sk4ek said...

sk4ek at 05:40 PM JST - 22nd August

A tough balancing act when your product is so ove-hyped in the media (although Tanaka was responsbile for much of the over-hyping)--at first the product was a hit because it tasted good, was something new, and was made in small batches by hand in a single production kitchen. But as…

Posted in Hanabatake Farm runs into trouble at 05:40 PM JST - 22nd August
sk4ek at 04:31 PM JST - 22nd August

The Hanamaki Higashi game was really great, had everything that is best about Japanese high school baseball--hustle, heart, and fine playing!

Posted in Hanamaki Higashi reaches high school championship semis at 04:31 PM JST - 22nd August
sk4ek at 11:10 AM JST - 21st August

Part of the problem is the persistent belief here that alcoholism can be "cured" through medical means in the course of a hospital stay. While it's hard to say without knowing what his treatment consists of, it's difficult to imagine that he's going through the counseling, group sessions, etc. that…

Posted in Prince Tomohito enters hospital for alcoholism treatment at 11:10 AM JST - 21st August
sk4ek at 06:18 AM JST - 20th August

With rooms averaging 15 sq. m., it's no wonder they can't attract more foreign guests... even APA Hotels, with its atrocious English, does better than this.

Posted in The spirit of hospitality at 06:18 AM JST - 20th August
sk4ek at 10:52 AM JST - 19th August

Sometimes things just don't work out...

Kenji Tada of "COWCOW" writes his own blog... ;)

Posted in Nagiko Tono breaks record for shortest showbiz marriage – divorcing after 72 days at 10:52 AM JST - 19th August
sk4ek at 07:45 AM JST - 19th August

Not that I'm a big fan of fuel surcharges, but unfair to whom? How is this different from any other passing on of increased costs to consumers? I just booked a rental car in Honolulu at a "locked-in low local rate" of $194 a week (vs. a typical rate of…

Posted in ANA to reinstate international passenger fuel surcharge at 07:45 AM JST - 19th August
sk4ek at 01:06 PM JST - 17th August

I saw these guys on TV. A bunch of very talented professional musicians, and really dedicated, too, considering the discomfort they go through to put on these performances!

Posted in Zoorasia at 01:06 PM JST - 17th August
sk4ek at 08:34 AM JST - 16th August

I've seen two, so far, in my new fifth-floor apartment. I know they're coming in from outside somewhere since my roach motels remain empty and they've both been the big, brown, outdoor type. Probably my bad luck to be living next to a yakiniku restaurant (though the restaurant's on the…

Posted in 'Eeeek, gokiburi!' How gallant guys can score points with damsels in distress at 08:34 AM JST - 16th August
sk4ek at 03:53 PM JST - 14th August

He's a very serious young man (his adventures on "Ainori" notwithstanding), I think he will take longer than usual to have the idealism wrung out of him...

Posted in On the campaign trail at 03:53 PM JST - 14th August
sk4ek at 09:04 AM JST - 14th August

Hey, if it isn't "Mr. Prime Minister" (his nickname at the time) from the second-to-last season of "AINORI"!!

Gee, he said someday he was going to run for office, and here he is actually doing it! Good for him.

There was an incident earlier this year where the younger Koizumi…

Posted in On the campaign trail at 09:04 AM JST - 14th August