One Night in Tokyo…

1983 was the year in which I started to travel to the Far East, Tokyo being my first such trip. It was a total adventure; due to economic issues I would be traveling alone, where normally there would be two of us. Actually, this worked to my advantage in the public relations area.

On arrival at the Narita airport there was the distinct feeling that all known parameters had been left behind. This not only refers to the cultural issues but to people, language, to the movements; everything reminds you that you are way out of your traditional personal comfort zone. As usual, there was a driver waiting for me, with my name in western as well as Kanji characters. She also spoke fairly fluent English which, all things considered was a major boon. Yes, there had been some “Japanese 101” classes along the way but, honestly, it would take a lot more than this to be able to communicate even at a basic level.

The trip had been long; I had left NYC early on a Saturday morning and, due to going against the rotation of our little planet, I arrived later the same day, but with some 23 hours of travel time logged in. I had the night and next day(Sunday) “off” and having been dropped at a good hotel (Tokyo Hilton) I made the most of my time and place by taking a scalding shower and going straight to bed.  This trip was to be split into two parts; during the first week, one associate entity would have the “pleasure of my company” during five days and then the second week I would be with another for 4 days, leaving for the States on Friday morning, with a 2 day stop in Honolulu for “decompression” purposes… Hmmmm…

The week was busy; I’ll give you that the Japanese companies meant to get their money’s worth and this, I felt, was great. A small cadre of assistants was assigned to me and, out of 4 one spoke English; their purpose was to get everything I might need, whether for the seminaries (yes, with a translator) or the meetings we were to have with the marketing staff. A couple of things to note: not one single officer, manager or salesperson I met was a female… HOW boring!!! But, all the serving parties were female and they would literally walk into our rooms bent at the waist and then walk backwards, so as not to give their backs to the assembled guys. This was some 30 years ago, and I am sure by what I have seen lately that these very old practices are not as widespread now as they were then.

We went through the week and the small help group and I actually became friends of a sort; as much as not being able to freely communicate will allow in such a short time. But, when Friday morning arrived, my one English speaking guy said:

-“Alcazaro-San” “Please allow us to escort you tonight and show a little of Tokyo”

How could I say no??? You tell me… Besides, I had already run the gamut of all the English pictures stored in the TV…

We finished that day at about 3pm, setting the meeting time for 7pm at the hotel’s beef restaurant. The appointed time came and we met there, taking a table and wanting to toast. I don’t drink much other than wine but when I do, my taste gravitates to either vodka or tequila. So, I asked for a vodka tonic and, looking at me with what seemed to be a disappointed look, so did they. As I was finishing my drink, they very solicitously asked if I wanted another. At this, I looked at their glasses and realized not one of them had actually done more than sipped a couple of times. Then It dawned on my little brain, that what they drink over there is whiskey… by the boatload; they had asked for the vodka so as not to "offend" the guest.

So, I looked straight at them and said “I’m not sure I want another vodka… How’bout whiskey and water?” WOW!! I couldn't have a better response if I had said that every one of them would receive a bonus.  As if by magic, a bottle of their best whiskey popped on the table, they were all smiles and proceeded to exterminate the contents in about 5 minutes flat. This was followed by a second bottle which was also consumed rather quickly, while eating our meal. I have to say that this was the first, and only, time I had a beautiful steak with whiskey rather than wine.

Now, we always have been told about the inscrutability of the Asians and perhaps this character trait, which is a part of their make up, has many reasons for being. But, I am here to tell you flatly that, after two ++ bottles of straight whiskey, these guys become as friendly and “scrutable” (I claim the word, in case you have any doubts) as anyone else in the world. 

–“Come with us, let us show you some of Tokyo’s night life” said Surita-San, my English speaking friend. Being Friday evening and all, it seemed a shame to waste the rest of the night so… when in Rome, do not look down on your host’s kind offer. We went directly to Tokyo’s red light district, and visited several spots where always one or a couple of my companions were well known. Obviously not their first night traipsing around there… We drank to the world’s health and discussed all kinds of cultural differences, something they would not be so open about without the help of the whiskey grease being liberally applied. Eventually we ended up in a private Karaoke bar, where the hostess insisted I had to sing a rendition of “Tiny Bubbles”…  And I did… and guess what, didn’t sound as bad as I thought it would. So then I followed with a Pat Boone song, since said hostess was a fan of him. (I did say this was back in ’83, right?).

Tokyo at night... the "Red" District

Eventually, the night became an early morning and we had to part ways having become much friendlier than I thought it might be possible, going against all that had been said to me about the Japanese culture and their penchant for keeping private things private. This was certainly not the case here; each one of the four guys contributed thoughts and comments which, true, might not have happened without the whiskey being consumed but these were brought forward nonetheless.

Goes to show, once again; people are people no matter what their provenance. We all just need a little grease in order to be able to talk and share with our neighbors (and on this little world of ours we are all neighbors, contrary to what some may want to have us believe)… As the old saying goes:

“In Vino (or whiskey, for that matter) Veritas…”  How true.

Tokyo, 1983.

Be Well, Be back!!

A Bird's Eye View