Tokyo in 2018 looks different from ten years ago. Somehow the mood seems solemn and quieter, people even more gentler, perhaps scared? Of what? You can still see young children, newborns in the malls, but the population is declining, threatening the entire bred. Mostly people look tired. So do the houses around Tokyo, worn out, grey and seem like waiting to die. This brings sadness. Because the Japanese are the only remaining truly civilised nation in its entirety in the planet. It is one of those you have to be there to believe kinda things. I cannot imagine the culture shock they would get when they go to places like New York or Sydney, where arrogance and self centeredness have unfortunately become national character traits.
You have to take into account a lot has happened in the last ten years. Colossal Tsunami and nuclear disasters, massive earthquakes, economic upheavals and its slowing down, existential threats from wars and shrinking population, lack of workers have all shaken foundations of Japanese will power and perseverance. Yet they manage to smile at you in every interaction. Imagine a nation going through and has gone through such tremendous forces of nature, bombs and disasters and still managing to thrive amidst the neighbours calling for their blood.
Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, top five surely. Even China cannot match the beauty, sophistication and grandness of its ancient architecture. The nature you see when driving out of Tokyo is breathtaking. Its not just the nature in isolation, because the country is densely populated, the mountains and valleys are dotted with beautiful picturesque villages full of local culture, taste and ancient temples. And the first thing you notice when you are about to land in Tokyo are the green paddy fields and power lines and towers. This in the most industrialised nation on earth. Ancient towns of Narita, Karuizawa, Kyoto that I visited are testament to how beautifully they lived and still do.
On my way back to home from Sydney airport, my cabbie was a Chinese. I was explaining to him about how polite the Japanese are, and he could not resist mentioning what they have done to Chinese in the past. I cannot see anything the current Japanese have to do with the evil deeds of their forefathers. Not pardoning of the horrendous crimes they committed, but I think the current Japan deserve forgiveness, it does not seem fair that the current and future generations have to keep on bearing the guilt.
Ravi Tandukar 