Gyms

After doing the differences between Japanese and American cities (thanks for ruining everything Kaze! Expect some nasty comments real soon!), I figured I’d talk about gyms as well. My apologies if the last post sounded negative, it wasn’t supposed to.

Anyway here’s some things I’ve noticed, this is a fairly direct comparison of NYSC on 23^rd and Park South and Konami Sports Club in Bentenchou.

-All, and I mean all, the cardio machines in NYSC have TVs that you can change the channels and often show Britney Spears! Konami runs a lot of housewife dramas and early morning variety shows.

-KSC has 1 assisted bench press; NYSC, more than I have fingers.

-NYSC: many attractive NY girls, not that I’m looking; KSC: many attractive Japanese girls, once again not looking.

-NYSC: protein drinks taste mysteriously like chocolate, vanilla and/or strawberry shakes, actually makes you look forward to the end of the workout; KSC; protein drinks taste like Jello without the flavor or food coloring, makes you want to stay on the gym floor.

-NYSC: private showers with conditioner; KSC: Japanese-style sitting row group showers with Shampoo/Conditioner combo and large hot spring style bathing pools to relax your sore muscles afterwards. TV in the sauna provides sports for anytime, almost as good as the Ocho.

-NYSC: free towels with new skin scrapping action; KSC: non-free towels smell slightly like fish.

-KSC: personal trainers push you for 2-3 slow reps with light weight and then respectfully congradulate you on lifting 2.3 kgs; NYSC: personal trainers tell you to stop being a pussy dimpshit, after you just did 15 reps of 10 lbs heavier than you could even dream about lifting, and make you do 10 more.

-KSC: PTs call everyone by last name; NYSC: PTs call all men dude, bro, man, chief, women are babe.

-KSC: Old men in the shower are amazed by your non-Japanese skin are large member; NYSC: Old men don’t make it to the shower room as they carted off to the ambulance.

-KSC: high number of members who attend the first week after joining only to never return but continue paying membership fees for at least another 18 months and appear in the VIP member list; NYSC: : high number of members who attend the first week after joining only to never return but continue paying membership fees for at least another 18 months and appear in the VIP member list.

I’m going tomorrow. See you there!