In Times of Need

Japanese businesses are doing what they can to help the hundreds of thousands left homeless in the northern region. Yoshinoya sped three food trucks to the area and cooked up over 5,000 piping-hot bowls of beef. Nissin Foods donated one million cups of their signature ramen. And for a limited time, 7-Eleven reduced the price of pre-packaged rice balls.

And just like a good business should, some sites have revved up promotions for things people want in times of need. Rakuten, for example, has a page highlighting items like wind-up flashlights, foldable buckets and mini electric cooking pots. One of the site’s top-selling items is a 15-pack supply of Yoshinoya beef (free delivery!):

Of course, it’s the basics that are most in need: water, medicine, diapers, heaters; all the things we take for granted.

Unfortunately, delivery trucks are still having a hard time reaching many of the worst-hit areas. So it may take a few extra days for packages to arrive even if you pay for faster service. In the meantime, someone should call up the U.S. military for same-day delivery!

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

Hello friends,

Like many of you, I’ve been glued to the TV trying to keep up with everything going on in Northern Japan. I lived in Sendai, a city of one million, for a few years and have friends who were there when the 9.0 earthquake hit the region. Being in the city, they luckily did not experience the tsunami aftermath which tore through rural northern towns. Structural damage was minimal in the city and, except for a few cuts, bruises and shaken nerves, my friends are unharmed, knock on wood.

Though as if an earthquake wasn’t enough, my friends are now challenged with a shortage of food, water and basic necessities. This is on top of frequent power outages and a shortage of gas to operate both car and portable heater. Winters are cold in Sendai. Even with a heater in my room, I’d have to do jumping jacks to stay warm.

My friends are engaging in their own improvisations. One person has turned to Facebook to let others know which markets are open for business. Others are using the site to inquire about friends still unaccounted for. If it weren’t for social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, my Sendai friends would be left in the dark.

Thanks to the internet, we are all connected by a mere few degrees. Imagine the degree of change we could affect if we actually tried.

Thanks for staying tuned.

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

Prayers for Japan

We offer our sincere condolences to all who have been affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Our thoughts are with those who are lost, and who have lost their loved ones. We would like to express our deepest appreciation for rescue workers who are struggling to save more lives in an extremely challenging environment.

As Japanese nationals who reside overseas, we pledge to do as much as we can to support a swift recovery of the affected communities.

Geek or Chic

Nintendo’s Game & Watch series were all the rage in the ‘80s. They were sleek, hand-held devices you carried in your pocket, and as soon as you whipped it out, all your playground friends would be glued to your shoulder.

It’s hard to fathom that back then each console played only one game title — Donkey Kong, Snoopy, Parachute, and Super Mario Bros. among the best sellers — but kids enjoyed playing each for hours on end. (Attention-deficit disorder arrived much later.)

If you remember Game & Watch, you will have a burst of nostalgia when you these see this:

It’s a business card holder in the guise of the game console, so although you can’t work on your high-score, you can certainly impress (or shock?) employers with your awesome geek-cred. Created by Namco Bandai susidiary Ban Presto, it’s a sleek aluminum case with a dual facade: a classic Game & Watch on one side and an old school Nintendo game controller on the other.

Business cards are one of the most important tools of networking in Japan; presentation is everything. So if you’re looking to turn heads, a Nintendo card holder just may be your ticket.

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

You Light Up My Life…and Bedroom

There’s no reason to get excited about pushpins, but these little tykes will light up your life:

Press them and they’ll shrine brightly on your wall or bulletin board. The cool thing is that you can use them to spell out words or create colorful designs. Let’s say you want to surprise your girlfriend the next time she comes to visit. The minute she opens the door to your darkened room, she’ll see the words, “I LOVE YOU!” splashed with red hearts onto the wall. She’ll declare you the most romantic boyfriend ever and insist on cooking you a steak dinner.

Developed by Tokyo-based Dreams Inc., the Push Pin Light come in five different colors (white, pink, orange, blue, green) and operates on two tiny batteries which last up to 24 straight hours. Aside from creating eye-popping art projects, they produce enough light to guide you through dark hallways. No more stepping on your cat the next time you’re headed to the bathroom in the middle of the night. She’ll be ever grateful, and so will your toes.

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