Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Search Engine Relationship Chart via Gen Kanai's blog post. Very nice Flash piece that maps out the U.S. Search Engine space. Here's a chart that maps out the Japanese Search Engine space. 12:34:46 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []

	Sunday, February 01, 2004

New Half show Kabukicho I had an interesting Friday evening. Met up with friends from Hawaii that were on a business trip, and some in the group were interested in going to a gay bar in Shinjuku. It wasn't a bar, but a show performed by good looking New Halfs. No ... it was a burlesque put on by Beautiful Women!?! If the show was put on in public, I could see a crowd that would never suspect of the sexual origins of these gals. The show reminded me of a burlesque I saw in Paris, but I was more impressed by the heart that they put into the show. Located in the seedy Kabukicho district of Shinjuku, where the sex industry is in your face, we entered the underground joint. When we first entered, the size and layout reminded me of a strip club in Honolulu. We got there as a show just ended, and had about an hour before the next. Drinks were flowing and the New Half ladies came out to mingle with the crowd. I had to ask Aya, tall young and sexy, what a New Half was. She seemed kind of shy or embarassed, and didn't answer the question. I decided to make small talk and asked her where she was from. Found out that it was very close to me, so mentioned Ogikubo. She replied, "that's where I had my balls cut." ... "I feel much lighter now." The show started and we found out that she has a pair of tits too. I couldn't see any hint of a man in her. Spooky. The other girls that we didn't meet were just as beautiful. It's amazing what a snip, and some silicone can do. Other reads: New Half Interview with Nong Aaf The Left Hand of Darkness - A book I read in school. After I wrote this blog post the memory of this book poped up in my head. I never finished the book, but I think I went half way. Link goes to Amazon.com. 1:11:28 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []

	Thursday, January 08, 2004

Mobile FeliCa Got an update from Lars (Wireless Watch Japan) about NTT DoCoMo's "Felica" integration into some handsets. See the Wireless Watch Japan's article w/ links to streaming video clip. My Previous posts: eMoney = iMode Suica Suica (JR East / Sony) 2:49:16 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []

	Thursday, January 01, 2004

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu I just got back from Meiji Jingu, which is next to Harajuku station. I knew it would be crowded, but I needed to experience it anyway. I wanted to try starting the new year in a Japanese fashion. It took us around an hour in line to get to the front of the temple where you can make a prayer and toss some coins. Full crowd control made things flow pretty smoothly without any pushing or shoving until the very end, where the area to throw coins from becomes like the closest point to the the front at a concert. Everyone trying to get there, but people who are there and want to get out are stuck. It was amazing to see so many people at the temple and on the streets of Harajuku at 4am. Harajuku looked like it got a matsuri make-over. The trains usually stop at around midnight, but runs all night long New Year's Eve. The shedule is not as frequent as normal business hours. Other common Japanese Oshogatsu traditions that we followed: Osoji - Haven't finished cleaning the house, but getting close. Toshi Koshi Soba - Right after midnight we had this dish. We had our noodles with Tsuyu, Negi, Nori, and Wasabi. Plain, but seemed just right for the moment. The noodles made the dish. Kohaku Uta Gassen - switched between this, the Pride fights, and the K1 w/ Bob Sapp Vs. Akebono. I wasn't too thrilled with watchin the singing ;) New Years Eve was a nice change to what I'm used to. There's a Japanese community in Hawaii, so these traditions are not totally new to me. Just not on this scale. Seeing so many people into Osoji, or writing Nen-ga-jyo reminded me of the Christmas spirit that I missed. Christmas seemed more like a couples thing, and New Years more with family and good friends. At least I started 2004 with a clearer head. Usually I'm pretty intoxicated and partying with friends. Make that F*CKED up.  This time we got to reflect on 2003, and see where we want to be in 2004. 6:14:55 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []

	Sunday, December 28, 2003

Emperor's BirthDay, December 23, 2003 Got to visit the grounds of the Emperor's Imperial Palace on Tuesday. It was a national holiday. It's usually off limits except for two days out of the year, when he comes out to wave at us peasants. ;) Never got to enter any buildings, nor catch him waving, but it was nice none the less. Getting in was like going through airport security, but a bit more strict. Full body search and hand carry bag checks with the usual over staffing that Japan's known for. Felt like the entire Japanese policeforce was there, but I think this was the emp's own posse. The Imperial Palace is like smack dab in the middle of Tokyo. All the trains and subways go around this plot. It was nice to goto a place in the middle of Tokyo where you can walk, and talk without worrying about bumping into someone. On our way out we saw a line of cars entering the grounds. The line brought in Ambassadors and dignitaries. Looked like a U.N. gathering for his birthday. Must've been one hell of a party. 3:28:46 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []

	Monday, December 22, 2003

Merry Christmas Tokyo, 2003 It's a little different than in Hawaii. Cold ... Christmas always had that image, but never really experience it. Nice change. I don't feel that SPIRIT, though. You know that feeling you get when you guzzle down some egg nog, while watching the claymation reruns of Frosty and Rudolph. I also miss the carols so now I hum them. Top photos were taken at Ginza, the epitome of commercialized Christmas. A little grander scale of Waikiki. Brand city. Hotel Okura has a nice tree and a killer statue made out of candy. The kewlest Xmas thingy so far ... Roppongi Hills, NEO Xmas Trees. Looks like fiber optic nerves flowing through the trees. Merry Christmas!!! 1:41:55 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []

	Friday, November 21, 2003

Beaujolais Nouveau Today(Thurs) is the release day of Beaujolais Nouveau 2003. Every third Thursday of November is release date. Since we are in the East, Japan is one of the first countries to taste the new harvest. We've got two bottles sitting in front of me ...   :-) Rumor has it that 2003 is an exceptional year. 2:37:02 AM      Google It!   trackback []   comment []