arigatto gozaimasu

Recent trip to Japan yields many interesting discoveries. An exquisite culture, on my third visit to the nation, it is rare that I am not in awe every five minutes. From toilets that can flush your posterior to the public amenities with signage indicating correct seating procedures (use your imagination, please).

The weirdest things amuse me: You can spend 200 yen on a packet of dried mini crabs in a light crusting of candy or you can have your KitKat flavoured with purple sweet potato.

A vending machine is always within arms reach no matter if you’re on Yuichi’s farm or in Naoko’s suburban apartment building. If it’s food you’re after instead of liquid sugar, several offer “Casual Frozen Foods” then superbly deliver hot chips onto the tray below (tomato sauce an extra 50yen).

Entertainment comes in many forms- if black leather clad rockabilly’s dancing their heart out to 80’s rock while knocking back sweet girly drinks is your ideal Sunday afternoon, head to Harajuku park for more amusement than any theme park could ever offer.   

Shall I continue? Apples that are so enormous they could give watermelons a run for their money. Large fresh mackerel that are more affordable than the apples aforementioned. Best idea ever- to cook my dinner in a spicy broth right in front of me and eat immediately. No plate required. Two hundred people attempting to surf at a beach that is doing a fine job of imitating a lake. And they’re serious about getting tubed. Teriyaki chicken filled crepes. If you have more of a sweet tooth, bunana and fresh cream is also on the menu.
Traversing across the busiest shambles of an intersection I have ever seen yet holding no fear of looking up to the towering skyscrapers that showcase millions of dollars worth of advertisements.

 Quirky English translations that don’t make sense even when you try to jumble the words around. Toothpaste that advertises “Breath Communication Etiquette”.

Restaurant window displays with plastic food that imitates their menu- intended to entice you as you decide upon the location of your next meal.

And alongside all the oddities of this idiosyncratic nation, traditional life still breathes so smoothly with the modern culture. New transcends with the old and although this land is so foreign, I feel neither displaced nor insecure. Beauty in the land and peace in the temples. Respect for each other and integrity for their country. Leaving this place on an orange and silver budget airline? Tragic. Knowing I will never get sick of returning? Promising.