Halloween story, and took a lot of the blame!

This event also occurs in Osaka on the kanjyo-sen, but I have never been to it!

- Harvey

Read Big Issue Japan, Study Japanese

Maybe you have seen a magazine called The Big Issue [Big Issue Japan] being sold on the streets of Tokyo, Osaka, or other big cities in Japan. This magazine is one of the study materials that I most consistently use to work on my Japanese.

The front cover of the Big Issue usually has a large and easily visible picture of some celebrities face, and, in Japan, it is usually being sold by a man standing at some crowded intersection in the city.

The Big Issue is an international organization that supports homeless people around the world. The magazine branch of their activities involves providing a way for homeless to earn money by selling the magazines on the street. Selling the magazines allows them to gain the responsibilities and self-respect they will need once they get back on their feet and into a more stable job.

In Japan you can get the magazines for just 200 yen a piece (the price will be raised to 300 yen within the next few months), and they can be found in places like Shibuya, or around Umeda station in Osaka. The magazine vendors purchase the magazines at a fixed price from Big Issue, and then sell them at the cover price, keeping any profit that they make for themselves. They chose when and where to work, so you need to keep your eyes open in order to spot it.

The content is really very interesting. Some articles are translated from the Big Issue English version, but most of the content is original to Japan. I pick one up whenever I see it, and meticulously read through the articles looking up any words I don’t know. The magazine is so inexpensive that I don’t feel bad marking it up with a pen while studying. It’s a great way to study, and I feel good supporting Big Issue.

If you see it around pick one up!

- Harvey

Learn more about Big Issue:

Metropolis Article: A newspaper gives Japan’s homeless a second chance

Article in BBC News regarding Big Issue’s release in Japan

Tokyo Weekender Article: Street magazine helps the homeless while stirring the public conscience

Japanese Language School Recommendations

A reader sent me a message asking for Japanese language school recommendations… But didn’t specify a return address!

So Lisa, take a look at this post I did a few months ago all about… Japanese Language School recommendations!

Let me know if there are any questions, or if anyone else has any additional knowledge about language schools to add!

Hope this is some help!

- Harvey

Firework season is coming

Firework season is coming!

Here is a Japanese blogger who has given a list of the Firework Events in Kanto coming up.

2007年7月14日(土)
【神奈川】2007久里浜ペリー祭 花火大会 ビームスペクタルINハーバー
【埼玉】第18回小江戸川越花火大会

2007年7月15日(日)
【神奈川】横浜開港記念みなと祭　第52回国際花火大会

2007年7月26日(木)
【東京】第29回足立の花火大会

2007年7月28日(土)
【東京】第30回隅田川花火大会
【東京】八王子花火大会
【埼玉】平成19年越谷花火大会

2007年7月29日(日)
【栃木】おやまサマーフェスティバル2007 第56回小山の花火

2007年8月1日(水)
【神奈川】第22回神奈川新聞花火大会

2007年8月4日(土)
【東京・千葉】エキサイティング花火2007 第32回江戸川区花火大会、第23回市川市民納涼花火大会
【東京】第49回いたばし花火大会
【神奈川】2007年よこすか開国祭 開国花火大会
【千葉】第30回千葉市民花火大会

2007年8月7日(火)
【神奈川】2007江の島花火大会

2007年8月11日(土)
【東京】第20回東京湾大華火祭
【埼玉】あついぞ！熊谷 第58回熊谷花火大会

2007年8月15日(水)
【長野】諏訪湖祭湖上花火大会

2007年8月16日(木)
【東京】日刊スポーツ主催2007 神宮外苑花火大会

I gotta find a Kansai list! I should get a jinbei this year…
Let me know if anyone needs help reading the locations, a web dictionary should get you through it though!

- Harvey

Gaijin interview with gyaru

Well. Gyaru theme. Here is a gaijin interview with some high-powered gyaru called, “Harajuku High School Girls Gone Bad“. Maybe you could even call them ganguro. They’re not really “bad” though.

The guy can speak Japanese, props! Though I don’t think he should have introduced the girls names using「これは」。Ah well

The commentary is all overly dramatic, but at least you get to see some real gyaru.

I’ve been here 5 years and have rarely talked to these types.

Maybe I’m old.

This creeps me out.

- Harvey

Tacos in Tokyo

It’s hard to find good Mexican food in Tokyo. For some reason Japanese haven’t really caught onto Taco Fever… Maybe it has something to do with all the tabasco sauce?

Anyway, there is a fun place near Omotesando which serves up mildly authentic taco snacks.

Funny thing. I almost forgot. The dish pictured below is TACO RICE, not a Taco as we think of in the United States. The restaraunt also has traditional tacos on the menu as well though. I imagine the taco rice is more filling! (spoken like a true student)

The store front is hip. You climb up some stairs, order through the window, and then climb around inside of the shop to the counter seats. The restaraunt only can seat about eight people at a time.

I ate all my food.

Also as you can see, even though it is located near the expensive Omotesando Hills, this place has reasonable prices.

Anyway, if you’re in the area and want something more or less taco-ish, this is a good place to stop. It has a fun atmosphere, cheap prices, and friendly staff.

Access Details are below. I’ll add this place to the “shops” page on this site eventually…

Enjoy!

- Harvey