Tokyo Story

Tokyo Story, unlike many might think, is not about the capital of Japan and although it could be a great movie, it is not because it would not be finished within 136 minutes that the movie is rolling. After all why would someone make a movie about a great city with millions? You need to go and see it for yourself, just like I did back in 2024 and most likely going again in 2027 if not earlier. I, myself, a big fan of the Japanese culture and movies, first thought this was another Akira Kurosawa's movies but soon I realized I was wrong. Despite being one of the greatest in movie history, Kurosawa is not the only one who has made phenomenal films. Tokyo Story is directed by Yasujiro Ozu, who was unknown to me before this great movie. The movie has a slow pace and might seem boring at the beginning and the middle but then take you with it and you want to see what happens at the end. It might be hard to find and there's no doubt that you need subtitles for that or it would be meaningless. 

A view of part of Tokyo city center from the Imperial Palace. I took it during a tour last year.

I'm not going to spoil the movie by telling anything about the story but this is a post-war area movie and I will patiently watch it again, when I'm looking for a relaxed time to enjoy a good meaningful story.

(Photo: A great scene from a great movie. This scene actually tells a lot but you need to see the film to understand what I mean by that)

The Removal of an A**hole!

There is this organization which overviews our performance at work. There are, in fact, a few. We have to deal with this specific one more frequently. At times, three or four times a week. One of their representatives was axed off a few months ago. I have a post about his. I was told that he simply was let go because he was sloppy! The question is why did this happen after so many years?! He told me once that he had been working for the organization for over, I don't know, perhaps, 20 years! 
Then they send this jerk! He was worse but it takes time to know someone. Right? I knew what kind of personality he had, the first time I had to accompany him: Belligerent, hostile, over-authoritative, rude, disrespectful, even shallow. He asked me a few questions and had some unreasonable requests. I was able to get the answer by going and find it in the related standard. He was just testing me and I kept nodding every time he said something strange! He told me to go read this or that! My answer, most of the time was the same: I will. This led to have a smooth relationship. However, my interactions with him was quite limited. When it came to interacting with the other people in the group, particularly ladies, things became different for him as not everyone takes the bullshit the way I do! The thing is I have my capacity too but being new at this work, less than six months now, and having a great relationship with every single person I had to deal with, I simply didn't want to ruin my reputation. So I came along and we found a position that we, both, I believe, were comfortable with: He kept being an aggressive and bossy a**hole and I kept being a complaint employee! The reaction of the others were different and I heard different complaints from one person and then another one. I think that was the climax! Then the last day we went to complete something together he said some people had complained about him! Not being surprised at all and being very joyful inside of me, I pretended that I was taken aback and I asked him who it had been and why! He didn't say much and just extended his arm and we shock hands. He added: You're a good man! 
That was it. When we went back to the office my manager didn't even let me to attend him! He took care of him and then the guy left after a few minutes! Two things which were surprising to me are, first why did this escalate so fast to the point that he had to be removed? And secondly why did the observing organization accepted this without any investigation and so fast?! The stranger and funnier thing is the e-mail that came after the guy had already left! It was asked to report any sort of unprofessional interaction with him! People are sentenced and then tried in some jurisdictions, apparently! I truly was joyful that I didn't have to deal with him but I still think the proper procedure of investigation should have been followed. 

(Photo: While this is not a very clear picture but it shows what happened to the fella. I don't think he will be fired from the organization but most likely will have a note in his file)

Cultural Discrepancies (8): Cursing

There's no doubt that cursing exists in every language but the question here, for me, is who curses the most?! I don't know! What I know is some Canadians curse a lot and telling dirty jokes is not off-limit! Funny thing is they say Canadians are very polite! I think they are but perhaps when compared with Americans! It's hard to say unless you have interaction with many nationalities but when I say many nationalities I'm talking about the major ones, of course. Not any shitty, tiny piece of land who calls himself a country! Here, in Canada, you could be at work, in a party, listening to the radio show or watching something on television and people curse like it's a normal activity of the day and tell dirty jokes in front of women, children, elderly, everyone! That's the culture!

What's interesting in Western culture is they use the things that they like the most to offend others! One of the most popular(!) ones is the word co*ksucker! Fellatio is a normal act between two people who have sexual relationship, in many cultures but Westerners used that as a curse although they, even some men(!), are in favour of it, madly! I never understood this! Pig is the animal which is not consumed in many countries, particularly the countries with Muslim majority as it is forbidden to eat. Though I've never heard in any Muslim, Arab or generally Eastern culture using the work pig as an insult! Americans, mostly and Canadians and British, as well, use that word very frequently as insult despite the fact that they love pig! Pork Chop, Bacon, Pulled Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork, are all meals that people consume in the West, and then the poor pig is used as an insult! 

In Asia a few other animals are used as an offensive word: Cow, Donkey, Mule and Sheep, are mainly used to insult someone! Another animal which is frequently used as an insult is dog! I know it will drive Westerners wild as a dog is a member of the family but that is the fact although some countries have changed in the past couple of  decades. Koreans and Filipinos are dog-lovers but when it comes to eating them! They have been changed recently in the past few years as now they think having a dog as a pet is a sign of affluence and being Westernized! In Western Asia Dog-father and Dog-Mother!(!) are both an insult which indicates that the person's parents are dogs or at least one of then is a dog! While dogs are considered loyal and helpful animals to human beings for decades, it is not know why this poor animal is used as a curse word in those cultures. It could be the fact that dogs are considered filthy and dirty in Muslim faith! It makes no sense to Westerners but they use that although having a dog as a pet, these days, as I said about the other side of Asia, is considered a sign of being modern and Westernized! I think debate over the subject could be longer than this. I just wanted to have a hint.

(Photo: Dogs are members of the family in many Western cultures. They even sleep with them in their beds, have their food while the family is sitting for a meal, etc.)