Our thoughtful nephew who recently stayed with us in Tokyo gave us a digital photo frame as a gift – a Sony 10 inch S-Frame (Model DPF-V1000) Digital Photo Frame.  Thanks C!

The Sony 10-inch Digital Photo Frame highlights include:

• 10.2-inch Super Clear Photo WVGA resolution LCD (widescreen)
• HDMI output to HDTV
• Auto Image Correction/Auto Dimmer/Auto Image Rotation
• 1 GB memory (2000 photos) with search function
• Alarm function
• Search function
• Direct USB input from most digital cameras and support for most memory cards
• Remote control

I take a lot of pictures (that’s an under-statement – I go for quantity instead of quality) so I loaded our family pictures into a spare 2 GB SD card, inserted it the digital frame and now we can see all our pictures from Japan and our Asia trips any time, all the time.  There are also lots of display options – go wild!

We really love this digital frame, what a wonderful gift!  Do you have a digital photo frame?

A display of Edo-style festival floats called the Chiyoda Edo Matsuri (not sure why it is called a matsuri or festival) was held in the Marunouchi Building across from the Tokyo station.

Inside, there were a few parade or festival floats from all over Japan.

It wasn’t a big exhibition, but the floats looked very impressive.

Michelin is famous of its tires.  We were shopping recently at Tokyu Hands (Japanese department store) at Shinjuku where we found this colorful Michelin display with lots of non-tire related stuff.

Michelin also publishes an annual restaurant guide (read my blog post from last year) and the 2010 edition just available – Tokyo just passed Paris with the most 3 star rated restaurants, see this article from BBC news titled “Tokyo world’s best place to eat” or AP’s story titled “Tokyo crowned new gourmet capital by Michelin”.

Finally, a closer look at the golf bag and the suitcase – cool!

This picture was taken inside the elevator of our office building in Tokyo.  Have a nice day!

For more merry making, do read Silvia Mihailescu’s Happymaking blog.  Be happy!

Originally built in 1933, Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchu city and is Japan’s largest racecourse.

Entrance fee to a racecourse is 200 yen ($2 US).

Modern horseracing in Japan had its beginnings in racing events that were organized by foreign residents of Yokohama in 1862.

Japan led all countries in the total amount of money bet on horse racing in 2008, with just under 2 trillion yen wagered on ponies.  Globally, Japan also breeds the fourth highest number of thoroughbreds.

All authorized racing in Japan, by law, must be conducted by the Japan Racing Association or JRA (a public enterprise established by the national government) and local governments entities.

JRA racing is mainly conducted on Saturdays and Sundays (with the exception of several days on national holidays) during October and November.  There are 12 races on a racing day, beginning at around 10:00 and ending at around 16:30.

There are 10 JRA racecourses and off-track betting facilities around the country.  Betting is fully automated, minimum bet is 100 yen ($1).

A grand re-opening of the Tokyo Racecourse was held in 2007 after the completion of seven years renovation work.  This modern facility can now seat more than 120,000.

The main entrance has a European theme.

Inside (and outside), you will find a lot of restaurants, cafes, fast food chains and even a konbini.

This is a family oriented facility, complete with amusement rides, pony rides, playgrounds and park areas.

Outside, the world’s largest video monitor called "Turf Vision", at 11 × 66 meters, was installed in September of 2006, displays sharp, powerful images and a wealth of information on its three High Definition screens.

The paddock area is a popular area to check out all the horses before the race.

Thrilling races take place down a 530-meter-long homestretch.

Of course, if you come in first place, you go to the Winners Circle and collect your prize and trophy.

Also, you can read the Metropolis article titled “Weekends are for Racing”.  The JRA official site can be found here (available in English and French – click on the language link at the top right of the web page).

Japan was the first destination in US President Barack Obama’s Asian visit.  At the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, he met with the Japanese Emperor (and Empress) who he greeted with a handshake and a low bow.  Picture below courtesy of Reuters.

Also see this very short SkyNews video from YouTube (which has over 150,000 views already).

Read the story today for more details from the UK Telegraph about criticisms by right-wing websites.  There must be more important issues to discuss than this – I personally think he was just showing respect and courtesy, he also did grow up in Asia (Indonesia).

There is a lot of construction going on at Shinjuku just outside the south exit of the JR train station, where you will encounter these strange, but cheerful, looking barriers.

A closer look at one of them.

A few weeks ago, I tried the new Pepsi Azuki and the Ginger Ale KitKat.  You won’t find Pepsi Azuki in store shelves any longer, but Ginger Ale KitKat is still available.  I also found a Kinaho Ohagi KitKat (I think the last one?) at a local konbini (convenience store) which I believe was first available in early October, the start of autumn.

Pictured on the box above is a traditional Japanese sweet, which is a rice-based cake (mochi) in a ball covered with kinako powder and filled with red beans.  Kinako is also known as soybean flour, with a taste like peanut butter.  Ohagi are autumn treats made with sweet rice and azuki (red bean) paste.

There was only a slight hint of peanut butter and red bean, but I tasted mostly chocolate, like regular KitKat.  I guess my taste buds aren’t very fined tuned.  Anyway, it was sweet and I liked it, since I like both peanut butter and red bean.

If you are really interested in the many different KitKats available in Japan, read Jen Ken’s Kit Kat Blog.

This week marks my 2nd year working in Japan.  Last year, I posted my updated impressions of the working environment in this blog, as an follow-up to my initial impressions.

Today a year later, I really have nothing new to add.  I guess I am more comfortable in the working environment here, I feel like a regular salaryman.  One real disappointment is my inability to learn Japanese, my bad.

Finally, this week, I learned that my 2 year assignment to Japan has been officially extended to the end of June 2010.

Hooray, my excellent Japanese adventure continues!  So dear reader, you have to endure another 8 months or so of boring writing and pictures (I know I have a very factual writing and picture-taking style, not at all creative or entertaining – that’s my wife’s forte).

The 41st Tokyo Motor Show was held from October 24 to November 4, 2009 at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba.

A very large convention taking 3 halls, it was very crowded, normal for any Tokyo event.  Electric vehicle (EV) green concept cars were certainly the most popular theme of the show.

Speed Racer was there, but none of the North American and European car makers showed up.  Of course, all the Japanese auto manufacturers were present.

Mitsubishi Motors featured a plug in electronic vehicle concept car called the MiEV.

Nissan had one of the largest booths on the convention floor located in the East Hall beside Mitsubishi Motors.

With its Zero Emission theme, Nissan led the way in its electric vehicle (EV) concept cars.  The Leaf is a pure electric vehicle powered only by electricity, its battery can be charged at home with a driving range of 160 km.

The Land Glider is an ultra compact and light EV with a unique driving sensation of titled cornering (like a motorcycle).

The new Fuga (which also comes in a Hybrid model) will be available in Japan in the fall of 2009 (now!).

The Prius is one of the best selling cars today, and Toyota showed a Prius plug-in hybrid EV concept car.

Toyota also had a musical show to feature its Winglet personal transports and FT-EV II electric concept car.

Beside Toyota was Lexus of course, who introduced its new 4.8 liter V10 LFA and hybrid LF-Ch (pictured below).

Mazda had one of the most interesting concept cars and display in the show called the Kiyora using its new SKYTECH feature.

Suzuki featured it new concept compact car called the Alto Concept, an evolution from the original Alto introduced in 1979.  Compared to the Mazda Kiyora above, Alto seems plain and boring – ho hum.

Subaru featured its Hybrid Touring concept car with a cool roof hinged door.

Honda’s Asimo Robot hosted its show spotlighting innovation by featuring the new U3-X Personal Mobility Device and its latest concept cars.

Honda concept cars on display were the CRZ and Skydeck.

One of the few non-Japanese auto manufacturers was Lotus, which was previously owned by GM, and is now owned by Malaysian carmaker Proton.

There were also a number of motorcycles from Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Suzuki and others.

Tire manufacturers were also present with booths from Bridgestone, Pirelli, Dunlop and others.

There was also a Car of the Year Japan (30th Year Anniversary) exhibition featuring the Toyota Prius as the 2009-2010 winner.

Previous Car of the Year winners were also featured including the Toyota MR2, the 1984-1985 Car of the Year.

In the Motor Lounge on the convention floor, there were a few classic cars on display.

Finally, I found a Canada booth and an Ontario license plate (as part of the license plate exhibit) to remind me of a little bit of home.