"Partytime" (by Missy Elliott)

We moved into this new apartment last March, but are now finally ready to welcome our friends. It's a beautiful, fine, perfect day for a party.


My wife cooks. I help. Uh, you know, not much. Stuff like peeling potatoes and dish-washing. Also, entertaining (or bothering?) her while cooking.

We primarily serve genuine Korean dishes. This is today's main menu: 버섯전골 (Mushroom Hot Pot).

A table for 5 and us.

Sofa So good

And a comfortable couch. Sometimes you can see some Sleeping Beauties or Sleeping Buddha on it. Today we're very lucky to find a Mermaid.

Dear friends, thanks for coming today. And we're await for more to come. You are welcome. Make a reservation!

Best Songs of the Year

2009 will be remembered as the year of the change. And of a new start.

The Obama administration took office in January as well as the Hatoyama in September. Personally, started a new job in January and to go to business school in September.

Also, the past year was very fruitful for me to meet great, favorite, new songs. Not quite sure whether it is because the releases of many great songs just happened this year or because I tried to find ones harder with some reasons. To my long list of favorite songs short, however, here is the one of the top ten.

1. Life Is Good (by DJ Deckstream feat. Mos Def): Make me very positive.
2. Empire State of Mind (by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys): Make me miss NYC!
3. Special (by Snoop Dogg feat. Brandy and Pharell): Although Snoopy isn't my favorite artist and his latest album has just released this month, this song is SPECIAL.
4. Make Her Say (by Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West and Common): Lady Gaga isn't my favorite either, but her catchy, pop song can be a great HipHop.
5. Energy (by Keri Hilson): Charge me.
6. If Tonight Is My Last (by Laura Izibor): a live is greater.
7. Alive (by Black Eyed Peas): BEP is still alive.
8. Decision (by Busta Rhymes feat. Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige, John Legend & Common): With all the musicians listed, a great song guaranteed.
9. Wavin' Flag (by K'naan): As once a political science major, and a friend of Somalis, wish the peace come to the Horn of Africa. I might take part in it. Who knows?
10. Keep Pushin' (by Kero One): Nice one.

Best Wishes for the New EAR to y'all!!

Merry X'mas

Today isn't a holiday in Japan. So, I got a day-off not to celebrate Christmas but to get my season's greeting cards flying: designing a card (by my wife), printing and handwriting a message. Season's greeting in Japan is supposed to arrive on New Year's Day (not on or before Christmas). Seems like I worked harder than I do at my office :)

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year to all!!

MetLife

Billboard Live Tokyo is one of the greatest places to enjoy a METropolitan Life in Tokyo. My favorite musicians come here more than Blue Note Tokyo: Laura Izibor last August and Chrisette Michele last week.

Live performance also brings rediscovery of a new aspect of a musician (or a song). At Laura's live, I reconfirmed "Shine", "Don't Stay", "From My Heart to Yours" and "If Tonight is My Last" are best songs while learning "the Worst is Over" and "Perfect World" are good too. She was putting her heart into every single song, making her soulful songs even more heartful.

Chrisette Michele was a very skillful entertainer. She was good at making her audience enjoy her live by shaking hands and even giving a hug (!! I wanted to be the one!!). She also added a spice of jazz to some of her songs.

My wife and I spent a wonderful time.

良い胎教にもなったし!!(笑)

Ultimate Goal?!

Having been going to grad school for one month, one of concerns I share with many friends is family relationship.

Weekday's classes are from 6:30pm through 10pm, and 9am through 6pm on Saturday. As working on homework more and more now, we're getting less time to spend with our family.

Knowledge is power, and to make it sustainable we got to study. But, is family time (and relationship) an opportunity cost we have to give up? Of course not!!

Still, during a 15-min break or before a class begins, my friends say, "my wife complains we don't go out lately", "my wife's getting mad!!", "I don't talk much with my wife these days" and the like. Then, we wonder how those who graduated have managed the relationship.

But, seemingly our school provides a solution by offering a course like "Strategic Thinking and Communication". I'm not taking it, but the school recommends to take in the first semester.

Or Finance itself might provide an answer because Finance is defined as:
the study to search for how to allocate limited resources on a time horizon.

Studying "the Introduction to Finance" and "Corporate Finance", I will find an answer hopefully.How to effectively and efficiently allocate my limited time.

Tackling Tax

"Nothing in this life is certain but death and taxes," Mark Twain said.

This is not the reason, but somehow it turned out I'm taking two tax courses this first semester: "Tax Law" and "International Tax Accounting". Both classes are quite interesting in many ways, but especially in that the professor/lecturer have backgrounds from the opposite ends.

The Law is taught by a former top of National Tax Agency while the latter by a tax consultant from a Big 4 accounting firm. Given the decline of tax revenues, the Agency surely want to tax more. On the other hand, a tax consultant advises "tax management".

tax burdens

Living in Japan, it's hard to see one's tax burden. Many of us need not file tax return individually. Our employers do it instead. 5% of sales tax is not as high as that of Europe or America. While unemployed last year, though, I felt the burden as painfully as much. Perhaps, such trauma unconsciously led me to take the two classes.

Nothing is certain with which grade I pass the courses. But, as Tokyo's autumn is getting deeper and night longer, I have more time for study. "Autumn for Study" (勉強の秋) has come.

Korea Sparkling 3

昔住んでいたこともあって、韓国には観光というよりも知り合いに会う為に行くことが多いのですが、今年の夏はベタな日本人観光客を気取り、久しぶりのソウルを満喫してきました。

選んだベースはショッピング街・明洞（ミョンドン）。しかし、そこは今や日本人だけでなく中国人にも席巻され、中国語の看板、中華料理店、中国語の客引きも少なくありません。それでも、円高バブルに沸く日本人観光客強し。食事を取ろうとレストランに入って、気が付くと周りは日本人ばかり。オシャレなカフェやブティックのある三清洞（サムチョンドン）でも、交通アクセスの悪い、ソウルの外れにある韓国宮廷料理の店でも、どこにでも日本人がいました。新大久保と大して変わらないですよね。日本では目を皿にしてスーパーのチラシの大特価セールをチェックしている（であろう）おばさんたちが、隣の国の経済を刺激している様子を見ると、ちょっぴりおかしくもありました。


そして、明洞のすぐ近くにある韓国のランドマーク、Nソウルタワーにも行きました。昔は、東京タワーより「高い」を目標に、韓国人の気合だけで建てたような寂しいところでしたが、今では立派に改装され、LEDのライトアップも施されて、モダンな観光スポットに変身。因みに333mの東京タワーより高いと言っても、Nソウルタワーの479.7mはあくまで海抜の高さ。山の上に建てたのでタワーそのものは東京タワーより低いのですが。こんなところにも見栄っ張りだけど、憎めない韓国人の気質が見えます。

今回新たなお気に入りスポットになったのが清渓川（チョンゲチョン）。以前は高速道路とその高架に商店街が立ち並んでいるイメージしかありませんでしたが、当時ソウル市長だった李明博現韓国大統領が2年がかりで2005年に完成させ、今や都心のオアシス。足を川に入れて暑気払いをしているソウル市民が羨ましくもありました。東京にもこんなところがあれば良いのにな～。

帰りに金浦空港内にある映画館を覗いてみると、日本の劇場アニメSummer Warsが上映中でした。その時はこの映画は面白いのかなとしか考えませんでしたが、帰国直後に金大中前大統領の訃報に触れ、彼の日本文化開放政策のお陰で上映されているのだなと思うと感慨深いものがありました。開放政策が議論されていた頃、日本のサブカルチャーに食われてしまうのではないかと心配されていましたが、Summer Warsにしても、今やその映画製作におけるCG等は韓国のサポートなくしてはあり得ません。そして、韓国の映画、ドラマ、音楽が日本でも多くの支持を得ているのは誰もが知るところです。

これまで1～2年に一回訪れる度に韓国の変化は感じ取っていたつもりでしたが、昔馴染みの場所を再度訪ねてみて、その変化を改めて強く感じました。昔ソウルに住んでいた頃は、韓国製品は粗悪で、SONYやPanasonic等はみんなの憧れでしたが、今やSamsungやLGの商標は米国だけでなく、中国、インド等の新興国でも多く見られる一方で、日本の商標は残念ながらあまり見かけません。日本に追い付け、追い越せと言っていた当時とは隔世の感があります。韓国という国は物凄いスピードで変化し続けるとつくづく感じます。一方で、実際に住んでいるせいもあるとは思いますが、日本はどうも遅々としている気がしてなりません。今回の旅で韓国の変化を感じつつ、（日本だけでなく）自分も果たして変わり続けているのか、成長し続けているのかと考えてみたのでした。

사랑하고 싶어

If the pictures below ring your bell with a classic Korean pop song, 소방차 (Fire Engine)'s "사랑하고 싶어 (I Want To Love You)", you must have been living in Korea around 1990. (I did!)

"소방차"는 아니지만...

Love Tokyo

By the way, the International Olympic Committee will meet next Friday in Copenhagen, to decide the host of 2016 Olympic Games. As many of you know, candidates are Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Chicago and Tokyo.

I do love Tokyo (and Chicago).

But, also I Want To Love You, IOC!!

Family Value

iPod family

From the left, iPod shuffle, nano and Touch.

This iPod family would never exist without my family; My wife bought the nano for me, and I got the Touch from my brother.

Family is, good.

Just like the iPods, my wife and I are gonna have the very first kid in our 9-year marriage.

Favorite songs these days

1. "Life Is Good" (by DJ Deckstream feat. Mos Def)
2. "Can You Let Me Know" (by DJ Deckstream feat. Lupe Fiasco & Verbal)
3. "Keep In the Pockets" (by DJ Deckstream feat. Talib Kweli)
DJ Deckstream is my most favorite these days. Check his music at MySpace. "Life Is Good" is soooooh gooood.

4. "Don't Stay" (by Laura Izibor)
Watching her grrrreat show at Billboard Tokyo, my wife and I were impressed and love her songs.

5. "Knock You Down" (by Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo)
Keri definitely knocked me down. She is so hot!!!

6. "In All the Wrong Places" (by Kero One)
7. "Keep Pushin'" (by Kero One)
He ain't Kim Jong-Il!! Kero One looks like him a bit though.

8. "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (by Kardinal Offishall feat. Rihanna)
The link to YouTube isn't feat. Rihanna exactly. But Keri.

9. "Alive" (by Black Eyed Peas)
Oh, yes. They are back for Japan Tour.

By the way, Jay-Z's new album will be in stores this Friday!!

"Let's Just Be Friends" (by Kero One)

So, here I am. Back to school.

Yet, never imagined that I would study high school math again. Algebra, Differential and Integral Calculus and so on.

It was a one-week prep class. I wouldn't have taken it unless my interviewer advised. I studied 'em at high school, and wasn't so bad. But hey, it's more than a decade ago. Be humble, I said to myself. It could be a good warming-up, I supposed too. A good opportunity to learn what it is like going to school at weekday nights. A fairly good chance to meet and get along with new friends before fall semester begins.

So, here're what I got.
Well, first of all, to my disappointment I realized I barely remembered calculus. Second, arriving home at 11pm, got extremely tired and sleepy next day, which was another disappointmnt that I'm getting old. And I just turned 33 lately... But, have already met half a dozen friends, and can't wait for my school starting in a couple weeks.

Summer Wars

It was on my way back to Tokyo when this animation movie caught my attention at Gimpo Airport. When the movie came out to box offices earlier in Japan, I dismissed it is just another Japanese cartoon. Well, it turned out not. The film is added to my (short) DVD shopping list.

Summer Wars

Summer Wars is about family reunion, the history of samurai, (a bit futuristic) information technology, high school baseball, teenage love and so on.

Natsuki, a 18-year-old girl, asks Kenji to come to Ueda, Nagano (located in central Japan) with her to see her great grandmother and relatives, pretending to be her boyfriend. Although he wasn't used to such a huge family get-together, he starts to enjoy the time at Ueda.

But, everything becomes so different after he replied to a spam mail. Followed by ID thefts happening all over the world; computer-controlled systems of utilities and public transportation go into a panic. Then, Kenji, Natsuki and all the family members try to save the world...

Doesn't sound so exciting, does it? Unlike most of (non-cartoon) Japanese movies, however, the story isn't slow. As watching it, I burst into laughter so many times. And a bit of tear drops. Gosh, after all, I really wanna visit my grandma!


Shortly after back from Seoul, a news followed: a former Korean president's death. Kim Daejung, a Nobel peace prize winner, opened up Japanese pop culture coming into Korea. Thanks to him, the movie is in the theaters in Korea (I watched it after having come back to Tokyo though). I was also very delighted to see so many Korean names (perhaps for CG works) on the ending roll.

***

There is another "Summer War" this year in Japan. General election is held tomorrow. As predicted, will the Democratic Party of Japan defeat the post-war dynasty of the Liberal Democratic Party? Or will LDP survive accidentally? Can't leave TV tomorrow night. It's a D-day. Let's vote and see.

Korea Sparkling 2

Can't miss it!! Korean cuisine whenever I go to Seoul. I need a couple more stomachs, though.

Start with processed meat

부대찌개

Chicken
삼계탕 (参鶏湯)

Pork
삼겹살!!

and Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefff!!!
Here come the king of meat, 생갈비♪

then dessert comes.

팥빙수 with water melon, kiwi and mango.

wanna some more at Dunkin Donut?

Or stop by spacious coffee shops here

콩다방

and there.

My most favorite time comes at Starbucks.

별다방

I prefer living in Seoul more than in Tokyo. First of all, Seoul has Dunkin and Coffee Bean but Tokyo has neither. Secondly, Coffee Bean and Starbucks in Seoul are so spacious that a single Starbucks in Seoul is as large as half a dozen stores in Tokyo combined at least. Last but least obviously, Korean foods are the BEST in the whole world!!!!!!!!!

Korea Sparkling

I usually just go visiting my family and friends in Korea. But, had some time for sightseeing Seoul this time and rediscovering "Soul of Asia" where history and cutting-edge technology meet.

Gyeongbokgung (경복궁, 景福宮), a Royal Palace,

has been my favorite place in Seoul.

Korean garden of a traditional Korean restaurant:

Wonder how the meals were? EXCELLENT.

Rivers Run Through Seoul.

Not only Han River but Cheonggyecheon (청계천, 清渓川).

Must be an oasis for all the business folks of the downtown.

Now the Stream became my new favorite spot.

Didn't know the tower has changed its name to N Seoul Tower

and renovated with beautiful LED lighting.

a view from the top of the tower

なでしこジャパン

なでしこジャパン。

とは言っても、スポーツ選手ではありません。

国際機関、国際協力の分野で活躍する日本人女性。

多いですよね。

日本社会で活躍の場が限られていた、国連や世銀で日本人女性を積極採用していることもあるのでしょうが、個人の信念、能力も秀でたものがあるのでしょう。

緒方貞子さん。現在はJICAの理事長ですが、まだUNHCRのトップだった頃、NYCで会った赤十字の人が、彼女をすごく尊敬していたのが強く印象に残っています。

世界銀行副総裁を務めた西水美恵子さん。昨夏、「貧困に立ち向かう仕事」に掲載されていた彼女のスピーチを読んで、涙が止まりませんでした。そして、先日は講演会&サイン会に行ってきました!!

昨年、世銀グループのMIGAトップに就任した小林いずみさん。今後の活躍が注目されます。

そして、瀬谷ルミ子さんや高嶋由美子さん。他にも現場で活躍する人もたくさんいますよね。私と同い年ぐらいの人も結構います。

そんななでしこジャパンを誇りに思い、尊敬します。そして、自分は今、何をしているんだろう、という焦りも。 一応男なので、なでしこジャパンの一員になりたい、というよりは、国際舞台で活躍する日本人の一人になりたい、ということですが（笑）。

昨日、録画しておいたNHKプロフェッショナルを観て、改めて感じました。（何ヶ月も前に録画していたのを今頃…（^^;））

Over the Rainbow

Somewhere (in Tokyo) over the rainbow
Skies are gray (no blue)

Back to Basics

"Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan."
And certainly this wasn't my plan. At least until last year.

Ever since having finished my undergraduate study, I always wanted to go back to the U.S. for studying at graduate school. But, I realized it's not my goal. And met my new employer who encourages employees to study foreign language, accounting, law or anything useful for the job (and future one). It even subsidizes a part of tuition. So, why not now?

Last couple months I prepared my essays, submitted documents and had interviews. And just got my admission letter this week. Starting in September, I will be back to school for studying advanced financial theory and practices.

Imagining to work from 9am through 6pm and to study weekday nights as well as weekend, I feel a bit of dizziness. Perhaps though it is more like going back to my high school days. The three years I studied from 7am through 10pm at school. Yes, next couple years will be very hard, but just like back to basics, getting academic stimulus and excitement.

Knowledge is Power.
To fuel it though needs energy. Hopefully my energy (i.e. my dream!!) is sustainable, and never dies!!

What if my gas is running out? Well, a Starbucks is just three blocks away from the school :) What to worry about?

Thank You For Smoking

I love Starbucks for many reasons, but a distinctive one which differentiates this specialty coffee brand from others is its non-smoking policy. Well, now there are many other coffee shops with non-smoking policy, but arguably Starbucks is the first to start such a rule. One, esp. non-smoker, is able to enjoy gourmet coffee and its aroma. Puff won't annoy such coffee break at all.

"Universal Mind Control"?! (it's COMMON!!)

Such a policy, disappointingly though, doesn't cover terrace area outside a store. Worse, the stores even offer an ash tray for customers who request one. Japan has a huge smoker population. As summer's getting closer and weather nicer, it's irresistible to go outside and enjoy coffee. But, highly likely to have someone sitting nearby smoking.

As I enjoying book-reading and drinking coffee this morning, a gentleman had a seat right next to me. He lit a tobacco and started to smoke. The puff flew to me, disturbing my favorite time. But, guess what printed on the back of his T-shirt. It was:

"Love Each Other, Respect Each Other"

This must be a bad joke, or a cry from marginalized smokers more than ever. Whatever the message really means, thanks for reminding me of mutual respect. Too bad that he couldn't see his own back.

"Energy" (by Keri Hilson)

It's been a long time. A long-awaited "The E.N.D." has come to record shops at last. This is Black Eyed Peas' first album in four years or so.

The title sounds like the quartet is breaking up with this "final" album released. Among members, will.i.am is well-known, successful producer as well as solo artist. Fergie also sold her first solo album "Dutchess" of some 6 million copies.

Reportedly, however, the E.N.D. stands for Energy Never Dies. So, does the title mean oil won't dry up? Or are they as interested in Toyota's Prius as was Leonardo DiCaprio? Or talking about renewable energy and Green New Deal?

Renewable Energy?!

Whatever their intention is, Black Eyed Peas, which is named after a soulfood, tastes very different from the previous albums. The first single, "Boom Boom Pow", was a shock. Many other songs in the album are also like techno, dance music. And a bit sounds like will.i.am's solo "Songs About Girls" (2007). On the other hand, songs "I Got That Feeling", "Alive" and "One Tribe" do have some traits from previous albums "Elephunk" and "Monkey Business". Traits of Energetic, organic, danceable hip-hop. So, the new album surely catch the attentions from old and new fans.

BEP's music is great, but I also like the group in that the members have diverse backgrounds: a Jamaican American, an Afro-Filipino, a Mexican-Native American and a white female vocalist. Such multiethnic backgrounds certainly fuel the group's energy to create a universal, contemporary pop music.

Such an energy never dies.

"When the Sunshine Comes" (by Kero One)

Opening eyes is not hard in every single morning. Yet crawling out of a bed and taking the first step out of home are the hardest parts. These are common all over the world, but Being squeezed into a rush-hour commuter train is, HORRIBLE only if you live in Tokyo unfortunately. To many, morning ain't the end of nightmare. But, only the start of it. Real one.

Music might help you start a beautiful day.

"Good Morning" (by Kanye West)
My long-time morning alarm as well as a favorite promotion video.

"Shine" (by Laura Izibor)
The sound of piano and Laura's voice touch your eardrum softly.

"When the Sunshine Comes" (by Kero One)
The song will take you not to the downtown office but beach.

"Morning in Rio" (by Sergio Mendes)
Imagine yourself in Rio de Janeiro.

"Wake" (by Linkin Park)
The intro from LP's latest album expresses a lay of sunlight, morning agony and yawn... With the album, one can rock every single day.

Well, music ain't enough maybe. The best of best ways to jump-start a morning is to stop by a Starbucks shop and get a cup of coffee!! Then, you'll get awake from the five senses.

Morning Calm

What a shame.

Lately I realized I've spent last four years or so not listening to Kero One. It is my regret. Deeeeep one.

I go to a Tower Records once a week, and check every single new HipHop album. Yet, his first collection did not draw my attention. I overlooked it perhaps because of my immaturity. Ain't mature enough for listening to this mellow jazzy HipHop.

But, now I had a lesson. Have grown up for not passing by his second, which came out this year. Kero One's second, "Early Believers", is a perfect BGM for beautiful, sunny weekend mornings. The songs are chill but heartwarming. It appears to me that he certainly has a heritage from the land of "the Morning Calm". "Early Believers" is a music of the Morning Calm.

According to the weather forecast, Tokyo got into the rainy season (梅雨) today. That gloomy, humid rainman is back to the city again, but thank God, I got Kero One this year. The Korean American's songs will dry the dampness up with refreshing air!!

The music, with a glass of Iced Coffee blend at Starbucks, guarantees a time for meditation.

"Easier to Run" (by Linkin Park)

Nike Free Everyday +2

This new model from Nike is soft and light like socks. Definitely easier to run, and I even feel like I can fly!! Haven't yet run but taken just a walk. Perhaps start running after getting a Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

"Welcome to the Bay" (by Kero One)

For Kero One, the Bay means San Francisco, but this Bay is the other side of Pacific Ocean, Yokohama.

I'm back, and so is African Festa, with 34 African embassies, 60 NGOs, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Yokohama City.


One can get a free poster, buy African accessories or enjoy a live music concert

and street music performances here

and there,

Or get an African drum lesson.

But, wherever I am, can't start a day without a Starbucks coffee!! Here's one at Chinatown. (Oh, and Ethiopian embassy was selling its coffee, too.)

and Chinese supper. (I did have African cuisine too!!)

"Right Round" (by Flo Rida)

you spin my head right round, right round

It's been a couple month since we moved in a new apartment, and slowly started purchasing new furniture for it, one by one like a ceiling fan in the picture above. My wife and I will cover all items of our long shopping list hopefully by the end of this year.

On the other hand, I'll keep some "Pandra's boxes" for this year's hot summer night thrill. (And I won't remember which items I enclosed in each box by then. )

Pandra's Boxes, or Panda's?

Anybody who want Korean cuisine or such a thrill are welcome.

Thanks, Mom

Since its sweet, gospel-like mood, it ain't hard to imagine R&B has songs written for mom. "A Song for Mama" (by Boyz II Men), a soundtrack from the movie "Soul Food" (1997), is a perfect song. And K-Ci & Jojo's "Momma's Song" alike.

But, HipHop does have songs for mother, too. Kanye West's "Hey Mama" is a great example. Black Eyed Peas' "Hey Mama", a song famous for a TV commercial of iPod, and will.i.am's "I Got It From My Mama" aren't such. The song titles are a bit misleading.

Anyways, the bottom line is, everybody loves mom.

While You Were Sleeping

Golden Week is over.

This year's GW has 5 consecutive holidays, incl. weekend, in a row. So, before the holidays begin, I bought a dozen books from Amazon.com. I know, it's a bit ambitious...

Well, here's how it turned out.
On the very first day, my parents visited my new aparment.
Then, I got a cold (not swine flu) for next couple sunny days.
Followed by rainy days. Period.
I've finished only one paperback, and been reading two more.

As watching Sandra Bullock's "While You Were Sleeping" (1995) this evening, I realized the holidays are over while I was sleeping. And here's my favorite quote from the movie. Lucy (Sandra Bullock)'s father said to his daughter,

"Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan."

CHINDIA

The long-awaited "Slumdog Millionaire" has come to theaters in Japan. AT LAST!! The film was so powerful and energetic. As watching it, I really wanted to visit India again. This time to find stunning Latika (Freida Pinto)! :)

Interestingly, the rivalry between China and India seems present in motion pictures as well. Here in Tokyo "Red Cliff Part II" is competing against Slumdog for the top box office. John Woo is definitely my favorite director, but a single 2-hour movie is enough. I rather wait until the DVD box set will be on sale. And then watch the series comfortably at home.

Geopolitics, business and...

I prefer a pure love story (like Slumdog) to a war movie (like Red Cliff). Born as a Virgoan, it is written... Though I haven't watched the Chinese one, it seems like there are some remarkable features in each. Slumdog shows the contradictory (i.e. chaotic) situations in India: the rich and the poor, Islam and Hinduism, etc. Seemingly, on the other hand, there are no such things in Chinese films.

Plus, the violence of Slumdog somehow reminded me of that of Hong Kong (esp. John Woo's) movies. Hope it's not a heritage from the British colonialism, though. One definite difference is that Slumdog symbolizes Individualism while Red Cliff Collectivism. Am I making the comparison too simple?

The Global City

Global city ranking 2009, Mercer's annual survey, was released last month. The two rankings of Quality of Living and Infrastructure are not only useful resources for business travellers and expats but also information for leisure travellers and students studying abroad, pride for city residents, and perhaps reference for bidding for the host city of the 2016 Olympic Games.

International Olympic Committee's Evaluation Commission has been visiting the four candidate cities, and making assessment. According to Mercer, however, Tokyo is best among the four. Japan's capital looks competitive given the similar results with London's. Tokyo is the 35th best city for living and the 12th for having good access to electricity, water availability, telephone, mail, public transport, traffic congestion and airport while London, the host city in 2012, is ranked at 38th and 8th respectively. Tokyo is followed by Chicago (44th and 28th each) and Madrid (48th and 43rd respectively).

Does the turnout indicate Rio de Janeiro have the least competence? Not quite. Last year's host, Beijing, is at the 113rd of the Quality of Living ranking. So, Rio de Janeiro still has a good chance. They will all meet in mid-June for briefing, and the final decision will be made on October 2, 2009 in Copenhagen. In other words, we have a plenty of time to speculate. Decided which real estate to buy?

T.I.A. (cont'd)

AFRICAN FESTA 2009

When : Sat, May 16 (12:00 - 17:00) & Sun, May 17 (11:00 - 17:00)
Where : Red Brick Warehouse, Yokohama

Here's the link to the official homepage, but what a shame. No English (or French) hompage again!!
http://www.africanfesta2009.com/

FYI, here're links to the pieces I posted last year.
African Festa 2008
African Festa: to be continued (to next year)

"T.I.A." (by K'naan)

This is something new but also old.

K'naan has been just added to my favorite playlist. The album "Troubadour" is a mix of HipHop, Reggae, Rock and genuine African music. The songs remind me of those of Black Eyed Peas and of "classic" Fugees. But, the music also has a sense of traditional African music, a spice of Arabic and a smell of dust. His backgrounds draw my attention as well. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, he spent his childhood during the civil war, and fled the country to seek asylum in North America.

Yes, This Is Africa!! T.I.A.!!



By the way, African Festa 2009 will be held in Yokohama again on May 16 and 17.
This weekend's African Festival in Yokohama is a bit different in its programs and sponsors...

LOL

You've gotta check this video out from YouTube.
I luv this!!
Flight Attendant doing raps!!

Great job.

"봄이여 오라" (by MC Sniper)

キタ━━━━━━━━━━━━(゜∀゜)━━━━━━━━━━━━ッ!!!!
Spring has come to Tokyo.

Beautiful, snow-white cherry blossoms are in blooms here and there. Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ヶ淵), the north-western moat of the Imperial Palace is one of the most magnificent viewing spot in Tokyo.

By the way, "봄이여 오라" (Come unto Spring) was originally written by Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷由実), a Japanese pop queen, and later arranged by MC Sniper, a Korean HipHop musician.

Gimme a Break!!

Oh my goodness, I've been to Kyoto, Hiroshima, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Seattle, India, Belgium, Italy, France and more.

Can you imangine all happened just in the past couple months since I started a nouvelle job?

It did!!
Today I just came back from Seoul. And I've gotta go to China pretty soon.

The job is pretty cool, but all I need is a (coffee) break!!

"I'll Be Missing You" (by Puff Daddy)

Oh no. A Tully's, one of my favorite coffee shops in the town, is gone. Gone with the Winter. No notice is posted, so I have no clue whether it is permanent closing or temporary for renewal...

But, looks like the former more likely. Too shy to say good-bye?

In Kichijoji, Starbucks is such a dominant force. Within a radius of 1/2 km or so from the block where the Tully's located, there are 6 Starbucks stores.

"Hate That I Love You" (by Rihanna)

Starbucks' instant coffee, VIA, is coming to some select stores in Seattle, Chicago and London... INSTANT COFFEE!! from Starbucks not from Nestlé.

My feeling is like, Rihanna's "Hate That I Love You" or Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"!!

What's Next?

Tuition to study for U.S. CPA exams, $5,000

Fee to take the exams, $800 plus

A cup of drip coffee to jumpstart my brain, $3

Friendship, support, love and self-esteem, PRICELESS

---

a Master Card?

Today my certificate has arrived at last. To be honest, it costed a lot more than I listed above. The whole application process was so cumbersome as well. I had been to a prep school for an year. It took another couple years to earn college credits of business and accounting to complete the State's educational requirement, which is equivalent of graduate school level. Then, needed my academic credits to be checked and certified. Every time I took an exam, I had to acquire State board's approval, book a testing center, flight and hotel. What is worse, with oil prices peaked last summer, had to pay that ridiculous, extra fuel surcharge.

So, how much is the value of the certificate I acquired after all? Is it the opportunity cost I gave up earning at my previous job last several months? Or an incremental salary I will earn from now on? Whatever the value is, this isn't a goal, but just a new beginning. How to use this "Master Card" is, up to me.

Now, what's next?

The Pursuit of Happiness

A friend of mine told me the following quotation last week. (Something like this at best. My memory ain't so bad, I hope)

人は判断力を失い結婚し
Those who lose their minds get married
忍耐力を失い離婚し
Those who lose their temper get divorced, and
記憶力を失い再婚する
Those who lose their memory get married again

"Getting divorced is like changing a job" said Kazuyo Katsuma, an economist. When I first heard her analogy, I did not really buy it. As learning the opening quotation later, however, I realized there are some truths in it. That is, sound decision-making is very important at some life stages. So are patience and the humbleness to learn from the past failures.

These words are reminders to me. I had a dream. Working hard and getting busier, however, I lost it. To start a new job, I watched Will Smith's "Pursuit of Happiness", but it's more important to remember why I chose this job, and what I wanna do in the future.

My Bible

Last year I met a book: Jeffrey Sachs's "the End of Poverty". I remembered him as an "cold-hearted" economist who implemented so-called "shock therapy" to transform the post-communist Polish economy to market capitalism in 1990s. But, as reading the book, was surprised to learn that now he works for ending poverty in the world by initiating the UN Millennium Development Project, in which I really wanna join.

As meeting HR consultants and attending seminars of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and so forth, they all reminded me of the old feelings: the excitement during college and the reality of my African friends. Although I haven't gotten one this time, I won't give up. Everything that has happened to me only solidified my career vision.

I should admit I wasn't competitive enough. Hence, I have some lessons to be learned. The lessons that I haven't planned well, that I didn't keep studying for the career, and that I only sought the reasons why I can't do it rather than how I can. The new job ain't the one I really wanted to get, but I do believe it helps build up my career path, and in line with my dream.

So, if I lose myself again, remind me of watching "The Pursuit of Happiness" and reading "The End of Poverty" (and perhaps this piece of my blog as well).

---
btw, the friend who mentioned the first quote is getting married soon. Congrats!! It's funny that a soon-to-be bride says such words, but I guess it's just her way to conceal her joy and happiness. And I'm so positive that she and her husband will live happily ever after.