3 in 30 - 2001.12.01 Saturday
Challenger 7 pachinko
We have been here for ten years and some things are just invisible unless they are pointed out. I was discussing with a friend that it was suggested that I dig up the “dirt” in Matsubara-cho. My friend suggested two examples from our neighborhood.
One thing we have known for a long time is that Japanese society—in its current incarnation—exhibits strong tendencies of gender inequity, that is to say, that women are not able to exercise the same privileges as men. In some cases, women are merely objects to be used by men. Of course, the exceptions are that none of our friends are so inclined, and the first ruler of Japan was an Empress. At one time, things were different.
This pachinko establishment has appeared in our pictures before, though it may have been painted a different color scheme. Out front on the street is a Cash Source machine in case the gamblers need to get some more cash from a variety of banks or most major credit cards.
What I had missed before (written in katakana) was the Bacchus Sauna on the second floor. Now, having a sauna is a wonderful cleansing experience, a terrific supplement to the Japanese bath, but I’m told that this shop has extra activities at the expense of women.
irasshaimase - welcome
Next door to the Mon Ami pachinko parlor (in Katakana Mo Na Mi) is another second-floor shop with street-level advertisements. The suggestive photo posters have strategically placed florescent colored pieces of paper so that they can superficially comply with Japanese anti-obscenity laws. One supposes that pictures and films are available within the shop, but the rumor is that substantially more is offered.
Your investigative reporter/writer has not verified these suspicions and probably won’t take the time and energy to do so. Though I’m not prudish about sex, both these instances are merely a symptom of unhealthy gender inequity.
If we go further afield, we could locate even more explicit examples, but I’m certain that most readers could find suitable examples of inequities in or near their own neighborhoods.
Cleaning and phones
The above instances are about a block apart and coexist with these shops on the other side of the street. The lower right is one of several telephone shops around the train station. This one is part of the NTT company, the national telephone service provider.
Just next door is a cleaners’ shop. With small apartments with even smaller laundry facilities fitted with tiny washing machines, these convenient cleaners are almost more numerous than convenience stores. It looks like regular shirts would cost about a dollar thirty (US) for cleaning and ironing. Seems like a good deal to me. But then, that’s when I watch TV, when I’m doing the ironing.
Upstairs on this side of the street is a dentist’s office. There are several dental offices in the neighborhood, but we don’t know if any of them speak enough English to help us with our dental needs.