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Last night, I had
Last night, I had dinner at the Tokyo American Club. Since escaping America, we’ve mocked the American Club as a bastion for bored, bridge-playing, ex-pat wives/socialites. And to be honest, I don’t think we’re entirely wrong. The building sends off “Let’s impress everyone with our money” vibes. The lobby is a vast expanse of carpet
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1999 and 2000 registered
1999 and 2000 registered record high unemployment levels: 4.7%. Restructuring and bankruptcies as a result of the economic decline had over a million people out of work last year. Jobs are hard to find for those who’ve been “involuntarily unemployed.” Sogo, a major department chain, let go 179 people. Only four of them have found
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Keio, one of Tokyo’s
Keio, one of Tokyo’s suburban train companies, recently instituted late-night, “women only” train carriages in an attempt to give women a safe haven from Tokyo’s infamous gropers. This isn’t the first time segregated cars have been run through Tokyo. In 1912, a rash of groping prompted women-only cars, and after WWII there were “women and
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We celebrated the lunar
We celebrated the lunar new year by trudging through the slush to Tokyo Daihanten, a dim sum restaurant in Shinjuku. It was a great holiday treat. I love stopping the carts as they trundle through the restaurant with their loads of steamed buns, shumai, gyoza, shrimp cakes, fried daikon patties and spring rolls. A few
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I’ve never seen so
I’ve never seen so much snow in Tokyo. “We’re going to have a big snowfall tonight,” my friend Kristen mentioned on Friday at lunch. How intriguing. It rarely snows here. She was right. It began snowing late on Friday night and continued all of Saturday. By Saturday evening, five inches blanketed the ground. Public services
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The movie theatre experience
The movie theatre experience in Japan is a mixed bag. Ticket prices are outrageously high. We spent 1800 yen per ticket (That’s about $17) to go see 13 Days last night. Popcorn, my favorite movie treat, is disappointing. It’s not freshly made and it tastes like its wrapping. But the concession stand sells ice cream
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Jonathan’s is the Denny’s
Jonathan’s is the Denny’s restaurant of Japan. Jonathan’s decor screams “family restaurant.” The walls are pink textured wallpaper with a stained wood chair rail. Watercolor paintings and mirrors add spots of color. Brass poles and frosted glass offer privacy between sections. Potted plants in baskets hang from the ceiling. You’ve been in here before. But
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Japan deregulated its phone
Japan deregulated its phone services and now we are seeing the rate wars beginning. NTT East has routed all local phone traffic in Tokyo until now. They’ve been charging 10 yen for a three minute call. But their new competitors are charging only 8.8 yen for three minues and one has gone to 8.7 yen.
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Soy is used for
Soy is used for a lot more things in Japan that in America. Every part of the bean is used, and very little is wasted. Take o-kara for example. This is the fibrous part of the bean that is left behind when it’s pressed for tofu. It’s a damp, crumbly, pretty tasteless substance. But it’s
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I make videos as
I make videos as part of my living. Sometimes I have the most amazing luck with timing music and video. The video I’m working on now is a fast-paced review of last year’s accomplishments for a company. It’s bright, with quick cuts, lots of color and a rap soundtrack. I was asked to incorporate a
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