Virtual Dating Getting "Popular"

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Guys in Japan, who don't have real girlfriends, have opted for virtual girlfriends and are now flocking to famous beaches in Japan on dates and to take photos with those virtual girlfriends at famous landmarks. Now that s bizarre!

Virtual girlfriends? Talk about a cheap date!

Does this guy's virtual girlfriend know he's walking around 

on the beach taking photos with another guy? 

I'm not making this up.

The article states:

If you visited the Japanese hot springs resort of Atami recently and spotted a disproportionate number of men gazing longingly at their smartphones, it probably wasn't because they were playing Angry Birds. This summer, the beach town became a vacation hub for guys who like to treat their girlfriends to sun-and-fun holidays. Girlfriends, that is, who only exist on-screen.

And yes, there are such men, particularly those enthralled with Konami's Love Plus, a popular dating sim for Nintendo DS that also comes as an augmented-reality application for iPhones. Players of the game know that to keep their virtual gals happy, they'd best spend quality time with them, throw them birthday parties, take them on dates, and yes, shell out yen for beach getaways. After all, at $84, a return fare from Tokyo to Atami on the Shinkansen bullet train ain't cheap (fortunately virtual girlfriends travel free).

Can you believe that? Your girlfriend is merely virtual but you still have to keep her happy by taking her places? As Homer Simpson would say, "Oh Marge! Why do we have to go out? We just wind up coming back home anyway!"


I think this virtual girlfriend business is just another place where Second Life and cyber-space is encroaching on the real world. I wrote about how an android named "Hatsune Miku" was revolutionizing the music industry here. That is another wild story.


But, besides the bizarreness, it is a sad state of affairs when guys are so lonely that they take up on virtual girlfriends and "going places" with those girls.


I wonder what those guy's real parents will think when the guy's introduce them to their virtual girlfriend's virtual parent's?

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015133-1.html#ixzz0yQAQ0s1E


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Keywords: Marketing Japan, virtual, Mike in Tokyo Rogers, virtual dating, Second Life, cyber-space, Hatsune Miku, Mike Rogers

Twitter Japan Ad Sales Over $3 Million USD

How well is Twitter's monetization going? Other than to say it's going "better than expected" COO Dick Costolo and company are fairly tight-lipped. Luckily, Twitter Japan - run by Tokyo-based Digital Garage Inc.- is not so discrete. Digital Garage predicts ad sales will generate around $20 million in 2011. The Wall Street Journal reports that this year, 82 different companies have run ads on Twitter Japan, generating approximately $2.4 million sales.


From SF Gate.

More Tips For Better Google Rankings!

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers

Once again, here's an article that can help you get better rankings on Google. I've written about that before here also. And here is information concerning the value of consistent blogging. 

There is also very critical information that you need to know here about Google Caffeine here. Caffeine is Google's new search engine.

But today, here's another quickie that can help you with your blog writing. Originally from American Express, the 4 tips for writing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly blogs.

The 4 tips are:

1. Always Include Search Terms in Your Post’s Title

When Google reads a website to index it, it reads the code directly, not the snazzy presentation that humans see. The way most blogging platforms are built, the headline or title of your blog post is among the first things Google sees, and Google generally assumes the words that appear earliest are the most important. That’s why the title is the most important part of your blog post when it comes to SEO.

2. Link Important Words to Earlier Blog Posts

Search engines generally assume that a blog post that has been linked to has more authority than one that has not. They also consider exactly what word or phrase linked to the post; a blog post about the iPhoneis going to be more likely to show up in Google searches on the subject if another page links the word “iPhone” to the post.

3. Hit the Tagging Sweet Spot

Most blogging platforms let you apply tags to your posts. Tags help organize your blog so both humans and search engines can find what they’re looking for. They’re terms like “consulting,” “local” or “technology” that reflect the topics and content of the post.

4. Use Google Insights to Find the Best Search Terms

You don’t have to play a guessing game about the best tags or search terms to link or put in your post’s title. Since Google is the most popular search engine, it makes sense to focus your efforts there. Whenever you’re not sure which terms to go with, hit up Google Insights, a web-based tool that compares the popularity of any search terms you want to know about.

For further details nd complete article see here.  

http://mashable.com/2010/09/01/how-to-seo-blogs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Mashable+(Mashable

Japanese Government Wants to Make Tattoos Illegal Because of Marijuana Use

Read that headline again. It says, "Japanese Government Wants to Make Tattoos Illegal Because of Marijuana Use." It's true. You read it correctly.

Because some kids were caught with marijuana at a recent beach rock concert in Japan, the Kobe government has decided to take the completely illogical step of considering banning tattoos on public beaches.

As if that will stop marijuana abuse on beaches. Why don't they really put their foot down and ban bathing suits or, ban people under, say, 50-years-old? How about a ban on people who look "funny"? I'd vote for that!


But hey, if the government wants to ban tattoos on beaches because kids were smoking marijuana then I guess it must be a good idea... The government wouldn't do it if it weren't a good idea....Ahem....

It's rare when the government does something so stupid that it really surprises me, but this recent news alarms even me. So some kids were arrested for marijuana possession at a concert? Big deal. What's new? 

This is not a commentary about whether marijuana should be illegal or not.

Since these kids were arrested for marijuana at a rock concert, what is the logical course of action for the government to take? You know the story about how a few bad apples spoils the whole bunch...

Consider: It was a rock concert. Kids were smoking marijuana. What would be the typically stupid reaction? I think they'd want to do something ridiculous like making Rock music illegal... But not in this case. So they've decided to consider making tattoos illegal! You can't make this stuff up! Shouldn't they make rock music illegal (especially since it is the Devil's Music)? 

The news reports say:

The Kobe municipal government is considering banning people with tattoos from a beach in Suma Ward following the recent arrests of college students for alleged marijuana possession during a music event at the beach, city officials said.

The city office intends to come up with a concrete plan during this year, including establishing the rule by ordinance, but banning tattooed people from a public beach is a rare case in Japan as most tattoo bans are for commercial facilities such as saunas.

The envisaged ban may prompt controversy over its possible violation of the freedom of expression as tattoos are becoming increasingly fashionable with young people, critics say.

"It is our duty to make a safer environment for the citizens," said a city official as senior officials of the city and Hyogo prefectural police are set to form a special team to work out details such as ways to restrict entrance to the beach.

Suma beach saw the lowest number of visitors in 25 years this summer, with about 620,000 people in 46 days. Some citizens have told the city office that they "hesitate to go near the beach" amid an increase in young people with tattoos, the officials said.

The city enforced an ordinance with a penalty in 2008 that forbids loud noise on the beach during nighttime, yet about 70 music events were held this summer.


Anyway, this makes good clean sense to me. Let's not stop with tattoos! Let's make it completely illegal for all  ugly guys and girls to be walking around the beach in bathing suits! ...Especially the girls.... Especilly if hey are over-weight.  Yeah.... I'd vote for that... Sheesh!


This is what the government taxes us for? Whay don't we make it illgal for idiots to be in the government? Idiots in government? Oh, sorry, I repeat myself.

Original Story: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9HV27C00&show_article=1

Keywords: marijuana, tattoos, beach, Kobe

Japan's Dysfunctional Government is Best!

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers


Japanese people are very embarrassed by their government. I often hear people say ridiculous things to me like, "I wish we Japanese had a good government like you do in America" or, "Japanese politics is such a joke, all they ever do is care about themselves."

"Who voted for this Asoh?"

Laughable, isn't it? I mean, ow could anyone think the US government is "good" is well beyond my comprehension. I think, in some ways, the Japanese government is head and shoulders above the US government.


Take the recent news...


The newspapers read:


Japan Leadership Battle Kicks Off!


Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his rival, powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa, kicked off a leadership battle Wednesday that threatens to divide the ruling party only a year after it took power. Their contest to run the governing centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) comes as its economic recovery is slowing, Japan's debt mountain is growing and exports are threatened by the yen trading near a 15-year high. The rivals, who both formally declared their candidacy for the September 14 party election, represent the two different wings of the party which a year ago ousted the conservatives after more than half as century in power. 


That's what the papers are all saying. To most Japanese people who care about this sort of thing, it is an embarrassment. It looks like Japan can't have a stable government. I mean, it is possible that, very soon, Japan will have their seventh prime minister in six years if things keep going at this rate. 


Seven prime ministers in six years? I think that's great. 


Why do I think that's good? Well, you see, in the USA we get some moron into the presidency and we are stuck with him for at least 4 years (usually 8). This allows that fool to do all sorts of stupid things like start wars, raise taxes, pass new and destructive laws... And we are stuck with it....


In Japan? Nope. We don't have that problem... When the prime minister's job is like a revolving door, with the prime minister changing every few months, then that's the best result we can possibly hope for short of abolishing the entire government.


Why? Well, if we are changing government constantly, then they cannot pass new laws nor can they raise our taxes. See? It's the best!


It's the most optimum outcome possible! So three cheers for the dysfunctional Japanese political system! Let's hope it spreads around the world and puts and end to tax increases and wars! 


Besides that, I have "10 prime ministers in 8 years" in the pool at work and I have my eye on that money!


Go dysfunctional government! Rah! Rah!





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Keywords:


prime minister, Naoto Kan, Ichiro Ozawa, Marketing Japan, Mike Rogers

Own Mizuho Bank or TV Tokyo Shares? Sell Now While You Can!

By Mike in Tokyo Rogers


"The management of that company couldn't properly run a fruit and vegetable stand." Kazuo Inamori - Chairman of JAL and founder of Kyocera said when he fired the entire Japan Airlines Upper Management staff in early 2010..


I've written before about how there's no way out of the hole for companies like TV Tokyo; they are quickly heading for bankruptcy. The Chairman of TV Tokyo, the president and the entire management team, needs to be fired immediately for incompetency and for running TV Tokyo into the ground. Management like these people clearly have sold out the future of the TV station in order to prop up short term financial goals so that he and his cronies are able to get full retirement benefits.


(Note: Under the rules of any Nikkei-related company - of which TV Tokyo is one - the president can only reside in his position for 6 years and then is forced into retirement. The current president is 3 years into his term. All he needs to do is float the company for three more years and he gets his full retirement package. Hence, I suspect, a huge motivating factor in taking out a huge loan that can never be paid back. He has sold the future of the company and all its staff up the river so that he can have a good retirement package. The employees and shareholders should be up in arms.) 


Short-term thinking and immediate gratification are no way to run a company. TV Tokyo's balance sheet shows the proof in this. TV Tokyo group is currently losing around $40 million dollars cash a year.


Short term thinking and goals are what has gotten TV Tokyo into the mess it's in and there's no way out now short of radical changes in management - if it's not already too late. Like I said, at the least, the current management needs to be fired immediately and replaced with someone who has at least some new ideas on how to run the station. At this rate, with the digital conversion just around the corner coupled with the collapse of the Japanese economy, TV Tokyo isn't going to make it another 5 years.


The most alarming part of this picture is that, in order to stay afloat, TV Tokyo group, in February of this year, borrowed... are you ready for it? About $5 billion dollars from Mizuho Bank in order to be able to continue with the running of day to day affairs. Five Billion US Dollars! That's $5,000,000,000.00! This is a $5 billion dollar loan taken out by a company that is losing $40 million dollars a year.


Evidence of this loan showed up in TV Tokyo's balance sheets after their shareholder's meeting ended in February. Considering that TV Tokyo is losing money, and has been losing money for the last few years, taking this loan out - without a solid business plan for making money - or paying the loan back - is suicide. 


This is plainly insane. The only people who could be stupider or more insane than the person who took out this loan is the people who would loan this money. That brings me to the real criminal idiots in this mess: Mizuho Financial Group (MFG).


MFG took this money - not theirs mind you, their customer's money - and lent it out to a company that is basically insolvent. That is just plain irresponsible and bad business.


Why would MFG lend this money to a company that they know is losing so much money and has no way of paying it back? Well, for so many years in Japan, it was believed that the Japanese government would never allow a broadcasting station to go bankrupt. And they never did before... Well, not until this year. Earlier this year, the broadcasting world in Japan was turned on its head when a major FM radio station in Nagoya, Radio-I, went bankrupt and the Japanese government didn't step in to stop it.


It's probably due to the fact that the Japanese government has already spent the public into debt and obligations that already equal over 190% of GDP... The fact of the matter is that there is no more money left in government coffiures anymore. The piggy bank is broken and there's nothing left.


So, besides telling you, once again, that TV Tokyo is a dead-horse, I'd like to warn you about one of Japan's biggest banking firms, Mizuho Bank. Or, more specifically the Mizuho Financial Group (MFG).


Wikipedia writes about MFG:


It holds assets in excess of $1.44 trillion US dollars through its control of Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Corporate Bank, and other operating subsidiaries. The company's combined holdings form the second largest financial services group in Japan. Its banking businesses rank the third in Japan after MUFG and SMFG, and the ninth in the world by market capitalisation as of Nov 2009.^[1] It is the 59th largest company in the world according to Forbes Global 2000 rankings. Its shares have a primary listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.


This sounds all dandy, but I have some information today to share with you that should warn you about this company; the Mizuho Financial Group is so deeply intertwined with TV Tokyo that they've gotten themselves into a huge jam and can probably never extract themselves from it... This is going to cause them to write off, or take pennies on the dollar, for a $5 billion dollar loan that they gave to the TV Tokyo group. This is a loan that TV Tokyo is not paying off, nor can they ever pay off, as the TV Tokyo group is losing money. How could they possibly pay it off?


Maybe MFG was hoping that the Japanese government was going to bail out their loan like the US government did with the US banks and automakers. Fat chance. 


TV Tokyo will not be able to make their first payment and will have to roll over this loan next year. Considering their business state and the state of the Japanese economy, how many years will they be able to continue to roll over this loan? I doubt that they can do this for more than a few years.


When MFG calls in the loan, it's game over for TV Tokyo. Game over for TV Tokyo will seriously damage MFG share prices too. What will happen when their $5 billion dollar loan is sold for pennies on the dollar?


Both companies share prices are in serious trouble as it is. Three years ago, TV Tokyo shares sold for about ¥4,440 each (calculated at today's rate of about ¥85 to $1 USD). Today, TV Tokyo shares sell for ¥1540 (about $18.30) a drop of 66%. That's bad, but MFG shares have done even worse dropping from a price of about ¥1,100 (about $13.06) three years ago to ¥401 today (about $4.75 each). That's a 77% drop in price. 


It's hard advice to swallow if you own shares in either TV Tokyo Group or MFG.... You've already lost a bunch of money as it is... But considering the above information, it's not going to get better.


If you own MFG shares or TV Tokyo shares, then take your lumps. Face the ugly facts: You lost money. Get out now or you will lose even more.


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Keywords: JAL, TV Tokyo, Mizuho, MFG, Kazuo Inamori, 

Summer Too Hot? Here's the USB Necktie Cooler 3

Well, the Japanese "Salary-man" is an office worker who sits at a desk all-day for long hours pushing papers... Regardless of the fact that he sees few, if any, outsiders come to his company, it wouldn't do for him to not be dressed in a suit and tie (regardless of how hot Japan's summer's get!)

What to do when slaving away at the PC for long hours during the day? Why, a USB necktie with a cooling fan built in, of course!

Here's Thanko Corporation's "USB Necktie Cooler 3"! The perfect gift for that salary-man of yours or that salary-man living inside of all of us!

It took Thanko‘s star engineers over two years, but I bet the work was worth it: after showing you the USB Necktie Cooler 2 back in June 2008, the Tokyo-based USB gadget maker now presents, you guessed it, the USB Necktie Cooler 3 [JP]. The silliness just doesn’t stop, it seems.

It’s basically a silk necktie with a plastic fan built into the tie’s knot. Just plug the thing into a USB port (the cable is 135cm long) and use the switch to turn the fan on and feel cooler instantly. If you want to use the tie on the go, get the optional battery pack holding four AAA batteries. As far as I can see, there are no major differences between version 2 and 3 (apart from the design of the tie)

Thanko is offering the USB Necktie Cooler 3 to Japanese customers only, but if you’re interested, you can ask specialized store The Japan Trend Shop for import help (the store currently sellsversion 2 for $88).

From Crunchgear: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/08/06/thankos-usb-necktie-cooler-3/