One of the famous meetingpoints in Shibuya is the statue of the dog Hachika. Hatchika was a dog of Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. The dog waited a greeted his owner nearby shibuya station, after the dead of Ueno, the dog still returned to the same place for ten years to wait for him. No wonder this is Tokyo favorite meeting point. People are waiting or anxious calling with their mobile phones. Although it is a small place it seems difficult to meet your date here at the most crowded place in Tokyo. Observing the waiting people, it seems most people here are on a date , waiting for people they had never seen before, check the faces for the first time and present a big smile when the goods seems to be loveable. People look so relieved they find their date.
I might be totally wrong, japanse people seems to be more distinguished when they meet eachother. Just a humble nod to the person, while we back home give a firm handshake and a pet on the shoulder to show our appriciating. Or worse,,, three kisses, i dont know who came up with that idea. I thoughed it was introduced by the first holliday people who came back from France, maybe my sister, who introduced to our home,, you have to give a three kisses on the cheeck to greet people. I always hated it, later on i learned by the gorgeous girls that i was supoosed to be three nissed kisses. I hated that more, three airkisses makes even less sense. My aunt never understood it anyway, one firm kiss on the lips, as a young child i despited that more than spinach and brussels sprouts. When i say hello or goodbye i have a internal struggle, luckily long enough for the counter part to decide what to do. Recently i have discovered that the French aren't to blame for this way of greeting or saying goodbye. Its the dutch! said a french girl who distinghuised placed a hand to her cheeck after my second kiss. So when i met the musicians Keiichi and Sanae, for whom i organised a tour in europe a year ago, i was wondering how to greet. A nice nod with a pet on the shoulder seemed for me the right mixture of both cultures.
I am terrible in saying goodbye. When an act, which stayed and played in dordrecht, leabves the next morning. The best thinbg is that they hurry to catch the train. Last two times actually i had to push the artist in the right train, while the doors closed immediatly. Its the best for me, a friendly wave is enough and no hessitating in kissing, shaking, hugging or nodding procedure. But that me, maybe deep down in me, my consience don't want to know it's over...................................
I am terrible in saying goodbye. When an act, which stayed and played in dordrecht, leabves the next morning. The best thinbg is that they hurry to catch the train. Last two times actually i had to push the artist in the right train, while the doors closed immediatly. Its the best for me, a friendly wave is enough and no hessitating in kissing, shaking, hugging or nodding procedure. But that me, maybe deep down in me, my consience don't want to know it's over...................................
Saying goodbye to Su Young at Amsterdam airport was a bit awkward. Seems the world turn around. While the dutch guy checked in for a flight bounding to Seoul, the korean girl stayed behind in the Netherlands. Normally this scene on the airport is quite different ;)
Very similar to one of the pictures of my last blog. Yes it is the same 'lonely dude' place in Shibuya.
It is if i never have left Tokyo. Even the Jacket is the same. The Spookey-shirt shows is made this time ;)
It was the last and first place to have dinner in Tokyo
My favorite breakfast! A well invested sandwhich japanse style.
Sanae and Keiichi (Moskitoo + Filfla/ Fourcolor) look exited with their new game of Dick Bruna Memory.
now they got something to do during the rainperiod that just hit Tokyo.
I got this present after tough negociations with a child at the queensday fleamarket: my favorit dutch holliday.
It was nice to see Keiichi and Sanae again.
2 opmerkingen:
Hi, Wilbertjan. I didn't know that I had a blog in english version. Now I found out. Visit sometimes. And I eagerly expecting you.
Hi Jan, I could take the first paragraph, exchange some names and places, and it would pretty close describe my arrival in Tokyo, haha. So similar! When I checked in jet-lagged in the hostel, I immediately called a friend who worked in Tokyo. We arranged to meet in Ikebukuro, which is still big enough to miss eachother. Unfortunately there was more than one cafe that matched his description of the meeting point. Of course I chose the wrong one to wait at, and worse I left his mobile number in the hostel... I finally met him the next day. Unlike you I didn't have the greeting problem - He was Swiss ;-)
I'm looking forward to reading your next post! Greets, Markus
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