N8 - Romanticized Lyrics

I stepped into a future stuck in the past
Simultaneously first but also placing in last
Restaurant across the street still only accepting cash
Businesses and offices communicating with fax
Such a jarring contrast seeing ceremonies and arts
Culture is traditional while being inventive and smart
Blending fragments of the past and present in their daily lives
Melting pot of 2020s also 2005
Architecture full of ancient temples dazzle the sights
Towering commercial skyscrapers erected with might
Historic gardens and beauty coexist with the concrete
Rural places show an older soul in these back streets
Why are people here so forward thinking yet outdated
Deep-seated respect for tradition and the collective
Harmony is number one your feelings are not
Even if it means to be somebody that you are not
If you got a credit card don't rely on it much
Carrying some cash is still a thing and comes in clutch
Smaller joints will see digital usage like it's cynical
Cash payments are their main economy its pivotal
Experience of staying in ryokans are quaint
Rejection of modernity, amenities that you're used to
Sleep on a tatami or a futon not accustomed to
That's another tug of war between the old and new
And the many quality of life facets looking dope
Locals probably don't even think that they're advancements
See it everyday so they're immersed in their convenience
But they stay resistant to change, keeping it lenient
Reflect on if you really think you're in the tech capital
Nothing is what it really seems, you see the practical
Reflect on if you really think you're in the tech capital
Nothing is what it really seems, you see the magical
You see fancy toilets and bidets and think it's hot
It is but also glamorizing something that it's not
You see they have sneaker washing machines so it's hot
It is but also glamorizing something that it's not
First you feel jealousy, then you feel envy
Then you come back home and get a dose of that reality
Nippon is a sci-fi tech utopia with aliens
Bow down to their species superior to homo sapiens
Country as a whole is wonderful but that's the curse
Heavy weight of expectations sit on its shoulders
People come and visit like their journey is a poem
Get conflicted and start feeling something like a Paris syndrome
Now Japan syndrome, sad when they go home
They get expectations shattered so now they don't know
And they don't show, the disillusioned look on their face
Maybe Japan is not as perfect in the first place
But don't get it twisted
I'm not a doomsayer
I'm just a myth slayer
I just think that tourists should be more realistic
Keep it tempered if your views are kinda idealistic
Understand the country from a view that's more holistic
Judge it on its own terms
Don't compare the country to another, yeah it's tempting
Maybe it's a little bit unfair to put Japan on higher pedestals
Yeah it's still incredible the trip is unforgettable
Shoutout Luis
Shoutout Milton
Shoutout Shashi
Shoutout Chriskid
Shoutout Nhat
It's the Shinnichi Six, it's been an honor to travel with you
Maybe we'll link up again, we never know
Hoping your life is filled with new adventures
Never stop travelling, never be idle, keep your wanderlust and see the world
Learn about yourself and live experiences to share with your loved ones
Take care