Japan Subway

The Japanese subway must be the busiest on earth, you should see it during peak hours.  They even have a station master who would pushed everyone into the train.. because nobody would give way.. and come out from an already crowded train. Millions of people are known to go thru’ the gates of Shinjiku station and reading in the train is what the Japanese loves to do and whether they are getting their books from a local store or Amazon books they sure have a lot of books.

Novel-reading on cell phones gained traction in Japan a few years ago as classic novels made their way to the small cell phone screen. Web sites there now allow people to upload their own versions of self-authored serialized stories to blogs that can be easily read on Japanese cell phones. The stories are often written by amateur writers and typically feature predictable and melodramatic story lines.

Erika Sawajiri Married

Earlier last week .. i told everyone that Erika Sawajir is getting married.. well true to the announcement.. she did get married on the 19th Jan and looking very beautiful indeed.   The ceremony took place in Meiji Shrine and loads of fans were there to wish her well.. and she in return kept saying “Domo” .. meaning thanks.. in Japanese.  She was a beautiful bride alright.. but her media creator husband who is about 20 yrs her senior doesn’t look like the charming prince i would have hope for her.  Anyhow.. i some gals in Japan would die to look like Erika and my g/fs in Japan swears by Fentraphen to look slim and confident.  i wouldn’t mind taking some too.. if i could look like Erika eh.. 

Beauty & The Car

Toyota had 2 beauties launched its new Lexus SUV 4X450h at the Lexus RX Museum in Aomi.  A Hybrid model will be released in April .. i heard.. and the two beauties are Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori, left, and Miss Universe first runner-up 2006 Kurara Chibana on the right.  The museum will run through Feb 15 as part of the Lexus promotional campaign. Admission is free but advanced reservations are required for test driving.  So folks who loves cars.. you know what to do.. if you are in Japan. Let me check if my girlfriends in Japan will test drive it eh.

Nao Minamisawa donates box-office revenues to UNICEF Japan

So young, yet so generous.. is actress - Nao Minamisawa - only at 18 and donated 3.8 million yen the box office takings of Akai Ito showing on big screen now.

In conjunction with Fuji TV’s “35th FNS Charity Campaign,” every ticket sold for the movie “Akai Ito” sold will see five yen go to UNICEF Japan, and will be used to support children in the Republic of Guyana in South America. Minamisawa handed over the 3.8 million yen, generated from 760,000 movie tickets sold. She said: “If the movie can help even a little bit, I’m happy.”

Kawaii TV - Tokyo TV Episode 1

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Takashi Saito & Red Sox 1 Yr Deal

So i heard handsome Saito just signed a 1 yr contract with the Boston Red Sox with options for 2010.  The deal was rumored to be between $1.5 million to $2.5 million package and more than $7 million if he makes incentives as well.  Said to be low risk but high yield.. Red Sox GM thinks highly of Saito .. who didn’t have such a good last season due to sprained ligament.  The man who is into sports too takes NO2 Black for lean muscles, one can’t get any leaner than Saito eh.

Yu Yamada - Playing School Girl One Last Time

At 24 Yu Yamada must be quite shy about playing a school gal for this long eh..?  I guess even though she didn’t complain about it.. i doubt she really liked it.  I bet her younger fans wouldn’t be too pleased .. but oh well… the older ones would love her in some more dramatic movie with more substance eh. So those younger fans of Yu Yamada.. can watch her in “Mei-chan no shitsuji”  airing  on Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

Erika Sawajiri Getting Married

Erika Sawjiri actress of many tv shows with Fuji TV ..  and endorsing big brands like Pepsi, Sony Ericsson  & Kanebo, you wouldn’t not know her .. if you are a Japanese or a fan of Japanese stuff.. like myself.  And yes.. you heard right .. only 22 of age, she is getting married later this month to hypermedia creator .. who is 44 yrs of age .. Tsuyoshi Takashiro.  Looks like the engagement ring was specially designed for her by her future husband too.

Looks like the age difference didn’t deter Erika from falling in love with Tsuyoshi.. and in fact she feels it is a good match.  Of course, this marriage is highly different from those China brides or Russian brides or even Filipino brides .. who meets an old man online.. and jump onto the next flight outta the country.

And Erika has all her plans set to study graphic designs in Barcelona before returning to act again next summer.  With that said, don’t expect an all white kimono for Erika’s wedding, for she wants some roses in it too.  She chose a Japanese wedding .. just because she is japanese.  I can’t wait to see her in her wedding dress.

Almond Cafe In Roppongi

I was quite sad to learn from Hitomi-San today that my favorite Almond Cafe in Roppongi had shut down after 44 yrs in this location.  For anyone who had been to Tokyo.. you can never missed the pink color sign of the cafe.. right smacked in the middle of the business station of Tokyo.  The cafe is a year older than I am.. and is opened everyday faithfully from 9am - 5pm.

You can go in and have a snack/pasteries.. or asked for take outs, and don’t you worry .. even though they had been in business for so long, they are very modernised and uses  barcode scanners.  The queue is always long.. and you always see a crowd of people at the front door.. but don’t be intimidated.. because they are very friendly people inside. So the next time you and I go to Japan.. donch forget they are in their new location… a min away from their present location.. i’m sure if you ask anyone on the street.. they will know.

The cafe will relocate on Jan 9 to a store about one minute from its current location.The company that runs the Almond cafes was founded in 1946, and is said to be the first food and beverage business in Japan that handed out “oshibori” - moistened hand towels - to customers before they ordered.