Masaya's days: March 2010

31 March 2010

rumors

Last Friday, the happening occurred because of rumors on famous street at Harajuku, Tokyo. Takeshita street(竹下通り) is pedestrian only street and there are a lot of fashion boutiques, restaurants, cafes and etc. I've been there number of times, but I don't want to go there again because there are too many people!

The rumor that "on-screen talent would come to Takeshita street", was spreading according to some news articles. I didn't know about this rumor, but a lot of young people were confused on this rumor. In Japan, most of young person have their own mobile phone and can use e-mail on their mobile phone.

I heard about this news via Twitter first time, and according to that news, the rumor was spread via Twitter but I don't think so. Because I don't think many Japanese young people especially junior and senior high school students are using Twitter. I think, the rumor was spread by word of mouth.

Anyway, several people injured because of this happening. There are a lot of people who are walking on Takeshita street even on usual day. So, I don't want to imagine that if there was a rumor like this...

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

30 March 2010

2.34 million of expensive wastes

I felt that H1-N1 flu is not so strong, because it's rare to see such a news on news media. But I found a news that about H1-N1 flu. According to the article, expiration date of 2.34 million vaccine shots will be expired in this month. Japanese government bought a lot of vaccine shots from many companies such as Glaxo Smith Kline.

I don't know how many vaccine shots did Japanese government buy, but there are still about 100 million vaccine shots, I heard. The expiration date is coming to these vaccine shots in inventory. I heard these vaccine shots made for H1-N1, so it's not effective on other flu. Maybe, these 100 million vaccine shots will be waste.

I cannot say the government made big mistake on action for H1-N1 flu, because the H1-N1 flu might stronger than we expected. But they might be able to do something for these millions of useless vaccine shots, I felt.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

29 March 2010

Figure skating

On Saturday, Mao Asada a Japanese female figure skater won the 2010 World Figure Skating Championship. I couldn't watch it on live, because there were no Japanese TV stations that broadcasted it on live. But I checked it on the Internet because many people were reporting it play-by-play.

I've never played figure skating and I don't know the rule of figure skating so much, then I don't have any comments on judgement. But some people wrote many comments on judgement. Maybe you can find these...

Also, Daisuke Takahashi a Japanese male figure skater won the 2010 World Figure Skating Championship. When I heard the news, I felt that "wow, they did it!". But not only these two Japanese figure skaters, I felt every figure skaters played great on the 2010 World Figure Skating Championship.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

26 March 2010

Tamagokakegohan

;

I think, I wrote about Tamagokakegohan (卵かけごはん) before. But today I'm gonna write about different thing. Yesterday, I found funny web site. Ajinomoto is offering this web site. On this web site, we can make Tamagokakegohan!!

I've already made it on that site. You can check my Tamagokakegohan from "Play" button on top. Also you can make your own Tamagokakegohan on it but you cannot eat that... lol

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

25 March 2010

WiMAX

I think, I should write "mobile WiMAX" I don't know exactly... UQ communications Inc, is now providing their WiMAX service in Japan. They are advertising that if we use WiMAX, we can use high-speed Internet. I checked the area and speed check list on their site and I felt I can use faster Internet. But I'm using 3G network with my iPhone and I don't think it's too late...

I'm not satisfying on their area coverage but I'm satisfying on its speed. SoftBank is providing 3G network for iPhone in Japan.

Anyway, I like UQ WiMAX's advertisement. Their advertisement is like YouTube videos. You can check these videos from "http://www.uqwimax.jp/g_gallery/". If you like to watch it, you should check it... lol

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

24 March 2010

NIKKEI's new approach

Nihon Keizai Shimbun:日本経済新聞(aka NIKKEI:日経), Japanese leading economic newspaper renewed its web site as Nikkei electronic edition (日経電子版). They were offering free news site "NIKKEI NET" until last week but they started their new web site require payment.

NIKKEI electronic edition is 4,000 yen (44.24 USD), this is only electronic edition. If you want printed edition, the cost will be 6,383 yen (70.6 USD) or 5,568 yen (61.59 USD). If you want only printed edition, the cost will be 5,383 yen (59.54 USD) or 4,568 yen (50.53 USD). These price is not annual amount. We have to pay these prices every month if we want to read.

Also, there is a free account but we can read up to 20 articles every month and read only headlines. And we need to register. If you don't have account, you cannot read any article you can read only headlines...

They want to keep readers who are reading printed edition, some intellectuals said.

I think, price plan for only electronic edition is really expensive! The Wall Street Journal 1.99 USD per week so, it will be 7.96 USD each month.

I hope they will reduce the price or I'm not going to subscribe it... lol

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

23 March 2010

It's time for cherry blossom

The Japan Meteorological Agency declared that cherry blossom opened in Tokyo, yesterday. They stopped to forecast that when the cherry blossom opens, but some commercialized companies kept to forecast it. I don't think it's important, but some Japanese may love to wait until the day that cherry blossom opens.

Usually, cherry blossom will be full bloom in a week, but this year we might have to wait more than a week. This is because the weather of this week. According to Weathernews, this week's weather is not good. Rainy days might make delay on full bloom.

Anyway, the photo on top is not this year's cherry blossom. But I hope that I can watch the cherry blossom this year too!

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

19 March 2010

Doha

I remembered that tragic drama at Doha. (ドーハの悲劇)

That occurred on 28th October, 1993. Japan national team(soccer) couldn't pass final qualifier of 1994 World Cup in the United States. I've forgot the detail of this happening but I think most of Japanese people were disappointed in Japan national team because they couldn't win even they were in the lead.

Well, an important conference held in Doha these days. They talked about ban of commercial bluefin tuna trade. I think, Japan is the largest country that eat up tuna in the world. Many Japanese people including me might get in a bind if they agreed on ban of commercial bluefin tuna trade.

I felt happy because it didn't become the return of tragic drama at Doha.

But we must think about commercial bluefin tuna (and other types of tuna) trade to protect them.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

18 March 2010

California

McDonald's Japan is now on "Big America" campaign. They released 4 types of burgers in limited time. Texas burger, New York burger, Hawaiian burger and California burger. Now we can buy California burger and I ate this one for lunch. I've already eaten these 4 burgers so, I can compare them.

I think, I wrote about other 3 types of burgers on this blog before.
You can check these articles from "http://masaya-09-11.blogspot.com/2010/01/big-america.html" and "http://masaya-09-11.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-york-new-york.html".

Anyway, I felt that California burger is the best burger from these 4 burgers. Maybe there are a lot of opinion on this but I prefer California burger.

New York burger is the No.2 in my opinion and Texas burger is the No.3. So, Hawaiian burger is the No.4 but I like all of these burgers. But I think, it's expensive...

In McDonald's many people believe that we can eat burgers fast and cheap, I think. The price of California burger is 400 yen (about 4.4 USD). If I ordered combo meal, the price will be 720 yen (about 8 USD)! It's a little bit expensive at McDonald's, I felt.

If you have chance to visit Japan, you should try it. But harry up, you'll miss this campaign because this is the limited campaign.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

17 March 2010

Spring to winter

Yesterday was really warm, it was like early summer! The highest temperature of Yesterday was over 20 degrees (Celsius) at many places. The highest temperature at Ebina, Kanagawa prefecture and at Chiba marked over 25 degrees (Celsius). The highest temperature at 5 places in Kanto area recorded the highest temperature as March.

But today, the highest temperature decreased about 10 degrees (Celsius). Yeah, back to winter! The weather in turn of the year changes so rapidly, but I think it too rapid! I think, we should take care.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

16 March 2010

simulcast

I love to listen to the radio, like I wrote before. I can concentrate on my work even I'm listening to the radio but I cannot do the same thing when I'm watching TV, I think. I wanted to listen to the radio via the internet connection. If I can do that, I can listen to the radio everywhere I can connect to the internet. But there were no such way...

These years, FM radio station in Tokyo J-Wave started its new internet service called "Brandnew-J". I think, I wrote about "Brandnew-J" before. But I couldn't listen all of their programs via "Brandnew-J"...

These days, the largest ads company Dentsu(電通) started their online radio service "kikeru" for Internet Explorer as a toolbar. We can listen several radio stations' programs but not all... Also, I couldn't listen that because I'm not using Internet Explorer... They also started to provide kikeru apps for iPhone. Sometimes, I listen to the radio via kikeru app even I'm in outside. I think, I wrote about this one too... lol

End of the last month, there was an article that about Internet Protocol radio on newspaper. According to the article, several radio stations would start their IP(Internet Protocol) radio as a trial soon. I didn't know when they were going to start their IP radio and I was looking forward to use that.

Yesterday, they finally started their IP radio as a trial. Their new service called radiko(ラジコ) and you can access to the web site from "http://www.radiko.jp". Now, I can listen every programs via the Internet. There are several radio station including J-Wave, Inter-FM, Tokyo FM, Bunka hoso(文化放送), Nippon hoso(ニッポン放送), TBS radio(TBSラジオ) and Radio Nikkei(ラジオNIKKEI) in Tokyo area. Also some radio station in Osaka area including FM802, FM COCOLO, FM OSAKA, Asahi hoso(朝日放送), Mainichi hoso(毎日放送) and Radio Osaka(ラジオ大阪). But they are checking your place via IP so, you may not available to use this service. Maybe this is because of copyrights issue.

There is another big problem, I think. I cannot access to the www.radiko.jp from my iPhone... They are not supporting iPhone and Android users... I hope they will support these users very very soon.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

15 March 2010

Wars on electronics retail stores

The photo on top is the photo that I took today at Shinjuku(新宿). Billboard of the building on right is Sakuraya(さくらや). But there are other company's name on top of the entrance. That is Bic Camera(ビックカメラ).

Both Sakuraya(さくらや) and Bic Camera(ビックカメラ) are famous Japanese electronics retail stores. But there are no Sakuraya(さくらや) any more...

The building on right WAS Sakuraya's store until 28th February. But from 1st March, the store changed its name and started as Bic Camera(ビックカメラ). There was only a night to change the store, so the billboard are still in older one...

There were some stores of Sakuraya(さくらや) in Tokyo, but most of their stores being closed, I heard. If you have a chance to visit Tokyo, you should check the place... lol

But you should harry up if you want to see that. Because the billboard will be replaced soon, I think.

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

12 March 2010

After 1,000 years

I took the photo on top at Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. And the large tree that is standing on left side is the 大銀杏(big ginkgo). According to some sources, the ginkgo was standing about 1,000 years!! This ginkgo also have important meaning as historic sight.

Kugyo(公暁) was waiting behind this ginkgo and killed Minamoto no Yoritomo(源頼朝) in 1219. But this may not true story... (I don't know exactly but it's like legend)

Anyway, the ginkgo fallen on Wednesday because of strong winds. The chief priest of Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine announced that they will try to keep this ginkgo. I hope that we will be able to see brave figure of the ginkgo again! At last, you can check the photo of fallen ginkgo from http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ファイル:Tsurugaoka_Hachiman-Shrine@died_ginkgo_tree.jpg or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fallen_Ginkgo_-_roots.jpg.

Thank you.

Good day & Peace and Smile!

11 March 2010

98th airports

Today, the newest airport in Japan opened in Ibaraki prefecture(茨城県). This is the 98th national airport in Japan. But there are a lot of problems...

According to the newspaper, it's difficult to get to the airport. We need to ride bus about 30 minutes from the nearest station. That's about 80km away from Tokyo. And it's easy to get to other 2 airports, Tokyo airport and Narita airport. Also, these two airports are very very useful than Ibaraki airport.

Another problem is the number of scheduled flights. Now there are only 2 scheduled flights, but one of them is not yet available until April. Now you can get to Seoul using scheduled flight. And you will be available to get to Kobe using scheduled flight from April.

Bad accessibility and few scheduled flight, these might be the trademark of Ibaraki airport.

Anyway, 61 airports in Japan couldn't meet projected demand. I heard this news yesterday. I think, there are too many airports in Japan. Don't you think so?

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

10 March 2010

0% wine

Today, I found the article that about non alcholic wine. I love to drink wine but I don't drink it much.

These days, there are many non alcholic drink such as non alcholic beer. I like non alcholic beer because it's like real beer but I can drive a car or ride bicycle after I drink it.

Anyway, I've never been to winery. I can go to famous winery of Japan, "Katsunuma" about 1.5 hour by car(using high way). And I can drink this non alcholic wine there! If I have a chance, I would like to go there.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

09 March 2010

Snow in March?

Haiti, Chile, Okinawa (Japan), Taiwan and Turkey. These are places that strong earthquake hit this year. But according to wikipedia, there are 3 more places where these strong earthquake hit this year. You can check these on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_earthquakes.

I think the strong earthquake occurred frequently. What's happening in the earth?

Anyway, today's title "Snow in March".
It's snowing in Tokyo today!! I think, it's really rare to snow in March. Maybe we can make snow-man even in Tokyo. lol

What's happening?

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

08 March 2010

oscar

We can't watch 82nd annual academy awards on usual terrestrial TV. Some programs told us only the results. WOWOW the pay-TV in Japan was broadcasting 82nd annual academy awards. But I'm not subscribing WOWOW so, I couldn't watch it.

Anyway, The Hurt Locker that won the best picture have been screened since last Saturday! Just 2 days have passed since its start.

I didn't check every films but we can't watch most of films at cinemas in Japan, I think. We need to wait long long time and watch the film with super expensive price... lol

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

05 March 2010

Tweeting from space

These days, I used to use Twitter and check some celebrities updates. I'm following many people. But I like Soichi Noguchi who is Japanese astronaut. He is tweeting from ISS.

He shows us several photos that he took in ISS. Of course, I've never been there so I didn't have chance to watch the earth from the space. lol

I can see several cities like Concepcion, Santiago, Sydney, Christchurch, Houston, Tokyo and etc... I love the photo of Tokyo that he took before.

According to some sources, he will come back to earth on 2nd June (earth time). Until then, we can enjoy his photos on "http://twitter.com/astro_soichi". You should check that! lol

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

04 March 2010

Anti ecologists?

I believe that moving by bicycle is better than by automobile. And it's cheaper. I recommend to go to company or college by bicycle. It is not only for ecology, also for healthy life style.

I surprised when I heard the news that some government agencies banned to go to office by bicycle for their staffs. Also Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry decided to ban bicycle commute, even they are encouraging healthy life style.

I think, they dislike bicycle.

Anyway, I want the government to ban street parking on every streets for all of bicycle commuters including me.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

03 March 2010

Free businesses and e-books

These days, I had some chances to download some new books online with no cost. I've already downloaded 3 books. I heard that I could download the translated version of "Free: The father of radical pricing" written by Chris Anderson. I downloaded that as soon as possible. I believe that this PDF version offered for about 1,000 people. (I forgot the exact number... ) Of course, we cannot print it. I'm still reading this book on my MacBook because I couldn't take time to read book on my MacBook these days...

Anyway, after this book, some books offered to free download. I downloaded "できるポケット＋EVERNOTE(Dekiru pocket plus Evernote)" as a monitor. (I need to tweet a little bit about this...) I've already read this book.
And I downloaded "生命保険のからくり(The gimmick of life assurance)".

Maybe there are more free books that we can download. But I'm looking for e-book readers for Japan! Amazon Japan is not treating digital version of books on their web site yet. And the e-book market in Japan is not large enough, I think. But these free download offer may change these situation.

But there's Japanese proverb that is "ただより高いものはない".
In English "There is nothing more costly than something that got for free(nothing)". So, what's next?

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

02 March 2010

Annual party

Weather in here is not good these days, but tomorrow it will be fine, I heard. Temperature changes so rapidly. On weekend, the temperature was bit high but from Monday it's cold. Especially today was too cold...

Anyway, we are in the graduation season in Japan. Of course, I'm not going to graduate this year, but I joined farewell party for seniors. Yesterday was the party of part time job.

I couldn't join last year's farewell party so, it was not annual party for me. But I could enjoy the party.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

01 March 2010

Across the Pacific Ocean

Massive earthquake attacked Chile on Saturday 0630 (GMT). I'm really concerning about that but Japanese media is treating only tsunami warning yesterday.

Japan meteorological agency warned of Tsunami for most of coast line in Japan. They warned that over 3.0 meter high tsunami wave might attack. I don't know when they lift the warnings, but now there are no warnings of tsunami.

The highest tsunami wave was about 1.5 meter high, I heard. The height of the tsunami wave was smaller than predicted, and there are no injured person, I heard.

Thank you.
Good day & Peace and Smile!

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