2024/12/23 [Mon]
A Weekend Adventure in Tokyo
This past weekend, I did just that. I jumped on a train and headed to Tokyo to meet up with a friend who is traveling Japan. For someone who lives in Tokyo or a big city, they might have learned to ignore the shiny lights and billboards. But for me, everything felt brand new and sparkly. While I love traveling to Tokyo, I can’t imagine living there. I’m happy living in a relatively big apartment and paying reasonable rent prices. Recently, I heard about the rent prices in Miami, and it shocked me. It’s so expensive! Friends living in cities like Toronto, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Washington State, and Washington D.C always share shocking rent prices with me. Maybe it’s because I’ve been living in Japan for so long, where rent is more reasonably priced compared to the US.
Tokyo’s Vibrant Attractions
During my Tokyo trip, I ate sweets in Shinjuku, attended a jazz event in Asagaya, and grabbed drinks in Shibuya. I visited Akihabara to see the latest anime posters and popup shops, then went to Kanda for deep dish Chicago pizza and craft beers. It was a packed weekend, and I started thinking about what Tokyo would be called in comparison to New York. A quick Google search gave me an answer: The Big Mikan. Interesting, isn’t it? I didn’t know that New York and Tokyo are sister cities. Maybe because I only have one sister, I thought cities only had one sister city. Funny misunderstanding, right? I forgot that you can have multiple siblings. My family has many aunts and uncles, but with only one sister, I made an interesting mistake. New York has multiple sister cities, and Tokyo is one of them, dating back to 1960. Over the years, Tokyo has added more sister cities, with London becoming the newest in 2015. I had no idea until recently. You really do learn new things daily, which makes life interesting, don’t you think?
Dreams in the Big Apple
Back in the States, we call New York the “Big Apple.” It’s a city where dreams come true, and many Americans dream of visiting it. Tokyo gives me a similar feeling. As a teacher, many of my students wanted to leave the countryside and move to a big city after high school. I can sympathize with them, even though I personally wished for the opposite. Growing up in Miami was fun with its big city life, parties, and hangout spots. But I got tired of it, and moving to the Japanese countryside has been a great way to detox and enjoy the smaller things in life. I highly recommend trying it if you grew up in a big city. Sometimes it’s nice to experience the opposite. Yet, every now and then, I feel the urge to return to the big city, have a fun weekend, meet new people, make new friends, and then return to the countryside. Weird maybe? But its been a comfy lifestyle I think.
The Origins of “The Big Apple”
New York’s “Big Apple” nickname isn’t because of apple production but horse racing. A New York newspaper reporter, John Fitz Gerald, heard African American stablehands calling New York the “Big Apple” because winning races there brought in significant prize money. Fitz Gerald found the term catchy and used it in his articles. Jazz musicians also adopted the term, but it faded until the 1970s when Charles Gillet revived it to boost New York’s public image. Today, New York is known as the “Big Apple.”
Could Tokyo Be the “Big Mikan”?
So, the Big Mikan? Would that work? Could we popularize “The Big Mikan” for Tokyo? Mikans are popular throughout Japan, refreshing in the summer, and a comfort food in winter. Would it work? Whenever I travel to Tokyo, I bring back Tokyo Banana souvenirs. It’s almost expected. Bringing back different snacks for coworkers often leads to slight disappointment. I learned not to make that mistake again! Similarly, when traveling to Hokkaido, many expect you to bring back Shiroi Koibito, a famous white chocolate biscuit snack.
What Would You Call Tokyo?
What would you call Tokyo? The “Big Mikan”? Perhaps the “Big Banana”? Maybe you have a better nickname. If you do, I’d love for you to share it with me.
