PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

Arrived in Tokyo

Oct

26

I have arrived in Tokyo. I usually take the bullet train, but this tome I took discount airline called Skymark Airlines. Other than the fact there is no business class nor in-flight drink service, the plain is brand new 737-800 and the seats are all RECARO. It was only one hour flight and the cost was 11,800 yen that is about the same price as or little cheaper than a bullet train.

I enjoyed the flight and I think I will start use this unless I need to stop somewhere on the way. I took this picture when I arrived at Haneda / Tokyo International Airport.

#Travel

K9 Teeth Scaling Anesthesia Free

Oct

25

We took Cookie (Shih Tzu) to an Anesthesia Free K9 Teeth Scaling place in Japan. I take my dog to a same kind of treatment in Redmond which costs $150. Today, the doctor did this treatment for 2,100yen ... about $26. The price difference is huge.

#Animals #Pets

Cool Night in Japan

Oct

25

The wind has picked up tonight in Ashiya, Japan. The sunset was beautiful but I see large cloud over the mountains. I am traveling to Tokyo tomorrow.

#Nature

Cloud Computing Expo in Japan

Oct

24

Starting tomorrow until this Friday, there is a Cloud Computing Expo going on in Makuhari. I will have time to visit it on Thursday. In addition to this Cloud Computing Expo, there are three other exhibitions going on. Those are

* Smartphone and Mobile Expo
* Information Security Expo
* Web & Mobile Marketing Expo

They all sound interesting.

#Business #Marketing

COSTCO AMAGASAKI

Oct

24

I went to one of COSTCO stores in Japan at Amagasaki. Even though it was Monday, the store was so full. When COSTCO came to Japan, people thought nobody will pay membership fee to buy so much volume. But now people are buying them like people in the US.

I think Japan is very unique in the sense that people here adopt to new cultures a lot faster than any other cultures in the world. But it is also true the businesses in Japan are very slow to react to world changes. Japan is a very interesting country.

#Life #Politics #Society

Kyoto Jidai Festival Parade

Oct

23

I was in Kyoto today to take care of some business. But there were lots of people both side of the street. I was told that there will be a parade this afternoon. I decided to stay to watch it.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3960.html

It was called Jidai Festival. It was interesting.

#Life #Politics #Society

Public Transportation in Japan

Oct

22

This is the Hankyu Rail system. One of many public rail system interconnecting cities in Japan. All of those public rail system in Japan is privately (may be publicly traded) owned and is regulated by the government for its safety.

I really think this model of privately owned public transportation will make sense in the US as well. When the project of this nature is funded by tax money, there is no incentive for the people running it to make it self efficient.

#Life #Politics #Society

Hand Made Soba Noodle (手打ちそば)

Oct

21

I had hand made Soba Noodle yesterday in Kobe. It was made by professor Rikuso of Hyogo University. This is one tasty noodle. We are now talking about bringing this healthy hand made Soba noodle to Seattle next summer.

#Gourmet

Lunch in Japan

Oct

20

All this for 1300 yen ... Because of the exchange it is like $17 ... but it was really good.

#Gourmet

Arrived in Japan

Oct

20

It took 20 hours door to door to travel from PSPINC to my parents house in Japan. Because of the strong head wind, it took 11 hand half hours to fly from Seattle to Incheon (Korea). It usually takes less than 11 hours.

Then I had only 40 minuets to transit to another international flight from Incheon to Kansai International Airport. This is a long trip. I did not like the food this time. It is almost midnight here in Japan. That means, it is 8:00am in Seattle. I am very tired but I am waking up.

#Travel