Creepy or Cheesy?

What is it with Japan? I’ve always been fascinated by that country. Stemming from my earliest memory of anything related to Japan, was probably the Evil Knievel Daredevil Kit I bought at a garage sale when I was ten or eleven. I distinctly remember reading the words “Made in Japan” underneath the toy and then not being able to figure out why it didn’t instead read “Made in U.S.A.”. Evil was, after all, an American hero…

A few years later, I was introduced to a series of original Japanese language Godzilla movies at, of all places, my grandparents home in Trollhättan. I loved those movies. Even if I never quite new who to place my bet on. On the one hand, Godzilla looked mighty evil and not just a little frustrated. On the other, he (or she) was so outnumbered, that giving the fishy creature the underdog vote seemed the obvious thing to do. And watching Godzilla’s son blow smoke rings instead of fire, was really a blast and a half.

I’m absolutely positive that the upcoming spring visit to Tokyo and Kyoto is going to be extremely interesting. Particularly intriguing will be experiencing a few of Tokyo’s wacky cultural expressions that I’ve read about.

Like the fact that you can rent an exotic dog by the hour and walk with it around your office or home in hope to be seen by neighbours or co-workers. Almost equally interesting are the so-called “Love Hotels” used prolifically by married couples to enjoy each other in the privacy of a themed hotel room. Homes in Tokyo are apparently so small and walls so thin that this is the only alternative for bundles of couples.

But what I assume will really grab me, will be the amount of people living, working, eating and travelling in and out of one of the world’s busiest – yet cleanest – cities. That and the view from the Grand Hyatt where I’ll suck up some “Lost in Translation” ambiance while casually sipping on slightly watered down bourbon. Yes, it should be a great trip.