You all know how much I love signs here in Tokyo:

In Roppongi

I know what you’re thinking… “Gurus don’t dance!”

The Japanese are extremely good at doing what is asked of them and not questioning authority. I have oft referred to them as being sheeple. Not in any derogatory way, but more in an innocent and cute way. This is why the only people you see asking for substitutions or exceptions are gaijin. If you are a foreigner, trust me when I tell you,  no one is going to deviate from plan A. This is also why Set and Course Menus are successful here. Everyone just accepts “You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.”

So What’s Up With all the Protesting?

The interesting thing, however, is you take any nice day in Tokyo and along with the beautiful weather, the sounds of birds chirping and delicious smells wafting, your ears will be accosted by loud static-y megaphones mounted on propaganda trucks. Sometimes they’re political, sometimes they are social, sometimes, it’s roasted sweet potatoes (my favorite).

Evidently, there are no noise ordinances

There are other signs of dissention from people who choose to disagree with political policies, I think these people are protesting for Falun Dafa They don’t make a lot of noise. They just pray a lot:

In Front of Chinese Embassy

Some Japanese feel so strongly about something, they’ll do it all alone:

He believes he can make a difference

Sometimes, you are your own sign:

My guess, he's protesting bad fashion

Isn’t it funny that every city has that guy. The guy everyone in town knows as “that crazy dude who walks up and down the street talking to himself…” even in Tokyo!

Until next time…