JttE Tokyo-2

The Operation Meetinghouse firebombing of Tokyo on the night of 9 March 1945 was the single deadliest air raid of World War II, causing more destruction than the bombings of Dresden and Hamburg, and even Hiroshima and Nagasaki as single events. Quarter of the city destroyed, up to 100000 killed: it remains the most destructive and deadly raid in history. I only write this from “ignorance” of the event not to infer nor make judgement – history has already been written.

Today the only sign of something happening is on the notice boards giving some local history referring to “rebuilt after the Great Air Raid of 1945.

That included our first tourist trap of the day at Senso – Ji, Japan’s oldest temple. Heaving, with a market included. Somehow the bustle and noise of tourists detract from the sanctity of the religious site. Judgemental and hypocritical of course since we were there!

Before then we popped into the quiet serenity of the Salt and Tobacco Museum. Whilst skirting around the detrimental effects of tobacco, it was a lovely wee gem of a place – Japan is reliant on other countries for the bulk of its salt. And who knew potatoes, tomatoes, chilly peppers are in the same family as the tobacco plant – all from South America? It reminded me of this Bob Newhart sketch https://youtu.be/_XDxAzVEbN4?si=gQv41fgJWn7uZKUq

Then it was off to explore more XL jerseys, left safely on their hooks. Nearby Golden Gai was full of character in it’s afternoon nap – by night it’s a jostling throng of folks heading into quirky and very small bars and food joints.

We either walked (very quiet streets) then started to navigate the Metro like a local: shame the local we were like doesn’t live here!

Tomorrow the tail end of a typhoon arrives. Toyko has a sophisticated flood control system. I found this fascinating clip: https://youtu.be/lvikcj8A1Bw?si=uwAEB1ao5fLNll5R A small investment of 2billion USD. Enough to fill a few pot holes back home then!