Potatoes

I went to do the walking tour around Shinjuku which I found in the Lonely Planet, but became easily distracted when I found Shinjuku Park. The place was much larger than I imagined a Tokyo park would be. It consists of English, Japanese and French style gardens, as well as a Mother and Daughter Forest, whatever that is.


The English garden was just a big open field bordered by some trees, perfect for teaching the baby independence. I wheeled the stroller into the very middle, careful to avoid all social contact with other parents, and chose a spot equidistant from all the small groups of people. Then I let Alice go and she happily wandered far away from me. I think she is already quite independent, she didn't seem to look back or hesitate. I chased her a bit, and even led her a tad further from me and then quickly ran back to the stroller. She didn't freak out or anything. Maybe I need to up the ante and leave her in the park overnight.


Well, I turned my back on her to watch the huge crows which seem to gather and chatter in all Japanese parks. I see some Jgirl approach Alice and start chattering in similar fashion, cooing and emitting noises to put any crow to shame. She got out a Polaroid and took some snaps, then took another camera out and took some more. I was waiting for her to extract an easel and pallete from her bag when she approached me to give us one of the polaroids. It was a very nice pic, spontaneous and well suiting Alice. I said I'd give it to her when she was older, and she walked away happily. Of course Alice followed her, little attention grabber that she is.


An Englishman came up next with his cute little girl, about Alice's age. He sat down and we talked about the dearth of dads in Japanese parks. He owned a restaurant in Ebisu, and was taking his daughter to the park because his wife was "rubbish at waking up early". He seemed very casually dressed with red socks under his house slippers and a cardigan framing a huge golden medallion hanging from a heavy chain. Not exactly park wear.


I bitched about my new found invisibility in Japan. No Japanese person will look at or speak to me, but they will do anything to attract Alice's attention. Then he told me about 'potatoes'.


He described to me a special kind of Japanese baby which doesn't move much, doesn't react much and rarely acknowledges the world beyond eating. His wife was from Osaka, so he hoped to avoid any Tokyo potatoism in his own child. I asked what might cause it, he didn't know, perhaps it was contagious? We left each other, single serve friends, and I continued my walk around Shinjuku.