Haikyo: Abandoned Treasure

Transcription

Since 1970
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Vol.41 No.9 May 21st–June 3rd, 2010
www.weekenderjapan.com
Including Japan’s largest online classifieds
Haikyo:
Abandoned Treasure
Exploring Japan’s Lost Era
Fashion Inspired by the Great Outdoors
Summer Programs for Kids
Adventure Playgrounds in Tokyo
Annual
Outdoor
Issue
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CONTENTS
Volume
Number
41
9
May 21st–June 3rd, 2010
4
Up My Street
5-7
Arts & Entertainment
8-9
Tokyo Tables
10-11
Fashion
12-13
Business
14-15
Promotion: Summer Programs for Kids
16-19
Feature: Haikyo: Abandoned Treasure
20-21
Weekender Bulletin Board
22-23
Real Estate
24-27
Parties, People & Places
28-29
Families
30-31
Products
32-33
Responsible Living
34
Back in the Day
14
16
30
PUBLISHER Ray Pedersen
EDITOR Kelly Wetherille
DESIGNER R. Paul Seymour
WEB DEVELOPER Ricardo Costa
MEDIA MANAGER Alex Brooke
MEDIA CONSULTANTS Mary Rudow, Pia von Waldau,
Damiano Cannarile, Maria Arteaga
RESEARCHERS Rene Angelo Pascua, Mike Samson
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Stephen Young
CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Jungnitsch, Deborah Im, Elisabeth
Lambert, Ian de Stains OBE, Dorothee Jahn, Luke Poliszcuk
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Owen Schaefer (Arts), Bill Hersey
(Society), Stephen Parker (Products), Danielle Rippingale (Eco),
Darrell Nelson (Sustainable Business)
Cover photo by Michael John Grist
www.weekenderjapan.com
3 WEEKENDER
EST. Corky Alexander and Susan Scully, 1970
OFFICE Weekender Magazine, 5th floor, Regency Shinsaka Building,
8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Tel. 03-6846-5615 Fax: 03-6846-5616
Email: editor@weekenderjapan.com
Opinions expressed by Weekender contributors are not necessarily
those of the publisher.
Up My Street
Up My Street visits
Look at Tokyo from a distance and you’ll see a
concentration of the city’s highest skyscrapers
standing tall amongst the metropolis’ sea of
concrete and steel. This collection of high rise
buildings makes up the business district of Nishi
Shinjuku. Despite being known as a center of
commerce, the area offers some attractions
worthy of a visit. Beneath the towering structures
is a countless selection of eateries and
shopping outlets ranging from popular burger
joints and major department stores to smaller
neighborhood hangouts.
by Kevin Jungnitsch
Shinjuku Chuo Park
Tokyo Metropolitan
Government Building
Chuo-Dori
2-8-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tel: 03-5321-1111
www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TMG
For those who feel slightly overwhelmed by
the sea of skyscrapers and never-ending
parade of restaurants and stores, there’s
Shinjuku Chuo Park, located next to the
government building. Although the park may
not be on par with some of Tokyo’s more
famous, larger areas of respite, the lush
greenery provides fresh air and calm away
from the hustle and bustle of the business
district. During the week you’re bound to see
business people taking refuge in the park,
perhaps enjoying a delicious bento as the
weather steadily improves.
These twin towers, home to the city’s
administration, provide one of the most
stunning views of the Tokyo skyline—free of
charge. The existence of two separate decks
ensures little waiting time during peak hours.
Once on top, take in the breathtaking views of
Tokyo, which make you realize how enormous
the city actually is. The decks also provide a
clear view of the Tokyo Sky Tree, the tower
under construction that is set to become
Japan’s tallest structure. Be sure to bring your
camera to capture the spectacular sight. Tip:
go early in the morning for a clearer view of
Mt. Fuji—the cooler air means there will be
less dust and smog to block your view.
All
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ho
to
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sb
What’s your
favorite outdoor
activity in Japan
and why?
1
2. Beatriz, a housewife from Mexico: “I
like to walk with my husband in the park
and around the port of Yokohama.”
3
nitsch
Jung
1. Jean-Pierre, a tourist and
amateur photographer from Canada:
“I like to walk around Tokyo. Exploring
the city allows me to discover new things.”
vin
Ke
Word
on the
Street...
This street features a large concentration
of eateries that all serve up a quick meal at
decent prices. It’s no wonder, considering
the competition during weekdays to serve
as many salarymen as possible during
lunch hours. Most outlets consist of typical
yet satisfactory Japanese restaurants or
common international fast-food outlets.
One place that stands out in the crowd is
Paris 4eme, a small bistro that offers great
French cuisine without having to break
the bank. For fish lovers with a few free
minutes, there’s a standing sushi bar for a
fast, fresh and cheap bite on the go. The
lunch menu starts at just ¥580.
3. Dan, a consultant from the US:
“I like to go to the park and play
a round of Frisbee.”
2
4 WEEKENDER
/ For more write-ups on Tokyo neighborhoods, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Lifestyle, then Up My Street
://
Future Fossils
by Owen Schaefer
The first thing you encounter on entering the Post Fossil exhibition at
21_21 Design Sight is a large sheet-metal cube that had been beaten with
a sledgehammer into the rough shape of a chair. It’s a powerful image.
While it would be uncomfortable—or impossible—to use, it is still clearly
a chair, and it has been constructed through a combination of raw modern
materials and prehistoric methods...had our prehistoric ancestors ever
been inclined to make an armchair. As for design, well, it goes back to
basics. It is design on the fly, the method and material choosing the form.
Guest-directed by Dutch trend forecaster Li Edelkoort, Post Fossil, while
riffing on the idea of bones and fossils within design and of design, also
refers to a future post-fossil-fuel age. Edelkoort’s near-utopian vision
of this future seeks to convince audiences of a movement toward the
hand-made, the un-manufactured, and toward rough, easily understood
materials. There are some challenging and interesting ideas here (with
just a touch of silliness), and the show’s real success is in driving the
viewer to consider the production of the objects we surround ourselves
with, their impact, and to a certain extent, their necessity.
The show is a big one, involving some 71 artists and designers, and the
works included swing between those that serve as reminders of the
origins of material, such as Julia Lohmann’s realistically cow-shaped
leather sofas; works that mimic prehistoric production methods using
ancient or modern materials, such as Nacho Carbonell’s recycled junkmail benches; and works that simply have a kind of prehistoric aesthetic—
Atelier Van Lieshout’s enormous sculptural lamp seems a fitting example.
Post Fossil steers safely clear of tenuous-looking product placements that
have cluttered past shows, and the entire exhibition benefits from it. The
various rooms are divided into loose thematic sections which allow for
genuinely refreshing transitions between objects that span the spectrum
of art object to product.
As a result, there is little differentiation between what is simply quaint in
its prehistoric chic, and more conceptual works. There are any number of
stylish furniture pieces involving fur, leather and wood that seem to risk
fueling a consumer desire for products that simply aren’t environmentally
viable. But Karin Frankenstein’s chair made partially of cow dung stands
as a (possibly unwitting) counter-argument—the material used smells
more or less as one would expect, albeit faintly, and it isn’t likely to turn up
at Ikea any time soon, despite how easily obtainable it is. Within the context
of Post Fossil there are enough critical works mixed with the stylistic ones
that these kinds of dialogues occur almost naturally.
One item that sold the show for me was a hideous yellow toaster that
looked like it had been through a fire. Thomas Thwaites’s personal project
was to build a toaster by hand—from the ground up. He took copper ore,
iron ore and other metals from mines and hillsides and learned how to
extract them using a microwave unit. He’d even hoped to make his own
plastic, but was advised against it for the sake of safety, and recycled
instead. The result is a twisted parody of a toaster, accompanied by a
documentary video showing some of the work that Thwaite had to go
through just to create something as simple (and as single-purposed)
as a toaster. The work speaks on any number of levels about our
disconnectedness from the things around us, and the folly of selfsufficiency. And above all, it is a serious lesson in connecting the objects
we purchase with their origins.
TOP RIGHT: HITOTZUKI Guus Van Leeuwen “Domestic Animals” Radiator 2008
(Photo: Renee van der Hulst)
ABOVE: Marijn van der Poll “Do hit” Chair 1999
(Photo: Droog)
Show: Post Fossil: Excavating 21st Century Creation
(to June 27) Gallery: 21_21 Design Sight (Roppongi station)
Hours: 11am–8pm (closed Tue) Admission: ¥1,000
Tel: 03-3475-2121
www.2121designsight.jp
WEEKENDER 5
Photo courtesy of the Cotton Club
» Tokyo Happenings
by Kevin Jungnitsch
© Uchu Taishi Star
Fuji Rock Festival
Natalie Cole
This annual rock festival boasts the honor of being Japan’s largest
outdoor music event. Held at the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata prefecture, the event attracts tens of thousands of music lovers every year.
Fuji Rock 2010 features an impressive lineup, with both local and international acts. Among them is Grammy-winning soul and R&B artist
Corinne Bailey Rae, UK rock phenomenon Muse, the multi-talented
Jamie Cullum, and electro duo MGMT, to name a few. Be sure to book
as soon as possible, as tickets sell out quickly. For more information
and to view the full lineup visit the Fuji Rock 2010 website below.
Look out jazz lovers, Natalie Cole is coming to Tokyo. The nine-time
Grammy award winning singer from Los Angeles packs a lot of soul
into her vocals, recalling a time when music was less about fancy
effects and more about pure, raw talent, which Cole gets from her
father, the famous Nat King Cole. Perfectly suited to the Cotton Club’s
intimate, dinner-theater-style setting, this performance is bound to
please both Cole fans and jazz novices alike. To complete the romantic
evening, opt for one of the club’s special dinner courses, ranging in
price from ¥9,500 to ¥16,800.
July 30–August 1
Nearest station:
Echigo Yuzawa
May 27, 7pm and 9:30pm
Nearest station: Tokyo
Tickets: ¥16,800 (one day)
and ¥39,800 (three days)
www.smash-uk.com/frf10
Tickets: ¥14,000–¥16,500
www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp
Photo by Ken Howard © Blue Man Productions, Inc.
Photo courtesy of marcobailey.com
Clash x MoonAge
Blue Man Group
This event, taking place at superclub Ageha, is one to mark on the
calendar. Electronic music lovers will be pleased to know that Belgian
DJ Marco Bailey will be in town as the night’s special guest. Another
prominent presence will be the renowned talent Ken Ishii, who is arguably Japan’s most well known techno DJ, both at home and abroad.
Both artists are leaders in their game, and continue to keep the techno
genre alive. Like any major event at Ageha, this night is bound to draw
huge crowds.
After a brief hiatus, the Blue Men are back, ready to deliver the intense
spectacle that has earned the group worldwide acclaim. Late April saw
the reopening of the permanent Blue Man Group theater near Roppongi
and Azabu Juban. The summer season calendar is packed full with up
to two shows a day, giving plenty of opportunities to see this unique performance. To get the full experience, be sure to book the poncho seats,
located in the first six rows of the theater. Be prepared to have a great
time while interacting with the Blue Men themselves.
June 12, 11pm
Nearest station: Shin Kiba
Various dates and times
Nearest station:
Roppongi or Azabu Juban
6 WEEKENDER
Tickets: ¥3,000–¥3,500
www.ageha.com
Tickets: ¥7,500–¥8,500
www.blueman.jp
Photo by Joan Marcus
Dreamgirls
This Broadway musical, which became an instant hit and spawned the
2006 Oscar-winning film adaptation, is a favorite among audiences
of all ages. The show itself has won numerous awards, including the
prestigious Tony Award, for its outstanding script and performances.
This production at Shibuya’s Bunkamura features a full international
cast, with Adrienne Warren as Lorrell, Syesha Mercado as Deena, and
Moya Angela as Effie. For fans of musical theater, classic R&B music,
and inspirational stories, Dreamgirls will not disappoint.
Through June 6,
various times
Nearest station: Shibuya
Tickets: ¥8,000–¥12,600
www.bunkamura.co.jp/orchard/
lineup/10_dreamgirls/index.html
Photo courtesy of the Ritz Carlton Tokyo
High Tea Dancing
Combining the timeless tradition of high tea and formal ballroom dancing,
The Ritz Carlton Tokyo is now the place to dance the afternoon away in
style. In collaboration with Koji Hanaoka of Hanaoka Dance Gallery, this
event will celebrate live music and sophistication in the glorious setting
of The Ritz Carlton’s Lobby Bar, situated 46 floors above the hustle and
bustle of Tokyo. What better way to enjoy high tea? With previous events
featuring the bossa nova and slow dance, the upcoming High Tea Dance
will have a focus on jazz. So get out your glad rags, put on your dancing
shoes, and get ready for an afternoon of fun and glamour.
30 May, 5:30–8:30pm
Nearest station: Roppongi
://
Tickets: ¥10,000
Reservations: 0120-798-688
For Tokyo’s largest English events calendar, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Tokyo Happenings /
WEEKENDER 7
Toky o Tables
Photo by Deborah Im
Photo by Kevin Jungnitsch
Sumbimi Yakiniku An,
Roppongi
Mario i Sentieri,
Nishi Azabu
by Stephen Parker
by Deborah Im
Every red blooded male fancies himself as a chef when it comes
to cooking on a barbecue. There is something about raw meat and
fire that brings out an evolutionary instinct. The great thing about
yakiniku restaurants is that in a highly civilized way, everyone gets
to be the chef.
Restaurants like Mario i Sentieri are exactly why my favorite cuisine
in Tokyo is not Japanese, but Italian, and why the best Italian I’ve ever
had is not in Italy, but in Tokyo. Chef Mario Frittoli and his crew prepare
exquisitely executed versions of modern Italian cuisine, incorporating
the freshest Japanese seafood, meat and vegetables—a match made in
gastronomic heaven.
Sumbimi Yakiniku An was born out of a collaboration between Japanese entertainment personality and food fanatic Masaaki Sakai and
restaurant company Y’s Table. Close to Roppongi Midtown, this Korean BBQ is perfect for lunch or an after-work meal. The restaurant
can house over 1,000 diners in intimate private rooms spread over
two stylish floors.
We started with natto yuke (¥1,200), an unusual dish of tartare style
beef, raw egg, fermented soy beans, and soy sauce. The staff commented that this combination is “popular in Seoul, but unusual in Tokyo.” Completely raw ingredients may not be to everyone’s liking, but
the freshness was undeniable.
The restaurant can house
over 1,000 diners spread over
two stylish floors.
As we fired up the in-table grill, we were served a light kimchi soup,
one of eight types of the Korean national dish on the menu. Milder
than usual kimchi, the dish prepared our palettes nicely for the upcoming feast.
The range of high-grade beef on offer was overwhelming, but a simple option is to go with the beef variety course (¥6,000 per person).
The spare ribs were flavorsome, and the stomach and intestines a
little strange, but once grilled and dipped in miso sauce they were
buttery in the mouth.
We had the menu del giorno—a terrific value offering five courses plus
two glasses of wine for only ¥7,000. The meal started off with the antipasto of the day, a seared bonito fish with citrus-flavored sauce, carpione
style. Juicy slices of orange gave a unique twist to the mild-flavored
bonito, and capers, olives and pink peppercorns gave the dish a robust
flavor and a little kick.
Our next course was the day’s pasta: spaghetti with icefish and oysters,
prepared with aglio olio e peperoncino (olive oil and garlic with crushed
red peppers). The icefish and oysters gave the pasta a wonderfully complex, savory flavor that perfect complemented the olive oil and garlic
sauce. Topped with arugula, the pasta course was so good I wanted to
lick the plate clean.
A decadently creamy risotto with fontina cheese and fresh fava beans followed the pasta course. The meat course on the menu of the day offers a
choice between fish or meat, so we opted for one of each. The fish of the
day was a sauteed snapper, served with hamaguri oysters and aonori seaweed. The snapper was pan-seared to perfection, and the tender flesh was
well seasoned. The meat option was a pan-roasted New Zealand fillet in a
baby mushroom sauce, served medium rare. The meat was juicy, tender
and lean, and the mushroom sauce added a nice earthy finish.
Dessert was a beautifully presented caramel mousse dotted with dried
fruits and served with walnut gelato. After the parade of filling savory
courses, it offered just the right amount of delicate sweetness to finish off
the meal.
The simple experience of grilling your own meal is a joy, though drinking with friends and trying not to burn the meat at the same time
can be a challenge. The optimum way to enjoy yakiniku according to
the waiter? Wrap the meat and vegetables in a lettuce leaf, add chili
paste, and pop the whole parcel in your mouth—delicious.
Mario i Sentieri’s most popular dishes are the pistachio gnocchi served
with scampi in asparagus cream, and homemade pappardelle with rosemary-seasoned wild boar ragu. Pastas are clearly the restaurant’s strong
point, and a wide selection of fresh pastas are made in-house daily. Mario
i Sentieri is one of Tokyo’s most innovative Italian restaurants and a meal
there is highly recommended. Mario aims to impress, and succeeds.
Open daily for lunch and dinner
(times vary depending on the day)
Open Mon–Sat for lunch (11:30am–
2:30pm) and dinner (6pm–12am)
8 WEEKENDER
4-4-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tel: 03-6890-0065
www.ystable.co.jp/restaurant/
sumibiyakinikuan
4-1-10 Nishi Azabu
Tel: 03-6418-7072
www.mario-frittoli.com
/ For more restaurant and bar reviews, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Lifestyle, then Tokyo Tables
://
Photos by Elisabeth Lambert
Toky o Tables
Arossa,
Ginza
by Elisabeth Lambert
In Tokyo, where the majority
of restaurants and bars merely offer generic red and white wine by
the glass or bottle, discovering Arossa put my troubled palate at ease.
A small but cozy wine bar that overlooks a glistening Ginza from its
eighth story setting, Arossa boasts a phenomenal wine selection, with
over 150 different labels on the menu. With a New Zealand flag adorning the entrance and a stuffed-toy kiwi bird taking pride of place on
the bar, it is no surprise to learn that all but a select few wines available at Arossa come from New Zealand.
I was rapt to immediately spy one of my favorite drops, a Cloudy Bay
sauvignon blanc, sitting on the bar. But after perusing the wine list
and noting its price tag of ¥7,800, my dining partner and I stuck to
those wines available by the
glass. For between ¥840 and
¥1,260 per glass, we could
choose from a sauvignon
blanc, riesling, chardonnay,
merlot, pinot and cabernet
sauvignon, all from a range of
vineyards. We were thrilled to
finally be in a regular Tokyo
restaurant and have some
distinction between the reds
and whites!
MADE BY
F PASSION OODS
CATERING
Contact: 090-9838-2022
Although the English translation of the menu made the food on order
sound boring, in reality this was a far cry from the truth. We ordered
an avocado salad (so good we ordered it again), pasta in olive oil, and
a vegetable salad to share, as our main focus was the wine. Mains
including steaks, fish and chicken are also available. The avocado
turned out to be mixed with zucchini and soaked in balsamic vinegar
and olive oil—so delicious. The vegetable salad was a colorful minifeast of roasted veggies and greens. Along with the pasta, the simplicity of these dishes complemented our wines perfectly.
All up, our meal and drinks (three glasses each) came to just under ¥9,500. Drinking by the bottle is also an option, but could prove
expensive, with most bottles
going for between ¥3,700
and ¥37,800. Yet Arossa does
have the good stuff on hand,
including some of the best:
a bottle of Penfolds Grange
shiraz will set you back
¥73,500. Check, please!
Open daily for lunch (11am–3:30pm)
and dinner (6pm–11pm)
8F, 2-4-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-5524-1146
www.pjgroup.jp/arossa
WEEKENDER 9
Fashion
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It was not so long ago that clothing considered
suitable for outdoor sports and adventures was
limited to clunky hiking boots, khaki pants and
safari vests, and those from the fashion world
would have looked down their noses at the mere
mention of these items. But over recent years,
more and more outdoor clothing companies
are focusing energy and budget on developing
more stylish offerings for their customers, often
pairing up with guest designers or other brands
to do so. Even more recently, the opposite
is also becoming more and more common:
fashion brands are starting to create more hightech and functional clothes that not only look
good, but can also withstand the elements.
by Kelly Wetherille
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10 WEEKENDER
Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo has been a leader in the fashion world
since she first launched her collection, Comme des Garçons, in Paris in
the early 1980s. With her frayed knits, asymmetrical silhouettes and dropcrotch pants, she has been pushing the boundaries of fashion for nearly
two decades. In late March Kawakubo opened her latest concept store,
Comme des Garçons Moncler 365, located on Kotto-dori in Aoyama. In
true Kawakubo style, everything sold in the store is of one color: black. But
take a closer look at the clothes on offer and it will soon become apparent
that this isn’t just another collection of avant-garde fashions—the fabrics
are the high-tech, lightweight weaves for which Italian outdoor brand
Moncler has become known. The store’s current selection is made up of
an eclectic mix of Moncler and Comme des Garçcons pieces, as well as a
few hand-picked items from other brands, including two all-black Rolex
watches. But there are also some one-of-a-kind Moncler styles that have
been customized by the Comme des Garçons team, such as a nylon jacket
with a colorful knit collar and patch pockets (¥105,000). The selection is
bound to get even more interesting come July, when a full collaboration
collection, designed by Kawakubo and manufactured by Moncler, will be
launched. The store will be open for exactly one year (365 days), and is set
to close on March 24, 2011.
Fashion
Photos by St
ephen Parker
The North Fa
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Standard 6-10
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, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-54642831
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Last month saw the opening of a new concept store by one of the foremost
outdoor clothing brands in the world, The North Face. Located in
Harajuku, The North Face Standard is comprised of four floors, each with
a different theme that will change along with the product offering. Natural
wooden floors and shelving, bare concrete walls, and cardboard boxes
form a stark, simple interior that can easily be adapted to accommodate
different concepts. While there are plenty of sleeping bags, lanterns and
water bottles on offer, there is also a section of fashion-forward (yet fully
functional) items, dubbed the Standard of Living Package. One such
piece is a Junya Watanabe-designed jacket that marks a collaboration
between The North Face and Comme des Garçons Man. The jacket, priced
at ¥126,000, is half tailored blazer, half rain-proof anorak. Details such as
a Gore-Tex lining, drawstring hood, and ventilation holes are evidence of
The North Face’s four decades of experience in making top-class outdoor
wear and gear. The upcoming fall and winter season will see even more
collaborations with fashion brands, so be sure to stop in often to check out
the ever-changing collection.
Designer Yosuke Aizawa launched the menswear brand White
Mountaineering in 2006 with a unique concept in mind: combining functional
outdoor items with high fashion styling. He made his runway debut for the
2010 spring season with a collection entitled ‘Dressed to Climb.’ The genius
of his work can be seen in the versatility of his clothes, which would be
just as at home on the golf course or mountain slopes as they would be on
the streets of Tokyo. Waterproof nylon jackets are made chicly modern in
bright colors and subtle patterns, and fabrics of all kinds are dressed up
with retro-chic prints designed by Aizawa himself. White Mountaineering’s
flagship store opened near Daikanyama station last August, with a clean
white interior that forms the perfect backdrop for the eye-popping colors
and designs. For fall and winter, expect tweed jackets lined in Gore-Tex with
leather elbow patches and colorful knits in fair-isle and other mountaininspired patterns. Aizawa is also thinking of adding a women’s line, which
is sure to be a hit amongst Tokyo’s fashionistas and outdoor lovers alike.
WEEKENDER 11
Business
THE VIEW FROM HERE
by Ian de Stains OBE
Photo by delphaber
known it only once before, some 20-odd years ago. That was put down to
a freak of nature. Now we know better: this is part of an emerging pattern
that will see our weather change significantly wherever we are, and not
necessarily for the better.
Climate change is a fact of life. At a recent party to celebrate the birthday
of Queen Elizabeth II (blessed as it happens by a single day of sunshine and
fine temperatures between bookends of cold, wet days), we drank a loyal
toast in English sparkling wine. Not too many years ago that would have
been impossible (at least for those who care about the quality of what they
are drinking), but the climate and the earth conditions in and around Kent
make it now perfectly acceptable.
I am afraid I still cannot commit myself to British reds, but an associate
who has far and away a better knowledge than I of wines and a palate to
prove it is convinced that in 10 to 15 years the UK will be producing a more
than serviceable claret.
I’ll Drink to That!
Good news for British vintners, but what will it mean for our neighbors to
the south in France, Spain and Italy? Presumably if the UK becomes hotter,
so will they, and what then of their own vineyards and future harvests?
Ella is singing the Cole Porter songbook. I have a cat in my lap and a glass
of that least explored of French reds, Cahors, in hand. It’s a weekend and
I’ve finally got a Saturday that makes no demands on me. Outside, the river
is running fast and clear, the banks are populated with white and yellow
flowers whose names I once learned but have now forgotten. The turtles
are back, and the carp are spawning; there’s a new family of ducks under
the bridge. The cherries are beginning to bear fruit, their blossom long
gone, but the fresh green leaves are a delight, and the azaleas are bursting
forth. Who cares if it’s colder than it should be?
Well, of course, we all ought to. After attending a number of obligatory
sun-blessed hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) parties, I was astonished to
wake up one recent morning to find the banks of the river and the roofs of
my neighbors’ houses totally white with snow. Snow in April in Tokyo? I’ve
It is not, of course, wine alone that will benefit or suffer from these changes
in our global climate. Agriculture as a whole will see a shift; fruits and vegetables once considered the sole preserve of more exotic climes than the UK
could end up being local produce, and then think of the knock-on effect on the
import-export business and the impact it could have on local employment.
That dusting of April snow along a Tokyo riverbank is a sure sign that we’re
in for significant changes, and we can no longer write them off as freak
events; or if we do, we do so at our peril.
Ian de Stains is the executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce in
Japan. View expressed in this column are purely his own and are not necessarily
endorsed or shared by the BCCJ.
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Business
C-Level Profiles / Entrepreneurs in Japan
Photo courtesy of Andrew Green
Edward Suzuki
Andrew
Green
of PTS Consulting (www.ptsconsulting.com)
With 15 years of experience serving local and international clients
across the country, PTS Consulting is one of Japan’s leading specialist
IT consulting and project management companies. Since 2008 Andrew
Green has headed up the Tokyo office in his role as managing director
of the Asia-Pacific region. He and his team of over 130 staff are well
equipped to address all the IT service needs of their many diverse clients.
How long have you been in Japan?
One and a half years, but I have been traveling here on business for
many years.
What is your background and how did you arrive at your current position?
I’m a chartered surveyor by profession, but have worked corporate real
estate in the investment banking industry for most of my career. I was a
client of PTS Consulting in London for five years at Swiss Re. Once that
project was completed I was approached by Kevin Perrett, the group
CEO of PTS Consulting, and offered my current role of managing director (APAC). I was initially based out of Singapore, then relocated to Tokyo
at the end of 2008.
Can you tell us a bit about your company?
PTS Consulting Group PLC (PTS) provides world class IT infrastructure
and project management services to some of the world’s biggest names.
Founded in 1983, PTS is renowned for impartial, vendor independent
advice, quality processes, thought leadership, and strong project management. The breadth of client engagements globally ensures PTS
Consulting is constantly at the forefront of new technology and is able
to transfer experience and expertise between different industries and
locations. PTS has over 330 employees, with 12 offices in 9 countries
around the globe. The group covers three geographical regions: the
Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific.
://
we have been providing consistent and quality services in the most
demanding of environments worldwide for 27 years. This has earned
PTS Consulting an enviable reputation as a trusted partner to some of
the world’s largest companies.
Please briefly describe your business philosophy.
The PTS Consulting Group engagement model, called ‘project and
consulting excellence’ (PACE), is simply our unique way of consulting. PACE is not a traditional project methodology; it is a flexible
and intuitive consulting approach that is entirely compatible with
such methodologies, but not prescribed by them. PACE is a style and
a way of interacting with clients that enables every activity during
a project to be communicated clearly and linked to the objectives.
PTS consultants apply an intuitive set of practices and techniques to
every engagement to deliver value and innovation to clients, locally,
regionally and globally.
Many young aspiring
professionals today are looking
to get to the next level before
understanding the game.
What are the Japan-specific challenges your business faces?
PTS’ clients are both Japanese domestic organizations and global corporations. As such, our suite of services needs to be relevant and appropriate for the varied cultural and business differences that apply. Bilingual staff is also a very important aspect to success in this area. PTS
believes that our success in both markets is due to the right balance in
this area of our business.
What kind of advice would you give to aspiring professionals?
Get the basics right first. Many young aspiring professionals today are
looking to get to the next level before understanding the game. Take the
time to learn your trade well, develop strong professional relationships,
and bolster your experience before applying these attributes across
other disciplines to round out your professional skills.
What sets your company apart from its competitors?
PTS Consulting Group has built a strong reputation for ‘substance over
style’ with a ‘hands-on’ approach; we are as well known for our technical competence as we are for our strategic thinking. Utilizing a global
account management system, and best of breed resourcing approach,
What do you do in your spare time?
I have a young family which takes up a lot of my free time, but I also
like to cycle. In June a friend and I will be completing the coast-tocoast bike ride from Niigata to Tokyo across the Japanese Alps to raise
money for charity.
For more executive and entrepreneur profiles,
go to www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Business /
WEEKENDER 13
Weekender Promotion: Summer Programs for Kids
Weekender Promotion:
Summer
Programs
for Kids
Kspace International School
As the mercury rises and school lets out for
the summer holidays, parents are once again
faced with the task of filling the hours of their
children’s days with enjoyable, educational and
enriching activities. But this doesn’t need to be
as big a chore as it may seem. From summer
schools at Tokyo’s top international schools to
outdoor activities in Japan’s greener areas and
even a family resort in Saipan, summer fun is
just around the corner.
To celebrate a whole decade of memorable summer festivities, Kspace International School has a season full of the very best in warm-weather fun.
Classes are available for children aged 14 months right up to eight years
old. Age appropriate programs cover a huge range, including space, superheroes and princesses, and the circus. Parents of older children will be
delighted to know that hot on the menu are specialist workshops, designed
to approach those ‘tricky’ subjects from a totally different angle; ESL,
advanced math, and advanced phonics have never been so much fun, and
private tutorial sessions can also be scheduled. With flexible attendance,
a choice of hours, weekend programs, and an easy enrollment system,
Kspace takes the ‘bother’ out of a ‘hot and bothered’ Tokyo summer.
Camp Adventure™
Evergreen Outdoor Center
Looking for a fun-filled way for your child to make lasting friendships
this summer? Camp Adventure™ Youth Services provides something for
everyone. The Camp Adventure™ Youth Services program is structured
for children ages three through twelve. Program activities include swimming, arts and crafts, songs, games, and individual age group activities
such as weekly field trips for the older children. Camp Adventure™ is
hosted by Mitsui Gardens International Preschool, located at the American embassy housing compound in Roppongi from June 21 to August 20.
Sign up is already underway, so be sure to register your child soon.
Venture into the heart of the Japan Alps in Hakuba this green season.
Huge white-capped peaks, alpine flowers, clear flowing rivers, and green
forests are the big draws for those wishing to discover the beautiful natural elements of Hakuba. After arrival, let the adventure begin with the
friendly guides at the Evergreen Outdoor Center, who have been guiding
in Hakuba for more than a decade. From the wild to the mild, Evergreen’s
choice of activities are suitable for single travelers, couples and families.
Experience the thrill of sliding off waterfalls in a canyoning tour, ride scenic cross-country trails on mountain bikes, or soak in the sun and views
while you cruise in canoes or kayaks on picturesque Lake Aokiko.
For more information call 03-3224-6796
or visit www.ewa.tokyo.org
For more information call 0261-72-5150
or visit www.evergreen-hakuba.com
14 WEEKENDER
For more information call 03-3446-3478 or visit www.kspace.to
Weekender Promotion: Summer Programs for Kids
Pacific Islands Club
Gymboree
The Pacific Islands Club (PIC) is the ultimate family resort in Saipan. Just a
three hour flight from Tokyo, PIC is famous for its spectacular water park
and the friendly international team of Clubmates, the ambassadors of fun.
Aside from the expansive water park, half-kilometer long lazy river, the
Point Break wave surfing machine, and the 18-meter climbing wall, PIC’s
newest attraction is the Laser Tag game. Teams of five can strategize to
out-maneuver their opponents on the ‘battlefield’ and score points to win.
The action is non-stop and all the fun, sports, entertainment and activities
on site are free. In addition to PIC’s award-winning culinary delights at its
four restaurants, the resort’s 300+ rooms have been recently upgraded
with flat-screen TVs.
Are you wondering how you are going to keep your child busy this summer but not sure whether you can commit to a daily or weekly summer
camp? Then Gymboree Play & Music’s flexible Summer Bubble Pass may
be just what you are looking for. The age-appropriate play, music and
art programs for children three months to five years old help children
practice social skills, develop problem-solving skills, and refine their
language and motor skills in a stimulating and fun environment. This
summer, customers will be able to choose from four-class, eight-class
and twleve-class passes and attend classes and ‘play gyms’ on the days
and times that best meet their needs. The Gymboree Summer Bubble
Passes will be available from June 14 through September 5.
For more information call 03-3436-0777 or visit www.picresorts.com
For more information call 03-5449-2311 (Motoazabu)
or 03-3723-0651 (Jiyugaoka) or visit www.gymboree.jp
Saint Maur International School
Adventure Rafting
Saint Maur International School, founded in 1872, is the oldest international school in Japan. The co-educational school offers a quality
education within a well-maintained modern facility to students of all nationalities and religious beliefs, from preschool through high school. The
summer school at St. Maur accommodates students starting from age
two and a half, and features a variety of age-appropriate programs, from
Montessori activities for preschoolers to IGCSE and pre-IB courses for
high schoolers. Less academic courses, such as arts and crafts, drama,
time management skills and personal goal setting, and a basketball
clinic, are also available.
Experience a trip with Japan’s leader in white water rafting since 1995.
During the hot and humid summer months, a raft trip with Adventure
Rafting in Gifu prefecture is the perfect way to cool down while having a
fun-filled experience. Rafters will drift through narrow pine tree-lined
canyons on crystal clear water flowing from the Japan Alps. The Nagara
River is the only remaining free-flowing river on the island of Honshu,
free from dams. Adventure Rafting also has a free lodging facility, so
guests can experience and participate in one of Japan’s three largest
bonodori dance festivals, Gujo Odori, throughout July and August (bring
your own blankets or sleeping bag).
For more information call 045-641-5751 or visit www.stmaur.ac.jp
For more information call 0575-79-3405 or visit www.adventures.jp
WEEKENDER 15
Feature: Haiky o: Abandoned Treasure
HAIKYO: AB ANDO N ED TR EASURE
by Elisabeth Lambert
The first time I participated in haikyo was entirely by accident. My husband
and I were cycling in the shadow of Mt. Fuji when we stumbled across
an empty and dilapidated hotel on the shoreline of Lake Kawaguchiko. It
struck us as unusual that the remains of this building were completely
open to the elements. In other countries we had traveled through, disused
buildings and structures were largely boarded up and made inaccessible.
So this particular abandoned hotel, with its easy access and its obvious
regression back to nature, stuck out like a sore thumb. We were drawn
into it like moths to a flame.
We entered the hotel, although any semblance of an entrance had long
since fallen apart. In fact, the entire front wall of the hotel no longer
existed, and what would have been the lobby was now an open-air skeleton of a room. We wandered around the lower levels of the old hotel with
a sense of awe and excitement. It was amazing that something like this
not only existed, but also could give us an instant, albeit fuzzy, snapshot
of a bygone era. Part of the fun also came in trying to figure out why and
when this place had gone bust.
during a sneaky midnight feed. A desolate reception area had forms
laid out waiting for the arrival of guests that never came. It all seemed
quite hopeless.
Yet strangely, there was a sense of calm
was slowly and surely being reclaimed
has prided itself on the rate in which it
forward since the end of World War II, it
Japan that seemed to be standing still.
about standing in a space that
by nature. In a country that
has moved on and pushed
was incredible to be in a part of
Literally translated as ‘ruins,’ haikyo, or urban exploring as it is
also called, is slowly finding its way into the mainstream as an active
hobby for those looking to do something with an adventure component.
With its popularity amongst both for- eigners and Japanese on the
rise, a new term has even been coined to describe those who haikyo or
urban explore on a regular basis: ‘haikyoists’ or, for those outside of
Japan, ‘urbexers.’
Surveying the scene and all of its contents, which included bulky Sanyo
television sets, fax machines the size of photocopiers, and magazine
scraps, it appeared as though the hotel had closed its doors during the
early 1990s—a consequence of Japan’s ‘bubble’ economy bursting perhaps? Although I am sure the fact that it was the only hotel whose view
of Mt. Fuji was obscured by a large pine plantation didn’t do much for
business either!
“I’ve always been interested in ruins, ever since seeing movies like
Goonies and Indiana Jones as a kid,” says Michael John Grist, who lives
in Tokyo and has been going on haikyo expeditions for around three
years now. “I did a few haikyo in Japan by happenstance in my early
years here—places that I had stumbled across and thought I would
check out. One was an apartment block and one an old air base.” Not
long after, an article on haikyo caught his eye, and now Grist heads out on
an expedition once every few weeks.
Further exploration of the first floor showed tea cups set out ready for use
in what we guessed must have previously been the lobby bar, and a kitchen
area with a fridge hanging wide open, as though it had been left as such
For Florian, a Kansai-based haikyoist, studying history kick-started
his interest in exploring industrial ruins. Looking to blogs, online maps,
magazine articles and books, he completed his first haikyo only six
16 WEEKENDER
months ago, but now heads out on such expeditions as often as he can. “It
has strengthened my interest in Japanese history,” says Florian. “Haikyo
to me is a part of social history, as it allows a glimpse of how people lived
or worked in past times.”
Yet up until recently, before the low birth
started wreaking havoc on Japan’s inhabto put that population was such an issue
ernment began to reclaim land from the
places left relatively untouched in a
to come by?
rate and the aging population
itants, population and where
that in some areas, the govsea. So why are abandoned
place where space is so hard
In a coun try that has prided itself
on the ra te in which it has moved on and pus hed
forward
since the end of Wo rld War II,
it was incredible to be
in a part of Ja pan that seemed to be sta nding still.
Grist supports a notion discussed by Alex Kerr in his 2001 novel Dogs and
Demons, which states that it is an “after-effect of the 80s bubble economy,
which was built around real estate.”
Photos by Florian
“The [property] was a toxic asset,” Grist explains, “and doing anything with
it all, [whether it was] reworking, selling, or buying, would be to sink further money into a black hole.” Essentially, the property is worth more as
is—meaning on paper—than it would be to get rid of or do anything with it.
And as a result, haikyo has not only been enabled, but locations for such
expeditions have proliferated the Japanese countryside. This is, of
course, good news for haikyoists.
Grist has explored a range of sites around Tokyo and Japan, including
capsule and love hotels, hospitals, museums, the ruins of a kaiten suicide boat base, and the Kawaminami POW Shipyard. He has parlayed this
hobby into a fantastic website (see sidebar on p18), where he shares his
photographs and site descriptions with readers from around the world.
WEEKENDER 17
For those interested in haikyo, there is plenty
of information in print and online to help get
started, including finding locations and how to
get there. For example:
Michael John Grist has been
undertaking regular haikyo expeditions
for over three years and shares his
experiences and photographs at
www.michaeljohngrist.com.
Florian has been navigating haikyo
around Japan for about six months. He
talks about his adventures and posts
photos of his experiences at http://
abandonedkansai.wordpress.com.
Glossary:
Haikyo: While it literally translates
into ‘ruins,’ as a verb it means to explore
ruins and abandoned places.
Urban Exploration: The exploration of
haikyo and other abandoned sites, as well
as places people are not supposed to go,
whether they are abandoned or not.
Haikyoist/Urbexer: A person who regularly
undertakes haikyo or urban exploration.
Photos by Michael John Grist
18 WEEKENDER
“One of the strangest ruins I found was an underground bunker with two
high security vaults inside,” reveals Grist. “The doors were hanging open
and I was able to go inside. Hanging on the wall were five curious icons
that looked at once mysterious and cultish.” Grist goes on to say that while
people theorized on his website as to what the symbols meant, it was only
after a fellow haikyoist went there and had his account published in a magazine article that the mystery was solved. “We [learned] that it was a vault
belonging to a famous Japanese securities company that went under in
the bubble. The mystery was very exciting for a time though.”
Why are abandoned places left relatively un touched
in a pla ce where spac e is so hard to come by?
Florian has also had the chance to venture to a wide range of haikyo
sites, with the Katashima Training School perhaps being one of the
most intriguing, as it was basically a training ground for suicide terrorist
attacks. “Hardly anybody knows that the Japanese military had a thing
for self destructing soldiers,” Florian writes on his website, Abandoned
Kansai (see sidebar on p18). “They blew up their own people not only
in airplanes, but in mini-submarines, speed boats, and as divers with
mines on top of a five-meter-long bamboo stick.”
However, as exciting as navigating these kinds of sites can be, a haikyoist
must always remember that when it comes down to it, they should not be
there. When asked about the legalities of entering these properties, Grist
answers that “in some cases it probably is trespassing. I’m no expert [on
the law], but I know it is at least frowned upon.”
Florian agrees that it is technically trespassing. “If you take something it is
theft, and if you break something, even by accident, it is vandalism. If you
break something while entering then it is burglary. It doesn’t matter that
the place is abandoned.”
And both Grist and Florian stress that they, as with most haikyoists, are not
in it for any buzz, nor do they gain any thrill from being somewhere they
shouldn’t. “I am just in it for the ruins,” Grist elaborates. “The [security]
protecting some of the places is doing it more for [the owner’s] liability in
case somebody like me gets inured inside.”
Other than running into the odd security guard who may ask haikyoists to
leave—and the best advice is to respect those directives—both Grist and
Florian state that using common sense is the most important thing when
undertaking such an expedition. Budding haikyoists should remember to
have a good look at the area they want to explore from the outside first,
checking for security measures, barbed wire and other people to make
sure it is really abandoned, before proceeding with caution.
“The biggest risks are from unsafe floors and railings,” says Grist. He
also warns, as strange as it may seem, that concrete can—and does—
rot through. It is also important to follow the haikyoist/urbexer’s
general rule: take only photos, leave only foot- prints.
I think back to that desolate hotel underneath Mt. Fuji. The questions
about what went before are endless: Who owned it? What became
of them? Do they still think about their place on the lake? Who holidayed there? In some ways, haikyo dem- onstrates that one person’s
trash really is another’s treasure. It also shows that the life of a building
or structure does not end with the fin- ishing of construction, or even
occupancy. In fact, some might say that this is when life really begins:
through an old door leading to a new world waiting to be discovered. This
is pretty rare in a country where virtually no stone has been left unturned.
WEEKENDER 19
Bulletin Board
WEEKENDER
B u l l et i n B o ard
AUTO
2006 Ducati Monster 400 ID: 46014
Best seller from Ducati. It is a pleasure to ride, especially during summer nights in Tokyo. You won’t
regret getting yourself this classic masterpiece
of Italian design! Model: Ducati Monster 400, red
frame. Year: 2006. Condition: good. Kilometers:
6,885 Comes with: third-party liability (valid
through Mar 2011), helmet (size M), two chains,
cover.Price:¥630,000 (nonnegotiable).
2007 Toyota BB 1.5 Z Q Version ID: 45330
¥850,000, 52,000 km. Shaken until May 2010.
One owner, ABS, driver, passenger and side
airbags, keyless entry. CD with iPod connection, nine speakers with blue illumination, front
seats sink down 80mm for privacy, rear seats
fold down for cargo etc. The car is in very good
condition. Has a scratch on the center of back
bumper from loading a picnic table, otherwise
exterior is fine. Inside has some scratches from
our kids, priced to sell soon. Feel free to contact
me for any questions or if you would like pictures. Thanks for looking. www2.toyota.co.jp/
en/news/05/1226.html
1996 Mercedes Benz C240 ID: 45232
In very good condition, mileage is only 28,000 km.
Rarely used. Good navigation system with TV and
shaken until 2011. Call me on 090-1767-8786.
Makeanoffer.
Suzuki DRZ400S ID: 45227
2004 DRZ400S, good condition, 33,000 km, no
problems, very reliable and runs great. Good tires,
brakes, exhaust, service history, two owners, well
maintained bike. ¥230,000. Also have bike jacket
andhelmetifwanted.Contactforphotos.
2001 Mercedes-Benz C-Class ID: 45130
Right hand drive, only 35,000 km, HD navigation
system, DVD, TV, ETC, MP3, CD player, anti-lock
brakes, driver and side airbags, passenger and
rear passenger airbags, power windows, rear
window defroster, front and rear AC, cruise
control, power steering, remote keyless entry,
digital meter, AM/FM radio and stereo, AMG
alloy wheels, power mirrors, fully loaded, no
accidents. Very clean interior. Grade 4.5/A,
shaken until June 2010. ¥690,000 obo. See
photos at http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/yeh
tut23/2001MercedesBenzCClass#.Contact
yehtut23@gmail.com.
1998 BMW 318i ID: 44705
¥425,000 obo. Sliver 318i BMW four-door sedan
with black leather seats and only 68,100 kilometers. Right hand drive, automatic. Looks and
drives great. Non smoking owner. Shaken until
May 22, 2011. No car dealers need inquire, this is
a private sale.
Toyota Luxel 2001/09 Navigation Edition
ID: 44516 ¥339,000 Toyota Luxel 2001/09 Navigation Edition with shaken until September 2011.
Mint condition, new tire and battery, built in navigation, TV, CD, tape, wood panel on dash board with
special gear lever, 1800 CC, odometer has 84,000
km, comes with dual air bags, ABS, AW, PS, oil
consumption 13 km/liter. For pictures see http://
luxel.weebly.com/. Reply to this inquiry or call
090-1779-5554.
Multimedia Projector with
DVD/CD/VCR Player ID: 46273
¥29,000. World Cup football is coming. Watch the
game on a screen more than 150cm x 150cm with
my LCD projector. I will give you the DVD player free,
that has built-in TV, just plug in and watch TV with
the 150cm wide screen. You can also connect your
PC and watch. Come to have a look with your own
eyesbeforeyoubuy.
iPod Touch 8GB ID: 46247
¥16,000. New in a never opened box. Last price,
seriousbuyersonlyplease.
Apple Mac Pro ID: 45973
Mac Pro, with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).
Primary drive: DVD+/-R/RW. Bundled items:
keyboard, mouse. Processor type: Intel Xeon.
Processor speed (per core): 2.8 Ghz. Processor
configuration: quad core. Memory (RAM): 4GB.
Hard drive capacity: 320GB. Model: MA970LL/A.
Processor: two 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Xeon
processors. L2 cache: 12MB of L2 cache per processor (each pair of cores shares 6MB). Graphics:
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB (two dual-link DVI
ports. Hard drive: bay 1: 320GB serial ATA 3Gb/s,
7200 rpm, 8MB cache. Bay 2-4: open, optical
drive, 16x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). Wireless:
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR. Expansion: three open fulllength PCI Express expansion slots. Peripherals
and audio: two FireWire 800 ports.
Lomography Camera ID: 45850
Perfect condition Hong Meow edition with three
lenses, flash and filters and a 120mm film. All in
originalboxes.¥18,000,allincluded.
19-inch Flat Screen TV ID: 45819
19-inch flat screen TV for sale, ¥25,000. Eighteen
months old, excellent condition. Comes with
manual (Japanese). Pick up from Yotsuya SanchomeorShinjuku.
Sony Vaio Bluray RW FZ280 ID: 45260
¥70,000. Sony VAIO FZ280E, Core2Duo 2.0 GHz,
2MB L2 cache, 250GB SATA, 2GB DDR-2-667
(max. 4GB), BluRay RW, nVIDIA GeForce 8400M
GT, 256MB, 15.4” WXGA TFT, Full HD. Included
free: slim laptop bag, optical mouse (Microsoft),
empty 3pcs of BR-R discs, Windows Vista Home
Premium English, English only keyboard, papers,
recovery DVD, adapter, box. Battery pack is in
good condition. Contact 080-3710-5313 or email
letmebeclear@gmail.com.
Bose LS-1811 DVD Home
Entertainment System ID: 44848
¥80,000. Purchased in August 2006, but lightly
used. Mint condition, not a scratch. Two of the
small speakers (five in total) have Bose GFS-20
floor stands. All original paperwork and full
instructions in English and Japanese. Collection
from Tamachi Area, can’t ship as you will need to
inspectbeforepurchase,etc.
Brand New Canon EF 24-105mm Lens
ID: 44548 ¥90,000. Canon EF 24–105mm f/4 L IS
USM lens. This is the kit lens of Canon 5D package
I just bought. It’s brand new and unused. Price is
firm.Seriousbuyersonlyplease.
ELECTRONICS
DJ Turntables ID: 44510
Two Technics 1200 turntables. SL-1200 MK 3D
[black] + SL-1200 MK 5 [black]. ¥40,000 each or
¥70,000 as a set. Cartridges but no needles. Dust
coversincluded.PickupfromNishiNippori.
Sony Bravia LCD 32-inch TVID: 46432
¥40,000. Model KLV-32S200A. Excellent condition
multi-region TV (110–240V), PAL/NTSC, English
instructions. Collection from Shibaura, Minato-ku
(nearTamachistation)only!Iwillnotshipthisitem.
Nikon DLSR D70 ID: 44356
Semi-professional (prosumer) Nikon D70 DSLR
camera. Made out of a robust, metal body unlike the current SLRs made with a plastic frame.
Allows full customization of menu and photo
20 WEEKENDER
Now you can get a small taste of the classifieds in our printed publication
every issue and access Japan’s largest online classifieds at:
http://classifieds.weekenderjapan.com
Simply type in the ID to find the ad you’re looking for.
Nespresso Coffee Maker ID: 44474
¥23,000 obo. I am selling a two-year-old Nespresso
D290 coffee machine equipped with a hot water
/ milk / foam maker, for use with the original Nespresso capsules. The unit is still under warranty
for a further 3 years at Yodobashi Camera. Comes
complete with the original box, manual (in Japanese but with easy pictogram guide to follow) and
two glass latte cups with saucers (unused). Please
pick up in Kanda, or if requested, I can send it by
Kuronekoorsimilar.
modes. Was awarded DSLR of the year when
released. Comes complete with everything
you need to get you going with professionallooking DSLR photography. Includes a Sigma
28mm–300mm zoom lens (cost more than the
camera!). Additional accessories include three
Nikon EN-EL3 batteries (newer than camera),
charger, Nikon strap and a Lowepro sling soft
case. Camera is in top condition and fully functional. Lens is in almost mint condition. Asking
price ¥55,000 negotiable. Will throw in a professional Nikon SB-600 Speedlight ($200 external
flash) if offer is ¥65,000. Will send a high
resolution pic of the products on request. Can
meet and deliver to Tokyu Toyoko line stations
as well as most Ginza stations. Everything is in
great condition, but I’m giving up photography
because work leaves me no time. Please don’t
hesitate to contact me.
Microwave Oven ID: 44684
¥2,000. Sharp RE-TE4-KB6 microwave oven, 2008
model. Used condition. See pictures for more information. Works like new. Never had any problems
with it. There is a chip on the glass plate. Clean,
inside and out. As-is, no warranty. Feel free to ask
anyquestionsorrequestpictures.
FURNITURE
HOUSING
Double Size Muji Bed and Mattress ID: 46285
Will sell together for ¥15,000. Must pick up from
Akasaka.
Private Room Near Ikebukuro ID: 46209
¥50,000 per month. Great multi-story house
which is only 13 minutes from Ikebukuro station
on the Yamanote line. This 7LDK is in a good, quite
neighborhood, with loads of shops just down the
way. The shopping area near the station is great, including a Seiyu, loads of restaurants, ¥100 stores,
and other cool places. There are two Japanese
guys, one Japanese girl, and two Canadians living
in the house. Everyone is kind and easy going, like
to be social and occasionally host small dinner/
house parties. The house is clean and recently
refurbished. Private room: seven tatami Japanese
style room. There is a ¥5,000 management fee, but
there is no ‘key’ money, fire insurance or other hidden fees. Move-in deposit is only one month’s rent
(completely refundable). Utilities are split equally
among residents. Flat includes big flat screen TV,
wireless internet, washing machine, full kitchen,
and lots of accessories. If you have any questions,
please feel free to call 090-9431-8428 or email
fishgutts@softbank.ne.jp.
Winter Duvet/Comforter ID: 46040
¥5,000, duck down and feather duvet. 230cm
x 210cm. This is a super warm duvet. One slight
surface mark caused by the dry cleaners. Pick up
from Shibaura, near Tamachi station only. Please
no time wasters.
Large Three-Seater Leather Sofa ID: 45786
Large three-seater leather sofa, ¥50,000. Pick up
from Shibaura (near Tamachi). Delivery will be at
your expense.
Natuzzi Italian Leather Sofa ID: 45009
¥180,000 obo. Suede finish, tan/beige in color, sectional/corner unit, excellent condition, teo years
old. CanbeseenorpickedupinNishiAzabu.
New Glass Coffee Table ID: 44987
¥7,000 obo. L110 x W60 x H40cm, brand new glass
coffee table. Bought new in June 2009. To pick up
nowfromAzabuJuban.
Antique Hardwood Chinese Wardrobe
ID: 44554 Originally from an importer in London.
Excellent condition and lots of storage space.
Located in Minato-ku and can help arrange
delivery. It is 55cm D x 97cm W x 188cm H.
¥80,000. Call 080-3173-6319 or email jctokyo@
hotmail.com.
HOUSEHOLD
Wine Fridge ID: 46390
¥45,000. 36-bottle Funvino wine fridge in perfect
condition.Icansendpicsifrequired.
Treadmill ID: 46206
This treadmill has longer running area (which is
useful for people who care about extra safety).
¥25,000negotiable.
Kitchen Sink and Fixtures ID: 45885
¥6,000. Cabinet is separate item. Email forsaletokyo@yahoo.com or call 070-5011-9913. See more
here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8519161@N0.
National NR-B172JS Fridge ID: 45810
¥15,000, three-year-old fridge. Brand: National
(Panasonic). Model: NR-B172JS. Color: silver.
Size: 165L, L x W x H = 480×584×1293mm. Pick up
inMusashi-Kosugi(nomovinghelp).
Bread Maker ID: 45122
¥25,000. Never used bread maker, top of the line!
Happytosellforbestoffer.
Room for rent in
Tabata/Nishi Nippori (Tokyo) ID: 44774
¥60,000 per month. We are two Swedish guys in
our mid-20s that are looking for a new roommate.
We have a spacious 3 LDK apartment (about 80
square meters) on the eighth floor. Fully equipped
withanythingyouwouldeverwantinanapartment.
37-inch TV, huge couch, PS3, system kitchen (with
oven), separate toilet and bath, etc. Everything is
relatively new and fresh. The third room is about
five tatami mats with a built-in closet. Comes fully
furnished. It is ten-minute walk to Tabata station
(Yamanote Line), Nishi-Nippori station (Yamanote
and Chiyoda lines), Shin-Mikawashima station
(Keisei line, one line to Narita Airport), 19 minutes
to Shinjuku, 20 minutes to Roppongi, 26 minutes
to Shibuya, 10 minutes to Akihabara, 12 minutes
to Ikebukuro. Around the apartment: supermarket open 24/7 that is relatively cheap, Yoshinoya
(Japanese fast food), Pizzala (Pizza), Hotto Motto
(Bento), dry cleaner, drug store, gym and other random restaurants within five minutes. Also space
to park your bicycle. Pictures: http://picasaweb.
google.co.jp/viktor.dedkov/RoomForRentInTabataTokyo#. If you have any questions or would
like to come by and take a look at the apartment,
pleaseemailviktor.dedkov@gmail.com.
Room in Shimokitazawa ID: 44579
Nice, furnished, sunny six-mat room with large
windows. Second floor corner room in a cozy
four-bedroom house in a very quiet area. Just a
two-minute walk to Ikenoue station (Inokashira
line) or a seven-minute walk to Shimokitazawa
station (Odakyu line). It is also a 20-minute walk
to Yoyogi Uehara. Share utilities, etc. with three
friendly professionals. Friendly, responsible,
long-term person preferred. Rent ¥72,000. Only a
¥30,000 deposit. Available now. Contact Chris on
080-3590-0119.
MUSIC
Electric Piano: Kawai CA-12 ID: 45770
¥80.000 obo. I am living in Kagoshima city and will
be leaving Japan at the end of July. It’s a Kawai CA12, only six months old, and includes all originally
supplied accessories: Kawai piano stool, Kawai
headphones, manual, piano cleaning kit, and
Kawai’s Classic Piano Collection. Piano specs: 88
wooden keys, and the key action (AWA Grand Pro
II) feels great. 96 voice polyphony (i.eaudiocircuitry
supports up to 96 notes playing simultaneously).
Una corda, sostenuto, and sustain pedals. Eight
sounds (four acoustic pianos, electric piano, harpsichord, church organ, strings). Duet mode (four
hands). Color: light rosewood. Size W137 x D46 x
H89cm. Weight 59kg. External power adapter—
this means that if you take it overseas, by using
a different model of power adapter you avoid the
need for a large power transformer. I will try to cover
shipping costs (within Japan). Kawai’s product
description is available here: http://www.kawai.
co.jp/ep/products/ca12/.
Korg MicroKontrol ID: 45398
Mint condition, barely used. Just got a new synth
keyboard and don’t have room for two keyboards.
Works great on both Mac and PC, USB connection.
Includes original box, cables, manual and discs.
¥12,000.PickupinShibuya.
Buffet B12 Student Clarinet ID: 44747
¥30,000. Perfect for a young student or beginner.
The Buffet B12 is a quality instrument for the beginning player. It is made of ABS composite plastic,
so you don’t have to worry about cracking wood or
temperature, and it has a wonderful sound. This was
purchased a few months ago, but I have decided to
sell it in order to learn a different instrument. This instrument sells new for between $500–600 in the US
or¥70,000inJapan.Feelfreetopickitup! Icanbringit
toShibuyaoralongtheDen-en-Toshiline.
SPORTS
Snowboard and Bindings ID: 46372
¥5,000. Burton 165.FIVE Balance snowboard with
Sector Flux bindings. Been used for a couple of
seasonsbutstillhasagoodedge.
Magic Carpet Tri-Fin Surfboard ID: 46260
¥80,000, by JS Australia. Six feet long, 19 3/4” wide,
2 3/8” thick. New and unused, mint condition, classic design, retro spray job. Shipped to your door,
anywhereInJapan.
Unicycle ID:44797
¥3,000. Not used, but stored for a long time. Blue,
comes with a stand. Adjustable height seat.
Located in Tokyo between Oji and Nishisugamo
stations (not very far from Ikebukuro—ten-minute
bus ride). Email forsaletokyo@yahoo.com or call
070-5011-9913 for quicker contact. For photos and
more details: www.flickr.com/photos/8519161@
N02/sets/72157623291541857.
Antares Road Bike ID: 44763
¥65.000. 58cm Antares road bike for sale. Bought at
theendof2007.Hasdone2,500km.
TokyoorChibaarea.
Bowling Ball Kit ID: 44694
¥2,000. Bowling ball and case. Can also hold
your bowling shoes and bowling gloves. Email
forsaletokyo@yahoo.com or call 070-50119913. More can be seen at: www.flickr.com/
photos/8519161@N02/sets.
Bulletin Board
SERVICES
Dentistry
Dr. Nakashima from the Nakashima Dental Office
has been serving the international community in
Tokyo for more that 24 years. Dr. Nakashima specializes in microscopic general dentistry. He has
the expertise of cosmetic dentistry root canal
treatment, gum treatment and laser treatment.
NakashimaDental Office provides total dental care
to the highest standards currently in practice in
Europe and North America. Nearly three-quarters
of Dr. Nakashima’s patients are foreign residents
from over 40 countries around the world. Private
insurance welcomed. Please contact: 03-34792726orvisitwww.dentist-nakashima.jp.
Reiki in Nishi Azabu
Relax in a cozy atmosphere while a trained practitioner administers this traditional Japanese
spiritual practice. Reiki will relieve your tired
body and heal your inner self, perfect for those
with busy lives and high levels of stress. Also
maintains youthfulness in both the body and the
soul. Contact Mieko for more details at catnmouse27@hotmail.com.
Moving
Do you need help moving or delivering large
parcels? Or perhaps chartering and basic domestic chores like shopping, junk disposal and
pickups? Transporter Tokyo is at your service,
offering inexpensive, fast and safe assistance
in English, French and Japanese. Fore more
information call 03-5705-1363 or e-mail info@
transporter-tokyo.com.
WANTED
Home Stay ID: 46422
Home stay opportunity for a small family of three.
We are looking to move to Japan in the Shimizu
area. We are a Christian family willing to teach
English in exchange for use of extra house or rooms
untilwegetestablished.
Website Designer Needed ID: 46315
I am in need of a website designer to create my
business site. I have all relevant domain names
and hosting site ready, all I need is for you to create
my site. I know what I want and I have a clear direction in what content I need. I need is your expertise
in creating the site/hosting. I am based in Tokyo. if
you are interested and have the experience, please
forward me reference of your work and what you
charge(fee).
Ophthalmic Instruments ID: 45535
I want to buy ophthalmic instruments. Lens meter,
chart projector and auto clays, etc. Any condition is
OK. Good price offer and pick up from your place.
Please contact ASAP. Call 090-7704-2021 or email
vinatrading@hotmail.com.
Female European Singer ID: 44297
I’m a Japanese male pop music composer and
looking for female vocalists who can sing European
languages. If you have any interest, please contact
me.Musicstylemaybecalledsynthpop.Ialsohave
somegoodsamples.
JOBS
https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/
Internet Marketer (French Native) ID: 35510
We are running an international community site
and looking for an internet marketer to promote
it. The work is to promote the website thru blog/
BBS/SNS and partnership with other media.
The topics are related to Japanese sub-culture
such as anime, manga, games, music, and so
on. Must be bilingual. Must have strong online
research and communication skills. Must be
a good ideas man who can create ‘buzz’ in the
sub-culture world. Work at our office near
Hatsudai station. It is a full time position after
a one-month trial. The salary is from ¥250,000–
400,000 monthly. If you are interested, please
contact with your brief profile.
Retail and Consumer
Products Reporter ID: 35508
OTR Global, an international investment research
firm serving institutional clients, has openings
for a freelance, part time reporter covering the
retail and consumer products industries in Japan.
Candidates must have relevant industry work
experience, a strong network of industry sources
that can be interviewed to gather primary information on trends in the athletic footwear and retail/
restaurants industries. The ideal candidate should
have strong communication skills, be able to work
independently, have strong written, analytical, and
communications skills, and be able to develop or
have in place a strong network of industry sources.
Candidates should have specific industry and work
experience and investigative journalism skills.
The candidate should be able to interview industry
sources in Japanese and communicate their findings in English. Reporters work from their home
offices.Feesarecompetitive.
NATIVE
SPEAKERS
Workbusters
workbusters@japan.com
090-9100-2909 or 080-5444-7868
Cleaning Service
Gardening Service
Quality furniture, rugs, lamps,
antiques, electrical and audio
appliances bought and sold.
Removal, Delivery and Courier Service
Decorating & Handyman Service
House, Office & Garage Clearance
We do all the jobs you don’t have the time or the inclination to do yourself
Who you gonna call? Workbusters!
Marketing Coordinator ID: 35326
How far will your current job take you? Do you want
to make a career change but feel you lack the skills,
experience and opportunity to do so? Established
in 2001, Select Asset Management K.K. is a leading
financialplanningconsultancyinTokyo.Weareexpanding our multi-national team and are currently
offering an entry level opportunity for entrepreneurially minded, self motivated individuals. We
have a reimbursement program for attaining your
internationally accredited IFA qualification and
provide a complete step-by-step internal training
program for entry level applicants who want to succeedinanewcareer.
Proofreader/Editor ID: 35303
Temporary English proofreading/editing position
available. Monday-Friday, eight hours per day
anytime, between 8am and 8pm (some flexibility
possible based on schedule of successful applicant). Position starts at the beginning of June
and continues through the end of August 2010.
Applicants will take an English grammar and
proofreading test at interview.
Researcher Wanted
Tough as nails researcher sought by leading but
extremely demanding consulting group. Work will
comprise of developing maps of industry specialists. Must have extremely thick skin with professional mannerisms and unmatched work ethic.
Position can be part time to start. Will be salaried
plus incentive. Location in the heart of Tokyo. Ideal
candidate is someone who is young and ambitious
but feels that there is more to life than working in
a dead-end job. Any nationality welcome. Career
progression for successful applicant: Professional
consultant in dot com type environment making six
figure salary. Interested candidates please hand
write letter describing why you believe you are a
person of above average potential and why you
will be successful in a competitive and challenging environment. Please also describe your long
term goals. Address applications to Ray Pedersen,
5F, 8-5-8 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052.
All postings on our
website are free.
Premium postings
will be printed in
the Weekender
and available
online. For more
information contact
our sales team at:
03-5549-2038 or
sales@
weekenderjapan.com
Reliable – Fast&Efficient – Friendly – Confidential
Flexile – with reasonable rates!
We at Nakai Immigration Services have been serving the foreign community,
individual as well as corporate clients for over 18 years, and we are here
to help you efficiently with all your Immigration related needs.
Options after changing jobs? Freelance?
Starting your own business?
Considering a permanent residency status or Unable/too busy to go to
even becoming a naturalized citizen of Japan? Immigrations in person?
What if period of stay has expired
or an application has been rejected?
Hiring foreign employees
or transferring them to Japan?
Contact us to discuss the most suitable solution in
English, German, Spanish or Japanese:
Tel: 03-6402-7654
Email: info@tokyovisa.co.jp
99%+ success rate with over 30,000 applications filed
WEEKENDER 21
Real Estate
Tokyo
Properties
A Full-Service
Rental Agency
Minowa Homes was founded in 1962, providing dormitory-style
apartments for university students in Kawasaki city. The company
quickly became popular among international students, housing a
total of over 600 students from outside of Japan. As the business
expanded, Minowa also began managing corporate company houses
and traditional apartments.
Currently, Minowa Homes operates numerous apartments in convenient
residential areas, with easy access to central Tokyo, including Shinjuku,
Shibuya and Shinagawa. The company’s bilingual staff understand the
difficulties of living abroad, and are happy to go the extra mile to make
renters’ experiences pleasant and worry-free. From moving help to
introducing English- and French-speaking doctors, and even travel and
cultural tips, Minowa Homes’ team prides itself on excellent service.
22 WEEKENDER
/ For Tokyo’s largest English property search engine, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Real Estate.
://
Real Estate
For more information on the featured
properties contact Minowa Homes:
Tel: 044-933-7000
mh@minowagroup.jp
From anywhere to anywhere in Japan
Home or business
Contact our experienced team
For home relocation or sayonara sale delivery
call Steve at 090-3801-8083 or 03-5932-7777
We can provide safe delivery of your belongings for reasonable rates
Disposal service of unwanted furniture and appliances also available
QUOZ
Email: moving@Quoz.biz
www.Quoz.biz
MOVERS
WEEKENDER 23
THE ART OF DINING
Westin Hotel GM Andreas Trauttmansdorff,
Lina Chikada, and Colombian
Ambassador Patricia Cardenas
Kopano Motsawagae of Botswana
HIH Princess Hitachi
HIH Princess Hitachi and Sultana
Hakimi of Afghanistan
FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL OPENING
Societe Generale CEO Alain Simon
and actress Jane Birkin
Mary Katayama, Daniele Yoshikoshi,
French Ambassador Philippe Faure,
and soccer coach Philippe Troussier
Daniele Yoshikoshi, model and actress
Cecile de France, and Alicia Lorvo
Bill Hersey and Cecile de France
Societe Generale’s Christophe Bilard,
Lauren Cammas, and Yvette Simon
Daniele Yoshikoshi, Yvette Simon, Yves
Alemany, and Bernard and Tamiko Cendron
NATIONAL AZABU 48th ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Charles McJilton and Claire Dimond
24 WEEKENDER
Konishiki, Sylvia Latimer, and her son Garrick
Ross and Katrina Maclachlan
PARTIES PEOPLE
& PLACES
WITH BILL HERSEY
TRANSPORTER TOKYO
REGULAR
DELIVERY
¥7,000
Small volume for ex:
Delivery of document, computer, goods etc...
MOVING
simple
¥12,000
For couple, single, student,
require an extra help for the heavy items
HANDY MAN
Basic carpentry job,
shopping, driving, pick-up,
dispose of junk, etc...
¥5,000
At your service
From document
to moving
•Inexpensive
•Quick •Safe
Tri-lin gual driver availa ble
(Engli sh, Frenc h, Japan ese)
TEL: 03-5705-1363
FAX: 03-6423-9017
info@transporter-tokyo.com
http://www.transporter-tokyo.com/
I’d like to start out this issue’s column by thanking a few really nice
people. First, a special thanks to Natalai Belaya, wife of the Russian
ambassador, for the truly thoughtful letter she recently sent me. It was
so nice of her to take time out of her busy schedule to say thank you for
the copy of the Weekender with coverage on the Ikebana International
annual charity event she chaired late last year. It was also interesting to
hear about charity projects she’s been involved with and her interest in
helping the less fortunate. It’s always uplifting to hear about things like
this. The letter came in a big brown envelope that also contained a big,
delicious Russian chocolate bar. My apologies to another nice Russian
I met at the event; I somehow misspelled the name of Vyacheslav N.
Alikin of Aeroflot Airlines. His company donated roundtrip tickets to
Moscow as raffle prizes.
I also want to thank Yasmine Tsamados, wife of the Greek ambassador,
for the ticket to the 11th annual World Gardening Fair at the Hotel Okura
and for tickets to several films during EU Film Days 2010.
Former Tokyo residents Ron and Maria Andersen, who live in New York
City now, were in town for just over a week. Having them back made it
even more apparent just how much they’re missed. Maria was president
of the International Ladies Benevolent Society (ILBS) for a year while
they lived here, and they always come back for the ILBS’s annual cherry
blossom ball at the Okura. They also spent several days in Shanghai,
Hong Kong and Seoul. Their schedule was filled to capacity with
breakfasts, lunches, dinners and coffee breaks. Everyone who knows
them wanted to spend time with them. In addition to getting together
with Maria a couple of times, I had lunch with the couple and mutual
friends Bill and Charo Ireton at the Grand Hyatt’s Oak Door. Both Ron
and Maria had nothing but raves for this year’s ball. It seems everyone
was right in thinking the chairperson Christine Faure, wife of the French
ambassador, would make it all very special.
THE ART OF DINING
The 20 participants of this year’s Refugees International Japan
fundraiser, called The Art of Dining, put a lot of time, effort, originality
and creativity into their beautiful table settings. HIH Princess Hitachi
came early to cut the ribbon, and then took time to visit each one of
the settings and talk with each of the participants. I especially enjoyed
the exhibit of Botswanan Ambassador Motswagae’s wife Kopano. It
was also nice seeing friends Kyoko Spector and Mayari Ishibashi, who
worked together on their setting. Mayari married into the Ishibashi
family, whose holdings include the AXIS Building in Roppongi. Her
home is also very beautiful. It was packed with people from the time the
exhibition opened in the morning until late that evening, with proceeds
going to helping refugees all over the world.
WEEKENDER 25
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
Hideko Crane and Ikuko Kadoya
Alana
Irish Ambassador Brendan
Scannell and visiting Irish Minister
of Education Batt O’Keeffe
Margaret Scannell and Mary O’Keefe
Kelly Fitzgerald
Street musicians entertain before the parade
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY
Author Eamonn Fingleton, Irish
press officer Aisling Braiden, Temple
University’s Bruce Stronach, and
Waseda University’s Paul Snowden
Tenor John Nuzzo and Irish
singer Kieron Cashell
Attorney William Fitzgerald, Hiroko
Moynahan, Irish Ambassador Brendan
Scannell, and Jim Moynahan
Irish Minister of Education Batt O’Keeffe and
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Ichiro Fukue
Dja Dja Carriedo of Spain, Margaret
Scannell, Sylvia Bremner, and Helen Hatt
Pieroth Japan’s J.K. Whelehan, composer
Paul Hayes, and tenor John Nuzzo
26 WEEKENDER
FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL OPENING
ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVITIES
I lucked out for the second year in a row when I had the privilege of
escorting Koichi Yoshikoshi’s wife Daniele to the opening film and
reception of the French film festival. My French is really limited, so
Daniele spent much of her time at the film translating for me. It reminded
me of when an Egyptian friend did the same for me in a theater in Cairo.
It was one of the noisiest theaters I’d ever been in, but that didn’t stop
people from telling us to be quiet.
Tokyo went all out for St. Patrick’s Day this year with about a week of
Irish-themed celebrations. Irish Ambassador Brendan Scannell and his
wife Margaret had two St. Patrick’s Day receptions at their residence.
The first one on March 12 was also in honor of visiting Irish Minister of
Education Batt O’Keeffe and his wife Mary. The second was on March 17.
The Scannells are a popular couple, and both parties were crowded with
interesting people. The Irish buffets of ham, cheese, oat cakes, beef stew
with Guiness, fish cakes and more were excellent. I enjoyed talking with
Irish singer Kieron Cashell, as well as tenor John Nuzzo. Kieron worked
for several years at the Weekender, and I have known John since his
schooldays at St. Mary’s.
From the movie theater at Roppongi Hills we walked over to the Grand
Hyatt, where the reception was held at the French Kitchen. Once we
greeted the host and hostess Alain and Mme. Simon we joined the crowd
already inside. As always during functions in the French Kitchen, the
hotel’s executive chef Josef Budde and his staff went all out to make sure
the food, wines and service were excellent. During the evening the film
stars visiting from France went on stage, where they were introduced by
Alain and French Ambassador Philippe Faure. What a fun and interesting
group of people. Later I really enjoyed meeting and talking with Jane
Birkin and Cecile de France. Cecile, a direct descendant of French
royalty, is fun and outgoing. She also has a long line of film credits and
is a well known fashion model. Jane, who has lived in France for many
years, is very nice. I also enjoyed meeting French soccer coach Philippe
Troussier, who is a legend in the soccer world and has earned endless
honors for coaching teams around the world, including in Japan. It was
an awesome evening in every way. My thanks to Koichi, Daniele, Alain and
the ambassador for letting me be a part of it.
Abby Radmilovich, Kimberly Vickrey,
Christy Kirkwood, Tania Piochio, and
Kimberly’s mom Mary Greenwait
The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Omotesando was held on Sunday,
March 14 this year, and it was bigger and better than ever. There was lots of
good parade music from an American military band, the Nihon University
marching band, bagpipes players, flautists, and more. Almost all the Irish
pubs had big banners, and huge Guiness balloons floated high over the
crowd. Drum majorettes, dance groups, and a few solo musicians also
performed. From the looks of things, both the parade participants and
the spectators had a really good time. Minister O’Keefe and Ambassador
Scannell, who lead the parade, also said that they enjoyed the festivities. I
heard that the lucky people who attended the Emerald Ball at the Westin
Hotel on March 13 all had a great time as well.
Malin Spaatt and Eva Lundgreen
Alef Saraie, Stewart Koster, Tina
Mitakainen, and Rahel Koster
I n & A round
Palestinian Ambassador Walleed
Siam, his wife Maali, and their
daughter Hanin at the Arab Bazaar
Actor Dante Carver, entertainer
Beni, and Fox TV’s Dan Smith at the
Universal Channel launch party
Hamid Zeynalov, Adnan Huseyn, Umar Ali,
and Janis Vaivars at Adnan’s birthday party
WEEKENDER 27
Families
Adventures
Abound
by Dorothee Jahn
Living in one of the world’s largest and most densely populated
metropolitan areas, where parks and playgrounds are often sterile,
boring or unsafe, many parents may be surprised to learn of local
parks that are quite the opposite. At adventure parks, children are
free to run around and explore, climb trees, play with water, dig in
the mud, and create their own world with nothing but wood, stones,
soil and the power of imagination.
Thirty years ago the first adventure or junk playgrounds, here also
known as ‘play parks’ or bouken asobiba, were founded in Japan,
and they now form an integral part in the lives of many city children.
There are over 200 of these playgrounds nationwide, about half of
which are located in the Kanto plain.
The concept of the adventure playground itself originated in the field
of landscape planning. Renowned Danish landscape architect C. Th.
Sorensen opened the first playground of its kind, a skrammellegpladsen (junk playground) near Copenhagen in 1943 as part of a housing
project for disadvantaged families. Sorensen’s aim was “to create a
place where children themselves are the creators.” The idea soon
became hugely popular, and is still very much in use today. Another
well known landscape artist and an advocator of children, Lady Allen
of Hurtwood, who visited Sorensen’s park in 1946, is credited with
bringing the idea to Britain. From the late 1960s—fueled by a liberal
atmosphere and changing attitudes towards child rearing—adventure playgrounds rapidly spread throughout Europe, becoming especially popular in Switzerland and Germany.
Contrary to what
parents may expect, less
accidents happen on these
makeshift playgrounds
than on traditional ones.
In Japan, first interest in the topic sparked in the second half of the
1970s, after Lady Allen’s book on adventure playgrounds, Planning
for Play, published in 1968, was translated into Japanese. The first
permanent adventure playground in Japan—which still exists today—
was set up in the year 1979, inside Hanegi Park in Setagaya ward,
Tokyo. From the 1990s, almost 20 years later than in Europe and in
spite of bureaucratic hurdles, the adventure playground movement
became popular throughout Japan. The play parks are now organized as non-profit organizations (NPOs) under the Japan Adventure
Playground Organization.
Photos by Dorothee Jahn
To this day the concept is roughly the same worldwide: the parks are
often set up on wasteland or in a corner of an existing park, and they
usually offer different zones, such as a fireplace, a water and sand/
mud area, a wood-working area, and an area with makeshift play
equipment, like tree huts and swings.
The playgrounds are supervised by youth workers, called ‘play leaders’ in Japan. This is sometimes seen as a contradiction to the original idea of letting children play freely and unsupervised, but in most
countries the presence of a youth worker is required in order to be
28 WEEKENDER
Families
Parenting Tip:
* For a list of some popular adventure parks in the Tokyo area, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Lifestyle, then Families.
* Entry to all adventure playgrounds is free and everyone
is welcome to play. Check the opening days and hours for
each park, as some are only open a few days per week.
* Be prepared for your kids to get very dirty. Old shoes or rubber
boots are best, and bring a spare set of clothes and a towel. Do not
forget the mosquito repellent. Invite another parent to come along,
as it is much more fun in a group. This type of park will usually
be most popular with children between 5 and 12 years of age.
* Adventure playgrounds try to enforce a few easy-to-understand
rules, and it is best to directly address the play leader when
you are not sure how things work. For example, wood working
tools or paint may be given out to one child at a time by the play
leader, and the child will be expected to return the complete set
once he is finished with it. Such rules vary from park to park.
* For more information (in Japanese only),
see www.ipa-japan.org/asobiba.
able to offer play equipment that does not comply with the playground equipment standard.
The play leader’s job is not to tell the children what to do, but to
ensure that basic safety rules are observed, to hand out tools and
paint, and to organize the numerous activities that are offered yearround, such as harvesting of bamboo sprouts, cooking over an open
fire, handcrafting, or making mochi. In many play parks the children
can also grow vegetables and flowers.
Contrary to what parents may expect, less accidents happen on
these makeshift playgrounds than on traditional ones, where the
intended use of the always static equipment is often disregarded
and children pay less attention to what they are doing. On an adventure playground children feel more involved, and thus much more
responsible.
An important attraction of adventure playgrounds lie in their everchanging layout, which makes them a place for kids to be carefree
and creative. They exceed the purpose of traditional playgrounds, as
they also serve as a kind of open-air youth center, a place to meet
friends and peers away from the ever-watchful eye of adults. The
parks offer a little haven of freedom, a much needed counterweight
to the structured and regulated lifestyle which is norm for many children today.
://
For more information for families in Tokyo, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Lifestyle, then Families /
WEEKENDER 29
Products
by Stephen Parker
2
3
All photos courtesy of their respective brands or retailers.
30 WEEKENDER
1
Ready
for the Rain
Products
6
4
5
one: Cheer up miserable mornings with this quirky umbrella. The top may be
four:
the standard conservative black, but the underside is all blue skies and white
Japan. Named after the Duke of Wellington’s original pair, they have been
Hunter Boots, the original ‘green Wellies,’ are gaining popularity in
fluffy clouds. Designed by New York-based, avant-garde graphic designer Tibor
keeping feet dry since 1856. Founded in Scotland, the boots successfully fuse
Kalman, this umbrella is bound to put a spring in your step, even on the most
style and substance. The tell-tale red and white logo and styling is a fixture at
miserable and wet of days.
British country and music festivals, and it has now also made a new home for
itself in urban Tokyo.
MoMA Store (www.momastore.jp), ¥5,145.
Select outdoor stores and www.welly.jp, ¥15,750.
two: Mottainai! The Japanese word, roughly meaning ‘what a waste,’ has been
five: The lace-up version of Hunter Wellies is lower cut and easier to remove,
used in a recent poster campaign focussing on the nation’s dark secret: umbrella
and shows that the once traditionalist company is branching out with a whole
trash. Japan consumes enormous amounts of plastic umbrellas, most of which
host of new boot designs. Look for new limited-edition collaborations with red
end up forgotten in train stations and outside shops. With so many identical
carpet designer Jimmy Choo coming soon to Japan.
plastic umbrellas, how do you distinguish which one is yours? A simple idea is
this colorful grip, making it easier to find and pick up your umbrella when leaving.
Cibone (www.cibone.com), ¥367–472.
Select outdoor stores and www.welly.jp, ¥17,850.
three:
six: Packable into a tiny bag, this tear-proof Gore-Tex shell jacket is available
This prototype project, developed by Takashi Mastumoto at Keio
University, is like something straight from Bladerunner or a William Gibson novel.
in six colors, and is perfect for the wet season. For complete rain protection, don
The umbrella combines a mobile device and internet 3D map application. Pileus
the matching trousers and face the elements. While it may not win points with
makes city exploring fun, providing for natural interactions with web services
the trendsetters while walking down Omotesando, this set nonetheless ensures
via a large display and embedded sensors on the umbrella. Pileus was awarded
wearers will be dry and comfortable head to toe. Bring on the rainy season!
the Prix de l’innovation at Laval Virtual, the largest virtual reality conference in
Europe. Watch out for it to hit stores in Tokyo soon.
Prototype still in development (www.takashimatsumoto.com).
://
For more information on cool products available in Tokyo, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Lifestyle, then Products/
The North Face stores across Japan (www.goldwinwebstore.jp), ¥37,800.
WEEKENDER 31
Responsible Living
Photos courtesy of MIMC
TOK YO ECO:
Safe Sunning
by Danielle Rippingale
The US-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) has conducted
a vast amount of clinical research on sunscreens and exposed some
alarming findings. Not only do the majority of sunscreens use healthcompromising ingredients, but 80 percent of them do a poor job of
protecting the skin from damaging UV rays. Furthermore, sunscreens
are thought to be the culprits killing coral reefs around the world.
Consider that every day around the world millions enjoy a dip in the ocean
slathered in sunscreen. Italian research reported by National Geographic
in 2008 describes how the symbiotic algae called zooxanthella that lives
inside reef-building coral, providing coral with food energy through
photosynthesis and contributing to its vibrant color, was being killed due
to a process involving four common ingredients in sunscreen: paraben,
cinnamate, benzophenone, and a camphor derivative.
Be a responsible and healthy consumer by using physical sunscreens or
organic and eco-friendly chemical sunscreens that work by absorbing
the sun’s rays and contain these safe active ingredients: octylcrylene,
avobenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, homosalate, 4-MBC,
and mexoryl SX and XL. Just like other cosmetic products, the cosmetic
industry continues to test sunscreens and their ingredients on animals.
Have compassion in your purchase and look for the logo ensuring that the
product is genuinely cruelty-free (for more information, see Tokyo Eco’s
“Greening your Makeup Bag,” from the April 16, 2010 issue, online).
Before resigning to stay indoors all summer or beginning the search for
a sombrero in Japan, visit EWG’s website for information on the best nontoxic and effective brands on the market (www.ewg.org/whichsunscreen
sarebest/2009report). Read on to learn about a few of my favorites, which
are all available in Tokyo
I am a big fan of mineral makeup MIMC, and the company has really
outdone itself with its unique mineral SPF formulations. MIMC’s mineral
powder sunscreen not only provides fantastic protection, but also deals
with the challenge of wearing sunscreen in a hot and humid climate like
Tokyo. Shiny faces be gone with MIMC’s mineral powder sunscreens that
offer moderate to high protection with SPF 23+ (translucent, ¥5,040) and
new 50+ (translucent or tinted, ¥6,300). The body powder sunscreen
SPF50+ is applied with a powder puff, and will keep skin shine-free and
protected from harmful UVA/UVB rays (¥5,250).
ECO FACT
An estimated 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off
swimmers annually in oceans worldwide, and up to ten percent
of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching.
The effective, certified organic and oh-so-adorable Badger Balm
has just launched a new range of sunscreens in SPF 15 and SPF 30+.
Convenient to carry, the unscented SPF 30+ face stick offers water
resistance and one of the most protective sunscreen ingredients, zinc
oxide, for broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Badger boasts one
of the highest EWG ratings for effective and safe sunscreens, and its
SPF 30+ comes in lightly scented, unscented and dual use with antibug protection. Also available is an after-sun product called ‘Bali Balm,’
which contains shea and cocoa butters.
All of these products are conveniently available at Cosme Kitchen in
Daikanyama (near the station entrance).
Test your new sunscreen while being a tourist in your own town with the
Tokyo Great Cycling Tour. These six-hour guided tours take you to major
Tokyo attractions and cost ¥10,000 per person including bike rental,
insurance, a box lunch, a guide and tax. Visit www.tokyocycling.jp for
more information.
Photos courtesy of Badger
Sun worshipers like myself will be doing cartwheels when the sun is
making a more regular appearance after an unusually cold winter and
spring in Japan. While it is tempting to soak up the rays and get a healthy
dose of Vitamin D, we all know the risks of lengthy sun exposure. But
what many may not know is that sunscreen also has its own risks to
people and the planet.
Mineral moisturizers from Juice beauty are made with certified organic
ingredients and are available in SPF 30 sheer and light tint and SPF
20 medium tint for extra coverage (¥5,250). For the body, try the green
apple SPF 20 antioxidant moisturizer, which offers active protection
with a punch (¥6,300).
GREEN GLOSSARY
Physical sunscreens: Sunblocks that deflect the sun’s
rays using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which are
physical filters that offer broad spectrum UVA and UVB
protection and are not absorbed into the skin.
32 WEEKENDER
/ For more information on living green in Tokyo, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Lifestyle, then Tokyo Eco.
://
Responsible Living
Image courtesy of Luke Poliszcuk
Sustainable_Business: by Luke Poliszcuk
Good Ideas for Good Business
Want to learn how to build a house out of six million empty beer bottles
or grill a chicken in 14 minutes using only mirrors? Then check out www.
eco-ideas.net, a global environmental communication portal launched
by Panasonic as part of its commitment to promote the power of ideas
and to accelerate the shift to greener lifestyles.
Learn how your everyday lifestyle choices impact the environment and
make a difference by joining other like-minded individuals and undertaking eco-actions. See the impact your eco-actions make every day
and introduce your friends and family with Facebook and Twitter so they
can visualize their impacts too. “We want the world to know how simple
ideas for life can change the world,” says Hisao Tsugita, a spokesperson
for the Panasonic supported website. “Ideas for shifting our lifestyles
are being born everyday, everywhere, so why not have fun sharing and
turning them into reality?”
Ideas for shifting
our lifestyles are
being born everyday,
everywhere.
Eco-ideas.net features an ecological lifestyle blog that introduces
inspiring eco-ideas from around the world through video clips and pictures. The Eco+You section lets users record their eco-friendly actions
and see how small changes in their daily lives (measured in the five
categories of energy, CO2, water, waste, and community) can create big
changes in the world we live in. The Panasonic Eco Update consists of
daily eco-activities and news from locations around the world.
For those who have more sense than dollars, the British Council
recently launched its E-Ideas Competition to support young Japanese social and eco entrepreneurs. The British Council is the UK’s
international organization for educational opportunities and cultural
relations, and is best known for supporting student exchanges with
the UK and organizing cultural exchanges. However, it also supports
youth to enable them to contribute to a sustainable future through the
international network Climate Change Project and projects such as
the E-Ideas Competition.
The E-Ideas competition was established to fund good ideas for realistic
solutions to urban issues in the five main areas of waste, water, transport, energy and sustainable design. A total of ¥5,000,000 was up for
grabs with the two best ideas each receiving a grant of ¥800,000. Recipients will also become BC Climate Leaders, and be able to take part in
events and training courses overseas.
Winners of the E-Ideas competition will be presenting their projects at
the Green Leaders Forum at the British Council on June 7, 2010. The
Green Leaders Forum is a free monthly learning and networking event
for leading thinkers and practitioners from business, NGOs and government, as well as entrepreneurs, media, students, and those with a
general interest in the fields of sustainability, cleantech, the environment and society, energy and climate change, corporate social responsibility (CSR), socially responsible investment (SRI), and environmental,
social and corporate governance (ESG).
The June event is a special Green Leaders Forum that will feature presentations by the winners of the British Council’s E-ideas competition
followed by workshops to discuss feedback and potential collaboration
with green leaders on their projects. For those who are keen to learn
more about the winning projects or even lending a hand to help out, this
is a great opportunity to get to know the winners and their ideas.
WEEKENDER 33
34 WEEKENDER
/ To see more Weekender archives and read the full issues, go to
www.weekenderjapan.com and click on Archives.
://

Haikyo: Abandoned Treasure

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