Single Parasites

Many thanks to all who gave advice and caring words due to my computer crisis. The beautiful Zen gardens of Kyoto and Kobe helped me stay in balance while burying my beloved cyber companion. It's doubtful she'll be reincarned after this trip, that's how badly bruised she was. Nothing could be worse, not a stolen wallet or lost passport, than erasing 3 months of visual memories for a photographer. But like they say 'everything happens for a reason'. Frankly, I think that's a scapegoat for not taking blame. I was too cheap to buy a back-up thumb drive and that's that. Being in no mood for Karaoke with the gals, I walked off my self-pity surrounded by falling Autumn leaves, temples and waterfalls. One of the Shinto tenets include worshipping trees as a vital source of food, energy, shelter and even clothing. When a tree fells to provide wood for a Buddhist temple, it's stored untouched for several years to give the spirits time to depart. This tree-hugger mentality became the impetus for my walking up three mountains, through 2 pair of sneakers and ignoring 1 big blister. Nearly 75 miles in 4 days. A tourguide assured me that single Japanese women shop their pain away rather than enjoy the views. It's true that I saw more single 20 and 30-somethings donning Nancy Sinatra boots than Nikees and Fendi purses than Sierra Club Backpacks. Myself and hundreds of retired Japanese couples wrestled our way up Mt. Rokko, Mt. Maya, and Mt.Futatabi. A new generation of Japanese women are being dubbed 'single parasites' and it's not meant to be derogative; but it is a hidden crisis with serious economic consequences for Japan. It's girls between the ages of 21-35 who avoid marriage because they think of it as a trap, live with their parents and freely spend disposable income on shopping, entertainment and travel. 80% of girls under 35yrs. still live with mom and dad and 1 in 4 people are over the age of 65. It's a pandemic that caught my attention immediately. There are massage centers, shoe stores and Starbucks on every corner. Try as might to avoid all three outrageously expensive venues, it was difficult. Traditional tea-ceremonies, kabuki (artful melodramas), Ikebana (flower arranging) and Banraku puppet shows were hard to find. Instead I found Pachinko palaces, internet cafes, automated restaurants and ultra-modern bullet trains. Instead of sushi and sake, I ate Japanese-style pizza with kobe beef, octopus, squid, bacon and shrimp. A delicacy under $12, what a find! Toilets are super-effecient 'holes' in the floor that take a few tries to aim properly but more sanitary than flesh on porcelin. Despite all the futurist conveniences cash is still favored currency over ATM's and credit cards. I didn't question using my Mastercard at a major grocery store until $50 worth of Suntory whiskey, Udon Noodles and Soba had to be put back. If your going to Japan expect to use Yen indefinitely and until you find your way into the nostalgic coveted gardens, expect to use a lot of it.