From Canada, been in Tokyo since 1987.
Currently working at Thomson Reuters in Japan creating Internet based solutions for retail investors. The rest of the time I'm actively swing trading the Japanese Equity Market.
My old blog is still alive at http://blog.q-taro.com
Oh man, am I late in getting this news! I wet myself when I saw this photo. France unveiled a special edition roadster to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the car in Europe. I wish Japan would put out something like this cause I would buy it in a heartbeat. Matte Black is my favorite colour!! Are those RIMS hot or what?! It's like the Miata Bat Mobile. More photos here and here
Wow, this Jumbo Mazinger is friggin' awesome. Actually, it's called Jumbo Machinder Neo which is the name of the giant robot toys they used to make 37 years ago. They are reviving the line thus the "Neo." It's 600mm tall and costs 26,250yen. Spotting at Yodobashi Akiba today. I went to get a new mouse and almost bought the Mazinger. If I bought this I would put it on my dinner table so I could look at it all the time.
On the train to work this morning, I was standing and reading a book when I heard a splashing sound behind me. Turned around and saw that an older woman had vomited all over the place, I was hit around the lower back of my pants but the people next to her were not as lucky. There was no one in the direct path fortunately. I dived out of range when the second tsunami came. Poor lady. I wanted to go and help her but the smell of puke makes me want to throw up as well so I would not have contributed in the best of ways. Another more compassionate commuter helped her off the train at the next station. It's a difficult situation for people to be helpful, isn't it?
It's like a filter that goes into your nostrils to block out the pollen.
-Sent from iPhone 3GS
This is what happens when you leave your taxes until the very last day. I suppose it isn't much different in other countries. In Japan, you can do your taxes online but some people still like to lineup and do it the hard way.
Before you do any construction in Japan, it's customary for a Shinto priest to come and bless the ground to exorcise any evil spirits and pray for the safety of the constuction workers. It's called Jichinsai 地鎮祭（じちんさい）.The photo is of the guys setting up the altar for the ceremony. I didn't stick around to watch it. Before they cleared this land there was a very old & creepy abandoned house that I never looked at when I walked past at night. I was sure if I did I'd see some ghost looking back at me from the window. Below is an educational video about the ceremony. It's over 8 minutes long and really boring so watch only if you're interested in this kind of thing.
Lotteria means Lotte+Cafeteria. In all the years I've been in Japan I'd never gone into Lotteria until last year. Not even once. I've always just assumed that local fast food was bad and not bothered (all fastfood is bad but you know what I mean). Near the office there is a Lotteria that is actually quite nice with sofas and cushions even. I've become fond of the Zeppin Cheeseburger which has nothing inside except meat and cheese. No lettuce, onions, tomato, ketchup. Nothing. And it's tiny, you could eat it in 2 or 3 bites easily. But, it has a peppery, chickory, barbacuey taste that's good.
Here's a list of functionality that I hope the Posterous guys will implement soon.
I realize that they are working mostly on the features that distinguishes themselves from the other services (autopost) but it would be nice to have the basic stuff so we can use it as the main platform for blogging rather than a delivery method. I have high hopes for Posterous! But if they don't fix number 1 soon it's gonna drive me absolutely crazy.
