TRAVEL The Imperial Palace.
The Asahi Flame, unfortunately also nicknamed the Golden Turd.
fabulous felines while sipping green tea and nibbling biscuits and chocolates. Unlike dogs, cats do not fawn on people. Tey are cool and supercilious creatures and only entertain you at their own terms. I have to do the chasing and cajoling to get their attention with a group of exchange students from Norway and England who are trying to practise their Japanese on the cats. One magnificent black and white cat is playing hard to get and only allows me to pose with him for a photograph when he is resting on a high perch looking very imperious. After the frazzled nerves of trying to navigate through the infamous Shibuya intersection where hundreds of shoppers move in perpetual motion at frenetic pace when the traffic lights turn red for cars, I am soothed and relaxed in the presence of these happy nekos all purring in unison. Purrrfect.
PHOENIX RISING Tokyo was mostly obliterated during the infamous “Tokyo firebombing” by US forces during World World II in 1945 and was completely rebuilt after the war. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Tokyo and Japan in general rose up with samurai nerves of steel and discipline and began the long process of recovery. Today, Tokyo is one of the three most important international financial and commercial powerhouses in the world
44 FENGSHUIWORLD | MARCH 2014
after London and New York. It is the first city in Asia to host the summer Olympics twice – one in 1964 and the next one in 2020.
A leisure cruise on Tokyo Bay
allows me to observe the Feng Shui aspect of this thriving metropolis. Nestled along a natural harbour protected by a spit formation that encircles the area forming an inner sea, it embraces the water energy from the sea and the Sumida River that flows through Tokyo for 27km. Te source of the river originates from the northwest in the mountain of the Kanto region. Northwest is the seat of patriarchal rule according to the Pa Kua principle denoting Japan as a country of male domination and discipline. The city harnesses the vibrant chi from the mountain ranges that surround the city forming an armchair configuration. One of the most outstanding buildings along the harbour is the Asahi Breweries designed by Philippe Starck in 1989. It looks like a giant glass of beer with white wavy structures at the crown to symbolise the beer froth. But the most notable feature is a massive golden sculpture perched on top of a pedestal known as the Asahi Flame, said to represent the burning heart of Asahi Breweries. Unfortunately, this creation has proven too abstract for the residents of Tokyo and they have unkindly nicknamed it “the golden turd” and the building has been called the “poo
building”. Monsieur Starck is probably choking on his champagne at these philistines. Japan is a leading light in the world of technology and innovation and one of its best creations in my opinion is the Japanese toilet. Yes, you heard right. At the risk of sounding too lavatorial, it is a genius invention. It has applications for everything you need in the comfort room from buttons for “front and back cleansing” to dryer, which can be regulated from cold to hot air. But the most ingenious of all, when in use it plays a soundtrack of music to disguise embarrassing noises emanating from this very delicate bodily function. What is there not to like in country that is so entrenched in its traditional culture where kabuki, sumo wrestling, geisha girls and ancient tea ceremony still thrive. Yet at the same time, it embraces modernity and takes it to a different level where electronics and hi-technology is its new culture… and the yummy food helps. I will be back!
Sunrise Tours
www.jtb-sunrisetours.jp offers comprehensive tours of Tokyo and outskirts with English speaking guides. AirAsia X
www.airasia.com flies daily to Tokyo Haneda airport from Kuala Lumpur.
Helen Oon is the author of the
Globetrotter Guide to Malaysia and the Wildlife Guide Malaysia (
www.newhollandpublishers. com).
www.fswmag.com
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