Tokyo Times

From the distance of Tokyo, the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated northern Japan now seem like an oddly long time ago. Similarly, the power cuts, food shortages and tabloid sensationalism that followed feel like a completely different time. A time of genuine uncertainty, even fear, and yet fairly quickly things still returned to the normality of pre-March 11. Merely a brief interruption before the mundane routines of everyday life once again reigned supreme.

For those directly affected, however, it must be a very different story altogether. Problems connected to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are ongoing, and 60,000 people or so are still suffering the stresses of temporary accommodation — many more when you include those having to make do by staying with relatives. Pretty much insult added to injury all piled on top of anxiety. Daily pressures and concerns that in addition to everything else people have to deal with, must make the lives of those involved incredibly difficult to say the least. Lives that besides the beauty of the moon being visible, and the sun still rising, must bear little comparison to the comfort of the ones they lived before.

Japan has a decent set of options when it comes to a day out and a flutter. There are the horses of course like many other countries, but also boat (kyotei) and bike racing (keirin) too.

In recent years, horse racing has been very successful in attracting younger punters, resulting in big and surprisingly diverse crowds. Boat and bike racing, on the other hand, are very different. Now and again there might be a relatively decent amount of people present, but nothing compared to the numbers found regularly heading to the racecourse. There’s nowhere near the same diversity either. In fact, there really isn’t any diversity at all. It’s basically just men in their mid-fifties and older — the vast majority of whom don’t exactly meet the description of moneyed.

Yet despite the shared interest, age and social background, it’s an amazingly solitary pursuit. There’s generally little in the way of banter or camaraderie. No idle chitchat or encouragement. Just studying, betting and then quietly heading back home.

The future is stark. The future is brash. The future is a selfie of sorts reflected in metallic breasts.

Sometimes, on some days, Tokyo is simply too much.