I am a big fan of What Japan Thinks, a site that translates polls done on members of the Japanese public on various issues and reports back the results with pretty graphs. Whilst the title “What Japan Thinks” may be suggesting all Japanese think the same way, I’m sure it’s not intended to be like that. I’m not really sure why I brought that up except to avoid angry people emailing me.
That has got me thinking though. “What questions would I like to see on that site?” I’ve thought for about 60 seconds long and hard about it, and here are my top 5 questions I’d most like to see on the site;
1. Do those text based emoticons everyone uses in mobile phone messages annoy you?
a. Yes
b. Sometimes
c. No
d. <(O_o^)>–<-<@ Not at all I love them! ^___^
This may seem like somewhat of a non-issue, but when over 50% of each message is made up of brackets or other various symbols, they become blindingly hard to read. Most Japanese mobiles these days have these really cool little animated icons and they are much friendlier. So stop with all the (*+o*) nonsense.
2. Do you fully understand how to use the Tokyo train system?
a Yes, because I designed it and have spent many years studying it.
b. I know how to get around but sometimes the train goes in entirely the opposite direction to where it said it was going.
c. No because my IQ is not 5991592.
d. I don’t use trains, probably because I know in order to read the train map I’d need a team of scientists.
Ok, it’s not that bad, but sometimes you will end up in an entirely random station. The subway is especially bad, and be wary when two lines join or one line splits into two because you will be on the wrong train. Add express trains into the mix and you have insanity.
3. Speaking of trains, have you ever missed the last train?
a. Never because I am absoloutly no fun.
b. Once or twice when I had a few too many drinks.
c. All the time, because I’m an adult and thus I like going out past midnight.
d. There’s a last train? If it’s before 5am I’m not going home!
It’s like one big bedtime. Too many times fantastic drinking parties in Tokyo were stopped early by people rushing off to catch the last train home. Boo.
4. What are your thoughts on Roppongi’s night scene?
a. It’s a dark, scary place.
b. It’s a dark, scary, dangerous place.
c. It’s a dark, scary, dangerous and tacky place.
d. I like it, but then my hobby is being followed around and invited to strip clubs.
This place has absoloutly nothing going for it at all. Roppongi Hills is only a few minutes away, and although it’s very expensive, it’s much much nicer. If you really want to meet up with other foreigners in Japan then yes, the pubs and bars of Roppongi are the place to go, but do yourself a favour and stay way, way away from the clubs.
5. What is your favourite area of Tokyo?
a. Harajuku – I love alternate fashion. I’m either incredibly rich or I do all my shopping on Takeshita Dori.
b. Shibuya – I spend in excess of 10,000 Yen a week on hairspray.
c. Shinjuku – I am a businessman, an avid shopper or a degenerate gambler. Or I just love Starbucks.
d. Akihabara – My hobby is either being an anime dork or watching anime dorks be dorky.
I left “e. Oji because Mike used to live there” out but obviously that answer would win if entered.
Five totally and utterly, 100% fair and unbiased questions, all ready for the public!
My answers are a b c c ea. Post yours!