Tokyo
Saturday, 29. November 2008, 16:05:59
There is an old SF book written by Isaac Asimov in 1988. - Prelude to Foundation. In this book, young mathematician Harry Seldon takes his first visit to a huge planet Trantor, a center of galaxy, an enormous metropolis that covers all of its surface.
When I think about Tokyo, I think of Trantor as well. Tokyo and Yokohama are connected and along with Kawasaki and Chiba, make a big inhabitant and business area. It is said that Tokyo Metropolis is 90km wide from east to west, and about 30km from north to south. Main airport for international and intercontinental flights is in Narita, 60km from downtown of Tokyo. The best way to reach the center of Tokyo or Yokohama is to take Narita Express train. Soon, about 20 minutes you will enter Chiba city and after that point you will see nothing but buildings, roads, trains and bridges. Officially, there are more than 12 millions of people living within 23 of Tokyo areas and about 2.5 million that comes every day from adjacent areas to work and to study. First time I was there, I couldn`t but to ask myself how is it possible that everything works perfect, with so many people around. A look at the system of public transportation didn`t help much.
Still, everything works. The system is divided into 26 different JR East lines and about 10-12 subway lines, every one marked with its own colour. The most complex, according to my opinion is Tokyo Station, with its 10 levels and more than 3000 trains per day
First time when I was there alone, I needed to walk slowly and follow directions. But once you get into the system, everything else is just a scheme. Follow the lines, follow the marks and you are safe 
And hold the left side. Like in England, people here drive on the wrong side of the street 
and therefore expect from you to hold a left side on the side walks, stairways and escalators. Especially during rush hours, holding the left side will give the opportunity to people on your right to run if they are late for a train or going to office.
Tokyo was once a small fishing village called Edo. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first in the line of Tokugawa military rulers (shogun) made Edo a center of his government in 1590. During Meiji restauration, Edo became a capital city and changed its name to Tokyo (East Capital), after emperor moved from Kyoto in 1869. By that time, population of city exceeded 1 million.
Tokyo recovered from two major destructions that happened during 20th century: one was earthquake in 1923. when about 140000 people died, mostly from fire that started after it. The second one was during WWII when bombing in 1945. took about 100000 lives and left about 1 million homeless (half of the city was destroyed). Looking at Tokyo today, it is hardly imaginable - it took less than 70 years to become one of the biggest cities in the world.
***
I will not bother you much about details of my purpose to visit Japan. I was invited to take part in Nakamura Ryu Battodo Taikai (competition) that was held in Yokohama, in November 24th. I must say that I have a great pleasure to practice hard under guidance of teachers from Kakuseikai dojo. I am very grateful to them for patience and effort. Also, I met some very nice people from Washington DC and California, people who helped me when the help was needed. I took a bronze medal in 3rd and 4th DAN level for performing Battodo kata.
***
I didn`t have much time to spend in Tokyo and all of the above photographs are taken from Flickr and Wikipedia. Licensing is as follows:
- for the night photo
The file was found here; license;
- for the aerial photo:
This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Imperial_Palace_Tokyo_Panorama.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.5 license.
When I think about Tokyo, I think of Trantor as well. Tokyo and Yokohama are connected and along with Kawasaki and Chiba, make a big inhabitant and business area. It is said that Tokyo Metropolis is 90km wide from east to west, and about 30km from north to south. Main airport for international and intercontinental flights is in Narita, 60km from downtown of Tokyo. The best way to reach the center of Tokyo or Yokohama is to take Narita Express train. Soon, about 20 minutes you will enter Chiba city and after that point you will see nothing but buildings, roads, trains and bridges. Officially, there are more than 12 millions of people living within 23 of Tokyo areas and about 2.5 million that comes every day from adjacent areas to work and to study. First time I was there, I couldn`t but to ask myself how is it possible that everything works perfect, with so many people around. A look at the system of public transportation didn`t help much.
Still, everything works. The system is divided into 26 different JR East lines and about 10-12 subway lines, every one marked with its own colour. The most complex, according to my opinion is Tokyo Station, with its 10 levels and more than 3000 trains per day
First time when I was there alone, I needed to walk slowly and follow directions. But once you get into the system, everything else is just a scheme. Follow the lines, follow the marks and you are safe And hold the left side. Like in England, people here drive on the wrong side of the street and therefore expect from you to hold a left side on the side walks, stairways and escalators. Especially during rush hours, holding the left side will give the opportunity to people on your right to run if they are late for a train or going to office. Tokyo was once a small fishing village called Edo. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first in the line of Tokugawa military rulers (shogun) made Edo a center of his government in 1590. During Meiji restauration, Edo became a capital city and changed its name to Tokyo (East Capital), after emperor moved from Kyoto in 1869. By that time, population of city exceeded 1 million.
Tokyo recovered from two major destructions that happened during 20th century: one was earthquake in 1923. when about 140000 people died, mostly from fire that started after it. The second one was during WWII when bombing in 1945. took about 100000 lives and left about 1 million homeless (half of the city was destroyed). Looking at Tokyo today, it is hardly imaginable - it took less than 70 years to become one of the biggest cities in the world.
***
I will not bother you much about details of my purpose to visit Japan. I was invited to take part in Nakamura Ryu Battodo Taikai (competition) that was held in Yokohama, in November 24th. I must say that I have a great pleasure to practice hard under guidance of teachers from Kakuseikai dojo. I am very grateful to them for patience and effort. Also, I met some very nice people from Washington DC and California, people who helped me when the help was needed. I took a bronze medal in 3rd and 4th DAN level for performing Battodo kata.
***
I didn`t have much time to spend in Tokyo and all of the above photographs are taken from Flickr and Wikipedia. Licensing is as follows:
- for the night photo
The file was found here; license;
- for the aerial photo:
This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Imperial_Palace_Tokyo_Panorama.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.5 license.
WIDGETIZE
Zaphira # 29. November 2008, 17:58
Congratulations on the bronze medal. It must have been a huge experience to train under such skilful teachers!
thaodp # 29. November 2008, 18:14
PainterWoman # 29. November 2008, 18:18
ricewood # 29. November 2008, 18:19
Good read. Thank you.
Dacotah # 29. November 2008, 19:17
Furie # 29. November 2008, 19:31
Cois # 29. November 2008, 19:53
gdare # 29. November 2008, 20:20
Mit - it will stay here, no need to worry; come back again
Pam - this one was really a short because I was only passing through it few times this year; mostly, I spent time in Yokohama
Allan - if you can, do it; you won`t regret
Carol - thank you
Mik - it is possible to make a dream come true; I did it
Clint - thanks
kalynka # 29. November 2008, 20:41
I can imagine you in the middle of a Tokio street, with locals looking up at you
With all my love to megapolices, Tokio is one of my dream destinations
I definitely live in the wrong part of Russia
Waiting for more updates
ellinidata # 29. November 2008, 20:47
You have been missed greatly!
Knowing about long trips I am very thankful you took the time from resting to update us on it!
Congratulations my special friend!
and welcome home!
Dacotah # 29. November 2008, 20:48
edwardpiercy # 29. November 2008, 21:46
Also, congratulations on your success. You know, I didn't even know you were into that type of martial arts thing. Perhaps you covered that on earlier posts before I started coming to your blog. In any case,
Abbacus # 29. November 2008, 22:30
studio41 # 30. November 2008, 00:24
thaodp # 30. November 2008, 00:46
Furie # 30. November 2008, 02:41
edwardpiercy # 30. November 2008, 02:54
CedarFox # 30. November 2008, 04:38
I’m not sure I would fit so well into Tokyo. Looking at the map, I’d probably go the wrong way while trying to get there on the right-hand side
gdare # 30. November 2008, 05:20
Angeliki - thank you; even though I like to travel, it is good to be at home... and plan another one
Carol -
Ed - I consider it as a very personal and serious part of my life; here, I`d rather have more fun and point on some other areas of my interest; we all need to make a ballance in our lives if you understand what I mean; I am not always Conan in my everyday life
Abbacus - thank you
Jill - thank you; also, thanks for PMs you sent
Mit - I am giving my best
Mik -
Eric - this is what I thought when I found myself alone in the Tokyo Station two years ago; but, system is made to work, so just a little more attention is needed
edwardpiercy # 30. November 2008, 05:27
Well, get some sleep. Perhaps tomorrow you will find the secret cave and the sword and be Conan.
And I do understand about the separation. Don't practice it myself much, but I understand it.
Dacotah # 30. November 2008, 05:30
gdare # 30. November 2008, 05:54
Carol -
edwardpiercy # 30. November 2008, 06:00
Dacotah # 30. November 2008, 06:01
gdare # 30. November 2008, 06:09
Carol - they say it is needed about a day for an hour of difference; I will be ok in a.... 5 days
Dacotah # 30. November 2008, 06:59
gdare # 30. November 2008, 07:04
Dacotah # 30. November 2008, 07:20
ellinidata # 30. November 2008, 07:47
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm reading btwn the lines here ..........
yes, planning and practicing it is half of the success!! and it is great to say " Home Sweet, Home"
gdare # 30. November 2008, 08:33
SittingFox # 30. November 2008, 09:34
Looking at that map...wow, I would stand no chance! (You know, Waterton with its alleged population of 78 - I thought that was an overestimate - suited me just fine!) I get navigationally confused if I cannot see the North Star
Thanks for the information on Tokyo's history. It really is amazing how cities can recover from disaster so relatively quickly.
rose-marie # 30. November 2008, 12:49
Thank you for the lesson on Tokyo's history. Interesting how it has evolved from a small fishing village to one of the biggest cities. I'd love to go there once too
gdare # 30. November 2008, 12:57
Rose - it took me more than half of a year to save enough money for that trip; with my salary it almost sounded as mission impossible; so, if you start to save money now, you will probably have enough to go there in summer; just avoid august, its too warm and humid and then a typhoon season starts
rose-marie # 30. November 2008, 13:09
wickedlizard # 30. November 2008, 13:13
gdare # 30. November 2008, 13:18
Issy - my thought exactly; unfortunately, photos aren`t mine; I will have mine for my next post, about Yokohama
wickedlizard # 30. November 2008, 13:34
rose-marie # 30. November 2008, 13:36
SittingFox # 30. November 2008, 13:39
gdare # 30. November 2008, 17:03
Rose - told you
Adele - yes, it is much brighter up there on 10000m
Weatherlawyer # 7. December 2008, 22:36
Originally posted by foreign devil:
Actually if you ever noticed someone taking a short cut or trying to dodge an attacker, they will ping left. So when an accident approaches and the instinct is to take a left, which side of the road is the wisest to be driving?
Interesting that the two major countries whose history is military service, drive on the most easily defended "safer" side. Why do other people drive so stupidly, I wonder?
When was that change seen as a good idea and why, I wonder? Does it make sense to you?
If you go back so far in time you can find your ancestor that was the monkey and brought him from his cave and showed him your transport system, he'd think you were bloody silly.
gdare # 8. December 2008, 05:57
Weatherlawyer # 8. December 2008, 07:42
No offence.
Why would you think I was offended BTW?
You don't actually believe in evolutin do you? I have noticed that people of that religious persuasion are very easily offended - as if to prove it, so to speak.
gdare # 8. December 2008, 09:06
On the contrary, I do believe in evolution, but never get much into it, sometimes I read about it in articles and in some books, usually as off topic.
Weatherlawyer # 8. December 2008, 09:52
The people who really believe in evolution get badly upset if you accuse them of being religious about it. They start gibbering and dancing up and down rattling the furnture, then they climb onto the highest branches and throw nuts at you.
All quite sad really and absolutely hilarious at the same time. I love trolling for people like that.
I know I shouldn't.