Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2011

HELPING HANDS

We have set up the Japan Disaster Advice Group on Facebook (http://meturl.com/facebookjdag) to do our bit with what’s happened in Japan over the last two weeks. Its aim is to help everyone we know, and their friends and family, keep up-to-date with information, help and advice. The situation will be up and down for a while to come, and this kind of resource is better than looking all over the internet. Your support would be greatly appreciated.—Steve Blake

Many thanks for carrying info on radiation levels in Tokyo. But why is there only one reading (occasionally two) from this or that location within the city? With all the confusion about radiation in food, water and air, we need as many independent, accurate measurements from as many locations as possible.—Denis Jonnes

THE LAST TURD

Regarding “TP or not TP” (The Last Word, Mar 25): Let me see if I understand this correctly… some dumbass walks out of a bathroom with toilet paper stuck to him—and then blames the girl in the elevator? Then, not satisfied with that, he decides to blame ALL Japanese people? Perhaps the woman didn’t notice. Perhaps she did. It doesn’t make a difference. I don’t know what sort of bubble Mr. Jacobson has been living in… [but] this is a question that troubles all societies, not just the Japanese… All in all, I think this article illustrates a bigger problem that I find among the foreign community in Japan. That is, latent racism against the Japanese. I hear it all the time—“Japanese people are this way, Japanese people are that way,” and it is invariably negative. Which leads me to wonder, why do you continue to live, of your own volition, in a society where you apparently dislike the people? Quit blaming your stupidity on the people around you.—jamiek

I’m a Japanese woman. Let me share my opinion. I know what you mean and feel sorry for you in this event. I admit the Japanese are shy. As the proverb goes, a lot of people think some things are better left unsaid. In addition to our national character, there are two vital points why she didn’t say anything to you. 1: you are a foreigner. Japan is a small island. Compared with before, there are more foreigners. But we are still nervous to talk with them. 2: you are a man. People tend to hesitate to talk to strangers of the opposite sex. I’m sure if you were a Japanese woman, she’d have whispered to you, “Watch your butt.”—yyta

ACROSS THE BRIDGE…

Regarding “Koganecho,” (Travel, March 25): I am always powerfully drawn into the articles written by my fellow Welshman, Jon Mitchell. However, as a resident of Yokohama, this story didn’t quite match my experience. Koganecho’s ‘infamy’ still persists, despite the bordellos being closed. Only a while back I was propositioned, quite persuasively, while strolling along the opposite river bank, by an attractive Chinese streetwalker, and did not reject her offer easily. So while the area’s bordellos might have closed, its notorious activities have not, and even seem to be resurfacing. Also, beyond the opposite bank from Koganecho lies Fukutomicho, apparently a yakuza district, which contains a greater concentration of soaplands and mizu shobai-related establishments than I’ve seen. So all Jon needed to do to put a smile on his disgruntled tourist’s face, was to direct him 50 meters across the bridge. Or so I’ve heard. Ahem.—Des Laughton