"Every Breath You Take" (by Sting)

While coffee aroma like new fresh ground coffee is great, the smell of breath after drinking a cup of coffee is not. So, do not forget to have a piece of mint or gum after sipping coffee. As Sting says, somebody's watching (and smelling) you!!

Every breath you take
Every move you make

Every bean you grind
Every sip you take

I'll be watching you

By the way, Sting is a great musician in that his songs are covered by Hip-Hop/R&B artists such as:

• Puff Daddy's "I'll be missing you" ("Every Breath You Take")
• Craig David's "Rise & Fall" ("Shape of My Heart")
• Black Eyed Peas' "Union" ("Englishman in New York")

Anything else?

Last Samurai

Samurais are gone a century ago. Although I learned kendo for several years (a long time ago), I'm merely a businessperson and Virgoan (i.e. not macho)! Still, I felt samurai spirit in my blood last mid-November when:

I read a New York Times article at Starbucks in Manhattan, reporting Starbucks' first time drop in customer visits. Then, I realized I've been dedicating my samurai-like loyalty to this Seattle-born gourmet coffee shop for seven years or so.

So, just fill my tumbler with joy and coffee. I'll be "there."

"There" refer to: primarily Tokyo (such as Kichijoji, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Meidaimae, Shimokitazawa, Narita, Haneda, Azabu-juban and more), Chicago and Manhattan. In Seoul, I would rather go to Dunkin' Doughnuts, Coffee Bean or Krispy Kreme. Sorry.

Sleeping Beauties

Tokyo is sleepless. Even though JR and Metro subways stop rendering their services around 1am, a lot of people are staying up all night. Some people miss their last train to go home. Their alternative destination would be capsule hotel, manga cafe or karaoke bar unless they are able to afford a taxi to go home. Others are just working during night time. So leave them alone. However, there are still others who work just so hard (or too hard) that they suffer insomnia.

There must be so many experts' opinions for curing it, but I came to the conclusion that music might be one ever since I went to the Tokyo Opera City and the Tokyo Metropolitan last month. Well, Hip-Hop is not the only music I listen to, dude. The concert halls are great places to listen to live classical music. And to sleep. Isn't it nice to have an elegant, delicate classical music not only when you fall asleep but also when you wake up? I saw many peaceful faces. I did not fall asleep, by the way. I just made a deep "bow" to show my little appreciation for music, you know...

So, don't rely on your sleeping pills but go to a concert hall and have a sweet dream. However, for those who wanna sleep, just don't snore while the orchestra is performing. Also, for those who do not, don't wake your fellow up by kissing!

http://www.operacity.jp/

http://www.geigeki.jp/

PS. Thank you, Sleeping Beauties, for inviting me to such a wonderful concert.

スタバではトールを買え（Buy a "tall" cup of coffee at Starbucks）

"スタバではグランデを買え (Buy a "grande" cup of coffee at Starbucks)" is one of best-selling books lately. But, I would say, buy a "tall" cup of coffee at Starbucks: スタバではトールを買え. Why?

Just think about the principle of declining marginal utility. It's not always true to say, the more one gets, the happier one is. No one can drink a gallon of coffee at once. "Grande" size might be able to maximize your total utility, but it is most likely that your incremental utility will be less than the one you can get from "tall" size.

Also, coffee is different from beer or coke. Many would not drink coffee in one gulp but sip slowly. A "venti" or "grande" cup of coffee will get cold unless you drink fast.

Now all you have to do is:
To bring your tumbler with you not only for getting JPY20 off but also for a nice cashier's filling more than you ordered. Hence, it is preferable to bring a "grande" size tumbler for ordering "tall" size. Note: it is also possible that the cashier fills your cup less than the amount of "tall".
So, just cross your fingers and smile at the cashier as much as you can. Good Luck.

"First Love" (by Hikaru Utada)

It was 1996 when I fell in love with her at my first sight in Manhattan. Later in 1998, I had a rendez-vous with her in Midwest. She looked so beautiful and gorgeous as before. Yet, I was so timid that I rather chose to flirt with other girls, giving up dating with her.

Torn my heart apart, I came back to Tokyo in 2000. It didn't take a long time for me to realize she's in Tokyo. To tell you the truth, she came to Tokyo even before I was back!! Meeting once means only accidental (偶然). Twice means necessary (必然), but three times means inborn (自然). In other words, it's a destiny. I couldn't be shy any more. I took a brave step.

I couldn't stop loving her. Now I'm totally committed and faithful. I meet her every single day.


She is Starbucks Coffee. My life-time commitment will last forever unless the coffee shop won't be "McDonaldized". But, to be honest with you, I've already had an "adultrey" with another lady. Her name is "Coffee By Design" feat. 7 falvors of Da Vinci Latte such as Funky Monkey and Casco Bay Berries.

www.starbucks.com/
www.coffeebydesign.com/

Beefeater

Had a business trip to the US last month. During the trip, I had:

• Kansas City Strip 12 oz. in Kansas (by the way, Kansas City is in Missouri, not in Kansas)
• Chinese food (such as beef stir-fry) in Kansas
• Mexican Beef Burritos in Chicago
• New York City Strip 12 oz. in NYC
• Galbi, Korean style grilled beef ribs, in NYC (K-town)

Oh, did I tell you this was a BUSINESS trip? And I have nothing to do with beef industry, by the way. Plus, I don't drink "Beefeater".

"You don't know my name" (by Alicia Keys)

There are some homonyms of Korean AND Japanese. So, for those who plan to visit Korea, be aware that your name might have a different (and sometimes hilarious) meaning.

For instance, Tajima (田島), a Japanese last name means "I won't give you a ride" in Korean. As such,

Kajima (鹿島): Don't leave (가지마)
Ojima (小島): Don't come (오지마)
Kanda (神田): I'm coming (간다)

Onda (恩田): Somebody's coming (온다)

Komine (小峰): I'm worried (고민해)

Nagano (長野): Go out (나가, 너)

Shimada (島田): Too bad, or I'm sorry (to be honest, I cannot come up with a good translation) (심하다)

Seki (関): Son of a xxxxx (새끼)