The pretty one

Back in Japan for a few days now. It appears jetlag has decided to come back on this side of the world as well. It looks like rain followed me around the world, too.

The scent of rain here in Tokyo has a totally different tang than that of NYC. Both are (I'm sure) filled with a variety of waste, but I perhaps I just missed that particular odor of wet NYC. Wet Tokyo doesn't quite do it for me.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I felt at peace wandering back to the homeland. But I felt pretty much the same ease coming back here, as well. As if both were just parts of life. I'm sure the Rabbi is snickering as he read this. (Although he's having enough agida on his own, if you check out his blog).

However, I do have to say this, and I'm sure I'll be taken to task for it, but here goes: Tokyo is just uglier than NYC. Maybe that's my own native NYC life talking, but now I've said it here. Tokyo is much more gray and sort of aimless. To me it has no "personality," but is a rather anonymous and somewhat bland collection of construction. Granted, it was all entirely rebuilt after the war, but there's something about Tokyo that reminds me of a bad novel about "a big city."

That's not to say that all of Japan is like that and I'm glad I'm reminded of that on occasion. Yesterday, the Rabbi and I went off to see a pottery show near Mt. Oyama in Kanagawa. Mountains, varying shades of green trees, red Japanese maples, and a few blossoms still stuck to trees. There were little towns and pilgrimages shops that seemed thoughtful in their layout and design. And a different scent to the rain.

I only had my cell phone so photos are few (such as the one above). But it was nice to remind ourselves there's more to life here than the usual grayness.