Parallel Lines (& Other Non Sequitors)

Anyone who lives in any one place for awhile tends to start over-looking many of the things which would have previously shocked them. Fortunately for me, after a year-plus in Ohtawara (just the other side of Erehwon), that hasn't happened to me yet--or maybe it has and I just haven't noticed it. Oh well, no use in crying over o-cha (green tea) that may or may not already have been spilled.

Some of the things which continue to baffle the heck out of me are the parallel lines   that dissect every main thoroughfare of every city in Japan. I am, of course, talking (writing!) (whatever!) about the crosswalks.

According to Japanese traffic laws, a car must come to a complete stop to allow any person who is standing at a crosswalk, to cross. In my 13 months here, I've not once seen a car stop to allow anyone standing patiently at a crosswalk to cross. In fact, I've actually observed cars I've been in speed-up when they approach these designated crossing areas so they can pretend there wasn't enough time to stop.

Another observation: at a flashing yellow and red light, I've seen the cars that are supposed to stop, continue making the ones that don't have to stop, stop. I've actually tried to explain things to my driving companions, but I usually only get a "Honto?" (really?) or a smile that says, "Y'know, I really didn't know that one, and I'm forgetting you mentioned it now."

How about the dog owner? He like animals - just not in his house. After all, we can't have the little bugger messing up the grass tatami mats that make up our floor. And besides, since Japanese houses are often considered too small for people, where are you going to put the dog? The answer is, usually, outside. Yup. What lucky pup wouldn't pull at his choke chain to be afforded the luxury of his very own patch of stone and dirt with a total absence of that annoying soft and cool grass to lie upon? Ah, what's a dog to do? Well, according to the three (three??!!) miniature  collies that now surround my apartment complex, there is always the barking option. Woof. Talk about Three Dog Night.

Another confusing aspect of Japan is why the most preferred colour for an automobile is white. I asked around a bit and got numerous explanations. "White cars are easier to see in the night." was a popular answer. Sure, but if you have your headlights on, it shouldn't mater what colour the car is as you'll still be able to see it. Another explanation has it that for some reason "Ten years ago, white cars gave us a higher re-sale value." Okay, but why and what about nowadays? A final explanation on why white cars are so popular is: "White is pure, and we all want to be pure." Uh, yeah.

I would suppose even the most casual observer of life in Japan would have noticed the absence of common critters like squirrels. Although it could be argued that there aren't enough trees to support their habitat, there certainly are enough nuts.

Hey... you don't suppose all of the squirrels were killed trying to cross the road?

Somewhere waiting at a crosswalk,
Andrew Joseph
PS - Today's title is not by Three Dog Night, but rather by Blondie. In the liner notes for Blondie's Parallel Lines vinyl album (which, along with Pink Floyd's The Wall, it's the first album I ever bought with my own money) there are lyrics listed for a Parallel Lines song, though no such song exists on the album. The lyrics, written by Debbie Harry, are:

The lines I have written that you read between
The lines on the pages
The lines on the screen
Of lines spoken - I say what I mean.
It's parallel lines that will never meet

Ship in the desert
Ships in the night
Ships that pass in the night

Evangeline stream - Evangeline's dream,
It's parallel lines that will never meet.
But just in case you need a song to listen to, here's one of the first ever rap songs - called Rapture.