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!

Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto: Daigoji Temple & Nijo Castle

As the cherry blossom season or "sakura" season as we call it here in Japan is short-lived, I traveled to Daigoji Temple located in Fushimi, Kyoto for the first time to take in the picturesque landscape of blooming cherry blossoms.

After so many years being in the Kansai region, there are still so many cultural and historical places that I have yet to visit.  At least now I can mark Daigoji Temple with the adjacent Daigoji Reihokan and Sanboin Temple off of my list spots to visit.  

Nestled outside of the city center of Kyoto in Fushimi, Daigoji Temple, which is regarded as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, was the location of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's cherry blossom viewing parties.  For those of you unfamiliar with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he was the creator of Osaka Castle and is known as one of the most influential Japanese in the country's long history.

Relating to the pictures above, the first four were taken while at Daigoji Temple while the last picture of the three Japanese koto musicians with the massive ikebana (flower arrangement as most of you would call it) in the background was taken while attending the cherry blossom night viewing illumination at Nijo Castle in downtown Kyoto.

Even if you are unable to make the trek to Daigoji Temple this year to view the cherry blossoms, there is always the fall for the tree foliage among the many events that are held there throughout the year.  As it is off of the beaten path from the major tourist sites, I am sure that I will be visiting this temple again to explore the rest of its treasures in the mountains of Daigo.  

Fushimi: The Sake Capital of Kyoto

This past weekend I traveled to Fushimi located just south of central Kyoto to attend the 220th birthday of the Matsumoto Sake Brewery.

As part of the day's festivities, my very good friend and samurai extraordinaire, Joe Okada (see pictures above), gave the attendees a good dose of entertainment by showing off his sword wielding skills by cutting everything from a Japanese radish to apples to bamboo with the assistance of some daring onlookers.

After enjoying a perfect spring afternoon with Japanese sake and swords (of course the norm!), I said "sayonara" to the Matsumoto Sake Brewery and walked about 15 minutes to arrive at another Fushimi treasure, the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum for a look back at the history and tasting of more sake.  

Just to put things in perspective, the Nada area of Kobe, which is one of the most famous places in Japan for brewing sake, started its operations in 1899.  Now Gekkeikan on the other hand in Fushimi has been involved in the manufacturing of sake since 1637.  With almost 375 years of experience under its belt, it should be safe to say that Fushimi knows sake.

For those wanting to get away from the crowds and frequented tourist destinations within central Kyoto, I highly suggest stopping by Fushimi to experience another side of Kyoto without all the hustle and bustle.      

Japan Luxury Travel Forum 2011

Late last week I took part in the Japan Luxury Travel Forum 2011 seminar held at the Hotel Granvia Kyoto.  Highlighting on how to attract high net worth travelers to the region, Ricco DeBlank of Sun Hung Kai Properties based in Hong Kong and James Samuel of Reed Exhibitions out of the United Kingdom where on hand to share their insights with the Kyoto-based majority crowd.

It was a pleasure to see Ricco again as I had not seen him since he left his post as the general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Osaka property in 2007.  After leaving Osaka, Ricco moved to Tokyo to open the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo hotel before coming to his current position as CEO for the hotel division at Sun Hung Kai Properties.

Following the talks of Ricco and James, a panel discussion was held with representatives from the Hyatt Regency Kyoto, Kyoto City Tourism Bureau and Iori.

I have highlighted Iori in the past on my blog here and here.  For those wishing to experience a traditional Japanese machiya (townhouse) around Kyoto city, I highly suggest one of Iori's properties.

Kyoto Research Park (KRP): The Premier Privately-Owned Research Institution

With over 40 universities and several major blue-chip companies in Kyoto, the city is known throughout the country as a "venture city".  Kyoto Research Park (KRP), which was founded by Osaka Gas in 1989, was the nation's first privately operated research park.  To aid the city of Kyoto is becoming the place to be for ventures to create a name for themselves, KRP relies upon its strong overseas and national network in the fields of IT and R&D to support its tenants.

For those of you interested in the research park, some of the facilities include:

- Laboratories
- Data Centers
- Restaurants
- Science Hall
- Meeting Rooms

With space available to conduct meetings up to 350 people, second-to-none support system, and a convenient location less than ten minutes from Kyoto Station by taxi, it is no wonder why more than 250 venture businesses call KRP home.

For a breakdown of the tenants at KRP, please refer to the graph above.  As you can see, even though IT-related companies make up more than a third of the occupants, the research park is very diverse with more than 13 different industries represented.

With just over 20 years in operation, KRP is looking to solidify its place as the premier privately-owned research institution in the city for the next generation and beyond.

World Forum for Bio/Medical Device in Kansai 2011

Organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI - Kansai) and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OCCI), the World Forum for Bio/Medical Device is back in Kansai for 2011.

Taking place the week of February 21-25, the first day will include a site visit in Osaka followed by two days of company presentations and panel discussions before the forum moves to Kobe and then Kyoto to round out the week.

Dedicated to promoting the development of innovative medical, diagnostic and analytic devices and businesses, the World Forum for Bio/Medical Device brings the foreign industry leaders together for a week to exchange their recent findings with the Japanese bio/medical device community.  This year representatives from the following overseas locations will be on hand to participate:

Assistive Medical Equipment Corp. (Illinois)
BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
Boston Scientific Corporation (Massachusetts)
Brown Medical Industries (Iowa)
Devicix (Minnesota)
Fredrikson & Byron Attorneys (Minnesota)
Gnarus Medical Consulting (Minnesota)
Johnson Matthey Medical (Pennsylvania)
Lake Region Medical (Minnesota)

Invetech (Melbourne, Australia)

Burster (Germany)
Contec GmbH (Germany)

Philips Electronics (The Netherlands)

For more information about the forum, please click here for details in English and Japanese.

As one of the core industries in Kansai, the region is making headway towards becoming the place in Asia for one's bio/medical device needs.  It will be interesting as to what affect the forum has on the community here in Kansai.

Hiyoshiya: The Tale of the Lone Wagasa in Kyoto 日吉屋：京都の和傘ものがたり

More inline with how Kyoto is portrayed in the media and relating to its historical past, today's blog entry focuses on the only traditional Japanese umbrella (wagasa) company left in Kyoto - Hiyoshiya.

Founded in the later part of the Edo period (1603-1868), Hiyoshiya has been in operation for five generations.  For the story of how the current president of 36 years of age, Kotaro Nishibori, came into power, please click here.  

The history of the Japanese umbrella can be traced back to Heian period (794-1185) well before the time of Hiyoshiya.  Different from today's Japanese umbrella and Western umbrella for that matter, the umbrellas back then were used to protect the aristocrats from the sun and evil spirits.  However by the late 14th century, the functionality of the umbrella changed into how we use it to this day.     

Now some of you may be thinking what is the difference (if there is one) between a Japanese umbrella and one in the West.  To answer your question, please refer below.  

Western Umbrellas: 

- made from plastic, polyester, and steel

- consisted of 8 ribs

- when expanded form a dome shape

- the handle is placed up when storing

Japanese Umbrellas:

- made from washi paper (Japanese paper) and bamboo

- consisted of 30-70 ribs

- when expanded form a straight line

- the handle is placed down when storing

Now because of the complexity in producing a Japanese umbrella, it normally takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the design and size.  For more details, click here.

For those of you interested in learning more about Japanese umbrellas and even having the chance to make your own, be sure to contact Hiyoshiya in advance from the following request form to schedule a tour of the facility.  

With the company also having umbrellas available to rent, Hiyoshiya can assist anyone wanting to accessorize his/her wardrobe, office, etc. with the essence of Kyoto.

メディアでの京都のイメージは歴史・伝統的な地、という感じですよね。以前の記事で、京都の都会的な一面もお話しましたが、今日はこのメディアイメージに沿った話題です。本日とりあげるのは、京都にたった一つ現存する和傘製造元、日吉屋です。

江戸時代後期に創業された日吉屋は、五代にわたって受け継がれています。36歳の現当主、西堀耕太郎さんがどのようにして今の地位に就かれたかについては、こちらを参照ください。

和傘の歴史は、日吉屋創業のはるか昔、平安時代にさかのぼります。現在一般に普及している洋傘と違い、当時和傘は雨具ではなく、貴族にさしかける日除けや魔除けとして利用されていました。しかし室町時代になると、和紙に油を塗ることにより和傘に防水性が施され、雨具として使われるようになりました。

ところで、洋傘と和傘の違いって何なんでしょう？答えは下記をご覧ください。

洋傘

・材質はプラスチック、ポリエステル、スチール

・骨数は通常８本

・丸みを帯びたシルエット

・持ち歩く際は、傘の先端を下に向ける

和傘

・材質は和紙、竹

・骨数は30〜70本

・シルエットは末広がりに真っ直ぐ

・持ち歩く際も、傘の先端を常に上に向ける

和傘は製作は複雑で、高度な専門技術を要します。そのため、制作には、サイズやデザインにより数週間から数ヶ月かかるのです。詳細はこちらのリンクからどうぞ。

和傘についてもっと学びたいという方、またミニ和傘作りを体験してみたいという方は、ぜひ日吉屋に問い合わされることをおすすめします。事前にこちらのお問い合わせフォームから訪問の予定をご相談ください。

日吉屋は和傘のレンタルも行っており、ファッションやお部屋の装飾として和傘を借りることもできます。京風アレンジのお洒落はいかがですか？

Kansai - The Real Japan? You Be The Judge. 関西こそが日本？（・・と、思いますか？）

For most people residing outside of Japan, Kyoto and Tokyo are the cities that are most familiar followed by Osaka, Hiroshima, etc.  However, what about "Kansai"?  When I first visited Osaka (the second largest city in Japan) 10 years ago, my plane did not land at Osaka Airport as I thought it would but rather at Kansai International Airport.  Was Kansai another way to say Osaka?

I soon came to realize that Kansai was the name for the region that includes the ancient capital cities of Nara and Kyoto along with Osaka, the port city of Kobe (also where Kobe beef originated), and the largest lake in Japan - Lake Biwa in Shiga.  Geographic details about this region are depicted in the pictures above.

With Tokyo being the present-day capital of Japan, it is understandable why it gets all the attention, however Kansai has a lot going for it as a region and offers a different lifestyle than what one can find in the metropolitan city of Tokyo, which makes Kansai attractive.  

Having previously lived in Tokyo to experience the city first-hand, it is safe to say that I am biased when it comes to talking about Kansai.  After living in Tokyo, I moved to Kansai and have never looked back since.  Tokyo is comparable to any large metropolitan city in the world. Even though most of the people living in Tokyo are Japanese (as they are anywhere else in this country), the city doesn't have much of a "Japanese" feel to it.  Just more of a "big city" feel.  

Kansai on the other hand does maintain its sense of "Japanese".  Being home to two of the former capitals (Nara & Kyoto) and the merchant capital of Osaka, the region is where Japan got started years ago and even with the passage of time, the region has maintained a great balance of the old with the new to please the masses.  

Also based on the statistics above, the region has a population equivalent to that of Australia and an economy ranked in the top 20 in the world annually.  As a place to visit or possibly conduct business, I cannot say enough positive things about the region.  

Unfortunately current mass media places too much attention on Tokyo as a destination.  Even most tours aimed at Westerners are Tokyo-based occasionally offering a side trip to Kyoto.  It makes sense though as those are the only two cities that ever get mentioned in mainstream media, however coming all the way to Kyoto from Tokyo (two hours by bullet train) and then not stopping by Osaka, Nara, etc., which are just 30 minutes by local train from Kyoto, does not make much sense to me.  Realizing that the travel itineraries are very tight as they are, it would make more sense to split the time in Tokyo and Kansai equally so that visitors can experience as much of Kansai as possible within their allotted time rather than 1-2 days only in Kyoto as is the norm.  

To sum everything up, when looking to experience the "real" Japan, schedule a trip to Kansai and see for yourself what this great region has to offer.  In the end, only you can be the judge.

Finally, for a great resource on the hot spots ranked by foreigners residing in the area in English and Japanese, please on click on "Destination KANSAI" for more information.

海外では東京、大阪、京都、広島などがよく知られていますが、「関西」はどうでしょう？10年前に初めて大阪を訪れた時、私が乗る飛行機が到着したのは『大阪空港』ではなく、「関西空港」でした。「関西って大阪の別名かな？」などと思ったものです。

日本に来てすぐ、関西とは大阪に加えて、神戸のような港町（神戸牛も有名ですよね）、奈良・京都のような歴史ある地、そして日本最大の湖「琵琶湖」がある滋賀を含むエリアの総称であると気づきました。

首都が東京にあることで、ついついそちらにばかり目がいってしまいますが、関西は東京とはまた違った趣があり、活気もあります。

実際に東京に住んだことがある私が話すと、若干意見が偏ってしまうかもしれませんが、東京から関西に移住して以来、東京に戻ろうと思ったことは一度もありません。東京は、世界の大都市に並ぶ迫力があり、居住者の大多数が日本人であるにもかかわらず、『日本的』な感じがしませんでした。とにかく『大都市！』という印象です。

一方で関西は、『日本的』な雰囲気を十分残しています。奈良と京都という二大歴史都市、さらに商人の町・大阪もあり、古き良き日本の中心地です。また、年月がたった今も、これらの地は昔と今の文化をうまく共存させており、訪ねてくる人々を歓ばせています。

統計によると、関西の人口はオーストラリアの人口に並び、また関西経済は世界で年間トップ20に含まれます（記事上部を参照）。旅行やビジネスにもってこいの場所と言えるでしょう。

残念ながら、海外向けのメディアは未だに東京メインなのが現状です。外国人向けの旅行会社も、旅行プランはほぼ東京行きで、たまに京都もまわれるようになっている程度です。メディアで取り上げられるのが東京である以上、旅行プランも東京中心になるのは当然ですよね。ただ、はるばる２時間以上かけて東京から京都に来て、そこからわずか30分の大阪や奈良に行かずに帰るというのは、もったいないな〜と思います。ツアーは基本的にハードな行程になっているので、今後はぜひ東京と関西エリアに同じだけの時間を割けるようなプランを作ってほしいものです。1〜2日かけて京都だけを見るより、時間をとってゆっくり関西全体を見る方が、より素晴らしい思い出、そして将来のビジネスのきっかけが作れると思います。

『真の日本らしさ』を追求したい方は、ぜひ一度関西に訪れて、自身で体感していただくことをおすすめします。やっぱり「百聞は一見にしかず」ですからね。

最後に、 関西在住の外国人によって制作された「Destination KANSAI」というオンライン書類をご紹介させていただきます。関西の観光資源を外国人目線でまとめたこの書類。日本人の方にとっても、興味深いものと思います。よろしかったらダウンロードしてお読みください。

Kyoto Isn't Just Temples & Shrines Says OMRON 京都はお寺と神社だけじゃないらしい

Well-known amongst people working in the medical field, the OMRON brand can be seen on everything from digital thermometers to blood pressure monitors to nebulizers for those with respiratory ailments.  What may not be known as much is that OMRON is just another example of global company coming right out of the heart and soul of Japan in Kyoto.

Established in 1948, the company got its name in part from its location in the Omuro district in Kyoto.  When founder Kazuma Tateishi developed the curling iron several years later as OMRON, the name stuck as the name for the company when it expanded its business to overseas markets.    

In addition to health care, OMRON has the following as its main businesses:

- Industrial automation (ex. safety door switches and temperature controllers)
- Electronic components (ex. sensors and switches)
- Automotive electronics (ex. electric power steering and automotive radio components)
- Social systems (ex. traffic signal controllers and ticket vending machines)

Located in 36 countries around the world, OMRON houses its North and South American head office out of Schaumburg, Illinois, located roughly 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the northwest of Chicago.

An interesting tidbit is that OMRON developed the world's first electronic ticket gate (turnstile), unmanned train station, and automatic cash dispenser in the late '60s and early '70s.  All this from a company in a city that is mainly known for its temples and shrines...

薬局などで目にする「オムロン」という会社。体温計や血圧計、そして薬液吸入治療機器・ネブライザなど、様々な健康医療機器を開発、製造しています。海外にも商品を提供しているこちらの会社が、京都に本社を置いていることをご存知でしょうか？

そもそも『オムロン』という社名は、1948年の設立の時に、京都市右京区花園（京都市西北部）の通称「御室（おむろ）」にちなんでつけられました。創業者である立石一真氏が数年後にヘアカールアイロンを発明したことで、オムロンの名は一気に定着、浸透しました。そしてこの出来事が、会社の海外進出を支えることとなったのです。

健康医療機器以外にも、オムロンは下記の分野にも力を入れています。

・制御機器・FAシステム（セーフティ・ドアスイッチや電子温度調節器など）

・電子部品（センサやスイッチなど）

・車載電装部品（ボタン式のロック・エンジン稼働システムなど）

・社会システム（車両ナンバー読み取りセンサや入退室管理システムなど）

オムロンは海外にも36カ国に支社を置いています。オムロンアメリカ支部はイリノイ州のシャインバーグ市にあり、シカゴ北部から約30キロのあたりに位置します。

ここでちょっと小ネタなのですが、オムロンは世界で初めて自動券売機、無人駅、そしてATMを作った会社なんです。 1960〜70年代にかけて発明されました。

これらのオムロンにまつわるお話は、すべて京都で起こった出来事なんですよ！普段はお寺や神社で話題にのぼることが多い京都にも、こんな一面があるのですね。

Kyoto: The Land of Bras and Panties?! 京都は下着の都！？

Believe it or not, the world of bras and panties in Japan starts and ends in the former imperial capital of Kyoto.  Founded in 1946 and officially taking on the name Wacoal as we know it today in 1957, the massive women's apparel manufacturer's lineup now includes everything from brassieres to panties to shapewear to accessories.

With more than 17,000 employees placed in its Kyoto headquarters and representative offices spanning 14 countries (international headquarters situated in New Jersey), Wacoal is definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to women's unmentionables.

In 2008, Wacoal added the Japanese mail-order lingerie retailer, Peach John, as a subsidiary company to strengthen its presence in the domestic market.  With the word of the street being that Victoria's Secret is looking to make its much awaited grand entrance in the next year or two, it will be very interesting to see how the playing field changes once my native Ohio-based Victoria from the U.S. enters the market.  

嘘のようなまことの話ですが、かつての都・京都は下着産業の都でもあります。日本の女性用下着は京都に始まり京都に終わると言っても過言ではありません。1946年に設立された会社が、1957年に名を『ワコール』に変更したのが、衣料品の大企業「ワコール」の始まりです。多彩な商品のラインナップは、おしゃれな下着に加え、ボディースーツなどの補正下着やポーチなどの雑貨小物まで含みます。

ワコールグループには1万7000人を超える従業員がおり、京都に本社、また14カ国に海外支社を置いています（海外拠点はアメリカ・ニュージャージー州です）。女性下着産業において、世界的にもかなり名が知られていると言えるでしょう。

2008年にワコールは、ランジェリーの通信販売会社「ピーチ・ジョン」を傘下に置き、国内での販売をさらに強化しました。アメリカの人気下着ブランド「ヴィクトリアズ・シークレット」の日本進出が盛んに噂されている今、下着業界がどう変化していくのか非常に楽しみです。ちなみにこのヴィクトリアズシークレット、本社が私の故郷オハイオ州にあったりします。ですので、個人的にもこれら２社の将来に注目しています。

ROHM: Illuminating Kyoto One Light Bulb At A Time ROHM：京都を彩るイルミネーション

When one thinks about Japanese electronics corporations, the likes of Panasonic, headquartered in Osaka, Sony and Toshiba probably come to mind.  But one must not forget about the semiconductor behemoth ROHM, which is situated in Kyoto.

Established in 1958, ROHM was ranked 22nd in the world in semiconductor sales in 2009.  Not bad for a company whose main product for years was resistors.  With its American headquarters located in San Diego and European headquarters in Germany, ROHM is one of the several global companies that call the former capital of Japan home.

Unfortunately concluding tomorrow, ROHM has turned its corporate headquarters into a winter light wonderland lasting a month.  Every year since 1995 ROHM has put on this light extravaganza, however I had the privilege of seeing this showcase of some 600,000 lights last weekend for the first time.  All I can say is that if you are planning to visit this year or in the future bring your sunglasses!  With nighttime events held throughout the month and a lighted park for the children to play, I would highly recommend stopping by ROHM between 4:45 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. for an enjoyable experience.

日本の電機会社といえば、まず思いつくのは、パナソニック（大阪に本社がありますね）や、ソニー、東芝などでしょうか。しかし！半導体をあつかう京都の大企業、ROHM（ローム）を忘れてはいけません。

1958年に設立されたロームは、2009年の半導体売り上げが世界で第22位という成果を収めました。これは主となる商品が抵抗器である会社にとって、めずらしいことと言えます。さらに、海外で活躍する日本資本の会社は決して多くはない中で、 ロームはサンディエゴにアメリカ支部、ドイツにヨーロッパ支部を置いています。

残念ながら明日終了してしまうのですが、ローム本社は冬期限定で1ヶ月間、光のお城に変身します。本社内の街路樹を利用したこのイルミネーションは、1995年から毎年行われており、私もこの度初めて60万個の光を見物してまいりました。感想ですが・・・今年か来年に来られる予定の方は、サングラスが必須です！！笑

イルミネーションの他にも、イベントや子供向けにライトアップされた公園などがありますので、16:45から22:00の間に近くを通られることがあれば、ぜひここに立ち寄られることをおすすめします。

Katsura Innovation Park 桂イノベーションパーク地区

Home to many top class learning institutions, Kyoto has a lot going for it besides temples, shrines, and geisha.  Let's take Katsura Innovation Park, located in the western part of the city, as a prime example.

Funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Katsura Innovation Park is part of the Kyoto Environmental Nanotechnology Cluster.  As a premier institution, the park is occupied by JST Innovation Plaza Kyoto from the Japan Science and Technology Agency, MYCOM Co., Ltd., Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., Kyoto University Katsura Campus Venture Plaza, and Pharma Foods International Co., Ltd.

Looking for collaboration opportunities with not only domestic companies but foreign companies as well, the park is prepared to offer funding and other means of support to anyone considering the park as a future location of business or as a research and development center.  With probably the highest concentration of academic resources and brightest young men and women in the nation, the city of Kyoto can offer so much more to potential business investors besides the typical cultural experience while in town.

京都と聞いてまず思い浮かべるのはお寺、神社、芸者さんなどかと思います。でも、実はトップクラスの教育機関が多く存在するのも、京都だったりします。本日は京都市西部に位置する、京都大学キャンパスを含む「桂イノベーションパーク」を見てみましょう。

文部科学省によって平成14年に設立されたこの地区は、産業・学問連携の新産業拠点と位置づけられ、京都環境ナノクラスター（環境問題の解決に取り組む機関）の中核となります。地区内では（独）科学技術振興機構（JST）によるJSTイノベーションプラザ京都、マイコム（株）、三洋化成工業（株）、京都大学桂キャンパスベンチャープラザ、そして（株）ファーマフーズの5つの施設が稼働しています。

国内外にとらわれない産学連携を目指し、桂イノベーションパークは地区内でのビジネスや研究開発へのサポート、経費補助を積極的に行っています。優れた学問と秀でた人材を誇る京都は、文化的価値だけでなく、ビジネス投資においても魅力的で可能性に満ちた都市なのです。

Nintendo: The Quiet Giant 任天堂：静かなる巨人

The video game company Nintendo is known throughout the world as one of the leaders when it comes to home entertainment systems.  What many people may not know is that Nintendo, which was established way back in 1889 manufacturing playing cards, is based in Kyoto out of all places.  Even after moving to Osaka, it took some time before I came to know that Nintendo was one of Kansai's own.

After dabbling in several ventures, Nintendo, which is the third most valuable listed company in Japan, hit the jackpot domestically with Famicom in 1983, also known overseas as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985.

Always on the cutting edge in introducing hit product after hit product, Nintendo is a true innovator and definitely one of the bright spots in Kansai.

To add to the company's mystery, I just came to realize that Nintendo is also the majority owner of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners.  Being a fan of the "big leagues", I am curious as to how Nintendo will leverage its interest in the Mariners to better itself.  Only time will tell...  
『Nintendo』として世界中で親しまれている任天堂は、家庭用ゲーム機器において常に最先端で活躍しています。そんな有名ゲーム会社の本社が1889年の設立以来（当時はカードゲームの製造会社でした）ずっと京都にあることは、実はあまり知られていません。私も大阪に来てから長いのですが、任天堂が関西発だったとは、しばらく知りませんでした。

設立後いろいろな事業に手を広げ、1983年の「ファミコン」で爆発的なヒットを記録してから一躍有名になりました。今では日本のブランド価値ランキングの第３位に上げられています。ファミコンは海外でも「Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)」として1985年に発売され、知られるようになりました。

次々と人気商品を生み出していく任天堂は、開発者として関西に活気をもたらしてくれます。

また、もう一つ気づいたのですが、任天堂はイチローが在籍するメジャーリーグチーム、シアトルマリナーズの筆頭オーナーでもあります（正式には米国法人 Nintendo of America が所有しています）。大リーグのファンである私には、任天堂がマリナーズへの投資を通じて、いかにして自社の発展へと繋げていくのかが、とても気になるところです。

Bento & Co. - The Rise of the Japanese Lunchbox お弁当箱革命：Bento & Co.

The name "bento" may not mean much to many of you residing outside of Japan, however for those of you who own an Apple computer, you may have the Bento software program on your computer.  But where does the name come from and why did Apple chose to name one of its software "bento"?

Simply put, "bento" means lunch box in English.  For those of you unfamiliar with Japanese lunch boxes, they are a work of art.  Always incorporating a variety of food with the colors of the rainbow, Japanese lunch boxes are not only a sight to see but are constructed in such an organized way that Apple decided to name one of its filemaker software after the term.

After hearing a story of a Frenchman residing in Kyoto who capitalized on the popularity of the Japanese lunch box in Western Europe, I decided to pay a visit to meet the man behind the bento sensation overseas - Mr. Bertrand Thomas of Bento & Co.

With his office located close to Kyoto University, Bertrand informed me that he got started selling bentos over the Internet just two years ago.  Having a passion for bentos, Bertrand marketed the various styles of bentos via his blog to residents in Western Europe.  After continuously receiving over 800 hits a day on his blog, Bertrand had a feeling that he might be able to make selling bentos over the web into a legitimate business.

Fast forward two years later, Bertrand is now the direct overseas distributor for bentos in Japan.  With most of his customers hailing from Western Europe, he has seen orders increase from Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore of late.  With much of the world still untapped for the bento market, Bertrand is hoping to expand his business internationally in addition to opening a bento shop in Kyoto in the near future.

With few success stories in Kansai of late, it was great to have the chance to meet Bertrand and learn about the history of Bento & Co.

日本では聞き慣れた「お弁当」という言葉。食材が色とりどりに詰められたお弁当箱は見た目も鮮やかで、食事に華を添えてくれます。

この度アップルから発売されたソフトウェア「Bento」により、お弁当という言葉にに新たな一面が加えられました。見事に配置されたお弁当の具材にちなんで名付けられたこのソフトは、パソコンでの連絡先情報の整理整頓、プロジェクトのトラッキング、プロジェクト計画などを、すべて一箇所にまとめて管理できます。

そもそも、お弁当という言葉はいつから海外で知られるようになったのでしょうか？

「お弁当箱」の西ヨーロッパでの人気に一役買ったフランス人が京都に住んでいると聞き、さっそく伺うことにしました。 海外でのお弁当ブームの火付け役、 Bento & Co. のBetrand Thomas（ベトランド・トーマス）さんです。

トーマスさんは京都大学の近くに位置するオフィスにて、２年前にインターネットサイトによるお弁当箱の販売を始めました。お弁当に対する情熱は、西ヨーロッパに住む顧客へのブログでの熱心な宣伝につながりました。次第にブログへのアクセス数は毎日800を越えるようになり、インターネットを通じてのより大きなビジネスへの展望が開けることとなりました。

現在、海外へ直接お弁当箱の販売を行っているのは、おそらくBento & Co. だけではないでしょうか。注文は西ヨーロッパからが一番多いそうですが、台湾、マレーシア、シンガポールからも増えてきているようです。世界で知られはじめたお弁当箱。これからより一層の国際的展開を目指して、トーマスさんは京都での店舗設立も含め、 お弁当箱ビジネスを広げていく予定です。

ここ近年、不景気だ不景気だと言われていますが、Bento & Co.の明るいお話を聞くことができ、とても励みになりました。

Kyoto: East Meets West 京都で楽しむ東洋と西洋

To experience the beauty of Kyoto in the fall, I paid a visit to the Mirei Shigemori Garden Museum located close to Kyoto University.  The museum, which is a traditional town house from 1789, was designed by the great 20th century Japanese garden architect Mirei Shigemori.

The tranquil atmosphere encompassing the museum was very refreshing as I was able to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a short time.  As the museum can be visited by appointment only, be sure to contact the museum for viewing availability.

Following my time spent at the museum, I dropped by Falafel Garden - the Israel cafe & restaurant - located 80 meters east of Demachiyanagi Station for tasty lunch before heading back to Osaka for the day.  With an at-home atmosphere that can't be beat, I highly recommend anyone passing through the Demachiyanagi Station area to make an effort to visit Falafel Garden.  With a new property just opened in Nara, I expect its second property to be just as popular as its first.

秋の京都を堪能しようと、京都大学近隣に建つ、重森三玲庭園美術館を訪れました。１７８９年に設立された住宅を利用したこの庭園は、昭和初期の庭師である重森三玲により見事に作り上げられました。

落ち着いた雰囲気に包まれた美術館は、日ごろの忙しさをつかの間忘れさせてくれます。見学の際は予約必須になりますので、必ず事前にご連絡ください。

庭園見学の後、Falafel Garden（ファラフェルガーデン）へ足を運びました。出町柳駅から８０メートル東にあるこのイスラエルカフェ・レストランは、大阪へ帰る前においしいランチをいただくのに最適です。家庭的な暖かさに満ちた空間はとても心地よく、出町柳駅に立ち寄ることがあれば、ぜひ行かれることをおすすめします。別店舗が奈良にもオープンしたばかりで、こちらも京都店に負けない人気のお店になるのではないでしょうか。

Experience Kyoto: Arashiyama, Townhouse, Manga & More! 京都を満喫：嵐山、町家、マンガミュージアムなどなど！

In all of my time spent in Kansai, covering more than 7 years, I had never been to Arashiyama in Kyoto until this past weekend.

To kickoff the weekend festivities, I started by renting a bicycle at the Arashiyama Station for 800 yen ($8) valid for one day's use.  After riding around the main street in Arashiyama, I stopped by the red snapper restaurant "Hanana" for lunch with my friends.  Once our hunger had been satisfied, we got back on our bicycles and visited the Nison-in Temple and the Tenryu-ji Temple before arriving back at the main street in Arashiyama to visit the kimono handicraft store, Kurisho.

After seeing all the major sites to see in Arashiyama, we moved on to the next phase of our weekend at the Sanbo Nishinotoin Townhouse, a machiya, which just so happens to be owned by my good friend and kimono atelier owner Shigeyuki Kobayashi.  My past blog about Shige-san, as I call him, can be found here.

As I had stayed at one of Iori's townhouses before (blog can be viewed here), I had an idea of what to expect, however my friend Shige-san's townhouse was spacious beyond belief!  With at least a 5 meter (15 ft.) ceiling and a huge wooden bathtub, the ambience is his townhouse was quite different from the one I experienced in March.  As I have already experienced two Iori townhouse properties (both excellent), I have eight more to visit before completing the entire list.  I am definitely up to the challenge!

The following morning, we got off to an early start by walking only 10 minutes from the townhouse to get to the entrance of Nijo Castle.  Very convenient.  Because of the intense heat even at mid-morning, we briskly walked through the castle and its adjacent grounds before returning to back to the townhouse to check out.

Conveniently located next to the townhouse was the Nishinotoin Tea Shop & Tea House Motoan featuring green tea from Marukyu-Koyamaen Co., Ltd. in Uji City, Kyoto, which has some of the finest green tea in all of Japan.  Not wanting to pass up this opportunity, my friends and I stopped in to have a very traditional Japanese breakfast with green tea before moving on to my friend Shige-san's kimono gallery a few doors down.  

Before calling it a day and heading back to Osaka, we stopped by the Kyoto International Manga Museum to experience Japan's subculture.  At the former site of the Tatsuike Elementary School, the museum opened in November 2006 and currently houses over 300,000 items related to manga with something for every manga enthusiast.  For those wanting to see a different side to Japan, I recommend paying a visit to the museum.

7年以上も関西に居る私ですが、先週初めて嵐山に行ってきました。

嵐山駅では、1日800円で自転車を借りることができますので、 週末の楽しみのとっかかりとして、 まずは自転車で嵐山を周ることにしました。嵐山のメインストリートを走り、鯛匠HANANAというお店でランチをしました。空腹を満たした後に向かった先は、二尊院と天龍寺、そして嵐山のメインストリートへ戻り手描友禅工房久利匠へ行きました。

嵐山の目玉を一通り見た後に、私たちが移動したのは三坊西洞院町の町家です。（ちなみにこの町家は、私の友人であり、着物のアトリエのオーナーである小林重之（シゲ）さんが所有しています。彼のアトリエについては、以前のブログをご覧ください。）

以前も町家庵には泊ったことがあるので、どんな感じになるかは想像していたのですが、シゲさんの町家は想像を以上のものでした！！最低でも5メートルはある天井の高さと多くな木製の浴槽のあるこの町家は、私が3月に泊った町家と全く違うものでした。ふたつの素晴らしい町家庵をすでに堪能した私ですが、残りの8ヶ所にももちろん行くつもりでいます。

翌朝は、徒歩10分のところにある二条城に行ってきました。歩いてもたった10分だなんて、本当に近いですよね。この日もまだ午前中だというのに厳しい暑さだったこともあり、お城巡りは足早に済ませてしましました。

また、町家の隣にある西洞院店 茶房「元庵」では、品質本位のお茶づくりをすることで有名な宇治の丸久小山園のお茶を楽しむことができます。私と友達は、こんなチャンスを逃すなんてと思い、シゲさんの着物ギャラリーに行く前に立ち寄ることにし、お茶と一緒に伝統的な日本の朝ご飯をいただくことにしました。

そして大阪に帰る前の最後の楽しみとして、日本のサブカルチャーを楽しむべく、京都国際マンガミュージアムへ行きました。2006年11月に元龍池小学校を利用して出来たこのミュージアムには、現在30万部以上の漫画が貯蔵されているそうです。