It had been a long time since I had been to Japan, and I couldn't wait to see again the curious mix of 1970s retro-chic and space-age technology that the city boasts.
I was in town to manage a discussion between some well known supranational issuers and investors. But just as I was welcoming the first of my guests, I became aware of a strange sensation. No, I wasn't suffering the ill-effects of an excess of whisky (can such a thing exist?), but the room was nonetheless starting to spin.
The next thing I knew, an attentive member of staff was hustling me to the doorway and out of the (potential) downward path of an extraordinarily elaborate — and no doubt heavy — glass chandelier. A deafening siren informed me, in case I was still wondering, that, yes, this was an earthquake.
Turns out, I read later, that this was the biggest shake so far this year. Fortunately, the assiduous reinforcement work by Japanese engineers on Tokyo's architecture worked as it should. It was a good few minutes before all the bits of glass had stopped moving, but it was a good hour before I was feeling stable.
Retro-chic may be the style in Tokyo, but retro-fitting is the substance. And I for one am mighty glad.