Living back in the states, I had a bit of a love affair with Japan. I had always loved Japanese videogames and cars, but when I really got into anime, I came to see Japan as this very magical place. Granted I'm not a loon, so I knew that the anime Japan is far different from the real Japan.So when researching where to go, I felt that the real Japan was not a good first step for me. But this love affair with Japan is part of the reason that I came over to Asia, and for that I am grateful.
Since having been in Asia so long now, and having been to Tokyo for a vacation, I no longer have any desire to live in Japan. However there is one thing that will make me think fondly about Japan and get me daydreaming on what life could be like there. That is the thing pictured above, pedestrian overpasses.
I don't know why but this is the one thing in every anime that always sticks out for me. People walking on them, having talks, or just looking out over the traffic. All things which I never actually saw anybody do in real life when I was there.
In Taipei at least nobody really uses them. Women hate stairs, as they don't want their legs to get any muscles. And it's usually too hot to be walking up stairs outside anyway, especially if you are in business attire. Pretty much the only people who use pedestrian bridges are foreigners who stop to take pictures of the traffic with their expensive cameras.
But this still doesn't stop me from seeing one and thinking about Japan. A nice little mental vacation in the middle of some busy days.
