Japanese People.

Japanese people are amongst the most hospitable I have encountered in my travels around the globe. I encountered Tokyoites who wouldn't hesitate to take time out from their busy schedules to offer help to this hapless gaijin. In this respect Tokyo has an almost small town vibe to it, which is strange considering that it is arguably the largest metropolis in the known universe. http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-area-125.html I have also found that Japanese people have a genuine curiosity and desire to learn more about other people and cultures. Being a vegetarian my dietary requests in a restaurant would inevitably invoke questions as to my religious beliefs and more often than not sympathy as I would invariably be left hungry.

The Japanese peoples' hospitality quickly disappears when bargains are afoot. This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Kobo-San flea market in Kyoto. People who I'm sure are normally placid in most situations became pushy and overly assertive in their desire to attain the bargain basement priced trinkets and antiques. I have never been trodden on as much in such a brief passage of time, and I can only recall a solitary 'sumimasen' which normally gets thrown around like a baseball at a Hanshin Tigers game. As I have mentioned in my previous posts Iam blown away by the verve and dedication of Japan's elderly population. Without doubt they were the most domineering and bargain conscious of the lot. They give no quarter and take no prisoners, if any one got the better of them on Sunday I failed to witness it.

My prevailing impression of Japanese people is that if respect is shown it is invariably returned. They carry with them a sense of pride and decency which should be held up as beacon for western countries which have let such notions dissapear in a relentless pursuit for monetary gain.

hirakata stylez...........

Hirakata is a microcosm of contemporary Japanese society. At first glance it appears like any other modern city around the world, but delve a little deeper and you will find the objects of beauty that draw so many people to this ancient country.

To truly explore Hirakata a bike is essential. Riding through the numerous narrow lanes you will notice old and modern designs seemlessly incorporated within the architecture of the local houses. The gardens are tended to perfection, I could spend days on end basking in there beauty. So magnificent are the local houses and gardens that if you're not paying careful attention you may find yourself riding straight past a Shinto temple. Which at first glance may be confused for simply another wonderful house. The local temples are numerous and well worth taking the time out to explore. I've found myself retreating to the temple in the above picture as a bastion of peace from the hustle and bustle of the seminar house and university campus.

Night time is my favourite time to explore the neighbourhood of Hirakata. Like much of Japan it truly comes alive at night. Every evening no matter what the weather you will encounter people walking their dogs, along with those out for some exercise of their own. I'm constantly amazed at the veracity with which elderly Japanese people take to their exercise routine. I'm ashamed to admit that I've seen people well into their sixties who would run rings around me when it comes to fitness. If anyone is looking for the reason why Japanese people have the longest life expectancy in the world, I would advise them to pay a visit to a local park after dark.

early impressions of japan

My early impressions of Japan were that this is a country like no other. The people take a genuine pride in good manners and respect. From the masked subway commuters in Tokyo through to the Buddhist beggars in Kyoto. The citizens of Japan display a level of sincerity towards their

fellow countrymen which I have never seen before in my travels across the globe.

Riding on the subway in Tokyo I became familiar with the phenomenom known as "gaijin leeway" whereby the if the conditions are not too crowded, every native commuter will do their best to give foreigners as much space as possible. It's only possible to get this close to local if they're asleep. I would wager that if this lady had of woken up she would've experienced a moment of panic, having realised that she had not given the gaijin the appropriate amount of space.