Admission: as I walked by this very quickly, the only plausible explanation in my mind was that this strapping Swede called Sven was showing Creepy the correct and fashionable way to tie his scarf. In my harried mind, this poster was serving to warn how a long scarf could lead to your demise if the doors closed on it. All that fresh air on my bike in the morning must be doing me in, for as I glanced at the last picture, it seemed perfectly natural that Sven would be giving Creepy the thumbs up after trying to impart his flawless continental styling tips. It was not until I nabbed this image of the Tokyo Metro website that I realized that this was about not getting in other people's ways, and that Sven's scarf knot with a gay gym-bunny vibe was a completely incidental but welcome aside to the whole thing.
Second admission: I love that I am no longer a slave to the train! I am an adoring fan of the subway system here but only when it doesn't involve going to and fro work. After my years on the Tokyo subway, I have become hardened and not a little jaded. I used to think I was a polite stranger, but now I am not someone you would want to fuck with underground. It saddens me not a little that I have such an attitude now and instead of apologizing at bumping into strangers, I immediately feel wronged and issue a little "fuck you" in my head. This is not cool, I am turning into one of those gaijin we love to hate!
Third and last admission: I am kind of excited about December. I won't be reversing my stance from two years ago but I did watch the Royal Tenenbaums last night for the first time in maybe five years and not only did I remember that it is one of my favourite movies, it put me in the holiday mood. Whatever the holiday mood is for a Jewess in Tokyo saying to herself, "does Hanukkah start tonight?!" Get me some candles.
See you hopefully sooner than later gentle readers! (Just to prove my love, I promise to finish up all the loose ends from this year, including but not limited to, how I almost cried during my kimono test, the surprise guest at the wedding back in April, the upcoming family entanglements and maybe as a bonus, how I have been naked in front of several hundred Japanese people.)
7 comments:
omg! i can't wait for these promised updates! i wait with baited breath!
woo!
Oh, you need to get updating quickly! Can't wait!
Why on earth would they have a rule about which way you can tie your scarf? That's ridiculous! Anyone who complains about that seriously needs to get a life.
J: I will try! Although hopefully they are all as cool as they sound. Probably not...
Kelly: Indeed...which is why I said my first thoughts on the poster were not on point or based in reality (long trailing scarf danger). The message this month is to not block the doors.
Well its good to see that Im not the only gaijin who prefers not to ride the train to work. I have had the "fuck you" attitude for a long time when riding the train, so I prefer to walk, and walk I do, sometimes 6 km everyday. I hate that fucking train.
Actually, I think Mr. Creepy is the rude one, since in the first vignette he clearly is pushing Sven even before the door is completely open. After the doors open, Sven moves away and stands with his arms crossed and says, in perfect keigo (forgive me if I made any mistake, Sven wouldn't): 人をお押さなくなっていただきませんでしょうか。 ("Please, don't push others"). Mr. Creepy thumbs up since he learned the lesson. Sven replies and continues his daily (maybe hourly) struggle to enforce good manners.
Anon: I hear that. I used to walk sometimes when I couldn't bear to take the train, but it would take me at least an hour. Now when it rains, I go to work an hour early to miss the rush.
Tako: "...continues his daily (maybe hourly) struggle to enforce good manners" - I love this! This is how I feel when I ride the train! Great interpretation.
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