WTF, Japan? Part 3

Today's WTF... Smoking.

I just don't get it, Japan. Why do you love smoking so much? Because I'm pretty sure it causes cancer and kills you. After all, you are, in essence, inhaling burning poisonous chemicals into your lungs, and heck, the whole world is fighting that global warming battle which pretty much is the same thing on a much larger scale. And as a country that's so proud of its life expectancy (I just read some report on line that women in Japan have 3rd highest), I'm gonna guess that smoking isn't gonna help you keep that record!

So what is it? Is it because it's young and hip and looks cool? I don't know...

But that's not even today's WTF. Because here's the real WTF...

Why are your smoking laws SO INSANELY BACKWARDS?! WTF?! You have some pretty sensible ones after all... One can't smoke whilst walking, or on the street (it's that cultural thing) unless you are in the designated smoking areas, and your legal age limit to smoke is 20. And as a culture of respect, your people respect that. They don't smoke on a bike, or while walking, or even on the subway like some crazy man in New York on the N train. Or that guy in the bathroom on the Bolt Bus to DC. But I digress... You have some good laws.

So I mean, yeah. That's awesome. Go Japan.

BUT WHY OH WHY haven't you passed indoor smoking laws yet?! Where are we, Alabama?! When I go out to eat at night, or heck, in the middle of the day, I don't really want to sit a smoke-filled room. When I order at McDonald's, I'd really prefer it not be in thick cloud of densely poisonous chemicals. I guess maybe I could tolerate the idea of bars still allowing smoking, but why restaurants or bars that serve food?! Majide?! That's just crazy!

You still have SMOKING SECTIONS. Do you realize how passe that is? How 1983 that is?! When I walked into a Steak & Shake in Iowa and was asked if I wanted smoking or non, I pretty much threw up on the hostess. But I was in backwoods Iowa after all. Yet you pride yourselves on being a forward, sophisticated country. No one, NO ONE, wants to sit in a den of smoke, even people who smoke. So just cut that out already! And if you are going to have smoking sections, could you possibly ENCLOSE them so those nasty smells don't search the whole restaurant and attack my poor little nose? And maybe put them in the back so I don't have to walk through them to get to my poor little forgotten non-smoking table, aka only half-smoking?! Is that too much to ask?

In every hotel lobby, ballroom, and restaurant, people are free to KILL ME FASTER with their poison sticks without my permission. And of this, I am not a fan.

Yet you are deathly afraid of the swine flu and wear doctor masks everywhere at all times, when I'm pretty sure the 90,000 it's maybe gonna kill this year are nothing compared to the MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM LUNG CANCER AND OTHER SMOKING-RELATED ILLNESSES EVERY YEAR.

I'm sorry for shouting. In all caps. But seriously, WTF, Japan? Pass some darn smoking laws already and prevent innocent people working at their jobs as waiters or performers or artists from being unfairly poisoned by second hand smoke and unnecessarily driving up the costs of already unaffordable health care. Is that too much to ask?

Meanwhile, if you don't change this, I'd like to remind you that you will be losing a lot of my eating and drinking business since my life pretty much revolves around my throat which thrives on fresh air. Because... yeah. I came home last night and used my oxygen tank from Fuji to clear my lungs. I needed it after a single night out with Japanese people when, at the top of Mt. Fuji at 12,000 feet where the oxygen is 56% of its concentration at sea level, I felt perfectly fine.

WTF, Japan?! Jump on the proper, big city, grown-up, forward-thinking train that Boston and London and New York and LA and Denver and even some backwards parts of the US are on, and protect yourselves from the deathsticks. Or I might just take my alien self back to the Big Apple.

A few of my favorite things about Japan (and one not so favorite)

My first favorite thing: Japanese children.

There is something about babies and children here in Japan that is just completely f'adorable. I don't know why they are so cute, but every time I see one, my heart melts just a little bit. There was the cutest baby in Pan Jewel the other day that I just couldn't help from giggling at with its chubby cheeks and crazy hair. Then yesterday in the course of an hour, I saw a baby on the back of a bike (pretty awesome), babies in strollers with plastic to protect them from the cool mist being pushed by grandparents, and finally children on the train... I literally got on to see two sets of kids on both sides of the train with their shoes neatly on the floor (so they don't dirty up the carpet seats) staring out the window in awe and goofing off bopping their mom on the head. When we pulled up to Maihama, the TDR station, the little boy started clapping his hands and jumping up and down on his knees saying "Mickey, Mickey, Mickey, Mickey, Mickey!" Frakkin' adorable.

Second favorite thing: Mickey and friends.

Yesterday we did our quick-change rehearsals and full dresses in the big studio for our final day before we are in the Hotel ballroom. First of all, seeing Mickey and Minnie and all our friends in their different outfits was really awesome. The show looks insanely awesome! So many colors and themes, and you really understand where we are in each scene due to the look of the costumes. Awesome. Secondly, just think about this for a second... like 10 years ago, going to the parks, Mickey was this elusive character you hoped you would get to see at the park. And here I am, singing a duet with him, singing to him onstage, hugging him, high-fiving him, etc. Pretty unreal. The little kid in me kinda freaks out that I just get to like hang out with Mickey and friends like it's NOT A BIG DEAL. For example, Donald Duck and I were goofing off yesterday before the run and he was commenting on my exceptionally long legs, so I encouraged him to crawl through! And he did, no problemo. No joke, yesterday Donald Duck and I essentially played leap frog. How many people can say that? Also, Goofy is very proud that he is still taller than me with his hat, though Ai-san pointed out that our eyes are at the same level! And I think my favorites are Chip & Dale. They are so funny in our show and I love it when they all speak in Japanese! When they bounce around and dance it just makes me giggle. Best moment, though? When I gesture to Mickey at the end of Dr. Jazz and say "Mickey Mouse!" and he laughs and says "That's me" than does a little "Boop Boop a Doop" ending. Hi-larious.

Third favorite thing: Tokyo adventuring.

Campbell and I went into Harajuku and Shibuya yesterday after work, had delicious Kebab street food, and managed not to get into trouble shopping. Though I might be back soon for that 50% off bag at TK. I'm surprised at how Western and tourist-y those areas are, though in truth we didn't stray too much off the beaten path since he was just showing me the sights and introducing me to some of his favorite things. I think I even found the hotel where Bestie and Chad stayed during WSS! That intersection is SO INSANE! I loved it. We also explored the Maronouchi buildings down by Tokyo station and he showed me some great spots to find American goods and Cold Stone, etc. I just can't believe how awesome Tokyo is!

Fourth favorite thing: New friends.

As I stopped in the Ito for my milk and cereal last night, I (re-)met Shiloh and talked all about her recent climb (the night before) of Mt. Fuji. It inspired me that maybe I will venture out and climb it today (though maybe not) or definitely before the month is out. And on the way home we ran into Eric (from BBB) and Jessica (one of the mermaids) who invited me out for my first Hub experience. Had a great night out, and found out that 2 J-size Tarantulas will mess you up pretty good when you have been rehearsing and not drinking for a week. I have to say I'm glad I'm blogging and not getting out of bed yet. I met most of the new Mystic Rhythms people, and Miles and Tony who will be my new dancers for BBB, as well as Luis from the Cirque show. Had a pretty great night but was drunk and tired by midnight so I made my way home and passed out!

Fifth Favorite Thing: BGP or Baka Gai-jin Power

Campbell introduced me to the fact that yes, when in Rome, we try to follow the rules like not crossing without the green walking man and not talking on the cell phone on the train... but we do have the power to get away with breaking conventions (and very occasionally rules) because we are foreigners and sometimes really have no idea what's going on. For example, there are vending machines on the train platform, but it is generally frowned upon to eat on the train, yet what is a gai-jin to do when he buys ice cream and the train comes a minute later? Eat on the train, and just chalk it up to BGP (translated: Stupid/crazy Foreigner Power). Stuff we'd pull in DC on the Metro as "tourists" despite the fact that we lived there and could clearly read the signs that said no eating or drinking.

Least favorite thing: Smoking in Japan.

Now everyone warned me people smoke like chimneys here, and while that may be true, they've passed a bunch of laws such that people only smoke in designated smoking areas. I've seen maybe two people smoking whilst walking (which isn't allowed) and have literally not been around smoking at all. But I'm guessing one of the reasons I don't feel very great this morning is that I've been a New Yorker for too long now, and going to a smoky bar has entirely 100% been wiped out of my existence. But for some strange reasons, it's still okay in Japan. And I haven't been to any of the restaurants in Tokyo proper that have smoking sections, but I'm sure I will soon discover them. I hated arriving at the Hub last night and instantly walking into a den of smoke, and then coming home reeking last night. It's just really not fun, and for anyone who doubted the transition 5/6 years ago in NY, I can't even begin to describe the difference it is to go back now. Just awful. And as always, it was one of the smokers there last night, Miles, who confirmed that he also doesn't like smelling like a den of filth and that he is one of the biggest supporters of bars being non-smoking. So there you have it. Time to jump on the bandwagon, Japan!

All in all a good day... time to go adventuring today and buy a camera and see what happens!