I like Japan, I really do. There are many people and places and things here that I like, and miss when I'm away. And some things not. Some things I really do not like. And will never understand...
Japan has a lot of rules. Too many rules. You see people on the street afraid to speak their mind, even on little things, because they don't want to impose on others. A society painstakingly trying to follow their vast set of rules, and never quite managing to, as there are way too many for one person to remember. You can see it on their faces out on the street, empty eyes and vacant looks on some faces, intent on staying in their own little world and avoiding any contact, eyes or other, with any other human being out here. Others are more awake, for example they are obviously interested in seeing a foreigner walk around in such an unlikely place such as Furukawabashi, but at the same time are scared of what it would entail if they actually did engage in a conversation, and therefore opt to only watch me out of the corner of their eyes, too afraid that a straight look might be interpreted as an invitation to talk. And then there are those that have apparently broken under the strain and turned antisocial, to degrees that border, if not cross, the line to sickness.
Like that guy I came across the other day, walking past the playground just around the corner from here, on my way to take a friend back to the train station. The guy was on the playground, the kids playing behind him, his pants down, and intently playing with his thing, tiny as it was, through the opening of his underpants. Right there, with the kids playing, in bright daylight, and standing right by the path, not even trying to hide in a corner or anything. At first I didn't get it, it took a while before I actually understood what he was doing there. We walked on, but I kept on looking back, to confirm I wasn't imagining things. I wasn't. And when I finally thought of taking out the phone and calling my friend back in the house to get the police, he had already started to pack it in.
When the police did come the kids told him that apparently he was a regular there, some had already tried to tell him to take it somewhere else, but he'd pretended not to hear. The neighbours know him, know where he lives, but nobody dares to say anything. They don't want to impose... And the police can't do much either. Apparently he has a record, but whenever they catch him he says he was just trying to pee, and despite everyone knowing better, they cannot call him a liar, as that would be an affront to the poor guy.
I really don't get it. I mean, if he was standing in some dark corner at night, that would be one thing, but on a playground? Obviously what turns him on are kids, and what will he do if jerking off in front of them isn't enough anymore? But no, nobody will do anything, not before someone has been hurt. Little kids being traumatised by a sicko on the playground doesn't count. Alright, granted, there really isn't that much in his pants to traumatise anyone but himself with, but nonetheless, the kids feel bad with him there, and can't do anything about it. It is sad to see that apparently this guy was driven to such extents that he lost all sense of shame, only to try and find some release in this sick way. It is even sadder that people have created a society here where nobody will say anything, just because they are afraid of imposing, until it is too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment