Japan Going to Japan...

[jsrockit]

I'm almost 60. My wife is much younger.

This could come into play too no?

I'm 39 and my GF is 38. We both have had a few long term relationships that didn't work out. I can only hope it doesn't turn out bad later (marriage or not), but you never can know.

 

[jsrockit]

Anyways perhaps I'm being selfish and don't want to loose the guy I go shooting with all the time.

Don't get married.

Cal

Cal, even if I get married, I will still be photographing. I don't stop doing what I love for anyone.

 

[Calzone]

Cal, even if I get married, I will still be photographing. I don't stop doing what I love for anyone.

Awesome.

All I know is that I worked hard for over a decade trying to make a woman happy for nothing. In the end my efforts and sacrifice were wasted. Even the government punished me by making me pay more in taxes.

The only time it is worth it to be selfless is for your children IMHO.

Cal

 

[I Love Film]

In Japan, a woman over 25 is called "Christmas Cake". (literal translation).

It means the cake left over after Christmas that nobody wants anymore. 38 is already a really old maid.

She is lucky to have you. Not too old to have kids, but you can't waste time.

This could come into play too no?

I'm 39 and my GF is 38. We both have had a few long term relationships that didn't work out. I can only hope it doesn't turn out bad later (marriage or not), but you never can know.

 

[flip]

divorce... JP women with kids transforming from wives into mothers... christmas ke-ki (valentine's chocolate might be analogous). lol.

I do have to wonder how this sounds to those who haven't first hand experience. haha.

Suffice to say, marriage is different in different places. And just so nobody thinks the above comments are particularly biased, I have heard the same from Japanese women.

 

[jsrockit]

In Japan, a woman over 25 is called "Christmas Cake". (literal translation).

It means the cake left over after Christmas that nobody wants anymore. 38 is already a really old maid.

She is lucky to have you. Not too old to have kids, but you can't waste time.

Well, I'm the type to not give a rat's ass what society thinks... I just live life. I'm happy with my "really old maid." Now, can we get back on track or do I have to keep hearing how bad my choice in women is?

 

[dreilly]

Try riding a bicycle at least at some point during your trip. I like to do two things in particular when I travel other than eat, think about food, plan my next meal, take photographs of my food and the places I eat, and that is 1) get a haircut (always a fascinating experience) and 2) ride a bike (if it's a cycling country like Japan). And any other odd opportunity that comes up.

 

[jsrockit]

Try riding a bicycle at least at some point during your trip.

Great idea dreilly... I hadn't thought of that. Thanks. 🙂 As far as the haircut, I'm bald already. hahaha.

 

[kosta_g]

this is crazy info! although rather funny (given my girlfriend is half japanese... does that still count for the whole "get married and initiate crazy sequence"?)

well they've just reopened Tokyo station I hear, after extensive reworking - that should be quite the site.
if you like tall towers - Sky Tree in Asakusa is the tallest "tower" in the world. but can be a bit of a wait. Asakusa is pretty cool in itself - Sensoji temple is amazing...but I guess that may be more touristy(?)
Shinjuku is a great place - I love it. You can stay at the Shinjuku Washington hotel (about 700m from the station) for about $38aud/night/person or thereabouts.

it's a fantastic city - you're bound to find some interesting things and have a blast. Osaka is pretty nice too. I enjoyed visiting the castle and the Umeda Sky City building - fantastic view of the city with an open/roofless observation deck.

Enjoy your time there!

 

[I Love Film]

Riding a bike in Tokyo would be an exercise in insanity, even more so for someone completely unfamiliar with the streets.

 

[I Love Film]

I noticed some very attractive girls in the elevators with older, frumpy men in the Tokyo Prince hotel. One girl, on the first night, was with a 60ish guy in a suit, she was a complete stunning knockout, number-one ichiban quality.


In passing through the lobby, I noticed a certain area where attractive young girls toting large handbags would be sitting. They would meet these guys and go up in the elevators. The handbags probably contained cosplay or bondage gear, they were obviously hookers. I didn't mention my observations to my wife.

That afternoon, in the interest of documentary reportage, I sat myself down in the "hooker area" of the lobby with my Leica M9 half hidden in my lap with 21mm lens (not really the right tools for the job), and captured this sequence. The girl sat there about 10 minutes, the John approached, and they walked off to their room.

 

[maddoc]

Riding a bike in Tokyo would be an exercise in insanity, even more so for someone completely unfamiliar with the streets.

...... yup, that would be interesting. However, there are organized bike-tours in Tokyo available, including rental bike. I have seen a report about it on TV and it looked like fun.

 

[I Love Film]

Buddhist Shrine for the souls of stillborn and premature infants who died in childbirth. Each statue is erected by the parents of the deceased. The pinwheels are to remind the souls that everything comes around again and they may be reborn:

Although I don't believe in religion, I gave a contribution to the shrine. I'm glad the gods have placed her here sitting in the shrine eating ice cream rather than her being a stone image with a pinwheel spinning in front of it.

 

[denizg7]

The most important thing you have to remember is that after you marry a Japanese girl, and especially after you have kids, they COMPLETELY change into another woman who is not the one you married. Some deeply embedded programming comes to the surface, and they change, just like in the movies, into something else. YOU may think your GF is different or special, and that she will stay the same, but you are wrong. You better be ready.

I love Film is such a character and i mean it. +1

 

[denizg7]

So, then the key is to have no children? 😉 We are getting older and we may not have any.

Tokyo for two days is all that is going to happen this time. It's better than nothing.

I've never been to tokyo but i am goign to Malaysia because my uncle is doing something business there i dont what. But anyway I heard there is this great Camera store in tokyo where you can find every single leica , contax or any rare camera in the world like a library. That might be intresting , but you are probably sick of camera gear and wanna see different stuff during the short time.

Oh they have this sushi where the fish is fermented for 3 years and i think its what started sushi.

I heard that factory workers before day begins mediate as a whole for 15 mins before work starts how lovely.

of course i heard all this in idiot abroad

 

[Peter^]

One thing you shouldn't miss for some great pictures is the Tsujuki fish market.

 

[flip]

Been here 6 years and never been to a (big) fish market. Do they handle whale at the same public facilities or is that kept out of view to avoid controversy?

 

[I Love Film]

Go to the fish market around closing time....early afternoon.

Forget the "market" part, which is full of tourists, and go to the cheap restaurants all around the streets near the wholesale market.

They want to get rid of the unsold fresh fish and will call out bargain prices as you walk around and pass by the small restaurants. You can get incredible, high end sushi, eel, and other food for crazy low prices.

The real stuff, not junk or tourist food. Whale, sushi still alive and wiggling, uni, fugu....you name it.

It's a real old-Asian atmosphere.....tiny enclosed shops, little speciality counters, mini-restaurants with only three or four seats. I had no problem pointing to what I wanted or using Google translate on my Android phone.

 

[gho]

Personally I liked Asakusa and Ueno west of the Sumida river. The Senso-ji is quite attractive for japanese and foreign tourists alike. Ueno with its more traditional shopping area, park and museums is also quite interesting.

Tokyo has quite a lot to offer, of course Akihabara, Ginza, Roppongi, Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku all have their own attractions too! Really depends upon what you are up to. I would suggest that you research the web about these districts and pick what's to your and your girlfriends' taste.

If I had only three days I would visit Asakusa, Shinjuku and Akihabara and ponder, that I have not more time to dive deeper into it. Tokyo is quite an interesting city! Enjoy our stay!

 

[I Love Film]

Maybe there's something wrong with the people at your office?

Dead expression. Popular in the 80s and 90s, but I haven't heard it being used since then. The demographics of Japan have changed completely since then. Being single no longer carries the same social stigma. In fact, these days its probably more common than being married.

For example, I was at a work farewell party last night in Tokyo. 10 people - 6 women and 4 men (2 foreigners including me). All in our 30s or early 40s. Only one man and one woman were married. All the rest were single. The ratio at my office is about the same too.