Kodo

2004-06-18

Recently I was really lucky to have my friend Keiko invite me to see 鼓童 (Kodo).  I guess that might be loosely translated as Drum Children or Children of the Drum.  They are a very famous wadaiko band (Japanese drums).

All I can tell you is if you have a chance to see them GO!  They are totally awesome!

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Japanese Input on Windows XP

2004-04-29

Here is how to setup Japanese in Windows XP including handwritten kanji recognition.

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Changing Tokyo

2004-02-17

This page is most for some friends of mine so bare with me.

Tokyo, more than most cities I've been to is under constant change.  Just last year 2 giant complexes opened, Roppongi Hills ("row" like "row your boat", "pon" like "pony", "gee" like "geek) and Shiodome (she−oh−dome−ay).  Old buildings are always getting torn down, new buildings are always going up and businesses come and go with the seasons.

Well, yesterday I was walking from work to Shibuya and I passed by this place with all these different restaurants.  Here are pictures of the interior of the restaurants as captured from pictures on the outside of the building.  To my friends, can you guess where this is?

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Useful Origami

2003-11-15

Of course I love Origami as a art and as an activity but I'd never seen any origami with a practical use until today.  It's a very simple to make bowl.  It only takes a few seconds, it's easy to remember and it's very useful.  It seemed so useful I had to have my friend teach me and so I pass it on to you.

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Design Festa 2003-11

2003-11-15

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Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

2003-09-10

In between jobs on a weekday some friends and I headed down to the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum as they were having a special exhibit related to Studio Ghibli and in particular the movie Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)

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Hanabi Taikai

2003-08-18

Hanabi means firework, literally the kanji means "fire flower". Pretty appropriate don't you think? Taikai means "big meeting" or in this case a "Hanabi Taikai" is a Fireworks Display Festival.

I had been wanting to have a real Japanese Hanabi Taikai experience for a while but you have to plan ahead.  I had been twice before but both times I got their late or the people I was going with didn't want to deal with the crowds and so I had either a far far view, like more than a mile away, or I just barely had a view at all. So, this year I was determined to try to do it right.

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Torigoe Matsuri

2003-06-20

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Design Festa 2003-04

2003-04-22

iView

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Instant Ramen

2003-03-14

Back in American, this is all that Nissin Foods gives us.

I'm sure some great market research has gone into why that's all Americans really want.  I'd be curious to know if it's really true though.  They sell those in Japan too but in Japan, where ramen is elevated to a much higher status than in America, we get sooooo many more choices.  Even Nissin has an enormous variety that they don't sell in the states.

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