Old Japanese Men & Gaijin

TAG Manager

TAG Manager

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Title is sort of accurate...

There's this older Japanese gentleman that's always hanging around the street just south of Strawberry Jam in Shinjuku. People that know the area know the 'castle' izakaya/karaoke place and the little park that's on the corner. (I think it's a shrine of some sort too...) Anyway, I've been spending more time in that area, circling around and collecting data for TAG business -- always getting approached by touts and they've finally realized that I'm there 'working' and won't ever follow them.

Ok, so back to the old man. He walks up and down this street and he seems to know one of the guys that works at a fuzoku information shop... I'm hanging around nearby, making notes and this older man starts ranting and using the work gaijin in a manner loud enough that he knows I'd hear it.

He goes on ranting to his buddy (maybe not his buddy) in the information shop about how glad gaijins can't use any service in kabukicho and so on and so on... (little does he know... haha) -- I didn't acknowledge or even look his way... and kept taking my notes. (I did have an ear piece in my ear, so I truly couldn't hear the whole rant)

I don't know what he does... but he's a regular in the area and he's noisy as fuck. He wouldn't approach me but he approached some white chick who was having a beer and smoking in the little garden area. A few words were exchanged and that was that...

At this point, I'm in Kabukicho nearly everyday. Never get tired of the place....

In other news, yet another APA hotel is opening very soon at the edge of kabukichou on the north end, near higashi-shinjuku. More tourists flooding the area.... Granbell just finished their expansion...

I miss Kabukicho of 10 years or more ago. :)
 
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patty diaz said:
The chinese tour buses pulling up at all hours outside my house and all of them blocking the pavement so i cant go anywhere gets me lol
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Ahhhh..... Very good point. I know exactly what you're taking about. I see that all the time around the north area near Donki/Shin-Okubo. I avoid walking on that side unless I have to. I think there is some duty free shops along there where people pile in and out of.
 
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TAG Manager said:
There's this older Japanese gentleman that's always hanging around the street just south of Strawberry Jam in Shinjuku.
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If it's the same fella I'm thinking of, he's been a fixture there for at least fifteen years... doesn't sound like he's warmed up to us gaijin much in the interim.

patty diaz said:
The chinese tour buses pulling up at all hours outside my house and all of them blocking the pavement so i cant go anywhere gets me lol
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My office is in an area the Chinese tour buses love to frequent. A couple of times a week they'll have the exit to our office completely blocked, forcing staff to use the back door through the building kanri's area.
 
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Sudsy said:
If it's the same fella I'm thinking of, he's been a fixture there for at least fifteen years... doesn't sound like he's warmed up to us gaijin much in the interim.
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He's kinda short, black hair (like every other Asian, right?) Seems like a chain smoker and tends to have a can in hand most of the time when I cross paths with him.
TheScientist said:
Every big city has some of these old men
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Yep. This is one that just piqued my interest since that tirade yesterday.
Sudsy said:
My office is in an area the Chinese tour buses love to frequent
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I am sorry, lol.
 
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TAG Manager said:
People that know the area know the 'castle' izakaya/karaoke place and the little park that's on the corner.
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i used to frequent that area w/ a camera in hand (dabbled in street photography and stolen shots). old man I met there long time ago (5 years mae maybe) in that area whispered "sex" to me. *hopefully not w/ him* I was still straight as an arrow during these times so I didn't mind him.
 
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There are always some type of anti non Japanese old men.
Once I was walking on the street around Okachimachi station with my caucasian male friend. This old Japanese guy thought we were dating. He walked close to us and said " Lady, I am telling you. Your relationship won't last long. Japanese woman and gaijin guy, they NEVER go well. I am warning you. " and he walked away. My friend didn't understand what he said but I was in quite shock. I couldn't say or do anything at once as it took me a minute to understand what actually just happened but... what was that!?
 
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Manami TMK said:
There are always some type of anti non Japanese old men.
Once I was walking on the street around Okachimachi station with my caucasian male friend. This old Japanese guy thought we were dating. He walked close to us and said " Lady, I am telling you. Your relationship won't last long. Japanese woman and gaijin guy, they NEVER go well. I am warning you. " and he walked away. My friend didn't understand what he said but I was in quite shock. I couldn't say or do anything at once as it took me a minute to understand what actually just happened but... what was that!?
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Many years ago when I used to date regularly I'd hear the same thing. Sometimes I'd comment back to the man, sometimes I'd just stare at him and smile. Generally it bothered the woman I was with more than me but that was the point of those sorts of comments.
 
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Manami TMK said:
There are always some type of anti non Japanese old men.
Once I was walking on the street around Okachimachi station with my caucasian male friend. This old Japanese guy thought we were dating. He walked close to us and said " Lady, I am telling you. Your relationship won't last long. Japanese woman and gaijin guy, they NEVER go well. I am warning you. " and he walked away. My friend didn't understand what he said but I was in quite shock. I couldn't say or do anything at once as it took me a minute to understand what actually just happened but... what was that!?
Click to expand...

had an experience in Kyoto ... old man ranted something to my Japanese friend simply because we were talking in English on the local bus. i wasn't paying attention and didn't get everything mentioned. she was pretty upset ... you know kind of the sparkle in her eyes vanished. I just stopped talking to her in English until we got off the bus. she was OK later which was good.

I've met many old men here. some are very laid back, easy going, you see the lessons they've learned written on their demeanor. but some are just total pricks. what was taught to them (even if it is a contradiction to how the world works) is so deeply ingrained that they follow it like gospel. didn't learn anything worthwhile in life.
 
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