tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413166059304552489.post551004963525087365..comments2018-08-15T19:38:19.498+01:00Comments on A Shimmin Abroad: Osaka: desultory wanderingsShimmin Beghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350037986748679919noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413166059304552489.post-17791044006593963762016-08-17T18:45:32.023+01:002016-08-17T18:45:32.023+01:00Those bastards took down the Kirin Building (that ...Those bastards took down the Kirin Building (that all-white, luminous tower that definitely put a stamp on the Shinsaibashi district) so as far as I'm concerned, all that's left is kitsch—the fucking Kani and the hot dog and all that other crap that you nailed so perfectly in your photos.<br /><br />Trust the Japanese to Disneyfy everything—you can expect Hello Kitty to come roaring in our some stupid Lucky Cat towering over the entire Dotonbori bridge with that eternal waving arm.ChefNickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506706291656673082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413166059304552489.post-13533224083944179172016-05-24T14:47:56.410+01:002016-05-24T14:47:56.410+01:00Oh, nice! I think it varies, to be honest - I thin...Oh, nice! I think it varies, to be honest - I think there's more mixed use, which stops things getting too monotonous, but I must confess the residential district of Fukuoka where I first stayed felt pretty dull after six months. <br /><br />I think the big difference is probably that there's less (identifiable to me, at least) architectural range? I'm used to UK cities where, in a city that's considered non-historic, you might reasonably see buildings stretching over 300 years and ranging from gothic to neoclassical to Victorian brick to georgian to modern. Because a lot of Japanese building is post-60s, I find it has a tendency to look like varieties on tall lump of concrete. The residential areas, for me, weren't hugely more interesting than the housing estate where I grew up.<br /><br />I think shopping districts are probably more interesting, although again a lot of UK city streets are interesting above the ground floor.<br /><br />You could definitely get a job in Japan, given your experience. I'd heartily recommend learning Japanese though.Shimmin Beghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10350037986748679919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1413166059304552489.post-43641267073788120532016-05-23T08:18:59.064+01:002016-05-23T08:18:59.064+01:00Last week I arrived in Bucheon, a city sandwiched ...Last week I arrived in Bucheon, a city sandwiched between Seoul and Incheon, where I'll be for the next two months. Walking around the streets reminds me how much more interesting East Asian cities are than those in the US and the UK where I've most recently lived. It makes me want to try to get a job teaching English in Japan.Sean Whittonhttps://spwhitton.name/noreply@blogger.com