China a No-Show at this Year's JATA World Travel Fair in Tokyo

One thing that definitely had a bad impression on the JATA World Travel Fair 2010 was the last minute cancellation of the displays and booths from China.


The Asahi.com gives us some insight as to why this happened:

BEIJING--City authorities here, reacting to the row with Japan over the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain, have called on local travel agencies to refrain from aggressively selling and promoting tours to Japan.

The step appears to be a deliberate measure to express Beijing's displeasure with Tokyo.

Earlier, China shelved Cabinet-level contacts with Japan.

Japanese authorities arrested the Chinese trawler captain after he rammed two Japan Coast Guard vessels in waters off the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The incident two weeks ago soured bilateral ties because both countries claim sovereignty over the islands, which Chinese call Diaoyutai.

According to several travel agencies, Beijing's municipal tourism authorities summoned representatives of dozens of tourist companies Tuesday night to request they be less assertive in promoting tours to Japan.

The request was made verbally, according to people who attended the meeting.

An official with a leading travel agency in Beijing said Wednesday that tours to Japan up to early October that have been already booked will go ahead as scheduled.

But the agency is not recommending tours after that because Japan-China relations remain so strained.

China usually has a huge display on board for the JATA World Travel Fair so they were sorely missed. But the folks at JATA did a great job working like crazy to fill a huge hole in display area that was left by an absent China. I would imagine that most visitors to the JATA World Travel Fair 2010 would not notice China's absence unless they were alerted to it intentionally.


It struck me as strange, though, that, while China did not attend, there were huge displays and exhibits by Hong Kong and Macau.


Mish of Global Economic Analysis writes:

Tensions between China and Japan reached new heights in an escalating war of nerves between Japan and China. Here is the approximate sequence of events.

Japan kicked things off on September 7, with the arrest of a Chinese boat captain in disputed waters. In an escalating dispute, China blocked exports of rare earth metals to Japan on September 22.

Rare earth minerals are used in manufacturing and weapons production. The US gets most of its rare earth elements from China.

Tensions increased on September 23 when China arrested four Japanese employees of Fujita Corp on suspicion of violating Chinese law regarding the protection of military facilities.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton entered the fray "urging dialogue".

The House Armed Services Committee scheduled a hearing on Oct. 5 to review the American military dependence on Chinese rare earth elements.

Japan releases captain.


Of course it takes two to tango and Japan is not totally innocent in this incident, but this sort of nonsense could really spiral out of control. I really wonder why the Chinese government will sacrifice so much of their own economic good and the welfare of the people for such political and nationalistic principles. Couldn't these things be calmly discussed without such antics?


I remember in March of this year when the Chinese government (well, the Macau government to be exact) suddenly revoked the license of a domestic airlines and stranded 4,000 Japanese in one day. I understand that there might be some sort of problems, but doing things in this manner is akin to taking a hammer out to fix a problem with your car... 


They should have taken care of business and made sure the passengers could have flown and everything was fine on the business side... Stranding passengers just hurts business and a countries image and hurts sales and tourism. Hurting sales and tourism not only hurts the government's income, it hurts to regular person on the street trying to earn a living.


Let's hope that they keep this in mind when continuing to deal with these problems and cooler heads prevail.


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Keywords:
China,  JATA,  JATA World Tourism Congress and Travel Fair,  Marketing Japan, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, JATA WTF 2010,  Macau, Hong Kong, Mike Rogers

Yokoso Japan! Welcome to Japan!

I've been working with some friends on a new project for a travel site on the Internet and trying to acquire domestic promotional videos to be used.

Well, it's been easier said than done.

I have, though, been able to obtain videos from the Japanese government. Though today's particular video is from Internet Archives.

When Junichiro Koizumi was prime minister of Japan, he allocated money to encourage tourism to japan. The project was called, "Yokoso Japan" (Welcome to Japan) and featured many TV programs that were aired all around the world... In fact, I hosted the one about Hiroshima (even though I don't live there!).

Here is the main "trailer" for the series, Yokoso Japan and is a very well made, enjoyable short "trip" to Japan.

Hope you enjoy it!



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Keywords: Yokoso Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, tourism, Mike Rogers, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Marketing Japan

Great Short Movie Showing Life in Japan in 1963

The Internet Archives come through once again with this great film showing life in Japan in 1963. In those days,  Japan was experiencing an economic boom and was a trophy piece attraction for the United States to show the world that capitalism and American-style democracy was best for the world.

My, how things have changed!

At the start of the film is a 3:53 introduction by Bill Deneen that is mildly amusing. Especially the part where he says something like, "The Japanese economic miracle is too complicated and has too many facets to be all addressed in a 30-minute film... That's why we decided to make into two thirty minute films."

Pretty funny!

Things were really rolling for Japan in the early 1960's and by 1964, Japan returned to full honors in the world stage with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. This is an excellently made film that really shows the Japan of 1963... Now, nearly 50 years ago.

If you've ever been to Japan or live here, then you will surely enjoy this film. The best part comes after about 24:00 into the film when the Japanese businessman comes home from work and his wife gives him a bath and a massage!... I knew it! I just knew it! Now why doesn't my wife give me a bath and a foot massage every night?

Oh, the good old days!

TO SKIP THE B&W INTRO GO TO 3:53 IN THE FILM  




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Keywords: 1964 Tokyo Olympics, 1963, Marketing Japan, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, Mike Rogers

Windows XP Errors put to Music. Great Music!

Some young people in Japan are making the most fantastic music using the most unique new ideas. Here's one from Japan's version of YouTube (called Nico Nico Douga which translates to: "Smile, Smile Moving Picture."

It is a fantastic mix and design of Windows XP Errors put to music. Enjoy!



In Japan, kids are coming up with some of the most amazing computer generated music. Here's one that is sang by the Vocaloid (a singing android) named Hatsune Miku. I wrote about what Hatsune Miku is here.




This one from my friend Lila Cleary

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Keywords: Windows, Windows XP, music, computer music, Vocaloid, Hatsune Miku, Marketing Japan, Mike Rogers, Mike in Tokyo Rogers 

Economic Crisis and the Actualization of Zen

Those who have visited Chinatown, any Chinatown, will observe statues of a stout fellow carrying a linen sack. Chinese merchants call him Happy Chinaman or Laughing Buddha. 

This Hotei lived in the T'ang Dynasty and he had no desire to gather disciples around him. Instead, he would carry around the sack filled with gifts of candy, fruit, or doughnuts. These he would give to the children of the streets who gathered around him in play. 

Whenever he met a Zen devotee, he would say, "Give me one penny." If any asked him to return to the temple to teach others or pray, he would say, "Give me one penny." 

Once, as he was about his play-work, another Zen master happened along and inquired, "What is the significance of Zen?" 

Hotei slouched and immediately dropped his sack down to the ground in silent answer.
Then, another Zen master asked, "What is the actualization of Zen?" 

At once the Happy Chinaman swung the sack over his shoulder and continued on his merry way.

~ Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

It's been decided; the US economy is crashing... or it isn't. The Great Depression is quickly coming upon us... or it's not. We'll all soon be poor, out of work, with no money or food... or we won't.

To me, it seems pretty clear what's going on, what's happening, and what's going to happen... I think it will really matter to all of us and be very painful, or it won't.

Actually, what difference does it make what words the government uses to describe what's going on? The only thing that matters is what we think and what we do about it. We can panic and worry all we want; it won't change anything.

I know, upon reading this next part, most might consider me crazy but I ask you to consider the coming events in a positive light. Look forward to that which we cannot change. Of course I don't mean to allow yourself to be like a leaf on the ocean being blown every which way by the whim of the wind or currents; of course you must prepare as best you can. But once you have made preparations, then look for the positive things.

Things I look forward to is spending more time with my children, not spending money, but thinking of more ways that we can grow closer together in a sort-of "old fashioned way." Aren't people always saying that, especially when it comes to family, "things used to be better." They were. Long ago, people didn't have to spend money to bring their families closer together. Nowadays, people don't know what to do with their leisure time if they don't spend money.

Why do I need to pack the family up in a car and drive them to Disneyland, spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, to be entertained when I can pack a picnic basket and take them to a park and come closer together by entertaining them with reading a book or stories from my youth, conversing, or playing catch? What family wouldn't this type of activity benefit? It would benefit all families both psychologically as well as economically. 

And speaking of psychological benefits, I wondered the other day what it would be like to have to walk around all day, go to work (thankfully still having a job), with absolutely no money in my pocket when I left my home? Up until recently, I would spend about $25 a day on food and at convenience stores. On July 1st, I stopped. I didn't have to. I just wanted to see what it would be like.

I told my wife to put no money in my wallet everyday. I couldn't spend money I didn't have in my pocket. I would get up 10 minutes early and eat leftovers; I would buy no coffee at Starbucks; I would drink tap water at work, then go home to eat leftovers. If I were fortunate, my wife would have cooked something new by then. I've done this now for almost one month.

You know what? It wasn't so hard. In fact, when I changed my thinking and began to calculate that the money I saved was going to feed my children, it was easy. I'm fortunate; I still have a job. But I might not next month.  Why should we wait to prepare for what might be coming when we can get ready now? Why shouldn't I walk before I am forced to run?

Since I started this, I've saved about $250 dollars. Not a lot of money, but $250 dollars is $250 dollars. One year of doing this will have saved one month's of mortgage payments. Think about that.

Perhaps we have come to live too accustomed to the so-called "Good Life." When we want something, we buy it. But do I really need that new gadget or game soft? Do I really need to eat lunch out at a restaurant 250 days a year? No, I don't think so. Living this way makes me appreciate more the simple things. In fact, I used to eat dinner out about 350 nights a year. Now I don't. When I ate out every night, I didn't look forward to it. Now, I do. It has become special again.

Now I look forward to coming up with new ideas and ways that I can spend time with my kids and not spend money. I feel, in a way, like I live in a Time-Machine and I am taking them back in time to when life was simpler and families actually spent time together and a kid's best friend was actually his own dad.

What's changed, actually? Nothing. Just my way of thinking changed.

The economy is ruined and things are becoming scarce... What can I do about it? I've prepared as best I can so now I'm going to pick up the sack, swing it over my shoulder, and continue on my merry way.

Finally, consider this:

Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening, a thief visited the hut only to discover that there was nothing to steal. 

Ryokan returned and caught him. "You may have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift."
The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. 

Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, "I wish I could give him this beautiful moon."  

                    
~ Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

This article originally appeared on Lew Rockwell 

"Hello!? America!" Teaching English in Japan

I've been offered a job teaching English at a prestigious university in Tokyo. It might be fun. It could very well be a drag.

I hear that the students I would teach would be very high-level English speakers so I wouldn't have to teach things like:

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. And you?"

"Me too."

I hate teaching stuff like this. But it does need to be taught and rigorously reinforced through in-class practice.

Take, for example, former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. Even though he had a much-deserved reputation for being hopelessly incompetent, he was my favorite prime minister. Why? Because when he was prime minister, I could look forward to the daily newspaper every morning to see just how far into the depths of stupidity this guy could go.

This is a true story of Mori's "English In Action." I think it was in 1999 and he went to the United States and met then President Bill Clinton. Mori hadn't been a good boy and didn't study his English lessons hard enough. So when he met Bill, instead of saying:

"How are you?" He got his "w" and "h" mixed up and said:

"Who are you?"

"I'm Hillary's husband," Bill Clinton answered.

"Me too!" Mori replied.

Oh me! That one just gives me a chuckle every time I think about it.

Of course, if I am the English teacher, this type of simple mistake would never happen. I run a tight ship. And it has taken me years to speak English so good like I do.

Lesson One – Greetings:

Here's a practice lesson I thought of for when an American came to visit my students in class. I would say:

"Mr. Tanaka, this is Donny. Donny, this is Mr. Tanaka."

Donny: "How are you?"

Mr. Tanaka: "Hello!?"

You will notice that Mr. Tanaka used the correct emphasis when talking to Donny as his "Hello!?" had both an exclamation mark and a question mark.

This emphasis on understanding seems to me as being quite useful in this ever-changing world of fast-paced English language conversation.

"Donny" meets "Mr. Suzuki"

Lesson Two – Let's speak American:

"Mr. Suzuki, could you explain the difference between 'abuse' and 'torture' for Donny, our American guest?" (I always ask the easy questions to Mr. Suzuki, as his English is the worst in the entire class.)

Mr. Suzuki: "Yes. Abuse is how I treat my ex-wife. Torture is abusing someone in order to receive some information."

	All serious university professors write their own textbook.

"Very good, Mr. Suzuki."

After that, we would practice using this vocabulary in an everyday situation.

Donny would say:

"Oh, I wouldn't use the word 'torture' in that case. I would say 'abuse.'"

Entire class (to Donny): "Hello!?...Hello!?....Hello!?"

This article originally appeared on Lew Rockwell

Last Week's Twitter Attack Unintentionally Originated from Japan!?

I have written extensively before on how I question Twitter's long-term viability as a solid business in the west before. See here and here and here. But I have always thought Twitter would do well in Japan because Twitter allows 140 characters - I think it is often too short for English, but, in Japanese using Chinese kanji, one can write a mini novel on Twitter since kanji often represent entire ideas.

But now here comes some news that claims last weeks terrible Twitter hack problems originated from Japan!

From Google News:   

This week's Twitter attack that caused a widespread headache for the micro-blogging service appears to have been triggered by a Japanese computer hacker who says he was only trying to help. The attack, which emerged and was shut down within hours Tuesday morning, involved a "cross-site scripting" flaw that allowed users to run JavaScript programs on other computers. The originator is believed to be someone who uses the name "Masato Kinugawa" in cyberspace and acknowledges creating the Twitter account "RainbowTwtr" that demonstrated the vulnerability. Through his Twitter account and personal blog, Kinugawa regularly tracks down possible computer security loopholes and notifies companies of their existence. There are "Twitter-like" competitors in Asia. The best is Pick. Pick allows you to place a photo right on your tweet (or I guess I should say, Pick") so you don't have to click-through to a different page like "Twit-pick" and, with how conscious of their privacy Asians are, these kinds of trouble for Twitter spell big opportunity for the Asian companies. We'll see how this all plays out.... Either way, more bad publicity for Twitter.     See original article.