watashi to tokyo

I am the internet addiction

There are many sites that show us funny news, images, and movies. This U.S site, this 'boing boing.com' is great. What a timely post! I wrote about Washlets just a few days ago, and 'boing boing' introduced this Japanese toilet ad today,  the link resource in the ad was 'we make money not Art, and they show a kewpie ad in  the advertising category, I wrote about kewpie a few days ago too. Hmm fun is fun, whoever, wherever.

Speaking of Japanese sites, I read often LL (elu elu). He gathers all sorts of interesting, funny, good, erotic files and pages from around the world.  He said he is 10 year old girl, ha funny. It is his smart way because he can take a distance from erotic posts in this comments.  By the way I like simple image posts like this, this and this.  Since this is a Japanese site, we may find more Japanese and Japan-related links than than foreign sites. He said he feels bad as if he brings shame on Japan because of crazy news and images... ha ha ha.  In his site, I have to see a mountain of women's balloon breast,  but it doesn't matter. I appreciate his site because he doesn't just show funny things. For example, this is swedish movie (heavy file), he picked up yesterday. The title is "Sayonara". Like he said the movie director will be Japanese animation otaku, especially he will like Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii.  For me, it is impossible to mix BGM of "Princess of Mononoke" and "Innocence"( =Ghost in the Shell 2) :-P.  But he said the movie is nice, and I agree with him.  To make a animation based on live-action film would take time. In another post,  LL found out this stupid's past caper on the Internet, so I could know someone already predict the stupid would make same problem sooner or later. This is The world news paper link, maybe he found good topics to discuss in those place too.　
Anyway because of those sites, I can't stop an addiction with the Internet. Enjoy our cyber world.

It depends on your parking car technique

In 1990 or 1991 the street-legal requirement was changed. Now when we get a car, we need to submit a certification of parking space to the regional Police.Before that? I'm not sure, but I think some people would park their car in front of their house or in an empty space. When my brother bought a car in his school days he actually parked it in front of my house for a while, because my parents'house only has one parking space. Once 'the parking law' took effect, people rushed to get a parking space and the price of renting a space suddenly went up. Some people couldn't find space near their home. Poor small country... Can you believe that some people had to go back home from their parking space by train?!

We don't have a crazy situation, but at any rate when you buy a car in Japan you need to have a parking space too. If you live in apartment you need to rent one. If you live in a house with a parking space, that is fine. If you live in a house but there is no space? Yes, it may happen in old houses which were built before the law. You have to screw in your car with your technique. Yeeesh! Screw your car in!, in!, in! But how can the driver get out? I don't know how. At least this parking has A side door!

Looking for good German bread in Tokyo

I want this rice cooker made by Tiger, because you can bake bread with it, too.

I said before I have my "bread boom" sometimes, and I love to eat Freundlieb's Graham bread.(that real anpanman is scary :-*) Yes, I love theGerman hard brown bread. The typical Japanese soft, thick breads (shokupan) and sweet bun and pastriesy are all delicious, but they are too close to sweets to me. I want to eat wheat, not white flour! Does that make sense? I agree with this English guy's opinion(funny!), I wonder if he knew about how in the Osaka area(look last part), things are worse. Yes, maybe Japanese like sweet and soft bread, actually "how soft" can be a good sales point for bread. There's bread with the name 'Double soft'. Actually is it very soft, even the crust part.

Then unfortunately that might be the reason why it is very hard to find good German bread in Tokyo, Japan, and also why I want that bakery machine. As far as I know, in the Tokyo area; Backerei Brotheim,Kornblume, Belgfeld(kamakura),KB-keiji, and my favorite one Levain have good German bread.. If these shops are so far from you, you may order some at Brot, and Kinokuniya sells their shop brand bread online. "Do I have to buy a loaf of bread online?!" Yes, it is funny...I'm very serious about buying a TIGER!

Temprates of Japanese MS PowerPoint

I followed up this Piano-man news in the UK. Today we finally get to know his name.  Very interesting!

Morning Musume is a kind of girls idle group. (I found PV of 'Love Machine'). There are 9 girls now?  I'm not sure, I need to check because they are produced and reduced again and again by their Producer Tsunku. Here is English site update about them.  By the way I am busy drewing up a project proposal to the production of Morning musume. Well, it's job, I will do my best in complete disregard of my interests. :-P

I am using MS PowerPoint. Then I found out when I was looking at the templates.  Does each county have different presentation templates? I have never seen Italian, French, Germany, or Chinese MS PowerPoint. So I don't know about it.  Have you ever seen Japanese PowerPoint?  There are Kyoto, Cherry Blossom, Furin (furin is!) etc,. there are soooooo Japanese templates, and they have more in Japanese Microsoft sites too. But this may happen because Japanese is unique language of Japan.  How about the US and Canad and also the UK?  Portugal and Brasil has same template?  If you use the same language, templates are not be unique?

Anyway do you think we use such Japanese template in business?  No way. What's the point?  At least I have never used those Japanese template on a presentation. Daruma and some other templates are so heavy, it would be stupid to use them. They make file size unnecessary large!  Who can use that?.

Washlet, what a nice toilet?!

Ah...my American friend said it is hard to find a "washlet" in the U.S? Is that true? Washlet is the brand name of TOTO, but generally Japanese call all toilets of this type  washlets. I have to tell you that the old style Japanese toilets are very uncomfortable. (You can see them in Katamari Damacy.) I do not like them, I won't talk about the details. Unfortunately they can still be found in old buildings. But basically it was because of such inconveniences and uncomfortable situations that we had a toilet revolution in Japan. (exaggeration!?).

Maybe in the last 15 years or so, the Japanese toilet situation has changed dramatically. Many Japanese have traded their home toilets in for a washlet, or at least a heated seat. I suppose all new houses, and apartments will have a seat-heater or a washelet toilet. And you will easily find washlets at most modern hotels or other public places too. Actually at my job, the toilets have all the functions; washlet, seat-heater, a sounds button to absorb bodily noises and it also provides music to relieve yourself.

And now toilets have become even more sophisticated in Japan. Look at this TOTO Japan site. Their new tankless toilet has a washlet (you may choose the washing way), a seat-heater, filtered air with ion plus automatic fragrance, a room heater, a sensor to open the cover, a remote control to open the seat, and you can even choose between the sound of a brook or four classical tunes (Bach, Chopin, etc,.) These are good but that toilet has a lot of buttons, it's troublesome unless you know how to control it..... Ha, that's going too far, you think?  What happens during a power failure? Access denied?

Anyway INAX is another big bathroom system maker in Japan. This guy made joke about Mac and INAX. Ha he apologized.

Sudoku and Oekaki logic. Pencil puzzle topic

This morning, there was a story Yahoo Japan news, which said that SUDOKU is booming in the UK now. Is this true? maybe it's true; because there are many sites about Sudoku in the UK. The Game's name "Sudoku" is Japanese. Nikori, a puzzle book company named it. It has the meaning "number should be single". Since they also use the name Sudoku in the UK, I thought this puzzle was originally from Japan, but according to Wikipedia, it originated in the U.S first as Number Place. Have you ever played it? If not, this site has a good rule page, and this is a flash program that you can play for free. ( Reloading the page will renew the puzzle). This site provides a Sudoku game daily. I think Sudoku is good game for killing time, I play it on my cell on the train.

For a similar type of game, there is also oekaki logic. This game has different names around the world. But Nintendo named it Oekaki logic. I thought this is new game, but it has a long history. Please try to find the game archive on this big oekaki logic site.

And if you have an interest in Japanese pencil puzzles, this is a good site. They are supported by the oldest,  and biggest Japanese puzzle magazine Nikori. Please check Nikori's pencil puzzules page too.

Yoyogi park, and Thai festival

I went to a Thai Festival in Yoyogi park today. Yoyogi park is one of several big parks in Tokyo between Shibuya and Harajuku. The National Yoyogi Sports arene that was designed by Kenzo Tange, and also Meiji Shrine bound it on either side. Until 1998, the main street was cleared of vehicle traffic every Sunday, and many dance groups and bands, and performers played there. One of the more famous perfomances was Takenoko Zoku,  a strange and colorful costumed act with disco music.　Hiroyuki Okita was the leader of Takenoko zoku (maybe this is him) and he was picked up off the street and became an actor and singer. He sang the theme for the soccer animation Captain Tsubasa.　But some years ago, he committed suicide. Now they do not have a vehicle free day, Takenoko zoku disappeared, and performers and bands play on the footpath. Since there are many many people in the part on the weekend, and I really really hate crowded places. (my LP =life points drop down 5 or 10 in crowded places) I hardly ever go there.

Anyway Thai Festival got to be a famous event in May in Tokyo. I always wonder if there is any better way to hold such festivals? It was so crowded, hard to walk around, there was so much garbage, and no place to sit down. It was far from "enjoyable" for me. I wish I could enjoy shopping, drinking Thai beer and food. But I felt as if I were in a broiler house and gave up after only one hour. :-P
Ah! During the time I was there, we had a big thundershower and lighting. To my surprise, one guy was struck by lighting (he was in critical condition) and an ambulance came. After that accident, the shower stopped and we saw a clear rainbow over the Yoyogi Sports arena.  The five of us were less than satisfied with Thai Fest, so we went to Tukino Shizuku (a tofu food Izakaya) in Shibuya and drank again until 9pm. Walking in crowds is thirsty work.

Overseas phone calls are cheap now.

Near my job is the CATS Theater, Gekidan Shiki is one of the leading producers of musicals in Japan. They temporary made the theater "CATS theater" in Shinjuku, first in 1983. It was an epoc- making topic in Japan's musical scene. Anyway regarding CATS, that eyes' logo is linked to a memory about my first visit to London because I saw that AD everywhere. It was a veru frugal trip, I ate sandwiches everyday, ( but I still cannot donate blood because of that trip) , When I call my mom, it was always a quick call, "It's me! I am in London. I am okay. Don't worry. Bye!" with one coin. .

In those days, oversea calls to Japan and from Japan were expensive. Actually I think, a long time ago, we had a no choice but KDDI for making overseas calls from Japan. Even now an overseas calls from a regular phone or a pay phone is not so cheap. KDDI says 36yen/miniute to the U.S, 90yen/minutes to the UK.

Now we have an IP phone service, I was impressed that quality is not too bad now. 6 or 7 years ago, I used to shout, "what did you say? I can't hear you!" to the monitor all the time. Unfortunately even though the quality has improved I don't use this service often. To be honest, it is difficult for me to become familiar with talking to my PC with a headset..... How can I say, I need to have a "phone or something " in my hand or attached to my ear, and I need to look blankly in my general vicinty. Without doing that, I can't concentrate on the conversation. ( Basically, I don't like talking on a phone, so that's a problem too.)

So when I need to make an overseas call, I use this service. It's very cheap and good quality, and I can use my cell to call. 11yen/minute to the U.S and 11yen/minute to the UK anytime of the day. And since it is paid in advance, I don't have to worry about over talking. When I need more time, I can recharge it at a convenience store.

Are you a mayorer?

Do you like Mayonnaise? I cook with my original dressing so often, that I have never made Mayonnaise myself. I did not know it is one of classic French sauces. In the North America, Hellman's is a well-known maker of mayo? How about your country?  I don't know why, but most mayonnaise has this type of package -Red Cap and yellow tube- regardless of it's relation to the brand.( yes Look at the results of these mayo images) And the oldest and the most popular mayonnaise brand in Japan would be Kewpie in Japan. They made first mayo in 1925.

When we see a kewpie doll, most Japanese think of Kewpie's Mayonnaise. Since they sponsored a 3 minute cooking show for over 40 years. This Jessel's "The parade of wooden soldiers" is known as the "Kewpie 3 minutes cooking theme". please click on the movie icon, to see their cooking show.
I am always impressed with their TV commercials. They are lovely and have good sense. Some of them introduces recipe with Kewpie products, their Jam TV commercials alywas make me miss Jam & toast always.

In Japan, mayo lovers call themselves "mayorer"（マヨラー) and they add mayo to various foods, that we do not usually associate with mayo. For mayorer, mayo rice and mayo curry are a regular combination. There are some restaurants for mayo fans. In this Mayonnaise Kitchen in Tachikawa, you can enjoy mayo in all their menu items, even dessert. In this restaurant, people can keep their own mayo bottle. What do you think of this mayo ramen? Then there's this mayo taste rice cracker named "mayore love".

TV shows I like to see

I agree with this, surfing the web is addictive, more than a cup of coffee. Yes I was serious about bringing my notebook when I go camping :-P (Here is the place we had planeded to go. But the camping trip was cancelled due to rain.) Every morning I check my e-mail and surf the Internet during breakfast, this morning I found this "Train man will become a TV drama". Well just a few days ago, I told you that the film would come debut soon. In the TV drama, Misaki Ito will play Hermes and Atsushi Ito will be the train man. Umm I am full, no more thank you. I've heard enough about the trainman.

Contrary to my web addiction, I hardly every watch TV, maybe one hour a week or less. The last show I watched was the Silk Road-3. This Sunday number 4 comes on, I will check it our of course. Sometimes while doing the step machine at the gym, I'll watch Trivia no Izumi or Debuya. If I do not forget it, I'll check out the world heritage on TBS on Sunday nights. "Bi no kyojintachi" (Giants of art) is an art TV show. They focus on one painting, and then they introduce the painter, their background, and an episode with movies, interviews and a short play. For example March 26th was In the Salon of the Rue des Moulins by Lautrec. They already made one about At the Moulin Rouge.　They made two programs about Norman Rockwell's The Problem We All Live With. It was very nice, so nice in fact that I was quite impressed.

Like iron chef or Trivia no izumi, some interesting shows are being sold to foreign countries. Then I found this documentary program about a Canadian girl which comes on twice or so a year or so as a special program on FUJI TV. It is in a list of program being sold by Fuji TV. She is Ashley Hegi, who has the sickness Progelia, it is a genetic disorder, which accelerates the aging process. When her story first aired in Japan in a science documentary program, I heard that FUJI TV was flooded with responses from the public. She was just 11years old at that time, but she seemed to accept her destiny and loved her life very much. Many people were impressed with Ashley's words. Last winter, the latest show was aired, she's now 13 years old. Many Japanese are looking forward to seeing her wonderful heart and smile on TV again.