Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2012
DOES TOKYO NEED TO THINK BIGGER?
Regarding “Space Invaders” (The Last Word, Sep 14): The “ubiquitous salaryman” does not live in studio apartments. He lives in peripheral Tokyo, where he can afford to own his own home. “More people living alone” is indicative of a positive trend, not of a societal illness. This “living alone” phenomenon represents a healthy departure from having your mother do your laundry until you are in your 30s. That Tokyo residential prices have slid almost without interruption for the past two decades affords this chance. As the population continues to slide, increasing the number of households (which means 27-year-olds begrudgingly snipping the apron strings) is one way to band-aid the economic implications. I could go on, but the tone of your letter makes you seem a well-meaning guy with whom I would much rather discuss the remainder over a beer than in this cowardly ether.—cman
Bigger, better, insulated and/or centrally heated.—Patuki Harding
Interesting article. Japan is a great country, but they sure aren’t used to foreigners & foreign culture tho. What a pity.—@ulijandro
“Gaijin?” That’s gaikokujin, please. As for Japan being a small country, it’s twice as big as England. Its just that everything and everyone is concentrated in Greater Tokyo, which is a case of putting all one’s eggs in one basket.—jon
CRAFT (UN)FAIR
Regarding “Watering Hole” (Bar Review, Sep 14): There is no home brewing going on at Watering Hole. Home brewing, the making of beer in one’s home, is illegal in Japan. Watering Hole is a craft beer bar. Also, I was hoping the writer would explain why Fujiura is “Japan’s homebrew hero,” but there is no explanation. For the record, Fujiura was once a noted winner in a contest of the American Homebrewer’s Association. While I applaud the writer’s intent in publicizing good craft beer, it’s obvious that serious omissions in the story, coupled by some fairly careless editing, leaves a whole lot to be desired. Finally, I have heard that Watering Hole intends to brew their own beer in the near future, but this is not mentioned at all in this story. Like being served a fairly lousy beer, this story left me totally unsatisfied.—tripeler
Actually, the article does says that the brewery next door, owned by the couple, will be adding their own craft beer next year.—txjewel
K-HOLE
Regarding “Korean Invasion” (The Last Word, Aug 31): J-pop is nothing more than a novelty in the US, primarily because there are almost no expat Japanese living in the US (the last big wave of immigration was prior to WWII). The third- and fourth-generation Japanese-American kids’ world is mostly the American part. K-pop might get a better hearing, but that’s a demographics thing. There are probably more second-generation Koreans living in LA than there are Japanese-Americans nationwide.—Jeffrey Huffman
GIVE IT AWAY NOW
Regarding “Tokyo Comedy Club Giveaway” (Agenda, Sep 18): I just sent my email! C’mon let me win! I need a laugh! I work for the US Government after all…—Jessica Wilson McFarlane
