Angela Aki live in Kagoshima

July 26th, 2014

AngelaAki

Angela Aki is very popular Japanese singer and composer, who also plays piano and the guitar, and who sings a lot about love, home, dreams, and life. She is only 36 and has been well knows ever since her debut in 2006 in the Budoukan Hall, making history there as the first artist to ever perform in the famous venue solo (with just her piano) — no backup singers, band or opening act. So far she has released 8 albums and has been preforming all over Japan. 

Angela Aki is also a very unique performer for Japan as she is not fully Japanese. Her mother was American and father Japanese, but she was born and brought up in Tokushima, Japan. But nevertheless Japan loves her.

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The notebook people love.

July 23rd, 2014

MacBookAirSticker

Apple just released a new ad showing their MacBook lineup. But not like other tech companies, they did not focus on the tech specs, or trying to explain how why their computer is superior to the competition, no. They just showed up how people, most likely young people, decorate their laptops with decals (vinyls, stickers). Simple message: our laptop is hip, our laptop is popular with teenagers and students, cause they can be creative.

And thats exactly why I love Apple.

Here is the video: Stickers

Getting a haircut in Japan

July 20th, 2014

KagoshimaBlueSky

A lot of things a very different in Japan compared to the West, such as their manners, the convenience of everything around you and of course the superb customer service. So when I decided to get a haircut, my first haircut in Japan, I was pleasantly surprised with the service. They sat me down and asked me what kind of cut I wanted while showing me a magazine with various mens cuts which I could chose from. Then once I decided to go with short (like some guy named Kenta in the photo of the magazine) they sat me down on this chair that automatically lowers and rises (adjusts) to the hair washing sink. So he started cutting my hair, very carefully and diligently as my hair is really thick and he didn’t want to hurt me. We spent the whole 40 minutes chatting about me and why I am in Kagoshima, with he complimenting me multiple times on my level of Japanese.

So after he finished, the barber pressed a button on the chair which made it spin 180° and stop in front of the mirror. Then the back of the chair started slowly descending so that my head would fit perfectly into the hair wash sink. The guy washed my hair, dried it, combed it and even showed me what the back of my neck looks like with a angled mirror. Then he took me to the door, opened it and bowed to me, while saying that I should come again.

This place also has discounts for foreigners, so the normal 3500¥ became 860¥! Such a great deal and great quality. Would recommend.

New Russian trams – sleek and scary

July 13th, 2014

R1

The world is innovating, you can see signs of new futuristic technology everywhere. From smartphones and tablets to self driving cars and climate control cities. This thing you see is also a small glimpse of the future, the future of Russian transport, more specifically trams. It is called project АТОМ and this tram is designed to be a new standard for all trams in Russia within the next 3 years. This project caught my eye, when someone on reddit linked to this guys livejornal blog where he explains how this home made (90% of parts made in Russia) is a breakthrough in Russian transport systems and when it gets implemented it will change the way people use trams in big cities not only in Russia, but also all over the world.

The design of the tram both outside and inside is black, with grey and brown seats inside and linoleum flooring. In all honesty I like the design, but not a big fan of the color, I think they should make it a bit brighter as black is rather frightening, especially at night. The tram reminds me of something from Robocop or Judge Dredd.

What do you think, should this sleek, black coated futuristic apparatus be put into mass manufacturing and set on the streets, or should they re-think their design?

7 little kittens

July 10th, 2014

The internet loves cats. Cat videos are like the backbone of all life on the internet. And you have probably seen a lot of cat videos in the past, but I doubt you have seen anything as cute as this. Cat SYNCH!