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2008/6/27 Indonesian Street Food The local food scene in Indonesia relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Street food is a quick meal sold by a vendor with a push cart, basket, at a stall, or possibly at a store where customers can see the preparation of food clearly. It provides a close connection between the customer and the street food, unlike having a plate of food in a restaurant. The types of food offered vary from a simple fried tofu to a much more complicated dish like gudeg (raw jackfruit cooked in a Javanese traditional way that originated from Yogyakarta). In big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Medan, the street vendors offer many a traditional food from various regions in the archipelago. But in smaller cities, they are usually of the local cuisine. The most commonly found street food is bakso or meatballs that are usually served in a bowl, like soup, with noodles, bean curds (tofu), eggs, and/or fried meat. Another popular soup-like street food is soto. It is mainly comprised of broth and vegetables. The meats most commonly used are beef and chicken, but there are also sotos with mutton and pork. It is usually accompanied by rice or compressed rice. Sotos are differentiated by the ingredients in them, such as soto ayam (chicken) and soto kambing (mutton). There are many sotos in Indonesia, as different regions and ethnicities have their own ways of preparing the cuisine, such as soto Madura (from East Java), soto Betawi (from Jakarta), soto Padang (from West Sumatra), so to Bandung (from West Java), soto Banjar (from South Kalimantan), and coto Makassar (from South Sulawesi). The other popular delicacy often sold by street vendors is satay. It is a dish consisting of chunks or slices of dice-sized meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef, pork, or fish) on bamboo skewers, which are grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings, mostly made of ground nuts. Satay may have originated in Java or Sumatra, but is very popular outside Indonesia too. Similar to soto bakso and soto, there are many types of satay from sate Madura to Padang, sate Iilit, sate susu, kulit, sate Ponorogo and many more. Nasi goreng (steamed rice stir-fried with eggs, meatballs, chicken/beef/shrimp, assorted vegetables and often with sweet soy sauce seasoning) is also very popular along with nasi rawon (rice served with dark beef soup) originally from East Java. The dark colour comes from the meaty seeds of kluwak nuts. Usually served with uncooked mung bean sprouts and salty duck eggs, pecel (a mixture of vegetables and traditional crackers with spicy peanut paste). Madiun and Blitar in East Java are popular for their pecel and gado-gado (a mixture of vegetables, crackers and rice with peanut flavoured sauce). The taste is sweet in Eastern Java and salty in Western Java. RazzleBerry RazzleBerry Metropolis June 27, 2008 http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/recent/localflavors.asp A hip new frozen yogurt retailer hopes to be Japan’s next big thing Japan is in the age of ice cream 2.0. Ushered in by Dippin’ Dots (slogan: “The Ice Cream of the Future”) in 1995, and reignited by the much-hyped arrival of Coldstone Creamery a decade later, the ongoing campaign to win the hearts and minds of Japan’s frozen dessert lovers could be nearing a finish. The latest hopeful is RazzleBerry, a frozen yogurt shop launching next month with big backers and even bigger ideas. Driving the RazzleBerry project is Gisen Sawamura (above), a 34-year-old restaurant and party promoter from Los Angeles, with the support of a group of nine influential restaurant owners calling themselves Team Japan. Sawamura, who goes by the name “G,” is a natural promoter. “I first had gatherings in my backyard with friends. The word got around and what started out as ten friends became 50, then 100, and so on,” he recalls. “Before I knew it I was promoting the most famous clubs in LA.” Despite a budding career in California, G felt his calling was as an actor, and came to Tokyo to pursue his dream seven years ago. “I dropped everything and decided to move to Japan. Most of the people around me told me I was crazy… but that just added fuel to my fire,” he says. G hit the ground running: “During the first few years in Tokyo, I did radio, movies, had my own English program and MC’d concerts and events.” Eventually he was approached in 2006 by the general manager of Roppongi disco Velfarre to open a new venue called Pandoras. “I was basically handed the $10 million space. I was to create the concept, design, staff look, operations and the menu—all within a month!” The resulting restaurant-slash-style-bar in Kudanshita, near the Budokan, was a sight to be seen. With a white piano suspended from the ceiling, revolving floors, and a top-of-the-line projector and sound system, Pandoras was like the Bubble-era reborn. And, true to form, “after a year, the parent company went belly up,” says G. His next project was revamping the popular Cardenas Charcoal Grill in Ebisu, which is when he was approached by Team Japan. Though the group’s eventual goal is to “bring authentic Japanese dining to America,” G decided to first leverage his considerable resources and expertise to launch RazzleBerry. Citing recent frozen yogurt booms in LA, New York and Korea, G says the timing is right for a fro-gurt craze in Japan. “The concept I came up with for RazzleBerry is ‘sexy and cute,’ or ero-kawaii.” The shops will be decked out in pink and purple, black chandeliers and the 18 toppings, ranging from fresh fruit to Oreos, are to be displayed “like gems.” Staff have been recruited from modeling agencies and will wear uniforms designed by trendy Japanese fashion house Dazzlin’. One way G plans to promote RazzleBerry is through a media blitz in Japanese women’s magazines. He also tapped Jeff Miyahara, the only Japanese producer to have worked with music luminaries Timbaland and Boyz II Men, to create a string of catchy pop and hip-hop tunes. The first, “RazzleBerry Jam,” is already being spun in the city’s nightclubs, and G plans to release new songs monthly. And the product? Two flavors—plain and green tea—of tart, non-fat frozen yogurt, with “all the benefits of eating real yogurt,” G enthuses. The first shop will open under a big pink tent poolside at Toshimaen amusement park from July 5, followed by a second, more central branch in Shinjuku on July 20. G is tight-lipped about future locations, but does drop some hints of what’s to come. “I already have a lot of people lining up to open franchises, and I don’t even have the franchise scheme done yet!” www.razzleberry.jp Ambassador Leona Lewis British singer Leona Lewis named UK-Japan 2008 goodwill ambassador
Japan Today
June 26, 2008
TOKYO — British singer Leona Lewis, 23, has been named Goodwill Ambassador for UK-Japan 2008. She will visit Japan in July to attend the nomination ceremony. UK-Japan 2008 has been conducted by the British embassy in Japan to mark the 150th anniversary of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Amity and Commerce. The campaign showcases British culture in three categories: art, science and creative industry. In an official comment, Lewis said, "I became a big fan of Japan. I'm very happy to have an opportunity to understand more about the wonderful country." Izakaya
This is the first publication in English to delve into every aspect of the izakaya, or Japanese “pub” ― a unique and vital cornerstone of Japanese food culture. Uninhibited and welcoming, the pub serves mouth-watering, nutritious and inexpensive small-plate cooking, along with free-flowing drinks. Like the Spanish tapas bar, it is a mainstay of the nation’s native cuisine, a vital venture for socializing and, in these health-conscious times, an increasingly influential culinary force. Eight different Tokyo pubs are introduced. Some of them have long histories; some are more recent players on the scene. All are deeply familiar to the author, who has chosen them for their quality, ambience, and the variety they represent. Also included are detailed recipes for 60 quintessential izakaya dishes-delicious standards and specialties ranging from those often found on the traditional Japanese “comfort food” menu to highly innovative creations that reflect the living energy of pub culture. You will also find a wide range of information-izakaya history, profiles of Japanese ingredients and spices, a guide to the many varieties of sake, cocktails and other alcoholic drinks that are served, “how-to “advice on menu ordering, and much more. More than a cookbook or a guidebook, this is a beguiling window onto a major food culture, and will be a source of inspiration to every food lover-home chef, hungry gourmet, or professional restaurateur. Author Mark Robinson is an editor and journalist who has written regularly from Tokyo on food and culture for publications including the Financial Times and the Times (UK), the Australian Financial Review Magazine, and others. Born in Tokyo and raised mostly in Sydney, he returned to Japan in 1988. Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook
ISBN : 978-4-7700-3065-8 Kodansha 2008/6/26 G8 Hokkaido Toyako Lake Toya (Toyako) is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. In addition to the lake itself, the Toyako region features hot springs and an active volcano, Mount Usu, which last erupted in the year 2000. The area also offers many fishing, hiking, and camping opportunities. The picturesque lake was chosen as the location of the G8 summit which Japan will host from July 7 to 9, 2008. The leaders of the world's eight major industrialized democracies will meet at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa.
Powdery Foundation Week This week was a "powdery foundation" kind of week for me here. Aside from my overly busy week preparing for my meetings in Batam next week, my mom and aunt requested 100 Yen Store "face powder" and then corrected to "powder foundation" aka "powdery foundation in Japan. They say it goes good with Asian skin as it should, Japanese are always concerned over their skin in every way from sun resistance to pure white forever, Japan is where it's at! I found all of that at our local 100 Yen Store in limited quantity and sent it out as sample. If they like it, looks like I will buying and sending a whole bunch more or looking around at other 100 Yen Stores for more suitable "powdery foundation". Fukuoka Best Shopping In The World Fukuoka world's best shopping city: Monocle magazine survey Japan Times/Kyodo June 26, 2008 http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080626a2.html LONDON (Kyodo) Fukuoka has been voted the best place in the world for shopping and one of the most livable locations, according to a survey by a leading international culture and design magazine. The latest edition of London-based Monocle ranks Tokyo as the third-most livable city in the world, behind Copenhagen in first place and Munich in second. Fukuoka comes in 14th place and Kyoto at 20th in a shortlist of 25. New York and London are not included in the quality-of-life ranking, while Japan and Germany have the most cities — three each — on the list. The magazine assessed cities according to a wide variety of criteria, including urban planning, transport connections, crime rates and environmental initiatives. But it also took into consideration a whole host of less obvious factors, like how many cinema screens are on offer and how easy it would be to hop on a bike. Fukuoka is a new entry from last year's list, but Monocle judged that the city lives up to the media-generated hype. Fukuoka also picked up the award for "best retail city" in the shortlist. The magazine said, "It has all the advantages of a big city — excellent shopping, outstanding food, good transport links — with all the coziness of a smaller, provincial town. "Friendly, safe and clean, its proximity to East Asia — Shanghai is closer than Tokyo — Fukuoka is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Japan," the magazine said. In terms of "Monocle Fix," the magazine would like to see a route to the West Coast of the United States. The magazine said the compact shopping district of Tenjin in downtown Fukuoka features all the big labels and attracts visitors from South Korea and China. Tokyo came third on this year's list, moving up one place. Monocle commented that while it is a big city with no obvious center, it gets the basics right. "Public transport runs with digital precision, people are mindful of others, and the crime rate is low." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuoka_Prefecture Up To G8In this photo released by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives at Osaka International Airport in Osaka on Thursday, June 26, 2008. The foreign ministers of the world's top industrialized countries are meeting in Japan this week leading up to the G8 Summit in Hokkaido Toyako next week.
2008/6/22 Mount Fuji Shinkansen train crossing the Fuji River. The river flows down the western flank of Mount Fuji and empties into Suruga Bay.
It is Japan's highest peak and the most beautiful—it is the mountain of all mountains. Mount Fuji is just about in the middle of the Japanese archipelago, and on a clear day you can see it from Tokyo, 130 km to the east. Its majestic profile can be seen more than 300 km away, from the top of Mount Myoho in Wakayama Prefecture. It rises 3,776 meters about sea level, making it the 29th tallest volcano in the world. And its diameter is about 38 km north-south, 39 km east-west, when measured at the foot. It is a beautiful, almost perfect cone, and the beauty is made complete with lakes dammed by lava flows, rivers, ponds and marshes fed by fast-flowing springs, and a dense, mature forest covering the lava plateau around its foot. The area is also rich in wildlife and natural vegetation.
Fuji is an active volcano—from time to time it erupts, throwing out lava and cinders. Since ancient times, people have regarded it as sacred—some even worshipped it as a god. These beliefs led more and more people to climb the mountain in medieval times, and in the 18th century shrines were constructed all over Japan to honor the mountain. Today, about 300,000 people make the climb every year, realizing their dream to get to the top at least once in their lifetime. Mount Fuji continues to have a special place in the hearts of the Japanese.  A winter morning at Lake Yamanaka, one of the Five Fuji Lakes that were formed after rivers were dammed by flowing lava.
Fuji, an Active Volcano
The Japanese archipelago is thought to lie above the edges of five tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate, North American Plate (or Okhotsk Plate, according to some geologists), Philippine Sea Plate, Amur Plate and Nankai Micro Plate. These huge slabs move about, collide and slide under and over each other, making Japan more prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions than almost any other country.
Mount Fuji is located just about in the middle of the archipelago, almost directly above where three of the plates meet. It has erupted violently many times in its history. The Fuji we see today developed on top of two older volcanoes. About 10,000 years ago, one of these older mountains, Ko Fuji Kazan (“Old Fuji Volcano,” elevation about 3,000 meters), began throwing out huge quantities of lava in all directions. Over the next several thousand years, Ko Fuji Kazan was eventually swallowed up, along with an even older volcano to the northeast, Ko Mitake Kazan (“Small Mitake Volcano”). Out of this chaos came the basic shape of the mountain that now exists. Other later eruptions gave the finishing touches to the beautiful cone seen today.
The most recent period of frequent violent activity lasted about 300 years, during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries A.D. The Jogan eruption of 864 on the northwestern slope was the biggest in recorded history. It discharged massive amounts of lava that quickly transformed the base of the mountain on the north side. The large forested highland called Aokigahara and numerous lakes are the result we see today. There was no major activity from the 12th to the mid-15th century, when the volcano awoke again. Then in 1707, the Hoei eruption opened up three craters on the southeastern slope and caused tremendous damage to nearby villages and farmland. It also sent huge clouds of volcanic ash that rained down on the big city of Edo (present-day Tokyo), more than 100 kilometers to the east.
Fuji has been quiet for almost 300 years now. But for a volcano with a life span of hundreds of thousands of years, three centuries are almost no time at all. It would be perfectly normal for the mountain to erupt again at any time. After all, it is only sleeping. Caviar For The Masses AFP
June 21, 2008
AOMORI, Japan (AFP) — As a plunge in the Caspian Sea's sturgeon population cuts caviar production, a Japanese factory has come up with a novel solution -- an imitation of the salty delicacy. Sticky grey liquid comes through tubes and quietly drips from nozzles, forming tiny balls that look like black caviar at the workshop in the city of Aomori, some 600 kilometres (370 miles) north of Tokyo. The imitation caviar, named Cavianne, is made from an unlikely mix of ingredients -- squid ink, pectin from apples, extract of sea urchin, oyster and scallop as well as a type of gum derived from kelp. Inventor Susumu Mikami, 75, said it took him two years to come up with the right mix of ingredients to produce small balls which he contends have almost the same size and taste as top-notch Beluga caviar. Mikami, a former maker of traditional Japanese sweets, invented Cavianne a decade ago and set up Hokuyu Foods Co. Ltd., which has five workers including himself as president. "Caviar from the Caspian Sea tastes really great. I've bought it about three times before," Mikami told AFP at his factory. "I'm making this by recalling what it tasted like." The most highly prized caviar comes from Beluga sturgeons in the Caspian Sea, which can live for more than 100 years. But despite their longevity, sturgeon populations have been diminishing rapidly from overfishing. Russia -- which along with Iran and former Soviet republics controls the catch -- earlier this year proposed a five-year moratorium to conserve sturgeon stocks.
Caviar is traditionally produced by clubbing sturgeons and forcing out their eggs. Hokuyu Foods is the only maker of artificial black caviar in Japan. The company produces four tonnes of it a year, equal to one-fifth of the estimated consumption of real black caviar in Japan, according to Mikami. Few Japanese know the name Cavianne but the fake caviar has been mostly for wholesale for use at restaurants and hotels. Mikami first thought about making fake caviar when another member of a local group of inventors, the Invention Study Society, said grains from broom cypress look like caviar when sprinkled with squid ink. He thought they were too small for caviar and tasted bad, but he got to work. Cavianne looks like the prized Beluga caviar but Mikami himself admits the biggest problem is that the skin is too thick and gummy to be real. It is low in calories, containing just one-seventh of those in real black caviar, but Mikami wants to give it a richer taste for possible export. "There are people who adamantly refuse this -- cooks who know real caviar. I understand that," Mikami said. "It's alright for those who wants the real thing to stick to the real thing. But the real thing is disappearing. So if people are happy enough with our product on the menu, there is some role for us," he said. "I believe we can co-exist." One 50-gramme (1.75-ounce) jar of Cavianne is priced at some 1,000 yen (9.3 dollars), up to 10 times less than real black caviar. Mikami said he was still struggling to break even given the small scale of sales, but noted with hope that imitation crab is widely sold globally. For those who want something more casual than caviar, his company has another option -- bigger and colourful "Fruppy" balls that contain fruits-flavoured liquid. It is meant for use in beverages or topping for yogurt or other food. Another Best Hotel In TokyoToday I am staying at one of the newest sleek upscale designer boutique hotel chains called remm.
 Part of the Hankyu-Hanshin-Daiichi Hotel Group, these slightly pricy but modernly glamorous line of hotels feature everything from full glass windowside bathrooms open to the window and the room , 2,000 position massage chair, massage shower head and in-ceiling rain shower sprinkler, big wall mounted flatscreen digital high-definition plasma television and extraordinary interior spatial design throughout. Rooms are all decorated in invigorating color schemes which are meant to stimulate relaxation.
   I am staying at the newly opened Akihabara location. So far there are two locations, both on the JR Yamanote loop line at Hibiya (JR Yurakucho Station) and now right above the JR Akihabara Station! This area around Akihabara Station "Electric Town" has been dramatically transforming ever since the new Tsukuba Express arrived several years ago.
2008/6/20 Japanese Best Travelers Japanese travelers top the list.
Expedia/4hoteliers
June 20, 2008
More than 4,000 hoteliers from across the globe provided opinions on the best overall travelers, as well as 10 specific categories grading popularity, behavior, manners, willingness to learn the language and try local cuisine, generosity, tidiness, volume, fashion sense and propensity to complain. Expedia, the world's leading online travel company, today released the findings of a global survey seeking to crown the world's best tourists and measure travelers based on their best and worst travel traits and habits. The Japanese won top prize and are considered by hoteliers across the globe as overall the best tourists. German and British tourists tied for second place, followed by the Canadians and Swiss. American tourists came in at number 11 overall. American Tourists Score High and Low Americans lead the way with putting effort into learning a few key sayings in the local language and sampling local delicacies. The French, Chinese and Japanese were the least likely to incorporate the local language, and the Chinese, Indians and Japanese have the least interest in the culinary styles of the places they visit. Americans are also considered the most generous, followed by the Canadians and Russians. In contrast to American generosity and willingness to absorb local culture, they are considered to be noisy tourists, along with the Italians and British. Additionally, Americans are said to complain about accommodations, along with the Germans and French -- and are also among the least tidy hotel guests. Lastly, Americans fall to the bottom of the list when it comes to fashion sense, with the ever stylish Italians and French taking top sartorial prize. "Hoteliers are the experts when it comes to interacting with tourists, so as the busy summer travel season approaches and vacationers prepare for their own travel experiences, we thought it would be fun to present some of their common perceptions regarding tourists from all around the world," said Karyn Thale, travel expert, Expedia.com®. "We hope the results inspire Americans to keep up their generosity and cultural curiosity and convince them to leave the white tennis shoes and fanny packs at home!" Batam Via Singapore I will going to Batam for work from June 30 to July 1. We will be staying and having our meetings in Nagoya City, Batam which is like the downtown area with many hotels, clubs, shops and beaches. Anyway, I reserved Singapore Airlines for my outbound and return flights this time and was luckily able to get the new SQ637 and SQ638 flights featuring the new A380 super jet which is the largest plane ever built with private rooms and all the latest technologies! I will be departing from Narita on SQ637 at 11:30 am on Sunday, June 29 (arriving in Singapore at 5:35 pm) and returning from Singapore on SQ638 at 11:40 pm on Tuesday, July 1 (arriving at Narita at 7:30 am on Wednesday, July 2). I will be using a direct ferry between Singapore and Batam, which takes less than an hour. Should be very interesting since I've never been on an A380 or visited Batam before in my life! Everything is so cheap in Batam, I made all the reservations for our hotel and meeting rooms and wow! Our deluxe rooms at the five star hotel is only 80 Singapore Dollars net per night (about $60 US Dollars) and our meeting room for 15 persons including two coffee breaks with snacks for 15 persons, lunch at the hotel's restaurant for 15 persons and meeting stationery, candy, misc. electronics and wireless internet connection is only 600 Singapore Dollars per day (about $450 US Dollars)! Incredible! Only in Asia! http://www.a380.singaporeair.com/ http://www.batam.com/ 2008/6/14 iPhone Japan! Apple's new iPhone 3G to launch in Japan on July 11 AP/Daily Yomiuri June 14, 2008 http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_TEC_JAPAN_IPHONE_ASOL-?SITE=YOMIURI&SECTION=HOSTED_ASIA&TEMPLATE=ap_features_science.html TOKYO (AP) -- Apple's new iPhone, featuring faster Internet connections and satellite navigation capabilities, will be available in Japan on July 11, when the third-generation device goes on sale globally. Earlier this month Apple inked a deal with Softbank Corp's mobile unit to bring the iPhone to Japan, one of the most competitive mobile markets in the world. Speculation has swirled since then on when exactly the highly anticipated iPhone would hit stores. "I am delighted at this opportunity to partner with Apple," said Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son in a joint statement with Apple. "iPhone has been enthusiastically received around the world, and we think it will be popular in Japan as well." Apple unveiled an upgraded iPhone Monday priced US$200 lower than current models, but with more expensive service. Analysts have said Apple needed to slash the multimedia gadget's price and upgrade it to work over 3G wireless networks to hit the company's target of selling 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008. An 8 gigabyte model is to sell in the United States for US$199 starting July 11. A 16 gigabyte model will cost US$299. The devices are to roll out initially in 22 countries. Apple and Softbank have not said how much the iPhone will cost in Japan. Tokyo-based Softbank has 18.77 million subscribers in Japan, and is still lagging in third place behind mobile service providers NTT DoCoMo and KDDI Corp. In recent years, it has been aggressively expanding by offering cheaper services and running catchy TV ads featuring actress Cameron Diaz. Asian VegasHead to the “Asian Las Vegas” for an easy getaway from Tokyo There are two Macaus. One is rich with Chinese and Portuguese culture, a legacy of the nearly 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule that ended in 1999. The other is simply rich.
After the government opened up to Western gaming companies in 2002, Macau’s gambling scene exploded, spawning self-contained cities in the form of five-star casinos. Today, more money flows through Macau than Las Vegas. Indeed, there are some spectacular sights to be seen, like the Venetian Hotel, which is based on the Las Vegas version, only bigger. More hotels, more casinos, more unadulterated fun is the name of the game in Macau. The casino floor occupies over 20,000 square feet of space, with the mighty Lion’s Bar located right in the middle. The bar throngs with women from every walk of life, albeit heavy on those from the nicer side of it.
Macau MGM Grand A live band plays six nights a week, and drinks are relatively cheap at about ¥450. This is important in giving the punters from Japan the feeling that they’re saving money, which they can then use on the tables. And what self-respecting red-blooded male, after playing a bad hand in the bar, can resist the call of the card tables on the way back to his room? It is difficult in the light of day to work out how much a local MOP (Macau Pataca, the local currency) is worth, but in the early hours of the morning, “double-up-MOPS” sounds like the call of destiny.
Macau MGM Grand If you are looking for a lively shopping experience, the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel is a retail complex housing over 350 shops spread across a staggering 1 million square feet. From Sisley to Swarovski, everything is at a comparatively lower price than in Japan. And, if you find yourself with shopping fatigue, there is a highly amusing singing gondola ride through the Venetian’s “canals,” where you can watch all the shops float by to some Italian warbling. Now, to address the inevitable comparisons to its overseas counterparts. Hong Kong is a business town and Las Vegas is for play. Macau is also very much for play, but it has a second arrow in its quiver: the culture and history instilled by the Portuguese during their four centuries of colonization. Visitors who have had enough of the booze, gambling and bling can break up their trip with some legitimate cultural activities.
Viva Macau Airlines
The peninsula and islets of Macau lie just southwest of Hong Kong. The easiest way to get there from Tokyo is to jump on a Viva Macau direct, four-hour flight from Narita (www.flyvivamacau.com/jp) so cheap! Don’t be afraid to grab a taxi at the airport and head into the city (around ¥700 for the ride), where five-star hotels like the MGM Grand (www.mgmgrandmacau.com) await. For those on a more modest budget, check out www.macau.com, where you will find everything you need to know about hotels and sights to see. One not-to-be missed gem is Margaret’s Café (2852-7791), where the Portuguese coffee can cure even the strongest hangover and the egg tarts are sublime. Just ask a local for directions, as everyone knows the place. Macau is small, and the taxis are legit, so you can either walk your way around or be driven for a reasonable rate. The hot and muggy weather is not unlike a Japanese summer. However, unlike Japan, the islands are so small that you never feel enclosed in a concrete jungle, and a short walk (no more than 10 minutes) in any direction will lead you to the sea. For more information, see the website of the Macau Government Tourist Office (www.macautourism.gov.mo/en). Weekend Champagne BrunchThe Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi is serving a special champagne brunch at the 7th floor Ekki Bar & Grill restaurant.
 The new-style Ekki Weekend Champagne Brunch offers the choicest champagnes, delicious food and live bossa nova music.
Three brunch courses are available. Each has a soup starter; a main dish that includes an appetizer, egg and two selections; a dessert plate with chef's choice ice cream; and coffee or tea. Free-flowing Krug champagne, which is said to be even better than the famed Dom Perignon, and Veuve Clicquot, which has an especially refreshing flavor, will contribute to a very special weekend afternoon. Brunches with Veuve Clicquot are from ¥7,900 and those with Krug from ¥10,900. The brunch is available between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On June 14 and 15, as a Father's Day promotion, the hotel will offer BMW test drives before or after brunch (if no alcohol consumed), with prior reservations. BMW staff will be on hand to provide brief explanations on the BMW 7 series, 6 series and Mini models, which will then be available for test drives on the roads around the hotel — which take you around Marunouchi, Ginza, and the Imperial Palace. The hotel is adjacent to Tokyo Station. Tully's First Parfait Tully’s Coffee will release its first parfait product next week. “T’s Paraffle” features waffle, banana puree, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a selection of various ice cream flavors. http://www.tullys.co.jp/ 2008/6/13 iPhone Japan Struggle Apple iPhone could struggle in Japan Business Techweek June 13, 2008 http://business.techwhack.com/3822-apple-iphone-japan Apple iPhone has been a major success in all the markets it has been launched in till now. The company recently announced their deal with Softbank which would see them bringing the iPhone in Japan. Japan is much different from other markets. Their mobile technology is very advanced and handsets available here are much more powerful and feature rich compared to other markets. As a result, Japanese mobile users are used to getting a lot of work done on their mobile devices. Apple on the other hand has focused on simplicity when it comes to their first generation iPhone. Apple is expected to launch the second generation model of the iPhone next week. It would be interesting to see what they might have in store for us. As for Japan, Apple just might surprise the analysts by become the mobile phone maker of choice as they have been dominating the MP3 industry here since quite some time now. JAL Smarts JAL to introduce 'semiprivate' space
Asahi
June 12, 2008
Japan Airlines Corp. will introduce first-class seating that resembles semiprivate cabin space on new Boeing 777 jets for its Tokyo-New York flights in August. The seats will be also offered on JAL's Tokyo-San Francisco flights from mid-September, and on other U.S.-bound flights in fiscal 2009, the airline said. When reclined, the Boeing 777 seats will function as a bed 199 centimeters long and 84 cm wide. |
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