Law, Partially

We visited a famous Buddhist temple, Zōjō-ji (増上寺), in Tokyo and used the grounds as a backdrop for a classic family photo. The white flowers on the trees are cherry blossoms, known as  sakura  in Japanese. Based on reading the historical markers at the temple, I realized the temple itself is the story of the Japanese twentieth century. (Also, it is a reminder of how I can suck the fun out of vacations: stopping at every historical marker, reading every paragraph, and turning fun tourism into a comparative social sciences course. I am sorry, in advance, Bobby, for all of our family vacations.) The FD Linges posing for a family photo. I have a tinge of anxiety about this photo. Are we appropriating some sacred religious site for a family photo just because it looks cool and "very Japanese"? Are we being culturally insensitive just because we want to show friends and family that we visited Japan? One thing is for sure, as it was raining when this photo was taken, the awning...

In Japan, raw fish and rice taste better, on average, than in the US, so trips to Japan must involve as much sushi consumption as possible. Owing perhaps to their training or the tacit cultural nous that may explain much of Japan, Japanese sushi chefs exhibit a surprising amount of control over the supply chain that sees a slice of raw fish stuck atop a oblong block of sticky rice. Compared to the US, the markets in Japan offer greater rice and fish options (because demand is just so huge), and chefs often have specialized for longer in the art of sushi (sushi chef is a career rather than a job). See Jiro Dreams of Sushi , again, to see the importance of rice and fish control to elevating sushi. The degrees by which some sushi is better than others are subtle, and I am certain my palate lacks the sophistication to distinguish among the best. But when you eat good sushi, your brain becomes dosed with the good chemicals. You are happy. Sushi can be very good in the US, but you will l...

Christine and I have shared a love affair with Tokyo since visiting for the first time in 2012. I also studied Japanese law and the economy during graduate school. Growing up in suburban environs, we must be attracted to the hyper urbanity of Tokyo. While in downtown Chicago it is not uncommon to find a vacant lot (or many), in Tokyo you will find no space wasted. Sometimes, the cramped confines of homes and service establishments seem almost indulgent -- why not just make it a little bigger, man? But this urban space is therefore packed with maximum human life. random Tokyo street at night Some cities may be denser -- Mumbai comes to mind -- but these cities are often in the developing world and lack the order and service offerings of middle class Tokyo. Tokyo has very little crime, the streets are clean, the food is good, transportation is reliable (just stay off the subway during rush hour), the people are unfailingly nice and polite, the food and drink are good, even the sh...