Like everyone, I was deeply saddened by the tragic events that took place in northern Japan in March 2011. In communication with my Japanese friends during the weeks afterward, one sentiment that many of them expressed was the need to have a diversion from the horror and the fear. One friend said, in imperfect but beautiful English, “we shouldn’t forget victims, but we need to release our mind apart from this sometime. Otherwise we are stifled with the sadness…” Tune in Tokyo is a light-hearted romp through Japan’s capital, my love letter to the city and its people. I hope in some small way it can, perhaps, provide a silly diversion for those Japanese folks who happen upon it. And for all those other readers, that it will leave them with a smile on their face when they think of Japan.
I got the style but not the grace,
I got the clothes but not the face,
I got the bread but not the butter,
I got the winda but not the shutter,
But I’m big in Japan.
– Tom Waits