Mari - diary

a haiku "koko de ikku"

Ah, a chotto heavy day. Recently, I have not been getting enough sleep and execise. I was planning to go to the gym earlier, after work so I could sleep well, but tonight is server maintenance night. Althought I am not working directly with the system, when our website stops, we have to check if the sites work without problems after maintenance. So, I am here at work, maybe I have to go home after midnight by taxi.

I am hungry, but it is rainy night so I don't want to go out for something to eat. Instead, I will make a cup of instant Miso soup. There are more glamourous varities with dry vegi's like this one, but I have only a simple miso. I am a tired, sleepy woman with a cup of miso soup still at my job, at midnight, ha ha ha. Well, I will try to read one English haiku, where we say "kokode ikku" (stereotyped statement)

a cup of instant miso soup
a very small clam there and
a little bitter taste

Thank you.

AH! OK OK OK?? Is this OK? I am not sure of the English haiku rules.

Plastic bottle bonuses

The new Star Wars movie comes out next year! What new aliens will we see this time? I am sorry to say this, but I am getting bored with the story itself. But I always like to see the new aliens.

When the new Star Wars comes out, PEPSI will automatically have a pet bottle figure campaign.　It is a collection of figures of the main characters from Star Wars, set on the cap of a plastic PEPSI bottle. Not only collecting maniacs, but everyone, likes them and heat up to collect them all. Since we don't know which character is in the small bag attached to the plastic bottle, it is very hard to collect all the items. Many people resort to touching the PEPSI bottle in the store, to know what is in there shape of the bag. My co-worker says that when this type of campaign started in the past, his blood pressure points rose up, because he drank three or four in a day. Some adults buy bottles by the carton to collect the item easily. We call this way of purchasing "OTONA GAI". It means "adult purchase".

By the way, is this type of campaign for Japan PEPSI only? I tried to find same type of cap in the U.S. and other countries, but I could not find it. Hmmm.
Not only do we have this plastic bottle figure, but we also have "SHOKUGAN" culture; it means added bonus for sweets or drinks. Well, to be honest with you, we cannot say added bonus anymore because people get sweets and drinks as a bonus!!. This "miniature" culture has developed because of a few very excellent techniques, like those of TAMIYA or KAIYODO, world-famous figurine makers. I will write about SHOKUGAN later in another article.　This time I'm writing only about plastic bottle drinks.

Added Bonus for Plastic Bottle Drinks
In addition to such figures, there are countless types of bonuses on plastic bottles in Japan.
Right now the biggest campaign will be MLB goods on PEPSI. I suppose this would be a good event for the U.S. Did the U.S have this already?

These types of things are added as a bonus:
A. Tied to other Big Events.
For example, a campaign is held combined with the release of the movie Spiderman, Star wars, The Planet of the Apes, or the game Final Fantasy, or sport events like this addidas.

B. Using their Mascot.
The most popular character is Qoo. Recently Namacha Panda had good sales too.

C. Gift for the Target User.
For example, oolong tea or green tea, which have girls as their target, add as a bonus some aroma goods or small, inferior incense.

D. Seasonal Events.
In the Christmas season, we can get Snoopy Christmas ornaments.

E．Practical stuff
Name plate, stickers, and key chains.

F. Others
There is a lot of nonsense, unwanted stuff added to drinks. For example, this is the ball which added to Amino Shiki. No, no, no, I don't need this. You want it?

Bottle Cap Figure
Most of all there are these bonuses. Bottle cap figures are the most popular item. You will see a lot of exchange sites, and Yahoo auction has bottle cap figure pages. I will introduce some popular series here.

[PEPSI]
Gundam2
Gundam 1
Yes Gundam could be a whole industry. Here is Gundam Shop, Char Special PC
Adidas
I did not collect this, but boys loved this.
Star Wars Series 2
Star Wars Series 1
Not only caps, there are big size figures, stages for caps and you can buy special editions for 1500 yen.
The Planet of the Apes I went to see this with my ex, a long time ago....(stares into the distance)

[Coke]
As far as the plastic bottle campaign goes, PEPSI is much better than COKE. Coke does not make them in a cap type, just as a decorative figurine. I like the cap type much more.
Lupin the Third
Lupin the Third-first season is my favorite animation. Hayao Miyazaki was the director at that time. I recommend Castle of Cagliostro to learn about Lupin the Third quickly. Hollywood will make a live action movie in the next year, I heard. Who will act as Lupin?
Final Fantasy
I don't know it well. I played 1,2,3,4,5,6, but I don't remember the characters.
Universal Studios Collection
I have them all, I did not mean to collect them, I just love to drink Diet Coke.
Dragon Ball Z
This shop sells each for 170 yen. The price can show its popularity and value. I think the most expensive one would be the Star Wars big size special. Look at this site.　It is 3500 yen.

[Asahi bivalegge]
Ultraman
I like Zetton. Zetton appears in the last episode of Ultraman. Only Zetton defeats Ultraman. Did you know that?

Major Convenience Stores Makes their Unique Collection　Each convenience store makes their own special editions.
Seven Eleven Japan : Kamen Rider, Doraemon
Lawson : Osamu Tezuka
Family Mart : Spiderman
thanks : Shrek 2

Typical summer CM

We see CM's only in the summer season and one of them is called pyrethrum coils, produced by KINCHO, the biggest manufacturer. Thier web site is a little funny and it looks nostalgic, like an old theater in Osaka, see here(JP). Althought this website has only a Japanese version, please click anywhere to enter the door and their theater; you might enjoy the KINCHO CMs. Any ways, KINCHO means Golden Chicken and recently, an electrical style is much more useful in keeping away the mosquitoes. I have not used a pyrethrum coil for a long time too, but feel summer has arrived when I see these pyrethrum coils - CM. Some people like them because of it's odour (basically made from chrysanthemum which mosquitoes hates) . Hmmmm, pyrethrum coils is a symbol of Japanese summer still now. If you are interested in readingmore, here is their English company page. Anyway a regular tray for pryrethrum coil is "pig" shape . Why pig? I don't know why.

I have found my new apartment!

I have found my new apartment, finally!! It is only 1 minute from the nearest station. It has two rooms and a kitchen. It is a corner suite on the 5th floor of a 6 floor apartment which was build in 2001. The rent is......... 100,000yen!!! I think this is good deal, actually. So I am happy tonight. yes, something new is always exciting. Any ways, I will love to see the interior, especially to see my chair. My favorite chair is Barcelona chair by Mies van der Rohe. Did you know that last year, the 100 Chairs of the World exhibition was held in Tokyo. Here you could try every 100 chair listed and of course I tried to sit in the Barcelona. Well, well, well, my first impression was not so comfortable to sit.

live by photosynthesis

Now I am relaxing at home, it is Saturday night, ah yes, with a glass of whisky.

Today was my magazine edition release day. I also had a apointment with the dentist and I had to go see a new apartment. Yes, It was a very busy day today. When I decide to do something, I make a promise and make a plan and do it. "No excuses" This is my way. Saying, without doing is equal to lying. Who can trust a man who is all mouse right?. ne!

Any ways, the apartment I saw today was a new building with two rooms and good security. A 8 minute walk from the nearest train Station - Express service stops at this station. this can be good condition of price. Then I found out how much! 90,000 Yen per month!! This is very reasonable for this area, but then I realized the reason why it is so cheap, the building gets little sunshine!! So I had to pass on it. Yes, yes I did.

Why Lacoste? Why Agnes b?

The story that I heard makes a lot of sense. One of the reasons why Lacoste polo shirts have become popular is due to the ugly crocodile logo or crest. This gives a very different feeling from wearing something cute. Agnes b.’s eft emblem is the same, it feels good to wear clothes with "a spicy character" because of its dominating presence. But, for some reason, my pair of pants at home have bear prints all over them. I usually wear plain, black and white style. So Bear pants are much more uncomfortable than crocodile or eft for me. hmm Honestly, speaking masochistically, I like these alot.

Hero Anpanman gives you his face

Today, my lunch was a bagle. I bought this bagle at Bagle & Bagle from a NY style shop at Meguro. Yesterday I had some bread from Paul from Paris. I love to eat bread and I have my boom of bread, ha ha ha.   Right now my boom is Freundlileb's' graham bread. Their main shop is in Kobe, fortunately there is a market nearby my office where they sell thier bread.  When I went to Europe, I missed some kinds of breads.  Compared to Europe, I cal tell you can try a huge variety of bread from all over the world in Japan,

Talking about Japan original bread, most popular one would be Anpan (stuffed sweet red beans). The most famous shop is Ginza Kimuraya.  Number 2 would be "melon-pan", (cookies covered, not melon taste).  Anpan, melon pan..yes in Japanese, pan means bread.  Here is a melon pan fan site.

Japanese love them both Anpan and melon pan so much. Actually they became a hero and a heroine in kid's cartoons. Here is Anpan man and there is another pretty heroine called Melonpanna-chan. Of course we have Anpanman shape Anpan in many bakely.  By the way, since Anpan-man is a hero, he is strong and is very kind. When someone needs energy, he gives his face to him and says, "please eat my face!!". What a heroic self-sacrifice he makes, good education for kids! However it is a little weird, actually. So many mindless adults make bad jokes about this on his website, here are mild example, this, this. See? You may suppose worse joke illustrations. Poor Anpan-man.!

quit smoking

Actually, I'm someone who has quit smoking completely. I used to need nicotine and caffeine to live, but of course, it was proven that I could live without them. Besides the known effects such as good for your health or good for your skin, quitting smoking is very good with those effects also: No need to get outside to buy the cigarets on a cold day, can choose nice tooth paste instead of "Zakt Lion" which is for taking off nicotine stain, and I no longer find 100 yen lighters from every single handbags any more.

Anyway smoking rates in Japan is getting down and down, but incidence of smoking among women is up I heard. Hmm so there are a lot of pretty lighters. This pig makes twin fire from nose. cute!

My favorite Korean restaurant

I ate Korean food tonight at my favorite Korean restaurant in Ebisu SONAMU (JP). I heard that a few Korean actresses and artists visit here.

I ordered Korean noodle with red hot pepper sauce and Kimchi. I blended them together to suit my own taste of Hot and Hotter. When SONAMU is full, I will also visit this Chasmil / Kimchi bar. (JP) You can enjoy a drink and kimchi at the bar. Both of these places I can recommend!

Strange Asian T-shirts

A big storm is coming to the Kansai area, so Tokyo is humid and dark today. Right now, while writing, I am listening to a demo CD, sent to me before. They, Girls in Hawaii, from the UK, will release their first album 'From here to there' on September 1. Very different style from this band with a strange name, but their music is nice. I like this very much.

Any ways, native English people always laugh at strange English T-shirt's in Japan. There are a lot of mispellings or menaingless words, which makes no sense in English. I will find some and introduce them to you later.

For example, in other Asain countries, we find strange Japanese T-shirts with Japanese phrases. This site called Asia no Ikashita T-shirts (JP) introduces such funny T-shirts. I like this one. Look at the first photo, it says "I will apologize". Hmm, because of the deisgn of the t-shirt I do not take this shirt very seriously. And look at this one - things which are cute Cute and stylish like what Rika is doing...hmm, did they pick this phrase from a magazine?

I can see a lof of strange T-shirts here with very useless phrases. Do you want to try these T-shirts with these types of meaningless phrases, like, strong jeans, big bargain! will start today"!!?? elementary school !!??