Tokyo is Working

My first impression of Tokyo is 'oh my god - everything is grey!'. That is the view out the limo bus window that is streaked with rain from a spring storm. But it spite of the gloomy weather, it seems like the city is drab and grey as well. I get to my hotel with enough time to grab a quick shower before joining some of my group for a jet-lagged extended sushi dinner. I stay up as late as I can, but my sleep is fitful and I am up at 4:00 to go outside and see if I can photograph anything interesting in the rain but it really is too wet and no fun at all and I head inside and wait for 6:30 breakfast.

 

The rain lets up and I decide to explore with a possible destination in mind. The streets are full of all the office workers in identical dark suits and leather briefcases - the women are similarly attired with large purses in place of briefcases. There is a lot happening, and I take note of all the activity - window washers, street repair crews, moms with kids in the parks, a street crew flagman directs traffic with a wand and white gloves and gives a little bow to each passing car. The crew at a firehouse are doing warm up exercises next to their fire truck, with one man calling out directions. I realize that the city is not so grey after all and I am intrigued with the architecture and the massive overhead highway system. 

After about an hour of wandering I reach my destination with a gaggle of tourists outside a sumo training stable and realize something remarkable. Up until then I don't think I had seen a foreigner, had not seen a hat of any kind, nor a camera, or a t-shirt, but this group is the exception. Behind the windows of the sumo stable, the trainees are grunting and sweating their way through the early morning exercises. One of them has taken a break and is sitting dejected in the alley holding an ice bag on his ankle.

 

By this time, I am getting tired and head more or less directly back but this time I do pay a little more attention to the crowd. I spot one older gentleman wearing a fedora, and one man with a grey pin stripe suit. I also note that the younger hipper office workers have black leather backpacks instead of briefcases.