If this doesn't make you want to visit Tokyo, nothing will!

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by aigel

Watch guys drive around with their door open? Look at guys in messy shops welding on the floor instead of a workbench? Sorry, not impressed. I'd visit Tokio but not for their car culture ...

G

With no gloves or welding helmet. It's as if the whole country has become posers and all about appearance. I know that's not the case, but the video is very unflattering. It would be better if they found subjects who really had a technical grasp onto what they're doing.

[motion]

Jeez, some of you guys must live in a plastic bubble.

[Bill Douglas]

Not cars, but I've met a number of Japanese surfers out this way. Whooo, serious big strong guys, totally dedicated to surfing, and absolutely fearless.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by motion

One of the most valuable things I have learned from traveling and observing other cultures is tolerance. I used to be a close-minded small town boy, so I had a lot of learning to do.

This is me +1000 I grew up in a small town and the older I get the more I realize all Mustangs are the same damn car.

And id love to get to see these cars. They aren't exactly my cup of tea but they are very unique and I would love the opportunity!

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by motion

Jeez, some of you guys must live in a plastic bubble.

+1

The kind of guys who will turn you in to HR for being on the top rung of a ladder

[aigel]

This has nothing to do with being close minded. Not a fan of show-off hoodlums modifying their cars adding useless (no function) bling. No matter where they are based out of. I have been around plenty, two passports, speak 3 languages etc.

G

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Baz

Or this......

This is what I was expecting this thread was going to be about... thank you baz for restoring my faith in mankind.

[vash]

Tokyo might be my favorite city on the planet so far.

i took a leap of faith and skipped my usual 3rd world exploration and decided to check out a MAJOR metropolis. took my head clean off. it was amazing..day in day out - sensory overload.

as a married guy, no way to say this nice, but the ladies are stunning. that anime thing they have going..had no clue,..but they caused some stirrings. hahah.

i'm going back. i'm gonna take a camera and hit some of the seedy underground stuff...i'll get that motorcycle chick in leather chaps to give me a ride i go to a country to see how THEY do it..not to compare it to how WE do it.

as far as "show offs"..this country is full of them. look at our diets and giant homes..and huge SUV's.. i had a complete stranger from Japan stay with me. cool dude. he hit San Francisco running. had a great time with him. our portion sizes blew him away. he thought our diet was over the top and "show off".

[scottmandue]

I would LOVE to visit Japan! The food, the culture, the history, did I mention the food?
I have nothing against their wacky car culture... to each their own... I'm sure back in the 70's the Europeans were laughing at those crazy Americans and our huge land yacht automobiles.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by pcardude

+1

The kind of guys who will turn you in to HR for being on the top rung of a ladder

[speeder]

The culture of Japan doesn't appeal to me on any level. There are scads of other places I'd like to visit, however.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by vash

Tokyo might be my favorite city on the planet so far.

i took a leap of faith and skipped my usual 3rd world exploration and decided to check out a MAJOR metropolis. took my head clean off. it was amazing..day in day out - sensory overload.

as a married guy, no way to say this nice, but the ladies are stunning. that anime thing they have going..had no clue,..but they caused some stirrings. hahah.

i'm going back. i'm gonna take a camera and hit some of the seedy underground stuff...i'll get that motorcycle chick in leather chaps to give me a ride i go to a country to see how THEY do it..not to compare it to how WE do it.

as far as "show offs"..this country is full of them. look at our diets and giant homes..and huge SUV's.. i had a complete stranger from Japan stay with me. cool dude. he hit San Francisco running. had a great time with him. our portion sizes blew him away. he thought our diet was over the top and "show off".

That's very insightful about meal sizes. I can totally see how they would think that. My parents visited Japan in the 1960s. I think I would have enjoyed that era a lot. The anime thing is so "meh" to me. And I'm Japanese. The difference is that my culture is now over 100 years old. Great-grandpa came over in 1900.

[vash]

Originally Posted by speeder

The culture of Japan doesn't appeal to me on any level. There are scads of other places I'd like to visit, however.

cultures dont neccesarily need to appeal to me...i just want to take a look, maybe experience it. in Japan, the elevator attendant bows to everyone that leaves his lift..no effen way, i'm doing that..but it was cool to see (once or twice)

some i'll probably never see..like dinner time in a Maasai tribe. i'd probably puke/crap my guts out and die dehydrated..but i cant deny it would be cool to visit.

India, is on my hit-list..but damn. i'm going with my Indian co-workers..

i hear what Motion is saying. just go and see, keep an open mind. it's a vacation.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I've been to Japan, absolutely loved and will go back again, would love to do a driving tour as well as big city exploring.

The best thing about travelling to different countries is that it's not the same as home

[motion]

Originally Posted by vash

India, is on my hit-list..but damn. i'm going with my Indian co-workers..

I'm sure your co-workers have you covered, but hit me up if you have any questions. I've been to Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Sri Lanka.

[motion]

The beautiful thing about Japanese cities is you have Tokyo and Kyoto - 2 completely different worlds - just a 2 1/2 hour Shinkansen ride apart. As much as I love Tokyo, I am absolutely infatuated with Kyoto. I've been several times and have just barely scratched the surface. In some other cities, New York, for example, I'm bored after 24 hours.

[icemann427]

While I've never been to Japan or really know much about it, the people in that video didn't seem to be hoodlums to me. They were just people with a huge passion for cars and/or bikes. The "rich" guy who was riding around in his yellow Lambo with his door open, was not rich. He fell in love with Lambo's when he was 17 and scraped for and saved every Yen to be able to finally buy one. While some of the stuff I saw I don't really get, it is not my place to judge what is "cool" or not. As long as they weren't hurting anybody, I applaud them for their passion. Isn't that for what we all strive? To find something that gets to us...Something that matters to us, whether it meets with other's approval or not?

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by motion

The beautiful thing about Japanese cities is you have Tokyo and Kyoto - 2 completely different worlds - just a 2 1/2 hour Shinkansen ride apart. As much as I love Tokyo, I am absolutely infatuated with Kyoto. I've been several times and have just barely scratched the surface. In some other cities, New York, for example, I'm bored after 24 hours.

You sir, are living a very good life.

I salute you.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Always have great respect and admiration for anyone with a passion.

[pdxfj]

Went to Japan quite a few times over the span of 20+ years. Very interesting to watch the progression of everything. Still remember my first visit when I realized I was 100% illiterate as soon as I stepped off the plane and the culture shock making me sick to my stomach. The final few visits, I was able to make it from Narita to the house I would stay at in Tokyo without any assistance.

Always loved Japan but doubtful I'll ever go back since the reason for visiting is no longer there. Very grateful for the opportunity to visit as a guest, instead of a tourist.

Get out and travel as much as you can. Life is too short not to get out and see the world.