Living The Green Life In Japan

In Japan most couples and family lives in very small spaces but they managed to live as green as possible and my dear friend who is in Japan was so intrigue by Muji’s new product - she was going to re-do her apartment to be more green.  Now I would love to be in a place looking like that too wouldn’t you?  With my Lecteurs MP3 , I could sit all day in the house and enjoy a good morning or reading a book.  So very simple - yet so livable.  I particularly love the 2 hanging greens - great for a sheltered patio or even the gazebo don’t you think?  As busy as the japanese are - hurried most times - getting from one point to another - they make time to do stuff like enjoying the environment - I’ve never seen any one who enjoys as much picnic as the Japanese.  I love the way they look at life itself.

Washing Machine For Your Shoes In Japan

So you can’t buy your American shoes in Japan right?  so what do you do?  find a washing machine for shoe/sneakers of course!  the Japanese thinks of everything don’t they?  For 2 bucks - you can have a few of your sneakers washed at the same time and even a microwave to dry them in - hahah!!!

A Camera For Valentine’s Day

Yes! I think i’ve said this before - but did you know that a woman in Japan spends an average of $300 on chocolate on Valentine’s day and they are not even for her boyfriend or her husband.  Apparently, one have to give chocolates to their male bosses, dads, brothers and any male friends - they want to show appreciation to.  Darn!  that’s a lot of money!  According to my girlfriend who now lives in Japan - she rather just buy a much needed camera for her husband instead of buying chocolates for everyone.  A magazine for  camera reviews also claimed that Japanese woman would prefer practical gifts like cameras or electronic gadgets from their spouse in March (white day) instead of chocolate - now how ironic is that?

Shopping Spree

One thing I like about going to Japan is the shopping spree and the cute stuff one can buy in Japan - but of course the spouse goes to japan because of the latest gadget he can find in Japan electronic mall.  We would have bought our  canon camcorders from Japan too - if they weren’t all in Japanese menu.  But when you are in Japan - you can see the latest in cameras and phones and even digital cameras  - and make comparison  - that way when you are ready to buy a camcorder or a camera - you would know exactly what is the best.

In Japan of course, you not only can get lots of extraordinary gadgets but also all sorts of cute stuff - even the food - like the ones on top - you can get them from the airport as gifts for friends are too cute to be eaten if you asked me.  Like I tell everyone, in Japan - whatever you buy is gift wrapped so pretty - you don’t even wanna open them up to eat them or use them.   I used to go to Japan on a yearly basis when I lived in Asia and I so missed shopping in Japan - I missed the mushroom tea a lot! and buying the latest gadget to impress the engineers at work.

Electronic District In Japan

If you are fascinated with electronics and cell phones - Japan is definitely a tech’s paradise.  I know so because some 14 years ago - on my first business trip - I had gotten a paper think cell phone to keep in touch with my office.  Compared to my current samsung galaxy , of course - it didn’t have as much features as I have on this phone now but back then - light, clear and convenient was the way it was.  I was pretty amused and amazed with the pink phone I had gotten as a loan and wanted to buy it - but at that time - they didn’t have GSM phones - only the CDMI only.  But yes!  Japan definitely is a electronic paradise, we never failed to visit Akihabara when we are in Tokyo.

Japan Red Light District

Although I love Japan very much - I cannot say that much about the seedier part of Japan - the red light district.  Kabukicho is known as Tokyo’s red light district and here - it comes alive mostly during the Friday and Saturday nights. Kabukicho is said to house more than 300 sex shops, about 200 clubs and 80 hotels or more and 100s of bars and eatery.  From sex toys or blown up dollies  to  male enhancement reviews can be found there.  If you choose to bring your English businessman in suite to see some naked girls swimming in a huge tub - you can do that too.  I’ve only been there once - when I first arrived out of curiosity - but Japan never fail to amaze me - as conservative as they are - they have the wild and immoral side too.

Shopping Savvy Japanese

I haven’t met a Japanese who doesn’t love shopping - have you?  my best friend who lives in Japan told me that Japanese girls think nothing of the weather - when they know they are getting a good deal - like the ones - we can get from Black Friday.  Can you imagine - have a Black Friday in Japan?  boy! i bet the Japanese will flock out to get all the gadgets they can get their hands on - but they have to be kawaii!  cute in Japanese.  My girlfriend might be living in Japan but she is very much a American inside - she was the one who reminded me about all the goodies she was going to get during Black Friday - but Ssshhhhh!! lets keep it quiet - else the Japanese will be all over the sale!

Working For Japanese

Working in Japan was a real eye opener for me - not only are they high tech, they are super efficient too.  They used the latest software for computer - and document management software for sharing information within the organization - making it so much easier - even when the boss is not in Japan but is having a business trip.

You also learned very quickly that as a woman in a Japanese company, you are supposed to clean up after the men and not be the first to leave when the clock strike 5pm.   To leave before the boss is a sign of disrespect and to retort the boss - is a absolutely no no.  So when the Japanese saw me arguing with my French boss one day - while i was working there - they were pretty shocked.  The girls thought that I was their heroes and the men - they stayed a few feet away from me. hahah!!

Gadget Shopping In Japan

For the gadget loving tourists that are going to Japan - they definitely needs to visit Akiba - yes ! yes! we all know that.  And we all know that Japan does get the latest and the newest version of every gadget you can think of - including computers and laptops like the Sony VAIO .  But wait a minute folks!  - before you go rushing to get every gadget you can think of - in Japan - make sure that they are not all programmed in Japanese and the keyboards are in English - hahha! else - how are you gonna make use of all you new gadgets.  So as much as I love even the paper phones in Japan - I still get all my gadgets - especially laptops elsewhere.  Sorry Japan - you won’t be getting my money where the gadgets are concern.

Christmas Present For The Boss

I must have told you all that I worked in Japan for a few months - and I had a boss in Japan who loves his cigarettes. But all Japanese love their cigarettes if you don’t know by now - so this Christmas - I found a david letterman electronic cigarette for his present! haha! unique eh!  I know he will like it - for any smokers any way.  Maybe - I should get 2 more for the outlaws - since they smoke like a chimney too - plus the electronic cigarette are not that expensive - so pretty affordable for anyone who don’t want to be around smoky smell no more.