We don't know much about investment strategy here at Planet Tokyo, but we do know a potential windfall when we see one. Forget market research, abandon charts and graphs, avoid market caps (whatever those are) -- especially if you're investing in hotels. Where other hotels focus on customer service to increase profits, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo has stumbled across a surefire … [Read more...] about Egyptian Cotton, Out; Royal Weddings, In
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Salarymen Victims of Global Warming
In a campaign to save energy during Japan's increasingly hot summers, Prime Minister Koizumi has done the unthinkable. He's asked Japan's salarymen to shed their traditional coats and ties. In fact, he's requested that all of Japan's office workers dress less formally during the summer months. In a country that prides itself on tradition, formality, AND following the … [Read more...] about Salarymen Victims of Global Warming
Attack of the Giant Platypus
You would think by now the Japanese would be used to giant monsters. Yet for some reason the arrival this week of a giant platypus at the World Expo has left many Japanese perplexed. One of the most common questions posed by visitors to the Australian pavilion was "What does it taste like?" Presumably the would-be platypus eaters asked their question before the giant … [Read more...] about Attack of the Giant Platypus
Vending Machines To The Rescue
When I contemplate a hypothetical situation where I might need emergency assistance in Japan two things come to mind: First, the emergency number is 119 instead of 911. Second, how the heck do you tell dispatch where the emergency is? Fortunately finding out your exact location could be just as easy as locating the nearest vending machine. Japan has almost six million … [Read more...] about Vending Machines To The Rescue
Love, Tokyo Style
The publishing world has been buzzing about Trainman, the supposedly true story of a young man who spies his true love on the train...and the chat room denizens who help him capture his heart. "Densha Otoko," or "Trainman" by the pseudonomynous Hitori Nakano has Japanese (and surely United States) publishers scrambling for more stories of love in our high tech world. Some … [Read more...] about Love, Tokyo Style