Just a few snapshots from the trip between Tokyo and Osaka. Be welcomed by two conductors bowing for every customer getting into the bullet train.
Buy bento box containing beef and rice. Pull the yellow string and heat will be infused and heat the entire bento for you.
Together with the PET bottle containing hot Japanese
Great experience at i.school, at University of Tokyo, where students demonstrated the power of storytelling without being depending on the slides.
One team brought in a bicycle and acted out as they explained their service concept called Mono-log. The service values your experience and memories over an object and provides you benefits in case it needs maintenance or repair.
Another team showed their proposal using a video clip. They fast forwarded their drawing on the glass which enabled us to see the dynamics of the business models they were proposing. The idea was concerning how to utilize the unused, empty houses to increase sustainability concerning the construction industry in Japan.
Then, this team was my favorite. Had a concrete and what seems like a good communal solution not only in Japan but also in some other nations. They proposed an application where the aggregated intelligence would affect the public services. The idea exists in US or in other nations where the public service is failing, but I thought they had their job well done as they had more positive connotations and thought of the application in Japan. They obviously spent most of the time preparing the ideas rather than practicing their skits, but nevertheless, it was entertaining.
This is their intermediate presentation in front of the actual CSR and venture judges: Would be interesting to see how their ideas will evolve towards the final.
i.school in English: http://ischool.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/english
There is nothing more disappointing when a fun technology is killed. Here, in Shinagawa station, you will find three vending machines, equipped with a face recognition feature. The rumor said that the vending machine analyze your face and will recommend you a drink. How can I resist? So off we went to Shinagawa station and tried it out.
Although we were in front of the vending machine for good five minutes, we could not tell what is so new. Not only it disguised as a simple touch screen vending machine, it didn’t communicate or force us to buy any quirky drinks. I thought this was some kind of a fun application and I wanted the machine to suggest me to buy things like, hot corn soup, or junky soda, any drink I would not dare to buy unless they force me to.
Then after standing in front of it for a few times, we finally realized, there are tiny modest red signs saying osusume, recommended, in Japanese. After all, it was there all the time. These modest signs were changing depending on who stood in front. But the signs were so modest, and mildly appearing and disappearing, we thought it was the sign to show featured products.
Recognition itself, we assume that it has probably something to do with infrared, detecting our body heat, and their face feature analysis, which would guess our gender and age. Some said, this is just a good excuse for the vending machine to get rid of the stock. In any case, it was too little to be noticed.
Thank you to Aico-san, who together looked for the vending machine and modeled for me.
Nothing so special for people who utilize Chinese medicine, but just to share what i observed today. Here, is a bag full of medicine you were prescribed. The only things I could tell what they are: the bright orange saffrons and black branch-looking centipedes. Details are in fact written here, together with the information about how you should prepare.
Today, this bag took 80 minutes to cook in a special pot. After 80 minutes of boiling, comes out a dark and thick color liquid with a strong scent. Filter out the substance and drink the liquid. Quite bitter this time, but depending on the prescription, can be sweet, too.
Thank you to Professor Ji Ping for showing us the process.
A concierge in a hotel shows us ways using an online map: But it wasn’t Google Maps. The service visualizes the city in graphics, which gives you a better idea of the landmarks. And unlike photographs, this might be more sustainable as it enables you a partial modification. As you can see, the map shows the hotel which is currently under construction. The frequency of updating the visuals are unknown, however, would be interesting to check out once in a while.
e-Dushi e都市: http://sh.edushi.com/
Observed in Family Mart, Shanghai.
It is interesting to see how youth and the older generation are equipped with winter clothes as the winter approaches. Both scenes, a girl with a red down jacket with a nice patterned linings, and two ladies with mustard jackets, brown and black pants, appear as such an interesting contrast.
Summer-like can prints and ginkgo autumn leaves. The can has been serving well as a rubbish can at this location.
In Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo. Above, a permanently-placed sign which indicates the car drop-off spot, and below, a temporary sign indicating the flea market held for the day.
