Archive for June, 2009
Microsoft innovation forum in Tokyo :o
Got this from the ACCJ; anyone interested can tell me and I’ll sign you up as a guest of mine.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan Presents:
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SOFT LANDING 2009: TECHNOLOGY AND LIFESTYLE INNOVATION FORUM
DATE: Thursday, July 2, 4:00 to 6:40 p.m.
VENUE: Microsoft Japan Odakyu Southern Tower 5F
MAP:
COST: Members & guests: 0 yen
TO REGISTER: Please reply to this e-mail with 1) your name, 2) company
name, 3) email address, 4) telephone number, 5) whether you would like a
booth and 6) whether you would like to attend a reception following the
program – light snacks & soft drinks will be served.
REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION DEADLINE: Thursday, June 25
HOST: Soft Landing Task Force (MT)
NOTE 1: The outline is tentative
NOTE 2: The meeting is OFF THE RECORD
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EVENT OVERVIEW:
Microsoft Japan and the ACCJ Soft Landing Task Force have joined forces
to present an open forum Soft Landing looking at how technology is
driving lifestyle innovation.
OUTLINE:
Part 1: Mini Curriculum Sessions
- Welcome Address speakers from Microsoft Japan
- Windows Live Technology Platform: How to utilize IT in your work & life
- Work Life Balance
- Diversity and Creative Employment Practices
Part 2: Discussion Group
- Diverse working lifestyles
- Women discuss real life experiences
Part 3: Meet and Greet Networking
ACCJ Member companies can request complementary booths to promote their
organizations and meet recent graduates from Japan’s government-funded
program supporting women wishing to return to work. Please let us know
if you would like us to prepare a booth for you.
We are looking forward to welcoming you.
Kindest regards,
Adam Kassab, Mariko Nakazono
Co-Chairs
Soft Landing Task Force – Kanto
Mari Nogami
Co-Chair
Soft Landing Task Force – Kansai
The time-value of Japanese Music
Amuro Namie in more disposable soon-to-be 100 yen music.
The other day I was taking a look at the music rack at Hard-off, a “Recycle Shop” (think: used goods store). I can’t imagine a worse purchase than new Japanese CDs.
Singles cost something like 800-1200 yen. It is even worse when you look at older ones from the 90s. Full albums can cost 4000 yen with ease. Yet, there I was looking at 10 CDs from sugar pop queen supergroup “Morning Musume” and it was valued at a mere 320 yen ($4). Someone probably shelled out about 200$ for those CDs brand new; a value retention of about 2%.
I’m probably going to start reviewing the albums from the 100 yen rack, just to see what’s so bad about them. Maybe what I heard from the old Gaijin types is true; maybe it is just that there is very little timeless pop music in this country.
Exhausted
Whenever I am coming home on the Tobu Tojo line, I find myself on one of the last trains (usually around 11 PM). Once the train has passed Shiki, it is usually possible to get a seat.
It is hard not to notice how everyone is sleeping in the train. I don’t recall such a sheer scale of people asleep in the Metro back in MTL. In this case, the entire opposite row of people (about 10) were asleep; except for one oblivious nerd who was happily pounding away at his PSP.
Odd building in Okubo
Odd building in Okubo, originally uploaded by jawaad_mahmood.
While wandering the streets of Tokyo, I encountered this half-demolished building in Okubo.
Sorry for the layout problems.
I switched to WordPress 2.8 and it looks like the searchbox went out of wack. I’ll be fixing that soon enough.