In the words of Anthony Bourdain, Japan is a paradox. The low birthrate, the dedication, the conformity, and the life of a salary man are all well known, but it took visiting the country to discover that the competitive and rigid culture has given way to some incredibly unique subcultures. My understanding of Japanese lifestyle before visiting was proven erroneous as my trip progressed, and I was exposed to some of the vast dimensions of the incredibly perplexing culture.
Questions that at once felt extraneous now consume my thoughts as I reflect upon my experience in the island nation. How can Japanese culture be so vastly different from the lifestyles of its neighbors? Has society always been so immensely austere? And how can the lurid aspects of Japanese pop-culture coexist so seamlessly with the rigorously conventional framework of everyday life?
In Tokyo, I was consistently puzzled at how a city so densely packed—with a population so eccentric and expressive in its fashion—could remain extremely disciplined, orderly, and reserved all at once. The stark difference in the work culture versus the play culture are truly unlike any other place I have been or heard of. And while the country has triumphed in economic and technological successes, women’s roles in society remain behind the times.
Before ever having been to Japan, people described scenes that could be found on postcards of tiny streets contaminated with bright light or of the vast Tokyo skyline. It was to my surprise that the city that I had so greatly associated with animation and bustle was, in reality, quiet and docile.
Perhaps it’s the out-there, unapologetic fashion of the younger generations that upholds the culture of fluorescence that Japan is known for, but in Tokyo, outside areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya, buildings are monotonous, and there seems to be much less of an emphasis on standing out than I had expected. For example, aside from our group’s distinct appearance and consistently excessive noise levels, anyone could tell we were not local by the fact that we weren’t dressed in dark clothing. While their cool style was different from that of the typically lazily dressed American, it was still surprisingly unvaried. Though we happened to be staying in what everyone was calling a quieter area of Tokyo, the time we spent viewing other areas of the city from our bus windows made it seem languid rather than particularly vibrant.
It is now apparent to me that the depictions of Japan I had been exposed to before actually visiting seemed to have fixated on the wild side of the country. In my experience, Japan has been storied as a dreamland filled with strange humor, gaudy light, and overall unpredictability—but this was hardly the Japan I visited. Yes, there were oddities like maid cafés and octopus porn, but it seems like the heavy emphasis on personal privacy, organization, and cleanliness triumphs over the curious culture that westerners like to highlight.
I will continue to be puzzled yet enchanted by the elaborate culture of Japan that contains so many contradictions and complexities.
Passionately curious senior with an insatiable appetite for travel, food, and new experiences.
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