Public Free WiFi in Hokkaido

ishiyaDid you know that Japan is one of developing countries when it comes to public free WiFi?  I hear that many foreign visitors are surprised to realize that free WiFi is not available even in the New Chitose Airport Terminal, where free WiFi is available only after the application is filed to acquire the password.  It’s not very convenient, is it? Free public WiFi should be regarded as a part of the infrastructure.

As a result, foreign visitors gather in Starbucks Coffee in order to get connected to their home countries.  We all know that Starbucks offers free WiFi, right?  I guess this is a typical example that the Japanese become all thumbs to apply a new technology.  You would be surprised to hear that many Japanese give up using Smartphones and return to conventional cellular phones.  I am not joking.

The number of free WiFi spots, however, is increasing. We just found that Ishiya Cafe in downtown Sapporo provides the free WiFi, and we had some tasks done right on the coffee table 🙂

Japanese Cooking Recipes

cooking01Now that Washoku, traditional Japanese cuisine, is added to UNESCOs’ Intangible Cultural Heritage List, I somewhat feel obliged that I should be capable of interpreting and translating talks about the Japanese foods.

So I hit a bookstore downtown Sapporo, only to be surprised to see a variety of bilingual cookbooks already made available.   I did not need to have a recipe book like this, because my grandmother was a good cook of everyday meals.  I am sure, however, I will learn some basic and authentic Japanese recipes in English with this book and will post the photos of typical Japanese meals here.  I love cooking, after all 🙂

The Hokkaido Shrine

jinguLocated in an old-growth forest, Hokkaido Shrine is a popular dating spot for the local residents.  People of course visit the shrine to pay respect for the deities in the new year holidays, however, it is a national and cultural event rather than a religious ritual.

I was surprised to see many foreign visitors here today; guided tour groups as well as young couples.

Couples like shrines,  right? That’s probably because we somehow feel the placidity and the purity of the atmosphere in the shrine.  Hokkaido Shrine, after all, is one of the power spots in Hokkaido.

Brand Comes Second, Far Distant Second

altcont12In case that you are a mac user, CTRL+ALT+DELETE is usually used to forcibly shut down and restart your PC.  This book is, however, is not about PC.  It’s about how to think and act “social” not businesslike.

The author warns that the world is not linear anymore but its squiggle, so that conventional pushing mass marketing should be replaced by utilitarianism marketing, if we want to survive in this moment of business purgatory.

My conclusion? “In the world of the web, I do not sell.  I just add value and let the reputation sell.  So many businesses misunderstand that the web is the quick and easy way to sell.  No way :-)”

Sapporo Illumination Nights

illuminationI had to pass by and see the Christmas Illumination in Odori area, Sapporo this evening.  I couldn’t believe that I took a photo of the illumination.  It’s not so gorgeous but OK, isn’t it?

Christmas, for most of the Japanese, is an annual event without religious meaning.  Telling you the truth, I don’t like this season and I do know the reason why.

It was when I was 5 or 6 years old, I wrote a letter to Santa Clause and wanted to put it into a mailbox, but my parents, or could have been my grandparents, tuned it down. I recall I begged and cried but in vain.  It is one of my oldest memories and it’s vivid.

The other reason, of course, is that I do not like to do things only because many others do so.  I need a rational reason or cause.  Maybe I am just an old fart, orz  🙂