Typhoon Time

As many of you may know, Typhoon Phanfone hit Japan last week, bearing the twin gifts of strong winds and lashing rains with it.

Japan has an incredible disaster-warning system - you register your email addresses with the system manager, and they send you emails notifying you when weather conditions go bad. Brilliant in concept, but it did not work for me.

Last week, as usual, I left from my house to go to work. I had received some email in Japanese (I mean, wholly in Japanese (including the subject)) - but my knowledge of written Japanese is as good as my knowledge of Finnish (i.e., non-existent). Therefore, I could not tell what the email said. So, I left home as I usually do. The moment I stepped out (without an umbrella, I may add), I was hit by these strong (in my head) gale-force winds and pounding rain that threatened to sweep me off my feet. I bought an umbrella on the way, and managed to get to the subway safely, albeit completely drenched from side to side.

The same fate greeted me as I walked to the office from the subway. So, for the first time in my life, I was walking through a typhoon. Not a pleasant experience, but an experience nonetheless.

As Typhoon Vongfong hits Tokyo this week, I know exactly what to do. Use Google Translate.
 

Tokyo and My Amygdala

I have finally moved into the much-coveted (by me) and much anxiously-researched (by my mother) apartment in Roppongi. Roppongi reminds me of beloved Bombay's Lower Parel - one of its biggest identifiers is a huge mall next to a flyover, with cinemas and Starbucks and Zara. Usual uppity mall fare.

Of course, one major difference between Bombay and Tokyo is the smell of the place. I have a sensitive sense of smell, so aromas and odours are very important external stimuli for me. I won't describe Bombay's smells to you - instead, I will helpfully refer you to a Russell Peters video which describes them pretty well.

Tokyo, however, smells so different and so good. Sometimes, when I am sitting in the subway or crossing a street, I get a wonderful whiff of the Tokyo Smell, a spring green-ish aroma that gracefully brushes your senses and reminds you that autumn's brown won't last forever. Of course, being South Indian and a resident of Bombay these past four years, the only three weather conditions I have ever experienced are hot, very hot and the rains. So, autumn or not, any distinguishing weather phenomenon is welcome. However, for some (weird) reason, the Tokyo Smell sends my amygdala into overdrive and makes me feel light and Pharrell Williams happy.

So, thank you, my amygdala, for sensing my love for the Tokyo Smell. I wish I could distill and bottle it.

A Little Late to Blogging

I started this blog on the prompting of a friend, who suggested that I muster the discipline and dedication required to maintain a blog while I am still motivated to do so.

So here I am, blogging. I don't confess to be a great writer, or even a creative one at that. My only self-professed writing skills are good spelling and grammar. Given these, the whole purpose of this blog is to put my thoughts out into The Void (like Meg Ryan's Kathleen Kelly in You've Got Mail). Hopefully, at least The Void will read them.

As you may have inferred from the name of this blog, I am going through an all-things-Japanese-inspired phase. I have moved to Tokyo for 6 months on work, and having been here for 3 days now, I can see why it is considered to be one of the most vibrant (and expensive!) cities in the world.

I intend to have a great time here - of course, to the extent that intentions ever translate into experience. One of the first people I met in Tokyo was this girl called A. Murakami, who was sitting on one of the many information desks dotted around Narita International Airport. A good omen, don't you think?