In Tokyo, you cannot see the arrays of buildings like these pictures since its streets are very random and complicated. Also, what you cannot see in Tokyo are old skyscrapers with marvelous ornaments like those in NYC. Buildings in Tokyo are mostly designed in colorless modernism style and much lower than NY, which may be related with the frequency of earthquakes in Japan.
Photo by Google Streetview
What I got interested is how much New Yorkers love their city! I sometimes hear American people say that New York City is not American, or that NYC is exceptional when compared to other places in the States. It might be true in some aspects. But I'm beginning to realize that New Yorkers understand their super chaotic diversity in positive ways. I share the mentality like this because I was born, and had been raised up, in Tokyo, which is also a big metropolis. The most of the inhabitants in Tokyo originally came from different places in Japan. Like New Yorkers, Tokyoites are proud of the inclusiveness of the city although they hate unsophisticatedness. But what differs NYC from Tokyo is that NYC is far more diverse in every respect, and Tokyo is homogeneous in that its most inhabitants are Japanese. NYC has an unsurpassed centripetal force. As we learned from the article of E.B. White, which we read in Danielle's class, NYC is the epitome of the world. In other words, to learn about New York history and culture will make you understand aspects of the whole world! If you walk around the lower districts, you can learn a lot about our world---from Irish immigrants' history to contemporary world business. So, this is an unparalleled wonderful place that never fail to inspire your intellectual curiosity, isn't it?
very nice post. I heard people say that new york city never sleep and it keep changing from time to time under the influences of the cultures its residences bring. I wonder if it is the same for Tokyo?
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