A note about feeling guilty

I’ve thought long and hard about publishing this blog, what will people think of me? Will I go down in my nearests and dearests’ estimations? You see, I am ashamed to say I have a confession to make. I did something on Sunday that has left me feeling very uneasy, it was something dirty and despicable and thus far I have not told a soul. When it was over, I immediately jumped in the bath to let the guilt soak away, but it was no good, I’ve been feeling terrible ever since. Yes, dear reader, on Sunday, (are you sitting down?) On Sunday, I went to Ueno Zoo. 

Ueno is the area where I work and shop and walk. It is a lovely park and lake / pond and a zoo.  Every day I walk past the zoo with big queues outside. Everywhere around Ueno are reminders of the Pandas that reside in the zoo. I am not a zoo person, I think I went to Prague Zoo a couple of times, but I don’t go seeking them out, but I guess I must have been sublimely influenced by all the paraphernalia around the streets of Taito City.  

So, in the sunshine on Sunday, off I went. 

What I found was disturbing. I remember the polar bears of Prague Zoo, walking back and forth, forth and back, demented by the crowds, the heat, the boredom, the lack of space. Here, it felt like all the animals were Prague Zoo polar bears; carving a lonely furrow, back and forth, to and fro. Or  they were just lying on the ground as if shot by the trophy hunters on the other sides of the bars because let’s face it, zoo goers are on the same scale as trophy hunters. What was wrong? The cages were too small, conditions cramped and animals in solitary confinement. With vast crowds pushing and pulling in all directions, gawping and glaring at the beasts you could tell the animals were stressed and miserable. 

Ueno is called one of Japan’s most beloved zoos, but in my opinion, people need to take a long hard look at themselves not at the animals.

P.S. You will be pleased to know that despite there being a plethora of toddlers in the zoo, I didn’t trip any over. 

P.P.S The chips at Ueno Zoo are the best chips / French fries I have had in Japan.