Where Tokyo Goes to Shop

Tokyo’s hottest new shop is called Kitson, which just so happens to hail from my hometown of Los Angeles.

It’s a place where young Hollywood celebrities browse for colorful bangles and tattoo-laden sweatshirts. The store is filled to the rim with name-brand couture, accessories, makeup, stationery goods, shoes, purses — you name it — at a cost that’ll definitely break the piggy bank. That is, unless you’re a celeb, cause then they’ll simply hand you the stuff for free.

Back a couple years ago, paparazzi swarmed the place day and night, waiting for that money-shot of celebrities being everyday people. When Halle Barry was spotted with a cool purse embroidered with big lettering from Kitson, it started a hot new trend. Ever since, Kitson owners have been smart to line themselves with celeb supporters.

And now Kitson is in Tokyo –at Lumine in Shinjuku and Harajuku’s La Foret — with a whole lot of fanfare from young women just happy to tote around a Kitson shopping bag for the sake of toting around a Kitson shopping bag (~$100). It’s a match made in heaven; both Kitson and Tokyo worship their young female celebrities and they’re not shy to make a quick buck off them either.

Kitson couture is really cute, but personally it’s way, way beyond my price range. I’m perfectly happy with shopping at H&M, Forever 21 and Uniqlo.With Kitson, I’ll admire them from afar. =)

Himawari

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Beating the Winter Heat

Last winter, Uniqlo beat its competition hands down in the race to sell the season’s hottest thermal wear. From pastel turtlenecks to puffy jackets, its HEAT TECH clothing line became the year’s most gossiped bundle of threads.

This winter, Uniqlo’s underdog competitor Aeon is determined to steal the throne with its line called (drum roll please) ….HEAT FACT! The apparel is similar to last year’s — short-sleeve tees, camisoles, turtlenecks, and long Johns — but boasts a higher thread-count for a softer, warmer feel. HEAT FACT also aims to beat competitors with a price tag 20-30% less than Uniqlo’s offerings (between $7 to $12).

HEAT FACT was just launched last week at 1,000 stores nationwide and retailers are hoping to sell at least 10 million items. Truthfully, Aeon isn’t exactly a chic brand, selling at places like Jusco and Daiei, which are like the Big Lots and Walmart of Japan. Uniqlo, on the other hand, is like Gap, appealing to both kids and adults at an affordable cost.

Especially in times like these, winter-wear has become an aggressive market. When the air gets frigid, people still want to restock their wardrobe but without breaking the bank. If Aeon wants to do well, I hope they have an eye-popping promotional campaign lined up, otherwise I think I might go for HEAT TECH. The name just sounds cooler, don’t you think?

Himawari

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Grilled to Perfection

So long summer! Thanks for the good times on the beach. I’ll miss you. Sniff.

If you’re like me, living along the breezy California coast, you spent most of this summer playing in the sand and cooking chicken over a toasty grill. Ah yes, the great Japanese charcoal grill, a.k.a., shichirin.

It’s much smaller than your typical American grill — about the size of your two hands spread wide — and so is the wire mesh. So instead of hamburgers and hot dogs, Japanese people like to throw down chopped raw vegetables (peppers, onions, corn, etc.) sliced beef, and shellfish. None of it is usually seasoned, so they’ll dip it into a soy sauce-based marinade and pop it in their mouth.

The neat thing about the Japanese grill is that you can use it virtually anywhere. It weighs a mere ten pounds and can fit under a grown man’s armpit. When I used to live in a Tokyo dorm back in the day, we’d have one on the stairwell in case somebody returned with a half-off special from the butcher’s.

Personally, I think Japanese grilling tastes much better than its American counterpart. What’s the secret?: The charcoal. It’s made of high-quality oak that burns slowly and releases a rustic flavor so good you’ll be smacking your lips for more. Forget Kingsford — whenever I go to Japan I’m sure to bring home a couple dozen charcoal sticks.

I recently found a grill at my local Japanese market in Southern California. It cost me $50. But it was definitely worth it. Now I can cook all my favorites: yakitori, soy sauce-basted corn, Korean BBQ, oysters. Oh, who says grilling can only be done in the summertime?!

Himawari

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Dog Speak

Dogs are lovable and cuddly. But what are they telling you when they start nudging at your leg? “Let’s go for a walk”? “Throw me a bone”? “Bathe me”??

Fortunately, there’s a cool new product that’ll help you understand everything your favorite canine wants to talk about:

At $200, it’s no cheapie dog-chew, but according to their website, this machine is scientifically proven to accurately interpret everything on your dog’s mind. Researchers found that depending on the pitch level of their bark, dogs are expressing certain emotions like sadness, joy or frustration.

What you do is strap the machine around your dog’s neck. Once they bark, the machine will interpret it into phrases like, “Pay more attention to me!” or “You’re a mean master!” or “I’m gonna run away now.”

Of course, It’s hard to take what they say seriously. After all what if they end up saying “I’m gonna kill you!” Are you going to throw him in the doghouse for that?

Maybe in the future, this same company will invent a machine that’ll interpret the master’s words so that dog will know that it’s cool not to pee in the house.

Himawari

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No Worries Here!

I have a friend who suffers from anxiety whenever she’s in public places. The thing is, she’s one of those silent sufferers, not wanting to impose on even close friends whenever she’s scared. That’s why she carries around a Sanrio plushie called Rirakkuma (“relax bear”). It’s a cute teddy-bear sprawled out like he’s taking a Sunday afternoon nap. Take a look:

Rirakkuma specifically caters to ‘worry worts’ like my friend. More than most countries I know, Japan is a nation of people who suppress their true feelings — and that leads to a lot of stress. So I have a feeling Sanrio knew what it was doing when creating a character who is in perpetual chill-mode. They’ve sold millions of items since its 2003 debut.

My friend has an eye-opening collection of Rirakkuma goods: erasers, toothbrush, waffle-maker, laptop, toilet paper, car seat cover… And of course, there’s her prized plushie, a 2-inch tall guy that attaches to her keychain. Just by caressing Rirakkuma against her cheek, she says she feels all is right in the world. She keeps him in her purse whenever she walks out the door. And on the rare ocassion she misplaces him, she starts freaking out.

Personally, whenever I’m stressed or feeling down, I’ll sing my favorite songs or go jogging. But everyone has their own way of venting and my friend just so happens to have two-dozen teddy bears to do so. Just don’t ever think of pulling a prank by confiscating her goods. All hell will break loose. Next thing you know, you’ll need your own Rirakkuma to calm your nerves.

Himawari

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Have a Kit Kat!

Have a Kit Kat!

If you’re ever in Japan, there’s only one thing I suggest buying: Kit Kat!

Because you’re not getting just any old Kit Kat, but a limited-edition piece of candy. That’s right, in different parts of the country you’ll find flavors you won’t get elsewhere. In the U.S., Kit Kat comes in just one flavor — chocolate — but check out how many Japan has:

plum soda
sour orange
chocolate mango pudding
Ramune
white
sports drink flavor
apple vinegar
espresso coffee
kinako
green tea
soy sauce
mango
cherry blossom
caramel and salt
grilled corn
apple
…and the list goes on.

Flavored Kit Kats began in the year 2000 with strawberry. It was a huge hit, so the following year they launched orange — and the rest is tastebud history. I find the most interesting flavors at the airport gift shop, though sometimes they come out of vending machines along some busy Tokyo streetcorner. I have to admit, some flavors are weird. Like why would you want soy sauce in your chocolate?? Though I’ve tried that one and strangely enough, it’s not bad.

The psychology of ‘limited edition Kit Kats’ is such a brilliant idea because it compels you to collect them all, regardless of whether you’re actually going to eat them or not. For me, I just want the boxes to add them to my wall collection.

For those who’ve been to Japan, what’s the most interesting flavor you’ve come across? Tell me!!

Himawari

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Delicious Toys

At some point or another, most young girls yearn to be a great chef. Though when you’re a 7-year-old, you’ll be lucky to have access to a knife much less a hot flame. That’s why cooking toys are so popular; They let you make cool things without getting maimed. Here’s some of my favorites:

This is a fun way to make gyoza. Just lay the dough wrapping in the machine along with a plop of meat, crank the lever and out comes a raw dumpling. You’ll still need help from mom to either boil or fry the dumplings, but it’s still cool to feel like you did most of the slave labor. ($30)

Everyone loves Pocky because it comes in all kinds of flavors. Here’s a toy that takes a similar idea, only instead of cookie sticks you use soft-white bread. Just cut the bread into thin slices using the included tool, microwave until warm and then dip into an assortment of chocolate flavors and sprinkles! ($30)

This one is more of a dining toy than a cooking tool. Think of it as a Slip ‘n Slide for cold noodles. It’s a windy, plastic trough with water streaming to the bottom. Everyone sitting around the dining table readies their chopsticks and a bowl of dipping sauce while the head chef plops heaps of somen noodles into the stream. The goal is to pick up the noodles before it drops to the bottom. I played this ‘game’ one time in Japan, using a freshly-cut bamboo trough and a water hose. The real thing is much more fun, but this can be just as entertaining if you have a room full of very hungry people. ($84)

Sushi-making is great because there’s no need for a hot stove, so anyone can play chef. This is a toy that’ll help you make some amazing designs using a little food coloring and imagination. Sushi like this, called futomaki, is especially great for parties and bento boxes because you generally use vegetable ingredients, not raw fish. And with a little bit of thought into it, you can make animal faces, flowers, or even your family crest. It’s fun for everyone! ($44)

Himawari

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Stay Eco-Cool!

Here in Los Angeles, we’re faced with threats of water-rationing. And judging by our track record, we’ll soon be hit with rolling blackouts. We’re in crisis-mode. What will we do without air conditioning?!

Things in Japan aren’t nearly as bad, partly thanks to wacky-cool inventions found at Tokyu Hands, as mentioned in this month’s Yomiuri Shimbun (Japanese only). Not only are they fun to use, they don’t waste nature’s resources:The Chilled Backpack

Okay, so you can’t use it to carry around a pint of ice cream to the beach. But it’ll do a great job cooling your back during those sweltering-hot summer days. Just strap it on and let it work its chilling magic. Priced at $50, the backpack comes in sizes for men, women and kids, alike. Nothing for dogs just yet.

Cool Shampoo/Milky Gel/Cool Tonic

There’s nothing like a cold shower on a hot day. But how’d you like to make that wintry-fresh feeling last hours later? Ranging between $2 to $12, these products will keep your hair and face feeling like cool-mint gum. With the help of menthol extract and other secret ingredients, these items have a tingling effect that keeps your on your feet.
Pillow on Ice

A large block of ice is not something to bring to a slumber party, no matter what the temperature is outside. It’s heavy and it’ll drip all over the kitchen floor. So instead, why not bring over an iced pillow. Just like the chilled backpack, it contains a frozen coolant that’ll sit snuggly under your head. Don’t worry about a soggy pillow the next morning; this ice block leak-proof ($30).

To check out more cool items at Tokyu Hands, check out their latest newspaper ad (PDF).

Himawari

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Eye-Spy a Hidden Camera

Superman has a problem. He suspects Aquaman has turned to steroids. It’s a violation that could get him booted off the Justice League, but Aquaman seems more focused on the high he gets after pumping 1,000-pound weights than being in a superhero club.
Superman needs to catch him in the act so he could report it to ‘Roids Anonymous before the Justice League finds out. But even if he does catch him, he knows Aquaman will vehemently deny any wrongdoing.
Superman needs a plan… Introducing the Spy Button Camera:

It hails from the genius gadgetry lab of Thanko in Akihabara. All you have to do is replace it with a button on your shirt and slip a magnetized ring onto your finger. To start recording, casually wave the ring near the button. Do the same to stop recording.

Priced at about $60, the spycam can take up to 1 1/2 hours of video at 15 frames per second (4GB internal memory). It weighs only a few ounces, and hides easily behind your shirt to no one’s suspicion. And it comes with an array of button colors — white, pink, and yellow — to match every piece of pastel clothing in your wardrobe.
Superman may not be able to hide the camera into his Spandex costume, but he can certainly do it as the Daily Planet’s mild-mannered reporter, Clark Kent. Then maybe, just maybe, he can get his friend the help he needs. Either that or he can use the camera on his next date with Wonder Woman! Oooh baby~ (^o<)

Himawari

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japanizmo, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. ? Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more

A Guilt-Free Phone

My cell phone is beeping to its demise and I can’t recharge it! I usually don’t keep my charger on me, so when I’m low on batteries I pray to the cellular gods to keep my phone running ’til at least sundown.

Wish I was in Japan. Then I’d get a Solar Phone SH002 by Sharp. It’s the first of its kind, recharging the battery under the sun so that you can wander for days in the desert and keep in touch with your BFF.

For every 10 minutes of golden rays, you get one minute of talk-time or 2 hours on standby, which isn’t bad if you’re the type who spends lots of time outdoors. Vampires be warned.

In true Japanese fashion, you get a nice array of colors to choose from: sky blue, prism white, and sparkling red. And as an added bonus, the phone is also waterproof (!?) — though water-boarding isn’t encouraged.

Compared to the iPhone, it doesn’t come with many apps but the ones that it does have will come in handy for sporty types: a pedometer and a tool to measure your golfing performance. I love the iPhone for its limitless vault of apps, but I also love this phone for its sheer ecological value. Maybe one of these days, the two will have offspring! \(^o^)/

Himawari

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Thinking of doing business in Japan? We can make it easy for you!
japanizmo, a Los Angeles based company, provides practical solutions for U.S. ? Japan business projects. Our experienced Japanese staff will support all phases of your business project to seize business opportunities and turn your vision into a reality. >> Learn more