Watch out Wannamakers and be alerted all you Marshall Field fans that Japan has preserved and protected -- and perhaps perfected-- the general interest department store and has more than a few places that seem more than competitive with Macy's, featuring floors of goods, scores of restaurants and, most surprising of all, teams of clerks who say they're ready to help. There don't seem to be that many big stores like that left in the US and fewer yet that are thriving. Can't say whether Japan is living in the past or the wave of the future. the Korean department stores were pretty impressive also.
One of my few disappointments in China a few years ago was the absence of anticipated bike traffic jams in Beijing like I had seen in the pictures. In fact there didn't seem to be many bikes. Perhaps they shipped them to Kyoto. There are scads of them here and folks that seem at least middle class seem to be riding them. My guess is that people who are getting rich can't wait to banish the bike, but those who already are know that its a useful tool in congested cities.
One of my few disappointments in China a few years ago was the absence of anticipated bike traffic jams in Beijing like I had seen in the pictures. In fact there didn't seem to be many bikes. Perhaps they shipped them to Kyoto. There are scads of them here and folks that seem at least middle class seem to be riding them. My guess is that people who are getting rich can't wait to banish the bike, but those who already are know that its a useful tool in congested cities.
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