A dog-eared book lies on the table…
Glen: Yes, brought it to Japan when I first came. Never had the heart to throw it out. Staying within $10 a day in Japan was possible in the early 70s. And the places to visit, well, the historical edifices may still be there but many of the ephemeral attractions have long gone.
Dennis: So it's an artifact. And the author?
Glen: John Wilcock. He died 2018. In Ojai.
Dennis: You knew him?
Glen: Met him in New York once. A Brit, transplanted. Inveterate traveler, he wrote guidebooks for Frommer. But he also cofounded Village Voice among others.
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Voice-over
Once travellers, mainly Europeans, visited Japan for the history and culture. And maybe cheap goods. They still do. Or will again when the world shakes off this Covid thing. But nowadays travellers also come seeking goods, upmarket, from Asia and the contemporary media-driven culture. Akihabara has adapted to the times.
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