Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2011

Rise Above It

Your cover for the January 7 issue was totally insensitive to all African-Americans living here in Japan. I know the Japanese people don’t know any better, because you can expect nothing less from a homogeneous society. But your design people or your editor knows African-Americans are trying to get rid of these stereotypes. You may think this is art, but it is not. It may have been done by a black man, but that does not make it right. Your magazine just continues the cycle. Unfortunately this is what your English readers have to see.—Pat White

Say What?!?

Regarding “Homophones” (Upfront, January 14): I got a big kick out of those Japanese phrases that sound like English sentences. Here are a couple of additional ones—but these also have a bizarre resemblance to their English counterparts

は？どういう意味？
Ha? Dou iu imi?
Meaning (Japanese): What do you mean?
Sounds like: What do you mean?

字引く書なり
Ji hiku shonari
Meaning: This is a book about words
Sounds like: Dictionary
—Sock Puppet (Minami-Aoyama)

Train Pains

Regarding “Most annoying behavior by fellow commuters” (Upfront, January 7): A lot of the complaints about train manners are valid, in my opinion, but a few are not.

“4. Dozing off with your head on my shoulder (“We’re all exhausted, but that’s what the glass behind your head is for.”)”—If someone dozes off on your shoulder, either sympathize and let them (since “we are all exhausted”), or else shrug and wake them up. I’ve seen people bash the back of their heads pretty hard when nodding off, and some trains pass by so close to each other that there’s an actual “BANG” and a bit of a concussion.

“6. Doing your makeup from start to finish on the train (“If you think nobody’s paying attention, you’re dead wrong.”)”—People on trains in Japan are getting better and better (or worse, if you will) at ignoring the pregnant lady who wants to sit down, or the elderly folks with the canes who need a seat. Why do you need to stare incessantly and frown at the young lady doing her makeup? I admit it’s a little weird, but no more so than other personal habits, and certainly less disgusting than the men and women who seem to be digging for gold or something with their fingers up their noses (or drooling over manga porn). This is a faux-pas mostly in the eyes of the elderly, and they need to grow up. —smithinjapan*

I see girls doing makeup on their way somewhere all the time—doesn’t impact my life in the least bit. I read or catch up on videos on a video player. Is that any different? Many of us spend a lot of time on our commute, so if you can put that time to practical use and not inconvenience anyone else, why not? There are too many busybodies trying to care about the simple actions of others. Here’s a radical idea: why don’t you worry instead about all the drunk people who actually do harm and inconvenience passengers on the trains by falling on them, puking all over or crashing into everyone? Leave the busy girls and their makeup in peace. —tkoind2*

The (armpit) body odor guys should be at the top of the list, followed by the “I desperately need a breath mint” guys and the “I just ate a daikon and natto sandwich” guys. Brush your teeth or breathe through your nose. Pleassseeeeee!—whiskeysour*

* From the Japan Today comment threads

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