Jungian desires

Let the darkness be your guide, not rationality. Let's go into the night.....

Dear reader,

A few years ago I visited Tokyo, Japan. I explored the city and ended up in the anime and cosplay area of Akihabara. To a Westerner this is a very strange phenomenon. Adults and adolescents scavenging the streets and shops filled with cartoon like characters, people dressed up in their favourite costumes depicting an (anti) hero of some comic or cartoon magazine or series. Only in Japan. The childlike, colorful and playful innocence that showcases the sights that meets my eye made me feel like I was in Disneyland for a moment, but something was off. After spending a few hours walking around, going into shops with anime figurines, DVD’s and cosplay paraphernalia, I noticed a different kind of crowd attending the colorful world of Akihabara as well. Some of the shops had a section in the back where the innocent figurines depicting Pikachu and his friends were slowly replaced by heroes from Japanese action comics, a bit more out of sight, on higher shelves. Male figurines with their chest exposed, boasting an impressive muscular, almost otherworldly, physique. The opposite sex is displayed in tiny hotpants with small bikini tops with their naturally round shapes peeking out in all possible directions. The female heroine Nami is depicted in a tiny top and thong with 5 percent of her skin covered up. Her impressive boobs are the first thing you meet when you get closer to have a detailed look at this figurine. Her booty is stretched in the perpendicular direction. Like she’s ready for something. Waiting to be taken. But by whom? Middle aged men and young men browse the shelves. Boobs are getting bigger, more ass is exposed. The guns of the lady heroines are smaller than their natural weapons. The men and boys look lustful at the figurines. I leave the store and enter an eatery with young, grown women dressed up as coeds in uniform. I order a drink. I get an urge. A desire. Ready to explore. Let’s go into the shadow. The Jungian shadow. See you soon. In the darkness of your desire.

Yours,

Dark Night