Loving all of this! Sinners drops on digital on Thursday so we have the popcorn ready. The novella Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark is in a similar deep Southern vein and I think you’d dig it. Liked seeing NYC through your eyes & tastebuds! Sending big love.
A great job of illuminating another poignant paradox in the land of poignant paradoxes—in the same way that the Japan I've experienced can be at once the loudest/quietest, indulgent/restrained, natural/synthetic, modern/traditional — it is also where people are incredibly responsible about their own waste and completely awash in single use plastic. 🤷♂️
Maybe, probably, all of these are also somehow the same thing — just like many of us cycle through feelings of being an imposter and an expert and we're all kind of both.
Probably better to let the Heart Sutra—that great poem of paradoxes—take it away: 色即是空 空即是色
Excellent piece! I’ve noticed some improvements in recycling in Tokyo but the distressing amount of plastic packaging is unchanged. I recycle so much more plastic in Los Angeles thanks to Ridwell, and I also use much less than anyone does in Japan
It's funny I think having lived in California before moving to Tokyo I had a small advantage on the recycling game had I never lived there at all. California had me in the habit of sorting for cardboard and plastic recycling, as well as compost aside from the regular trash. Actually so did Hampshire College! It's disorienting every time I come back to the states and I begin to take the caps and wrapper off a water bottle - and then realize there is no place to put that stuff at all. (But then again Japan also has me waiting at red lights and not jaywalking like any self-respecting New Yorker - whose not in the presence of small, impressionable children at least- lol) I was unfamiliar with Ridwell, just checked it out online and it looks like a great service!
Ridwell is great because it takes all the plastic film and wrap that cities don’t, as well as styrofoam and corks. I’m happy to pay for the service but it requires at least half an hour of extra work every two weeks!
What a fascinating read! I have a mini crisis of conscience every single time I trash or recycle anything. I remember, as a child, watching my grandfather burn trash in a barrel in the backyard. I also remember the year we lived in an apartment that had a trash compactor. It was endlessly intriguing and terrifying to me. Thank you for inspiring these memories!
And thanks for reminding me to return to "Perfect Days," which I started a while ago, then life interrupted. Yes! to that scene from Severance. Milchick knows what's up.
I am so with you on the crisis of conscience! Also, you know should know me well enough by now that you've got to expect that I will ask you to write about things when you bring them up right? 😆 Cause you know I want to know more about the scary trash compactor and the backyard fires!
And as far as old trash related memories go, I was trying very hard to tie Oscar the Grouch into this piece - I had to learn the "I Love Trash" song for an elementary school play. Shout out P.S. 20 in Brooklyn! I still know every word by heart in that weird way that lyrics you learn in childhood stay forever.
And yeah, Perfect Days is up there with Moonlight as far as just really beautiful and unusual films.
My most favourite find came from my grandfather - he used to go through the dumped items in our small New Zealand town. Not sure whether he had scavenging rights, or just did what he wanted (more likely). A small silver-plated cigarette case that I’ve now had for more than 30 years. It’s been a very long time since I’ve smoked cigarettes but I still use this case as my every day carry - for my bank card, movie tickets, bus pass, my lucky US $1 note, discount cards for a book store and my fave Korean eatery, and cash when I have it. Fits perfectly into jeans pocket.
As with Ona, I’ll post a pic if someone shares how.
Momo what an incredible treasure you have from your grandfather! And what wonderful stories it could tell! I hope you write about this one day, even if you don't share it with anyone else! Thank you!!
We’ve had 4 Christmas trees since 2004. Three real and one gold tree from Tokyu Hands because we didn’t live in an expat neighborhood so we assumed real ones were impossible to get.
I remember apples having the extra protective vest and being scolded for taking out the trash the wrong way. NYC has the same complexity but different results.
That's wild! The tree from Tokyu Hands is destined to be a family heirloom as it will outlast every foreseeable generation from here till infinity. You can get live trees here, some florists and Ikea sell them, but they are insanely expensive (less so at Ikea) and there is no curbside composting like back home. Until we moved to Japan, we always had live trees, but my favorite method by far was renting a living potted tree in California. You could get the same tree (or type of tree) every year. They delivered it and picked it up. And you're spared all the guilt - guilt when it dies - or guilt that its gonna live forever! My heart will always be in NY but there is a lot I LOVE about California!
I never heard of renting a tree. Kinda like that option. But I’m content with getting more than our money’s worth out of our purchase from when ‘My Boo’ topped the charts. 2 feet of gold shimmer with red and blue LED happiness.
Oh. My. Word. This is wild. I so wish the US, or at least Colorado, and especially my apartment complex, which absolutely has NO recycling at all. This is despite a city ordinance about recycling. Now we're charged for the size of trash can we need, but recycling and composting cans and pick up are free! Even multi-family apartments, etc, are supposed to do it. So I pack up my recycling in a trash bag. A friend picks it up on her way to church and takes it home, where her husband unbags it and puts it in their recycling, then they carefully return the trash bag for another time! I tried to attach a picture of the best thing I ever found dumpster diving...................................Well crap. I don't think I can post it here. If you or any other readers know, please comment some directions, please...this is such a great find!
Gotta run, my friend, but I will check back looking for directions to post my dumpster diver item
Awww thanks Ona! I'm so glad you liked it! I don't think you should be charged for the trash cans themselves! Those should be provided to every household! In California we had recycling, regular trash and compost bins that we had to drag down curbside - but they picked it up. We also to call and sometimes pay for for large/overside items but that meant like a whole couch. In Tokyo, a broom, a throw pillow, or an old toaster oven can count as oversized 🙄
I've never tried to add a photo here, let me play around with it and I'll report back. Otherwise you'll have to write, cause now I want to know what you found!
Oh my gosh you never told me about your dirty little flowery secret!!!! I loved this! Japan did make me view trash and our responsibility with it differently! You captured it ever so beautifully. The hand saw purchase to cut the broom - laughed myself silly!
That handsaw has come in handy on more than one occasion! I'm convinced every household should have one! Great! Now I know what to get you for your birthday 🥳
Loving all of this! Sinners drops on digital on Thursday so we have the popcorn ready. The novella Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark is in a similar deep Southern vein and I think you’d dig it. Liked seeing NYC through your eyes & tastebuds! Sending big love.
A great job of illuminating another poignant paradox in the land of poignant paradoxes—in the same way that the Japan I've experienced can be at once the loudest/quietest, indulgent/restrained, natural/synthetic, modern/traditional — it is also where people are incredibly responsible about their own waste and completely awash in single use plastic. 🤷♂️
Maybe, probably, all of these are also somehow the same thing — just like many of us cycle through feelings of being an imposter and an expert and we're all kind of both.
Probably better to let the Heart Sutra—that great poem of paradoxes—take it away: 色即是空 空即是色
Excellent piece! I’ve noticed some improvements in recycling in Tokyo but the distressing amount of plastic packaging is unchanged. I recycle so much more plastic in Los Angeles thanks to Ridwell, and I also use much less than anyone does in Japan
It's funny I think having lived in California before moving to Tokyo I had a small advantage on the recycling game had I never lived there at all. California had me in the habit of sorting for cardboard and plastic recycling, as well as compost aside from the regular trash. Actually so did Hampshire College! It's disorienting every time I come back to the states and I begin to take the caps and wrapper off a water bottle - and then realize there is no place to put that stuff at all. (But then again Japan also has me waiting at red lights and not jaywalking like any self-respecting New Yorker - whose not in the presence of small, impressionable children at least- lol) I was unfamiliar with Ridwell, just checked it out online and it looks like a great service!
Ridwell is great because it takes all the plastic film and wrap that cities don’t, as well as styrofoam and corks. I’m happy to pay for the service but it requires at least half an hour of extra work every two weeks!
What a fascinating read! I have a mini crisis of conscience every single time I trash or recycle anything. I remember, as a child, watching my grandfather burn trash in a barrel in the backyard. I also remember the year we lived in an apartment that had a trash compactor. It was endlessly intriguing and terrifying to me. Thank you for inspiring these memories!
And thanks for reminding me to return to "Perfect Days," which I started a while ago, then life interrupted. Yes! to that scene from Severance. Milchick knows what's up.
I am so with you on the crisis of conscience! Also, you know should know me well enough by now that you've got to expect that I will ask you to write about things when you bring them up right? 😆 Cause you know I want to know more about the scary trash compactor and the backyard fires!
And as far as old trash related memories go, I was trying very hard to tie Oscar the Grouch into this piece - I had to learn the "I Love Trash" song for an elementary school play. Shout out P.S. 20 in Brooklyn! I still know every word by heart in that weird way that lyrics you learn in childhood stay forever.
And yeah, Perfect Days is up there with Moonlight as far as just really beautiful and unusual films.
Mil✅
Fabulous read - as always! Thank you!
My most favourite find came from my grandfather - he used to go through the dumped items in our small New Zealand town. Not sure whether he had scavenging rights, or just did what he wanted (more likely). A small silver-plated cigarette case that I’ve now had for more than 30 years. It’s been a very long time since I’ve smoked cigarettes but I still use this case as my every day carry - for my bank card, movie tickets, bus pass, my lucky US $1 note, discount cards for a book store and my fave Korean eatery, and cash when I have it. Fits perfectly into jeans pocket.
As with Ona, I’ll post a pic if someone shares how.
Momo what an incredible treasure you have from your grandfather! And what wonderful stories it could tell! I hope you write about this one day, even if you don't share it with anyone else! Thank you!!
We’ve had 4 Christmas trees since 2004. Three real and one gold tree from Tokyu Hands because we didn’t live in an expat neighborhood so we assumed real ones were impossible to get.
I remember apples having the extra protective vest and being scolded for taking out the trash the wrong way. NYC has the same complexity but different results.
That's wild! The tree from Tokyu Hands is destined to be a family heirloom as it will outlast every foreseeable generation from here till infinity. You can get live trees here, some florists and Ikea sell them, but they are insanely expensive (less so at Ikea) and there is no curbside composting like back home. Until we moved to Japan, we always had live trees, but my favorite method by far was renting a living potted tree in California. You could get the same tree (or type of tree) every year. They delivered it and picked it up. And you're spared all the guilt - guilt when it dies - or guilt that its gonna live forever! My heart will always be in NY but there is a lot I LOVE about California!
I never heard of renting a tree. Kinda like that option. But I’m content with getting more than our money’s worth out of our purchase from when ‘My Boo’ topped the charts. 2 feet of gold shimmer with red and blue LED happiness.
Oh. My. Word. This is wild. I so wish the US, or at least Colorado, and especially my apartment complex, which absolutely has NO recycling at all. This is despite a city ordinance about recycling. Now we're charged for the size of trash can we need, but recycling and composting cans and pick up are free! Even multi-family apartments, etc, are supposed to do it. So I pack up my recycling in a trash bag. A friend picks it up on her way to church and takes it home, where her husband unbags it and puts it in their recycling, then they carefully return the trash bag for another time! I tried to attach a picture of the best thing I ever found dumpster diving...................................Well crap. I don't think I can post it here. If you or any other readers know, please comment some directions, please...this is such a great find!
Gotta run, my friend, but I will check back looking for directions to post my dumpster diver item
Love you and love your stories!
Awww thanks Ona! I'm so glad you liked it! I don't think you should be charged for the trash cans themselves! Those should be provided to every household! In California we had recycling, regular trash and compost bins that we had to drag down curbside - but they picked it up. We also to call and sometimes pay for for large/overside items but that meant like a whole couch. In Tokyo, a broom, a throw pillow, or an old toaster oven can count as oversized 🙄
I've never tried to add a photo here, let me play around with it and I'll report back. Otherwise you'll have to write, cause now I want to know what you found!
Oh my gosh you never told me about your dirty little flowery secret!!!! I loved this! Japan did make me view trash and our responsibility with it differently! You captured it ever so beautifully. The hand saw purchase to cut the broom - laughed myself silly!
That handsaw has come in handy on more than one occasion! I'm convinced every household should have one! Great! Now I know what to get you for your birthday 🥳