Like all other Tokyo neighborhoods, Shibuya has a lot of variety. This is in part due to the fact that Tokyo's neighborhoods were once independent cities. Our first stop was very cultural, the Teien Art Museum. It was closed for inexplicable reasons but we could still visit the garden.
The garden was a far cry from the business of downtown Shibuya. Shibuya crossing is full of screens and loudspeakers, blasting J-Pop, and a favorite place for youngsters to congregate.
If this intersection looks familiar, it's because of Lost in Translation.
Compensated dating, a form of teenage prostitution that involves highschool girls going on dates (or more) with older business men in exchange for a nice night out or money, is a pretty common social phenomenon in Japan. The industry is centered around Shibuya because of the many clothing stores, restaurants, clubs and love hotels readily available in the neighborhood.
It's always strange to see a teenage girl dressed in Uniqlo (Japanese Old Navy) clothes but carrying a Louis Vuiton bag. Consumerism and brands are so important here, though, that I'm not surprised many girls resort to compensated dating. It's also funny how legitimately people treat these love hotels; they are an institution of their own and have none of the sleaze of American one-hour-motels attached to them. This is also due in part to the fact that many people live with their parents until they start their own families. Property is very expensive here and space is limited, so young people don't have much of a chance for privacy.
By night Shibuya is even more frantic. I guess everyone is hurrying to get to their favorite love hotel.
No comments:
Post a Comment