Wireless router

source: Logitec

I have set Wi-Fi in my room because my kindle needed Wi-Fi connection to transfer data.

I only bought a wireless router because I've already contracted an internet provider. The setting up of the wireless router was very easy. It only took me 20 minutes to set it up. And I finished transferring data from old kindle to new one without accident.

Other gadgets with Wi-Fi also use the network. My internet connection became a very useful tool in my room.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

I made two loans for above two groups from Paraguay and Chile.
I am hoping for their success and Happy Christmas!

Gym

I received tickets for a gym, which is located at the 24th floor of a building in Tokyo. Even if I expected to run with good view, the treadmills were not near the window. I didn't take a class but some classes took place such as yoga.
Now it is very cold, I still like to run outside.

benefit package

The company I am working for, introduces education classes with benefit package. They have various classes, namely, management, IT, specialty, and language. I need to pay classes fee. However, if I pass the exam at the end of our class, the company will give me a 50% discount on the class fee.

I guess that I will take English course.

Commute time

My commute time is about two hours. I read  a book and heard news. I want to use the time more efficiently. So I want a device with WiFi although it is high cost for me. I also need to save money but I am considering buying it.

There are two opinions that can go online. The first is to buy a device that can go online such as smart phone. The second is contracting an internet connection provider to get online outside. Both are expensive, so I am thinking of alternative ways.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

I made a loan for Noel Nestor from Brazzaville, Congo. When I selected him, a lot of parts caught my attention. I am hoping for his success.

Kindle for internatinal

My former kindle with keyboard has not worked well since few months ago because of broken battery. Even if it has a full battery, the kindle works only a few hours so I bought a new one. But the problem is, although I was able to get a Kindle Touch or Kindle Fire, I can not buy it because I am not U.S citizen. But I have used it for two weeks. I think it is very good to use when commuting because it has a light weight and very handy.

Private import

I imported leather shoes through amazon.com last month. After ordering the shoes, Fedex Japan called me about the price of the shoes. It seems that it need to pay a custom duty. After that, I checked about import duty and I learned that it is import duty is expensive.

I bought it with import duty because it is more reasonable compared with Japan's store. I know need to pay shipping costs but I didn't figure out the duty cost. So, there are three costs; shoes cost, shipping cost, and duty cost.

Through this experience, I already know why leather shoes are very expensive in Japan.

Land a job

My long holiday finally ended this month. What I mean is that I got a job. It was very hard to find a job. I applied for a lot of jobs and it took very long time before I could get one.

I'd like to express my gratitude to my family and friends because they supported me a lot. I left my previous work to go to school. In other word, I did the things only I wanted to do. Nevertheless, they helped me. I really thank them.

Anamoribashi

unknown

Anamoribashi, Tokyo

Anamoribashi is the name of a bridge that it is located near the Haneda airport. So, the bridge was designed to look like an airplane taking off.

The blue component illuminates when it is dark.

TOEIC

source: http://www.toeic.or.jp/

I took the TOEIC which is the Test Of English for International Communication last month and I received my result. I achieved my year's target score at last.

My score has decreased the last three times I took the exam. So I am especially glad to meet my goal for this year and I decided to set next target score. I will try to keep studying English.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

The man in the picture is from the Philippines and I have provided a loan to him through Kiva. The organization said that he is a farmer and he will be using the money to finance the cultivation of his farm.

Meridiana, Giulio Paolini

Meridiana, Giulio Paolini

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

This artwork named Meridiana is a floor pattern composed of square designs. There are many people in this place and they are spending time in a relaxing way.

This space usually uses the cafeteria and it seems that the space there can be rented.

Astronomical clock, Giulio Paolini

Astronomical clock, Giulio Paolini

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

The clock tells about the movement of the time, sun, moon and the starts in Tokyo. The clock was designed as basic model of a world-famous Prague Astronomical Clock.

Mechanical parts were produced by SEIKO, Japanese clock company.

Unghia e marmo, Giuseppe Penone

Unghia e marmo, Giuseppe Penone

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

This artwork is made by Giuseppe Penone. I have never heard him before. So I researched about him on the web and found out that he's a very famous artist. His exhibition also took place at Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in summer 2009.

Unfortunately, the translucent part of his artwork was broken.

PASSI, Luciano Fabro

PASSI, Luciano Fabro

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

Pleiades, Hidetoshi Nagasawa

Pleiades, Hidetoshi Nagasawa (長沢英俊)

Shinjuku-I-Land, Tokyo

This artwork was designed by Hidetoshi Nagasawa who is famous for his creative works in Milan, Italy. I guessed that these stones are star cluster just as the title.

The artwork is located at a corner in West Shinjuku skyscrapers.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

I grant a loan for Ainnie from Manila, Philippines. A lot of items can be seen suspending from the ceiling caught my attention in her "sari-sari" store.

I am hoping for her success.

arrowroot cake sundae

Kawasaki Daishi is famous for its arrowroot cakes. Although I like arrowroot cakes as it is, I found another other attractive sweets that is using arrowroot cakes as it's main ingredient. That is arrowroot cake sundae. Instead of melted chocolate, I enjoyed my arrowroot cake sundae on top of sweet beans paste.
I recommend the sundae to eat if you have a chance to go to Kawasaki Daishi.

慧, Tsuneo Yamashita

  慧, Tsuneo Yamashita (山下恒雄)

 Chiyoda, tokyo

This artwork is placed near the Mitui Sumitomo Insurance Building in Chiyoda ward. When I went to take a Thai language exam, it just happened that there was this artwork in the exam site's way. I searched about this artwork but I got almost nothing about it.

Cupnoodles museum

source: CUPNOODLES MUSEUM 

Last month I posted about a big kettle of cupnoodles. It seems that the big kettle is the event for the opening of the CUPNOODLES MUSEUM in Yokohama.

The museum has a factory that makes your original cupnoodles where in you can select 4 soups and 12 ingredients. Moreover you can your own cup. It will just takes about 20 minutes to have everything done.

By the way, when you see the logo of the museum what comes to your mind? What came into my mind was UNIQLO which is a Japanese apparel company. I later found out that the museum and UNIQLO was both planned by Kashiwas Sato, a brand strategist.

Anyway, I want to go and make my original cup noodle!!!

praying mantis

I found a praying mantis a few days ago. I remembered that when I was child, I often see and catch praying mantis.

They appear in Autumn in Japan. So now it's their active season. I closely saw it after so long. It has a scary look on its face and it seems ready for battle.

By the way, I use to write my blogs lots of time. I think it's good chance to notice the change of seasons and minor affairs.  If I am not writing my blog, I wouldn't care about these things.

My shopping experience at Costco

As you know, Costco is a membership warehouse club. I went to there for the first time. My first impression of costco was big anyway. I mean, they have big store, big shopping cart and  big or bulk products.

I tried to buy some items. When I was shopping at the store, I was careful about eatable amounts. And then I came home and looked these items. I noticed to buy too much.

By the way, Costco food court was reasonable. I took a hot-dog and drink (including refills).

Cup Noodles

source: NISSIN FOOD PRODICTS

Gundam, a popular Japanese manga character was the star in a TV commercial for the Cup Noodle. The robot holds a big kettle in his hand.

I saw the kettle in Yokohama city. It was a campaign for the Cup Noodle and people were able to try sample of the cup noodle. I'd like to try it but I didn't have enough time then.

Anyway, the kettle was very big.

Kiva

source: kiva.org

I grant three loans today. I am hoping for their success. The borrowers came from Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, and Ecuador. Do you know where are these located? If you don't know, please check it out at google map.

Flood in Thailand

source: msnbc.com

Flooding in Thailand has spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok.

I read some articles and saw photos about the flooding in Thailand. Factories and temples were inundated by flood water in Ayutthaya. I've been to a temple in Ayutthaya a few times and the temple is flooded now.
Moreover, there are a lot of Japanese companies in Ayutthaya and most of these have stopped their operation since last week. Because these factories have not resumed their operations they also can not estimate the damage caused by the flooding.

Anyway, safety is priority #1. I hope that people in Thailand are safe.

Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji

I had a trip to Kawasaki City and I made a little side trip to Kawasaki Daishi, a famous shrine for Kobo Daishi (弘法大師) aka Kukai(空海). A lot of people visit the shrine during New Year.

Red Buoyant II, Mary Ann E. Mears

Red Buoyant II, Mary Ann E. Mears

Kawasaki, Japan

This artwork designed by Mary Ann Mears was gifted to Kawasaki, Kanagawa by Baltimore, Maryland for their friendship in 1979.
An artwork named Red Buoyant is also placed on Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland.

You can see more of her artworks on the following site.
http://www.maryannmears.com/

情報守護神, Tiger TATEISHI

情報守護神, Tiger TATEISHI(立石 大河亞)

Yokohama Triennare 2011

This artwork was attracted me because of the picture of two big toads. I closely examined the drawing and I was drawn to Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city. It's very impressive and it intrigued me.

By looking at the picture you cannot tell the size of the artwork but that picture was painted in a very big canvass. I was not able to take a whole view picture.

あなたの肖像, Tetsumi Kudo

Your portrait(あなたの肖像), Tetsumi Kudo(工藤 哲巳)

Yokohama Triennare 2011

It was a little scary because of face and hands in a bird cage. The artwork was made in 1974. I guess at that time it was very modern.

Kiva

source: Kiva.org

I made a loan for El Zapotito Group at Undisclosed, Mexico. When I selected the group, the blue wall caught my attention. I am hoping for their success.

Polar Bear, Dewar & Gicquel

Polar Bear, Dewar & Gicquel

Yokohama Triennare 2011

"Polar Bear" is a title of the artwork. The bear is on a very small peace of ice. I think that  Arctic Ice is decreasing little by little every year so they made small ice.

Steve Jobs

 source: apple.com

I'm very sad to hear the news about Steve Jobs.
I remembered when I got an Apple  product for the first time, I was very impressed not only by the product but also by its package and it was by far the best device I've bought. Moreover I also was affected by his speech of the commencement address of Stanford University.

Goldfinger, Motohiro Tomii

Goldfinger, Motohiro Tomii

Yokohama Triennare 2011

What is the artwork made of? I wouldn't know until I went to see the artwork closely. It was made of push pins!!! These push pins was pinned into the wall in a line. How long did designer made it?

You can see more his works bellow link.
http://tomiimotohiro.com/

Andere, Tobias REHBERGER

Andere, Tobias REHBERGER

Yokohama Triennare 2011

These blue bulbs are linked to the lights of each of Yokohama city's child's room via the internet. So when a child turns the light on at his or her room, one of the bulbs are turned off. In this time, most bulbs are on, so most of the rooms have their lights turned off.

One Sentence ,YIN Xiuzhen

One Sentence ,YIN Xiuzhen

Yokohama Triennare 2011

The artwork "One sentence" is made by Yin Xiuzhen, a Chinese artist. We can appreciate the artworks while walking on spiral way. However, I prefer to watch the artwork as a whole. The picture was taken on the second floor.

Photo Reading

Do you know photo reading? It's one of the way of speed reading.
I read a book about photo reading because even though I am slow at reading, I enjoy looking for a lot of books.

The book said that there are 5 steps on how to do photo reading.

1. Prepare: Think main purpose for reading and stay focus on yourself.
2. Preview: Browse a book and check the value of contents for you. Then decide if you will read or not.
3. Photo Read: Do affirmation and read with photo focus.
4. Post review: Explore key terms in a book and create questions.
5. Activate: Take enough rest hours. Read the book with dip read and skitter over the book. Lastly, make a mind map.

I tried to read above 5 steps and I made the mind map above. It took me 2 hours to do it. It is too long for a photo reading. I'll try to read another book with photo reading again.

moonrise. east. March, Ugo RONDINONE

moonrise. east. March, Ugo Rondinone

Yokohama Triennare 2011

This artworks which were made by Ugo Rondinone are located in front of Yokohama museum and these greeted passersby with funny faces.

This artwork is one of my favorite artworks in the exhibition.

Yokohama Triennare 2011

Yokohama Triennare 2011, Japan's leading international exhibition of contemporary art, now held at Yokohama city since August. Actually, this exhibition has found two homes - Yokohama Museum of Art and NYK Waterfront Warehouse. And then two other exhibitions, BankART Life 3 and Koganecho Bazaar 2011, are also held near the area and we can go around all exhibition by free bus.

These museums allow people to take a photo although without any flash so I have a lot of photos.

• Yokohama Triennare 2011
• BankART Life 3 - Shin Minatomura -
• Koganecho Bazaar 2011

Kiva

source: kiva.org

I made my 65th kiva loan.

He operates a shop which makes furniture and upholstery. I can see some furniture in the picture.

Adam and Eve, Munehiro Ikeda

Adam and Eve, Munehiro Ikeda(池田 宗弘)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Golden apples are shining when stricken by the sun light.

Tento Mushi, Tadao Miyamoto

Tento Mushi, Tadao Miyamoto(宮本信夫)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

"Ladybird" is called Tento Mushi in Japanese.

Temple of Water, Nobuo Sekine

Temple of Water(水の神殿), Nobuo Sekine(関根伸夫)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

This artwork functions as a fountain but it was not turned on this day. I think it was done to save on electricity.

Cloud, Takatsugu Nagahiro

Cloud(雲), Takatsugu Nagahiro(永廣 隆次)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

I checked the background of the designer, Takatsugu Nagahiro. He made many artworks from iron and most of his artworks installed outdoors.

The rusted iron made a good pattern.

Kiva

source: kiva.org

I made a loan for Sop Mame Diarra Group, Senegal. Our team leader of Team Japan selected the group to support and lend the loan to. This activity marks the annual celebration of  Team Japan's fourth year in Kiva.

As long as I am financially able to do it, I will try to help these entrepreneurs by providing them with financial assistance.

Nintendo 3DS

source: Nintendo

Nintendo 3DS released on February 2011, and it cut the price after 6 months. Because, Nintendo 3DS sales was very low level, contrary to their expectations.

In this week, they released two news.
 - They will release new pink color 3DS for women.
 - They will release 43 new software titles including 33 for Nintendo 3DS.

If game users change a console to play a game from a handheld game console to a mobile phone including a smart phone, I think that these strategies will not work efficiently because of game user go to mobile phone to play games.

Cubics' conference, Shimon Saito

Cubics' conference, Shimon Saito(斎藤史門)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

It looks like these cubes are going to collapse and they don't appear heavy, though the artwork is made from metal.

Melt, Tadashi Mori

Melt(溶融), Tadashi Mori(森 正)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

I tried to search about sculptor but I didn't get his information on the web.

Pedestale of the sky, Nobuo Sekine

Pedestale of the sky(空の台座), Nobuo Sekine(関根伸夫)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

It's very interesting to see that there are buildings inside of the circle. It just happened that, two cute dogs were behind the artwork in the picture.

By the way, how to make it? It was made by granite stone.

Sori No86, Takera Narita

Sori No86, Takera Narita(成田 武羅)

Shinjuku, Tokyo

The sculptor, Takera Narita has published his art collection book. That book uses a photo of this artwork as the cover.