VS Electric Books

My company released Android version of new electric book service last month, and then iPad/iPhone version this month. The market of this new publication style in Japan is very small now, but will become bigger soon. Actually, the sales of electric books are bigger than the one of paper books in US. It must be the strong trend of publication.

When I talked about this new service with Japanese publishers, some had a strong interest and some were skeptical. A man of editorial job liked the new publication style. He seemed to think many new expressions can be made by authors and editors. On the other hand, a man of sales job seemed to think the sales would continue to be small. In fact, the sales of electric books in Japan is now just 4% in the market. His forecast of sales is low.

As a professional book salesman, my forecast is positive. Maybe the reading experience in electric books is different from paper's one. People can enjoy both styles. And, types of books will choose their publication format. Big and heavy dictionary should be electric, but for child books, paper is better because kids can bite, punch and throw them.
I am looking forward to the change of publication and my sales job. 

VS Samurai Sheath

I watched Japanese movie, Samurai Sheath (Sayazamurai, in Japanese) directed by a comedian, Hitoshi Matsumoto.
It was a very strange movie.
The story was about a samurai without sword. He always has only the sword case, sheath.
Only he can do is not yo fight, but to run away.
The character is very unique.
In addition, the casting is also unique.
The main character in the movie is not performed by a professional actor, but by a complete amateur person. Thus, he doesn't talk so much in the movie.
To be worse or better, he hadn't known he was acting in a movie until the half of the movie. He didn't know the reason why he was in a samurai wear for a long time.

This movie's story is funny. The main character was arrested and sentenced to die. But if he could make a governor laugh within 30 days, he can be released. So, he tries to make it.
If you like comedy and movie, this movie deserves to be watched.

VS Nagaya-kun

I have the friend who is not my friend actually. His name is Nagaya-kun. Even though I have no reason to meet him, I sometimes meet him. He is one of the colleagues of my friend Akira Ito.
He is an engineer. I think he is working very well. I think he is a reliable person in his company. But, I always try to escape from the chance to drink with him. Because he is strange.
When drinking, he is always checking women. If the women look at him, he thinks they are fallen love with him. Even when the staff in the drinking place look at him to check his glass to offer another drink, he think the staff loves him.
As you can easily understand, we are embarrassed in that case.
Nagaya-kun was a boxer. I think his brain was damaged very much at that time. So, his strange thinking must be acceptable.
Unfortunately I had the chance to drink with him last night. We talked about many topics then, but I think he focused only on the female stuff in the drinking place. Of course no female staff looked at him. They looked at his glass. If it was empty, they would offer another glass to him.

Nagaya-kun was criticized many times by his friend for his behavior, but he wouldn't change his policy. I respect him. Even though no women is interested in him, he is always happy. And thanks to his strong imagination, he can feel loved by all women in the world.
I don't think we have to fix his damaged brain. He can speak. He can move his body. His brain works well. I think he can live in his imaginary world. If you want to know Nagaya-kun more, please contact Akira Ito. You can get the sample of the typical Japanese single male.

VS Bubby's

Today, I went to Bubby's in Yokohama. It is the restaurant born in America. They opened the first Japanese franchise in Minatomirai, Yokohama.
I had known the existence of the restaurant in Yokohama, but I had never been to it for a long time. But, when I read METROPLIS, the free magazine published in Japan, last month, it informed us of its high quality hamburger. So, I had the strong desire to eat it, when I read the magazine.
By chance, I had the opportunity to go to Yokohama today. I went there to sell books in the annual congress of the Japanese neurological surgeons. Of course, I didn't truly and utterly know what kind of the books they bought. But it was not a problem. My purpose to go to Yokohama was just to go to Bubby's.

After the boring job to sell the books I could't understand, I went to the restaurant and ordered the hamburger and the black beer.
It took about 20 minutes for the burger to come. I thought it was too long, but the taste and quality was very good. Fortunately we Japanese are accustomed to McDonald or other chain burger restaurants. So, it is very difficult to imagine the taste of truly very different kinds of hamburger. This time, I could enjoy Bubby's burger very much. Its thick and medium rare hamburg was fitted to beer. And, because I think a hamburger is the symbol of the fast food, I ate it very fast. The style of eating is also important.

VS Golden Week

Golden week started. Many Japanese has one week or ten days holiday in this season. One of my friends has half a month holiday. I have only continuous three days holiday, but it's enough for me.
I was surprised when I knew from the newspaper that many Japanese are going to the North-Eastern Japan for voluntary works in this Golden week. From the newspaper, the supply of voluntary workers are more than the demand in the disaster areas now.
At this moment when the people is reconstructing their life lines and fighting against the danger of radioactivity, the things I can do as a book salesman is little. So, I have to wait for the timing for a while. But, as a liquor lover, I can do many things now. Many liquor shops have the fare for cheering the disaster areas. They sell many types of Japanese sake because the area is the great place to brew sake. That's why I will try to drink it much more during my holidays.

After Golden week, my company will start cool biz. It is one month earlier than the last year. The aim is to prepare for the electricity shortage in this summer season. I will not wear tie and jacket from May. It's fantastic.
Now, I think, summer should be hot.
Until now, our summer was strange. We use air conditioners too much. In the too cool office, some people wear cardigans even in the summer. I think this year is the good chance to change our life style. If it's too hot to work, we should go to the sea or the river. I will go to buy a new beach wear this holidays.

VS Unification

After the quake, I feel a kind of new unification is emerging in my country. People realize we have to help each other to protect themselves. Share the resource. Don't monopolize it. Donate for the victims. Contribute to their recovery.
This movement is very strong. On the every corners of the city, we can watch the donation in Japan. As usual in this season, Aeon students in Atsugi have a cherry blossom party in the student Koji's house. This year, some portions of the participant fee is used for the donation.
One reason of this kind of movement is the weekness of our government.
Unfortunately the government of Democratic Party of Japan is amateur, amateur and amateur. They can't handle this situation. However, fortunately Japanese looks matured. They know how to handle useless bosses. Maybe they are trained this kind of skill in their work place. I am happy to know we Japanese are very calm even in this bad situation.

last weekend, I joined the discussion class in Aeon. The teacher Sudhan gave us a interesting episode about the day of the earthquake. He was in a building in Tokyo, with many Japanese and many foreigners. When and after the quake happened, all Japanese stayed in the building, but most foreigners went out from the building.
The difference of their behavior was due to the difference of the trust to the strength of the building. It was a funny difference.
Now, this difference occurs in the attitude to the nuclear problem, I think. I want to keep the room in my heart to enjoy this difference. 

VS Rakugo

I have been to Rakugo for the first time in my life. Rakugo is one of the classical Japanese art, so I have watched it on TV. But I did't have the chance to go to listen to it. Maybe the reason is because the image of Rakugo is old men's hobby. Actually the story in Rakugo is almost about the old Japanese.

But, recently I met some publishers, and I knew they like to listen to Rakugo. And they invited me to go to Rakugo together. I was not sure I could enjoy it, but I decided to go with them because any new experience must be good.

The place we went to was a good place for Rakugo beginner. It was a Hokkaido food restaurant in Shinbashi, Tokyo. It is a small restaurant, but has a small stage. We can listen to Rakugo there, with eating delicious Hokkaidou foods and drinking Sake.

Because the story of Rakugo is mostly about the old Japan, it is sometimes difficult to understand the story's details without knowing old words, culture and social backgrounds of Japan. Of course, the store teller (Rakugoka) helps us know it, but too much explanation lose the tempo of the story. That's why we have to cover many parts by ourselves with our imagination.

I enjoyed and laughed very mush then. However, I forgot everything about the story now. Perhaps, before the Rakugo, I drunk too much. So, I will go to Rakugo again at the end of this month. Drinking time will be after Rakugo.

VS Sepak Takraw Revenge

I will participate in the tournament of Sepak Takraw this weekend. It is held in Saitama prefecture. My participation is second times.
Last year was my first time. Because I was completely a beginner of the sport, I was very nervous then, surrounded by many skillful players. Actually my team couldn't win the games at all.
However, after the tournament, I and my friends practiced very much. Basically I am a lazy person, but I could continue to practice for one year. I think my technique is getting better. So, now is the time to revenge. My skill deserves to win.

Last weekend, my team played some games with Tokyo University's Sepak Takraw teams. Some games, we won. Some games, we lost. But, I think my team could get something about how to win, in other words the pattern to control the game. Even if the team we play with is stronger than us, we don't have to give up. Any team has some weak points. The player who is proud of his play can take a mistake easily. The enemy is inside us. To keep myself's play style is the shortest way to win. I think I can do it this weekend.

Today was the last practice before the tournament. My team checked our game plan. Each player has each role. Do your job. Do the communication with your team mates. Don't care your enemy. Be calm and keep your pace.
Now I am looking forward to the result of our games.

Of course, I am not so strict player. To find out a great drinking place is an another mission to go to Saitama. Last year, I didn't have the room of my heart for pub-hopping. This year, nighttime is also the time to revenge.

VS Violin

Recently I am listening to Violin music.
One day, when I visited a concert hall for my job, I found an advertisement of Violin concert by chance.
I am not familiar with Violin, but because the violinist on the advertisement was cute, I was interested in the concert and the music instrument.

My friend told me that the person getting old tends to be interested in more sophisticated things. I think it is true. Actually I was not interested in Violin music before, but suddenly I started to listen to it. Now I am listening to Violin music CD everyday.
Moreover I bought the ticket of Violin concert.
I don't know whether Violin concert is interesting or not, but I want to enjoy it.

Now I am reading the book about Violin. From the book, my image of Violin is like a singer. Violin's position is always at the center of the music. So, it work as a singer-like in the music.

I like CALMEN very much. It is a great song for Violin.

VS Beef Tongue

I had a business trip to Sendai, Miyagi prefecture last week. My mission was to sell many medical books to hospitalians. One of the biggest hospitals group in Japan, Japanese Red Cross Society had a big conference in Sendai.
I think I worked very much.
I could take a big success there. My knowledge for Medical matters is poor, but I know medical "books". So, I can successfully talk with doctors, nurses and comedicals.

In this season, oyster is the best in Sendai. It's big and milky. I enjoyed it, of course with Sake. OMG, it's a perfect combination. Even though I had to get up early everyday, I drunk too much until every midnight there. That's why my body condition was bad after coming back to Atsugi. It's ok though.

If you go to Sendai, the thing you can't miss is beef tongue. There are many beef tongue restaurant in Sendai city. The most famous restaurant is Rikyu. The beef the restaurant serves is thick but soft. The quality is very high. This time I tried to go to eat there, but I couldn't because every time the restaurant was full. However, the quality of other restaurants is high, so I could enjoy very much.

Sendai is the place I lived in when I was in a kinder garden just for one year. I lost most of all memory, but when walking on the street, I felt I know many things I watch. Delicious foods and sake stimulated my brain?

VS Curling

I tried to play curling for the time. It was a very funny sport.

After the finishing of the service of a skate rink in Sagamihara city, the school of curling started. I was a totally unmature player, but veteran players taught me the sport very kindly.
Before trying the sport, I had thought it was not difficult. But, the reality was different. I could deeply understand our action on the ice is utterly different from the non-iced ground.

Curling uses 20 kg stones. It's very heavy, but fortunately we don't have to fell the weight to move the stones because the friction on the ice is zero. However, throwing the stones needs our power to some extent. In addition, it is difficult to keep our body balance on the ice to move the stones. If you try it, you must understand soon the muscle you use on the ice is different from the soil. That't why now I have muscle ache now.

Anywho, Curling was a funny sport. I enjoyed it. One team is composed of four people. One is a thrower. Another is a director. And, other two are cleaners of the ice.
I think the most difficult job is the cleaning. Actually, I couldn't try it. Because, we don't know how to clean well. And, sometimes, it's difficult for corking beginners. Because, we have to keep our body balance with the moving stone on the ice.
So, this time, I could only throw the stones.

I heated that curling is very similar to golf. Compared with the exercise or training, the game is better for increasing our level. Maybe, I should try to join the tournament of Curling soon.

VS Digestive Disese

Japan Digestive Disease Week (JDDW) had been held in Yokohama last week. It is one of the largest conference for medical doctors in Japan. My company opened a book store there.
The store opened from eight o'clock. So, to prepare for many things, I had to get up at five o'clock. Usually it is my sleeping deeply time. Then, my body condition during the conference was very bad.
Why did my company opened the store everyday so early? Because doctors are very busy, they started their meeting from early morning. At breakfast time, lunch time and dinner time, they had many meetings. That's why we had to start to work from early morning along with them.
Even though my mooring was early, my night was same. After hard working, my body requires for liquer heeling. So, next early morning, I had to get up with more damaged body.

The study of Digestive Disease in Japan is developed the most in the world. I don't know the reason. Maybe we Japanese have week digestive organs, or we tend to eat and drink manta types of food, thus we have many digestive diseases.
Anyway, because the study in Japan is the highest, we can sell only Japanese books. Of course, my company displayed many foreign books there, but I couldn't see the scene that the books were bought.

As you know, doctors are rich. Their shopping style was good for me. They wouldn't check price tags. For they are busy, their decision making for buying is very fast. And, usually medical books are expensive. I have to add that their credit card is always sparkling.

Next year, this conference is going to be held in Fukuoka. Around 20 thousands doctors will join it. I have to arrange my business trip.

VS Guild

Last weekend, I participated in a business meeting in Yokohama and had a business dinner in China town witness many publishers and book sellers. The meeting has been managed by medical publishers, once a year. It was my first time to join it. From this summer, my main job is to sell medical books. So, the meeting was very useful for me. And more, the key note in the meeting was about electrical publication. A famous publisher taught us the trend of electrical books. I could get many useful informations there.

Each publishers are competitors. And, each book sellers are competitors. But, they looked friendly.
The world or market of medical publication is very special. They treat a very specific theme. The community is very small. That's why they know each other very much. They are connected by a kind of professional spirit.

It reminds me of a guild in the Middle ages. Although their relationship is very tight, they are very exclusive to others. Actually, it is very difficult to take part in the market of medical publication. Nobody teach us how to join it. Fortunately my company is big to some extent that I can contact the community. But, most book sellers can not reach the world.

Next week, I will join the biggest conference for the study of digestive organ in Japan. Maybe because Japan is one of the richest food intake countries, their study of digestive organ is the highest level in the world. I will be able to sell many books in the conference. Thanks to the knowledge I got from the Guild, my sales talk will work tremendously well.

It is very fortune that, next to the place of the conference, a big German beer event is held next week. After the work, I can enjoy German beer and sausages there. My digestive organ will also work tremendously well!

VS Senkaku islands

This news must make most Japanese surprised, and get angry. After watching the news, I checked Twitter soon, and investigated how most people's reaction is. As I anticipated, most of tweets were anger stimulating our nationalism.
Japanese prosecutors decided to release a Chinese ship captain who were arrested for his ship operating illegally inside Japan's sea and to be worse colliding against Japanese patrol vessels.
Chinese government claimed for the captain's release soon, because they think the area where this incident happened is China's territory, so Japanese patrol vessels were more illegal.
However this China's view is minor. Nobody but China think the area near what we say Senkaku islands is their area. So, most Japanese thought the arrest was natural. Most Japanese must have thought Chinese government's reaction was too strange. Even if China's view was true to some extent, their lack of understanding the separation of the three branches of government was too bad. Judicial branches shouldn't and can't be effected by other branches of government and at least of all by foreign governments. So, we thought China's reaction was too childish.
However, I don't know why but, Japanese prosecutors thought about China and Japan's relationship (even though it was not their job.), and decided to release the arrested Chinese man! They made the example that judicial process can be stopped when the relationship with foreign countries looks valued more.
I had thought Chinese people don't understand what law is and why it's important, and it will take a long time for them to understand it. But, now, I understand so do Japanese! Now the two countries people stand on the same ground. It might be good for the two friends to understand each other. Their friendship might be stronger.
But, they are bad friends.

VS Kinokuniya Bunzaemon

Today, by chance, I found a Japanese Sake with the same name of my company, Kinokuniya, in a liquor shop. It was unfortune that I remember my company on my holiday, but the taste was good. The correct name of the sake is Kinokuniya Bunzaemon. It is made in Wakayama prefecture. Now I am drinking it with Sashimi. I love Sake and Sashimi combination.

VS B-1 Grand Prix

B-1 Grand Prix has held in Atsugi! We, all of Atsugian, had waited for this day after this city was chosen as the place for the event.
Needless to say, B-1 is one of the biggest food events in Japan. Its unique point is that all foods are what we call B-class foods: it means cheap but delicious foods. In addition, the foods must have locality. Like that the cuisine is very local or the material in the food is used in the limited area in Japan, all foods in the event have to show us it's locality. That's why national food companies can't participate in this event at all. They have no locality.
This unique point made B-1 very popular five years ago. And, two years ago, Atsugi's local food, ShiroKoro, got awarded as No.1 B-class food. So, after that, Atsugi was selected for the city where the event are held this year.

Many many people are coming to Atsugi from this morning. When I went to the event place this morning, it took half an hour to buy tickets to buy foods. (Again! Not to buy foods! To buy the tickets to buy foods! After getting the tickets, I have to be on the line to buy each food.)
Anyway, after I got the tickets, I enjoyed some foods. Sesame and fish flavor noodle in Ooita prefecture was delicious. Black curry in Nagasaki prefecture was spicy and tasty. But, although I didn't eat it today because it became out of stock soon, I am cheering up Shizuoka prefecture's Oden. I think its simple but natural taste deserves the prize. If this event were held in winter, Oden could have a strong advantage because it is a hot food. But, September doesn't match it unfortunately. I hope it will be cooler tomorrow.

B-1's economical impact on Atsugi must be big. Today, around 200,000 people came here. I hope they have a drink or go for shopping in Atsugi city after enjoying the B-1 foods.
I will go to some bars tonight to check Atsugi's economical situation.

VS GEGEGE

GEGEGE's WIFE is a popular TV drama in Japan. It's the story about Japanese Manga author, Shigeru Mizuki. The drama is described from the view point of his wife. GEGEGE comes from his famous Manga, "GEGEGE Kitarou". It is the story about Japanese ancient monsters.
All Japanese know his Manga. In my childhood, I liked to watch his cartoon on TV. The monsters in his works are unique; the cat lady, the mouse man, the old man crying like a baby, the old woman throwing the sand, the wall man and so on. Such monsters are as common as Dracula and the wolf man, in Japan. Mizuki's works have influenced us very much.
But, most Japanese don't know his excellent another type works. He had made a lot of War Manga.
It is famous that he lost one of his arms in the world war II. The war was a fatal incident for him. That's why, even though War Manga was unpopular from the view point of commercialism, he made many War Manga. When I was a teenager , I read the Manga about Hitler described by Mizuki.
Most Japanese thought his Manga was for children because his famous Manga was monster stories. But, thanks to the TV drama, people start to know his another aspect, his deep experience in the war.
Now my company arrange a book fair for his works in Tokyo. I hope many people can know the depth of the world Mizuki has described.

VS iPad

I got iPad at last! Now I am writing this post on iPad. To be correct, this iPad is not mine, it is my company's one. But anyway, the iPad is for me. I use this mainly for my business and often for my fun! I don't have a television. I don't have a computer. But now I have joined a high technology society. I became civilized.
I think iPad will be a great weapon for my business.
Because, first of all, I look cool.
I show iPad to my customers. They will say, "Wow! It's iPad!" Then I will say, "I am the man with it."
They must think I am a modern man. They will trust the modern man's recommendation when they buy books.
I can show them eBooks. Not only traditional paper books but also electronic books are my commodities. They must think I am a postmodern man.
I had thought iPad is lighter. Maybe it is better to use a bag to carry it.
I like iPad's keyboard. Sometimes I make wrong types due to the small keyboard, but it is ok. But, I want to find Function keys. If possible, I want find Ten keys too. And, where is a mouse? I want to know how to print the screen.
It might take a long time for me to master how to use iPad and know what it is. But it is certain that many ladies gather to the person with iPad. I realized it today in Aeon.

VS Weight Control

Recently I am thinking I should be more conscious of my weight. Ont reason is because when I came back to my hometown Kyoto this summer, my mother told me that my body shape was becoming a typical middle age man's one now. Yes, it is. I know it. My body is becoming sexyer and sexyer recently. My body has graat elasticity and felxbility. It is healthy and juicey. It's hard and soft.
But I am not a model. I don't have to be too much sexy. So, I am thinking taht my body shape can be more normal.

Another reason is because when I play Sepak Takraw recently, I feel a little pain on my knees. I didn't know why, but maybe it's because my weight effects on my knees. Now I am 75 kilograms. Two years ago, I was around 70 kg, so the additional 5 kg can possibly damage some of my body parts.

That's why I decided to start to control my weight. The first thing I have to think is my food intake. The tendency of my food intake is too much carbohydrate: rice, noodle, bread and so on. I love a carbohydrate. When I eat it, I fell to get power. If I eat it before going to bed, I can sleep very well even in a hot summer night.
However, it is famous that a carbohydrate is the most strongest enemy for a diet.

Because I am thinking I want to be a carbohydrate after my death, I can't stop eating it. But, I will try to control the amonut. I will take it once a day. If I eat rice at lunch, I don't eat it at dinner.
Is is possible? Yes. The great supporter of this plan is beer. Insead of eating rice, I will drink beer. Beer has calorie, but it is low and "empty". Its calorie doesn't stay in our body for a long time. This beer diet program is going to work well.

Exercise is also needed. I sometimes surf, and play Sepak Takraw. But, they are usually one a week. It's not enough. However, it is difficult to get more exercise time. One solution is that I will work more. Because I am a sales-person, I have to go to my customers if I had more business chances. In that case, I have to walk more every day. It's a good idea to use the advantage of sales job for diet.

My dream after death is to be a pounded rice, but at this moment a dry rice might be better.

VS Medical Books

I will make a new sales division in my company this summer. The division will sell mainly medical books, journals and databases to hospitals, medical institutes, medical schools and doctors. To prepare for the new division, I will and must be busy this summer.

I know medical books. These books are very medical.
They are useful and difficult. Sometimes the pictures in the books are grotesque. And the most important character from the view point of book salesmen is that medical books are expensive.

Because my main customers were univesities in my carrer, medical customers are not familier for me. So, when I heard about the plan of making a new division and my moving there, I worried about it a little. But, it must be a great oppotunity for me to start a new business.

For the new business, I am reading some books about Japanese medical system. For not only Japan but also all developed countries, medical system is a big issue. Japanese system was designed in 1961, and basically has been unchanged. The character is the non-market price system controlled by the government, and the limitation of medical care within the medical insurance. In short, we have no choice. But, now, the old system has to be changed.

By the way, medical books are heavy. Please compare them with other kinds of books in a book store. You will feel medical books are like an iron dumbbell. The more I will sell books, the more macho I will be.