Japan has a chain of bargain stores called ドン・キホーテ (Don Quixote). They're pretty neat. They carry all manner of crap. Soup to nuts. "Tennis balls to glue," even. The business describes itself as "discount shop and amusement". That it is.
T'other day, went on the hunt for a particular kind of pillow intended as a gift. Checked a coupla the usual stores and found them not. Then had the thought: "why not Donk?" Donk, by the by, is what Don Quixote calls itself for short. It also has a mascot called ドンペン (Don Pen) who is a penguin. Naturally.
Anyway, back to the thought: "why not Donk?" (The longer this sojourn in Japan lasts, the weirder the internal monologue becomes.) But never mind that... off to Donk! Recently moved house, so the new area and its adjacent neighborhoods are not entirely familiar ground yet. Thus, Google Maps seemed the best option. Blue dotted line, ho! 行こうね。
Entered 「ドン・キホーテ」 into Google Maps, selected the pin in the area, and was off. Streets rolled by, and neighborhoods rolled by. About twenty minutes later, things started looking a little peculiar. ちょっと変だな〜。 In fact, they started looking downright seedy (seedy for hereabouts, anyway). Shop signs had more pink and purple than was typical, or strictly necessary. Doorways disclosed smarmy looking men wearing bowties and ostentatiously shiny shoes. These men either beckoned leeringly, or smirked like they were all in on some unknown joke. Unknown to this hapless traveller, in any event. It was reminiscent of old tales where other hapless travellers had inadvertently crossed over into the Land of Faerie where things became suddenly strange and the locals smirked at and mocked them until they crossed back into the mundane world.
On a side note, back in the mundane world, there was an area in Tokyo called 吉原 (Yoshiwara) during the Edo Period. It was a notorious red-light district where many, many women went to an early grave. According to the display at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the average lifespan of a Yoshiwara girl was about 24 due to the horrid conditions. The manga さくらん (Insanity) is set there and tells the story of a woman who is sold into prostitution by her impoverished family. The manga has also been adapted into a film. Both are worth a look. The area that was Yoshiwara is now 千束 (Senzoku), and it still "boasts" a plethora of businesses in the sex trade. More specifically, it is now 千束四丁目. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that is exactly where Google Maps had led this hapless traveller.
On the heels of that realization came the thought: "son of a mother duck... better hurry on to Donk and get the hell outta here!" So onward down the dotted blue line! Followed it to its terminus, only to turn the last corner and find another sleazy club.
The name of the goddamned club was Don Quixote.
It was written exactly the same way as the store. Looking back at the Google Maps entry (and reading all of it, this time) revealed the truth. It was what it was. Always read the label, kids.
何も買わなかった。
Needless to say... didn't buy anything. Certainly no amusement. Got some free angry, though.
On a side note, back in the mundane world, there was an area in Tokyo called 吉原 (Yoshiwara) during the Edo Period. It was a notorious red-light district where many, many women went to an early grave. According to the display at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the average lifespan of a Yoshiwara girl was about 24 due to the horrid conditions. The manga さくらん (Insanity) is set there and tells the story of a woman who is sold into prostitution by her impoverished family. The manga has also been adapted into a film. Both are worth a look. The area that was Yoshiwara is now 千束 (Senzoku), and it still "boasts" a plethora of businesses in the sex trade. More specifically, it is now 千束四丁目. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that is exactly where Google Maps had led this hapless traveller.
On the heels of that realization came the thought: "son of a mother duck... better hurry on to Donk and get the hell outta here!" So onward down the dotted blue line! Followed it to its terminus, only to turn the last corner and find another sleazy club.
The name of the goddamned club was Don Quixote.
It was written exactly the same way as the store. Looking back at the Google Maps entry (and reading all of it, this time) revealed the truth. It was what it was. Always read the label, kids.
何も買わなかった。
Needless to say... didn't buy anything. Certainly no amusement. Got some free angry, though.
