Japan to home-grow new jet

by Abha Malpani on

It is said that a country’s aviation industry is not complete unless it can produce its own aircraft — hence the importance of “home-grown” jets. I have to add here that that is the most blah term given to a domestically manufactured plane that strengthens the nation’s economy and technological prowess, but hey who am I to make judgment?

Japan announced today that it would have its first home-grown passenger aircraft ready by 2013 and has a $1 billion plan in place. The 70-90 seater planes will be “grown” by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and will target the short/medium-haul regional market. According to AP: this will be the first nationally funded, “made in Japan” passenger aircraft in three decades.

Surprisingly, China beat Japan to it by unveiling their first home-grown jet in December last year.

Big in Japan: Tokyo’s top cherry blossom spots

by Matthew Firestone on

Spring fever in the air here in Tokyo…

While countries and cultures the world over have their own ways of ushering in the spring season, perhaps none are as famous as Japan’s spectacle of cherry blossom viewing. At present, the normally gray cityscape of Tokyo is awash in bright shades of pink as sakura (??????, ??; cherry trees) trees are beginning to reach the climax of their annual spring bloom.

While modern Japan is seemingly unconnected to the whims and nuances of the natural world, the Japanese still retain a strong sense of seasonality. Indeed, cherry blossoms are revered as the harbinger of spring, and the opportunity to have a hanami (?????; flower-viewing) party is not to be missed.

For those of you who’ve never had the pleasure of being in Tokyo during cherry blossom season, hanami is the traditional Japanese way of admiring the sakura. While other Japanese arts such as the tea ceremony and karate can take lifetimes to master, hanami essentially boils down to a picnic in the park.

However, before you can indulge in copious amounts of alcohol, a veritable feast of seasonal foods and the obligatory impromptu haiku, first you need to pick your spot. And that, my loyal audience, is why I am bringing you this clear and concise guide to Tokyo’s top cherry blossom viewing spots.

Before you can polish off a few tumblers of seasonal sake, first you’re going to need to find some cherry blossom petals worthy of adoration. Indeed, Tokyoites such as myself are keen on keeping our secret spots to ourselves, though the following list of ‘classic’ spots should get you started:

Ueno Park (上野公園; Ueno-kouen) Considering to be the granddaddy of cherry blossom viewing spots, Ueno Park is home to literally thousands of cherry trees, which create a veritable canopy of luscious pink petals. Although it’s certainly not the quietest spot to appreciate nature, hanami parties here are of rock star proportions.

Shinjuku Gardens (新宿御苑; Shinjuku-gyoen) Regarded as having the most beautiful gardens in all of Tokyo, this private park is where you should head if you’re a fan of classic Japanese landscapes. Sakura petals blowing in the wind is a sight in itself, but the scene becomes all the more surreal when they land on perfectly manicured bonsai trees.

Yoyogi Park (代々木公園; Yoyogi-koen) Start your hanami party off with a slow and steady walk through Meiji-jingu (明治神宮), one of Tokyo’s most beautiful shrines, and then wind things down over a bottle of Kirin Ichiban and a rice ball or two in this sprawling urban retreat. Yoyogi attracts a diverse cast of characters, so bring your camera and get ready for some great people-watching.

Sadly, sakura blossoms are as ephemeral as life itself, so don’t waste any time – head to the convenience store, stock up your cooler and start composing those spring haikus.

Sakura petals
Are a divine sight to watch
While sipping beer.

Happy spring!

** All photos were taken by yours truly in Shinjuku-gyoen **

Fiesta: Tokyo’s Hidden Karaoke Gem

by Tynan on

I’m not going to lie – I am a karaoke aficionado. Back in Austin, TX I hosted karaoke every week (mainly so that I could cut the line whenever I wanted) and I invented something called Tazeroke.

I knew that they loved karaoke in Japan, so I was pumped to sing when I arrived here. However, after a trying conversation with the girl behind the desk of a karaoke establishment, I had a shocking realization.

All of the karaoke here is in private rooms.

There are no karaoke bars with stages and random patrons to bask in your superstar glory. And for us Westerners, that’s what karaoke is all about – being a rock star for three and a half minutes.

Some research revealed one exception to this national rule. In Roppongi, on the third floor of a building tucked away on a little side street there is a place called “Fiesta.” You’d never find it if you didn’t know it was there.

Last night my friend Todd and I had the honor of being guests of Shintaro Mimura, the director of Fiesta. And let me tell you – this is karaoke at its finest.

Most karaoke bars in the US are regular bars with karaoke as an afterthought. Not Fiesta. Mr. Mimura is a die-hard karaoke lover and it shows.

The room has a three big seating areas, all with good views of the small stage in the corner. The stage has a full lighting rig, three microphones, and monitor speakers. The system itself is connected to the internet and automatically downloads new songs as they come out. The sound system is fantastic.

The best part of Fiesta may be the crowd. It’s largely regulars and they stand up and sing along with every song they know. Most of the singers are good enough that they’re actually fun to listen to – especially Mr. Mimura. If you go, make sure you ask him to sing some Beastie Boys. I’ve heard a lot of people try to sing the Beastie Boys, and he blew them all away.

To find your way to Fiesta, check out their website at www.fiesta-roppongi.com. I’ll be back there on Saturday, March 29, so if you’re in Tokyo come down and sing with me.

Big in Japan: Zen and the art of ramen appreciation

by Matthew Firestone on

I love ramen…

For some, it’s the marbled fat and delicate color of farm-raised Kobe beef. For others, it’s the delicate flesh and buttery taste of wild salmon.

For me however, it’s got to be ramen, Nature’s most perfect food.

Although I’ve spent several years living in Tokyo, for some strange reason I never had the privilege of dining at Ippudo (?????), a world famous chain of ramen noodle shops.

Originating in the city of Hakata (????) on the island of Kyushu, Ippudo pays homage to its roots by serving up some of the best damn Hakata-style ramen on the planet.

Hakata ramen is distinguished by its rich and milky pork-bone broth, thin noodles and unique toppings such as pickled ginger, crushed sesame and pickled greens.

So how good is Ippudo you ask?

Put it this way – one doesn’t merely jump right into a bowl of Ippudo’s signature Hakata ramen.

On the contrary, it must first appreciated and respected before even a single slurp of soup and noodle can be savored.

So, without further adieu, I present to you today Zen and the art of ramen appreciation.

Upon arriving at the table, don’t lose face in front of the chef by diving into the bowl like an uncouth barbarian.

Instead, take a moment to appreciate the immaculate presentation, the intoxicating aroma and the beauty of the meal before you.

Ippudo ramen is best served up with a dollop of fiery red miso paste and a squirt of black sesame oil.

However, don’t let these culinary flourishes distract you from the heart and soul of the meal, namely the honorable pig that gave up its life for your dining pleasure.

Indeed, the fat from the humble pig comprises much of the bulk of the broth, while cuts of tenderloin float delicately on the surface like sakura petals on a still pond.

Next, use your chopsticks in a precise and exacting manner to explore the delicate coil of noodles that lie in waiting beneath the surface of the broth.

At Ippudo, these handmade noodles are thin yet resilient, and are expertly crafted to capture globules of rich fat and flavorful broth.

By this point, your mouth is salivating and your stomach is growling, so give a polite bow to the chef and say a small prayer for the pig.

Now that the appropriate amount of respect has been given, dive right into what will most likely be the most heavenly bowl of ramen you’ve ever tasted.

And of course, don’t forget to slurp your noodles – not only is it polite, but it also enhances the flavor!

Ippudo has several locations in Tokyo, though I tend to frequent the one on Meiji-dori in Hiroo-go-chome. If you happen to see a fellow gaijin noodle lover there, be sure to say hi.

** Special thanks to my fellow diner and all-around partner in crime, Will-san, who understands whole-heartedly that no two bowls of ramen are ever created equal **

Bizarre Japanese kinks: school boy cafes and more

by Abha Malpani on

While Japanese men get their kicks from “maid cafes”, Japanese women are getting their kicks from “school boy cafes” where waiters dress like teenage boys who go to boarding-school.

If I’ve understood clearly, these Japanese women do not want to get with these men dressed as school boys, but their thrill factor lies in the romance that they see (or imagine) between the boys at the cafes — something that comes to life from the Japanese boy-boy romance manga comics they read.

According to Reuters, the latest genre of such comics often include violent sex scenes that range from anal and oral sex to bondage and male gang rape. Apparently, seeing beautiful fragile boys in dangerous almost death-like situations makes them attractive to the women who read such manga comics.

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The idea it follows after the “butler cafe” — opened in 2006 by the same person — to provide the young, sophisticated, geeky Japanese woman (female Otaku) a safe and trendy environment to hangout, something that is a rarity in Japan because of it’s rigid society norms.

Talking about rare cafes and kicks people get from them, a bit of prodding reveals numerous weird themed cafes in Japan: vampire cafe, prison cafe, ninja cafe, eyeglasses cafe, scientist lab coat cafe, and the church themed Christon cafes.

I think the success of such concepts is a great example of deep cultural complexities that I wonder if we will ever understand. But I suppose we don’t need to understand them as long as we accept them — perhaps then we will be able to enjoy them too!

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