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Vol.41 No.16 Sep 3rd–Sep 16th, 2010 www.weekenderjapan.com Including Japan’s largest online classifieds

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[email protected] www.jce-autos.jp Car Sales • Shipping • Insurance • Shaken Service • English Navi + DVD Systems CONTENTS Volume 41 Number 16

Sep 3rd–Sep 16th, 2010

4 Up My Street 8 5-9 Arts & Entertainment

10-11 Tokyo Tables

12-13 Fashion

14-15 Business

16-19 Feature: Car Ownership in Japan 20-21 Weekender Bulletin Board 16 22-23 Real Estate

24-27 Parties, People & Places

28-29 Families

30-31 Products 32-33 Healthy & Responsible Living 30 34 Back in the Day

PUBLISHER Ray Pedersen CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Jungnitsch, J.K. Whelehan, Ian de EDITOR Kelly Wetherille Stains OBE, Jay Revelle, Faith Kitsunezaki, Pankaj Arora DESIGNER R. Paul Seymour WEB DEVELOPER Ricardo Costa EST. Corky Alexander and Susan Scully, 1970 MEDIA MANAGER Tomas Castro MEDIA CONSULTANTS Mary Rudow, Pia von Waldau OFFICE Weekender Magazine, 5th floor, Regency Shinsaka Building, RESEARCHER Rene Angelo Pascua 8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Tel. 03-6846-5615 Fax: 03-6846-5616 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Owen Schaefer (Arts), Bill Hersey Email: [email protected] (Society), Stephen Parker (Products), Elisabeth Lambert (Health & Eco), Darrell Nelson (Sustainable Business) Cover photo by Toshihiro Oimatsu

Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors are not necessarily www.weekenderjapan.com those of the publisher.

3 WEEKENDER Up My Street

Located in Shinagawa ward, Gotanda sits Up My Street visits conveniently on the JR Yamanote line between business hub Osaki and hip Meguro. It can also be accessed by the Toei Asakusa subway line and the Tokyu Ikegami line. Gotanda is located on the Meguro river and is home to Seisen University and the Indonesian embassy. The area is somewhat by Stephen Parker notorious for prostitution, although the seedy side streets are easily avoidable.

Mundo Latino Ayumi Books Higashi Gotanda Ichome Sakaba Yakitoriya

3F, 1-12-12 Higashi Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku 1F 1-31-1 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku Under the tracks at JR Gotanda station Tel: 03-6408-0748 Tel: 03-5436-7031

Gotanda is home to a sizable Latino community, A huge bookstore with over 100,000 titles, There are still a couple of months of warm weath- and Mundo Latino is a small supermarket Ayumi has an excellent selection of art and er to go in Tokyo, so make the most of it and enjoy specializing in Latin American products. If design books in both Japanese and English. a beer or two outside. The yakitori stand is an in- you are feeling homesick or just looking for The knowledgeable staff deliver outstanding stitution in Japan, and right under the JR tracks interesting ingredients for an authentic meal, service, and some even speak English. In at Gotanda station is a casual and welcoming bar Mundo Latino sells everything from frozen addition to a wide variety of books, the store perfect for a bite on a warm evening. Get here tortillas and chilies to quality and inexpensive also stocks beautifully designed magazines early, as the limited seats get taken pretty quickly Brazilian coffee. and journals. by the stream of passing salarymen.

A ll p ho to s What was b y S your first car? t e p h e 3 n 1. Jake, a photographer from the UK: P

a

r “A Mini Cooper, in British racing green.” k

e r 1 2. Chris, a film student from the UK: Word “I’ve never had a car, but I’d love something sporty and Japanese like a Skyline.” on the 3. Luke, a musician from Australia: “I had a Street... beat up old van back in Oz. It was cool!”

2 1 & 2

For more write-ups on Tokyo neighborhoods, go to 4 WEEKENDER www.weekenderjapan.com/upmystreet // Arts & Entertainment Wedding Banquet For Farmers, October 10, 2009, Oil on canvas, 194×324 cm

Exploring Kuwakubo’s Cluttered Shores

by Owen Schaefer

You can stop worrying. The art of painting is in no danger. Its imminent Clutter could be said to be a motif in Kuwakubo’s landscapes. It is as demise is one of those things you hear muttered about from time to time though he decides on a theme, a room, a thought, and then proceeds to fill from third-hand sources, but while painting may have lost some of its the canvas with every possible object that he can associate with it. When space in the art scene to installation work, multimedia and performance, he paints an atelier, it is all ateliers at once; it is filled with every likely the sky has not yet fallen. thing that could be found in such a room. And although the canvas limits its size, the scene expands beyond the canvas borders, potentially going I say this because Toru Kuwakubo is one of those painters that critics will on forever—a shipwrecked idea that has washed up its contents on Ku- hold up as an example of the vibrancy of contemporary painting. And they wakubo’s shores. are right. The Telling of Sea, Telling of Painter exhibition at Tokyo Wonder Site, Shibuya, is the kind of show that reminds you what painting can ac- Kuwakubo’s impressionist influences run deep. He has a strong, almost complish. And as an early-career retrospective of Kuwakubo’s work, the sculptural brushwork that causes the details to disappear into splodges show is a reasonably complete sampling, revealing an artist coming into of color as the viewer draws closer to the canvas. Details that may have his own. seemed recognizable as a face become raised pillars of paint up close, and this mountainous texture subverts the details of the scene, becom- There is a dose of the surreal in Kuwakubo’s work—in his older paintings ing something else entirely. The pure abundance of apparent detail pulls we see people digging enormous holes in the beach, or waves awash with viewers in, but the brushwork keeps pushing them back, and they are left flowers. But his recent portraits of people adorned with fishing buoys, or of looking at a scene that refuses to fully resolve—its details as loosely de- bottles with women serving as stoppers take it a step further. Portrait and fined as an ocean shoreline. still life blend at the edges as he decorates objects with people and people with unlikely objects—and sometimes people with people. And his heavy If you think you need assurance that painting is alive and well, then this is brushwork is settling into a confident style. at least one exhibition where you can take its pulse.

Kuwakubo’s signature works, however, are quickly becoming his massive landscape/seascape paintings. As the title of the exhibition suggests, the sea is a fundamental concept in much of Kuwakubo’s work, as is the sky. And his shorelines and beaches become stages where he builds his set Show: Toru Kuwakubo: Telling of Sea, Telling pieces. In Wedding Banquet For Farmers, the beach is filled with tables and of Painter (to Sep 26) Gallery: Tokyo Wonder chairs, scattered dishes, chandeliers that inexplicably hang from the sky, (Shibuya station) Hours: and there is a festive glitter illuminating the clutter. In Carving Room, pil- Site, Shibuya 11am–7pm lars and statues stand scattered throughout the landscape in a number of (closed Mon) Admission: Free Tel: 03-3463-0603 configurations. It is a room of carvings and a room for carving. www.tokyo-ws.org // WEEKENDER 5 Arts & Entertainment » Tokyo Happenings by Kevin Jungnitsch Photo courtesy of Stellato Photo by Kai Z. Feng

Wouter Hamel Spanish Wine Fair

This young, up-and-coming Dutch vocalist will be in town this month Luxurious hangout Stellato in Shirokanedai will host the second to sing his soul out to his Japanese fans. A musician from a young age, Spanish wine fair on September 6. Manuel David Guerrero, president Hamel quickly garnered acclaim after winning the annual 2005 Dutch of wine trading company Vino Mio, is organizing and hosting the event. Jazz Vocal Competition, and has been compared with the likes of Jamie He will be on hand to give diners tips and pointers on the wine selec- Cullum and the late jazz singer Mel Tormé. Hamel’s mellow voice and tion, which will include bottles imported straight from the winery, not skill at combing elements of jazz and pop music together has recently yet available for sale in Japan. Entertainment will include flamenco won him a dedicated fan base here, beginning with his hit song Breezy, dancing with a live band and Latin dance courtesy of Ritsu and La Roy. which placed at number 36 on the Tokyo Hot 100. Catch his performance An exotic Mediterranean menu including red snapper, pasta and ibérico at Tokyo Midtown’s Billboard Live venue later this month. ham from Salamanca will also be served. Guests are advised to book early as the last event sold out.

Sep 13–14, 7pm and 9:30pm Tickets: ¥5,000–¥7,000 September 16, 6:30pm Tickets: ¥4,500–¥6,000 Nearest station: Roppongi www.billboard-live.com Nearest station: Shirokanedai [email protected] Photo courtesy of Tokyo International Players Photo by Ines Kaiser

Maceo Parker Greater Tuna

Talented American funk and soul saxophonist Maceo Parker is sure A hilarious comedic play that premiered in Austin, Texas almost three to give the audience a great show when he plays at the Blue Note in decades ago is set to entertain audiences in Tokyo yet again. Funny Aoyama. Famous for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, the North and witty, this satire on rural American mores is set in the third small- Carolinian musician’s solo career is bringing the best out of his playing, est town in Texas, where “the Lion’s Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline and even at age 67 the man is unstoppable. When he takes out his shiny never dies.” The wacky backwater characters, who number twenty in saxophone and gets down to business, things start to get seriously total, are portrayed on the stage by just two actors, adding even more funky—it’s no wonder his fan base reaches all the way to Japan. depth to this quick-change comedy. Last year, Tokyo International Players performed the play, and a tremendously positive audience response led to this encore production. Those looking for a good laugh Sep 5, 6pm and 8:45pm Tickets: ¥8,400 shouldn’t miss this! Nearest station: Omotesando www.bluenote.co.jp/en September 3–5 Tickets: ¥2,000–¥2,500 and 10–12, 7pm www.tokyoplayers.org Nearest Station: Hatagaya 6 WEEKENDER // // Arts & Entertainment Photo by Antonio Perezrio

The September Basho

Although Japan has no official sport, most wouldn’t argue with the claim that sumo wrestling is its ‘unofficial’ one. As the end of summer is nearing, the month of September brings one of the six annual grand tournaments, the September Basho. The traditional contentions take place in the renowned Ryogoku Kokugikan, also know as Sumo Hall. What may seem to be simply a show of masculinity and strength has long been a part of Japanese culture, requiring years of practice to master the art. For those that haven’t yet expe- bulbous cell. rienced sumo live, there isn’t a better opportunity than this to take in one of design to connect Japan’s must-sees.

September 12–16 Tickets: from ¥2,000 (children from ¥200) Nearest station: Ryogoku www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html

WEB MULTIMEDIA More Happenings...

Music Arabella September 8–14, New National Theater, Hatsudai, GRAPHIC Tel: 03-5351-3011 Music Planetarium until November 30, Katsushika City Museum, Kameari Tel: 03-3838-1101 Strauss PRINT Serenade September 10, Oji Hall, Ginza, Tel: 03-3588-0738 Manon Lescaut September 11–20, Bunka Kaikan, Ueno Tel: 03-3791-8888 Le Journal de Paris September 17, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Hatsudai, Tel: 0570-06-9960

Exhibitions This Week at The Artcomplex Center until September 5, Daikyocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tel: 03-3341-3253 Creators Market until September 5, Omotesando Hills West, Tel: 03-3408- 2982 Hitoshi Atano until September 14, Showa Bldg., Kyobashi Tel: 03-3563-1733 The Japan Art Show until September 16, Konwa Bldg., Yaesu Tel: 03-3231-7774 3D Metallic Objects until DESIGN September 4, Hayakawa Bldg., Minami-Aoyama, Tel: 03-3479-5889

Stage Elizabeth until October 30, Imperial Garden Theater, Hibiya, Tel: 03-3201-7777 Iliad September 4–23, Le Theatre Ginza, Tel: 0570-00-3337 Theatre de la Monnaie Apocrifu September 4–5, for a free quote, call Bunkamura, Shibuya, Tel: 0570-000-407 03 6846 5615 www.bulbouscell.com

For Tokyo’s largest English events calendar, go to //weekenderjapan.com/tokyohappenings WEEKENDER 7 Arts & Entertainment

© 2010 Cirque du Soleil Inc.

A Cirque du Soleil First Comes to Tokyo Flying High

Now through January 1, 2011, those who Zed can also enjoy Tokyo purchase tickets to Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea for only ¥1,000 extra. The Zed + Park Plan is available from ¥13,000 per personwww.zed.co.jp and tickets can. For be purchased online at more information call 0570-02-8777.

Photos by Stephen Parker

8 WEEKENDER Arts & Entertainment

“When I came here, Pedro was always asking me to do it, but I wasn’t sure because it’s totally different here,” Olga says. “The measurements are a little bit different, and it was a little bit like I didn’t want to open up. But Pedro pressured me a lot and opened my door a little bit. So when I started practicing, I worked with him and not the catcher I have now, because to do something hard, you have to trust the guy in front of you.”

After nailing the triple in a training session on July 31 this year, Olga felt that she was ready to try it before a live audience the next day. When her turn came, she pushed off from the platform and swung out on the trapeze. Au- dience members held their breath as she spun through the air three times, but as she reached out to grab onto Pedro’s outstretched arms, their hands brushed each other’s and she fell into the net below; the timing had been off by just a fraction of a second, enough to foil Olga’s attempt at a triple. “I feel angry,” Olga said in the green room after the show. “Because I knew what I by Kelly Wetherille had to do and I didn’t do it. But I still have focus, and if not today, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, after that; but I won’t give up.” A self-described “artistic entertainment company,” Cirque du Soleil has been wowing audiences around the world with its dramatic mix of theater, Olga’s perseverance and the support of her teammates paid off. On August circus acts and street performances since its founding in Montreal in 1984. 2, she became the first-ever female trapeze artist to perform a triple tuck With its current repertoire of nine touring shows and twelve permanent in a Cirque du Soleil show, and one of very few females in the world to have shows, the company continues to blur the lines between circus and theater, ever accomplished this amazing feat. “I felt very excited and happy,” says while at the same time winning countless awards, setting and breaking nu- Olga. “I could hear my friends and colleagues screaming, even from back- merous records, and garnering tremendous critical acclaim. stage. And the moment I caught Pedro’s hands I felt butterflies in my stom- ach. When I returned to my position, I could see Pedro’s happy face and I felt Tokyo’s very first permanent Cirque show isZed , which opened nearly two a strong connection to him. It was also a very important moment for him as years ago at a purpose-built theater attached to Tokyo Disneyland. Gemma a coach. I achieved my goal and I’m very proud of being in this show.” Segarra, a spokeswoman for the show, says that during the nearly two years that it has been running, it has gradually evolved into the smoothly After the show, the team celebrated along with Olga, each one of them just running well-oiled machine that it is now. The performers, who are all at as happy about her accomplishment as she was. “Now I can see how they the very top of their fields, rarely make mistakes, which is good not only appreciate what I did. It made the team stronger,” Olga says. “All my team- because the audience enjoys it, but also because some acts—including the mates felt the same happiness as me, because they understand how much high wire—don’t use safety nets. This level of skill and confidence could it means to train very hard and achieve a goal, to grow in the act.” easily lend itself to ambivalence, but happily that is not the case with the Cirque du Soleil. “The most important thing is for the performers to have But the act isn’t stopping here. Next up for the troupe is yet another difficult fun,” says Segarra. “If they’re not enjoying themselves, that’s when mis- and impressive move, this time by flyer Richard Galvis. As one of the world’s takes start to happen and things become dangerous.” top trapeze artists, Richard has been performing triple pikes for years, and Flying High he is now practicing a quadruple. If—or when—he does it during a perform- One group of artists that are not content to rest on their laurels is Zed’s ance of Zed one day, it will be yet another Cirque du Soleil first. “I’ve done flying trapeze act. Made up of mostly South Americans from the Galvis and them before, maybe ten years ago, but I stopped,” says Richard. “But now Farfan families of performers, they are a tightly knit troupe both on and off when I came here, I want to do it again, especially for the company. Because the stage. Their desire for excellence, along with their extreme trust in one nobody has ever done this, so I want to be the first one here.” another, has led them to constantly grow and improve within their act. “They are not happy just doing the same thing,” says former Zed artistic director Ann-Marie Corbeil. “They are always pushing themselves.”

Leader, coach and big-brother figure of the trapeze troupe Pedro Farfan Win sees it as part of his job to ensure that his team is constantly striving to be better and seeking out new challenges. “I try to put a different vision on Tickets them,” says Pedro. “In this group we have great talent, but I think I need to Zed! to push [the team] a little bit, because you lose the energy you have on the Zed to stage if you don’t push during training.” Weekender has a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky reader! To enter to contests@weekenderjapan. One of the flying trapeze troupe’s two female performers, Olga Poema, has win, email us at Zed act you’re been practicing a triple tuck since joining Pedro and his team at Cirque du com and let us know which Soleil in Tokyo, but had never actually performed it in a Zed show. The move, most looking forward to and why. Write by which has the flyer somersaulting three times in the air before being caught September 20 for your chance to win, and by her teammate, requires incredible strength, speed, timing, and above don’t forget to include ‘Zed tickets’ in the all, trust between the two performers. Olga had performed the trick before subject line. Good luck! joining the Cirque du Soleil, but it was always with her husband as the catch- er, and having Pedro as her new catcher required starting over from scratch.

WEEKENDER 9

// Photos by Stephen Parker Stephen by Photos - - - - (Cuban style roast roast style (Cuban pollo asado pollo 7-9-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku Roppongi, 7-9-4 03-5786-7557 Tel: www.lagorda.co.jp (a stew of shredded beef and vegetables) ac vegetables) and beef shredded of stew (a picadillo Open daily for lunch and dinner for Open daily times) (various La Gorda, La Roppongi Parker Stephen by at lunch to tend probably Nogizaka or Roppongi near work who chain Those avoiding worth is it but again, over and over places few the same off the steps few a Just different. something out seeking a and is street, restaurants side a in away tucked Midtown, Tokyo from across drag main sets. lunch killer and cocktails quality with restaurant Cuban vibrant of choice a you buys ¥900 weekdays During chicken and rice), rice), and chicken companied by salad and black bean rice, or the slightly unusual ‘Cuban ‘Cuban unusual slightly the or rice, bean black and salad by this companied making drink, a with come sets lunch All rice. with served curry,’ money. for value great tortil corn as such favorites, Latin some contains also menu dinner The fla wonderfully and ratatouille, homemade salsa, made home chef’s with the las is and delicious was tried I chicken roast The pork. roast vorful Gorda’s La in hours 12 for marinated was bird The you recommendation. roaster; special a in hour one for cooked being before was sauce skin original The preparation. the to given attention extra the taste as easily it can chose chef the why see could succulent—I still meat the and crispy favorite. his Saturday and Friday on 5am until weekends, on late open stays bar The the with made wonderful, are mojitos Cuban trademark The from nights. imported is rum the but sugar, cane and mint lime, fresh obvious perfect. was taste the and Havana diners so Spanish, and Japanese English, speak Gorda La at staff Latin The back laid the savoring while skills language their on up brush Cu can tell-tale the and outside wall orange zesty the for Look atmosphere. door. the above hanging flag ban ------Photo by Kelly Wetherille by Kelly Photo B1F, 7-3-21 Roppongi, Minato-ku Roppongi, 7-3-21 B1F, 03-3479-0098 Tel: www.banque.jp

WEEKENDER Open Mon–Sat (6pm–2am, until 11pm on Sat) We decided to order the prix fixe menu (¥4,000),fixe prixthe which decidedorderincludes to a We dessert.thatcertainpasta,mainandop Beware appetizer, choiceof Diners enter the restaurant through what looks like a vault door, and vaultdoor, a likewhatlooksDinersthroughrestaurant enterthe glitteringbygreeted chandeliers, are cushioned velvet sofas,and floor-to-ceilingfact, Banque glasses. onewine bottles and has In wineselections,largestcellaratthe with3,000 bottlesin Tokyo’s of ourtookabsorb momentthis,giventime.allweanyAftertaking to a handedwarm,peppermint-scentedseatswere and clean towelsto hands.our gorgonzolachosepenne,adish, pastawewhichrichandthewas For theand smallheavy, enoughbeaportionserved tobutin not creamy bellpepperscampicreationandgreenin a was This day. theofpasta whitewinelightbasedwiththewelloliveoilsauce,whichverywent a withlambandwent maindishwe the serverourrecommended. For cooked until tenderformer was The respectively. day, the fish of the delicious,a winesauce,inseasoned gravy-like red withrosemary, servedandwithseasonal vegetables. crispyfish was Theoutside and lemon served and with summer veg with flavored center, the flaky in concoctionfrozenreminiscentcrème aof of form the Dessertin came Servedonce.atall refreshing morecreamier and lighter, brûlée,but unex an perfecttotheend wasslices,withcantaloupeit apple and Any Tokyoite knows that this city has more than its fair share of share fairthanits moreknows thatthiscityhas Tokyoite Any downrightthekitschthemedtheto restaurants,grotesque. fromThe asdrinkssuchestablishmentsmiss, andoratfoodhit very be can experienceButthe actualratherforthanthe fare. in go dinerstotend Roppongi,insmallthatthemed sidestreetBanquerestau aproves in sametime.thebothuniqueclassyatandbe rantscan billthatthestillpossibleadditional isan it tionsso require charge, We believe. you would have price fixed thanthebeing more endsup appetizerwithanstartedoff selection Span thatincludedofslice a omelet,salad,ishpickles,various and meatspâtés.smokedandThe (rather filet than small shavings)largesalmon startedaconsisted of cheese,salmon,servedonofwaswithcreamolives,and shaved red lightvinaigrettesaladwithadressing. green fresh ions,aand evening. etables—perfectTokyo hotthe for pectedlyhighqualitymeal. Roppongi WetherilleKellyby Banque, Banque, Tokyo Tables TokYo Tables 10 // Tokyo Tables German Wine & Fruit

by J.K. Whelehan

The pairing of German wine with chocolate or cake is often talked about, but this is a little too heavy in the last throes of summer heat, especially so when you have eaten a heavy dinner or a multiple course meal. Indeed these magical combinations may also seem more forbid- ding as we still don our revealing summer wear!

A healthy alternative is the marriage of German wine with fruit. Below are some tried and tested combinations, however the fun of wine and food matching is in the exploration and discovery, therefore make sure to try pairing with other fruits (don’t forget dried fruits with the very sweet wines).

August Kesseler Riesling “R” with new summer orange: New summer orange, symbolic of the season, has a very beautiful color. Its acidity and sweetness can be paired perfectly with those of R from August Kesseler. In addition, the wine’s rich texture is in harmony with the or- ange, placing the fruit flavors on a pedestal on the palate.

Schlossgut Diel Burg Layer Q.b.A. with mango: When you put both the wine and the fruit in the mouth, the sweetness and acidity create a form of synergy, increasing the complexity of both. The match will give you an impression that the flavors are bursting out, forming a contrast rather than harmonizing meekly. You will experience a lively, three- dimensional flavor structure. If you were to compare this match to art, one would be inclined to describe it more as modern than classical.

The trick when you are pairing is to note and match the sweetness and acidity of wines with those of the fruits. In other words, match those with comparable or compensating levels. In addition, try to match wines with specific fruit nuances to the fruit.

It’s also worth noting that sweetness levels of German wines tend to increase in correspondence with their grade, starting with QbA and Kabinett, then Spätlese and Auslese, and all the way up to the very sweet Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein. The latter is my favorite with sweet ripe strawberries, though you may need the ad- dition of some condensed milk to balance the flavors. German wines in green bottles (from the Mosel) will tend to have a higher acidity.

While you may enjoy the synergy of the above, best of all is how the alcohol and sun become a less heady combination, as these wines with their typically low alcohol will put a glide in your stride but keep your feet on the ground. Photo by Mami Whelehan Photo

For more restaurant and bar reviews, go to //weekenderjapan.com/tokyotables WEEKENDER 11 F a s h i o n

by Kelly Wetherille

Last year fashion fanatics from across Tokyo descended upon Omote- sando for a night of shopping, drinking, music, prizes and special events. This September, Vogue magazine’s attempt to increase fashion spending in the face of a slow economy once again hits cities around the world, including our own.

The Tokyo installment of Fashion’s Night Out will feature over five hours of events, kicking off with an opening ceremony at Omotesando Hills at 5:30pm, and continuing until the stores close their doors at 11pm. Over 350 stores will be participating, with many offering discounted prices, limited-edition items, gifts with purchase, free food and drinks, and chances to win some fantastic merchandise. Being Japan, there will also be a ‘stamp rally,’ which will offer additional opportunities to win prizes. Shoppers will be able to collect stamps from the participating stores on a stamp card (one stamp for each ¥5,000 spent), and then use this to enter a prize drawing at Omotesando Hills (every two stamps equal one chance to win).

Select events happening during Fashion’s Night Out include goody bags for those who make a purchase and free makeovers at Marc by Marc Jacobs; a hand stitching demonstration at Fendi; the opportunity to have professional photos taken at Gucci; free tote bags to those who visit Die- sel; and DJ performances at stores such as United Arrows.

For a full list of participating stores and a calendar of events, see www.fashionsnightout.jp (Japanese only).

Photos this page, clockwise starting on top: Masaaki Komori x2 ngader Masaaki Komori japanese_craft_construction

Opposite page: Photo courtesy of Marc by Marc Jacobs mrhayata

12 WEEKENDER F a s h i o n e Night A Fashionabl

WEEKENDER 13 B u s i n e s s

THE VIEW FROM HERE by Ian de Stains OBE Photo by Andrew Kuznetsov phism in this, scientists have found evidence that puss has indeed devel- oped a vocal repertoire that is extremely impressive. Several research- ers have identified the numerous vowels and diphthongs that felines use, as well as the importance of the pitches and tones that articulate their meaning, including the celebrated ‘silent meow’ that may in fact be a sound, but one at a frequency too high for humans to hear.

No one who has lived with cats and forged a relationship with them will find this in the slightest bit surprising. Most of us learn to under- stand what our furry friends are trying to say, and it is striking that in multi-cat households, that understanding embraces each individual cat’s vernacular.

So we can learn what kitty is trying to tell us, but what of the other way around? That cats react to their own names is not in doubt (at least they react to the name we give them; as T.S. Eliot pointed out, a cat’s real name is known only to himself). Many cat people will swear that their pets understand certain words (our own cat, for example, knows that the word ‘yogurt’ means a treat: he loves the blueberry variety that I eat for breakfast, and will run to the kitchen from wherever he is in the house when he hears the word). It is, of course, harder to find scientific Hello, Kitty! evidence to support these kinds of claims, although some research has suggested that cats are keenly adept at learning the behaviors expected of them by their human families. The cynical will say that this is sheer manipulation; that if kitty could use the can opener or change the sand Lewis Carroll famously complained that it was impossible to under- in the litter tray, we would be redundant. I remain to be convinced. stand kittens because they did nothing but purr. If they purred for yes and meowed for no, he argued, things would be so much easier. But the As for the much touted cat’s sixth sense, I can’t help thinking it is largely truth is, as kittens grow up—especially those that do so among human due to its extraordinary hearing. The healthy human ear can register companions—their capacity to communicate vocally develops to an sounds at frequencies up to around 20,000 Hertz. Dogs fare somewhat astonishing degree. better at between 35,000 and 40,000 Hertz. Cats, by contrast, can regis- ter frequencies as high as 100,000 Hertz. Amongst themselves, cats large and small communicate mainly through body language, facial expression and scent. But it appears that through years of domestication, they have founds ways of ‘talking’ with their human families. Cat lovers are only too pleased to tell you how Ian de Stains is the executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce clever their charges are at expressing their feelings and pressing their in Japan. The views expressed in this column are strictly his own and are not demands. And though there is no doubt an element of anthropomor- necessarily endorsed by or shared by the Chamber.

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C-Level Profiles / Executives in Japan Photo courtesy of Mickeal Minot EdwardMickael SuzukiMinot

of JCE Autos (www.jce-autos.jp)

The Japanese automobile industry, despite any problems it may have experienced recently, continues to thrive, especially when it comes to the used car market. Mickael Minot and the team at JCE Autos work with buyers from around the world to provide them with top class service and the best cars available, all for very reasonable prices. Their multinational, multilingual background ensure that they are poised to address the automobile needs of Tokyo’s expat community.

What is your background and how did you arrive at your current position? From a business point of view, what do you think are the main differences After completing my degree and working in London in 2002, Japan was between the Japanese and international markets? next on my radar. Coming here was not only for the professional chal- Focusing on our market that is used cars, the Japanese car market is a fan- lenge of establishing myself in the country, but also to finally live my tastic field. We can’t find barely used cars overseas at such very good prices. passion for Japanese culture. I have practiced karate for more than Most of the cars on sale in Japan have been maintained in near perfect ten years, and have also developed a fascination for tea ceremony and condition, with regular checks from the official dealer. I have seen Ferraris bonsai (which has been a hobby since I was 14 years old). Upon arrival with only 2,000 or 3,000km being sold for 40 percent cheaper than new in Japan, I studied Japanese for one year and reached a conversational ones, plus 20-year-old cars in as-new condition—unbelievable elsewhere level. My first job here was as a commercial officer at a Volkswagen in the world. Every week 20,000 cars are auctioned for sale. The auction dealership. Luckily, I enjoy cars and sales, so I have been working in the place is bigger than Disneyland! We at JCE also sell new cars, and Japan Japanese used car market for seven years. I joined JCE earlier this year. is probably the only place in the world where you can have a brand new car custom built to your specifications and delivered in four to six weeks. Can you tell us a bit about your company? JCE is a leading car business agency, and I am incredibly proud to be a What sets your company apart from its competitors? part of this dynamic company. We are made up of a strong multinational Our company is well balanced with complementary, multi-skilled staff. On team of six, with members from New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean, top of that, we have tremendous team motivation; we are really dynamic Japan and France. We call ourselves ‘the fantastic six.’ and aspire to ever higher levels of customer service. Prospective custom- ers only need to call us or send an e-mail for any car inquiry, and they will Synergy, extreme motivation, understand just what I am talking about. Please briefly describe your business philosophy. and clear and logical objectives We have to be able to say yes at all times, and to be quick and precise, for we always wish to take the JCE image higher. Our company motto is ‘the make for undeniable success. automotive professionals,’ and we really pride ourselves on being experts in our field. What are the Japan-specific challenges your business faces? The real challenge is the cultural differences between our service What kind of advice would you give to aspiring professionals? providers and our customers. Most of our Japanese providers follow Synergy, extreme motivation, and clear and logical objectives make for their routines and the Japanese way of work. But to meet our cus- undeniable success. tomers’ needs, we have to be quick and flexible, and we often have to push our providers to change and adapt themselves to our custom- What do you do in your spare time? ers’ requirements. Any spare time is always spent on balancing my life: I go to the gym, tour on motorbikes, walk my dog Jody, and take care of my bonsai. Even though all my Japanese friends call me an ojiisan (old man) because bonsai is nor- mally an elderly person’s hobby, this is a really amazing art form. I often advise my friends with busy lives to choose this hobby to maintain balance.

For more executive and entrepreneur profiles, go to //www.weekenderjapan.com/business WEEKENDER 15 Feature: Car Ownership in Japan

The Ins & Outs of Car Ownership in Japan

Photos by Toshihiro Oimatsu

by Jay Revelle, with information provided by JCE Autos

For many expats, living in Japan comes with many amazing ‘firsts’—the first ride on a shinkansen, or the first stunning view of Mt. Fuji. While these ‘firsts’ make for great experiences, others might not have been so easy, such as the first crowded train commute or the first closet-like apartment rental requiring a hefty deposit and key money payment. These more complicated ‘firsts’ can sometimes come complete with their own brand of confusion that can often take a lot of time to decipher. Fur- thermore, dealing in a language such as Japanese is, for many, a monster all its own. Thus, certain tasks that would often pose no problem in one’s home country, such as signing a lease agreement, getting a bank account, or visiting the local city hall, can suddenly seem like a logistical nightmare. As such, there is one ‘first’ that is sometimes perceived as just too overwhelming to undertake—the first car.

That’s where JCE Autos comes in. JCE is Tokyo’s leading car sales agency and is run by a team of seven multilingual executives poised to help those embarking on the quest for their first car in Japan escape the proverbial heart attack and lesson in patience. JCE’s deep well of information, vast inven- tory of used and new cars, and one-stop approach to car ownership in Japan is the perfect bridge for those considering hitting the streets in a four-wheeled friend.

Without further ado, welcome to the ins and outs of car ownership in the land of the rising sun.

16 WEEKENDER Feature: Car Ownership in Japan

Driver licensing centers:

Samezu Driver’s License Center 1-12-5, Higashi-Oi, Shinagawa-ku Tel: 03-3474-1374

Kanagawa Driver’s License Center Address: 2-3-1 Nakao Asahi-ku, Yokohama Tel: 045-365-3111, ext. 442

Driver’s Licenses Car Selection

For many, this is the first step, and although for the first year of one’s The first step here is determining what you want and what you need. If you existence in Japan an international driver’s license usually does the trick, know exactly what you want, then all that is needed are a few test drives it is inadvisable for the long term. One must eventually take the plunge and some preliminary research into the makes, models, grades, years, and and get a real Japanese license. Those who do will not only be legally options you think are best. If you are not sure what types of cars are avail- allowed to drive, but will also have a really cool-looking ID to flash around able in Japan, a few key questions posed to yourself based on your budget when they visit friends back home. However, don’t start running to the and needs can help determine the perfect car for you. The main points to licensing office just yet—different rules apply for different countries, and consider are: what will you use the car for? Cruising the city streets with depending on your home country, you might have to take a driving test. friends or weekend trips to the mountains or beaches? Are you looking for For more information, it’s best to contact a local licensing office and see an adrenaline booster or a subdued kei van to get the family around? Once what’s required. However, the good news is that there are many relocation you have decided what you want the car for, cost comes into the picture. companies around Tokyo that specialize in helping people transfer their The good thing here is that choice in Japan is off the charts. Whether it’s licenses from that of their home countries to Japanese licenses. In JCE’s a conservative luxury sedan or a pimped-out caddy with hydraulics and a case, a one-stop service basically guides customers through the entire chain steering wheel, JCE can find it, and it will probably be cheaper and in process. Initially, however, take a look at your foreign license. Does it have better condition than what you can find in your home country. an issue date? If not, you will need to provide proof of the first actual issue date of the license from the issuing country. The licensing office will need to know exactly how long you drove for in your home country. Addition- Cost and Purchase ally, regarding knowledge of street signs, books on these rules and the meanings of the various road signs are available in English from the JAF Generally speaking, however, for a first car, despite the urge to just give (Japan Automobile Federation) for ¥1,000. Japanese language skills are in to impulse and get the Ferrari, it might make sense to test the waters not necessary to drive in Japan. with a reasonably priced Japanese market car. These are very reliable and designed for driving under Japanese road conditions. The great thing is that in Japan, there are some amazing cars available for a great price—models you might never consider in your home country. Additionally, countries such as Australia and the UK have very good personal import schemes, and if you qualify to take a car back with you, it can be financially beneficial to buy a nice luxury car here, drive it during your time in Japan, and take it with you when you return to your home country.

WEEKENDER 17 Feature: Car Ownership in Japan

Related Terminology:

kei: Literally meaning ‘lightweight,’ in this case kei refers to a class of vehicles, such as cars, vans, and pickup trucks, that are small, eco- nomical, and with engine sizes of 660cc or less. All kei vehicles can be identified by their yellow license plates.

shaken: Contracted name (normally jidōsha kensa tōrokuseido (自動車検査登録制度) given to Japan’s vehicle inspection program on motor vehicles over 250cc in engine displacement.

unten menkyosho: Japanese for ‘driver’s license.’

hokensho: Japanese for ‘insurance paperwork.’

Photo by Toshihiro Oimatsu Insurance round-type check sticker. However, for those who are automobile-savvy, As with most anywhere, car insurance in Japan is calculated annually these initial checks can also be conducted on your own, but a certified based on the type of car driven, the car’s value, the owner’s age, and the mechanic is still the only one who can issue the round check sticker. color of the owner’s driver’s license, which indicates experience level. Unfortunately, the first year of paying for insurance in Japan won’t allow For the second and final part of the shaken process, which results in the for any discount; however, if you maintain a clean driving record, the square sticker, the car must be taken to a government testing station, annual premium will get progressively cheaper. This is an area where where a similar extensive check will be performed. If the car fails this JCE’s assistance can help out greatly, as the team can provide car insur- check, the car must be repaired and eventually brought back, where it ance from nearly every insurance company in Japan. will go through the procedure again. This is where costs can mount up. A shaken test costs about ¥70,000 each time, not including anything that needs to be repaired and replaced. Furthermore, shaken is performed Shaken every two years for most used cars. So, unlike in some Western countries, where safety certifications can cost around just ¥4,000 and can last until The shaken’s reputation is sometimes notorious as being both strict and ownership changes, a ¥70,000-plus inspection fee can substantially add costly. However, the positive reality of shaken is that this is what has kept to your expense. Furthermore, during this inspection, you must also pay the used car you are likely about to purchase in such good condition all compulsory insurance and weight tax, and there is nothing optional about these years. Simply put, shaken is a government-mandated safety and the shaken test process—it is compulsory. You cannot drive a car without maintenance check (one of the strictest in the world) that consists of two it, nor can you drive with a shaken that has expired. If you did and if an parts, eventually evidenced by one round and one square sticker, which accident were to happen, insurance companies are not obliged to cover are placed on all shaken-compliant vehicles. In essence, shaken is the you, and further, if you are stopped by police, you will lose your license key to the widespread availability of cheap, well-maintained, older or late on the spot. model cars in Japan—it’s a meticulous maintenance schedule, making the country a gold mine for used cars. Parking The first part of the shaken process consists of a thorough and exten- sive preliminary inspection by a certified mechanic. At this time, routine For those who are thinking, “This all sounds pretty easy. I thought I’d be maintenance is also often performed, such as oil and filter changes, pulling my hair out by now,” think again. It’s almost ironic that one of the wiper blade replacement, etc. If any obvious problems regarding safety biggest obstacles to owning a car is what you will do with it when it’s not are found, they must be fixed before the testing facility can issue the even being driven—parking. One of the biggest expenses of owning a car

18 WEEKENDER Feature: Car Ownership in Japan in Tokyo is the storage. If you are lucky enough to have parking included with your apartment or home, you are already halfway there. But if not, parking your car in Tokyo could run from around ¥30,000 to ¥60,000 a month, depending on where you live. At this point, are you wonder- ing if “maybe it’s time for a really nice bicycle; something carbon and really sporty?” I’d almost agree, but it isn’t quite the same as cruising to Kamakura in a BMW, now is it?

Hitting the Streets

While no guide to car ownership can cover all the information out there, luckily, there are many top-notch firms in Japan that specialize in helping expats adjust to life overseas, and JCE is one of them. The company’s one- stop approach to getting on the road can be a beacon of light to those already busy with a bustling life in Tokyo. Whether it’s a car for the odd weekend trip or an exotic machine meant to rapidly increase your heart rate, JCE Autos can put you in the driver’s seat without any hassle or confusion.

When considering this ‘first,’ make it the bearer of some of your greatest memories—the freedom of owning your own set of wheels in a foreign land—as you continue cruising the road of life, Japanese style.

For more information, NEW please contact: JCE Autos Ser vice

Kamiyacho MT Bldg. 14F 4-3-20 Toranomon, Minato-ku Tel: 03-6715-8621 [email protected] www.jce-autos.jp

Door to Door Airport Pickup Plan MK Gives all customers red carpet treatment: Name Board Fixed rate 26% Less Meeting Service To Narita, based Than Taxi at Airport on pickup area 03-5547-5551 www.tokyomk.com/eng/ [email protected]

WEEKENDER 19 Bulletin Board

Now you can get a small taste of the classifieds in our printed publication every issue and access Japan’s largest online classifieds at: WEEKENDER http://classifieds.weekenderjapan.com B ulleti n Board Simply type in the ID to find the ad you’re looking for.

Sony Stereo ID: 59342 Refrigerator with Freezer ID: 59258 Guitar Lessons ID: 57119 Roti (Tokyo Midtown) AUTO Beautiful, excellent, bigger unit. Sound repro- Large refrigerator with freezer top section, cooler Guitar lessons by a professional player, gradu- This informal wine bar offers a wine-friendly duction is perfection. Four-way speaker. Amp/ for vegetables. Pick up from Tsunashima station. ated from the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. menu of seafood, steaks and chops, including Ford Festiva GLX ID: 59348 cassette deck/tuner/5MD/5CD with iPod/DVD, ¥10,000. Available from august 23, please email Instructor in a contemporary music school in fresh lobster, Washington oysters, BBQ baby- Good condition. Cheap motoring (about 14km/L). etc. Brushed metal. Possible usage of only amo to view or reserve. Good condition. Email allter- Tokyo. Improve your technique, tempo, feel, back ribs and catfish burgers. The wine list cov- Clean inside and out. Air conditioner and heater and speakers. ¥30,000. [email protected] or call 080-4068-1281. knowledge of chords, scales, guitar tools, and ers more than 100 wines by the bottle (including OK. ETC system, original alloy wheels. Bronze experience playing with a real band. Contact some rare finds) and twenty by the glass, with color. Will entertain offers over ¥50,000. Samsung 730 SC (Softbank) ID: 59332 [email protected] or 090-6522-5932. For three different carafe sizes so you can orga- Samsung 730SC hand set, includes original box details see www.myspace.com/betogex. nize your own custom tasting. Budget around Honda Super Four ID: 59347 and charger. Prepaid SIM card could be supplied FURNITURE ¥8,000–¥9,000 for dinner with drinks. Open Burgundy NC31. Very good condition. Engine if agreed. Price ¥5,500 obo. Can meet you on 11am–10:30pm. Tel: 03-5413-3655. super smooth and well maintained. Moriwaki Yamanote line between Shinjuku and Ueno (on Furniture Items ID: 59389 muffler, spare tank. 15,000km on the clock. Ikebukuro side). Respond to [email protected] Two seater black sofa with two leather cushions, HOUSING Cicada New tires and battery. Will entertain offers with your contact information. two tables (one white and one black), three car- Mediterranean-inspired foods and drink from over ¥150,000. pets (one electric carpet), dining table with four House for Rent in Minami Kashiwa ID: 58842 Spain, Italy, Greece and Morocco. Come see and Canon Standard Zoom Lens ID: 59319 revolving chairs, side stool, side table, phone, 4LK, two washrooms, one bathroom in a three- enjoy the heavenly food. Minami-Azabu 5-2-40, Toyoto Harrier for ¥500,000 ID: 58251 Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L Standard Zoom double bed with mattress, full length wall mirror year-old, two floor house in Minami Kashiwa. Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5447-5522. We are relocating to Australia and would like to Lens. See details at www.amazon.com/ (pins can hold firmly), beautiful tatami carpet Fiftten minute walk to JR Joban Chiyoda line. One sell our car (Toyota Harrier) March 2000 model, Canon-24-70mm-2-8L-Standard-Cameras/dp/ with two cushions. Drop me an email at sayo- train ride into Tokyo city. The house is furnished Outback Steakhouse 3L, 2WD, navigation system (original Japanese B00009R6WT/ref=pd_bxgy_p_text_b. Price on [email protected]. with beds in each room, fridge, sofa, dinning An American steak house with an Australian CD by Toyota), ETC, silver color, 71K mileage and Amazon: $1,300. I am selling for $1,000 (or the table/chairs, and one air conditioner in the living theme. Lunch on weekends only. Udagawacho tax paid, shaken until October 2011, in excellent equivalent in yen). Less than six months old. No Single Sofa Chair ID: 58964 room. Parking space available. ¥140,000/month, 34-1 (near Tokyu Honten, next to Wendy’s). Open condition for ¥500,000. If interested please con- damage, includes filter. Single sofa chair, available from September 24 two months deposit. See photos at www.airbnb. 5–11pm (LO) daily. Tel: 03-5798-3501 tact me on 080-3525-4326. in Kawasaki, for ¥4,000. In excellent condition. com/rooms/2699. Please feel free to contact for Sony Vaio DVD Laptop ID: 59310 If interested, contact me on 090-9954-6768 or details: [email protected]. Ruth’s Chris Steak House 1999 Porsche 911 ID: 59336 Sony Vaio laptop, 1Ghz, 40GB, DVD CDRW, Win- [email protected]. Tasty steaks, including USDA prime beef, Selling a RHD Porsche 911 (996) six-speed dows XP SP3, MS Office, Power DVD, etc. 100- Asagaya Park House, Shinjuku ID: 58347 from this American steakhouse chain. Wines manual due to family constraints. Clean and 240v. ¥13,000, contact [email protected] or Metal Table on Wheels ID: 59262 Six-mat room with big windows available August are priced ¥5,000–¥100,000, mostly from tidy, 76,000km. Viewings available upon request. 080-6657-6161. Metal table, size is 45 x 45 x 65 cm high. Very good 31 in our nice and cozy four-bedroom house in California, but with French offerings as well. Asking price ¥2,995,000 obo. condition, many other items for sale here: www. Minami Asagaya/Ogikubo. Six-mat tatami room, Steaks range from a 230g petite filet (¥5,500) Toshiba DVD Laptop ID: 59308 tinyurl.com/27yyp53. Email allterraindave@ho- private and furnished. Only ¥49,000/month. to the 370g Wagyu NY strip steak (¥19,000); 2001 Toyota RAV4 ID: 58805 Toshiba notebook, fast Celeron M processor, DVD tmail.com or call 080-4068-1281, available now Share the utilities with the housemates. ¥30,000 side dishes are extra. Open 11am–2:30pm and 2001 Toyota RAV4, 55,000km, automatic, I am the CDRW, English, 40GB hard disk, 512MB RAM. for only ¥1,000, pick up only from Tsunashima. deposit. Contact 080-5527-5093. 5:30–10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. Kasumi- first owner, no accidents, is in very good condi- Windows XP Pro, MS Office, 100-240v, very fast gaseki 3-2-6, Tokyo Club Bldg, Kasumi Dining 1F. tion, as new. Price $3,200. and reliable. ¥16,000, contact 080-6657-6161 or Portable Baby Girl’s Crib ID: 59156 Tel: 03-3501-0822. [email protected]. Removable full-size bassinet with quilted bum- Toyota Harrier 4WD ID: 58307 per pad provides cozy nap-time space. Quilted BOOKS For ¥1,390,000. Available from mid-September. Sharp Aquos LCD and Stand ID: 59181 mattress pad for baby’s comfort, enhanced Car is in excellent condition and has been well Sharp Aquos LC-37GX2W full HD TV and TV electronics unit entertains and soothes with two- Used Books at Great Prices SERVICES maintained with regular service and inspec- stand.1 LAN port 10/100, 2 I-LINK ports, 1 Control speed mattress mounted vibration, five classical English and foreign books from ¥200! Visit Book tions. Right handed drive, five-doors, 2366cc port (RS-232C). songs, and soothing nature sounds. Off Shirokanedai and see for yourself! One gas engine (160ps(118kW)/5600rpm), four gear minute from Shirokanedai station, exit 2. Tel: automatic transmission, wheel base 2,615 mm, Apple Airport Extreme ID: 59072 Black Desk ID: 59053 03-5475-5696 auto climate control, ETC (Electronic Toll Col- Airport Extreme. Little used. Excellent condition, Black Desk with three drawers and side board. lection System), Toyota’s original built-in DVD 1.5 years old, pre gigabit Ethernet. Great for home office or den. In very good condi- car navigation (DVD upgraded in the beginning of tion. Measurements: desk W140cm x D70cm 2010 with latest data). Five disc CD changer with Toshiba Dynabook ID: 59127 x H70-74cm (adjustable). Three drawers on ACCOMMODATION AM/FM radio, ABS. Front and side airbags, power Toshiba Dynabook, Pentium M, light and portable, wheels W40cm x D47cm x H62cm. Side board on windows, child locks, original Toyota Harrier 12” display, 40GB, 512MB RAM, ¥17,000. Con- wheels W56cm x D33cm x H62cm. Legs can eas- Mercure Hotel Ginza Health and Life Insurance mats replaced recently. tact 080-6657-6161 or [email protected]. ily be disassembled for easy transport. Retails for The Mercure provides highly convenient and af- Are you prepared for an emergency? Viva Vida ¥20,000, selling for ¥4,000. fordable accommodation in central Tokyo, 200m Medical Life delivers security to foreigners Honda Odyssey ID: 58286 away from Ginza’s main street (Ginza-dori), close and foreign students living in Japan. Up to 100 1996 Honda Odyssey, 80,000km, six-seat Single Bed ID: 58963 to the Melsa, Matsuya and Mitsukoshi luxury percent coverage of medical expenses at a rea- hatchback, auto everything, navigation system, HOUSEHOLD Single bed, available from September 24. department stores. Within walking distance sonable cost. Short term and long term plans AM/FM/CD changer, air conditioning, tinted rear ¥5,000, in Kawasaki. In excellent condition. If are the Tsukiji fish market and the Tokyo Inter- available. Inquire now: www.vivavida.net, or windows, shaken through October 2011. Good Hot Sandwich Maker ID: 59339 interested contact me on 090-9954-6768 or national Forum. With Ginza Itchome subway call 0120-656-684 (toll free) or 080-4058-7485 condition internally, some dents and scratches Twinbird toaster and hot sandwich maker. [email protected]. station underneath it, the hotel provides direct (Softbank). We speak English, Portuguese, outside. Needs a power steering hose, other- Used a few times, it is like new and in its original and easy access to all of Tokyo’s best attractions. Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese. wise in great condition. Will accompany you to package. Selling for ¥2,500. Please pick up at If you would like to get any further information, change the title. ¥150,000 obo. Contact David@ Ookayama (Meguro-ku) or Ishikawadai (Ota-ku). please contact us directly at reservation@mer- Dentistry ayurvedajapan.com. MUSIC cureginza.com or 03-4335-1111. Dr. Nakashima from the Nakashima Dental Office Washing Machine with Dryer ID: 59293 has been serving the international community in Isuzu Truck KK-NKR 66EA ID: 58228 I am leaving Japan soon, so I want to sell my good Yamaha PSR-E303 Full-Size Keyboard Shiba Park Hotel Tokyo for more that 24 years. Dr. Nakashima spe- Isuzu Elf truck KK- NKR 66 EA type, engine 41F1, washing machine (with dryer) for just ¥5,000. ID:58651 Touch sensitive keys, MIDI out/in, Welcome to the best in Japanese hospitality, the cializes in microscopic general dentistry. He has manual, 2001 model, 127,000km, diesel. Length If you want it please contact me at msnodet@ build-in reverb and chorus effects, 61 keys, 482 Shiba Park Hotel. It’s been our tradition to serve the the expertise of cosmetic dentistry root canal 8m, air conditioning, power steering. ¥800,000. yahoo.com. built-in sounds. Great little keyboard, recently Japanese and overseas guests alike, with our well- treatment, gum treatment and laser treatment. Good condition. If you need more details please purchased a Cakewalk studio keyboard, so don’t trained, friendly and helpful staff. We offer services Nakashima Dental Office provides total dental contact me. If you want to buy or sell any type Microwave ID: 59267 need it anymore. ¥10,000. regardless of whether you are traveling on business care to the highest standards currently in practice of vehicles or machines please feel free to Microwave for ¥2,000. Pick up from Tsunashima, or pleasure. www.shibaparkhotel.com/en in Europe and North America. Nearly three- contact my mobile on 090-1432-9143 or email which is ten minutes north of Yokohama on the Fernandes Mini Guitars ID: 58236 quarters of Dr. Nakashima’s patients are foreign [email protected]. Toyoko line. Email [email protected] Japanese rock band Buck Tick 20th anniversary col- residents from over 40 countries around the world. or call 080-4068-1281. lectors’ edition guitars, in hard case with amp. Never Private insurance welcomed. Please contact: played, immaculate condition, pick up Hamadayama DINING & DRINKING 03-3479-2726 or visit www.dentist-nakashima.jp. Steam Iron ID: 59202 or any station on the Yamanote line ¥25,000. ELECTRONICS In good condition. Only ¥1,500. Pick up at Ikega- Café 246 ASSOCIATION OF JAPANESE TEACHERS mi, Ookayama, Kamata or the surrounding area. Electric Guitar with Speaker ID: 58165 This spacious cafe-bar is done up in retro early- A non-profit teachers’ co-operative offers busi- Selling Nintendo DSi ID: 59372 Hardly used and still like new (very few 1970s modern style, with a nice big terrace seat- ness, daily conversation, BJT, new proficiency test I bought it last week for my wife to study Japa- Toshiba Toaster ID: 59133 scratches). Comes with the speaker, case and ing area with retractable roof. It’s run by the folks preparation, and children’s lessons. Fully qualified, nese. But now I changed my mind, I want to sell Works great for bread toasting, pizza reheating, cables. Please check the pics here: http:// from the always-hip Planet 3rd cafe in Shibuya, friendly, and experienced Japanese language it for ¥10,000 or best offer. 2GB SD memory, and or cookie making. Can send it to you by courier picasaweb.google.com/konamivico/Gui- and it’s attached to a travel-oriented bookstore teachers offer private / small group lessons.Les- some learning Japanese software is available. or deliver it in person at JR Tokyo, Shinagawa or tar#5500104240271372882. Pick up in Nishisu- run my Paper Sky magazine. Minami Aoyama son fee negotiable from ¥2,200/hour (at teacher’s Call me on 080-3590-3698. Yokohama stations—only ¥750. gamo, Toshima-ku, Tokyo. 1-2-6, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5771-6886. home) or ¥2,700/hour (at other places). Email

20 WEEKENDER Bulletin Board [email protected], call 03-3918-0876 or 044- 855-5039, or see http://ajt.rakurakuhp.net. WANTED NATIVE Pet Services Vocalist Needs a Band ID: 59113 SPEAKERS Workbusters Dog day care, nutrition course, etiquette course, Canadian vocalist looking to join or start a band around dog sitter with door-to-door pick up! Open 365 Yokohama. I’m into indie, punk and metal music. 090-9100-2909 or 080-5444-7868 [email protected] days a year. No cages are used unless specified For fun or for real. Contact [email protected]. by the owner. Your dog can enjoy playing with other dogs all day. Athletic Dog Club is an ideal Want a Bicycle ID: 58295 Cleaning Service Quality furniture, rugs, lamps, place to make friends! http://adc.pipi.cc. For I am looking for decently priced bicycle that can antiques, electrical and audio more information please call 03-3327-1003. be delivered near by Shinagawa or within 5km Gardening Service appliances bought and sold. thereof. Also should be able to transfer cycle license to my name. Removal, Delivery and Courier Service Decorating & Handyman Service JOBS House, Office & Garage Clearance https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/weekender We do all the jobs you don’t have the time or the inclination to do yourself Who you gonna call? Workbusters!

Save An Animal Today Adopt or sponsor orphaned dogs, cats, and other animals rescued both in Tokyo and Osaka at Animal Refuge Kansai. ARK animals need you! To adopt or foster a pet, please email [email protected] or Bartenders and Floor Staff call 050-1557-2763. www.arkbark.net. Mayahuel, the new truly Mexican Premium Te- quila and Mezcal bar, opening soon in Roppongi is looking for Bar Tenders and Floor Staff for its grand opening on September 3rd. For details, please send your information to Marco at jobs@ mayahuel.jp or call 090-7263-3727. http://www. mayahuel.jp/b/we

Aladdin Shisha and Bar Aladdin Shisha Bar seeking bar staff (female preferred) and chef (Turkish/Thai/Egyptian). ¥1,100–¥1,500 per hour. Hours: 7pm–12am. Loca- tion: Tokyo. 日本人も大歓迎！ Contact 090-8847-1697.

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Tokyo IT Services English computer repair and data recovery service in Tokyo—we fix all computer problems! One-min- ute walk from JR Yamanote line Hamamatsucho All postings on our station, exit S5. Three-minute walk from Daimon subway station, exit B3. Open 10am–6:30pm. Call website are free. 03-3437-2312. www.tokyo-it.com Premium postings will be printed in the Weekender XPS Tokyo and available online. For Apartments and house moves. Small deliveries, more information contact customs clearance assistance, and delivery. our sales team at: All done with care. Available seven days a week. Great prices. Furniture and appliances for sale. Call Mike at 090-1217-4445 or 03-5809-3240, fax 03-5809-3241, or email [email protected]. 03-5549-2038 or For a full list of services see our website at www. sales@ xpstokyo.com. weekenderjapan.com

WEEKENDER 21 Real Estate Matsubara- Danchi ¥39,000 to ¥58,000/month

Live in a modern building with people from all around the world in Social Apartment Matsubara-Danchi. Shared facilities include a lounge, music studio, game room, conference room, laundry room, beauty room and more. Each private room includes modern furnishings and its own balcony, and rents range from ¥39,000 to ¥58,000 per month.

For more information call Global Agents. Tel: 03-3377-7471 http://social-apartment.com Tokyo Apartment Search www.weekenderjapan.com/apartmentsearch

APARTMENT（ 1R～2LDK）￥60,000～￥120,000 ODAKYU LINE（ 20～30mins from Shinjyuku） KEIKYU LINE（ 13mins from Shinagawa） E-mail [email protected] TEL 044-933-7000 www.minowagroup.jp/minowahomes

22 WEEKENDER // // Real Estate Meguro ¥400,000–¥880,000/month

Located in a wooded area between Meguro and Ebisu stations, Bird Park is the winner of many prestigious design awards due to its innovative living concepts. Various rooms are available, each one with its own theme, such as the Theater House (with a state-of-the-art entertainment room), the Tea House (with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony room), and the Library House (with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves).

For more information please contact R.A. Asset Management. Tel: 03-5771-2271 www.birdpark.jp

Roppongi ¥720,000–¥2,600,000/month

The luxurious Oakwood Premiere apartments conveniently located in the modern Tokyo Midtown complex are ideal for singles, couples or families who are in Tokyo for a short while or for the long term. A 24-hour bilingual reception desk, on-site gym, parking, and options for a rooftop garden or park view make residents feel at home in the world’s largest city. Just downstairs are the shops, restaurants, bars, cafés and supermarkets of one of Tokyo’s most popular shopping and entertainment centers.

For more information contact Oakwood. Tel: 03-5330-5250 www.oakwood.com Hiroo ¥165,000–¥550,000/month

Located in the heart of Tokyo’s international community just four minutes on foot from Hiroo station, the serviced apartments by Azabu Court are convenient and reasonably priced. A variety of units are available, ranging in size from standard studios (20–22m2) to two bedrooms (72m2). Fully furnished and serviced with all the modern amenities.

For more information please contact Azabu Court Apartments. Tel: 03-3446-8610 [email protected]

To search for more properties in Tokyo, go to //www.weekenderjapan.com/apartmentsearch WEEKENDER 23 Parties, People & Places

CPakistanihinese National National Day Celebration Acrobatic Troupe Show

Haitian Ambassador Jean Claude Bordes, Chinese minister counsellor Tang Min-On Concert Association president Jamaican Ambassador Claudia Barnes, Benynan and cast members Hiroyasu Kobayashi, director of Beijing’s and a cast member of the show central exchange department Wang Xio Yun, and members of the acrobatic team

Yasmine Tsamados of Greece, her son Bill Hersey with two of the Maria Monoz Castro of Costa Rica Andreas, and their new Chinese friends show’s shining stars and some of the acrobats

Philippine Independence Day RECEPTION

Richard Miller, Enrique Olives, Jen Mariano, Philippine Ambassador and Mrs. Mrs. Tanaka, Mitsu Kato, Yoko Abe, Danilo Lim, and Makiko Okazawa Domingo Siazon being congratulated by Kazuko (Kay) Siazon, Hisako Uemura, French Ambassador Philippe Faure Emiko Matsuzaki, and Lilo Maruyama

ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION

Italian Ambassafor Vincenzo Petrone and Tiffany president Stephane Lafay, Hide Italian artist Matteo Ceccarini, Daniele Czech Ambassador Jaromir Novotny Kusakari, modeling agency president Yoshikoshi, and Anri Schroff Aya, Fiat’s Tiziana Alamprese, and Chilean Ambassador Daniel Carvallo

24 WEEKENDER Parties, People & Places PARTIES PEOPLE & PLACES WITH BILL HERSEY

Like just about everyone I know, I have pretty much had enough heat and humidity for this year. We’re into September now, and hopefully cooler weather is just a few weeks away. With the opportunity to wear leather, sweaters, cords, ethnic scarves and gloves, fall is my favorite season from a fashion perspective.

Even with the heat and so many people out of Japan for holidays, August stayed very busy. In addition to all the musical festivals, Kyodo Tokyo brought in some great international musicals. My thanks to Kyodo president Arashida-san for the chance to see the Cuban show Havana Rakatan and the American marching band, Motown and swing show Drumline. Both were international entertainment at its best. Kyodo’s current production of the Tony award-winning musical In the Heights runs through September 5.

While driving home on Saturday, August 2, I heard music coming from Yoyogi Park. I found a parking space, so decided to stop and check it out. It turned out to be a hip-hop festival, and was so much fun that I ended up staying several hours. In addition to performances by good bands on the main stage, there were what seemed to be thousands of cool young people doing their thing in hip-hop and break dancing competitions all over the park. Wow, some of them could really dance. The food on sale included Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian, Mexican and Turkish, and was good and cheap, and the mood and energy were contagious. I have to give credit to city and Shibuya-ku officials, who have let Yoyogi Park (one of our city’s finest green areas) become a real happening place. The international festivals there are always a cultural, culinary, and truly fun experience. Here’s a schedule of what’s happening at Yoyogi this month. September 4 and 5, Brazilian festival; September 11 and 12, Sri Lankan festival; September 18 and 19, Vietnamese festival; and September 25 and 26, Indian festival. I’ve been to all

WEEKENDER 25 Parties, People & Places

Lufthansa Introduces Airbus A380s

Lufthansa Japan GM Otto Benz, German Austrian Ambassador Uta Stefan- German Ambassador Volker Stanzel, his wife Ambassador Volker Stanzel, Lufthansa Basti, her husband Peter Stefan, Mei Sang, and Lufthansa’s Uwe Mueller CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Narita Authority and DJ Hidetsugu Zushi president Morinaka-san, and Uwe Mueller

Lufthansa pilot Mr. Hohl with German United Airlines VP Pacific James Mueller Andreas Dannenberg and Audi’s minister Anna Prinz and her son Heinrich and Grand Hyatt Tokyo GM Cristophe Lorvo Donato Romaniello

26 WEEKENDER of these in the past, and I can guarantee there’ll be something for was fabulous—the variety, quality and presentation could not have everyone. So get out, learn more about the world, and enjoy. been better. All in all, it was a very special evening with my Filipino friends, perfect for the occasion. Another of Tokyo’s popular diplomatic couples will be leaving soon after four years in Japan. Indian Ambassador Hemant Singh and his wife Mrinalini will be returning home to incredible India. Prior to their departure, the beautiful and very talented Mrinalini will hold CHINESE NATIONAL several exhibitions of her highly acclaimed flower paintings. Those ACROBATIC TROUPE SHOW who are interested can see her work and perhaps meet the artist at an exhibition titled Empower, which will be held at the Ikeda Art Hiroyasu Kobayashi, president of Min-On Concert Association, Museum from September 12 through 28. For more information call along with his professional, internationally-minded staff, bring one 025-780-4080 or email [email protected]. after another of the world’s top cultural groups to perform all over Japan, as well as sending Japanese performers overseas. Thanks to Min-On, I’ve had the opportunity to see many of the world’s top entertainers, including folkloric dance groups, ballet companies, PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY opera stars, and more. One of the most dynamic shows I was lucky CELEBRATION enough to see consisted of two hours some of the most unbelievable acrobatics by the world-famous Chinese National Acrobatic Troupe A big kudos to Kazuko (Kay) Siazon, wife of the Philippine from Beijing. The artists start their training when they’re just Ambassador Domingo Siazon, and her staff. They, along with the children, and the things they can do with their skills, timing and staff of the Okura Hotel, really worked hard on setting up one of bodies has to be seen to be believed. The youngest cast member the best Philippine national day celebrations ever here in Japan. was a 12-year-old girl, who (like the rest of the troupe) is dedicated In addition to that, they set up a week-long Philippine food festival, to being the best at what she does. After the performance guests also at the Okura, which was very successful. Domingo and Kay had the opportunity to meet and mingle with the cast at a reception. have many friends from all walks of life, and the hotel’s chic Ascot This gave me the opportunity to talk with several of the stars whom I Hall was packed with people that night. Guests included Japanese had met last year, and also meet many for the first time. Believe me, government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and familiar China and Min-On have much to be proud of with this amazing show. faces from the art, fashion and entertainment worlds. The buffet LUFTHANSA INTRODUCES

26 WEEKENDER Parties, People & Places

AIRBUS A380S ON DAY CELEBRATION NARITA TO FRANKFURT ROUTE You couldn’t have asked for more ideal weather on the day Italian Wolfgang Maythuber, chairman of the executive board and CEO of Ambassador Vincenzo Petrone and his chic wife Susana hosted a Deutsche Lufthansa, was in town with a delegation to join the airline’s midday reception in their beautiful residence and spacious garden top man in Japan, Otto Benz, in introducing the Airbus A380 on the on the occasion of Italy’s national day. Many Japanese love Italy, and company’s Narita to Frankfurt flights. One of the many celebrations as always there was a huge crowd of well-known guests from the was a gala reception at the convention hall in the Prince Park fashion, film, architecture, automobile, arts, restaurant, lounge, Tower Tokyo. The 450 people there for the special evening included and club industries. The Petrones wisely did as they did last year, executives from the travel and tourism business, with special guests and appointed Italian chef and restaurant owner Giorgio Matera as such as German Ambassador and Mrs. Volker Stanzel. Lufthansa’s organizer of the huge and absolutely superb buffet. The ambassador, new flagstaff, the A380, is the largest commercial aircraft in the world. as well as several of Japan’s top chefs, worked together to make it It’s also one of the most ecological and, by all reports, very quiet. a unique culinary experience that everyone enjoyed and will long remember. The garden at the Italian embassy is one of the most The program for the evening included a speech by the CEO, and both beautiful in Tokyo, and it was even better this year, with some very Japanese and German dignitaries joining in the breaking of not one, unusual rock sculptures from the 2009 Italia in Giappone exhibition but two sake barrels. The buffet was excellent, and the laid-back by renowned artist Kan Yasuda. mood gave guests the chance to get to know each other and test out some of the seats and special facilities of the new jets. Looking back, I have some great memories of my Lufthansa flights from Tokyo to Frankfurt and then Berlin for the official opening of the Sony Center there. In talking to friends who have recently flown on the new Airbus A380, some of their comments included, “It’s fabulous; you have to try it; what a way to fly; it’s the greatest.” I hope my first flight on this new craft isn’t too far off.

ITALIAN NATIONAL

Iain, Alistair, Sarah and Yoko Muir Elizabeth Gillies and Asha Pai Sethi Photographer Giancarlo Marino and of Yoyogi International School soccer manager Nicola Grieco

I n & A round

Leonardo DiCaprio, in town with Warner Gospel singer Alex Easley at Sony’s Masao Morita, CEO Sir Howard Brothers to promote the film Inception National Azabu supermarket Stringer, and Dick Sano with Angelina Jolie, who was here promoting the film Salt

WEEKENDER 27 FF a a m m i i l l i i e e s s

Parenting Tips: Nasu With Kids

Nasu is situated in the countryside, so it is advisable to bring comfortable walking shoes. In summer a light jacket may be needed for the evening or in case of rain. In other seasons Nasu tends to be cooler than Tokyo, so be sure to bring warmer clothing than what you would wear in the city.

To get to Nasu takes less than two hours by car on the Tohoku expressway.

For more information check the following websites:

Shozo Café: www.shozo.co.jp Minamigaoka Dairy Farm: www.minamigaoka.co.jp Asian Old Bazaar: www.asianoldbazaar.com Teddy Bear Museum: www.teddynet.co.jp/nasu.html Sekijitsu: www.sekijitu.com Sun Valley Resort Nasu: www.nasu3800.co.jp/english/index.shtml Virtual Tours of Nasu: www.beads-net.com/e/index7.htm

Leisurely by Faith Kitsunezaki As a family we often escape the concrete jungle of Tokyo life and head out to the countryside of Nasu in Tochigi prefecture. We always Nasu anticipate the lush green tree tunnels that begin our drive into Nasu, signaling the beginning of a holiday with a feeling of relaxation. Nasu can be enjoyed throughout all four seasons; situated in the moun- tains, it provides pleasant, fresh air in summer, a wonderful change of color in the trees in autumn, and enough snowfall to go skiing in winter.

Nasu is a traditional farming area that has also lent itself to providing an oasis of refreshing distractions from the buzz of modern life. Arty cafés, antique shops, a mass array of restaurants and beer gardens, trick art museums, and wildlife safaris are enough to tempt even the hardiest of city dwellers. In one day it is possible to visit a number of attractions and places of interest, and still make time for a final soak in the hot springs before heading home.

After making the trip to Nasu, usually our first stop is Shozo Café. It has an almost British retro feel, with a funky mix of furniture and art that is both unique and welcoming. Shozo does great teas and coffee, along with English scones and various sandwiches and nibbles.

When the weather permits, we like to visit the Minamigaoka dairy farm. It is situated on a large plot of land, and has enough parking space even for visiting bus groups. Airy shops provide a great selec- tion of local meats, cheeses and spreads, in addition to handmade wooden souvenirs and trinkets. Fresh ice cream and milk from the farm itself can be tasted and enjoyed while sitting on log seats. Chil- dren enjoy feeding the carp and having a pet of the young lambs or Photos by Faith Kitsunezaki 28 WEEKENDER // // F a m i l i e s

kid goats in the spring, or going for a ride on donkeys or horses in the farm. We often try our hand at archery or fishing—those lucky enough to catch a fish can then cook it on one of the small grills provided and enjoy it fresh.

As a family we have often wanted to visit Bali or Thailand, yet never seemed to have the time or money, so it was a pleasure to stumble upon the Asian Old Bazaar along the main drag of Nasu. It is not hard to find, with its colorful flags and equally colorful parking attendant doing a swirling dance routine and waving to every car that passes! Viewing the myriad of bazaar shops meandering up the hillside in lush green landscapes and stone courtyards, it was hard to think that we were actually still in Japan. Once our shopping appetite had being satisfied with purchases of household and interior items, it was time to focus on lunch, with coconut and mango drinks and freshly made rice paper rolls in the small restaurant. Saint Maur International School Quality Education within a Caring Family Environment since 1872 Pre-K (Age 2 1 / 2 ) to Grade 12 - Coeducational ● Montessori ● International Primary Curriculum (IPC) ● International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) ● International Baccalaureate (IB) Airy shops provide a ● Advanced Placement (AP) ● SAT Reasoning Test ● SAT Subject Tests ● PSAT/NMSQT ● Lions-Quest international programme great selection of local ● Trinity International Music Examination ONLY

F

r o Ecole française de Saint Maur o y m k meats, cheeses and Classes à effectifs réduits et pédagogie différenciée To C pour une scolarisation de la maternelle au CM2 entral ● Programmes de l'Education nationale française ● Professeurs des écoles qualifiés et expérimentés spreads, in addition ● Maternelle en anglais selon la méthode Montessori avec séance quotidienne de langage en français ● Elémentaire en français avec certaines disciplines et activités en anglais [email protected] to handmade wooden www.stmaur.ac.jp Accredited by the Council of International Schools & New England Association of Schools and Colleges. souvenirs and trinkets. Registered as Gakko-Hojin by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

83 Yamate-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa-ken, 231-8654 Tel: 045 641 5751 / Fax: 045 641 6688 If it decides to rain, there are plenty of places to wile away the time until the sun comes out again. For teddy bear lovers of all ages, The Teddy Bear Museum is a great place to visit. It is situated in a large, almost European style manor house. Entering the museum, visitors are greeted by a large teddy bear in both English and Japanese. The ground floor contains teddies from around the world, ranging from microscopic ones to those two meters high, from antique to modern. The second floor is dedicated to Totoro, Satsuki, Mei, Neko Bus and other characters from one of Studio Ghibli’s best loved movies, My Neighbor Totoro. In every corner there is something to catch a child’s attention, while also bringing amusement to adults. A teddy shop provides a wide selection from which to purchase a new toy for the collection at home, or as a present for friends. Downstairs is the Teddy Bear Garden Café, a very quaint little establishment with a sideboard filled with cups and saucers, all of course featuring teddy bear prints. Wooden tables and chairs fill the room, which looks out on a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. We were joined at our table by a rather distinguished looking bear who was very well- behaved during our afternoon tea break.

Although the area around Nasu is home to many hotels, pension type cabins, and large resorts with hot springs for relaxing, we opted for a traditional Japanese ryokan, Sekijitsu. This old-style inn features large rooms with their own private sauna, as well as an outdoor bath to enjoy under the stars. Both dinner and breakfast courses featur- ing local produce are brought directly to the room, so guests can eat while lounging in the various designs of yukata provided by the hotel.

For more information for families in Tokyo, go to //www.weekenderjapan.com/families WEEKENDER 29 P r o d u c t s 1 All photos courtesy of their respective brands or retailers

Cute, Quirky & Colorful 2

by Stephen Parker

one: Japanese optics maker Pentax has slipped in the camera specification wars three: The legendary Moleskine notebook company presents a new edition compared to heavyweights Canon and Nikon, so the company has now started to get commemorating one of the most well-known pop-culture icons of the 20th creative. The K-X SLR camera comes in 100 eye watering color combinations, created century: Carles Schultz’s Peanuts gang. After sixty years of poignant commentary by mixing 20 bright body colors with five bold grips. For those who care more about the and familiar drawings, the Peanuts stationary line celebrates Schultz’s work in his inside of a camera than the psychedelic body, the K-X can take crystal clear HD videos trademark style. The focus of the line is to represent the characters’ particular on it’s 12.4 megapixel sensor. As it’s an SLR it takes pretty good photos too. point of view and their continuous banter and self expression. Featuring exclusive cover art, interior illustrations, stickers and packaging, the notebooks are as fun to Electronics stores across Tokyo, ¥55,000. use as the comics are to read.

Fine stationary and bookstores, prices vary.

two: Staten Island brothers Dee and Ricky have created a storm with their Lego four: Thirty years ago, Namco, a Japanese gaming house created not just a new, jewelry creations. Kanye West, Marc Jacobs and Rihanna have all eagerly snapped up popular video game, but a cultural icon that would define the 1980s. Now Moleskine’s their plastic fashion statements. In addition to making their unique creations, the twin limited edition Pac-Man notebooks commemorate the hungriest video game hero brothers are also avid bloggers and have recently collaborated with G-Shock, Casio’s of all time. The five piece range includes pocket and large size books, as well as casual watch line. Dee and Ricky’s Lego-bright colors and G-Shock’s indestructible a colorful set in commemorative packaging. The books are embossed with playful, engineering: a match made in Tokyo. pixilated imagery, and the back covers feature famous video game lines, such as “Insert Coin” and “Game Over.” G-Shock stores (www.gshock.com), ¥18,900. Fine stationary and bookstores, prices vary. 30 WEEKENDER // // P r o d u c t s 3

4

5

five: In this book photographers John and Edward Harrison shed light on the fascinating character culture of Japan. Idle Idol: The Japanese Mascot is a collection of photos of these wonderful 3D characters found all over Japan. Discover antique advertising characters, modern mass-produced mascots and unique one-off designs. Brothers Edward and John present these quirky and cute figures in all of their colorful plastic glory, divided into various thematic chapters. The photographs are accompanied by the stories that have resulted in these creations, ranging from Japanese myths to corporate identities and sporting fan fanaticism.

English bookstores and Amazon Japan (www.amazon.co.jp), ¥1,381.

six: Designed right here in Tokyo, the original Facemakr application was a worldwide iPhone smash hit, and developers have now created a new HD version for the higher resolution iPad. Downloadable straight from the Apple App Store, users can easily and 6 quickly create avatars for their web profiles or phonebook. The ingenious hands-on interface is a joy to use, and the end images look amazing.

Apple App Store (www.apple.com), ¥350.

For more information on cool products available in Tokyo, go to //www.weekenderjapan.com/products WEEKENDER 31 // Healthy & Responsible Living TOKYO ECO: Photo by sashimi7 Photo Surviving the Summer Aftermath

by Elisabeth Lambert

Although the hottest month of the year has passed and the Japanese will ECO FACT tell you that summer is over, we all know the heat is going to be around for Japanese offices that participate in the Cool Biz campaign of at least another month. While a Japanese former neighbor of mine used reducing air conditioning use must maintain a temperature of to swear the only way to keep her house cool was to water the concrete no lower than 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). outside her front door every morning and night, I prefer to use some methods that are a little more eco-friendly.

• Replace old air conditioners with new ones. An old air conditioner will • Turn off any electrical goods you have in your home when not in use. not be nearly as efficient as a newer model. Think about how hot your TV or computer can get—this all adds to the heat! Plug electronic goods into power boards, and turn the individual • And while we‘re on the subject of air conditioning, save some yen switches off when not in use. and use a portable or ceiling fan instead. Even the slightest of air movement will make you feel a few degrees cooler. • Trade incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents—same light, less energy! Turn off lights not in use—but remember to set your • If you can’t do without the air con, use a fan along with your air conditioner cockroach traps. to spread the cool air throughout your home. Make sure all windows are closed, and that any doors to unused rooms are shut too. • Fit white window curtains or blinds to reflect heat away from your home—and keep them closed during the day. • Learn how to read the kanji on your air con controller and use the timer to have the air con turn on ten minutes before you get home, • Use a microwave oven instead of your oven. Or better yet, stick to rather than leaving it on for the entire time you’re out. foods that don’t require any heating at all (see previous Body Balance: Summer Snacking). • Air conditioning units that operate in the shade use less electricity, so use plants or trees to shade the unit. • Although it may be hard to convince the Japanese otherwise, switch the baths for showers in order to lower hot water use. • In fact, where possible, use trees and plants to shade windows that get direct sunlight. Vines can be particularly useful—and will grow on • Wash only full loads of clothes—and don’t be lazy by using the dryer. anything to which you can attach them! The positive thing about the Japanese summer is that, hung out in the sun, clothes will dry in minutes! • Don’t place electrical goods close to your air conditioning temperature gauge. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. Photo by Dugsprbw Photo

GREEN GLOSSARY

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have been used in air conditioning units ever since chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were phased out under the 1987 Montreal Protocol for being damaging to the Earth’s ozone layer. However, HFCs are still potent greenhouse gases, with thousands of times more potential

to cause global warming than carbon dioxide (CO2).

For more information on eco-friendly lifestyles in Tokyo, go to 32 WEEKENDER www.weekenderjapan.com/tokyoeco // Healthy & Responsible Living

Sustainable_Business: by Pankaj Arora Dioxins: Zero or One Photo by Jakob Montrasio Dioxins, the dirtiest of the ‘dirty dozen’ group known as the POPs (per- sistent organic pollutants), are colorless, odorless and highly toxic sub- stances whose existence dates back to the first volcanoes and forest fires. However, it was only around the 1840s when the first man-made dioxins were produced in a German factory. One of the deadliest among the 25-odd dioxins, code named as ‘agent orange,’ was used during the Vietnam War, and still contributes to birth defects and abnormalities in newborns in the area.

In the past decade a lot of new findings surfaced, proving dioxins to be much more toxic and hazardous to human health than was earlier thought. Cancer is just a start. From diabetes to reduced sperm counts to imbalanced hormonal systems, dioxins are by far the most researched toxins in history. Industries using paper, pulp, garments, wood, paint, chlorine and vinyl plastic are the major contributors of dioxins to land, water and air. They can also be produced at home by your normal backyard burning of waste. Though dioxin levels have been considerably curbed in the last few years, there are still enough released into the environment to pose a major threat. It is like asking what is the safe level of poison in your coffee...zero. No one sets out to manufacture these dioxins. They are by-products of industrial processes. Once produced, dioxins can’t be easily destroyed. But what are the safe amounts of dioxins, so as to be…well, safe? To find They have to go somewhere—just pray that they don’t end up in the fish out, I met up with Binu Lal, head of the dioxin group at an MLAP (Measure- on your plate. Today, especially in Japan, the biggest culprit is improper ment Laboratory Accreditation Program) certified laboratory in Japan. incineration of municipal and industrial waste. Because of its penchant “It is like asking what is the safe level of poison in your coffee,” he said. for incinerating 85 percent of its trash, Japan has ten times more dioxin “Zero.” He gave me a snapshot about the dioxin testing done at his lab. “A polluted air than other developed nations. large number of companies, both big names and small outfits, are scour- ing up to get this regulation testing done. A six-liter sample of industrial Environmental watchdog Greenpeace has long advocated zero level waste is mixed with some solvents involving a series of complex steps to dioxins. But the industry argues that this would mean stopping all separate the unwanted stuff. About 20 micro liters (a single drop in a test traffic, all factories and eventually asking nature to stop. Perhaps both tube) is all that is left of the sample. And about ten pico grams (one pico the views are extremes; what we need is organizations like Greenpeace gram equals one trillionth of a gram) in that test tube constitute dioxins, to keep that pressure up, while the industry innovates for new sustain- barely conforming to the current regulation values. Those ten parts of a able materials. When it comes to dioxins, there is no safe value—it is trillionth of a gram is all it takes to enter the food chain.” either zero or one.

// WEEKENDER 33 Your Move. Our World.

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Customer Hotline: 03-6402-2371 / Outside of Tokyo: 0120-984-437

To see more Weekender archives and full issues, go to 34 WEEKENDER www.weekenderjapan.com/archives // Your Move. Our World.

Power and Profession on the Move Trust Asian Tigers to take care of your move. Having been moving families and businesses across the world for over 45 years, we know what it takes to deliver a smooth move.

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