VS Taikomochi

The word Geisha is well known and they are still existing in Japan. But Taikomochi (formaly; Hokan) is not known so much. These day, I am studying what it is, and I am very interested in their work and history.



The man in this photo is Mr. Tamasuke Yugentei, who was called the last Taikomochi.

His job was to go with rich guests (men) to Geisha place and entertain them by singing, dancing, joking, laughing and drinking.

His mission is to help the communication between men and women. He had to be a good ice-breaker.

Sometimes, he was a negotiator or a mediator on both sides. For example, when the guest's favorite Geisha was too busy to see the man, he would go home or go to other places. Taikomochi tried to recommend another Geisha to the guest on behalf of Geisha place owner.

In another case, Taikomochi negotiated with the owner for the guest's payment. Taikomochi knew the acceptable price because he went to Geisha places with many guests every night.

That's why Taikomochi was a useful man for both guests and Geisha.



There were aroud 500 Taikomochies in Japan before. However, now, they are less than 5 people. Luckily, I had the chance to watch their performance on the stage in Kinokuniya hall (my company). It was strange to see them on the stage because their performance is for drinking places. But, it was a very rare oppotunity.



I knew there were same kinds of entertainer in Western history. The name is Jester. I have not known the detail of Jester yet, but it is interesting to know we need such a man in our life.



My strong interest in them might come from my concern of communication skill. I strongly believe it is the most important skill for my life these day. Taikomochi is usually looked down but I think I can study something from them.

VS Miracle Cell

I introducd a book "Anohi" (That day) on my facebook one week ago.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1054947564546267&id=100000930990651

The impact of this publication seems to be bigger and bigger. It is sold very much and additionally printed more and more. As a book salesman, I am happy for this situation.

What was STAP cell problem? It is written in the book, by Ms. Obokata, the most important key person for this problem.

It is astonishing that she is still claiming STAP cell is existing. She agrees with her faulty and mistake on the procedure to prove the existence, but she says it is too much to deny the cell.

The most negative review of this book is this.

" If you are a scientist, prove it in a scientific way. Don't write a book for non-scientists."

This opinion is understandable, but I can say it is the book review without reading the book. Ms. Obokata describes it was impossible to have the communication in a scientific way when STAP cell problem occurred in 2013. Hmm, explain more.

Ok. Let's start with the explanation of what STAP cell is.

When stimulating a normal cell in a scientific way, Ms. Obokata and her team found the cell became a miracle cell. It is named STAP cell, which can become everything; eyes, nails, hairs, bones, skins etc. And, based on her finding, two articles were written for Nature.

A scientific article is written by a group of scientists. It have to be added that Ms. Obokata was not a responsible author for both articles. Of course, her contribution to the articles was big, but she was listed No.2 on the authors list. However, she was unfairly enforced to have all the responsibility for the problem. It is one of her claiming points in the book.

After found was the faulty, mistake and CHEAT of the articles, the two articles were stopped printing and RIKEN institute Ms. Obokata belonged to tried to check and prove the existence of STAP cell again. And, it was finally reported that the proof was failed. But, She writes the conclusion was wrong and STAP cell is existing.

During the procedure of the proof, she says she and other researchers found a cell changed to be another type of cell with the ability to become everything. However, she was required of making a mouse from the cell, and it was set on the goal of the proof.

She claims it was also unfair.

Scientific research is done by a group of scientists. For STAP cell research, Ms. Obokata's job was to make the cell with the ability to become everything, but it was not her job to make a mouse. The mouse making process was leaded by another scientist. However, the scientist refused to join the proof. In the end, She couldn't make a mouse due to the lack of skill.

In this book, the another scientist are described as a suspicious man to confuse this problom. At this moment, the man has not make any comments.

Ms. Obokata is attacking Japanese journalism, too. Even thouh STAP cell problem was a highly-level scientific issue and it had to be discussed in a scientific way, Japanese journalism prevented it. They focused only on who were wrong, and they were not interested in what was scientifically true.

Again, this book is now sold very much. There are still unwritten things. She have to wrire more, and we have to wait for the reaction from the persons Ms. Obokata criticized in the book.

She writes a scientific truth? or she lies crazy? This book has the ability to become everything.

VS Idol

It might be surprising that the most important Social issue last one week for very many Japanese is a Japanese idol group SMAP. We had forgotten the terror in Jakarta for them. Even though we are now in mourning for David Bowie, we might shamefully have made noise for the idol group.

SMAP. This veteran idol group have leaded Japanese entertainment business for 25 years. It is said that they changed our idol business in Japan. Basically they are singers, but they tried to be sometomes comedians, sometomes actors and always multi-talented entertainers. And, their trial was successfully done.

The news of their breaking-up was suddenly broadcasted last week. We were surprised. And, we were surprised again when we knew the reason. It was because of the result of the battle in their company Johnnys, which is governed by 89-years-old president and vice president. The manager of SMAP tried to carry out a coup d'etat against the company, but failed. It made the old governers' anger. 4 of 5 members of SMAP had supported the manager, so they were planned to be fired.

In the situation, the news was broadcasted.

We might welcome the era of our full-open information society. The news and the result had been reported everyday during the last week, and, in the end, all members of SMAP dramatically appeared in a live relayed TV program and finished with their apologies and declaration of continuing the group.

Their funs, of course, welcome it. But, on the other hand, some people see their future is black. The 4 members are seen betrayed the company (actually so), thus they will lose their special position as a super idol. Certainly thet didn't die, but might continue to live deadly.

Again. SMAP is a veteran idol group. They have a strong power in Japanese entertainment business. However, some people think, even they cannot change the old people's governance.

I am not sure whether such an interpretation is right or not, and whether we are watching an ending or a starting of something. But, I can understand their feeling because I and they are in the same generation. We have the obligation to try to change a system even if there are a various type of trials. This time, they looked uncool. But, it's ok. They all are middle-age men. They don't have to be always cool. (To be always cool is the younger's job.)

I m looking forward to their next challenge.

VS Lion & Sheep

I listend to a radio program today. It was a psychological analysis program.

You are walking on the desert, with 7 animals; Elephant, Giraffe, Cow, Horse, Sheep, Monkey and Lion.
But, you suddenly must throw away an animal. Which one do you throw away?
And, when you must throw away 6 animals, which one do you continue to keep?

The each animal symbolize the value of something important in our life.
Please think........think......think......think......think......a little more.....think.......








Ok. The each animl means...


Elephant: Your parents
Giraffe : Your life plan
Cow : Money
Horse : Your Job
Sheep : Your partner
Monkey : Your child or your childhood
Lion : Social status


I have nothing to say.

VS Tricolore

I know it is a waste of time to make simple things more complex. But, this topic gradually becomes controversical now in Japan.

You must have the friends to superimpose Tricolore on thier Facebook profile photo. So might you.
The aim must be to support French people injured by the terrorists. It is a very simple reason.
Sad thing happened. We felt sad. So, we want to support the people involved. It's a straight feeling. We can understand and share the feeling. We don't have to discuss this issue any more.

However, soon emerged the people questioning of this action in Facebook.
They say, "Why is France special? How about Siria? The day before the terror in Paris, more people was killed there."
Hmm. Certainly the number of dead people is more in Beirut than in Paris.
You got a point. Maybe.

Immediately, the objection to this opinion has occured. "Yes. France is special."
Their reason is based on Realism. They say, "It is meaningless to compare the number of dead people. Like it or not, France (or Western country) has a stronger impact on the world. It is natural for us to think of France first."

We can easily anticipate the heavy reaction to this opinion from Sirian and thier supporters. I also dislike the realism.
But, from a simple statistic, I have to accept the biased opinion.
We must remember we are talking about the issue in Facebook.
Now over 30 million French people are using it. This number is far more than the population in Siria (About 20 million). I don't have the data of the number of Sirian Facebook users, but it must be less than 3 million(*).
It means Facebook users have the possibility to have French friends more than Sirian friends. That's why, it is certainly natural for them to focus on the the things in Paris.

I don't have French and Sirian friends. So, I don't have the motivation to add colors on my FB profile photo. It's a simple reason.
However, I want to add one more reason why I don't do that.
Because, French guys are included in the terrorist group. I am thinking French people have the unsolved problem which they have to solve by themselves. It has existed from 2005 riot in Paris. Many French people (their parents were immigrants.) have complaint to French society.
If still so, it might make complex feelings to wave Tricolore.


* Among the top 40 countries with FB users, No.40 is Norway. 3 million people are using FB there. We can assume there are less than 3 million FB users in Siria.

VS Travelling in Japan

Last week, I went to Kanazawa city for my business on Sunday and Monday. It's located in the north-western Japan. The city is famous for gorgeous arts and crafts. Kanazawa has not been the capital but it used to be called Little Kyoto.

On Tuesday morning, I was in Kobe city. The port town has looked multi-cultural. I enjoyed walking on the street of one of the biggest China town in Japan. On the same day afternoon, I was in Kyoto. It must be my hometown and the very classical town, but I find something new every time I am here.

Back to Tokyo. I participated in the reception party with US Maine State people. I took a photo with the governer Mr.LePage.

On Thirsday, I flied to Kochi prefecture. It is my mother's hometown, so I came here many times in my childhood. But, my last visit was over 20 years ago. It's a long long time.
This city is isolated from any other cities in Japan. The 89% of Kochi is the forest. From the viewpoint of busy city residents, the city might look lonely but we can feel very relaxed here. Of course, as usual, I enjoyed delicious local food.

Now it is more popular and sometimes cheaper for Japanese to travel abroad, but we can still find many attractive things in Japan. Even I(Japanese) think so. Foreigners must think more.

VS Taiwan

I went to Taiwan last week. It was my first visit of the country. The purpose of this visit was a business, but my personal concern was to know the difference between the main land and Taiwan. As old readers of this blog know, I have been to China some times. It made an image of Chinese people in my mind. Of course, Chinese are not only living in China. There are many types of Chinese. My business trip to Southeastern Asia countries last year was a very good chance for me to know their variety. And, this time, I had a good chance to go to the most closest Chinese speaking country.

Compared with the main land, Taiwan is more closer to Japan. It is not a geophysical meaning but a cultural meaning. Actually there are many people who can undersatnd Japanese. I could find many flyers and signs written in Japanese on the street. And more, I could use Japanese in my company's Taiwan office. I tried to use my instant-learning Chinese, but it was useless. Some colleague are good Japanese speakers and they are good translaters.
I think their personality is similar to Japanese. We Japanese tend to think Chinese are too aggressive, but I didn't have the image in Taiwan. On the opposite, I even thought they are too modest.

One night, I could have a drink with Taiwanese colleague. I heard from Japanese staff that it is rare in Taiwan to go to drink after five with colleague, especially without any special reason. But, luckily I was an foreigner there. I was supposed not to share the culture , so I truly and utterly had no hesitation to ask them for going somewhere with me. I am the man who respect other countries' culture, but the drinking-communication is the exception. I believe in the magical power of drinking. It makes our relationship closer, more creative and productive.
We could enjoy in Japanese style Izakaya restaurant very much. Especially, after I ordred a famous Sake, Dassai, our atmosphere was surprisingly heated up. I understood again that it is Japanese style good culture to pour Sake each other.It has the function to encourage us to drink more and more.

There are many more things to write down here , but I want to write this now. I thought I should study Chinese language. I always use English in my business. But, when working in Aian countries, we will listen to Chinese more or less. English plus Chinese must be needed for me. It's a taugh task, but this business trip motivated me to go to the world created by another language.

VS Passport

Now drinking in a beer bar HOBGOBLIN Shibuya. Checking my passport again and again. Because I will go to Taiwan tomorrow.

One years ago, I also sat down on the chair in this bar, on the day before going to Singapore. I had to be relaxed to calm down my excitement before going abroad. Thank to nice british beer, I could sleep very well, and got up early morning next day.

The next day. On the way to Narita International Airport, I had sat down in the train car. It was the non-stop car to the airport. I would arrive at the airport one hour later. I was completely relaxed in the seat of the car then. I started to check my passport. Many nostalgic memory was contained there. Many stamps reminded me of my trip history.

Oh, I went to China this year. It was my memorial first trip to go abroad. Oh, Vietnam! It was a great businee trip. Australia. I can't forget the special experience there. Looking back to our own history is the treasure. I was very happy on the seat.

By chance, I checked my passport's expire date.

It was 2011.

"Hum. It's 2011. This year is 2014. Ok. I have more three years. Let's go back to my history. China. Great! Vietnam. Fantas...NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. WHAT'S THE HELL!?"

I couldn't undersatnd what had happened. I was in a panic. But, it seemed to be good that I drunk last night. I could calm down my brain soon, and realised what had happened very logically.

I have the expired passport. And I remembered I renewed my passport two months ago. The living passport is im my house. And, I am in a non-stop train to the airport. Once I reached the airport, I will have no time to go back to my house, because of my flight time.

What kind of miracle would happen was another story. But, I knew then, we can't go to other countries without living passport.

Checking my passport again and again now.

VS 1960's

The title "My 1960's". When I tweeted this book in Twitter, the reply and retweet was the most in my tweets. I was very surprised at it.

The author is Yoshitaka Yamamoto. He was the leader of Tokyo University at the era of 1960's Student Power. Aftet he left the university, he became a teacher of physics. He wrote many academic books but he wouldn't write about the era of Student Power. So, it is a big news that he published the book about the era. However, now he is around 70 years old. Most readers including young publishers don't know him. That's why they can not undersatnd how big the new is. But it is understandable. Even for me, the theme he is writing is an old story. Most people must not have the interest in the era.

I wouldn't think this book will be translated to other languages, because the topic is minor. But, it is worth informing my friends of the existence of this minor book.

VS HOUSE Night

I have two regular bars in Tokyo now : The one is A Sign Bar 2 in Shimokitazawa, and the another one is Tsukinohoeru (Bark toward the Moon.) in Shinjyuku. The former is Okinawa style bar for US army . The latter is the gathering space of cultural people in Golden town. The two places were different communites for me, but last night was the good time mixing them. A DJ friend came to Shimokitazawa with other DJ friends, performed in the bar last night. The event name was HOUSE Night but actually we could listen to many genres of music for three to four hours.

I recognize the work of DJ is mixing music. I can't play DJ, but I prefer the mixing of communities. Can I say I'm DJ?

VS Facebook

Facebook is the best tool to communicate with my friends. That's why I had not maintained this blog for four years over. Blog looked old media for social communication. However, I had a little bit of bad feeling when using Facebook.

The reasnon is not only because cat lovers endlessly continue to post cat photos everyday. I am the man. And also the reason is not only because boring middle age men tend to post foods and drinks due to the lack of concern about the world except for foods and drinks. I am such a man.

The main reason is because Facebook is not fitted to long description. It became the tool of minor update for our life. Some photos and brief comment. It is enough in Facebook. Actually I don't read a long description of my friends in Facebook, becuse I am busy to check many short posts by other friends. The shorter, the better. I feel it became the criterion in Facebook.

I am not sure whether my feeling is right or not, but I use this blog again. Coming back to my hometown. It's my feeling. It is a little ashamed to read my old posts written in English, because my English was terrible and continues to be!

Ah, anyway, I should look at the reality. I am looking forward to positive effect of using this blog again.

VS Test Post

I don't use this blog loooooooooooooong time. This is the post to check the living of this blog.

VS Internship

This summer, an unverdity student worked in my office for a short time. It was the unversity's internship program. She worked very well and experienced many things.
Today, I had the good oppotunity to join the university's class. In the class, many students including her reported their experience working in many companies. I was very interested in their image to jobs and companies.

I think recent Japanese students are very straight. They are not critical to society and companies. Looking back to my younger days, I hated working in a company. I was very skeptical to the social structure and the rules made by the older people. Still now, even though I have worked in a company for a long time, I continue to be, to some extent.
But, the young student I met today were different. They think it is their duty to hurry to adjust to the companies. It might be a good thing for them.
Actually it becomes difficult for students to get their job in Japan now.
To survive, they have to adjust soon.

Anyway I enjoyed listening to their report very much. After the class, we had a small party in the restaurant in the university.
Because all students were female and it was a day time, we were served cakes and juice only. The party without beer was my first experience. The students looked happy. How I looked was...

A student asked me about working in a company. She joins a newspaper club. I thought she likes to communicate with many people at first, but her desire was different.
She asked me how to find the job without communicating with the people she doesn't know. Perhaps, she seemed to have a bad experience in her internship. It was a silly question. But, I didn't think it is not good just to say "Silly." That's why we tried to find such a job.
How about the accounting division? Oh, no, they have to talk to the banker. How about the programmer? No, they have many meetings with their cliants. How about the job to make a pottary? Can you do it? No.

In the end, she realised there are no job fitted to her desire. And she looked to realise her desire was wrong.

To be honest, her desire is not always wrong. She can choose any life style. So, I did't want to say "Silly" or "Wrong". But on the other hand, as the man with more experience, I have to give the person like her another viewpoint, in this kind of case.
I am not sure she was filled with my advice. But at least of all, I could learn many things.

VS Kyoto Life

Two months has passd since I moved to Kyoto.
I seems to be accustomed to my new life.
I am finding out the beauty and uniqeness of Kyoto again, even though it was my hometown.
I like this city's darkness.
To keep the atomosphere of Kyoto, it seems to be restricted to use the lights.
In addition, the hight of bulidings is also regulated. So, in night time, the sky is wide. We can look at the mountains surrounding Kyoto city very clearly.

My job is same here as Tokyo. Book sales. My impression of customers here is that they are classic.
Based on thier religious backborn, thier respectation to books is vety high. They have collected great books.
For booksales, this kind of customers are excellent. That's why I can enjoy my job here.

Thanks to Kyoto city's compactness, my living place and my office is very close. And, the drinking area is also close!
The biggest night spot GION is near my house. I can go to Kawaramachi street on foot. It is a big shopping street.
If I have the same benefit in Tokyo, my living cost must be high. But, in Kyoto, the cost is not so high. The reason might be because there are many students living here. Actually the number of schools and universities in Kyoto is same or more, compared with Tokyo.

My language is a little strange. I sometimes speak Eastern Japanese and sometimes Western Japanese. On business, the tendency to use Eastern version might be strong. For emotional conversation, Western Japanese is useful. But, for logical communication, Eastern is better.
And, English! It is the great tool in Kyoto because this city is the one for travellers from all over the world. I can have many oppotunities to talk with many countries' people here.

I should go to many historical places during I stay in Kyoto. To be honest I don't know temples and shriens so much, because I was not interested in them in my childhood.

VS Change & Unchange

I stay in Kyoto now. I have to find my living place here soon. I have to be accustomed to my new working place soon. The time to leave Atsugi is gradually and certainly coming close to me.
I feel my life is changing now. My life is moving to the next stage.
"Next stage!"
I remember I shoutd the phrase many times in Atsugi.
After the drinking party, I always go to another place for more drinking.
Although I somtimes sleep drunk in a party, I like to continue the party.
I might think life is like a party.
It does not mean I don't see it serious. Reversely, I see it what I should truely and utterly enjoy from the bottom of my heart. I learned how to enjoy it in Atsugi.

Now I sit on the chair in Tully's coffee in Kyoto. I drink coffee and watch the passangers on the street.
A beaitiful woman looks at me. No, she looks at the window to look at herself.
This kind of laughing thing has happend in Atsugi too.
It is an unchanging part of my life.
Maybe, I will sleep drunk in a bar in Kyoto. I should love such an unchanging part of myself.

VS Human Relatinship

This month, I am drinking with my friends, business pertners, coworkers and so on every
day.
From September 5th, I start to work in Kyoto. So, this month, I have to drink with the friends around Tokyo, Kanagawa and Atsugi. This month, I don't refuse any drinking offer. And, on the no-offer day, I give the offer to my friends.

One thing I realised recenly is that my leaving can tighten my human relationship. I can know my friends' honest thinking. I can exchange the contact information with some people. Change might be a chance.

When I look back to the first day when I came from my hometown to Atsugi, I think human relationship is intersting. There was no friends and relatives here on the day. Although I forgot the process, I realised I am surrounded by more finds here than in my hometown.

Yesterday, I exchanged the contact information (e-mail address, mobile number and Twitter account) with a surfer. We sometimes see near the sea, but we didn't know each other well. We always just say Hello. But, he will give me the information of Shonan beach after I go to Kyoto. On the other hand, I promised him to send Kyoto information.
Now I am enjoying this kind of change or renewal of my human relationship.

VS Atsugi Library

Before leaving Atsugi, I have to clean up many things. Human relationship is one of them. But it was and has been very clear for me in Atsugi. I don't worry about it.
What I worry about is my books.
During 15 years in Atsugi, I bought many books. Basically I didn't throw away the books after reading, so my small room is occupied by them. I have to make decision for their future.
Some will be moved to Kyoto with me. But many books have finished their role for me. That's why I decide to give them to Atsugi Library.

I am not sure the library likes my books. But I think I can give them some good collections. Because I am a professional book-salesman, I sometimes buy or get "rare" books. They are actually not rare. We can buy them easily. But I mean it is rare for Japanese public library to buy them. For their small budget, they always buy only popular books.

Today I brought a magazine collection to the library. The magazine started to be published only for the limited reader. It was not a commercial magazine. So, nobody couldn't buy it at that time. After some volumes were published, it became to be sold in bookstores. But its publication was finished a few years ago. The magazine's last volume was not in any bookstores. But I have it!
I hope Atsugi library can understand the value.

VS Transfer

I got a transfer order to Kyoto from my boss.
It was too sudden. I did't anticipate it at all. So, I was very surprised.
For my book-sales business, Kyoto is a good place. That's why working in Kyoto is good for my career. And, also, Kyoto is my home town. I must win in my home town game.
However, to be honest, I feel sad to lose something here in Atsugi.
My Atsugi life is long. It's about 15 years. Even though the city is not my home town, it is now more comfortable than my home town.
My history in Atsugi is long. At this moment I am not sure how my future life is without Atsugi. It will be a good memory? If so, it's very good and it's a little sad.
Anyway, I have to prepare for my future life. This summer, I will be very busy.
Like my many friends who left Atsugi, I have to close my Atsugi life beautiful, with beautiful Sake.

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.