The Big Foist

Stinky Drinky

2011-09-22T11:14:00.003+09:00

Making fun of Japanese product names has gotten old, but this one was just bad enough to catch my attention.

Ironically, the product website "Pungency Project" (classic!) has a page called "What is Pungency?" Has a bunch of aroma experts blah blah blah -ing about pungency.

What they don't have is a dictionary. You know, where you might find that Pungency means IT SMELLS REALLY BAD.

pun·gen·cy definition

Pronunciation: /ˈpən-jən-sē/
Function: n
pl -cies ; : the quality or state of being pungent

pun·gent definition

Pronunciation: /-jənt/
Function: adj
: causing a sharp or irritating sensation
especially : ACRID
pun·gent·ly Function: adv

Chasing Skirts No Longer Same In Tokyo

2010-04-12T11:05:00.003+09:00

Consider the evolution of trends... A few years back there was the Metrosexual. Last year in Japan we heard of the Herbivorous Man.

And now, we have the Skirted Man. (no offense to the Scots of course)

To find a skirt for the man in your life:

http://www.cross-gender.jp/

What's the Insight?

2009-09-25T11:26:00.002+09:00

Kyodo News, via JapanToday, announced survey results today that 33% of adult Japanese men sit while urinating.

2009-08-10T18:23:00.001+09:00

Really really really weird toy from Japan.

http://www.kanojotoys.com/shop/tenga-egg-6pack-p-334.html

2009-07-11T15:41:00.002+09:00

A couple of cool/ funny links about us advertising peoples:

ADWEAK is back in Twitter form

Check out the AD SLIDER from CMA (some funny Canadians)

Uniqlo's Tokyo Fashion Map

2009-06-11T10:56:00.003+09:00

Fun, cool, interactive website from Uniqlo.

Tokyoites love fashion - from wacky to casual to super chic - and are constantly checking out and reporting (in mags, on TV) on 'local looks' - i.e., going to various Tokyo neighborhoods and looking at what people are wearing. With over 30 million residents in the metro area, there are lots of 'looks' to see.

1000, according to Uniqlo:

http://www.uniqlo.com/uniqlo1000/map/

Uniqlo Bra Top

2009-06-11T10:51:00.003+09:00

Here's a great ad from Uniqlo for their Bra Top (with built-in bra pads so for 'braless' support').

Very sexy, and functional at the same time:

This has become a huge hit here in Japan, followed up with an interesting website http://www.uniqlo.com/wire/ that features 100 models/girls showing of their bra top fashion.

Fun with Japanese

2009-04-20T10:33:00.005+09:00

Glico has recently revived a nostalgic dairy/yogurt type drink from the 1970's when it was perfectly understandable to have product names that make English speakers giggle, gag or otherwise recoil in shock. If you've been to Japan you've surely seen Pocari Sweat or Calpis. (now marketed in North America under the more consumption friendly 'Pocari Drink' and 'Calpico', respectively).

Here it is:

You'll notice the product strategically opts for no English lettering - that's for nostalgia, of course, for the days before Japan was 'international'.

It is also because the product is called 'Pinesu'. Which in pronunciation terms sounds like 'pee-nis'.

Electrifying!

2009-04-08T10:03:00.011+09:00

I have a confession to make: I am trying to give up smoking. Patch hasn't worked, and I am a bit shy about seeing the doc for prescriptions. So I browsed the net (as usual) to find good alternative means and here is what I found: Electric Cigarettes!

(sources: AKIBA KEIZAI SHINBUN & Thanko Rare Mono Shop)

(It's just vapor, not smoke so it's harmless. 0mg nicotine and tar. Good for quitting the smoke!)

This stuff is totally radical: It encourages you to be a poser, be provocative, and anti-social in an office environment. I mean, who smokes at his/her desk these days and why you wanna have USB-electrified gadget at the desk?!

(source: Thanko Rare Mono Shop, Subtitling by ICE9)

I really like the scientific substantiations of the pseudo-smoking experience: the tip lights as you inhale, and water vapor would come out of your mouth accordingly. Plus, you get to choose between tobacco flavor & mint flavor (like charcoal and menthol choice in the real world) with the cartridges; genuine Japanese inventions!!

the cutest little headphones

2009-03-28T22:58:00.005+09:00

Japan is all about the 'Cute' (Kawaii) so I hardly blinked when I saw these guys while checking out headphones for my soon-to-be new iTouch.

As the copy reads: "As (with) stylish accessories and dresses, don't you want to have fashionable headphones?"

Can't argue with that!

These are part of the "Ladies" line of headphones from Elecom (sorry Japanese only) which is usually a boring computer peripherals outfit known for inexpensive (albeit not bad) mouses.

Not sure what possessed them to do this - the question of course is why hasn't audio-technica or sony done it?!?

Black is the new toothpaste

2009-02-20T14:00:00.005+09:00

As we've mentioned previously on this blog, there is a curious 'trend' here in Japan to make stuff Black that wouldn't - and shouldn't - normally be Black. There was Black Tissue Paper. We've seen Black Toilet Paper.

And now, courtesy of Kobayashi Seiyaku ('healthcare company'), we have Black Toothpaste.

Here's the Brief:
Product Name: Sumigaki ('sumi' means 'coal' and 'migaki' means 'to brush'. get it?)
(Background: Coal based cleansers (soaps) are quite common here and said to be good for cleaning and for skin. It's not straight coal of course, just an ingredient. An ingredient that makes stuff Black.)
Benefit: Bad breath prevention
RTB: Coal kills germs that cause bad breath
The Kicker: It's Black! (like coal, see?)
The Idea: Makes your breath beautiful.

To their credit, they don't claim Whitening.

Let there be green

2009-02-03T12:09:00.007+09:00

Over the holidays, I saw a friend from the States. She told me how she was impressed with Japan being 'eco-conscious,' which I was not quite aware of. But I guess she is right; here is the latest campaign from au, a mobile phone product/service provider:

This is how the Green Road Project works:

STEP 1: You jog with au phone with jogging application and keep and send the record to au.
STEP 2: au saves 1 JPY per a kilo that runners gain through their jogging routines.
STEP 3: au purchases plant seeds with the savings and distribute the seeds at their stores.

The campaign runs through the end of March, and the seed distribution starts from April. Although it doesn't directly benefit the phone/application users, it certainly does give a great sense of membership and feeling great about doing something to stay fit.

A cool campaign and site.

Green Green Green

2009-02-03T11:20:00.011+09:00

In the ad world, this has been a topic; One theme, different executions for different cultures (or as we sometimes call them, 'markets'). See these:

The top is a Japanese TV ad and the bottom is from Thailand. There are two points I found interesting:

1) Contextualism
'Green Machine' is, I guess, grammatically correct. But this is an epiphany of 'Japanese style English' such as 'We Do Eco' (by a railway company), in which we contextually take out the meaning, not necessarily the meaning the slogan (or tag line) mandates (e.g. Just Do It). If you really get strict, 'Green Machine' is not even a tag line; it's just a generic noun with an adjective. However, the Japanese can create a series of TVC with the help of Peanut Characters to convey the core message. I think this is amazing.

2) Assimilation, not persuasion
Though different in formats, both Japanese and Thai versions adopted 'teacher-learner' scheme (of course more evident in Thai version). I suspect these show Asian sentiment that consumer engagement can be attained through 'let us all learn together' model. Although this is an dealer ad, take a look at this:

They all deal with Honda's eco-friendly cars (theme), but message conveyance and its manner (execution) gets varied from one culture to another. Certainly, I as a Japanese can relate more with the Japanese ver. and Thai ver. far better to consider Honda's good gas-mileage or hybrid cars.

Bless Coffee!

2009-01-27T21:02:00.002+09:00

Amen!

In Kyobashi near Chuo-dori/Kajibashi-dori crossing.

Chocolate Beer

2009-01-27T10:28:00.008+09:00

Cross branding gone amuck? Or Breakthrough Innovation?

You be the judge.

Sapporo Breweries and Royce Chocolate (Both based in Sapporo, Hokkaido) collaborate on Chocolate Brewery - yes, chocolate beer.

One gets the feeling the presidents of these two Hokkaido institutions had a little too much to drink one night and before you know it....

Only available up north for now - waiting for it to come down to Tokyo for a tasting review.

i'll be back

2008-12-31T01:31:00.002+09:00

The year of the rat is about to go, and the ox will come soon.

Wishing everyone a happy new year!

Will resume, soon!

Seinfeld lives in Japan

2008-12-12T11:32:00.003+09:00

The Manssiere. aka The Bro. Men's bras!

Only in Japan. Buy from Wishnet.com! This has been making the rounds on gossip sites and tabloids. Apparently there is a booming niche online market for men's bras. Not gonna analyze this one - probably mostly for cross-dressers, etc., but most definitely weird.

Ah, Christmas in Japan

2008-11-18T19:57:00.006+09:00

Did you know that Christmas is, next to Valentine's Day, the most popular Date Night in Japan?

(from: http://www.date-navi.com/xmas/index.html)

And that the most famous 'Christmas Dinner' is brought to you buy Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Well to show they've finally gotten the 'true' spirit of Christmas, Japanese are more and more discovering the joy of giving. Yes, commercialized Christmas is here.

So much so that consumer loan sharks (bank-like institutions that make individual loans for outrageous fees, kind of like a credit card cash advance) are now getting in the act.

I saw this shocker on the train this morning:

(Children never forget what they got from Santa.)

(The memory of being stiffed by Santa lasts for 3 years.)

Merry Christmas. Suckers.

Anime Character for Your PC

2008-11-13T13:58:00.012+09:00

It's not a screen saver or wallpaper; it is in a 3D format.

Buffalo, a computing peripherals manufacturer, will launch a Gundam USB flash memory in late November. It is a 4GB memory for 3980 JPY (about 40 USD), and a limited manufacture of 5000 pieces. It was originally a web-only sale, but with the popular demand, they are accepting pre-orders at PC shops in Akihabara.

Now you may think; "Who'd wanna pay 40 bucks on a 4-gig memory?" Well, don't underestimate the power of anime kyaras (=anime characters). Last June, they sold 3000 pieces of Rei Ayanami version and sold out in hours.

Rei Ayanami ver.

What's interesting is that Buffalo is never 'greedy'; they don't increase the production, period. I think it's a great sales strategy of (presumably) a high-margin product; 1)You just need to pay fixed fee amount on the copyright, 2)You can secure the sales by creating the sense of 'hunger' among the target, and 3)You can sustain the consumer interest in the product for the coming versions. Plus, it just looks cute as it 'sits' by your PC when in use (e.g. Rei Ayanami). Along with Gundam, they are also launching Lupin III version as well.

I shall now take off to Akihabara and get one...

Lupin ver.

source: Akiba Keizai Shinbun

Pitch-dark Restaurant?!

2008-11-10T12:26:00.006+09:00

I was reading the Sunday edition of Nikkei Marketing Journal (newspaper though), and saw an interesting article. The "Kurayami Shokudo" ('Pitch-dark Restaurant') is becoming popular among hip urbanites of Japan.

For 3 days once per season, an event company in conjunction with Hakuhodo (2nd largest ad agency in Japan) hosts a reservation-only-crowd to offer Kaiseki (Japanese traditional dishes). Only 40 persons are allowed to per day at a cost of 10,000 JPY (=100 USD).

The aim of the event is to enjoy the meal at its best without relying on eyesight; in this manner, according to both host and participants, one can truly enjoy the genuine taste of the food.

To achieve Pitch-darkness, participants are required to wear eye masks and groups coming together are seated separately.

In other words, you sit with a bunch of strangers in total darkness; what a bizarre concept for a restaurant, right?

However, you are welcome to converse with those around you. Hence, you get to 'meet' your fellow participants during a 2-hour meal and sight-less conversation; this must be a funny feeling.

The event has become popular through the word-of-mouth, though I personally prefer good food and talk with my eyes open...

808 baby! Canned T-shirts from Uniqlo.

2008-11-09T00:01:00.016+09:00

UT WEB is an online store run by UNIQLO that only features T-shirts. Its collection is huge; you would really enjoy just browsing. New items are added weekly, most of which are collaborations with famous artists, cartoon characters and manufacturer logos.

Last week, they launched a collaboration with ZTT records. Who could ever thought of that?! As my Japanese blog is named as an homage to 808 State, I HAD to get their '90' album artwork.

I bought two; red for daily use, and grey, same as the original work, for keeps. Fortunately, my new work place is close to their only 'offline' store in Harajuku, so I don't have to wait for shipping.

The Harajuku store is uniquely designed; The concept of the store is "Futuristic T-shirt convenience store."

It's like a 21st century version of Stanly Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange." The displays are also uniquely done; each T-shirt is placed in a plastic bottle. Each bottle is transparent so that you can see the design of the T-shirt, but also has a lable to show variations within the same series. The shelf is like that of coffee beans or canned drinks; definitely looks like convenience stores.
So, if you are ever visiting Tokyo, pay a visit to UT store for a futuristic shopping experience.

The Power of Double Meanings

2008-11-08T11:09:00.004+09:00

This is a little old but just ran across it going through some stuff at work. (this is not our work, of course.)

George Clooney is Stayin' Alive

2008-11-04T11:53:00.004+09:00

More from Honda Odyssey with George Clooney. Man he's hot. What's that car he's drivin'?

This is not to be confused with Brad Pitt for Softbank mobile phones, part of a trend of "Famous Hollywood Star + Retro Cool Music" ads here in Japan:

Or my fave, Cameron Diaz:

I like a good car, cuz I'm a man

2008-10-21T15:24:00.003+09:00

George Clooney in the latest ad campaign for Honda's Odyssey. The copy reads "I like good cars. Because I am a man."

Crunchy Sweetmeat

2008-09-30T16:47:00.003+09:00

I've tried to avoid the usual 'funny Engrish' stuff on this blog - best to leave that to places like engrish.com and the plethora of gaijin blogs and boards. In fact, after 12 years in-country I hardly even blink when I see "Cock's Specials" on a menu or "Room Saniterizers" in a hotel or "Spank Me Like a Monkey" t-shirts on little girls. These I get. A "Cock" is a misspelled "Cook". "Saniterizer" is a cute error on "Sanitizer" - nice try! And the t-shirts, hey, they look nice and no one reads/understands English but us gaijin anyway.

This one caught me off guard, though. A co-worker was handing these out as 'omiyage' (gift from a trip):

To be fair they were sweet.

Behavior modification ads - Japanese style

2008-09-29T15:15:00.004+09:00

From Tokyo Metro (which runs most of the city's subways).
Reminding people (note that the offenders tend to be young people) how to behave in a way that doesn't make them want to mis-behave:

Mode Japonesque

2008-09-17T14:38:00.013+09:00

Ok, GK still thinks that I have not done enough to compensate my dormant period, so here is another one. He wrote about a disastarous Japanese car ad, and here is my counter offer.

Nissan makes various car ads (duh), and each always has a theme as 'SHIFT_XXX.' Here is one for TEANA with 'SHIFT_hospitality.'

Filming is beautiful, and the actress (Rei Dan) is breath-takingly stunning, but beyond that, the creative concept is concise and true to the functional offers of the car. The narration takes functionality to a higher level of emotion:

"Sitting in this space, my spirit becomes soothingly liberated."

"Omotenashi"

"Welcome to New TEANA"

'Omotenashi' is a translation of hospitality and it is well woven with the tranditional Tea Ceremony and its spirit. One may argue that it is too 'cultural,' but isn't that exactly what we want to (or should!) play with to make better communications? Plus, I like the track choice; it is the Japanese version of 'Waltz for Debby,' making the whole impressions gently powerful.

I think it's about a time for me to let go of my German wagon...

Yodobashi-Akiba goes International

2008-09-17T14:04:00.010+09:00

GK nags me that I have been a total slacker, so here is another hommage to 'Akiba.'

I have previously talked about 'Akiba' a couple of times, and I am more and more feeling confident that Akiba is a must-see place if you ever make a trip to Tokyo.

Previous goverment had promoted 'Yokoso Nippon' ('Welcome to Japan') campaign to vitalize Japanese economy by encouraging foreign travelers to this land of Rising Sun. It has actually been a success; the latest news reported that visitors to Japan has increaed by 160% in the last 3 years. At the same token, Tokyo is yet to be non-Japanese friendly; English is still hardly spoken at local restaurants and shops. I personally find it very interesting to visit local restaurants when travelling abroad, so I wish Tokyo will be more international to be truly visitor-friendly.

However, you will be in good hands in Akiba; Yodobashi Camera (one of the largest electric appliance store chain) in Akihabara decided to make it mega vision multi-lingual. It will feature product guides and store guides in English, Mandarin, and Korean (source: Akiba Keizai Shimbun). Overmore, store clerks are multi-lingual too! So, once you visit the store, you can not only buy the gadgets you always wanted, but also ask them travel tips and places to hang out!

Yokoso Nippon!!

On my way home from work

2008-09-15T17:58:00.003+09:00

A great thing about Tokyo is you can pretty much walk around anywhere, anytime.

So that's what I do.

Well, within reason - have to be home for dinner most nights....

Here are some of things I see. Sorry for the quality - these are either taken from my cell phone or regular old unpro digital camera.

Tsukiji crossing

Tokyu Stay Hotel (Higashi Ginza):

One of many bridges (Harumi) along Sumida River. Fairly ugly during the day but lit up all nice and pretty at night:

Hmmmm. Mysterious creature in Hibiya...

Hmmmm. More mysterious creatures in Hibiya:

Japanese Car Ads

2008-08-26T11:54:00.003+09:00

Car ads in Japan are a constant source of entertainment - and bewilderment. This one made me choke on my coffee this morning.

The brief:
Product/Brand: Mazda Demio
Message: New Orange color!
Idea: New Mazda Demio Orange will make you want to dance. Even if you can't actually dance.

Train jackin'

2008-07-26T11:48:00.003+09:00

Saw this on a train in the residential area of Western Tokyo. It was a 'Train Jack'.

That's when an advertiser buys all the space on an entire train and plasters its own ads all over it. (thus hi-'jacking' the train with ads)

This one was for Lenor, a P&G fabric softener.

The cool thing is that they hung these shirts up (real shirts - it's Japan so no one steals or vandalizes them!) with 'sweat' dripping. On the sweat drop, and on a puddle sticker on the floor, the ads talk about preventing sweat smell on your clothes with Lenor.

Brilliant idea for the sweaty summer Tokyo rainy season.

Nude Jewelry

2008-06-21T12:54:00.003+09:00

From the land of Yakuza body tatoos comes the latest trend(?) in jewelry/body art.

While 'skin jewelry' is basically trinkets taped to skin or glitter spry, Nude Jewelry takes the concept to a higher level by setting pure gold or platinum directly on the skin. It lasts about a week and can cost several hundred dollars depending on the design.

Just Looking!

2008-06-08T01:55:00.003+09:00

Here's a new DVD for shy people, called "just looking."

50 people, 96 minutes, just looking.

Bay-ge-ru (Bagels in Tokyo)

2008-06-07T18:13:00.004+09:00

I was never 'spoiled' on bagels - I wasn't born with an innate birthright to claim "you can't get real bagels here."

As a Jewish kid growing up in California, bagels were a staple part of my diet - especially on weekends or at Bar Mitzvahs. But as our relatives from back east (New York) constantly reminded us, "you can't get real bagels in California."

That was probably true in the 70s and 80s. But at some point in the 90s, Californians learned how to make passable bagels. I know this for a fact because I can clearly recall my Aunt from Long Island eating a bagel with us somewhere circa '92 and saying "this isn't half-bad, where did you get it?"

And thus, California bagels were now "real."

Then I moved to Japan. At first, oh about 1994, there were literally "no" bagels. The best I could do to satisfy my cravings was a Kaiser roll. I was able to get my hands on Philadelphia Cream Cheese (stick only, no whipped) and of course this being Japan, smoked salmon (or any other sea creature) was not an issue. So there I was back in the day, eating my Kaiser Roll with lox and cream cheese (and a hole cut in the middle to complete the fantasy) and longing for them good ole' California bagels.

Fast forward to the early 2000's and Tokyo has changed. Internationalization or globalization or whatever has kicked into gear and before you know it there are not only McDonald's in every station and Coke machines on every corner, but we also get Starbucks, Subway, Tropicana, Frosted Flakes ("corn frosties"), Crystal Geyser, Cold Stone Creamery, Costco, Ikea, Krispy Kreme, blah blah blah.

And bagels.

Bagels became a hit with the OL's around 2001 and were then firmly added to the cultural culinary landscape. A chain of bagle shops (aptly called "Bagel & Bagel") spreads the word and even Doutor has "bagel sands" (I can't think of an appropriate North American cultural assimile for Doutor other than to say it's like Winchell's back in the 80s when people still smoked, only without the doughnuts).

The truth is, though, bagels in Tokyo are no better than the ones in California back in the 70s and 80s. Mostly they taste like white bread in the shape of a doughnut. Occasionally I find one that is marginally better than Safeway brand bagels (6 in a bag for 1.99), but I try not to be too elitist - I know what it's like to have your bagels bagged on.

So until recently, we used to 'import' bagels by the dozen (take 'em on the plane with us and put 'em in the freezer. We used to do the same thing with tortillas before you could buy them here too - but that's another post.)

But having kids and the high cost of fuel has limited our ability to import our own precious bagels. Luckily, for those living in Tokyo and craving bagels, there is a place called 212 (which is somehow connected to H&H Bagels from New York, so it must be good, right) which is leading the charge to make Tokyo like California in the 90s. The locations are out of the way - Harumi Triton Square is nearest to us and we make a pilgrimmage about once a month (go early to get them fresh baked and before they run out).

L'Chaim!

Nice Melons

2008-06-07T11:17:00.005+09:00

Japanese love fruit and approach the production of fruit with the same care, passion and dedication to quality as any Toyota or Sony or Nikon.

Which is why I'm somehow not surprised to hear that someone paid 650,000 Yen (a little more than 6,000 USD) for a watermelon.

It's black, weighs about 10 kilos (22 lbs), and is a variety only grown in the northern part of Hokokaido. Basically, some rich guy wanted to make a show and support the farmers - the price wasn't driven by any real market factors. But melons are serious business here, often selling for hundreds of dollars.

They even make square melons, ostensibly to better 'fit' into space-limited refrigerators:

Meaningful Innovation 3

2008-05-21T16:40:00.009+09:00

The Japanese government officially announced that Japan is a "full-fledged" aging society today, highlighting data that 10% of the population is at least 75 years old. With the lowest birthrate in the developed world (less than 1.3), Japan's population is not only facing a downward trend but a severe case of silveritis as well.

Enter the robots.

Japan is well-known for its robots - mostly from anime but also in factories and real-looking-hot-chick-auto-receptionists - but this may be one of the more useful applications.

Robotics for seniors. This is the aptly titled Experimental Walking Assists Device by Honda. (Assimo is finally paying off?)

And this baby is the HAL-5 developed at Tsukuba University (a Japanese University actually came up with something!). Part of the idea was to help senior and disabled caretakers move their patients around (better than putting in ramps in all those buildings I guess).

HAL-5 retails for about $15K plus maintenance.

Meaningul Innovation 2

2008-05-02T13:58:00.008+09:00

Ever wondered what spy gear would be like now that we have digital cameras everywhere? You know like those cigarette pack cameras in old spy movies?

No? Well somebody has... A company called Hanwha (a Korean company but I found this in Japan) is now selling the Pen Camera. Not impressed? Saw that in an old episode of Get Smart? Well there's more... It's a Digital camera with a 1 mm radius lens in the ballpoint that can snap photos and take video (2GB flash memory). With sound. Data can be transferred to your pc with a USB.

It writes too.
Check out sample videos, and order one for yourself, here.
Happy spying!

Japanese Technology in the Toilet

2008-05-01T14:46:00.008+09:00

Some of most impressive ideas I've encountered in Japan have been in the bathroom.

OK, that didn't sound right.

Still, Japanese toilets are impressive. First there was the heated seat. Then the washlet/bidet. Add temperature control on the water. Then you got 'malodor removal' (air freshener) activated by sitting down.

Here's the adjustable washlet spray explanation visual from Toto.

While Americans, typically, want more Power -as in Flushing Power? - Japanese manufacturers continually innovate on usability, comfort, convenience, and, of course, space-efficiency.

Well lately the craze is full no-touch automation. Market pioneers Toto and other household appliance brands like National (Panasonic) and Hitachi are now pushing the latest in bathroom luxury with features like:

-motion sensor activated toilet seat lifting/dropping (sorry, I don't know the lingo but you know, the seat goes up and down without you touching it.)

-automated flushing

-pre-programmed muzak with speakers, also motion-sensor activated

Here's the wall-mounted remote with all the controls you could ever dream of for the potty:

And of course, for those with the Capt. Kirk thing:

"Would you like me to wash your dick for you sir?"

Click here for a full reading on the history and etiquette of Japanese toilets.

A Fly in my Soup!

2008-04-22T15:12:00.003+09:00

Meaningless rant post alert.

So today I went to lunch at a nearby Chinese place with our Planning Director and another Planner Guy. A planning lunch, as it were. As I was eating my katayakisoba, (fried chow mein with starchy vegetable soup), I noticed there was, indeed, a fly in my soup.

While not opposed to a little extra protein, I couldn't resist the old line.... But, this being Tokyo, I couldn't say "Excuse me sir, there's a fly in my soup." Wasted opportunity. I had to settle with something that translates as "Uh, there's like, a bug..."

I actually did get a free lunch, which is unusual here in Tokyo. In most regular joints, the staff just aren't properly trained/motivated to deal with these kinds of issues. I mean, they come out and say "We are so very very sorry" and stuff, maybe toss you a free drink or cookie, but... they don't mean it.

Thus ends this meaningless rant post.

Guide to Akihabara

2008-04-22T11:13:00.008+09:00

I have posted some Akihabara news in the past (1, 2), and I wonder how many of you are by now REALLY interested in Akihabara, Japan. Not yet enough to get yourself a ticket to make a pilgrimage to the 'Otaku' Holy Land?

Here is the book to get you in the mood: "Guiding Your Friends Around Akihabara in English." As the title suggests, it is designed for Japanese audience, but wirtten in both Japanese and English. So you can self-guide the tour in Akihabara! The book doesn't only cover the Akihabara itself, but also other spots in Tokyo for great food and travel tips.

How do you like 'Akiba' now?

Back to School, Boys!!

2008-04-01T11:27:00.009+09:00

"Welcome home, master!"

Akihabara (the Otaku, or 'geek', capital of Japan) hosts a number of 'Maid Cafes' where - well, the picture above pretty much says it. (No these are not sex shops. If you Googled 'Maid' and 'Sex' then sorry please return to your search results).

Akihabara culture and Maid Cafes have already gone mainstream - just check out this canned-coffee ad featuring Tommy Lee Jones (follow the links for more in the series):

So to keep ahead of the real world, the wonderful otaku have come up with a new 'cosplay' (costume play) cafe motif: School.

Last week, a new maid cafe opened in Akihabara called "Akiba School Maid Class" decorated as a classic Japanese classroom where maids and customers are 'classmates.'

The twist is the role-playing not only of children but of childhood boy-girl relationships. What otaku/geek wouldn't love that - especially since this time the girls (act as though they) like you.

For the record, "Akiba School Maid Class" world does not offer any 'extras'.

English Friendly Japan?!

2008-03-26T12:54:00.006+09:00

A recent internet survey reveals that English conversation is the most popular extracurricular activity among working Japanese women. According to the study, 24.5% of working females 20-34 are taking English conversational lessons after work or on weekends, followed by going to the gym (22.5%), Yoga/Pilates (22.2%), and cooking classes (15.0%)... What does this mean?

If I read the data right, acquiring English conversational skill is as meaningful as physical wellness or cooking skills. So are Japanese women aspiring to be the perfect cosmopolitana to fulfill intenational men's fantasy of Asian 'chic mystique'. To wit; here is a TV commercial by a language school:

No, I shall be politically correct: The research indicates that foreign language skills play a significant role in the concept of well-being for Japanse women; that sounds better.

Besides that's just advertising, probably by some dude.

Total Luxury

2008-03-25T14:03:00.007+09:00

So Japan (Tokyo's Ginza and Omotesando, to be precise) is the lap of luxury - brand shops galore, expensive sushi, kobe beef, etc. - nothing new. In the 80's, Japanese tourists in the US were identified - and at times parodied - with their eyeglasses and big cameras. Nowadays, it's Louis Vuitton, Prada and Hermes that give them away.

The big French and Italian brands make big bucks here - According to a Jetro report, Japan is "the world's most concentrated source of income for luxury brands." Even during the economic malaise of the 90's there was no shortage of custom hand crafted leather with a (take-your-pick) brand badge on the buckle.

(From Jetro

Well the brands are showing their appreciation and investing even more in their presence, making Tokyo (in particular Ginza) the brand flagship building capital of the world. More so, they're taking the whole concept of Luxury up a notch. New buildings from Bulgari, Armani, Chanel, etc etc etc, are propping up all over Ginza with their own Michelin-starred restaurants, private lounges and even (in Armani) a posh spa.

It all started with Hermes:

Dior:

Armani (with the world's only Armani Spa):

Even Mikimoto:Gucci:

Pen Spinning Rocks

2008-03-25T10:00:00.006+09:00

You've probably seen them in school or maybe at the office - the Asian guy twirling his pen on his fingers - and tried unsuccessfully to mimick. I could never get that pen to spin just so!

Well for reasons beyond any rational comprehension, Pen Spinning has become the latest fad here in Japan. It's not new of course - I learned on the news today that Pen Spinning dates back to the 1930's when a rural prefecture introduced 'Pencil Spinning' as a form of 'hand exercise' for school kids. Since then it's gone through its ups and downs but with YouTube, blogs and what not, the Pen Spinning fad has reached critical mass.

Here's the latest, hottest video making the rounds on YouTube Japan:

There's even a Pencil Spinning Association that sponsors national tourneys, videos of new moves (all with names), blog links and anything else your average pen-spinner might need to know.

Check out the latest Pen Spinning Gear! Perfectly balanced designer spin pens - spin with style my bruthas!

Return of the Mouse!

2008-03-03T11:46:00.008+09:00

I know Mickey has failed in the US, but could make it right this time in Japan: Disney mobile has launched its service starting March 1, 2008 with Japan's fastest growing operator, SoftBank (ex-Vodafone).

Japanese mobile phone business has a unique structure in which operators (e.g. NTT DoCoMo) dictate content services (e.g. iMode). Therefore, handset manufacturers have to customize specs for each operator to meet their unique service standards. This drives up costs for the manufacturers and is a key reason Japanese handset makers have little presence abroad, despite some of the most cutting edge designs and technology. It also means non-Japanese makers such as Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Motorola continually fail to make a dent in Japan. (even RAZR bombed)

All of this makes the launch of Disney Mobile in Japan a novel approach: it will use SoftBank's infrastructure while offering consumers dedicated phone models and content services such as ring-tones, wallpapers, and even Disney-ized character mails. This kind of business model is often called MNVO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), yet in this case, it is almost like a joint-venture with a single operator.

From a consumer's point of view, this is great news: You can get premium-looking phones with Mickey all over the place, you can subscribe to Disney application services for free, and get other exclusive goodies.　While not a fan personally, (never even been to Disneyland!), I can see this will drive Disney fans crazy. Mickey is gonna do it this time for sure.

As a matter of fact, I kinda start to like Hillary Duff...

Changing the Game

2008-03-03T10:12:00.010+09:00

By now the story of Nintendo's Wii gaming system is well-known - left for dead, Nintendo came out of nowhere to rattle Sony and Microsoft who were (and still are) battling over the 'hardcore' gamer market. Xbox has done well in the US but still struggles in Japan. Vice versa for Sony. But neither of them were prepared or able to capture the elusive 'non-gamer' segments - females and families - putting all efforts instead on the main battle.

This left Nintendo free to come up with something truly innovative - both in technology and positioning, if not in naming...

Okay so why I am talking about this? This summer, Nintendo will launch Wii Fit outside of Japan. Already a big hit here, Wii Fit twists and expands the home gaming system paradigm even further.

Here are some ads we've seen here in Japan - simple but effective. And all family friendly (stuff grandpa or kids can do) or SJF-friendly.

Launch Copy: Wii Fit basic function as a bathroom scale! But it also records family weight, body fat, BMI, etc., and acts as a health management tool.

More 'Family' health management:

Wii Fit YOGA: No gamers allowed!

Family exercise: Ski Jump!

P.S.: Thanks to greengary14 on Youtube for posting all the ads!

Sweet Madness pt.3

2008-02-13T16:26:00.008+09:00

So, tomorrow is THE DAY: St. Valentine's Day!

An interesting research result was announced by Dai-ichi Life Research Institute (Japanese only). The research title was 'Problems at Work' but somehow included the question "Do you give/receive chocolates on Valentine's Day?"

The results:

What is interesting? 20-something Females give chocolates to their male co-workes most (47.6%), and 50-something Males get chocolates from their female co-workers most (47.9%).

What's going on here?!? Respect for elders? Forbidden love? Good old-fashioned boss-bribery? After hours chocolate-fueled workplace hanky-panky?!

No, it seems the quirky Japanese tradition of 'giri-choco' (obligatory chocolate) is alive and well. So who's eating all that chocolate?

And, by the way, where's MY choco!?

Train Porn

2008-02-12T10:49:00.001+09:00

You may not know, you may not care, but Japan is a train-lover's wet dream. And that, people, is the closest this post will come to actual porn, so if you are looking for train sex videos, go back to Google and click on the next link.

As anyone who has spent time here can attest, the Japanese rail infrastructure is god-like both in ubiquity and the amazing ability to run on time (albeit not at all after midnight...). Even the air conditioning works.

According to stats here, Japanese people ride more trains to more places than any other people in the world. (Sure, more Indians and Chinese ride trains. More Indians and Chinese do everything, I would think.)

The prevalence of trains in Japan has fostered an entire subculture of Train Mania, aka Train Geeks (densha otaku). There are train museums everywhere, (including the amazing The Railway Museum sorry no English site yet), as well as loads of books, DVDs, websites, toys, etc. Of course much of this is targeted at the usual little boys and girls into Thomas the Tank Engine (there's even a Thomasland) but unfortunately some of them never quite grow out of it. You can see them milling around train stations/yards taking pictures, mimicking conductors, stepping over little kids in toy stores, and patronizing private clubs decked out like train cars that allow you to, um, play with female 'passengers'.

All said, though, Japan has some REALLY COOL TRAINS.

My son, only 4, already has his favorites:

The Romance Car designed by Noriaki Okabe Architecture Network, (just around the corner from us, meaning every weekend we stare at model trains in the window).

RAPIT, which he's only seen in books:

And of course, the Bullet Trains (Shinkansen), of which there are many:

Hayate and Max Yamabiko:

And there's the Super Hitachi (that goes to his grandma's house):

He also has a knack for identifying french fries that look like specific trains. I'll post photos next time if I can get my cell phone out before he eats the Romance Car again.

Oh yeah, my personal fave is MTV Japan's TRAINSURFER:

The Battle of Akihabara

2008-02-05T10:55:00.000+09:00

You may (or may not) have heard the Michelin recently granted Tokyo eateries the most stars of any major city in the world. But Tokyo is not all about high end food.

Mili-Meshi (Military food; Meshi means "food", e.g., Ita-Meshi is Italian cuisine, Thai-Meishi is Thai food) is gradually becoming a 'boom' in Japan. It started among military freaks when a hobby magazine featured military foods from around the world. This caught the eyes of product managers at Sega, the game developer, and they joined up with a Japan Self Defence Force food supplier. Mili-Meshi is now one a popular prize for 'UFO Catchers.'

'UFO Catcher' are those crane machine games in video arcades with toys/stuffed animals you try to grab with a crane but just wind up losing money in. Sega was looking for new types of prizes to lure players. They launched the Mili-Meshi prize Akihabara; the famous 'geek' capital famous for anime, gadgets, and 'otaku' (geeks). It didn't take long to capture the hearts and minds of the Akihabara Crew. The Mili-Meshi pack contains 4 retort food pouches containing 2 Japanese-style pilafs, paella, and Japanese-style steamed rice .

the package

4 retort pouches

The food was originally developed for soldiers to absorb maximum nutrients with minimum effort, and is quite high in calories. However, all the soldiers in Akihabara are marching for it. And now the general public is becoming interested in Mili-Meshi eats, as a major newspaper reported recently.

Ask A Tokyo Planner

2008-02-05T10:07:00.000+09:00

A Reader asks: Why are Japanese people so skinny?

Answer: Because there is no Bacon Double Cheese Sushi in Japan.

According to an OECD report, Japan has an estimated obesity rate of 3%, compared to 32% in the US. The question of course is not why are Japanese skinny but why is everyone else not skinny. But that's for someone else's blog. In short, Japanese eat less (or at least eat less Bacon and Cheese) and walk more (high urban population using public transportation, bicycles, etc.).

But it's not that simple. In fact, McDonald's is the #1 restaurant chain in the country. KFC, Wendy's, and Japanese versions MOS Burger, Lotteria, etc., all have strong presence. There are Starbucks outlets everywhere. Stone Cold Creamery and Krispy Kreme are hugely popular. But despite their best efforts, these (mostly US-based) feeders still can't fatten the Japanese.

Best Effort Award:

Restraint, common sense and an uncanny ability to resist bacon and cheese in every lunch item imaginable. There's your answer.

Sweet Madness pt.2

2008-02-04T10:36:00.000+09:00

Now it's February and the Valentine's Day is coming up. I wrote about Valentine's Day in Japan a while back, and I found something interesting about the diffusion of a culture within a society.

A toy manufacturer, MegaHouse, has launched a toy called "Tororin Choco Pot" (Tororin is a mimetic word of something melting). It is basically a battery-operated heating pot with which you can melt chocolate bars and pour the resulting liquid into various shaped trays to make your own personalized chocolates. It is targeted at low-teen girls, and the manufacturer is expecting to sell 50,000 units by the end of March 2008. List price is 3,465 JPY (about 33 USD).

Now that adult females buy premier chocolates for the Valentine's Day, it used to be a trend that they buy chocolate bars at the stores and melt them to make their 'own' chocolate; pseudo-homemade. That was a trend over 10 years ago. Now the trend is back among the low-teens! Despite industry expectations, 'Tororin Choco Pot' is nearly out of stock in many retail stores. Now this is a typical 'back to the basics' movement or 'revival of the oldies'? Or just plain old idea-recycling. The real question is who are these little girls making chocolate for??

Rice Cooker of the Gods

2008-02-04T10:35:00.000+09:00

Rice is a serious business in this country. And I ain't talking about Minute Rice.

We all know that rice is a staple food in Japan, and the selection of brands, varieties, bargains and premium selections is overwhelming. So is rice-nationalism - just try importing it. Another staple of the Japanese household is the rice cooker. Now you can find rice cookers in many countries - basically hot pots that, well, cook rice. They might look something like this:
While a bit nostalgic, that's the technological equivalent of a tape deck. Wondering what happened to Japanese techno-dominance? It's all about the rice cooker, baby.

I finally got introduced to the latest trend in rice cooking technology. No, not 'fuzzy logic'. That's so 90s. I'm talking about Variable Pressure Control Induction Heating.

This baby (our new one, by Sanyo, US$400) cooks rice sixty ways from Sunday. Actually 46. There are 46 pre-set pressure settings so you can pinpoit how you want to cook your rice. Rice for Curry? Sushi? Sticky rice? Summer sticky sweet rice for sushi? If your tastebuds can handle it (or, uh, notice it), there's a setting for it. But wait, that's not all! There is also a 'custom' setting that lets you set your own levels for "sweetness" and "stickiness". Not cooking rice? No worries. You can make soup, bread, boiled eggs (however you like 'em), and even Tofu with this baby.

For the last 2 weeks we've been testing our new rice cooker - a new setting every night until April!

If you really want to go all out on your rice cooking, check out Mitsubishi's WClass IH line, which I'm sure kicks ass over our Sanyo (looks better), and lists for 115,000 Yen for the smaller version (about US$1000). It's also black.

I found a brief thing on IH rice cookers in English here.

Tokyo Taxi Chronicles 1

2008-01-26T21:20:00.000+09:00

Like I wrote about the smoke ban in Tokyo cabs the other day, I LOVE chatting with cab drivers. Whether in Las Vegas or Florence, cab drivers are the ones who are in the know about the city. In Tokyo, where taxis often outnumber private cars in the city, cab drivers are a great source of 'insight' into the city.

Lately, I've been drilling local cabbies on the recent cigarette ban.

Surprisingly, they all say overall it has been quite with no major problems. However, several drivers told me an interesting story: they have lost female customers since the ban.

It seems that riding in a taxi had been a great opportunity for many business women to catch a smoke before or after work. Basically, they don't smoke at home and avoid smoking at work under the watchful eyes of male co-workers (yes, there is still sexism in Japan and smoking at work is considered a manly habit). The solution then for them was to get off their train a station or two before the office, catch a cab and enjoy her purple haze.

Since they are no longer allowed to smoke in cabs, they simply stopped riding them. I first thought it was just a rare case, but heard the same story from several drivers. Now I wonder where these women go to enjoy a smoke... or do they substitute it with something else like sweets and booze??!! My investigation continues...

Bento Madness

2008-01-25T10:44:00.000+09:00

I am now going to take you into the mystifying, mind-boggling and slightly horrific world of school lunches in Japan. Now when I was a kid, my mom threw a bologna sandwich in a brown bag with an apple and maybe some Lay's chips in a ziploc and that was lunch.

In Japan, however, moms compete with each other for who can make the most creative/cutest 'bento' (lunch box) for their precious little ones. Websites, magazines, and blogs abound with recipes and directions on bento-box production with themes covering Anime Characters, Sports, Seasons, Animals, and anything else a kid could ever want. Some examples:

Particularly frightening is what is being done with the weiner in this country. Japanese kids LOVE sausages. Kinda like hot dogs in the US. But did you know weiners can also be farm animals?

Now you can make your own weiner animals with the help of the good people at Nippon Ham. (click on any animal for detailed how-to instructions!).

Sweet Madness

2008-01-24T11:20:00.000+09:00

Department store basement floors in Japan are called 'Depachika' and usually host various food tenants; deli, bakeries, local delicacies, take-out dinners, etc. But one cannot miss the great temptation of Depachika sweets: yummy chocolates, cakes, cookies and other high-end goodies.

From Jan 23-28 Shinjuku Isetan will host the 5th annual Salon de Chocolat. There will be 55 chocolate brands from 11 nations gathering to allure the sweet fans of the city.

www.isetan.co.jp/sdc/
(Sorry, Japanese only)

Today's morning news reported that 500 people lined up for the event opening yesterday. All could not enter the floor so hundreds of them even had to line-up on the staircase. A box of 18-piece chocolate was on sale for 17,500 JPY (about 165 USD), and women don't just line up for that, but also love taking photos with the patissiers as if they were Hollywood celebrities!

This event is clearly greasing the wheels for Valentine's Day sales; in Japan, the 'tradition' is for women to give chocolates to men (see, Japan really is a great country!). It is also true that some of them give themselves chocolates as a 'reward' for their stressful / hard urban daily lives.

If you can't make the event, get yourself a free sample of Fresh Chocolate (chocolate made from fresh cream, Nama-choco) while perusing the selections. Fancy a piece worth 10 USD?

Keepin Warm With Uniqlo

2008-01-23T18:19:00.001+09:00

The setup: Tokyo's first snow of 2008. It ain't Chicago but...

.... if you're from SoCal, this means IT'S COLD OUT THERE. What do you really need? A scarf? Mittons? Never heard of 'em. What I need is a T-shirt. For snow.

Enter the good folks at Uniqlo. They've come up with "HEAT TECH" a new line of 'inner wear' made from fiber that actually heats up with your body to help you keep warm - rather than simply trapping heat. The fiber stretches and breathes like cotton, and even has some sort of anti-bacteria function to prevent stink. Here's a link that explains in Japanese.

The launch ad for Heat Tech was brilliant - a girl tries to convince her boyfriend to wear heat tech tights but he, like any man, resists - me wear tights?!? Cut to the benefit shot where we see him standing in uniform on a snowy train platform (about the only job I could imagine a young guy standing out in the cold).

Luckily my wife had just bought me one this morning (literally opened it up and threw it on before going to work):

Not the most fashionable, but it's inner wear, right? Good to go - like an oven mitt.

Identity Crisis

2008-01-16T13:32:00.001+09:00

On a recent trip back home (Los Angeles), I was confronted with a paralyzing crisis in personal identity, the way I express and define myself. "Who am I?" I thought to myself, "Which energy drink is right for me?"

In Japan energy drinks, called eiyo (nutritional) drinks, have been propping up the salarymen of Japan Inc for ages. Lately they've become increasingly specialized to meet the needs of Japan's evolving social structures:

Good old-fashioned eiyo drinks:

Beauty eiyo drinks:

Love eiyo drinks:

last resort gone...

2008-01-16T13:11:00.000+09:00

A new regulation took effect on January 7, 2008: smoking is now banned in Tokyo taxis.

While Japan is one of the 'lenient' nations on smoking, more offices, restaurants, and public spaces are now smoke-free. Taxis were almost the last resort for smokers who ride it in between client visits and meetings. Shinkansen (the bullet train) is also smoke-free today.

A cab driver told me the other day that female customers are more detesting to the ban, which I thought interesting. This might be (?!) bacause of male/female psychological differences, but more over, statistics show that while the entire smoker population is decreasing in Japan, female smoker population is growing.

Stressed salary-men of Tokyo, what are we gonna do???!!!

Meaningful Innovation 1

2008-01-16T11:37:00.001+09:00

Question: Why are tissues white?

Answer: Who knows. Black Tissues from Daishowa First.