Tokyo's Culture Is Still Very Traditional with Its Customs, Food and Dress Still

The Bronx Journal/February 2002 B 8 SHARON RODRIGUEZ Bronx Journal Staff Reporter okyo is located in the Kanto region on one of the four major islands of the archipelago of Japan. There are about 12 million people in this city, which is about 4 million more than the population of its sister city, New York. And just like New York City, Tokyo is considered to be one of the greatest cities in the world. This city has many charms and attractions hidden within. The urban landscape is an interesting mixture of old and new. It has everything a big city has, such as megamalls, FILE restaurants, major corporations in modern skyscrapers all around. You can find almost everything you have in NYC, from McDonald’s to Tower Record, and people you see on This city is located the streets of Tokyo are just as fashionable and crazy as New Yorkers. Many enjoy the lively nightlife of Tokyo, where streets on one of the four are bright with thousands of neon signs. Since Tokyo is a relatively safe place with a low crime rate, many bars and restaurants are open all night. major islands of Mixed with all the fashionable, high-tech stores, there File are many traditional sites in Tokyo, including a gorgeous Thai and Indian, and of course, the best sushi. the archipelago of palace, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines with intricate Tokyo’s Central Wholesale Market, commonly known as architecture. Tsukiji fish market, is the largest fish market in Japan and Most Japanese people are not religious, but many reli- handles a larger volume of seafood than any other market Japan, in the Kanto gious rituals and customs have been adopted throughout in the world. About 4000 tons of fish and vegetables arrive the long history of Japan and incorporated into everyday each day, bringing in about 3 billion yen in sales. Many lives. Those customs are still alive today, and many people tourists visit this fish market everyday, and they are sur- region which is of visit temples and shrines for good luck. They are popular prised that it doesn’t smell fishy inside the market. After a tourist attractions as well. Senso-ji in Asakusa is especial- tour inside, visitors often stop by one of the restaurants ly popular with both foreigners and Japanese people from next to the market serving fresh sushi and sashimi at 7 the most densely outside of Tokyo. a.m., just as the fish arrives from the market. If you enjoy great food, Tokyo is the place to be. You can Visiting all these places is easy. Just hop on a subway have really fancy French or Italian food, or exotic food like train. Tokyo subways are safe and clean, with velvet cov- populated places ered seats and news broadcasts on TV. Although it gets very very crowded during rush hour, trains come every two to four minutes. There is one thing you won’t like if you are used to New York subways: Tokyo subways stop run- ning around midnight. This article was edited by Asako Tochika Tokyo’s culture is still very traditional with its File File customs, food and FACTS ABOUT TOKYO dress still being Population --- 12,000,000 Religion ------ Buddhism, Christianity Language ---- Japanese, English, and central to their identity 15 other dialects Currency ---- Yen.

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