Lettow thread

[Josquius]

Tyr and Lettow, did either of you go to Uji yet?

Next Tuesday

I had a surreal encounter with Nagoya's incompetent criminal class, which I laughed off and then reported to the police. They were so effusive in their apologies and embarassment that I let them off easy by suspecting aloud that he was Korean. It was my first encounter with crime in which I did not accede peacebly to demands; how empowering! But I simply cant take Japanese criminals seriously. They dont know what they are doing and it is embarrassing.

What happened?

[Lettow77]

 Ah, it is a strange tale. I was walking near the red-light district of Nagoya, about to go into a tsutaya, when I was stopped by a fat and tall man's solicitation. He asked me to follow him- he was a skechy character, but it was broad daylight and I walk the world blown by the wind, so I thought it was as much a direction as any to follow.

As we walked we talked about what he wanted- it quickly became clear he was trying to lead me to meet some woman. I protested and explained my lack of interest, which took more explaining than it should have. His Japanese was very hard to follow as he insisted on talking quickly and like a yakuza from a bad drama.  So far, this was just a boring solicitation of a tourist to go into some fleshpot place- but multiple things made it get weirder.

For one, he had a headset in which he was contiously explaining his situation vis-a-vis the gaijin. For another, after it became clear I had no interest in the women of the defiled world, he repeatedly changed tacks. He examined the undersides of my arms while trying to communicate to me there were drugs to be had; he asked me to buy him alcohol at a convenience store. If I would just follow him, there was someone who spoke english. But in my absolute favourite iteration, if I would just follow him, there was american food waiting. I started laughing at him badly at that one.

Now, at one point he took off his headset to have me speak into it- I presumed in english, but no, it was to be in Japanese, and he held it in such a way that I could not hear, only speak. I was baffled, but began speaking gamely enough. I had only got as far as "zankoku na tenshi no youni" before he took it away in obvious irritation.  I mentioned before that he examined my veins- he got progressively more grabby, and when I grew bored with his antics (for I really was interested initially; every meeting is a beautiful chance encounter, after all) after some thirty minutes I began walking away.

He would of course position himself in front of me, glower down at me from his substantial height advantage, or simply roughly grab my arm. At the last I began to change my tone- I told him for one that I was an American, and that Americans lose to none, but worse, that he had not reckoned on meeting a Southerner, and that the sons of Lee and Forrest would not be interfered with my some shameless man from Nagoya. I exclusively began referring to myself as ore-sama, and variously warned that the greatest empire in the world would rain fire on the city, that he had best stick to harassing mere Japanese, and that he was a joke of a criminal and made me nostalgic for the niggers of home, and finally extolled him to go back home to his mother.

How extremely nonviolent the Japanese are cannot be impressed enough- for one, he let me take his picture with much hemming and hawwing, but did not do what he should have done, which was beat me, and take all of my stuff, including the camera. Second, he backed down when I began threatening to beat him like a kankokujin dorei, and seemed to quite honestly have initiating confrontational grabbing and interference without the intent or desire for a scrap. What is wrong with him?

Absurdly, at this point he threatened to call the police on me. This was near the very end of our meeting, and I was thoroughly enjoying myself. He has no idea how to be a criminal; he should pick on foreigners after dark, and swiftly beat them and take their things. Had he done so, what could I have said? Go to a police box and said a large Japanese man took my things? He lacks aggressive spirit; Jamal Jones could teach him any number of things.

In any event, I was disappointed that there was, after all, no American Food, but felt it would be best if I went to the Koban. Before finding one I found the police station proper, and made my report there. The policemen, besides exclaiming how cool my passport was and praising America, said in poor english that Japan and America were brothers, and began bowing repeatedly when they heard what had happened- they were so sorry, it was probably a non-Japanese who did it, and wouldn't I please not tell anyone in America about this? Could this possibly not ruin my opinion of Japan? They would, of course, take the strongest possible measures..

I was thoroughly charmed, and later saw policemen walking around the area of the event. Japan is delightful. (They printed out the hemming and hawwing loser-picture, and I still have one as a keepsake myself..)

[The Brain]

Sounds wonderful.

[Lettow77]

 The walking life is a little lonely. Foreigners I encounter in Japan offend me with their noise and indiscretion- but there is quite a gulf between me and most Japanese. It can be hard to have a good conversation, although some earnest people put in a mighty effort.

I will go to parts elsewhere tomorrow, but I am not really sure where as yet..

I am terrified by how much I miss Tennessee and my roommate, for I know I need to leave both behind eventually. I tell myself once I get settled and employed here and make new permanent contacts in a new permanent locale I will re-adjust, but there is that typical anxiety I am sure every young 20-something feels. Crossing permanently onto the other side of the world is naturally going to induce a certain amount of concern.

I have been struggling with detachment to my own existence, but have finally reconciled to it as a sort of blessing. I am quite alright with the dream-state life- but how pleasant it would be to wake up to someone to care for and be cared for by! That way lies dependence, but it is a pleasant thought even so.

I have dedicated a lot of effort to convincing myself that the world is beautiful; I think it isnt just bluster, and there really is something to it. It makes me sad to think of how hateful Afrikaners or Southerners are, and how their environment makes them such- how could it, if the world is beautiful? But not everywhere is like that, and surely that is just an unfortunate circumstance. I don't feel tethered to reality at all; my beloved roommate I lean on too much is only a distant voice, and its as if I knew nobody at all

I am happy because I am afraid of what it would mean if I was sad; I float through life because I dont really think I could get up if I fell. Do you understand, languish? I think tea and fluffy things are an excellent choice for this life; sitting here, reading, drinking tea, I feel in some way fulfilled, but more beautiful than such things is surely human kindness, and I should probably make more effort to share the beauty of the world with someone. I know, though, that I am too irregular for most, and that sort of thing would not only reduce my floating freedom, but make me once again hostage to fortune; the consolation of slowly losing everyone is that at long last you are in no danger of losing anyone. It is an irrational absurdity, but I am so reluctant to lose anyone that I am loathe to even know new people to lose in the first place..

Finally, social obligations are a sort of chaining tethyr. What I have now is the miracle of no real footprint in life; I could disappear permanently tomorrow and it would not ruffle many feathers. I don't like the idea of being needed, because it scares me to think the world could become so oppressive yet I would be duty-bound to continue living in it for someone else's sake. When I think of how unhappy my father was for so many long years, and how candidly he told me he only lived in the world for my benefit, I feel very guilty and sad. Sad that I made him suffer, guilty that I am not doing more with the gift he gave me, sad that my coming into the world was such an inauspicious turn of events for such a great man, and guilty that I will never have the energy or determination to work as hard as he did. I admire him for his efforts and shrink from following in his footsteps.

[CountDeMoney]

The walking life is a little lonely. Foreigners I encounter in Japan offend me with their noise and indiscretion-

You do realize that


Nevermind.

[Lettow77]

 Maan, Akiba is crazy

I accidentally went into three maid cafes in one day. The ladies ask you to do so, and how can you very well say no? There is far too much stuff to see in one day. I will tour more tomorrow, and then on to Yasukuni Shrine- from thence, the wonderful return to green and lovely Tennessee!

I still have to try and find a motoko kusanagi dakimakura and some my little pony doujins for my friends, though..

wuaah, maybe it was a mistake to turn in for the day! I feel so hyper; doubtlessly this is what eating several meals in one day feels like. Energy unbidden sits my feet to tapping, and I can scarce but think of the promise of the future and how gently life has treated me this last year- surely next year shall be even better!

We will have an apartment with a cat! A cat in the house again!

[Josquius]

I find Akiba to be pretty dissapointing.
Sure the maids are amusing and often more than a little vomit inducing (the way some really try their hardest to look childish....) and the multi-floor porn mega marts are humerous but....its supposed to be more than that.

[Admiral Yi]

Don't listen to Squeeze Lettuce.  Find whatever makes you happy and stick with it.

[The Brain]

I find Akiba to be pretty dissapointing.
Sure the maids are amusing and often more than a little vomit inducing (the way some really try their hardest to look childish....) and the multi-floor porn mega marts are humerous but....its supposed to be more than that.

How many floors would satisfy you?

[Lettow77]

 Tyr, you don't really have much use for the otaku culture the place is a shrine to though, do you?

  To recognize that "Alice human sacrifice" is playing in a public place, or to find more doujins for your favourite anime than you knew existed, or to hunt for specific figurines, can you really do such?

Also, the maids are adorable! I was spoonfed, er..

No, the place is quite wonderful. Quite wonderful!

[Josquius]

Before I came  to Japan I had heard stories of Akihbara being an awesome geek mekka, I was very much looking forward to visiting there.
Having done so many times though (my friend lives a few stops away, I'm in the area a lot for other reasons)....it just doesn't live up to the hype at all. I'm told it peaked a decade ago and is now a shadow of its former self. There remains some interesting stores but nothing really worth the 2 1/2 hour journey it would be from my place let alone travelling halfway around the world for as its reputation warrants.
As a friend of mine said - Japan is an awesome propegandist. It is very very good at presenting a certain image of itself which doesn't quite match up with reality.

[Lettow77]

 I continue to suspect, though, that you would enjoy it a lot more if you actually were much of an anime fan. Most of the stuff I saw was from the last few seasons, so if you were out of the loop it wouldn't have much relevance..

But hey, dont be impressed if you'd like, I guess. It certainly awes me! My beautiful river city has nothing to compare.

[Martim Silva]

I still have to try and find a motoko kusanagi dakimakura (...)

Take it easy, eeeasy...

That said, you personality does fit well with Japan (unless you intend to pull some Mishima-style end there). Will you make a permanent move?

Also, I know it may seem different at first, but the country is more than Tokyo...

[Lettow77]

 I spent most of my time here in Fukuoka. I have been to rural kyushu, spending the night in tiny towns- I have been to kyoto, nagoya, and kumamoto. I am only just now getting around to getting to Akihabara, and I leave in two days or so.

I wouldn't go out -Mishima- style, as stylin' and fresh as it indisputably was.

I intend to make a permanent move here, yes. But not Tokyo! It is too crowded. Tottori, Kyushu, Tohouku? Those all sound glamorous to me.

edit: and the dakimakura isnt for me  It should be obvious I would have no interest in a pillow of the Major. She isnt exactly an elegant maiden.

[CountDeMoney]

I intend to make a permanent move here, yes.

I'm not sure that a male caucasian cross-dressing as a giggly schoolgirl offers that much of a viable income.

Then again, maybe it does.  Best of luck.  Enjoy the cock.