Tokyo 2001 - 2004
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Sat 2008/10/04 14:25
Following on from Tokyo 1999 - 2001. 2001 August was when I joined Amazon but will leave the nitty gritty details for the "Working in a Corporate IT company: Amazon and Microsoft" article.
This is was the view from my office at Amazon on a warm autumn evening.
This is was the view from my office at Amazon on a warm autumn evening.
dannychoo.com back at the end of 2001 was looking like this. More about the evolution of the site in the History of dannychoo.com article.
In 2002 dannychoo.com took on yet another look n feel influenced by my time working for the scientific journal Nature.
Back to the end of 2001 where we were still living in our first apartment after arriving in Tokyo. I remember how some of our gaijin friends would giggle at how small our sofa was.
Many apartments in Japan have tatami mats - some like them and some don't because they give off a distinct smell. I personally like them and sleeping on them during a sunny warm Sunday afternoon is priceless.
Tatami do wear out quicker than carpets though. We don't have any tatami now but I will make sure that we have at least one tatami room in the next house that we build.
Are you a tatami yay or nay? Can you buy tatami in your region?
Tatami do wear out quicker than carpets though. We don't have any tatami now but I will make sure that we have at least one tatami room in the next house that we build.
Are you a tatami yay or nay? Can you buy tatami in your region?
As our apartment was more of the traditional style which don't have beds. We slept on a futon which we stuck outside on the balcony when the sun was out and folded away in the cupboard during the day.
The wooden door frame holds traditional Japanese slides which one can remove - you can just about see them on the right of the photo. These are made of paper and folks with kids need to replace the paper covering very often ^^;
In 2001 we switched from NTT Docomo to AU - mainly for the ability to use our phones outside of Japan. At the time, hardly any Japanese phones could be used overseas.
The job at Amazon had me flying around quite often and this little bugger saved me life.
The job at Amazon had me flying around quite often and this little bugger saved me life.
More pics of the old place.
Our first TV that served us well for many years. Still using VHS tapes at the time.
Some of my team members at Amazon. I made a point of taking them out for lunch every week and whenever we went we would do the group photo thing.
For those who are wondering, apart from Japanese nationals, I also hired Filipino, Taiwanese, Shanghainese, and Australians into my team who had web, program managerial, coding, marketing experience. Their Japanese level was fluent - would not have hired anybody who could not speak Japanese as they just wouldn't be able to function in the company properly.
For those who are wondering, apart from Japanese nationals, I also hired Filipino, Taiwanese, Shanghainese, and Australians into my team who had web, program managerial, coding, marketing experience. Their Japanese level was fluent - would not have hired anybody who could not speak Japanese as they just wouldn't be able to function in the company properly.
At a shrine near our place in 2002.
In 2001, I started to become interested in 3D graphics. Put this together in a landscape generator called Terragen - and I now find out that they also have a Mac version too!
this is another example of what you can do with the package and there are more examples here. Extremely easy to use.
this is another example of what you can do with the package and there are more examples here. Extremely easy to use.
Another Terragen piece.
I chose 3D Max to learn how to build 3D stuff. This is my all time fave space vehicle - the Vic Viper. Do you dabble in 3D work?
Another one of my 3D Max renderings. Took me months to learn how to make the tunnel. Its basically a cylinder with a map attached to it and then many tweaks of lighting. Cant remember how to do it though orz.
Out for din dins with the management team at Amazon and some of the senior folks from Amazon HQ including Diego Piacentini (Senior VP International Retail), Greg Greeley (VP World Wide Media). Me in the blue shirt next with Diego next to me.
This pic sure brings back a load of memories.
This pic sure brings back a load of memories.
Management team at Amazon Japan including Jasper Cheung (Country Manager) to my left and Lauren Kawasaki (VP Entertainment) above.
Harajuku back in 2002-ish. When in Tokyo as a visitor, I would come to Harajuku often to buy a ton of idol photos - especially of Nishida Hikaru in bikini. Hikaru-chan in bikini below.
Was either at the end of 2001 or beginning of 2002 where we moved to our second dwelling in Tokyo. We was now on the Inokashira line near Shimokitazawa in what the Japanese call a "mansion." A mansion is basically a block of apartments where the exterior is usually made of concrete.
The place we lived at before was called "aparto" which was short for "apartment" and is usually made of wood.
The place we lived at before was called "aparto" which was short for "apartment" and is usually made of wood.
We chose a mansion because I wanted somewhere quiet - I thought it was going to be concrete between each dwelling. While the exterior was concrete - the walls were wood. Very thin wood where you could hear people next door sneezing.
Are dwellings like this in your region too?
Are dwellings like this in your region too?
Was a small cosy apartment but much nearer to work. I could get to the Amazon offices within 30 mins which is considered a very short commute for Tokyo.
5 Windows machines at the time ^^; Would not touch a Mac.
We lived in this apartment until we moved to Seattle in July 2004.
2002-ish at Mount Takao San.
I wasn't really a blogger at the time and didn't take many photos either - something that I regret. How often do you find yourself taking pics of stuff?
I wasn't really a blogger at the time and didn't take many photos either - something that I regret. How often do you find yourself taking pics of stuff?
I think it was in 2002 when I started to grow my hair long.
Was into airguns at the time. Went looking for a Socom after playing MGS but it looks like everybody else who was playing MGS also went looking for one - they were sold out everywhere!
Ended up getting this P99 instead.
Ended up getting this P99 instead.
The device of the time - IDE drive cloner.
Was either end of 2002 or beginning 2003 when we got our Plasma. The retail price was about 800,000 yen at the time but paid about half price from a seller on Kakaku.com.
There was a time when then display would just cut out but a guy from Panasonic came to dust down something inside and it works fine now. Who said that Plasma's don't last long?
There was a time when then display would just cut out but a guy from Panasonic came to dust down something inside and it works fine now. Who said that Plasma's don't last long?
Didnt like carrying a load of adapters when on a business trip so this was how I chared batteries - USB charges the Gameboy and from the Gameboy charged other batteries.
2002/2003 was the first time I went skiing - and injured my ankle which had me limping for months ^^;
Went twice after and injured myself both times - my wife done her leg in too. Couldn't stop laughing when I looked at us both limping back to Tokyo ^^;
Looks like we wont be going again any time soon.
You is be skiing when the snow season arrives? I remember the folks in Seattle used to leave work at 3PM (!!) to go skiing.
Went twice after and injured myself both times - my wife done her leg in too. Couldn't stop laughing when I looked at us both limping back to Tokyo ^^;
Looks like we wont be going again any time soon.
You is be skiing when the snow season arrives? I remember the folks in Seattle used to leave work at 3PM (!!) to go skiing.
2003. My office at Amazon Japan full O Star Wars stuff. Even though I lived in Japan for many years, I wasn't really into moe.
Akihabara in 2003-ish.
I think this was either summer 2003 or 2004 when I got my first Gundam - GFF GP01. Up until then I had zero interest in Gundam. Watched Stardust Memory and got hooked on Gundam - wanted more.
I was asked if I would to relocate to Seattle with Amazon to manage a software development team. I accepted as we thought that it was a step that we needed to take in our lives. Before relocating, I moved into a different office.
By summer 2004 my GFF collection had grown.
Thought it was cool at the time - a wireless vacuum cleaner. Battery only lasted for about 7 months.
And then it was time to pack up and move to Seattle. Our second international move.
Amazon shipped all our belongings to Seattle. We had two shipments - a few hundred kilos for important stuff (like Plasma ^^;) and the rest by boat.
We came to Japan with only the blue n red suitcases and ended up with a load of junk after ^^;
The thing is that we are quite good about getting rid of useless stuff. Most of the boxes contain daily life stuff like hygiene, toiletries, clothes, books etc.
After all the boxes were taken away, we handed back the keys and said goodbye to our place that was our home for a few years. We were now literally homeless with no permanent address.
Before leaving for Seattle, Amazon put us in a hotel overlooking Shibuya - took this on the night before we left. This wallpaper (also available in the wallpaper pool) was my desktop image for my duration in Seattle - I missed Japan a lot.
Have you bee through an international relocation with either your work or family? What was the experience like? Did you have a culture shock on the other end?
Will talk about our experience in depth in the next article.
Before leaving for Seattle, Amazon put us in a hotel overlooking Shibuya - took this on the night before we left. This wallpaper (also available in the wallpaper pool) was my desktop image for my duration in Seattle - I missed Japan a lot.
Have you bee through an international relocation with either your work or family? What was the experience like? Did you have a culture shock on the other end?
Will talk about our experience in depth in the next article.
Some more pics that we took just before we left.
The decision to leave Japan for Seattle was a tough one but felt that it was something that we had to try out in our lifetime.
The decision to leave Japan for Seattle was a tough one but felt that it was something that we had to try out in our lifetime.
After living in Seattle for 5 months, I completed the project that I was working on and after many months of thinking about it, I requested to be transferred back to Japan. The plan to have us permanently in the US didn't go accordingly - I missed Japan too much.
in July 2004 we arrived in our new home - Seattle. We stayed in one of the tall buildings you see bunched in the middle of the photo overlooking the harbor.
Next I will talk about my time in the US with Amazon.
Next I will talk about my time in the US with Amazon.
Starting this weeks in installment of A Week in Tokyo with a blurry pic of one of my com...(more)
Thu 10/02 21:10 comments (95)
Been sorting through many years of photos r...(more)
Wed 09/24 22:06 comments (149)
i don't like carpet or tatami mats but hard wood floors are great, in my opinion.
(ID #322807) Posted on 2008/10/04 14:36
I suspect that the mats would be better for the winter, though, as wood doesn't retain heat very well. I recall needing to wear shoes when visiting my grandparents house because their wood floors were horribly chilly in the winter.
(ID #322944) Posted on 2008/10/04 17:43
Horror☆Star
Wow, very neat apartment for your first arrival in Japan, pretty much organized, love how you decorate your space ^_^ I can spot a Fujitsu, HP, DELL & Toshiba Tecra laptop, isn't it? Reading this chronicle does make me feel & enjoy the flow of DC.com deeper & better ^o^
(ID #322816) Posted on 2008/10/04 14:46
Director/代表取締役
You got all the machines correct apart for the Toshiba ^^;
(ID #323116) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:13
Lover of Akiba!
Wow Danny, I don't like domestical moves, and you're asking if I like international move??? OMG! Please, thank you very much! Come another day lol Don't know Seattle, but I think anywhere of Japan is the better place to live (I lived in Asuncion - Paraguay, Chihuahua - Mexico, Hamamatsu, Minokamo and Ushiku - Japan)
(ID #322818) Posted on 2008/10/04 14:49
Student, Crtsy clerk for Ralph's
well I guess moving from south korea to the u.s would be considered an international move but thats when I was super young so I dont really remember anything of reference to a big culture shock or change. The picture of the bathroom is cool, I dont know why, it just is.
(ID #322819) Posted on 2008/10/04 14:50
Don't like moving a lot...Nice Gameboy charging idea..>w<''
(ID #322824) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:00
Didn't know that stuff like that works ^^; I mean since different batteries have different voltage ratings on so on.
(ID #323125) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:35
College Student
I spot my old HP nc6000 laptop! It might have less power than todays laptops but i like it's design. I moved from the Philippines to the US back in 2003. I thought Anime died on me at that time since i couldn't find anyone with any Anime related hobbies and i don't have internet at that time also... ^^;
(ID #322831) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:10
afatcow (Registered on 2008/08/28 17:35)
I like tatami mats, personally. Though I dunno where you can get them where I live... =/ And we just switched from carpet to bamboo relatively recently, so I don't think we're going to be switching again for a while. And thats a bunch of laptops. (yeah, I don't know computers at all. whatever. :D)
(ID #322833) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:18
WebDesign, Coding, Administration
Hmmm interesting once again... though with my future plans i really ponder how international moving works. I did move a lot across germany... rent a truck and get stuff going - no problem... but... international? Uhm... no clue how to get my things from A to B actually. ^^;
(ID #322839) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:23
Ever visit, I'll take you to a firing range to fire real guns sometime. You'll love it. Winter time we can try snowboarding instead of skiing, so you can injure both legs instead of one. ^^;
(ID #322841) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:26
Director/代表取締役
"Never again." Name that quoter.
(ID #323113) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:12
Err... You got me. Mrs. Choo? ^^;
(ID #324542) Posted on 2008/10/06 12:24
Director/代表取締役
Arnold in Commando ^^
(ID #324549) Posted on 2008/10/06 12:27
Full-time student へへ
i hear having wheels on tatami tends to wear them out faster - the tatami i mean. just wondering, was your star wars and gundam collection part of the few hundred kilos of important stuff? ^^
(ID #322848) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:35
Director/代表取締役
In the first shipment we sent the plasma, figures and some clothes. Looking back, I would have taken the daily toiletries instead ^^;
(ID #323100) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:02
I haven't tried tatamis yet, but given my partiality towards anything asian I will most likely love them. I like how you took everyone for food regularly, it's a great way of knowing your co-workers and taking group photos is very nice too, you can have a good memory of each stage of your work life. I hope I can have a rich work-life like yours, since I'm not very sociable to begin with ^^U
(ID #322853) Posted on 2008/10/04 15:43
SUPER OTAKU, manga-ka, Illustrator, Domon Kasshu fanboy, Konata's male half, Megas XLR fanboy
I'm not social either Yaku-oujo-sama
(ID #324596) Posted on 2008/10/06 13:00
student
i've been studying in different countries for my primary, secondary, and tertiary education but Thailand is always my home and where my family is:)
(ID #322865) Posted on 2008/10/04 16:12
The evolution of Danny Choo continues!!! So you've been into blogging for 7 years... Most people would have stopped in like 3 years or so... I do love those graphic art you had on your old site!!!
(ID #322889) Posted on 2008/10/04 16:36
TK-8316 / 宅男 Otaku / 工程师 Engineer
this is the first time i see danny in another colour other than black. ^^;
(ID #322901) Posted on 2008/10/04 16:46
Horror☆Star
LOL, u notice that too, the only 1 in Blue color collar shirt ^o^
(ID #322914) Posted on 2008/10/04 16:58
daichouginga in Byston Well, the land between the earth and the sea (Registered on 2008/06/04 10:04)
Professional Bum Mode
LOL, true enough. ^^
(ID #324532) Posted on 2008/10/06 12:15
Student & Authorized Chicken Slapper
I find your way of charging batteries to be quite clever, never thought of doing something like that. Just curious Danny during the posting of this articles time period, how was Akihabara? Is it like what it is today being an Otaku holy grounds? Just curious because ur last post indicated Akihabara during that time frame wasnt like what it is now.
(ID #322911) Posted on 2008/10/04 16:55
Director/代表取締役
Akihabara back then was more of a place to get PC parts and the like. There were no maids or cosplayers at the time.
(ID #323102) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:03
Does it still have a lot of PC/electronics stuff now? Or more to otaku stuff/maids etc.?
(ID #323130) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:38
Director/代表取締役
More of the PC /electronics I would say but still a load of moe.
(ID #323430) Posted on 2008/10/05 09:06
Lover of Akiba!
yeah, everywhere you moves, can see moe... and maids, or some guy doing female cosplays (ouch my eyes!)
(ID #323457) Posted on 2008/10/05 09:47
When I was in Akihabara in 2003, I went purely because it was the famed "Electric Town" and I wanted to buy a new Japanese electronic dictionary. There were no Gamers, Animates, certainly no maid cafes ^^ Remember being annoyed in mid 2004 when I kept reading about the new "wave" of maid cafes and other otaku-related shops suddenly opening in Akihabara, since I had just been there recently and barely missed the beginnings of Akihabara's shift.
(ID #323152) Posted on 2008/10/05 00:15
Student - Network Engineering - CCNA
another nostalgia bomb have you used Bryce3D before?
(ID #322912) Posted on 2008/10/04 16:56
Director/代表取締役
Tried many and probably did try it for a while. Also tried Lightwave and Maya too but found Max the easiest to use.
(ID #323112) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:11
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
U talked about regretting not taking more pix, it is the same with myself, but at the time when I wanted to record everything in pix I only had an automatic film camera lol it was a gift from my parents for doing well in my studies at the time I think ^^ When I got my first digital camera (with quite a bit of my work savings) I took so many pix that the camera finally expired after about a couple years :P
(ID #322931) Posted on 2008/10/04 17:25
why they dun sell air guns in singapore.... damm.......
(ID #322940) Posted on 2008/10/04 17:36
born in japan and lived on the navy base there for 8 years. moved to seattle for a while. then here in san diego, ca. been missing japan ever since i left and visited once for vacation with my friends. its my dream to go live where i was born. yokosuka, japan!
(ID #322945) Posted on 2008/10/04 17:46
JR. College Student
Man I would kill to live in another country, especially now with our economy in the toilet and all. :P Can't wait to read about your time in Seattle, it's a pretty tame city though. Wouldn't mind living there myself... though I would miss California... unless I lived in another country. ^_^
(ID #322949) Posted on 2008/10/04 17:51
Didn't think much about pictures in the past...now that I'm older views tend to change...good times...
(ID #322951) Posted on 2008/10/04 17:56
Online Shop
I don't mind tatami but old tatamis have such a distinctive smell that makes me feel weird sometimes. My family made an international move from Korea to US almost 20 years ago. I was only like 12 years old at the time so it was more exciting than scary. I did not speak English fluently but I eventually did so did not face too much problems. My recent domestic move was much difficult with all my collections rather -_-
(ID #322962) Posted on 2008/10/04 18:05
marvin (Registered on 2006/12/25 00:30)
I remember my father had Japanese tenant once, he had all the flooring changed to tatami mats. he always keep the place so clean that my dad said one could eat food off the floor. ^^; love that CGI ship of yours, especially with the image of it parked on top of a building. ^^ great idea with the series battery charging. ^^
(ID #322981) Posted on 2008/10/04 18:59
I think everyone here would like to give Mrs. Choo a very big round of applause for her supporting you so well throughout your career. I hope, Danny, that you appreciate your good lady's input into your being able to share with us the rich life you have led so far. May those who have smiled upon you both continue to do so.
(ID #322994) Posted on 2008/10/04 19:22
Director/代表取締役
We make decisions together ;-)
(ID #323110) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:09
I was going to ask, when you say "we" do you always mean yourself and Mrs Choo, or did you stay with friends/roommates? Sorry if this sounds really nosy it's just all the photos are of you and your colleagues.
(ID #330129) Posted on 2008/10/11 03:53
Custom Pc Builder, Muppet, Pyromaniac, Demolitions Expert
I have never moved house in my life - It woulda been nice when i was a little younger - going to a nicer place to start over again :) otherwise is my turn to find my own place n reach for the stars
(ID #322998) Posted on 2008/10/04 19:30
I've only been through six international moves, so far. May do number seven in April. Funny that you were in Seattle. I might've passed by you back then, and never have realized it (I head back there once a year to visit friends and family). ^^
(ID #323002) Posted on 2008/10/04 19:33
Oh, and while the Vic Viper is cool, the R-9A still beats it...^^
(ID #323014) Posted on 2008/10/04 19:59
Director/代表取締役
R-9A - is that the RType?
(ID #323104) Posted on 2008/10/04 23:06
Yup...^^ It's the Arrowhead (from the original R-Type). I loved the Vic Viper for it's slick design (and Gradius III was just tons of fun), but the R-9A has always been my favorite game fi