Little Things Tokyo : Surviving Tokyo’s Summer Heat

As every year, I forget the “humid and sweltering season” of Tokyo’s summer heat. Every year it feels “more hot than ever”. The moment you venture outside, the suffocating wall of heat hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s relentless, draining, and enough to make you question your sanity for leaving the comfort of

Takashimaya in Tokyo unveils a display featuring artifacts associated with the Imperial Couple

The wedding of Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako was a momentous occasion that captivated the hearts of the Japanese people and garnered international attention. As the Rolls-Royce Corniche made its way through the streets of Tokyo, adorned with delicate floral arrangements and ribbons, it symbolized the blending of tradition and modernity. The Chrysanthemum motif, a national symbol of Japan, graced the car, adding a touch of regal elegance and cultural significance to the procession. The royal wedding became a celebration of love and royalty, embodying the essence of Japanese tradition and the promising dawn of a new era for the imperial family.

Tokyu Plaza Ginza : Kiriko Lounge and Terrace

Tokyo has got a brand new FREE OBSERVATION terrace and lounge. The Tokyu Plaza Ginza. Opened for business on March 31, 2016, Tokyu Plaza Ginza is a brand new department store in the upscale shopping district of Ginza with a brilliant exterior motif of a traditional Japanese craft—Edo Kiriko cut glass.The exterior is brilliant piece

Pepsi SAKURA : Tastes like medicine, a Sakura flavoured cola drink…

It’s the second week in the month of March. The cherry blossoms are a few days away, but the marketing machines of companies are already working full speed and many brands are getting the “sakura” treatment. Alcohol brands like Suntory, Kirin and Asahi already have their sakura flavours out… In the discount store around Kasai,

5 years since the earthquake of March 2011

I still remember the sunny afternoon on a Friday in Kobe, I was looking forward to a regular weekend and was busy closing most of the actions and head off to Tokyo back home. I used to stay in city of Kobe all the five days of the week and go back to my family

Tokyo Olympics 2020 : Shizuoka plans to develop a giant Wave Pool

Everyone wants a pie of the Olympics in 2020 and the neighboring prefectures of Tokyo are announcing development plans one after the other. A few months back Kanagawa Prefecture proposed the Enoshima-Shonan base for the surfing event  at the Olympics. Chiba, another hot spot for surfing activity threw its hat in the ring and Chiba Governor Morita positioned

Depiction of Indian gods in Japanese games : Artistic liberties?

The Bollywood movie ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ by the legendary Raj Kapoor has a song  “Yashomati maiyya se bole nandalala, radha kyun gori, mein kyun kala? (Krishna asking his mother why he is dark while Radha is fair). Krishna is referenced as a dark (or black?) personality while there are many instances where we see Krishna

Multiple Entry Business Visa for Indians to be extended for 10 year duration

Some “Acche Din” or “good days” for Indians planning to visit Japan on business. Nikkei reports that Japanese Prime Minister Abe in his visit with India’s Prime Minister Modi and also the Vietnam premier made some important decisions which will bring convenience on visa matters for people visiting Japan. The Foreign Minister of Japan Mr. Fumio Kishida announced in

PM Abe wants to speed up the removal of overhead power lines for 2020 Olympics

As I go around with a camera in hand around Tokyo there are so many locations where overhead power lines ruin a good angle and view. Consider the snap below, a blue sky with the Skytree popping out with the unnecessary noise of the electricity cables. PHOTOSHOP PLEASE…..Leaving aside the visual aesthetics, there are pros and cons with

Hachiko : Odate City makes a relocation pitch post 2020 Olympics

Odate City is the place where Hachiko was born before Professor Ueno bought him and took him to Tokyo his home. Japan’s favorite pet dog, Hachiko, waited every day at Shibuya Station in Tokyo for his master to come home on the train — for more than nine years after his master’s death. A memorial to the dog’s loyalty stands

Cup no Fuchiko : Cuteness on the edge of the cup

Japan makes some seriously cute stuff. I have collected small figures on bottle caps of beverages, costly PVC models of Haruhi, but was oblivious to the cute phenomenon of Fuchiko. In my recent business visit to London, my colleague from Paris asked me if I knew of Fuchiko. Her question stumped me and I replied “no”

Why I stopped travelling on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line?

Tozai Line with the newly developed suburbs around Minami Sunamachi, Nishi kasai, Myoden leading all the way up to the residential development of Funabashi area has seen an increasing in commuter traffic over the first decade of 2000. Tozai Line is ranked the worst in Japan and sometimes crowded to 200% of the capacity. The

Tokyo Station – Eerie silence at 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2016

New Year’s Eve is a time for parties and fireworks in many countries, and I have enjoyed the festivities in so many cities with fireworks and a usual “Happy New Year” wishes to anyone and everyone on the street. In Japan and specifically in Tokyo, it is a somber time when people return to their

50 Years of LOVE IN TOKYO : 1966-2016 photo story

Let me recollect the FIRST word in Japanese language that I have learnt in my life…. Well, I clearly remember that I was around 10-12 years old and the Doordarshan channel was playing the 1966 hit, bollywood movie LOVE IN TOKYO. The song SAYONARA SAYONARA introduced the first word for me, “Sayonara” which is the Japanese word

%d bloggers like this: