Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Recent Comments:
Big in Japan: Sapporo isn't just about beer! {Gadling}
Dec 12th 2008 8:26PM For sure - there is even a special type of beer on Hokkaido called Sapporo Classic, which is delicious stuff!
Former costly cities like London and Seoul are now cheaper {Gadling}
Dec 4th 2008 7:54PM Nice article Josh - one thing that always irks me though about the ECA survey is that they always measure cost of living based on the cost of a detached house and a vehicle. In Japan, a detached house can literally cost more than 5000 a month in rent, while luxury apartments go for a more modest 2000 a month. And no one has a car, aside from all of the diplomats and CEOs that subscribe to the ECA.
On the other hand, food is extremely cheap here, at least in comparison to Europe or North America, and the public transportation is well-priced and reliable. I guess the point is that people really need to look at the bigger picture when assessing the livability of a city. And as a side note, I've been Luanda, and I think most of the cost of living goes into hiring a private security force to keep you safe (^_^)
Best,
Matt 'Big in Japan'
In which countries are there 7-Elevens and how many are there? {Gadling}
Nov 30th 2008 8:35PM Actually...
There are more 7-Elevens in Japan than in any other country in the world. The main reason is that the company is an indirect subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings Company, a Japan-based organization.
(I own their stock, which is why I know this bizarre and random bit of worthless information (^_^)
So how well do these digital boarding passes work? {Gadling}
Nov 26th 2008 7:28PM Hey Grant,
Cool post - actually, Japan has been using this exact same system for more than 5+ years now. It's really popular in advertising because you can use your phone to scan the code and learn about a new product or record the website and other retail information. You also see these codes at bus stops, which are used to ping the server and figure out when your bus will arrive. It's very, very cool technology, so hopefully it'll catch on in the States.
Anyway, happy turkey day, and safe travels.
-Matt 'Big in Japan' Firestone
Blogger Brenda Yun {Gadling}
Nov 14th 2008 7:45PM Not all LP people are terrible - there are quite a couple (myself included) on the Gadling team...
Welcome aboard!
Big in Japan: Do video games make kids aggressive? {Gadling}
Nov 13th 2008 6:09PM I bet you could whip that Wii controller like a bat out of hell...terrifying.
Big in Japan: Do video games make kids aggressive? {Gadling}
Nov 13th 2008 6:03AM Thanks for the kind words tyr - always nice to get a compliment in the dog-eat-dog world that is the blogosphere!!
Anyway, I have to admit that I've only played GTA a few times, but that was enough. Mind you, I didn't stop because I was horrified, but actually quite the opposite. It was one of the most intense and emotionally stimulating gaming experiences I've ever had, but I was sorta terrified that it was bringing out the beast in me...
So yeah - I here you on this one. There's certainly a clear line between real and virtual. Let's hope it stays that way (^_^)
Sounds of Travel 5: One Night in Tokyo {Gadling}
Nov 9th 2008 9:08PM Nice post - I don't know much stuff by Colder but I'll definitely check them out!
Big in Japan: 4 easy steps to blissful meditation {Gadling}
Oct 28th 2008 10:18AM Thanks for the digg-esque vote of confidence, and glad to hear that you liked this little article!
Not much to report really - just writing, writing and writing these days, so no news is good news (^_^)
Best,
Matt
Big in Japan: 15 Japanese characters that you can learn today {Gadling}
Oct 18th 2008 5:57AM Francesca is absolutely correct!!
In the case of Kai and Umi, here are two examples:
1) 海 - This character is read as 'umi,' which by itself means simply 'sea.'
2) 東海 - These characters are read as 'toukai,' which means 'East Sea.'
If this is confusing, don't worry as even Japanese people have problems sometimes with knowing which way to read the characters!!
