At the end of the year, New York was overflowing with people—much like Tokyo, or perhaps anywhere in the world.
Spending several days here made me reflect on what abundance and cultural value really mean in our time.
At the end of the year, New York was as crowded as Tokyo—no, probably like any major city in the world.
The contrast with the usually quiet area around my daughter’s workplace was so striking that even she seemed surprised.
The Museum of Modern Art was also overwhelmingly crowded, leaving little room to slowly appreciate its most famous works.
Still, spending time with paintings for the first time in a while brought a sense of calm.
After several days in New York, I found myself realizing just how rich and comfortable Tokyo truly is.
The area around Fifth Avenue feels much like Ginza.
Shops selling everyday goods and pet supplies offer products that are not very different from those in Japan.
In terms of overall design and refinement, some ordinary Japanese shopping centers might even surpass what is found here.
Of course, in an age when almost anything can be purchased online, there may be little point in arguing which country is better.
That said, with so many people gathering from all over the world, New York still seems to hold an edge as a global center of consumer culture.
In places like SoHo, you occasionally come across a shop that makes you think, quite simply, this is really good—and that is something New York does exceptionally well.
On the other hand, Japan has its traditional crafts.
This is an area where comparison itself no longer makes much sense.
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