Toyota City To Change Name

Following the collapse in sales of Toyota cars in the wake of the economic slump, Toyota City, the hometown of the giant automaker, in Aichi prefecture, near Nagoya in central Japan, is to revert to its former name of Koromo.

City officials stressed the need for a new start as the city has seen increasing job losses and economic woe. 9,000 contract workers have been fired by Toyota and the city had 2,627 job seekers in January this year up 130% from only 1,489 a year ago, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, making Toyota the most out-of-work town in Japan.

The "Toyota Shock" has lead to a 96% drop in corporate tax collected by the city, which now faces a US$1-billion shortfall this year.

"Enough is enough," said city official Junichi Usobayashi, "We need a new economy in our city from now on, not one exclusively based on automobile production and auto parts manufacture."

"We decided to change the name of the city from Toyota to Koromo to emphasize this new direction we intend to take," he added.

The city also intends to pedestrianize a number of its streets and introduce a charge on vehicles entering the downtown area. A new electrified street car system and extra solar bus routes will be operational by 2012.

Just as Koromo became Toyota City after the 1930s depression, when the area's silk production was wiped out and Kiichiro Toyoda, the godfather of Toyota, turned from loom maker to car maker, so Toyota City will become Koromo again after the demise of the world's largest auto maker.

"We will remake Koromo as a shining example to the rest of Japan." said Usobayashi,
"Solar power, public transport, new clean industries. We will no longer rely on one company, one product for our survival. We owe it to our children to recognise our mistakes and change."

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Russia Returns Islands to Japan, Chinese Students Stone Japanese Embassy

北方領土問題解決など

Russia Returns Disputed Islands

In a stunning move, Russia announced today that it would be returning four islands it seized from Japan immediately shortly after the end of World War II in 1945.

The then Soviet Union occupied what was Japanese territory after Tokyo surrendered to US forces in what is still regarded in Japan as the height of treachery. Negotiations have not made any progress since 1956.

The Soviet Union and later Russia have administered the disputed southern Kuril Islands for more than six decades. The islands are one of the main reasons most Japanese to this day despise Russia.

In a terse statement, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, however, said that "returning the islands was the right thing to do" as he signed over sovereignty to Japan.

With a flick of the pen, he thus ended more than a half century of acrimony.

Chinese Students Stone Japanese Embassy Again

Japan's Air Force has been accused of seeding clouds in the Beijing area that resulted in heavy rains in recent days. Chinese students have responded by gathering en masse at the Japanese embassy in the Chaoyang District.

Beijing normally sees little spring precipitation and its sewer and drainage system is notoriously wanting. In the past two days, however, 44 cm of rain have fallen in the capital - and officials are pointing a finger at Japan.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang said at a hastily called press conference that "there could be no other source [for the rain]. This is an insidious attempt at flooding our streets and dampening our economy."

Students gathered later that day in front of the Embassy, and pelted it with rocks and burned a Japanese flag as police watched passively.

In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Aso responded that if Chinese authorities fixed the windows - and all of the damage from the previous six stonings of the building - Japan would formally apologize for all of its World War II atrocities.

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NAKED TOKYO 2009

Tokyo Naked裸な東京2009年

Naked Tokyo is back!

NAKED TOKYO 2009

Cross cultural eroticism, supercharged sexuality, gender issues, ironic orientalism, political incorrectness, bad taste, and a sense of humour are all highly encouraged!

Theme: Contemporary portraits themed "Naked + Tokyo" Curator: Embutsu Kanji

Exhibit Date/Location: One night only, Friday, June 26, 2009, at Super Deluxe, Tokyo (super-deluxe.com)

Note: These photos are from the 2008 exhibit.

Top Right: © Max Hodges. Woman with umbrella: © Ellen Nepilly.

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Nail Art In Japan

ネイルアート

We looked at Japanese nail art a short while ago and were so impressed we fingered our photographer to go out and find us a few more examples of elaborately manicured hands.

Nail Art In Japan

Japanese nail art has taken off on the east and west coasts of North America with a number of salons in New York, Vancouver and Los Angeles offering Japanese style manicures and nail chips.

Nail Art In Japan

And oh yes, you can still hold chopsticks, drink and giggle into your cell phone wearing these.

Nail Art In Japan

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Japan This Week: 29 March 2009

今週の日本

Japan News.Japan’s Small Exporters Are Hit Hardest

NY Times

A little deaf in one ear - meet the Japanese man who survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Guardian

Japan readies defenses for North Korea rocket launch

Washington Post

Japan's harsh new reality

Times on Line

Publisher fined for 'fixed' sumo series

Asahi

Japan's Sumo Scandals

Global Post

Aso rating up, at Ozawa's expense

Japan Times

Highland Park haul found in Japan

BBC

Ichiro blast lifts Japan in WBC thriller

Yahoo Sports

Cars developed for older drivers.

Global Post


Last week's Japan news


Japan Statistics

33% of married women in Japan report having been abused by their husbands, according to a Cabinet survey. That figure is nearly identical to the number of a similar survey in 2005.

Of the 33%, some 13.3% said they "feared for their lives."

Source: Kyodo News

81.7% of Japanese 18 - 24 years are proud of their nationality, according to a government survey. That is a 9.1% increase from six years earlier.

Japan came in third most proud, with Americans the most proud of their nation.

USA: 91.2%
UK: 84.1%
South Korea: 78%
France: 77.1%

Source: Kyodo News

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Japan Centre, London

Japan Centre, Londonジャパンセンター、ロンドン

Located in Piccadilly, central London, the Japan Centre serves the area's enormous Japanese community and those with an interest in Japan.

With nearly 100,000 Japanese nationals in the Greater London area, there is strong demand for the many products at the Japan Centre.

The shop has a large stock of books, magazines, origami, and a supermarket like supply of food and drink.

Prices are not cheap, but when you need instant ramen or a Japanese magazine, well, this is the place to go.

Home delivery is also possible.

Japan Centre
212-213 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HX, UK
Tel: 0870-162-0255

Access

Japan Centre is situated at 212-213 Piccadilly in the West End. Roughly one minute from the Piccadilly Circus underground station.

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Asahi Flame Asakusa - Golden Turd

金のうんち

One of Tokyo's most recognizable buildings is the Asahi Beer Hall on the east bank of the Sumida River opposite Asakusa. Designed by French architect Philippe Starck, the golden flame is supposedly beer foam rising from the beer mug-shaped building below.

Asahi Flame Asakusa - Gold Turd

Affectionately nicknamed the "Golden Turd" (kin no unchi) the hollow stainless steel structure weighs over 300 tons and was completed in 1989 at the height of Japan's pretentious "Bubble Period".

Asahi Flame Asakusa - Gold Turd

Asahi Breweries HQ is situated nearby. Paricularly good views of the building are to be had from the Tokyo water bus on the Sumida River.

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Cat Expressions in Japanese

「猫」の表現

There are quite a few expressions in Japanese using "cat." Like feelings about the animal itself, the expressions are a mixed bag.

猫撫で声(ねこなでごえ、neko nade goe)= a smooth, soothing voice, like the purring of a cat. It brings to mind a bar hostess plying a salaryman with drinks as she coos in his ear.

猫舌(ねこじた、neko jita)= cat's tongue, and is literal. It means a rough, scratchy tongue. Update: an alert reader has pointed out that this means someone who does not like to eat or drink hot things.

猫の手も借りたいほど(ねこのてもかりたいほど、neko no te mo karitai hodo)= Really busy ("...want to borrow even a cat's paw").

猫に小判(ねこにこばん、neko ni koban)= pearls before swine.

借りてきた猫(かりたてきたねこ、karitate kita neko)= as meek as a lamb, quiet as a mouse.

猫まんま(ねこまんま、neko manma)= to add soup to rice, i.e., eating like a cat (which is not polite).

猫だまし(ねこだまし、neko damashi)= a sumo technique, in which a wrestler at the very beginning of about thrusts both hands at the face of the opposing wrestler. A sneak attack.

猫屋敷(ねこやしき、neko yashiki)= when a group of stray cats takes over an abandoned house, marking it with urine and in general causing trouble for the (human) neighbors.

At least, though, cats haven't been stuck with 負け犬(まけいぬ、the losing dog)= loser.

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Tokyo Central Post Office Building

The Tokyo Central Post Office Building near Tokyo Station in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo has been granted a reprieve from demolition.

The ugly 1930s building, designed by Tetsuro Yoshida, was due to be redeveloped and a new 38-story tower rise in its place, saving only about 20% of the original facade.


Tokyo Central Post Office

Opposition to the plan from the Internal Affairs & Communication Ministry and its head Hatoyama Kunio has lead to a rethink from Japan Post Holdings Co. The Japanese Post Office was split up under the government of ex-PM Koizumi Junichiro and the new entities thus created now own the buildings they operate in.

The Osaka Central Post Office redevelopment is also now under review. The Kita ward building in central Osaka was designed by the same architect.

The Internal Affairs & Communication Ministry and Japan Post Holdings Co have already clashed over the proposed sale, subsequently canceled, of 79 Kampo no Yado hotels that Japan Post proposed to sell to Orix Corp. The Ministry intervened, claiming the value of the properties was undervalued.

The break up of Japan Post under Koizumi was a devisive issue for the ruling LDP at the time and remains so today.

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Itagaki Taisuke

板垣退助

Itagaki Taisuke (1837-1919), a nationalist politician of the Meiji Period, was a leader of the Popular Rights Movement and became the head of Japan's first political party - the Jiyuto (Liberal Party).

Itagaki Taisuke - statue in the grounds of Kochi Castle

Born to a samurai family in present-day Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku, Itagaki was active in the overthrow of the Tokugawa regime and became a minister in the new Meiji government.

Itagaki resigned his official post in 1873 over what he thought was the excessive power of the Satsuma-Choshu factions in the new government and their failure to invade nearby Korea. Satsuma (present-day Kagoshima) and Choshu (Yamaguchi) were the two areas that had been dominant in the overthrow of the shogunate.

Returning to his native Kochi, Itagaki set up the Victorian-style, self-help organization - the Risshisha - and made calls for a more representative form of government and popular rights. This initially local movement coalesced into the national Freedom and People's Rights Movement (自由民権運動), an unstable alliance of samurai and peasants, agitating for an elected assembly.

In 1881 Itagaki was instrumental in setting up Japan's first political party - the Jiyuto (Liberal Party) and later became Home Minister in 1898. Then, as now, Japanese politics was rife with factional rivalries and Itagaki retired from public life in 1900.

Itagaki was the victim of an assassination attempt by a right-wing thug armed with a knife in Gifu in 1882. Stained with blood, he called out his most famous phrase: "Itagaki may die, but liberty never."

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Japanese Nail Art

ネイルアート

Nail art has become a big fashion item for Japanese women (and some men) over the last few years.

Japanese Nail Art

Elaborately painted and sculptured nails complete with flowery rhinestones and lacy stick-ons (known as nail chips) are popular with the teenagers in Shibuya, at graduation ceremonies and weddings.

The trend is similar to the colorful decoration of cell phones known as decoden and the impulse to decorate movement in traditional Japanese art - kazari.

Numerous nail art salons can be found in Tokyo and other big Japanese cities.

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Japan This Week: 22 March 2009

今週の日本

Japan News.Japan’s Political Dynasties Come Under Fire but Prove Resilient

NY Times

Still Hip After Blossoms Fade in Tokyo

NY Times

Americans told to avoid Tokyo bar district after spate of robberies

Guardian

Japan mulling more sanctions against North Korea

Washington Post

Toshiba joins management cleansing moves

Times on Line

91% dissatisfied with political state

Asahi

Net strangers to hang for slaying

Japan Times

Japan ships join piracy patrols

BBC

Japan powers past Cuba to WBC semi-finals

Yahoo Sports

Abduction, espionage, alleged murder and intrigue on the Korean peninsula

Global Post

Maehara Seiji has a problem

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Last week's Japan news

Japan Statistics

Executions in January 2009

USA: 7
China: 4
Iran: 36
Japan: 4
Saudi Arabia: 8
Singapore: 1

Source: Capital Punishment UK

The number of unemployed persons in January 2009 was 2.77 million, an increase of 210 thousand or 8.2% from the previous year.

The unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, was 4.1%.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Because of warming temperatures, the annual cherry blossom season has moved up. This year, the first blossoms were recorded on the following dates:

Kyoto: March 19
Hiroshima: March 22
Wakayama: March 21
Osaka: March 25 (estimated)
Kobe: March 24 (estimated)

Source: Asahi Shinbun


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Japanese Roof Gargoyles onigawara

鬼瓦

Japanese roof gargoyles or onigawara are a common sight on temples and old houses.

oni means demon and kawara is tile. The gargoyles attached to Japanese roofs are to ward off evil spirits and the constant threat of fire.



The practice of adding decorative roof tiles to buildings came from China and began in the Nara Period (710-794) in Japan.

Japanese castle roofs commonly display the mythical shachi - a dolphin or killer whale type creature that protects from fire. The shachi are usually in male and female pairs.

If you have a picture of a Japanese gargoyle and wish to display it on JapanVisitor please contact us.

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Tattoo Bans

入墨

Many Japanese hot spring onsen resorts and public bath houses routinely ban people with full body tattoos (irezumi 入墨) as these are associated with Japan's mob - the yakuza.

The sign below at Hirugami onsen in Nagano prefecture clearly states that those people with full body tattoos will not be allowed in.

No tattoos!

If you have a small western style tattoo or designer tattoo it is not really a problem, as people will understand you are not a feared mobster.

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LH Kenji and LH Naoko break the ice

Last week, LH Kenji and LH Naoko, the Japanese voices of Microsoft's Japanese version of Windows XP, met for the first time. This week listen as LH Kenji and LH Naoko break the ice.

Kenji: 直子さん、こんにちは。 Naoko-san, konnichi wa.
Hello, Naoko.

Naoko: こんにちは。 Konnichi wa.
Hello.

Kenji: この前、ありがとうございました。 Kono mae, arigato gozaimashita.
Thanks for last time.

Naoko: いえいえ、とんでもないです。 Ie, ie. Ton demo nai desu.
Don’t mention it.

Kenji: 週末は大体いそがしいですか。 Shuumatsu wa daitai isogashii desu ka.
Are you generally busy on weekends?

Naoko: いいえ、大体全然暇ですよ。 Iie, daitai zenzen hima desu yo.
No, generally I’m completely free.

Kenji: この週末も暇というわけですね。 Kono shuumatsu mo hima to iu wake desu ne.
Is that right? Meaning you’re free this weekend, too, right?

Naoko: はい。 Hai.
Yes.

Kenji: では、暇つぶしに映画を一緒に行ってもらえませんか。 Dewa, hima tsubushi ni eiga o issho ni itte moraemasen ka.
Well, would you like to fill in time with me and see a movie?

Naoko: 何の映画ですか。 Nan no eiga desu ka.
What movie?

Kenji: それは二人で決めたら、いいかなと思って。 Sore wa futari de kimetara ii na to omotte.
I thought it would be nice if we could choose one together.

Naoko:  あたし、メジャーな映画はあまり好きじゃないですね。ちょっと変わった感じがいいです。 Atashi, mejaa na eiga ha amari suki ja nai desu ne. Chotto kawatta kanji ga iidesu.
I’m not so fond of mainstream movies. I like something a little off the wall.

Kenji: 変わった感じですか。もしかしたら変わった映画をみた後、変わった料理を食べに行って、そして変わったことをしたくなるということかな。 Kawatta kanji desu ka. Moshika shitara, kawatta eiga o mita ato, kawatta ryori wo tabe ni itte, soshite kawatta koto o shitaku naru to yu koto ka na?
Off the wall, huh? Maybe once you’ve seen an off the wall movie, and then gone for some off the wall kind of cuisine, you’ll want to do something off the wall, no?

Naoko: なあにゆってるの、健次さん。早く映画を選びましょう。 Nani yutte iru no, Kenji-san? Hayaku eiga wo erabimasho.
Kenji, what are you saying? Let’s get down to choosing a movie.

Kenji: はい、ちょう変わったものを! Hai, cho kawatta mono o!
Yes, a really off the wall one!

Naoko: ひひひ
Hee hee hee.

What will they go and see? What will they do afterwards? Stay tuned!

Glossary
Ton demo nai desu: Don't be ridiculous/Don't talk nonsense/Not at all/Don't mention it.
daitai: mostly
hima: free (i.e., "with time on your hands"-free, not "free lunch"-free)
shuumatsu: weekend
eiga: movie
kawatta: literally "changed," but as an adjective meaning "odd," "different," "off the wall," "strange," "unusual."
mejaa: major, mainstream
ryori: cuisine, cooking
cho: (slang) very, extremely, greatly.



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HRP-4C Japanese Female Robot

ロボット

A 158cm walking, talking female humanoid robot, HRP-4C, was unveiled to the press on Monday. Developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science in Tsukuba, HRP-4C has 42 motors made by Honda, weights 42kg and can respond to language with various hand and facial gestures. She's also pretty cute!



The HRP-4C robot will make a guest appearance at Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo. The robot cost 200 million yen (2 million USD) to develop and later models may go on sale to the public.

Here's a paraphrase of what the professor says at the end of the video:
"What we have attempted to create is a robot with human-like proportions and,
in addition, the ability to walk at a normal speed.

To be honest, though, the robot is still a ways off in terms of walking speed."

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Toba Bay Mie Prefecture

鳥羽

There are some excellent views of the small islands in Toba Bay from Hiyoriyama, a short walk either past the Toba Minato Machi Bunka Kaikan or through Kata Shrine right near Toba station and the oyster bars in the Ekimae Shotengai.

Toba Bay

The trail passes Medaka School a science and learning center for school children with a foot spa if your feet have begun to ache from the walk.

Toba Bay

You will also pass Jouanji Temple, the family temple of the old feudal lords of the area - the Kuki clan and Kotohiragu Toba Bunsha - a shrine connected with Kotohiragu Shrine (Kompira san) on Shikoku. There are more great views of the ocean from here.

Toba Bay

The whole walk talks about 90mins to 2 hours.

There are Kinstetsu trains to Toba from Osaka and Nagoya (1 hour, 35 mins) and there are overnight highway buses from Ikebukuro via Kuwana and Tsu to Toba.

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Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts

名古屋ボストン美術館

The Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts, which opened in 1999, is the sister museum of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (MFA).

Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts

The museum shows exhibitions from the collection of over 500,000 works of art in Boston and other world class exhibits. Located on the south side of Kanayama Station, the museum is located in a 31-story tower also containing the ANA Grand Court Hotel, Nagoya, and the Nagoya Urban Center.


Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts

The Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts occupies three floors with gallery spaces, a shop and resource library.

Upcoming exhibitions including Gauguin and 100 years of Noritake Design. Recent past exhibitions include The World of Claude Monet and an exhibition of artifacts commemorating the 150th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the lives of Commodore Perry and Townsend Harris in Japan in the mid-nineteenth century.


Nagoya Boston Museum of Fine Arts
1-1-1 Kanayama-cho, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Tel: 052 684 0101
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am - 7pm;

Sat & Sun & public holidays 10am - 5pm;
Closed Monday

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Basho Haiku

松尾 芭蕉

"They make me recall
A lady's powder puff -
These saffron blossoms"

Basho

English translation by Donald Keene from the Narrow Road To Oku


Basho Haiku in Iga Ueno, Basho's birthplace

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JapanVisitor Photo Contest Winner

写真コンテスト

Congratulations to teenager Caitlin McColl, whose image of Shibuya won first prize in our recent Japan Photo Contest.

Our judge, Jake Davies, had this to say on the winning photograph: "I like how what would normally be a very busy scene is rendered almost empty by the long exposure."

The Ghosts of Shibuya by Caitlin McColl


The Ghosts of Shibuya by Caitlin McColl

The runner up was student Michael Allen's building near the Landmark Tower in Yokohama: "The unusual angle makes a very dynamic composition."

Building near the Landmark Tower by Michael Allen


Building near the Landmark Tower by Michael Allen

Caitlin also won the overall prize beating the best images in the QatarVisitor.com and Beijing-Visitor.com contests, which were held concurrently.

Japan Visitor holds regular competitions and to enter them please sign up for our Japan newsletter, where you will receive all the latest news on free gifts, special offers and new competitions.


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Japan This Week - 15 March 2009

今週の日本

Japan News.Japan reconsidered

NY Times

Polka dots and miniskirts: how Japan wants world to see it

The Independent

Japan economy shrank 12.1 pct in Q4

Yahoo

Japanese baseball fans hope to have lifted 'curse of Colonel Sanders'

Guardian

Human-like robot smiles, scolds in Japan classroom

Washington Post

Hay fever brings grief to Japanese snow monkeys

Times on Line

Prosecutors question Tohoku contractors over Ozawa donations

Asahi

Ex-agent believes Taguchi is alive

Japan Times

Japan murder detective replaced

BBC

Movie Review: "Tokyo Sonata"

New York Times

South Korea edges Japan 1-0 to win group at WBC

Yahoo Sports

Brazilian workers in Japan return home: Amid global economic turmoil, Brazilians find jobs hard to come by in Japan

Global Post

Even as the supposedly irresistible tide of globalization washes against Japan's shores, insular and parochial attitudes are strengthening

Global Post

Silence of the Dems

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Last week's Japan news

Japan Statistics

In 2008, police actions against youth motorcycle gangs (bozozoku) reached a record 307 cases. The National Police Agency estimates the total number of bozozoku gangs in Japan as 651 with a membership of 11,516.

Source: Kyodo News

According to Justice Ministry statistics, local authorities have inadvertently issued approximately 20,000 registration cards to foreigners staying illegally in Japan. A proposed new law would toughen penalties for illegals in Japan with prison sentences of between 1-10 years, while extending the maximum period of stay from 3 to 5 years for foreign residents.

Source: Kyodo News

2007 saw 6,321 recorded cases of internet-related crime in Japan - including threatening behavior, libel, illegal access, fraud and offenses against a law restricting internet-based dating services.

Source: Kyodo News

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Chubu International Airport Hotels

中部国際空港

Most international flights from Chubu International Airport in Japan depart at around 10am. So with check-in two hours before at 8am, many travelers from central Japan in Nagano, Gifu, Mie and Shizuoka prefectures may opt to spend the night before their departure at one of Chubu International Airport's hotels.

Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusaikuko Hotel

Hotel options at Chubu International Airport include the Comfort Hotel and the Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusaikuko Hotel, which has Orange & Green sides.

Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusaikuko Hotel

The Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusaikuko Orange Side hotel is a short walk from the departure gates and has good views of the ocean. Tour groups can cause some noise but it is possible to ask for a change of room, if this occurs.


Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusaikuko Hotel

Toyoko Inn Chubu Kokusaikuko Orange Side
4-2-5 Centrair, Tokoname-shi, Aichi
479-0881
Phone: +81 569 38 2045

Access

The quickest way to get to Centrair is on the μ sky Rapid Limited Express operated by Meitetsu Railways. There are also buses to Nagoya, Fukui, Shizuoka, Shimizu, Gifu, Mie, Toyota and Toyohashi.

There are regular boats to Tsu, Matsuzaka and sightseeing cruises to Nagoya and Yokkaichi ports.


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Toyama Folkcraft Village

富山市民俗民芸村

Toyama Folkcraft Village set in the forested hills of Mount Kureha above Toyama City is certainly worth a peek if you are in the area or visiting Toyama on a day trip from Takayama.

Toyama Folkcraft Village

Easy to get to on the free tourist shuttle or city bus, the Toyama Folkcraft Village, contains several museums dedicated to Toyama Prefecture's arts and crafts: particularly glass and medicines for which the area is well-known. There are also museums of local history and art plus an elegant tea ceremony room and a reference library.

Toyama Folkcraft Village

The Folkcraft Museum is very near to Chokeiji Temple and its 500 statues of rakan - enlightened Buddhist adepts.

Chokeiji Temple, Toyama

The Toyama Folkcraft Village
1118-1 Anyobo, Toyama, 930-0881
Tel: 076 433 8270
Admission: adults 630 yen for all facilities; children 320 yen
Closed: Mondays

Toyama Folkcraft Village is accessible on the free Toyama Museum bus from outside the CiC Building across from Toyama JR Station (ask the tourist office to stamp your brochure) or take a Toyama Chitetsu bus for Shin-Sakuradani, Kurehayama-Rojin-Center from JR Toyama Station and alight at Anyobo bus stop.

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LH Kenji and LH Naoko: your computer's default voice

コンピュータの規定の声 ケンジ ナオコ

LH Naoko.

You’re familiar with the cracked avuncular tones of Microsoft Sam, or Microsoft Mike, and the weird dulcetness of Microsoft Mary or, if your OS is Vista, Microsoft Anna.

Ever wondered what the mechanical voice of the Japanese version of the Microsoft XP OS sounds like?

The standard Japanese version of XP has LH Kenji and LH Naoko (the LH standing for Lernout & Hauspie, a now-defunct Belgian speech and language technology company).

Listen here to, first, LH Kenji (sounding like he has a very bad cold) and then LH Naoko (sounding like she’s talking to a toddler), saying

“LH Kenji [Naoko] no koe o konpyuuta no kitei no koe ni sentaku shimashita.”

or, in the now familiar English:

You have selected LH Kenji [Naoko] as your computer’s default voice”

Now, let’s listen to Kenji and Naoko having a typical end-of-winter, start-of-spring conversation, about their health and the weather.


Kenji: Konnichi wa (Hello)

Naoko: Konnichi wa (Hello)

Kenji: Ogenki desuka? (Are you well?)

Naoko: Hai, okage sama de. (Yes, thanks for asking)

Kenji: Kaze o hiite imasenka. (You haven’t caught a cold?)

Naoko: Hai, hiite imasen yo. (No [lit. “Yes”], I haven’t)

Kenji: Sore wa ii desu ne. (That’s good)

Naoko: So desu ne. (Yes, isn’t it.) Kenji-san mo genkiso desu ne. (And you look well, too, Kenji)

Kenji: So desu ne. (Yes) Shikashi, shigoto de chotto tsukarete imasu yo. (But I’m a little tired from work)

Naoko: Sore wa, sore wa. (Oh, dear me.) Okarada ni ki o tsukete kudasai ne. (Look after yourself, won’t you)

Finally, LH Kenji and LH Naoko say See you again! (Mata ne!)









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Paule Saviano From Above Exhibition

ポーレ・サヴィアーノ写真展

Gallery ef is pleased to announce a photography exhibition by Paule Saviano "From Above" from March 13th to April 12th, 2009. On tomorrow, 12th (Thu.), we will have an opening reception. Paule Saviano will attend this reception.

Please join from all over the world !

Paule Saviano Photography Exhibition "From Above"
An American photographer Paule Saviano releases his newest series that portrays Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors and Tokyo Air Raids Survivors. It reflects how he faced the trace of historical tragedy and the present day of the people who experienced these events.

Sumiteru Taniguchi (Nagasaki)

Term : 2009. March 13th (Fri.) - April 12th (Sun.)
Opening Hours : 12:00-21:00; Closed on Tuesdays
Entrance : free

In collaboration with Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotion of Peace, The Center of the Tokyo Raid and War Damages

Opening Reception
Date : 2009. March 12th, 19:00 – 21:00

Please check webpage.


Paule Saviano Profile
New York native Paule Saviano has been snapping photographs since he was 12 years old. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in two majors; Visual Media and Political Science from the American University (1996) in Washington, DC.
Since than he's been published in magazines around the globe and has accepted every kind of photography assignment from fashion to landscape until settling into portrait photography. His photographs have appeared in magazines such as Faces (Switzerland), Belio (Spain), Mono (Japan), Resonance (USA), Talk (Australia), Index (USA), and numerous others.
He's criss-crossed the world photographing many personalities and bands such as Marilyn Manson, Radiohead, and AC/DC to name a few.
Paule has had solo exhibitions at galleries in Tokyo, New York, Shanghai, London, Helsinki, and Italy. He continues to produce images that blend realism and surreal fantasy.
His series on striptease burlesque artists in the rising underground burlesque scene has been exhibiting around the globe for 3 years. Paule continues to travel the globe to produce images.

Paule Saviano Website
www.paulepictures.com

Striptease Burlesque in 2007 at Gallery ef

Gallery ef
2-19-18 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku,
Tokyo 111-0034

tel * +81-(0)3-3841-0442
fax * +81-(0)3-3841-9079
URL *


Traffic Access 15 steps from Asakusa station, subway Asakusa line, exit A5 2 minutes walk from Asakusa station, subway Ginza line, Exit 2 10 minutes walk from Kuramae station, subway Oedo line, exit A5

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Portopia Hotel Kobe

神戸ポートピアホテル

At 112 metres in height, the Portopia Hotel dominates the skyline of Port Island, a man-made island in Kobe Bay.

Portopia Hotel Kobe

Built in 1981 and designed by Nikken Sekkei, the rooms in the 30-storey Portopia Hotel either have expansive views over Osaka Bay, or over Kobe city with Rokko Mountain behind.

Portopia Hotel Kobe

Among Portopia's facilities are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym, tennis courts, and 13 restaurants. The hotel has extensive conference facilities and hosts many International conferences, including recently some meetings of the G8 Summit held in 2008 in Japan.

Convenient for Kansai International Airport as the high-speed ferry connecting Port Island with KIX is nearby.

The Portopia Hotel employs a full-time English teacher for staff training.

The Portopia Hotel is situated next to Shimin Hiroba Station of the Portliner. The hotel has free shuttles from Shin Kobe Station, Sannomiya Station, and other points in Kobe.

Portopia Hotel
10-1,6 Chome, Minatojima Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0046
Tel: 078 302 1111

© Jake Davies & Japan Visitor.com

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Gifu Plum Blossom Festival

ぎふ梅まつり

This time of year in Japan sees the first mass "flower viewing" of the calendar. The blossomings of the nation's plum trees are an early harbinger of spring and people flock in their thousands to see the colorful plum (ume) flowers in gardens, temples and parks across the nation.

Gifu city's 57th annual (plum) ume festival took place at the weekend in Bairin Park, a short bus ride or 30 minute stroll from either JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station.

Festival eats

There were the usual festival food stalls in evidence in the park: okonomiyaki pancakes, takoyaki octopus balls, fried potatoes, fried corn, yakisoba (fried noodles) and squid on a stick. Besides the permanently parked steam locomotive in Bairin Park other attractions to lure visitors to attend and maybe splash their cash a bit were puppet shows, chindonya, musical performances, bonzai displays and rickshaw rides.

Puppet on a string

The stalls spread throughout the surrounding streets as housewives and tradespeople set out their local delicacies and crafts for sale.

Zuiryoji Temple near Bairin Park was particularly beautiful with its large pink plum blossoms in full bloom.

Zuiryoji Temple, Gifu

Gifu Plum Blossom Festival
Bairin Park
Tel: 058 240 6530

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Osaka - Dotonbori

Dotonbori, Osaka大阪の道頓堀

Not far from Namba, in south Osaka, Dotonbori is the section of city that displays the most gaudy and pulsating and raw side of Japan's most demonstrative metropolis.

The neon alone is worth the trip. Better yet is the people watching.

Tourists - Japanese and now quite a few from Asia (tour groups from China, individual Koreans and Taiwanese) - wander the area semi-stunned by the passing show.

Bee-hived hairdos, mini mini-skirts, knee-high boots, and nail attachments on the women; wind-tunnel effect hairstyles, sheer black pants, pointy shoes, and darting eyes on the men.

The area of Dotonbori was developed in the early part of the 17th century by Doton Yasui, a local merchant, who expanded what was then called the Umezu River. A typical Osaka businessman, he was hoping to connect the two branches of the Yohori River with a canal - and thereby improve business and the flow of goods - but died before the work was finished.

The canal was completed in 1615, and the lord of Osaka Castle named it for Doton, who had died in battle.

Six years later the area was designated an "entertainment district," and by the 1660s there were six kabuki theaters, five bunraku theaters, and many restaurants and bars and brothels.

Most of those theaters are long gone, and the area was bombed to the ground during World War II.

Dotonbori, OsakaToday it is a thriving nightlife area, with plenty to see, do, and buy.

The central area of Dotonbori is the Ebisubashi bridge over the canal, from which you can see the famous Glico neon sign (above right).

The bridge is jokingly referred to as "Hikkake Bashi" ("pick up bridge") because of the action at night and the many pimps who congregate on the bridge after dark. (These men, pictured above, earn money not by prostituting women, but rather by trying to entice women to host bars. They get a cut of a client's tab.)

Among restaurants, Kani Doraku is perhaps the best known. That is because of the delicious crab and the massive moving "crab" above the main entrance.

You can walk north from Ebisubashi up the arcade. Store after store after store will no doubt entice you.

Access

From Namba Station, it is a 5 - 10- minute walk north up Midosuji. JR, Nankai Railways, Kintetsu Railways, and the Osaka subway lines all stop here.

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