A great website with great stories: Hitotoki
Google 乗換案内 – Travel assistant
I am sure this is old news, but I just bumped into this Google service in Japan, and I love it!
From the Google.co.jp webpage, filed under iroiro (second tab). This screen capture may be handy:
Following that you can enter Address or station location and get recommendations on routes for either trains or a car. Now, Yahoo provide a similar (and very good) service for a long time, but what I found helpful is the integration to street view, when car route is selected.
See another screenshot
:
Rakuten proxy shopping services
Going through my wife’s emails, we have found a new service from Rakuten.
The Rakuten Proxy shopping Service looks like a great new service:
Rakuten will act as a proxy, purchasing the desired goods from one of the shops, handling international shipments! The service relies on PayPal, which is a proven platform for such services.
Fees seem a bit expensive, but I believe we will definitely use this service as we often want merchandise from Japan, and do not want to burden our family and friends.
Fees:
1) JPY980 per item ordered as handling charge.
2) 5% (!!!) of total product amount
3) Shipping
4) 5% of international shipping Charge
The Making of AU KDDI CM
If someone really cares about this, this link is not interesting, but provided a public service 😉
AU Box Commercial (CM) – Arashi
Arashi are a popular Japanese boy band. and they are the presenters of the AU (KDDI) Box.
As my wordpress video is broken (Yes, I need to fix this), the video will be provided a link, not embedded:
UQ selects Mformation to support Advanced Mobile WiMAX Service
UQ selected Mformation to provide Device Management activation and provisioning. When considering UQ Communications business plan of being an access provider to several MVNO, this plan and press release make a lot of sense. UQ would like people to buy WiMAX Mobile Subscribers without a contract, and then activate it online.
Their selection of Mformation was probably quite easy, as Mformation are without doubt the market leaders of Mobile WiMAX Device Management.
Japan signs Security pact with India
Couldn’t find many news sites discuss this treaty, but I find it quite intriguing.
It involves not only a Japanese loan to the India government (Why does India need Japanese money?), but also Nuclear cooperation.
Interesting!!!
Japan considers bigger role on economic stage
IHT article.
I have also seen an Economist analysis reviewing the recent Japanese acquisitions in the US. It does seem Japan is less affected by the recent Credit Crunch, and it ready to take a bigger role in the Global economic world.
Excerpt:
“The dominance of American financial giants has been shaken,” said Takatoshi Ito, a professor of economic policy at the University of Tokyo. “Now the tables have turned, and an Asian country like Japan can have the role of white knight and capital provider.”
Ignaz Trebitsch-Lincoln – Chao Kung
The Mamot’s Hole brought to my attention the unique life story of Ignaz Trebitsch-Lincoln.
He was born Jewish, converted to Christianity, became a member in the British Parliament, he was a Nazi agent, deported to China, converted to Buddhism and collaborated with the Japanese… wow!
A link to Wikipedia.
Dafna Boots
Dafna rubber boots are manufactured in Israel (in Kibbutz Dafna). Their website is not that good. But part of their Catalog is online.
Dafna boots are sold in Japan, both online (Rakuten) and in selected shops. Last year, I saw them being sold at Sony Plaza (I think it is now called just Plaza).
It is interesting to see a product with almost no sales/presence in Israel, but global reach (Finland, UK, Japan and many more). Can’t really say they compete with Hunter, but rather a cheaper alternative.
Rakuten Dafna boots page – link.
Screen Capture:
