Japanese Love Big Stones

I heard a Japanese tour guide actually say this. My wife and I both laughed. There were large stones nearby at the Osaka Castle but the oversimplified generalization is what makes it hilarious. Many people try to do this with the Japanese especially foreigners but Japanese also do it too. I guess this is a trait of humanity: we make generalizations trying to grasp some kind of bigger understanding. Chasing norms and ignoring outliers but I think Japanese are particularly mysterious. Foreigners are attracted by that. If you want to interest an audience in a story, add some mystery. Kinda makes sense Japan would be that way since they're an island and they were closed off from the rest of the world for a long time. Even if you live in Japan, it's still a fairly closed society. You can enter some parts but others will blatantly tell you, "No foreigners." Then of course, they will turn right around and claim they're not racist. It is their country though but many foreigners have lived there for decades, they pay their taxes, they contribute to the economy, they have mixed children, they speak Japanese, etc. Basically, they do all the things Japanese do yet even they are still not Japanese. Really to get in, you need some locals on your side. Japanese are far more willing to tolerate a foreigner if another Japanese vouches for them. This doesn't really bother me after all because it is Japan, and obviously, I am not Japanese, but it doesn't inspire me to learn the language or try to blend in. Such things seem pointless here and many foreign Japanese speakers will even tell you that. There are plenty of stories of foreigners speaking good Japanese yet they still get ignored because they look foreign. Plus, if you understand Japanese, the problems and stress of Japan affect you even more. But I really like living in Japan. It's very peaceful, the food is amazing, it is clean, and there are so many places to explore (onsens are awesome too). Sure, you stand out like big bird but you get used to it.

Official Godzilla Store in Shinjuku

Ok, I admit it. I love this place. I grew up watching Godzilla movies with my brother. Sure, a lot of them are cheesy (Godzilla's Revenge... ugh, kill me... and please don't mention the android running in 1991's Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah) but the original is a classic, and I love Shin Godzilla as well. At its best, Godzilla is a brilliant dark metaphor for the awful destructive power of atomic energy (even children die of radiation in the original... talk about dark but realistic). There is a reason Criterion gave the Showa Era films the deluxe treatment. Cockroach spacemen, monkey spacemen, singing magical mini twins, whatever, I'm all in. Godzilla movies rule especially the earlier ones (but I would not recommend the English dubbing... horrendous). I'm a huge fan so visiting the Official Godzilla Store in Shinjuku is a blast, and I always like to see what's new. Whatever kind of Godzilla memorabilia you want, they got it: honey pies, curry, chopsticks, socks, magnets, stickers, pens, toys, file folders, heck even Godzilla toilet paper (I kid you not). It's heaven to a kaiju fan (hell to your wallet though). Closed during the pandemic, it has now reopened (photos are pre-virus nightmare). Every once in a while, you get new exclusive Bandai figures that debut there so I love to randomly visit, hoping they'll have something (yes, my life is that sad). If you're a Godzilla fan, Tokyo is where it's at. Tons of stores here with Godzilla goods (Mandarake in Nakano, Shibuya, Akihabara, etc. and the Monster Lab in Akihabara with all kinds of super rare Godzilla but some sadly not for sale).