A Week in Tokyo 26
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Thu 2008/10/02 21:10
Starting this weeks in installment of A Week in Tokyo with a blurry pic of one of my comrade bloggers Yumiking who I caught up with at the Japanese Bloggers Dinner in Gotanda yesterday night.
The chap on the right is another popular blogger Modern Syntax.
The chap on the right is another popular blogger Modern Syntax.
One for Nogizaka Haruka fans - the station closest to the Widen and Kennedy offices.
Quick look around the office. My new pet foxkeh in the corner.
Hmmm. Suddenly acquired goodies on the desk...
I spy huge oppai.
A closer look at this amazing sculpture soon.
Asakura says hi - closer look at her over at Good Smile.
For those who don't know, foxkeh is Mozilla Japan's official mascot for the Japanese market. If you use Firefox long enough then one may materialize on your desk - SAF (Suddenly Acquired Fox).
Anybody here switched to Firefox lately? Anybody switching from Firefox lately?
Anybody here switched to Firefox lately? Anybody switching from Firefox lately?
Switched the DNS for the Good Smile Japanese site which is now fully armed, operational and migrated to Mirai Gaia. More features coming soon after studying user behavior. You can now see a schedule of when products are shipped from GSC - available from the header under "products."
The site is running on Amazons EC2 cloud and has been stable so far.
The site is running on Amazons EC2 cloud and has been stable so far.
Bought a pair of Sony wireless headphones to use in the lounge - specifically for watching anime. But I should have known better...
Turns out these headphones don't work when the TV is on - feedback from the TV causes an incredible amount of noise - returned the piece of turd.
Do you have recommendations for decent wireless headphones?
Do you have recommendations for decent wireless headphones?
On the third floor in the old office reading my current craze of the moment - Kemeko Deluxe.
Bowl of Wonton Ramen - 880 yen.
Wifey fetches some Korean snacks from Shinjuku - there is a large population of Koreans there. You can find a load of Korean restaurants and foodstuffs.
The zillionth time I've opened the MBP to change HD's. Quite a difference between the 7200 RPM and the 5400 RPM.
Cant remember if I talked this before but before I used to increase the HD space on my local machine and keep everything on it.
Now what I prefer to do is archive stuff I don't need on a network drive which is backed up using Time Machine. I used to have 60GBs of photos on my local machine which I never used. After archiving a load of junk, my main machine is down to about 67GB's.
Do you prefer to keep everything on your local machine or rather have a light machine?
Cant remember if I talked this before but before I used to increase the HD space on my local machine and keep everything on it.
Now what I prefer to do is archive stuff I don't need on a network drive which is backed up using Time Machine. I used to have 60GBs of photos on my local machine which I never used. After archiving a load of junk, my main machine is down to about 67GB's.
Do you prefer to keep everything on your local machine or rather have a light machine?
Kagamin joins me for some BLT at Johnathan's.
Some pasta at the new Italian place round the corner - 1,000 yen.
Some Google and iKnow.co.jp goodies acquired at the Blogger event I organized - Kagamin was acquired there too.
Another new ramen place around the corner.
Lived here for nearly 10 years and I think this is the first time I've had Tsukemen. Tsukemen is a bowl of soup filled with egg and other goodies.
You get a plate of noodles on the side which you dip (tsukeru) in the noodles. This place offers up to 750gms of noodles per serving - folks choose depending on how hungry they are for one price.
You get a plate of noodles on the side which you dip (tsukeru) in the noodles. This place offers up to 750gms of noodles per serving - folks choose depending on how hungry they are for one price.
There are two blogger events that I know of - the one which I started recently for gaijin bloggers and the swblog which has traditionally been for Japanese bloggers. Attended the swblog yesterday night to find that they renovated the restaurant that we use as the venue.
The organizer of this event is Drikin who has gathered famous Japanese bloggers, media and IT folks together to share ideas and synergies. Many Japanese speaking gajin who are in the industry also attend this event. It was through the swblog where I first made contact with Good Smile through a friend of a friend.
We gave out some Good Smile goodies yesterday too.
If I personally know you and you speak Japanese and either blog or are in media or IT industry then drop me a line and I will bring you along to the next one.
We gave out some Good Smile goodies yesterday too.
If I personally know you and you speak Japanese and either blog or are in media or IT industry then drop me a line and I will bring you along to the next one.
In each gathering I always meet a ton of new people - the Bomberman tin is my business card holder/collector for events like these.
Not only did they renovate the interior, they also renovated the price too! Each member pays 3,000 yen for the same food that costed 1,500 yen prior to renovation ^^;;;;
When most of the members have arrived, the projector is set up and we go around the room to talk about each of our sites and latest activities.
This time drink refills are free - me had 5 glasses of Mango Lassi and managed not to get the runs.
Nearly all the bloggers in the room are mac users.
Some of the members are developers for the PSP and PS3 - do you have any requests for them? My request is to enable updates automatically. The Japanese PS3 gets a new update every 3 weeks or so which you have to sit through - very annoying desu.
Famous Japanese blogger Nobi who writes for a zillion Mac magazines, publishes a load of books and is also a member of O'Reilly Foo Camp where the smartest brains in the world get together to talk tech.
Quite a few female bloggers too.
Many comrades from Amazon and Microsoft read my ramblings - this photo is for folks at Microsoft ^^;
Another power blogger Mitaimon. Where I get SAFS (Suddenly Acquired FigureS), Mitaimon gets SACS (Suddenly Acquired CameraS) from all the popular makers.
You would rather receive SAFS or SACS?
You would rather receive SAFS or SACS?
Unfortunately we didn't bring enough Nendoroid Puchi to go around so its Junken Battle time.
And the folks who got a Nendoroid quickly open hoping they didn't end up with Kyon.
Yuko from Weiden and Kennedy drops by to talk about their latest Google Campaign.
Yuko showing off some Google goodies - bloggers whip out their camera.
Networking is not just about meeting people but also introducing people you know to others.
Am I the only one who thinks the Japanese delivery bikes look cool?
The meetings that I have these days are ones which are productive - which may sound odd but many meetings that I had at Amazon and Microsoft were just unproductive gatherings of people - my presence was requested but I didn't have to be there.
For a while I would just sit there but it got to me because I knew it wasn't productive use of my time.
Walking out of a meeting in Japan is not really good either so I used the "call me technique."
If I was headed for a dead end meeting, I would get my staff to call my mobile number and tell me that the site was in a Severity 2 state. I would be in the meeting and say "good lord, Sev 2 did you say? I'll be right there."
At Amazon, we had 3 different severities.
Sev1 meaning that customers cant buy stuff, Sev2 meaning that something was preventing customers from navigating the site effectively and Sev3 was used for everything else (low priority).
Back to the topic - how much time do you waste in meetings that you don't need to be in per week? How about lessons at school/college/uni? Any of them a complete waste of your time?
For a while I would just sit there but it got to me because I knew it wasn't productive use of my time.
Walking out of a meeting in Japan is not really good either so I used the "call me technique."
If I was headed for a dead end meeting, I would get my staff to call my mobile number and tell me that the site was in a Severity 2 state. I would be in the meeting and say "good lord, Sev 2 did you say? I'll be right there."
At Amazon, we had 3 different severities.
Sev1 meaning that customers cant buy stuff, Sev2 meaning that something was preventing customers from navigating the site effectively and Sev3 was used for everything else (low priority).
Back to the topic - how much time do you waste in meetings that you don't need to be in per week? How about lessons at school/college/uni? Any of them a complete waste of your time?
Am I the last to hear of John Woo's Red Cliff?
Out n about on the subway.
I've always wanted to organize a gathering for the gaijin bloggers in Tokyo and we had the kick off event at Weiden and Kennedy earlier this week.
Among the attendees were many popular bloggers, media production folks, IT folks from Google, Mozilla, iKnow.co.jp and a load of other talented bods - will talk about this event in a separate article and list up the attendees.
You can see some coverage at WK, Neil Dukett and Ken Lee who provided this photo.
Among the attendees were many popular bloggers, media production folks, IT folks from Google, Mozilla, iKnow.co.jp and a load of other talented bods - will talk about this event in a separate article and list up the attendees.
You can see some coverage at WK, Neil Dukett and Ken Lee who provided this photo.
Dont know what it is about tall views but it always gives me a load of energy when I'm b...(more)
Sat 09/20 17:21 comments (92)
Been one of the busiest weeks so far and this is how I felt like yesterday night - absol...(more)
Mon 09/08 13:38 comments (148)
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:30)
looks like you guys and gals had lots of fun. Mango lassi. mmmm... it has been a while since I had one of those. ^^ btw first time I've heard about red cliff. ^^;
(ID #320905) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:31
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:30)
hey Danny, did a little research with my colleagues, they tell me Sennheiser headphones are the best headphones they ever got to use: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/category.asp?transid=cat2
(ID #320974) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:56
Student - Network Engineering - CCNA
100% there with Sennheisers Though quite costly, it's worth every cent/yen you spend RS-140 Very clear sound. even at the other end of my house!
(ID #321043) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:17
+1 I have HDR-120 which i bought from Amazon (or Newegg?) for less than $100 USD. The range is quite good and I've not noticed any interference.
(ID #321160) Posted on 2008/10/03 02:59
Director/代表取締役
Thanks guys - will check em out.
(ID #321445) Posted on 2008/10/03 09:31
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:30)
no problem Danny, my friends tell me that the sound quality they gets from the earphones are even better than what they would hear from the internal speakers of TV itself. ^^
(ID #322198) Posted on 2008/10/04 00:34
Multimedia Technology Student, eLearning software developer
Yep Sennheisers are great head phones, my brother has got a pair. When it comes to Lectures at uni I attend the important ones, but some of them the lecturer either speaks too fast that you get lost or the information just isn't relevant to the subject.
(ID #322045) Posted on 2008/10/03 21:30
Musician, Sound Engineer, Student - Currently Military (2yrs)
I agree, the Sennheiser wireless ones are the best in the consumer market range. The frequencies don't interfere with common household appliances, or so I have been told. However, do give the Japanese made Audio-Technicas a try, they are my personal favourites! (Not sure if they have Japanese made wireless though?)
(ID #337765) Posted on 2008/10/17 13:14
Supreme Babysitter
Audio Technica should be available in Japan and they make great headphones, I use them myself but I would stay away from wireless unless you absolutely must walk around with them on often if you work in loud environments be sure to look into closed headphones with noise canceling
(ID #320908) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:39
Supreme Babysitter
oh forgot the link these are wireless http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/f9450db308d97785/index.html should be available on amazon
(ID #320927) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:53
Supreme Babysitter
oh wait thats the noise canceling one sorry
(ID #320932) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:00
Wow! Someone in my area! I see people from all over the planet commenting here, but how rare that someone else is here from my own back yard. Shoot me an email at daniel at yacg.com. Perhaps we can exchange event information and the like.
(ID #320939) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:09
Supreme Babysitter
sure as soon as I wake up in 8hours ;0 the wireless model I was thinking of was the Sennheiser RS130 I would not go anything less than this for wireless
(ID #320945) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:21
It's been 2 months since red cliff premiered in my shores. Not trying to be bias.... If you're a hardcore Three Kingdom fan, you would not enjoy this movie.(at least for me) The gathering seems to be very interesting. From 1500 to 3000 that is quite some 'renovation' XD At least you drank 5 glasses of lassi, that will cover up the extra 1500 i guess ^_^ I would prefer SAFS then SACS. One good camera is all I need. But figures? Who could resist that~
(ID #320910) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:40
Receptionist/ Accountant/ Junior Designer/ Illustrator
Seems like it was a fun and sucessful gathering ^^ (It still amazes me just how many bloggers there are in Japan). I've been using Firefox for about 2 years now and it's been my defualt browser ever since. I use Sennheiser headphones, so that's not a bad brand, IMHO...
(ID #320914) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:42
IT engineer
Hiya Danny, where do they sell the firefox :P looks cute ^^ Japan is slow in getting foreign film isn't it? Red cliff isn't bad, its more toward history based story than the Romance of three kingdom novel
(ID #320919) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:46
Mechanical Engineering student
Those are a powerful bunch of people you just met O_o
(ID #320924) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:51
Nth Sydney Student
Danny, where did you get the Foxkeh plushie? I've been looking everywhere for one
(ID #320928) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:54
Director/代表取締役
Unfortunately they don't sell them. My one appeared on my desk one day ^^;
(ID #320931) Posted on 2008/10/02 21:59
give me one :( how about yours >_< can't resist cute stuff >_<
(ID #321525) Posted on 2008/10/03 11:09
トレイニー: アプリケーション開発者
haha yeah the Foxkeh plush looks nice
(ID #322109) Posted on 2008/10/03 22:15
Ahh, RedCliff. i watched that movie, its really good. recommend. there will be a second part to that movie first quarter 2009. Talking abt wasting time in lessons, i was told to attend a bio science field trip - even though i dont take bio... sucks.
(ID #320936) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:03
Full-time student へへ
you have another blogger dinner lined up for tomorrow? ^^ seminars... i've got seminars in school which aren't really productive. but it's in school. gives people a chance to practice their presentation skills.
(ID #320940) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:09
Director/代表取締役
no - the ones in the pic were from yesterday.
(ID #320947) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:21
student, webmaster
I am going to a conference about flags in Yokohama City next year, so that will be interesting. Even during a small Japanese meeting about the same topic, it was very lively with drinks and food in hand, and a lot of laughter.
(ID #321870) Posted on 2008/10/03 16:41
TK-8316 / 宅男 Otaku / 工程师 Engineer
i hate meetings. meetings always means that the higher ups are giving u more work to do. sometimes the higher ups are so free they organise meetings for all sort of things. holding a meeting within the company with your own staffs is easy cos everyone is around. but if it involve outsiders, imagine the poor fellow has to travel all the way for a useless meeting.
(ID #320944) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:20
i'd rather have SAFS turning up instead of SACS. after sometime the cameras would loose their charm and i would be trying to sell them. the figures - all of them are cute and i would keep them with me. mango lassi - first time i heard of mango flavoured lassi. will try putting some mango flavour or syrup in the lassi next time i drink it. also didn't hear of Red Cliff till you mentioned it.
(ID #320948) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:25
I have to say, that's one really cute plushie you got there ^^ As usual, all the food really starting to make me hungry T_T
(ID #320971) Posted on 2008/10/02 22:54
Medical Research and Design
Envious. I wish I could have fullfilled the invitation, Danny. :x Nonetheless - it's good that everyone had a great time! Looks well organized and great fun. Darn you guys and your SA*!!
(ID #320984) Posted on 2008/10/02 23:09
Working Otaku mom
Me too Len!:D Wish I could have been there at least to see what goes on at these meetings!:P Looks like lots of fun!:D Must somehow acquire the firefox!:P Really want that now!:D And the google notepad is so cool, must find out how I can get this stuff!:D Danny, any advice on acquiring?:D
(ID #322108) Posted on 2008/10/03 22:13
aw! I want nendo loot an meetings too x'd Actually I'm only tanking japanese lessons, ande my life resumes from work, japanese, home, bed, work...longgg etc. x'D
(ID #320992) Posted on 2008/10/02 23:17
I used to spend (waste) time doing an NVQ Qualification for my current job as a Pre-Press Technician (Mac operator) where I had to write pages of useless information which didn't teach me anything about doing my job better and was HIGHLY irrelevant 50% of the time. Finally after 3-4 years of different people tutoring me I managed to complete it then to be told I didn't have enough proof of my IT Skills... The fact that I worked on computers EVERY DAY for 3-4 years didn't seem to count!!
(ID #321035) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:04
Yep most meetings are a waste of time - when a simple mass email will do. I prefer SAC - more of a camera-person.
(ID #321041) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:15
http://animenlife.blogspot.com
Sometimes, meetings are good, but mostly times they are a waste of time... (because they are boooorrrinnngggg....)
(ID #321045) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:22
Programmer Trainee
I LOVE FIREFOX. It's my default browser. Had no problem with it ever since. I really want to go to Tokyo one day...
(ID #321048) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:28
Where can I get one of those Firefox plush?
(ID #321051) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:38
Director/代表取締役
I don't think you can unless you either know somebody at Mozilla or enter some sort of competition. Ah there is one more - do business with them ^^;
(ID #321426) Posted on 2008/10/03 09:03
Computer Technician, Kita-Kon Chairman
I would say half the meetings i have to attend are total wastes of time and resources. That is due to being sidetracked by non important subjects. I wish i had an important job T_T
(ID #321061) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:49
closet hikikomori
Red Cliff! It's amazing if you like Romance of the Three Kingdom or the more fun version - Koei's Dynasty Warriors :D I watched it on the plane when I returned home frm Tokyo. Takeshi Kaneshiro's drool material! This has got to be the most handsome looking Zhu Ge Liang I've ever seen. LOL I loved the battle tactics! A must watch!
(ID #321066) Posted on 2008/10/03 00:59
Internet contents, music, webdev
Nice use for that Bomberman GB 3 can!
(ID #321081) Posted on 2008/10/03 01:15
Wish I could be a part of the Dinner... XD Wish I could get the Foxkeh too (its cute...) and have been using firefox for almost 2 years
(ID #321093) Posted on 2008/10/03 01:24
"You would rather receive SAFS or SACS?" - A little of both:) "Are you wasting time in useless meetings or lessons?" - some lessons are pointless, but I usually am present anyway. Most of the meetings I go are very useful, because I can talk to the smarter folks
(ID #321103) Posted on 2008/10/03 01:43
Student, Spiral Warrior
Looks like quite a week, as usual.
(ID #321105) Posted on 2008/10/03 01:44
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
SAFS for me... though I really need a better camera... I prefer to keep everything on one PC only. I'm not very organized, so I'd end up with dupped stuff. Well, I spent 10 years with computers and now I'm dropping it for journalism. Wouldn't say it was "useless"... but it would be better if I didn't spent this much time in it. Didn't hear about Red Cliff too. :P Finally, those dinners looks interesting. I bet I could learn lots of things on those...
(ID #321114) Posted on 2008/10/03 01:51
Informatics(ComSci-ish) student/self-taught graphic designer and illustrator/Network Operations Support Analyst
I've been using Firefox ever since it came out and before I got a Mac. IE sucks =_= I use both Safari and Firefox now ^_^
(ID #321119) Posted on 2008/10/03 01:52
Civil Engineering Student
I kinda switch between IE and Firefox. It's usually just whatever I click first, lol.. I remember a lot of useless meetings when I was still working but the