Tokyo trip

Last week I went on a whirlwind trip to Tokyo. Just like a real businessman!

Our little city of Mihara, despite being in the sticks, has its very own stop on the Shinkansen line, so it’s only four hours to the centre of Tokyo. The idea was to spend a couple of days up there and then catch a leisurely Shinkansen back down on Wednesday or Thursday. That was until I found out that Ruby’s graduation ceremony was on the Wednesday at 10 am. Not even the bullet train could get me back in time so I ended up catching the first plane back on Wednesday morning.

And what was I doing in Tokyo, you may ask. As far as the honourable tax man is concerned, I was in Tokyo to visit clients. And this I duly did, cramming in no less than four clients on Tuesday. But the real reason was to watch the mighty (actually not so mighty in recent times) Melbourne Victory play an away match against Kawasaki Frontale on the Tuesday night. Although I had to get up at 5:oo in the morning after the euphoria of the night before in order to make my flight, it was worth it.

It was funny to experience Tokyo as both a foreigner and a small-town resident. Because although I’ve seen a fair bit of Japan, I’ve never actually lived anywhere else except Tokyo, so I’ve always pretty much equated Tokyo with Japan. And on previous visits from Australia my mindset has been  “isn’t Japan exciting and different compared to home” whereas this time was more like “isn’t Tokyo full-on compared to Mihara”.  I noticed it especially on the Monday afternoon whilst doing the rounds of the computer and electrical shops in Shinjuku, jostling against wave upon wave of keen shoppers and harried shop staff amidst the unending din of the spruikers, witnessing the unfettered frenzy of consumption, Tokyo style.

And then I came across these melons for sale in one of the swanky department stores. See the price tag? At the current exchange rate that’s about $350. For a pair of melons! I think that just illustrates the different value systems up there in the capital.

To finish with, I should like to provide a visual representation of a key difference between Tokyo and our new home. One of the photos below is the view from my hotel in Tokyo; the other is the view from my office window at home. Can you guess which is which?