Art of Taro Okamoto

I had friend coming over from Nagoya and went shopping in Aoyama. Aoyama is a very nice area to walk around and do shopping.
While wandering around, I saw this interesting statue and had to find out what is is. It also reminded me of something familiar... I went closer and noticed what it was. It was the same artist of "Tower of the Sun" in Osaka Park; Taro Okamoto.
Very interesting figure, I enjoyed them.


Also, it was funny to see this cause I have been reading this manga (comic book) called "20th Centry Boys" recently, and this Tower of the Sun plays a big role in that story. This manga is very popular in Japan now, not my type of the manga, but sooo interesting that I cannot stop. Mystery and futuristic story. I cannot read alone at night because it's too scary ... I heard that it'll be a movie soon and maybe it'll come out in foriegn countries sometime. I know there's already an English translation book.

Anyway, the Golden Week Holiday has started in Japan! Just sharing with you some of my activities and update you more later.

Hanami with Prime Minister

I went to the event which was called "Hanami with Fukuda prime minister" @ Shinjyuku Gyoen Park.

It was very very interesting. I was invited from a friend's friend who has some connection with the goverment, you need to have the invitation from prime minister, or I guess LDP is the host . The whole park was reserved for this and there were so many people from all kinds of world; politicians, ambassadors, soilders, TV stars etc. Many people I see on TV news!
Since my friend is dealing with in the middle eastern countries, I met many ambassadors from Africa and Middle-East. I remember Eygpt ambassador was a very nice guy.
The second picture below, who's drinking sake is the prime minister, Fukuda Yasuo. Since many flowers were already fallen, someone expressed that "Fukuda government is almost over like the cherry blossom here..." haha, quite a harsh comment.

Spring has come

Spring has come!
My favorite, sakura (cherry blossom) season.
This is inKyoto, Maruyama park, one of the most beautiful place to see sakura. I used to see this every year when I was in Kansai area, but this year I couldn't. but my friend sent me this photo and made me very happy. (Senpai, sorry for using this photos. it was too beautiful.)

Family Dinner @Tofu restaurant near Tokyo Tower

It was my dad's birthday so we had dinner together at a very nice place. It was located right below Tokyo tower called "Ukai-tei (tofu restaurant)" Great atmosphere that you can enjoy the dinner with the view of Japanese garden, beautiful food and fantastic hospitality. If you have someone visiting Tokyo from another country, this is a perfect place to take them.

Dinner Course
1. Appetizer with Plum wine
2. Fried Tofu and sashimi
3. Sushi, beans soup and i forgot...
4. Fish Soup
5. Their speciality; tofu-nabe
6. Forgot to take photo of the main dish... it was grilled fish
7. Cooked rice with miso soup
8. Tofu pudding
9. Japanese Sake!

View from Tokyo Tower

First Experience!

I tried Shee-sya first time in my life. I've never EVER smoked (cigaritte) in my life, I just hate it!! I can't believe I tried it but I have to admit, it tasted soooo good. I had the apple-mint flavor. My friend told me that it is not as bad as the cigaritte because it goes through water which filters the nicotine, but is this really true?? Can someone tell me the truth with official information? Cause if it is true, I might wanna do it often. I went to the bar in Shibuya and my friend told me that there's not many places that you can smoke shee-sya in Tokyo. Only few places. It's quite surprising cause in Tokyo, there's everything, nothing that you cannot find in Tokyo.I heard there's lots in London and other europian countries, of course in Middle East, and also in South East Asia where the Western go and have party.

Anyway, just wanted to share my exciting experience!

Petit & Delicate Japanese Food

This dish really discribes the real traditional Japanese food. It's not just the volume and taste. First you enjoy the food with your eyes (see), then with your nose (smell), and at last with your mouth (taste). Small but various and colorful food, with the ingredients that you can feel the season. Delicate and simple taste by using most of what ingredients itself has. You can also enjoy by looking at the plates and how they are decorated.

This becomes like.... this.

Biz Trip to Hiroshima

I went to Hiroshima and it's been 13 years since the last visit. If you went to Japanese elementary school, you're more likely to visit Hiroshima on a field trip. Hiroshima and Nagazzaki are the cities where Atomic Bomb was bombed in 1945, only 2 place in the world. When we study history in school, we always visit the peace museum and this Dome below.

Too bad I couldn't see the city since I didn't have any free time, but would like to go there again and learn the history. I remember the museum was so realistic that it was too shocking for us young students.

Another famous thing in Hiroshima is hiroshima-yaki!! It's kinda like Okonomiyaki from Osaka, but with noodles inside and thinner crust. There was this building that has only hiroshima-yaki restaurants! I didn't know locals like this so much!

Snowman

It's was snowing a lot this weekend all around Japan even in Tokyo and Osaka. I couldn't go out because of the heavy snow....but

me and my sis made a snowman next day! Isn't it cute? "smiling snowman" :)

Below is the backyard of my house.

My Weekend Appetite!

Sweets, sweets and sweets...!!!

All around the World; Tokyo-Madrid-LasVegas-San Francisco-Tokyo

End of the last year, I went to visit the most speacial person to me in the world- to Madrid, Spain. I really had a great time. Dinner with all the family, Chirsmas presents, New Year's eve, shopping...etc. I deeply appreciate for their big, warm heart for welcoming me as one of their family.

After Spain, I went to Las Vegas on a business trip to attend the International CES show. On the way to Vegas, I transfered in Philadelphia and because of the strict immigration with such a long line, I miss the connecting flight. So I had to stay over night in Phila. Very tired and stressful after the long flight, long long waiting in line and terrible customer service. Terrible. All the other staffs were already in Vegas but I was 1 day late for the show... Plus, my luggage was not there (I knew it) so I had to go to the airport in midnight to pick it up. I am so tired of airplanes now, especially going to US.

Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy Vegas much because I was so tired by the end of the day. I did have hotel buffet every night though. If you've been to Vegas you probably know, but there's only 4 things to do here. Casino, Show, Shoppping or Buffet.

After Las Vegas, our company headed to San Francisco for the MacWorld 2008. We had the weekend off so I get to enjoyed the city. Very beautiful city, nice people, diverse, good food, good shopping, I was very comfortable staying here. Also, Mac World was interesting. So many Mac geeks!Everyone was carrying Mac PC and iPhone in their hand. Mac fans are addicted to Apple products...

Since I was away from Japan for about 1 month, I feel strange to be back. I don't feel like I belong to anywhere now. Maybe because I was moving around like this since I was little and also I love to travel around. Where is the best place for me?? Where am I in 10 years??