Calcifer

Brilliant--international donut arbitrage...

Pickles

True international donut arbitrage would be if the Seoul buyers went to the Yurakucho KK and re-sold the donuts to the idiots in line for enough markup to cover the transaction costs of ferrying them from Seoul.

Pickles

Couple more:

The electronic voice that says "otsukaresamadeshita" when we lock up the office and activate the security systems.

On the runup to Valentine's Day, the 400 pound sumo wrestler, dressed in winter yukata, topknot, tabi, geta, and all, walking into Gucci in Ginza to buy his girlfriend a present.

Speaking of katsu sando, on the outside wall of Omotesando Hills there is a huge picture of a guy lying on the floor with some massive katsu sandos pressing on him. The caption is omo-ttee-sando... Har har. Not as good as the new TV show, Ojisans 11. Probably features a bunch of sararimen in polyester and combover, snorting and smacking their teeth, and saying "ayeeshhh" when sitting down.

kcvt750

Last night it was the feeling of staying away from Kudanshita.

Based on the noise level (real crowds + sound trucks) it was wise of me to stay north of the Yasakuni shrine.

Sanosuke

Had no idea that blackberrys could work in Japan.

I have one that I bought here in Canada.. wonder if I'll require a Japanese blackberry model to work there?

Sanosuke!

kcvt750

From what I understand, yes.

SJUAMMF

8707g and 8707v can work in UMTS networks and at least voice should work. RIM website doesn't state Japan compatibility so the email part may not work.

hamburgler

My understanding is that you need to be on the Japan NOC for Blackberry to get email working here, and that requires you to sign up with DoCoMo and buy the six man phone that they offer. Not my cup of tea, but I've gotten over my Crackberry addiction.

lulu65

My 8707v worked very well in Tokyo and Kyoto on roaming, both voice and emails.

straygaijin

You can bring in a unlocked 8707v and buy a FOMA SIM and pay for the blackberry service on it. You don't need to buy the 8707v from DoCoMo. That how we do it as our company gets a good deal on BB's overseas.

You do have to deal with the DoCoMo Business Center, not a shop, to do this and that can be a frustrating exercise.

kcvt750

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Pickles

The line at Krispy Kreme has died down a bit, during the week it is possible to make just 5-10 minutes wait. Now for the 'feeling of being in Japan', because the line is usually very long, they have staffers walk around handing out fresh warm donuts to people waiting in line. So, I go there when there aren't many people waiting (maybe 5 minute wait) and a staffer gives me a warm fresh donut. Now, since I had made a line to buy one donut, because that's all I wanted, I was done, so I walked away...

Another one. McDonald's is now selling hot dogs. The ad in the store has a perfectly decent looking hot dog, with mustart and relish, the real deal. Unfortunately, it is only available daily until 10:30. In the morning....

Japan: where they know the 'how' but not the 'why'.

Sanosuke

The feeling of being in Japan is just that... mutual.

Now wheres my Mabo???

Sanosuke!

Hvr

Waiting to board your Shinkansen in Tokyo, it arrives, the cleaners get on and do a quick clean so it is now absolutely spotless and then they disembark, line up and bow to the waiting passengers.


Naturally it was parked centimetre perfect against the markings on the platform and departed exactly on time.

DLSIZE

Having the sense of bring in the middle of organized chaos.