Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2010

Sage advice

Regarding “Old School Fools” (The Last Word, July 30): Boy, this brings back memories! I was taken aside by a gaijin Nova “manager” once and told that my taste in dress shirts was a little too “loud” for Japanese tastes. Apparently, something other than white or beige was more than could be expected from a wacky gaijin. This, from a guy who always looked like he slept in the clothes he wore and smelled like washing them wasn’t something he’d ever thought of.—deruo

Great advice! I always take advice from old-timers with a pinch of salt: “You need to have this to work there,” “They make you do this before you can do this,” “In Japan, it’s impossible to buy such and such,” etc., etc. More often than not they’ve just been here too long doing the same old routine, and because of that, are completely wrong about many things!—Charltzy

The foreigner-hating-foreigner thing is such a tired subject, and by making generalizations about long-term expats, you’re no better than the guys who stereotyped you!— daywalk

What? Another cliché foreigner complaining about how he’s judged wrongly in another country? How many professionals back home do you know of that go to work with frosted hair? I mean people who are not in the fashion or art world (like Brad Pitt). The youngsters you’re seeing with frosted hair are a) artists, musicians or similar; b) college/high school students; c) construction workers; d) unemployed.

Black hair and black suit does not mean no soul. Are you saying that frosting your hair gives you soul? I think it just emphasizes your shallowness, as does this article.

You may not have found the info when you looked it up because, being the new guy in town that you claim to be, you can’t read Japanese or ask a Japanese person directly. These things are just common sense, unwritten rules. You’re right about Japanese people not thinking you’re a gangster with your tattoos because you’re a foreigner, but why should they relax the rules for you? Wouldn’t you agree that it would be best to treat everyone the same? Otherwise, they’d just call it racial profiling. I don’t know what this “foreign company” you work for is, but if it’s not an English school, frosted hair probably wouldn’t go over very well anywhere you go. I was even super-reluctant to just grow facial hair (as I would have been even back home), but since I keep it trimmed well, no one complains.

I guess the only thing you were “missing” was common sense and professionalism. Go ahead and frost your hair before you go out to Roppongi, but just make sure to dye it back in the morning.—superflycharismaguy2010

Riverside drive

Regarding “Kanda River” (Travel, July 23): There is a nice walking path along the river from Inokashira Koen through Nakano. It’s been a while, but I think it disappears for a bit before you pick it up again running parallel to the Chuo line after Shinjuku. I used to live right along it in Takaido. My favorite part is between Kichijoji and Mitakadai. Great walk/ride!—jclark10404

Gorgeous piece! I love this. There is so much to Tokyo beyond concrete. As I live near here, I will explore this on my road bike this summer. Thanks!—darthmiffy