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.