Tokyo Commute

A unique take on modern life in Tokyo. A Japan of trains, every day to and fro, carriage scenes and theatre, vistas from the window, advertising posters. To be savoured through the Odakyu line. Pitched as creative text and line-graphics, Tokyo Commute offers on-track and off-track observations. Poetics of Japanese routine and etiquette.

A. Robert Lee was a Professor in the English department at Nihon University, Tokyo from 1997 to 2011. He previously taught at the University of Kent, UK. His recent books include Multicultural American Literature: Comparative Black, Native, Latino/a and Asian American Fictions (2003), which won the American Book Award in 2004, and, with Mark Gresham, Japan Textures: Sight and Word (2007). A. Robert Lee was a Professor in the English department at Nihon University, Tokyo from 1997 to 2011. He previously taught at the University of Kent, UK. His recent books include Multicultural American Literature: Comparative Black, Native, Latino/a and Asian American Fictions (2003), which won the American Book Award in 2004, and, with Mark Gresham, Japan Textures: Sight and Word (2007).

1. Odaky?-sen, 2. Shinjuku Station, 3. Shinjuku, 4. Muk?gaoka-y?en North, 5. Muk?gaoka-y?en South, 6. Muk?gaoka-y?en Platform, 7. January Monday, 8. Odaky? Notables, 9. Odaky? Line Sounds Familiar, 10. Train Notices, 11. Odaky? Commercials, 12. February Tuesday, 13. Odaky? Keitaispracht, 14. By-line, Setagaya Line, 15. March Wednesday, 16. Odaky? Day-out Sendagi, 17. Shimo-Kitazawa, 18. Bicycle!, 19. Odaky? Bike Interview - Toda-san, 20. International Interlude via Narita Airport, 21. Keitai Train Culture, 22. April Thursday, 23. Odaky? Tamagawa, 24. Station Sights, 25. Odaky?-sen, Yoyogi-Hachiman Eki, 26. May Friday, 27. Muk?gaoka-y?en, Day for Night, 28. Odaky? Day-out, Hakone, 29. June Saturday, 30. Odaky? Commercials, 31. Odaky? Smokes, 32. By-line, Nambu Line, 33. Odaky? Bag Watch, 34. Seijo Times, 35. Odaky? Day-out, Yokohama, 36. July Sunday, 37. Odaky? Trains of Thought, 38. Train Signs, Train Sounds, 39. By-line, Tama Express, 40. August Monday, 41. Odaky? Day-out, Chiba, 42. September Tuesday, 43. Odaky? Lady-grooming, 44. Odaky? and Near-Odaky? Women's Hairday, 45. Odaky? Evenings-out, 46. October Wednesday, 47. Odaky? Day-out, Ibaraki, 48. Chikan! Odaky? Misbehaviour, 49. November Thursday, 50. Odaky? Blues, 51. Odaky? Men's Haircut, 52. Odaky? Day-out, ?-Sumo, 53. December Friday, 54. Odaky? Store, 55. Odaky? Bookshelf, 56. Last Train, Glossary