If It's the Weekend, then It Must Be Party Time in Osaka!

Like to party? 

Want to meet some new friends in Kansai?

Don't have a plan for the weekend?

If you answered "yes" to the above and if you live close to Osaka, Kyoto or Kobe, listen up!  

There are plenty of social mixers happening every Friday, Saturday and Sunday somewhere close to you.  Now some of the sites that I've mentioned below are only in Japanese, so if you're Japanese skills need some brushing up, better to get a friend to assist you before you miss your chance at a great night out!

Without wasting any more of your precious time, here is a comprehensive list for you to research.

ICE BREAK

http://icebreak.jp 

ICE BREAK is run by yours truly.  With that said, the site is predominantly in Japanese but if you have any questions, you can always direct them to me for answers.  If you're looking to meeting mainly Japanese in and around the Kansai area, the parties (held in Osaka, Kyoto & Kobe) listed on ICE BREAK are a good place to start.

Royal Linkage

http://royallinkage.com

Royal Linkage is run by a Japanese friend of mine who's been in the party organizing business for more than 10 years.  With a wealth of experience, you can be sure that the parties hosted by Royal Linkage will be enjoyable.  The downside with Royal Linkage is that the site is in Japanese only, however with that said, the parties tend to be attended by mainly Japanese so if you are looking for some Japanese friends, check out one of Royal Linkage's parties in Osaka.    

Furtherment of International Friendship Organization (FIFO) - Osaka

http://www.osakafifoparty.com/schedule

FIFO is a recent newcomer to the "international party" circuit.  As I haven't been to one of their parties before I can't give you a first-hand point-of-view but they may be worth checking out if you are looking for a more "international" feel of an event.

WhyNot!?

http://www.whynotjapan.com/party/party-en.html  

When it comes to international parties in Kansai, WhyNot!? is where it's at!  They've been around the block several times having been in business for around 8 years, which is quite significant in the party industry here in Kansai.  Plus I know the sisters who are behind the WhyNot!? brand.  Very bright they are indeed.  Even though I have not been to a WhyNot!? party in several years, their events tend to be well attended.  If you're in your 20s then for sure WhyNot!? would be a good place to start as their guests consist of university students, graduate students and company employees early in their careers.

iNetwork Japan

http://www.inetworkjapan.com/index.html

Another international party organization that has been around for several years, iNetwork Japan holds various types of events in Osaka and Kyoto for most of the year.  Even though I haven't attended one of their events, my friend is the brains behind iNetwork Japan, so I would definitely give them a look if your schedule fits with one of their events.  In terms of price, iNetwork Japan in general is probably the least expensive so if you don't want to spend too much money the first time out, they may be the best option for you.

So next time you're looking for some "fun" on the weekend, I definitely recommend that you check out the sites I've listed above for details.

Until next time, have a great weekend!

Nothing Screams "Japan" Like Fake Food!

In a follow-up to my post from way back in February 2011 titled "Japanese Novelty: Food Sample Art a.k.a. Fake Food", I've since decided to dive in head first into the fake food industry per an insightful recommendation from a friend.  And what a ride its been!  After more than a year of planning, we were finally able to bring the online shop to a reality when Fake Food Japan was born to the online world in May 2012.

In just these short few months, we've taken orders from Europe, the Americas, Oceania, SE Asia and of course Japan.  Everything from cell phone straps to business card cases to life-size replicas has passed through our doors before heading out to its final destination.

And to top it off, the feedback we've received from customers has been great.  The most common comment we receive is in relation to how realistic the fake food actually looks.  I wonder if I should change the name to "Looks so real I can't believe it's fake food!".  :)

I guess we are changing people's perceptions of fake food so that's definitely a step in the right direction.  Leave it to Osaka's true fake food craftsmen for creating these fake food masterpieces like none other.

As the holiday season is just around the corner, how about picking up some memorable (and handmade by the way) and unique Japanese gift items for your family and friends?

If you want to surprise them with something "different" this year, you can't go wrong with fake food!

Until next time!

P.S. If you have any Japanese friends, we have a Japanese fake food online store as well, which you can access from here: http://fakefoodjapan.net