Tokyo Story

I've been attempting to improve my Japanese listening skills by watching various Japanese programs and movies online. When there's translation it makes it much easier to confirm that I heard what I thought I heard. When the speaking is rapid fire, I have to stop, go back, listen again, and gradually discern what was said.

Tokyo Monogatari (Tokyo Story) ranks consistently in the top 10 or so films in the history of cinema. It has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Yasujiro Ozu, the director, was born and raised in our neighbourhood in Tokyo, and is considered by film industry insiders to be one of the greatest directors ever. The youtube copy has English subtitles, (click on the box at the bottom right) so you can follow along. The depiction of early postwar life in Japan is amazing.

You'll see the theme of intergenerational differences in postwar Japan, the decline of a sense of connectedness and neighbourhood as affluence begins to take hold, and the contrast of contentment with ambition. In 1953, when this movie was released, Japan left its postwar reconstruction phase and began its dramatic economic climb. Electric rice cookers, washing machines and televisions became three sought after items and the list lengthened as time went on. 1953 is also the time that the postwar widespread openness to the Gospel in Japan began to decline.

孤立された！

While we had record snow in Tokyo, people in the mountains had impossible levels of snow in a country that usually doesn't have to deal with heavy snow that lasts for weeks. The Japanese Self Defense Force has been mobilized because of earthquake and of course the massive 2011 tsunami, but this year they were mobilized because of snow.

In watching the news reports we saw the Japanese word in the title, which is "koritsu", meaning "Isolation" Every night there would be a listing of the thousands, and then hundreds and tens of households completely cut off from the outside world by heavy snow. Dialysis patients were hoisted up by hovering helicopters, and food was dropped down to these isolated people. 

There's an ongoing isolation in Japan. In a modern affluent society, many people have no close associations with others, and in some cases shun them in a condition known as "hikikomori" 

Then there's the spiritual isolation people feel in this land, one we're trying to break through without the help of the Self Defense Force or a fleet of helicopters. 

Snow In Tokyo

With the "Polar Vortex" making headlines all over North America, it's hard to talk about snow in Tokyo, but we managed to get in on the worst snowfall in decades. Because snow seldom falls in Tokyo, there's very little equipment for snow clearing, and it's usually dedicated to the elevated expressways.

 But that's not a problem when everyone has snow chains! In fact, you can't proceed on national highways at some times without having snow chains installed on your car. We heard the distinctive "ching-ching-ching" of snow chains as vehicles passed. Buses, trucks, cars all had snow chains, or they didn't move.

But I was flabbergasted to hear that familiar sound when a postal motorcycle went by. All residential mail in Japan is delivered by motorcycle, so of course Japan Post would have chains for their bikes! What else could they do? Imagine driving a motorcycle in the snow, even with chains on the tires!