Holiday crowds in Japan

You complain about the holiday crowds at Peachtree Mall, Columbus Park Crossing and the Bradley Park area.

You truly have nothing to complain about.

In Japan, Christmas, of course, is not a big deal. After all, it is a Buddhist country. But New Year's Eve is huge. And New Year's Eve is celebrated on Dec. 31, unlike China, which has its own New Year's celebration that varies from year to year.

One of the biggest shopping districts in Tokyo is Ame-yoko, which is short for Ameya Yokocho, which has its beginnings in the post-World War II black market. Shops sell fresh food, groceries, clothes, jewelry -- all at very low prices.

Between Dec. 27-30, there were 1.41 million people. According to the Mainichi Shimbun (the Japanese national newspaper), that's 200,000 more than last year. And on Dec. 31, they were expecting an additional 400,000 people.

The Japanese believe that Ame-yoko is more crowded in recession years.

I visited Ame-Yoko in December, 1997, and it was truly crowded, but it was nothing like this year. We could actually walk without being pushed around.

Now, I think I'm too old and weak to push and shove in a crowd like that!