Superflat Tokyo

Abstract

On his first visit to Tokyo, American novelist Paul Auster remarked to his Japanese translator that the city managed to combine the density of Manhattan with the sprawl of Los Angeles – and still thrive. American poet Gary Snyder, while refusing to live in Tokyo again, has claimed that it is the world’s most successful megalopolis – home to millions, yet resolutely functional, clean, safe and efficient. Tokyo is reportedly the brightest city in the world seen from NASA satellites in space, and is now home to the largest number of 3-starred restaurants in the epicurean Michelin Guide from Paris. Tokyo’s public transit system is the envy of every city in the world, as are its relatively low crime rates, stable incomes and public services. Still, while it is easy to find people who are astonished by or simply respect Tokyo, it is hard to find people who claim to love it.