watashi to tokyo

80,000yen!

Funny foreign car TV ads. I like this one, and I wonder if this was okay? Animal protection activists did not complain to Opel?

By the way, I went to the dentist before work, I have to cover some teeth with white crowns". Guess what! the doctor said one crown costs 80,000yen! Because the white ceramic crown isn't covered by insurance. Bye bye my bonus...orz, but it's my fault. I will pay. I have to say I spent pretty good money for my teeth already. The doctor said my teeth are small and thin, that would be the big reason. Do you know WHO recommends adding fluorine to running water to prevent bad teeth? The U.S. and 60 other countries have it in the water, but Japan doesn't. Just a few years ago, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare permitted its use, but I heard fluorine is still not included into water in Japan. People discuss the safeness of water.

Well at least I am in a little bit of a bad mood :-) because of my teeth, so I tried to cheer myself up with one of my favorite sites". It's one 2channeler's blog. (my 2ch post). This week I like this post "I am Winnie the pooh, I will go shopping now." Pooh asked us, "Do you have some requests?" Everybody wrote what they wanted. Some said "Pointing to a meat bun then saying" -give me Piglet-". Some said "Get a Mickey Mouse and cut it into thin strips. Then shout -If you were not here-", like that. Then Pooh went shopping and updated photos in real time, readers wondered if pooh would be caught by guards. Actually we have had such a stupid story before. But fortunately Pooh could finish his shopping without problem. Well you know such ridiculous, nonsense stuff heals us. right?

Since last week, I've been "off-whack" :-) I should get overhauled.

It is sad to have terrible news in year end.

I am in party mode now :-) In the coming week, I have two or three Bonenkan (Forget-the-year parties). Tomorrow I have one with my co-workers at Chanto! I've been there a few times before with friends. I like their a href="http://iku-iku-web.hp.infoseek.co.jp/kimuci.jpg" target="_blank">"King of Kimchi". It's raw seafood wrapped with kimchi with sweet-and-sour hot sauce. It's delicious.

On the other hand, there is some terrible end-of-the-year news too. What do you think? Some people try to deal with their troubles before the coming new year? Some people react to their loneliness with violence? Unfortunately, some show their egoism more than usual in this season, I think.

I wrote about these little girls who were killed in the last few weeks. One criminal was arrested, but the police didn't catch the other one. Last weekend, a dog meat importer admitted to dumping 30 dog heads in a moat outside the detention center. Yesterday, a man's body was found in a bag on Aichi Street. Umm, I can't imagine how I would react if I found 30 dog heads on the street!

By the way, I remember very well one brutal murder. It happened on New Year's Eve 2000. Mikio Miyazawa (44), his wife (41), their daughter (8), and son (6) were slain in their home in Setagaya ward. Despite various pieces of evidence found at the scene, police have made no arrests. After the murderer killed the family, he used their PC, tried to reserve a ticket for a musical, and ate ice cream and other food from the freezer in the house.

The long sleeve shirt which the criminal wore was one of only 10 sold in the Tokyo area. In the bag, the police found sand which was very similar to sand from Nevada in the U.S. His tennis shoes were one pair of only 400 made in South Korea. With these, the criminal left very incriminating evidence. And in the last year, a symbolic statue was found near the scene of the murders and the police are probing its connection to the criminal. They said the motive behind the murders was simply robbery, but of course we won't know the truth until the criminal is caught and they ask him.

Busy weekend.

I wrote about how Mizuho Securities marred J-Com's market debut. Six securities companies including UBS returned money to Mizuho. Wow, how kind. But will the stock holders of those six companies not complain? The companies didn’t do anything wrong but they gave up their profits on purpose. Well At least it sounds nice to me. Regarding this Mizuho error, A 24 YEAR old guy got 5 million dollars and a 27 year old guy got 20 million dollars. Those stories don’t sound fun at all to me :-p

Anyway, I am still busy cleaning up my house. My house is small like a cat’s forehead (we express small and narrow like that), but it took a pretty long time to clean up everything. So let me quickly tell you two things that impressed me this weekend.

One is this japanese illustrator's site. Unique! How can i say... organic? illustrations are nice. I like it.

Then this is the other one, a TV ad from monster-all-stars. Happy holidays!

The Crazｅ of Genghis Khan, plus Moscow.

This year, Genghis Khan has become very popular in Japan. What do I mean? Genghis Khan is a Mongolian Guy who founded the Mongol Empire. In Japan, Mongolia is well known as the birth place of ASASHORYU.

But I did not mean him, I meant the Mongolian Barbecue called Genghis Khan hot pot (nabe). As far as I found on the Internet, the Mongolian BBQ is called "Genghis Khan" in foreign countries too. Genghis Khan nabe isn’t A new food. We always had it, but it was a kind of Hokkaido Special food. Actually two years ago, there were only 13 restaurants in the Tokyo area. But last year there were 33 restaurants and guess what!? As of last july we had 133 restaurants in Tokyo! The reason for this big boom was due to the health & wellness TV show AruAru Daijiten saying that mutton is healthy. They said Mutton is rich in carnitine which works very well at burning fat. (You can see how that TV show has some real influence.)

This KURO-HITSUJI (Black Sheep) is a very popular Genghis Khan restaurant chain. I ate there three weeks ago or so in Nishiazabu. It was pretty good and we can enjoy mutton and bean sprouts. But thinking about the price of mutton and bean sprouts (40yen or so for one package at a regular store), 1500yen for one is expensive.

And one more! Another popular Genghis Khan is A German music group. I wrote about them in this post for world football team". Genghis Khan's other song Moscow was big because of this Soramimi Flash. It was completely the same boom as Miahi. Here is a report site.　Here are some different kinds of flash, type A, type B. I like first flash, the first phrase could be heard as "strange ! hair comes out?"

Cash, Credit Or Cell Phone?

Look at this CNN free video news "Cash, Credit Or Cell Phone?". That service is the prepaid e-money system named "Edy". We can use Edy on either a card OR A cell phone that has a function called "wallet cellphone" (OSAIFU KETAI, in japanese). Those wallet cell phones are using the technology called "FELICA", which was developed by Sony.

Edy is operated by Bitwallet inc. Since the HQ of both Sony and Bitwallet are in Osaki where I am working, we can use Edy in many places around Osaki. You will actually be able to see a supermarket, bookstore and convenience store in the movie which are all in this Osaki Gate City building. I use the them all everyday. When I go to lunch, I just take my cell and if the charge is almost gone, I charge it on the Internet before lunch.

I am using N901iC (C means Cash I suppose). Docomo has many kinds of Wallet CELL phones, KDDI (this page is good for getting to know know their new cell phones) and vodafone started to sell their model.

Although I am working at Osaki where we can tell the mecca of Japanese e-money and I was working for the cell phone section (now I changed), I am getting confused. I will be able to pay JR with my cell? okay that's fine. I will be able to use cell as my credit card? that is nice. But learning about them all is such a hassle...I will say MENDO-KUSAI in Japanese. Cell phones (especially DoCoMo!) are trying to be versatile!? Superman? I don't like that. Actually I am thinking about using this W-Zero3 which is the first Windows Mobile 5.0 device in the Japanese market, But I really hate typing on a cell.

A letter to express 2005

Chinese character ability test association announced the result of poll "The one Kanji = Chinese character to express the current year" and it was released at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. Last year it was 災 "disaster", this year it is "LOVE".

Princess Nori Weds, Ai Fukuhara (Table tennis), Ai Miyasato (golf), Ai Otomo (Volleyball) played very well. I was so impressed with this "I love Ai-chan!" news. The Aichi Expo had a copy "love Aichi expo", and people helped each other after Hurricane Katrina and other disasters (but 70% of Japan Tsunami aid is unused!). On the other hand we had a plenty of bad crimes that are lacking in love. This is really bad: In the last two months, little girls were killed. this is Ibaraki case, this is Hiroshima case, this is Kyoto case. And I hate this too. Well so crazy...

LOVE (Ai in Japanese ) was chosen because

I was a little bit shocked to know this is the first time that such a positive meaning character was picked since the foundation started holding the event 11 years ago. I like "Love" but as far as I look back this year, I think No.2 改 (change), or No.3 郵 (postal) would fit this year. Maybe after long long recession, finally people need something heart warming and light in the future. I think the letter "LOVE" shows "our hope" more than the fact of this year.

The Japan guide, I agree? disagree?

I like this site! He collects some "funny" parts of the foreign Japan guide. Have you ever read such a guide for Japan or do you think they could be possible?

I can say I agree with these.
How to order "Nikujyaga" : this is Nikujyaga.
The giant cartoon mouse : I wrote many times, we are addicted to characters. Everything has characters. So that, that cat is such a big celebrity in this country.
The Ukai : This is Ukai. I have never seen it.
Uses Chopsticks : How to use Chopsticks
Driving a car : Highway means long parking in Tokyo.
Karaoke : we have so many foreign songs, maybe more than you suppose.

I tell you I disagree with these, don't believe it! But they are funny.
Natto : No, Natto is a perfect food. We have a Natto restaurant. It help s you a lot... Hmm I wrote about it many times.
Japanese Bath : I love bath. I take it one hour.
Bowing : This is proper bowing manners.
Food : This is a nice food guide blog. Photos are so beautiful.

Here is more. Please check them out. But okay? Don't trust them all :-)

Anyway, The Mizuho Securities marsJ-Com's market debut. The minister of the Financial Services Agency comments "It is not wonderful"that an other Securities company bought J-com stock although they knew th at Mizuho made mistakes". That story wouldn't be written in 'a little good stories'. Yeah Nomura, Morgan and Stanley, Nikko Cordial, Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse First Boston bought J-com stocks and they made big money at the time. Yes, yes, I can imagine easily each broker breaking into a grin and entr eatng "buy buy buy". Mizuho made mistakes but it was also the fault of the Tokyo Stock Exchange system. They admitted that a fault with its systems stopped an attempt to cancel an error with a giant share sale.

Christmas in Japan?

The holiday season has arrived. I got an interesting email about it from Esther in the U.S.

There is currently a big controversy over the replacement of the traditional "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays" in shopping centers and on TV spots. Religious minorities are upset when stores assume they celebrate the Christian holiday rather than Chanukah (a Jewish holiday) or Kwanzaa (a newThere is currently a big controversy over the replacement of the traditional "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays" in shopping centers and on TV spots. Religious minorities are upset when stores assume they celebrate the Christian holiday rather than Chanukah (a Jewish holiday) or Kwanzaa (a new African-American holiday) or even just the winter solstice (a Neopagan holiday in this country). So now all the stores say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings".

How is it in your country? Does the same thing happen in Europe? Australia? Other Asian countries? In Japan, it is just Christmas. The majority of Japan is not Christian. Most Japanese would say "I am Buddhist," but generally Japanese are tolerant / don't care about differences in religion. Maybe our attitude toward religion will seem to lack seriousness to other people. (The sites I wrote about before were also something funny like (here and here.) Actually, we have the phrase "Shoshiki Bukkyo" (Funeral Buddhism). It means we Japanese are Buddhist when we have funerals and Buddhist monks earn their money from funerals. Sound like we are temporary Buddhists? I will accept that. I am embarrassed to say this, but I did not know the Heart Sutra was so short until I found this Flash.

Not only do we practice Buddhism, but we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, Halloween, many Japanese have wedding ceremonies in a church (the main reason is that we love the wedding dresses!), and then we love Christmas Day as a big event at the end of the year. Are we such an unserious people? :-( I think so. I think this is related to our Shinto religion. We call mountains, forests, waterfalls, fox, dog, white snake, lightning, wind, and many things "GOD." I think I am a typical Japanese: when I say "Kamisama" (God), it does not mean Christ, Buddha, or any other specific God, it means something holy, something precious, something that supports me and my life. I am not serious about any particular religion, but it does not mean that I don't believe that something is holy.

I found some nice sites about Christmas in Japan. They say we started to celebrate Christmas in the in Taisho era. This site collects old Japanese old Japanese Christmas items. I like the QP and Santa Clause in Kimono on the top page. And this is Christmas paper craft. You can see "how to make" each item in a movie. It is a nice idea to attach them to your Christmas gift, isn't it? He is the only official Santa Claus. It was fun to read the official Santa lesson and meeting. Tokyo Millenario will start soon, but they say this is the last time. Why? Near my home, there is Sanrio Puroland. In this season they have big lights big lightson the streets with "that cat." At Tokyo Tower there was Godzilla two years ago, but I am not sure he will appear again this year. Remember? He retired.

nice design!

I am terribly annoyed with the dew drops on the windows.  I need a dehumidifier, but  why they are big and unattractive?. My friend said when he got a humidifier he was complaining too.  Why are they so blue!!

Yes, I have a beef.  I can find nice furniture, lighting, kitchen items, and stationary products easily, but it is very hard to find
nice home electrical appliances.  They destroy the mood of the room and the interior design.  But recently, a small design studio started selling nice electrical appliances.   Plus minus 0 has a very nice humidifier, 22inch LCD TV,  simple hot carpet and more.  I can use those design stuff.  And today I found another nice design site & design. I like the bird alarm , Icon watch and Single flower vase.

Everyone makes mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. I have, and they have made me feel really ashamed many times. The worst one was when I could not find the switch of the electric piano on the stage of a talent show. I couldn't make any sound until everyone had finished to play and had left the stage. Yesterday someone made a silly mistake at his job, but what he made will make over 30 billion yen.

Talking about mistakes, I read some funny news. Beijing will host the Olympics in 2008, so they have started to check and correct all the english signs in the city. For example, there is "Racist Park", which might be renamed as "Nation Park". At Beijing International Airport, the emergency exits have "No entry on peacetime" written on them. "The slippery are very crafty" on road signs will mean "don't be stupid?". Anyway, of course I know we can't laugh at all. Here are the "Recent Discoveries" of Engrish.com. Apparently this is a Japanese product.
Such mistakes and Japanese English are fun to read, though, right? On another note, I really enjoyed this movie mistakes site, I like Star Wars one in the best mistakes section.

P.S. This site will be closed on December 18th. and instead you will see beautiful pictures of Kyoto. I really enjoyed them too - good textures! Please click 入口(black circle) and  the ">" mark at the bottom means "next page".