Comments on: What a wrecked Bowling Alley looks like – the Toyo Bowl

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:23:13 +0000

@Kazuaki

I second everything MJG said about your racist comment that foreigners go to haikyo and are responsible for damaging them. Do you have any proof of that? Have you watched both Japanese and non-Japanese go to the same haikyo and seen the non-Japanese do damage while the Japanese damaged nothing? Come on!

And I don’t understand, do you go to haikyo also? If you do go to haikyo, then you “disobey” the rules of the signs saying no trespassing also! If you do not go to haikyo, then you have no credibility to say who damages them.

Either way…..FAIL.

By: MJG

MJG — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:11:21 +0000

Kazuaki- Your comments concern me as they seem to put all the blame onto foreigners, and suggest we are all a bunch of freeloading, irresponsible, law-breaking louts.

That’s patently, and approaching racistly, untrue. I won’t argue that it’s mildly illegal to go into those places- but as long as I don’t damage the place, it seems to me a victimless crime.

First off- let’s set the record straight. I found out about this place from a Japanese haikyo book written by Japanese people, with maps inmade by Japanese mappers. My website has no maps, so it is not easy for anyone to gain access from my site.

Second- Most of the damage in these places is done by local kids. If you don’t believe that, look at the type of dumb graffiti you’ll find on the walls.

Third- If I got into trouble, sure I would call the police for help. You think I shouldn’t? That’s ridiculous. Even if I brought the trouble on myself- what, I don’t deserve help? I saw the asbestos and continued on- I can take the consequences to my own health.

Kazuaki- You may not understand this comment, or you may not even read it. I’m happy to have a dialogue with you about this. But you need to change your preconceptions, and apologize for your ‘blame-the-foreigner’ mentality. If you do not, and comment in a stereotyping or anti-foreigner way on my site again- know that your comments will be deleted without response.

By: Kazuaki

Kazuaki — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:59:22 +0000

It’s not really good if you go to places that have open asbestos, then if you get sick, will you blame our country? You shouldn’t be in those places int he first place it already had sign “no tresspass” yet you disobeyed the rules. If you get in trouble or get accident in those places what will you do? don’t blame us if you get into some trouble because you are in a place you shouldnt be going to. Also, reason why it was trashed is because foreigners like you go into these places and post it online so more foreigners go there and break it. It makes me so angry that you people have done this i feel like calling police. Just so angry.

By: MJG

MJG — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:09:08 +0000

Jason- We’ll have to take a final spin on the air hockey table some time before you leave.

the Can- Wanna come back with me on ball collection duty? I wonder how much we can get for them… *muses for a while all starry-eyed*

Tornadoes- Guide yeah, thanks. As it happens- one of my posts, the Sports World one, will be reprinted in a guidebook to the ‘road less traveled’ parts of Japan, which will be neat.

Dad- I think that is still the swallows actually- they were pretty noisy all around the ground floor.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:31:36 +0000

So whats that twittering noise in the background- not the swallows, they’re quite distinct? It sounds like a whole army of ghosts.

By: tornadoes28

tornadoes28 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:09:23 +0000

I think it is cool that you post where they are. If you have done a lot of these and plan to do a lot more, you can create a really good English guide to Haikyo just from your blog posts. I would use it if I ever get a chance.

I need to find some near Otawara in Tochigi Prefecture or near Nikko.

By: the Can.

the Can. — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:36:04 +0000

Mike,
Dipp those balls into a bucket of vinegar or coke, rinse them off, and you’re good to go.

Hellhole? haha.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:40:14 +0000

I totally forgot our whole entertainment world used to be about playing air hockey at that bowling alley. In just 5 years in Japan it feels like I’ve had many separate lives.

@Becky, can you point me to a photo of Bobby? I’d like to see how much Mike looks like him.

By: MJG

MJG — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:42:28 +0000

Mom- yes, there’s plenty of bowling alleys, though few as big as the Toyo Boru I went to- normally up on the 8th floor of a city center building, above the karaoke but below the billiards hall. I’ve been a few times- we used to go to one in Shinjuku only because it had an air-hockey table, and we’d just play that.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:39:39 +0000

Hey, well, asbestos is very serious..stay away from it. Not to mention unstable buildings.
One of the highlights of my very boring childhood/adolescence was getting someone (usually my Aunt Virginia Rose) to take me and anyone else BOWLING. I loved it and still do though I can’t move as well as then or get as many strikes as I think I should.
Do they have real, working Bowling Alleys over there?