Category: Work

Posted in Art, Cooking, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Mt. Fuji, Shrine and Temple, Tokyo, Work

Akemashiteomedetogozaimasu (A Happy New Year)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I worked till 31 December 2019 on New Year’s Eve.

It was so quiet in Ginza.

I could be only one working in my office building.

Even Japanese government office close from 28 December – 3 January to celebrate New Year.

My boss called and allowed me to leave earlier; I left happily at 2:45 pm.

I was feeling sentimental looking at last sunset of 2019.

I went to pick up my niece.

The road was clear so there was no traffic.

I wanted to surprise her so I decorated her room with balloons while she was taking a bath.

I succeeded it!

She was so excited!

I also took a bath to welcome new year freshly.

We ate soba (buckwheat noodle) for tradition, wishing for a long life like soba.

It turned midnight…we greeted Akemashite omedetogozaimasu and A Happy New Year then popped a party cracker!

We all got excited for a while and went to bed at 1:30 am.

I woke up lazily on Gantan (New Year Day).

Most of shops and restaurants closed today.

We ate Osechi (New Year Dishes) for brunch.

Each dish has a meaning.

For example, Kurikintoki which is made by sweet potato and its colour in gold means wishing to have gold (richness), etc, etc.

And Ozoni (chicken, vegetables and mochi/rice cake in soup)

After brunch, we paid a visit to our family shrine, Tenso Jinja (Tenso Shrine) for New Year prayer.

I wrote my wish on Ema (Wish Designed Board) and I used this picture for my New Year Greeting eCard.

We had a break after returned from the shrine.

Niece and I made Monaka.

We fill Anko (sweet bean paste) on monakanokawa (monaka shell/wafer).

We can adjust the amount of anko.

There are ume (plum) and fukuro (owl) shapes.

Based on astronomy, I believe nothing much of difference from yesterday’s; however, it is the first sunset on New Year’s Day.

I look forward for more adventures in 2020!

Akemashiteomedetogozaimasu!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Restaurants, Tokyo, Work

Farewell Lunch for My Collegue

Posted on by sonokotchi

On Friday, we sneaked out from office to rush to Paul, Roppongi 1-Chome Store for lunch.

My colleague is getting married in the US so I arranged the first and this would be her last lunch with friends at our sister organization.

We met often at working site; however, we were too busy conducting each duties.

It was our first gathering among five of us outside of work and we talked non-work related matters!

It was worth taking a taxi to arrange small farewell get together for my colleague.

Nice crepe gratin and bread!

I wish her happiness!

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japan Technology, Japanese Food, Nature, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo, Travel, Work

Business Trip to Toyama

Posted on by sonokotchi

I was in Toyama from 30 October – 3 November 2019 for business trip.

Originally, we plan to go to Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) but it was suspended because the railway was damaged by Typhoon 19.

I had a confidence that a Japanese railway company, JR Nishi Nihon (JR West Japan) will do their best to recover the line; in fact, it started its operation on 25 October 2019, meaning JR Nishi Nihon recovered Hokuriku Shinkansen in two weeks.

However, I was worried that it might take longer to recover to affect our business trip; therefore, we flew.

We safely arrived Toyama Airport.

There are four flights in a day between Tokyo/Haneda and Toyama.

It’s either two flights in early morning or 2 flights in late evening for convenience of business people.

Therefore, we arrived Toyama early on 30 October 2019.

We couldn’t check in so we dropped our luggage at hotel and walked to Toyama Station.

We took a taxi to visit Toyama Castle before going to exhibition hall, Toyama Techno Hall, for preparation for our participation in T-Messe 2019.

We climbed to Castle Tower.

There is a nice garden.

We had to make a move; we returned to Toyama Station area for lunch.

We had our lunch at Shirohacha.

Then went to exhibition hall, Toyama Techno Hall.

There is a vending machine for ice cream so we decided to take a break; I had a salty caramel.

We finished booth set up and returned to city centre to check in at hotel: Comfort Hotel Toyama Ekimae.

We went out for dinner at Chohachi.

I really enjoyed local specialty: Shiroebi (Japanese glass shrimp).

This Shiroebi no Oshizushi (Japanese glass shrimp pressed sushi) was awesome!

Work hard during day time and enjoyed nice dinner at night.

Yagura Zushi

Kappo Ogawa

I also had crab at Sakanaya Dojo Toyama Ekimae Store.

Honestly, a casual dining place like Izakaya in Toyama serves very fresh, delicious seafood and very reasonable!

On last night, I had two dinners with different people.

After eating a quick dinner at Sakanaya Dojo Toyama Ekimae Store, I went to a train sushi restaurant.

I already had a nice seafood at Sakanaya Dojo so I thought I’m gonna have few sushi to accompany them.

But big NO.

After queuing for some time, we managed to get a table at Mawaru Toyamawan Sushitama Toyama Eki Store.

It was also awesome!

I enjoyed fresh seafood very much in Toyama.

I also enjoyed watching cute Murata Seisakusho (Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd) cheer leader’s cheering while working.

Murata Seisakusho is Japanese leading machinery and parts company.

By the time leaving Toyama, I start liking Toyama.

Now I want to go back to Toyama for seafood, Onsen (hot spring) and nice sceneries.

I started missing Toyama and feeling melancholic but soon I get excited finding Star Wars wrapped aircraft at Haneda Airport!

The END

Posted in Feelings, Nature, Place, Tokyo, Work

Typhoon 15

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had a mission to conduct and I started it with a hectic day.

I received 10 companies to participate in Tokyo Game Show and I also organized events such as networking/pitching and tow dialogue sessions with Japanese gaming companies prior to their participation in the trade fair.

Unfortunately, the Day 1 – arrival to Tokyo on 9 September 2019 was hit by Typhoon 15.

Typhoon passed Tokyo in early morning around 3 – 5 am.

Many commuters were affected by Typhoon 15 in the morning of 9 September 2019 because many train stopped its services to avoid passengers’ conferment.

On the other hand, I was worried mission members’ flights get cancelled; nonetheless, I started receiving a news that they safely arrived – I was relieved.

The weather recovered quickly and train operators started the service.

However, my delegates at Narita Airport were not fine.

They reported public transportations were out of service.

I couldn’t believe this because there are many: 2 train lines (JR and Keisei), 3 bus operators (Airport Limousine Bus, Keisei Bus, Access Narita) and taxi.

I thought some will recover by afternoon; but no.

There wasn’t any news on TV or anywhere about losing public transportation in and out of Narita Airport due to tree branches covering rail ways and highways and broken electricity poles.

They ended up staying over night at Narita Airport.

These photos are taken by delegates.

I tried to arrange a bus for them; however, highways were closed…

They took early train to Tokyo and arrived at networking venue.

Thank you all for rushing to the venue.

I was so happy to see you all!