24 Nations to train in Japan prior to 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games

So we've all seen the 8.08.08 commercials heralding the upcoming Summer Olympic Games to be held in China; however, a recent news item peaked my interest.

Apparently, 24 nations including for example the United States, France, Germany, Israel, Canada, etc. have announced that they will hold training camps throughout Japan, as their athletes make final preparations and push towards competing in the next Olympic Games this summer.

The various nations will use a variety of venues located throughout Japan - some 20 prefectures in all - such as Hokkaido, Yamagata, Fukuoka, Osaka, Shimane, Wakayama, etc.

This decision was made by the various teams and countries primarily out of concern for their athletes and issues that might affect their training such as air pollution, food concerns, political tensions, and the lack of adequate training facilities which were readily available in Japan. The fact that Japan is merely a one hour time difference from Beijing was no doubt another major reason that Japan was chosen.

All the best.....Mark

Kyoto (京都) - Voted Best Asia Destination 2008

Well, not that it is news to anyone who has been lucky enough to visit the former capital of Japan......but Kyoto (京都) was recently voted the Best Asia Destination by TripAdvisor in their 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Award.

As this was the first year that TripAdvisor held and announced such a survey of top travel destinations by its readers, this Travelers' Choice Destinations Award has a special importance as it honors the world's top destinations, as selected by those that know first hand places work and which ones do not - actual real live travelers.

In the same survey, Tokyo is given the distinction of 6th Best Asia destination.

Ranking and results of the entire survey of top travel destinations, as selected by independent travelers can be seen on their website www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations

All the best......Mark

Pacific Nations Cup 2008 - Japan's loss against Fiji

After a valiant effort, the Japanese Rugby team lost to Fiji today in Tokyo as a part of the current Pacific Nations Cup 2008.

As Japan emerged from half time they were holding their own and in the lead against Fiji. Fiji came on strong and rallied from a 9-3 half time deficit to a 24-12 victory at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

This loss by the Japanese team was the second defeat in a row for the tourney after the defeat last weekend by the Tonga team.

"We threw the game away through errors and turnovers," said Japan coach John Kirwan. "We had ample opportunity to win today but threw the game away with errors."

Japan captain Takuro Miuchi added: "In the first half we played to our game plan, but in the second half Fiji were getting their hands on the ball at the breakdown and stopped us from getting quick ball. It was a game we should have won."

Japan's next two matches will be on June 28th against New Zealand Maori and then on July 5th against Tonga.

The Japanese team has surely made significant strides over the years but today's loss was not their finest moment.

All the best.......Mark

Japan Airlines Announces Upgrades to seating

For those of you flying to Japan on Japan Airlines (JAL)......

JAL just announced in a press release that they will roll out its new 777-300ER aircraft on U.S. routes this summer - clients can look forward to an all-new First and Business Class experience.

*First Class passengers will travel in a suite that is 20% larger than their current offering with eight suites arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The airline’s new Skysleeper Solo Seat reclines 180 degrees with a Tempur-Pedic mattress and is accompanied by an ottoman that can support the weight of another passenger. Bose noise-cancelling headphones will connect to 19-inch personal televisions outfitted with audio/video on demand.

*Business Class passengers will be seated in JAL’s Shell Flat Seat, which has been enhanced to recline 171 degrees with an increased seat pitch of 60 inches, a 15.4-inch TV monitor and a self-service bar that now features rotating photo exhibitions.

JAL’s new cabins will be unveiled to the public when the 777-300ER begins flying every other day between Tokyo and New York on August 1, 2008. The service will become daily on August 11, and the Tokyo-San Francisco route will feature the new seats on September 13. Tokyo-Chicago and Los Angeles routes will begin offering the new service as of April 1, 2009. AM

Hopefully those heading to Japan will be able to enjoy these incredible new amenities.

All the best.....Mark

Food and Wine's Go List 2008 - Tokyo Voted #1 Restaurant City

Can ya guess what the most exciting restaurant city in the world is at the moment?

Well, according to Food and Wine, in 2008........drum roll please.......it's Tokyo!

Tokyo was voted the winner in no small part due to the vast, diverse, experimental and dynamic food scene.

For the foodie in us all - here is the complete list in case you might have bought an around the world airline ticket and plan to hit some other spots along the way:

1. Tokyo
2. Paris
3. New York City
4. London
5. Barcelona
6. Sydney
7. Madrid
8. Chicago
9. Stockholm
10. Vancouver

All the best.....Mark

The Zen of Bobby V

Tired of heading to the multiplex for yet another Hollywood Summer blockbuster - then check out this new interesting documentary ' The Zen of Bobby V' made by 3 students at NYU (New York University).


The film is about Bobby Valentine the celebrated, if not controversial baseball player and former manager of the NY Mets.

Valetine is currently the manager of Japan's Chiba Lotte Mariners (in 2005 he became the first foreigner to lead his team to win the Japanese equivalent of the Baseball World Series) and this film follows Valentine during the course of the baseball season sprinkled with intense highs and lows.

The film, over the course of 1 1/2 hours, showcases his deep love of Japanese culture, his intense efforts to rescue Japanese baseball, as well as doing such mundane things as riding his bike - offering the audience a glimpse into the charismatic manager as he works and plays in a place so different from anything he had previously known or experienced.

Surely no one can be credited more than he for trying to stop the mass exodus of premium Japanese players from leaving Japan to head to the USA for fame, glory and million dollar contracts.

Does his passion and enthusiasm for the game and his new home translate on the screen - I think so.

All the best....Mark

Monte Carlo Philharmonic Tour of Japan with Tomomi Nishimoto

The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Tour of Japan (June 16 - July 2) is certainly an event not to be missed. The Orchestra will be led by one of Japan's most prominent female conductors, Tomomi Nishimoto 西本　智実 （指揮)

The program will include the most famous of all concerts for guitar and orchestra, the Concierto de Aranjunez by Rodrigo, with a second movement that has become a favorite. The soloist will be one of Japan's foremost guitarists, Soichi Muraji.

The following web site can be used to see ticket availability in Suntory Hall
http://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/suntoryhall/perform/list0806.html#P23M1

Enjoy the show.

All the best....Mark

Mejiro Ba-Rock Festival 目白バ・ロック音楽祭

Attention all 'culture vultures' an interesting musical event is currently taking place in Tokyo's Mejiro district (目白)...the 4th Annual Mejiro Ba-Rock Festival.

Classical music is readily available at multiple venues throughout Tokyo; however a group of Japanese artists came together to create this festival as they wanted to feature music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was a play upon the word Baroque, that led to the creation of the festivals name Ba-Rock.

Mejiro is a residential area, not too far from Shinjuku, that has a wide array of historic structures i.e. Mejiro Seikokai (Anglican Episcopal Church) and St. Mary's Cathedral. Out of the approximately 20 concerts that make up the festival, several of the concerts will be held in these venues, as the organizers want to keep true to the Baroque Period when music would have been performed in small intimate spaces such as a church.

More details regarding the festival which runs until June 15th can be found on i-debut.org/ba-rock.

All the best....Mark