Dec 15 to 21 of 2010, I was in Japan again after absent for 12 years since 1997 and 1995.This time was in Osaka-Kyoto-Nagoya-Tokyo very much on leisure compare to the last 2 times as hectic business trip.
The heartfeel was totally different from decade ago, simply becos being Sales & Marketing Manager of Takeuchi MDF and Trade Executive of Itochu Corporation was relatively younger and plainer in term of international travel exposure.
This time was more composed...and lack of Wow !
Nevertheless, the bullet train was still amazing with the speed of >300km/hr...still wow as first saw and experience in 1995. Imagine tht was 15 years ago the wow.... of course now China >420km/hour even more wow but yet to be proven with safety history as Japan.
Japan bullet train = Shinkansen (新干线）.
Mount Fuji with winter atmosphere with closed look this time was Wow compared to the previous trips from Tokyo-Osaka with Rail-Side-View only. The hot spring at the hotel at the bottom of Mount Fuji and sitting-board gliding on the snowy mountain brought back memeory of Blue Mountain of Australia and Eastern Taiwan spring memory.
Time lapsed if look back with my hectic and frequent travel in the region since my international biz career..
Shabu-shabu with tendered beef , tht was simple and delicious. Remember Nagata and Ishii sans told me in Tokyo in 1995 " Neil -san , thanks for your visit only we have chance to have Shabu-shabu, it is very expensive neh !" .
Still clear in my mind the conversation of Shabu-shabu especially the kind of Kobe beef with massage and beer breed to this specialty as Japanese learnt to eat beef after world war from American. Can see how Japanese Value Added to this world known cuisine. Westerner only know how to eat roasted, fried beef with hard flesh fibre....
It's not the matter who knows beef first, it is who Value Add and betterment - this is Japan neh !
I insisted to take Ramen after dinner to bring back the memory of having this common dish of Japan. I walked into a very small and tiny 15-seated Ramen restaurant with 2 gentlemen mend the eating outlet. As my experience those days to straight my gut to 'speak' Nihon-go ( Japanese) to order breakfast 'Gu-Dong (Beef Cutlet Rice)' from my favourite Yoshinoya chain restaurant those days, I applied the same technic to order Ramen.
Ramen went with Asahi beer..Oishi neh !
I ever tasted to have ramen at the hawker stall not far away from the hotel in Tokyo back in 1995..hey still in my memory the wow effect.
Ramen = RM40/bowl.
Sapporo beer, Kirin beer not escaped to watering my 12 years absent mouth in Nihon land !
Shinjuku, the most happening shopping arcades and night spots again proven the Yakuza place ( Japan mafia). As I told the family and trip mates about the story of Yakuza and my experience of spotting of Cut-Finger of the Yakuza members back in 1995, 1997,everyone seemed pale and worry when passing the road standers of long hair, trimmed eyebrows and darkened eyelash, strange clothing, mean faces.
Ha ha Jacky Chan was acting in Shinjuku, it told the Yakuza story very well - Wow !
Universal Studio, Osaka and Disneyland, Tokyo - not much of Wow cos these franchise biz spread to Hong Kong, Singapore ! Even Sunway Resort can give you that kind of wow, what is wow here...may be the night parade in Disneyland could raise a bit of tension.
Didnt see much of luxurious cars on Osaka and Tokyo and other cities. Comparatively saw more Alphard but very least Estimas or >2000cc cars. Not to say very less BMW, Benz. Even Malaysia has much much more Vellfire , Alphard, Estimas, Camry.
Not convinced this factual, it was proven very well with our visit in Tokyo Toyota Grand Show Room, nothing Wow in term of new designs. What We Saw What We Get In Malaysia Now !
As the tour guide said, with the numerous recessions, Japan now is subtle with practical usage of little cars ie. 750cc to 1000cc. It was true with our own observation of our 6-day trip including Ginza high -end shopping areas.
No Wow factor to the car designs...
American consipracy over Toyota will definitely deepened Japan car industry.
So, there is proposal to sell weapon now in Japan.
I said why not Casino like Singapore, the method of non-method left.
Ginza high end ?! Who buys ?
Ha Ha as tour guide Egawa said the buyers are from big country, I said "泱泱大国" Chugoku-jin neh ie.mainland Chinese.
Ya,mainland Chinese is experience the well being of Nihon-jin says 30 years ago. They are biggest spender in Ginza wheareas Japanese is using 750cc car in 2010.
Chinese Wow vs Japanese No More Wow.
Wud Chinese continue to Wow & how long more ?
Surprise to see Men Biz Shirt, T-Shirt,Ladies Winter Boot sold at the price range from RM50-RM150..hey is this Japan that I know 15 years ago. Look like Japan bow down to the phenomena of world mill effect of Made in China, Made in Cambodia, Made in Vietnam.
Hotel rate at RM150- RM250/nite spotted at Osaka..what a price ? Not expensive right. It can be Wow in term of such low price but not Wow in term of Japan stagnant economic after bubble burst in early 1990's til today.
Japanese update UniQlo Clothing Chain stores like Hong Kong Giordano is pursuing their selling strategies to middle and low -end income earners all over in Japan.
In general, Japan not really expensive now with daily merchandise even with their petrol only at RM5.50/litre...hey Japan is Super High Income earner vs Malaysia middle income trap though.
Heartfelt... Japan no more Wow but back to basic and subtle 沉淀 ！
Mainland Chinese still Woo Woo Wow Wow and showing off...dont be Japan one day my advice to our friends who speak very loud and dig nose in the public despite their well dress and arrogant.
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