Top 3 Concerts I Attended (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–69 … My Adventures in Japan)

Some local residents complained about the noise, and asked us politely to tone it down.

In Japan, there are many rules governing social behavior, many of which are unreasonable, incomprehensible, and overly restrictive. 

No … Drinking allowed

Why, then, were we permitted to behave as we did at the above events? That is, why were we allowed to behave with abandon, without anyone even raising an eyebrow or hindering our “fun” ? 

The answer is that, in Japan, rules are often flexible, depending on the situation, the event, or whoever is in charge of the event. While we did not always like or agree with such distortions of the rules, we gladly tolerated the loose rules on the aforementioned occasion.    _{(Image source)}

Detectives are not watching 

At the Elvis Costello concert, a group of about 10 of us smuggled liters and liters of beer into the venue … even though the “security” personnel were supposedly checking / searching the bags of all who entered.   

After we has polished off the first round of beers, several of us left the concert hall more than once to make quick runs to the local bottle shop for a few more liters. When we came back in, we again had to pass through “security,” but again, we were waved through cheerfully and politely.    

We continued to enjoy the concert, immensely – with predicable results. And as we left after the show, nobody bothered us or questioned us about the devastation.     _{(Image source)}

Silence! Silence!! Please.

As for the rooftop bash, the cops came by around midnight. They informed us that a number of residents in the neighborhood had complained about the noise levels, and asked us politely to tone it down a bit.    

We toned it down a bit, and heard nothing further from the cops.   note – The band in the photo is NOT the band that played at our bash on the roof of Sanwa Bank in 1998. Anyone who can name both the band in the photo AND any 2 of the 5 bands that played at our rooftop bash in 1998 will win a bottle of bourbon. Maybe 2 bottles.

Anyone who names only the band in the photo correctly will get a minor upvote, but no bourbon.    _{(Image source)}

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 3 in-Bar Live Music

Top 3 Musicians Who Appreciate(d) the Support of Their Japanese Fan Base

Top Guitarist

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)
Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}