When was the best time to be a gaijin?

[AssKissinger]

My uncle was stationed here during the Korean War (50-53) and he says that Japan was unbelievably fun back then. Honeys out the wazoo and so on. When I see footage of Japan in the sixties, seventies and even the eighties it looks so hip. Do you think it was better back in the day?

[cstaylor]

How about, "None of the above"?

[Blah Pete]

I would have to say after the bubble burst but before the economy got real bad. In the 80's you had to put up with a lot of arrogant Japanese who thought they were going to take over the world with their new wealth and basically Gaijin were treated worse than today.

I actually would like to have come here in the 1880-1899 time frame. I had a relative who made a few trips to China and Japan during these years and his journal is very interesting.

[AssKissinger]

Are his journals available to the public?

[Gestalt]

The guy in Tokyo Underworld seemed to have a pretty good time from sometime in the mid 50's through till about the 80s!

[vince]

Donald Richie was in Japan from 1946 to Present.

He probably liked "1946-50" better than "Present"...

[Taro Toporific]

Donald Richie was in Japan from 1946 to Present.

He probably liked "1946-50" better than "Present"...

Yep, he's a fairly bitter old guy when he talks about post-1970 Japan. My ancient "Japan-Hand" friends invite me to have dinner with Donald Richie and them for X-mas if I'm in town. He's quite the character and a bit "over the top" when you met him face-to-face. His own films the pre-1960s, are in his own words, "personal" and "moral sedition."


His book "Queer Japan: Personal Stories of Japanese Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals" is about the only informative book on the topic.

BTW:
ANYTIME is the 'best' time.

[Kanchou]

Eh, I vote for 1603-1867

[kamome]

I also heard that the immediate post-War period through the 60's was good too. I know someone (himself a long-term Japan resident) whose father was president of the Foreign Correspondents' Club back in the day. Apparently, it was pretty wild, but I have yet to learn the details.

[Mini_B]

The guy in Tokyo Underworld seemed to have a pretty good time from sometime in the mid 50's through till about the 80s!

This is one of the 4 books I've read in my lifetime.
It ranks up there with one of the best.

Another is "Confessions of a Yakuza" by Junichi Saga

[vince]

Taro wrote...

(Donald Richie) Yep, he's a fairly bitter old guy when he talks about post-1970 Japan.

The recent Donald Richie biography-collected works book (I can't recall the title) covers "50 Years in Japan" - 1949 to 1999. Things probably changed more in Japan *after* the book was written, than during the 50 years it covers...