Tag Archives: japan

Unique Holiday Gifts—Shower Friendly Suit and Say It With a Shirt

When it comes to being clever, fashion designers in Japan are hard to beat. Just wait until you learn what one Japanese clothing company has created for the lazy… ahem, I mean, busy corporate folks who don’t have time to take their suits to the dry cleaner. No time to get your suit professionally cleaned? Never mind, just take it to your bathroom and hang it in your shower. It’s no joke. The clothing company Konaka has just unveiled a one-of-a-kind “Shower Clean” line of business suits, which can be washed in a warm shower and require no ironing. According … Continue reading →

Cellphone Movie Festival

I realize that half the world’s population owns a cellphone, but I never thought that statistic would result in the creation of cellphone movie festivals. The event debuted in France in 2005, but this year marks the first time Japan is hosting a version of the festival. The Pocket Films Festival, which organizers call a “groundbreaking event” in the nation, marks yet another use for the omnipresent portable tech device. I’m used to people using their phones to make calls, exchange e-mail, surf the Internet, read novels and navigate miniature digital maps, but to shoot legitimate movies… now I’ve heard … Continue reading →

Want A Facial Massage? Ask A Robot

Like something out of a science fiction movie or the Jetsons, robots have now been called into service to give facial massages. Researchers in Japan have developed a robot that was specifically designed to give a therapeutic facial massage to patients in hospitals and spas across the country. The creators, located at Tokyo’s Waseda University hope to see the robot employed first for patients with jaw-related medical problems and then later for beauty and relaxation massages for the general public. The robot was also developed with Japan’s Asahi University. The robot, dubbed the WAO-1 robot, or the Waseda Asahi Oral … Continue reading →

Cultural Travel Experiences

The title of this blog reflects the growing trend in vacations that offer more to travelers than just a bus tour of a popular city. Travel agents say they have been noticing more requests for “cultural travel experiences” where travelers look to immerse themselves in foreign countries and walk away with something to show for it (besides Dengue fever). Whether you want to learn how to cook authentic Japanese meals or participate in language-immersion programs in Mexico, there are now more ways than ever to get in touch with new cultures or reconnect with your own heritage. Some of the … Continue reading →

Twister Record and Twisted Employee

TWISTER RECORD The hula-hoop, Rubik’s cube and Twister are among the many inventions immortalized in the annals of popular culture. Despite the decades since their introduction to the masses, the toys’ popularity hasn’t diminished. In fact, hundreds of high school students in North Dakota are trying to make playing Twister the coolest activity in town… at least for one day. Approximately 450 teens are looking to set a world record for playing the largest game of Twister. According to event organizers, the students plan to tape together 180 Twister mats on Sunday and stretch their bodies along the path of … Continue reading →

Babies in the News: Japan’s Baby Mail Box

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Last week, a city in southern Japan opened what can only be described as a mail box for babies. It is similar to our ‘safe haven’ laws, where a parent can drop a baby off at a hospital. . .no questions asked. The purpose of safe haven laws in the United States is to deter pregnant mothers from abandoning their babies in unsuitable conditions. At least if they’re dropped off at the hospital, they have a chance at life. In Japan, the purpose of the baby mail box is similar although a little different. Japanese health officials actually want to … Continue reading →

Tokyo Disneyland: Why Do You Have to Go?

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Have you ever ventured to the land of the Rising Sun? If you were, you would visit a magnificent country with a rich history and heritage. You would most likely want to visit the temples with their idyllic locales, their ancient gardens and more. Still, despite this rich history, the beauty and the majesty of the land that gave us the Samurai, children don’t always want to see the rice paddies and the ancient temples – what they want to see is that little slice of Americana that is called Tokyo Disneyland. Journey to Japan Most of us in the … Continue reading →

Skiing In Japan

Oh, how soon we forget. When my brother recently informed me he was planning to spend a week snowboarding in Japan I thought, “Japan?” I’m sure he knew exactly what I was thinking because he broke the silence with, “Hello… Nagano.” Of course… Nagano. Those of you with better memories probably don’t need to be reminded that Nagano, Japan hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. And, while they may not be as well known as the Rockies or the Alps, Japan’s powdery slopes are magnets for winter sports enthusiasts just the same. Japanese mountain villages like Niseko are becoming increasingly popular … Continue reading →

Happy Girl’s Day

Happy Girl’s Day! Today just so happens to be one of my favorite days of the year—Girl’s Day or in Japanese, Hina Matsuri. The Girl’s Day Festival has been celebrated in Japan for the past 900 years (and in my own home for nearly 35). The traditional event is held on the third day of the third month when the cherry and peach trees are in bloom. The delicate blossoms signify the feminine traits – of gentility, composure and tranquility. In Japan, families spend the day participating in activities to ensure their daughter’s happiness. Houses are decorated with collections of … Continue reading →

Rock Star’s Global Effort To Help The Poor

By now you are probably familiar with the efforts Irish rocker Bono has made to boost aid to Africa. He’s recruited the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Ashley Judd, Penelope Cruz, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Christy Turlington, and many other members of Hollywood’s A-list, but it seems that’s not enough for the rock star turned anti-poverty activist. Now Bono is calling on world leaders to lend a hand to people of developing countries. According to news reports, Bono spent a good part of Wednesday urging Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to keep his nation’s pledge to aid Africa and other parts … Continue reading →