Yall come back now, ya hear

[ramchop]

Two days might not be long enough to form a thoughtful, considered opinion of a place but it is quite sufficient to make an irrational snap judgment. And it was plenty time to know I hate Tokyo.

Am I alone in thinking "how can anyone criticize a miniskirt?"

[AssKissinger]

Not liking miniskirts is weird but he got this right,

I hate the politeness - manners are good, but this is bogus. Service workers smile as they say you can't come into their airline lounge because you haven't remembered your guest pass. It's the rules, madam. The more cross you get the more they smile. Of course they say sorry but they're secretly enjoying it. They're loving it. They're so gleeful they're aroused.

[Captain Japan]

Not liking miniskirts is weird but he got this right,

Actually, I think he is a she. But I think she got most things "right," and you had to have laughed a bit at the part about the "uncooked yams."

I think this is pretty good:

I asked him about whether I was right in thinking Japan's economy is in the toilet because the place is spectacularly unproductive. I based this judgment on in-depth research - they have an extra person at Starbucks who takes your receipt after you've paid and tells you that your vomit-making frappucino will be along in a minute. Which you already knew. Desmond said I was quite wrong - he misses the incredible efficiency and professionalism of Japan workers whenever he travels anywhere else.

She's the realist and he's the apologist. That, to me, is always the interesting battle amongst foreigners in Japan.

Overall, I'd say enjoying a trip comes down to expectations and what one wants. To each his/her own, I guess.

[Steve Bildermann]

Nice Avatar - Wado Ryu then.

Trained with him and his son Jiro at the Shibuya Dojo back in the 60/70s. Actually started in Wado ryu with Suzuki Tatsuo w-a-y back in the UK but switched to Shotokan when I moved to Tokyo because they had classes in the afternoon.

Is Nihon University still the biggest Wado dojo in Japan?

[Captain Japan]

Is Nihon University still the biggest Wado dojo in Japan?

I really have no idea. I wrote up a story here that profiles the founding family today as they try to preserve the intent/style of karate that their father/grandfather started. Their dojo is in Nerima. All very nice people.

[cstaylor]

Damn, what a hater. There are plenty of things to not like about Tokyo, but the service ain't one of them.

I found out too late the best thing to do in that situation is to be authoritative and issue an order.

What, in English?

[Molokidan]

Yeah, geez, people need to lighten up and look at the good parts of life, instead of focusing on the bad so much!! LET'S UPBEAT!!!

[Cubed]

Deborah Hill Cone is the writers name.

It may not be long enough to form a thoughtful, considered opinion of this name, but it is quite sufficient to make a snap judgement.

After spending 48 seconds thinking about it, it's a really really stupid name.

[kamome]

There are plenty of things to not like about Tokyo, but the service ain't one of them.

I don't know about that. Depends on your definition of " good service". If good service to you means quickness and efficiency, then Japan is golden. But if good service means having a knowledgeable clerk who can answer a question and perhaps make recommendations of products/services based on experience, then Japan leaves a lot to be desired. How many times have you been confronted by store clerks in Japan who didn't know their ass from their elbow? It happens all the time.

[cstaylor]

But if good service means having a knowledgeable clerk who can answer a question and perhaps make recommendations of products/services based on experience, then Japan leaves a lot to be desired. How many times have you been confronted by store clerks in Japan who didn't know their ass from their elbow? It happens all the time.

It's your white face. I ask the same damn question in Japanese that my wife will ask, and we get totally different answers. On top of that, I never get any offers for free stamps or point cards unless she's standing next to me, and then they just talk directly to her.

[ramchop]

... but even he doesn't like the miniskirt

3,500 Days in Tokyo

Until recently it was in fact mostly ruuzusokkusu, (loose socks) mainly warn by high school girls since the mid-90s in tandem with repugnantly short mini-skirt school uniforms. Thankfully, this unwelcome fad has pretty much run its course.

[kamome]

It's your white face. I ask the same damn question in Japanese that my wife will ask, and we get totally different answers. On top of that, I never get any offers for free stamps or point cards unless she's standing next to me, and then they just talk directly to her.

Yeah, I get that treatment too. Another sign that service in Japan ain't what it's cracked up to be.

[Watcher]

Ah yes... the breaking of the protocol for translation. My Japanese ain't so good so often I have my GF translate, lest I make a blunder. But I have trained her in the art. She stands behind me, not beside, and she looks only at me. If buddy doesn't get the message of who he's dealing with (it's almost always the men who do not wish to face me) then I make a few snaps in his face and call his attention back to my eyes with my fingers. I find this quite effective in dealing with that sorta nonsense. Mind you this technique is only used in higher level negotiations, such as getting kicked out of a spa because of my small tattoo and the manager is extremely rude, or, setting up a new bank account (they've actually told me I couldn't... freshman staff dumbass). I don't know what it is about the snaps but I tried more polite ways to hold the attention and maintain focus.... sometimes I guess just pure blunt crudeness works. I know if someone snapped their fingers in my face I'd tell them where they could stick them.