Nicki Yoshihara, Author at Tokiotours

Tokyo The Favorite in Vote for 2020 Olympics

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in News, Stories about Japan |

The International Olympics Committee will hold a vote in Buenos Aires on Friday to decide the host of the 2020 Olympics. According to oddschecker.com, a site that gathers odds from Internet betting sites, Tokyo bests its competitors at 11-10 (meaning a successful bet of $10 will return $11 plus the original stake). Madrid follows at 11-4 and Istanbul 5-1. Throughout the past week, the three cities’ delegations have had to face questions on their preparedness and ability to...

Why actions in Japan speak louder than words

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan |

Foreigners are often upset when their Japanese counterparts break verbal commitments or fail to live up to the signed agreements. Where the foreigners themselves “fail” is that they are ignorant of the etiquette and ethics of the Japanese and do not realize that what they think is wrong, may be regarded as right in Japan. The reality behind a pleasing facade In formal official dialoge in Japan, especially with government bureaucrats and politicians, what you...

Where to eat: Mi Choripan for delicious choripán

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Where to eat |

Anyone who’s visited Argentina should be familiar with choripán, those gut-busting sandwiches of chorizo sausage topped with chimchurri sauce, vegetables and other condiments. This South American street food staple makes its Tokyo debut at Mi Choripan, a garish decorated new eatery that aims to bring the spirit of Buenos Aires to Yoyogi-Uehara. The shop’s Japanese owner learned the art of sausage-making in Argentina, so expect authentic flavours and...

How the Japanese perceive and use knowlegde vs. the Western way

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan |

Until 1990, when Japan’s so called “bubble economy” began to lose steam, many Western business and political leaders were frustrated at the continuing momentum of Japan’s economic juggernaut- and their seeming inability to understand it, much less slow it down. The feeling that Japan was playing unfairly resulted in a backlash against Japanese management practices that were once touted as worthy of copying. This irrational reaction was soon...

Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Stories about Japan |

Japanese design is famous the world over, but what is it exactly what we are looking at? I always believe if you know a bit of the back ground of things, it becomes easier to better appreciate the intentions of the designer and to appreciate something beyond face value. In this blog posting I aim to explain two different, but intertwined Japanese design principles. Wabi-sabi a form of Japanese aesthetics Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a...

What to buy: Essential Tokyo souvenirs

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese technology, Must see, Things to do, What to buy, Where to shop |

25 only-in-Japan gifts, from chopsticks to Be@rbricks No trip to Tokyo would be complete without some souvenir shopping, but scoring the ultimate omiyage can be a real pain sometimes. We’ve made life easier by picking 25 great Tokyo souvenirs, ranging from the traditional (incense, combs, lucky charms) to the downright quirky (tooth-shaped jewellery, anyone?), and most of them are sold close to the city’s main sightseeing spots. Happy shopping, and remember:...

Nissan goes starwars

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese technology, News, Stories about Japan |

Nissan has joined forces with the Empire. Images of stormtroopers, the shock troops seen in the Star Wars films, will be emblazoned on promotional materials up and down the country and on TV screens as the car maker enlists their help for the launch of its redesigned Juke sport-utility vehicle. Invision for DisneyConsumer Products/AP ImagesThe stormtrooper character from the Star Wars movies is helping Nissan sell its redesigned Juke SUV in Japan. In a TV ad aimed to boost...

10 Things Japanese People love to do in Autumn

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan, Things to do |

1. Dig up the old camcorder for Sports day festivals at schools. Health and Sports Day (体育の日 Taiiku no hi), also known as Health-Sports Day or Sports Day, is a national holiday in Japan held annually on the second Monday in October. It commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics being held in Tokyo, and exists to promote sports and an active lifestyle. The first Health and Sports Day was held on October 10, 1966, two years after the 1964 Summer Olympics. October...

Where to shop: Tokyo’s top 6 department stores

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Must see, Things to do, Where to shop |

Department Stores Tokyo is home to some of Japan’s biggest department stores, rivaling most around the world. Shoppers can spend the entire day wandering the floors of a Tokyo department store, where primarily fashion and home decor make up the bulk of the goods sold. Throughout the day, visitors can go to a Depachika, or department basement gourmet halls, commonly found throughout the city’s biggest department stores. Here, customers may spend hours walking...

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