Jottings on Japan

Press, 3 February 1981, Page 22

Jottings on Japan

Jottings from the travel diary of RITA THOMAS, of Wellington, who recently visited Japan.

Because of its size, Tokyo’s station does not seem as crowded in the rush hour as Wellington’s. Porters, dressed like airline pilots with well-groomed hair, peaked caps, immaculate white shirts and smart ties, are always on hand to assist. Along the edge of the platforms and at the top of steps are strips with raised bumps like goose pimples to warn blind people of the dangers in their path.

Two hours by train from Tokyo is Nikko. An avenue 37km in length and lined by 13,000 cedars planted three centuries ago, leads to the Toshogu Shrine built in the mid-seventeenth centtury. This is a combination of Buddhist and Shinto architecture and includes a five-storey pagoda, lacquered in red and gold- .

Another major city, steeped in history and tradition is Kyoto, the country’s capital for more than 10 centuries, 794 to 1868. Its streets were laid out more than 1100 years ago, and many homes there reveal the truly traditional wooden architectural style. Kyoto offers its visitors a choice of 1900 temples and shrines to inspect.

Away from the bustling cities, Japan is beautifully peaceful with many ponds, waterfalls . and trees creating harmony. Indeed if any word is indicative of this land, it is “harmony” which is tremendously important to the Japanese, especially in the home. Although many single women notv have successful careers, the traditional role for a Japanese wife is to do all she can for her husband.

There is no sharing of domestic tasks but women, like nylon stockings, are getting stronger. Because few married women are employed in the work force,

men often do tasks with which we in our westernised world normally associate with women. However, women wearing coolie-type straw hats, frequently form part of street repair gangs.

Intending travellers to Japan will be relieved to know that, unlike many other countries, crime such as bashings,, rape, and murder is practically nonexistent.

Japanese toilets are oval-shaped and set at ground level. A foot pedal is used for flushing which is more hygienic than hand-operated levers.

Seats in- Japanese taxis are covered by immaculate white lace covers and all drivers wear white gloves. Doors open automatically at the flick of a switch.

Steps in general, particularly in the public parks, are about twice as deep as those in New Zealand and I often wondered how the Japanese, with infinitely shorter legs than ours, were able to use them.

Life in Japan is very competitive and failure to succeed often results in suicide, even among schoolchildren. A case reported in the newspapers while we were there was of a nine-year-old boy who suffocated himself in wardrobe because his parents would" not buy him new trousers.

Because of the high cost of land most shops are small and goods are not well displayed. Footpaths are rare and pedestrians usually have to share them with cyclists. To reduce the number of traffic officers, the city authorities have installed dummy ones at strategic points that appear so realistic from a distance, that drivers automatically slow down.