Randum Walk Kobe Reopened!

Randum Walk Kobe Store  is reopened from February 1!!

Now the name has slightly changed to Randum Walk Books, but the location is same.

The store was closed last December since Yohan, their parent company, has been bankrupted. 

It seems the ex-store workers have purchased the stock and reopened.

Some of the books are still discounted. I'm sure bookworms will love there. 

The store is at Sannnomiya Center-St., but please enter from Motomachi side. 

Randum Walk Books
33-Bodg., 2F,
Sannomiyacho 3-9-8
Chuo-ku, Kobe
078-332-9200

The Instant Ramen Museum

My son asked me "Mom, I want to make some Cup Noodles!"

Make Cup Noodles? 

Yes! There is My Cup Noodle Factory in The Instant Ramen Museum!

Do you know who invented instant ramen or Cup Noodle?  Both of them were invented by Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nisshin Food Products based in Osaka. 

You can learn the history of instant noodles and how they became so popular all over the world. 

But what is the most fun thing must be making your original cup noodle!

Here are the process.

1. Buy a cup by 300yen.

2. Design your cup.  You can draw as you want.

3.  Place noodles in the cup.

4. Choose toppings and soup.  You can choose your favorite 4 toppings. 

5. Sealed by a rid.

6. Pump air into the bag and tie a string.

We made it!  You can taste your own cup noodle at home. Enjoy!!

When I visited there last time, many Chinese tourists (prbably from Taiwan) also joined making their cup noodle. Please try!

The Instant Ramen Museum
8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda
at Ikeda Station of Hankyu Railway (about 20min. from Umeda)
9:30am-4pm
Admission free

Article on Tokyo Work Life

Tokyo Work Life is  a Tokyo base information Web site for foreigners.  I have just started to write what's going on China in the "column".   My article - China's Job Market has just posted today and new column from China will be running every other month.

Please check it from here!

From Beijing to Kobe

In fact, it has been 2 months I returned to Japan.  I already explained that in my Japanese site, but I have been super busy,  I'm sorry I could not handle this site. 

Today I changed the blog title since I'm no longer living in Beijing.  However, I will continue writing about my memories in Beijing. 

Kobe, where I'm living has Chinese immigrants from 100 years ago and China town. 

Now and then, I will write about 1. memories of my Beijing days; 2. something we can feel China in Kobe; 3 interesting things for foreigners in Japan. 

I will write more articles in this site as much as possible, please come and check!

Be prepared for disaster

Do you think all Japanese are accustomed to earthquake?  I did not experience  big earthquake till having Hanshin Earthquake.  In Osaka and Kobe area, we even did not have small earthquakes so much before that.

However, we suddenly had big earthquake in Kobe in January 1995.

Our apartment was relatively new, probably 3 to 4 years after constructed, so the building didn't have remarkable damages although it was located 6 or 7 kilometers from the center of the quake.  All the lifelines were stopped, but fortunately electricity was recovered on the day.  So we decided to continue to stay there, however, gas and water supply had stopped for 3 weeks. 

We were actually well prepared for earthquake since my husband was "familiar with earthquake" at Hokkaido where he was from.  Our cupboard was fixed by "L" shape metal parts on the wall, so the cupboard did not fell down and moreover we did not lose our almost all dishes even the metal parts were winded.   Also we saved water in a bath tub and the water can be used for toilet for a few days.   Japanese bath room has a lid on a tub and we take a shower out side of the tub. water in the tub can be saved after we take a bath and on the next day before taking a bath, we clean up the tub. 
 
I think Beijing apartments are not safe at all at least for Japanese.  Japanese apartment rooms usually have 2 escape routes, one from the entrance and the other one from the balcony.  On the balcony side, there is an emergency ladder on each floor and breaking the wall with our next door (it can be broken easily), we can walk through the balcony and use the ladder if it is in emergency.   Many apartments in Beijing don't have open air balcony because of the cold weather in winter and many of them are tall buildings.  So people cannot use balcony for evacuation at all.  Also the stairs are dark and many apartments just have one stairs even in big buildings (we usually have two stairs in one apartment building)   Imagine how long does it take if we evacuate by stairs from 30th floor in emergency?  It will take more than 30-min. 

When a big earthquake occurres, the first action is to open entrance door or any window for getting escape route and shut off gas in the kitchen.

In my apartment, kitchen is located near the entrance.  When it is fire, I cannot take time for evacuation.

Now I prepare an emergency bag for quick evacuation.

Here are the items.  You don't have to put many items. Otherwise, you should pack in your suitcase.  This is just for evacuation. 

    Working gloves  - protect your hands
    Caps  - protect your head
    Tissue papers  or toilet papers
    Wet paper towels
    towels
    Rain jackets
    Umbrella
    Socks  - protect your feet from broken glasses
    Plastic bags 
    Flash light
    A pen and a small notebook.

    Also...Portable radio  - I don't have this in China

These are minimum items and I should get our passport and some water & food if I can.   
Disaster is not only earthquake, fire, flood, and even terror, etc.  It is good to prepare in advance and discuss with your family for evacuation. 

 

MUJI in Beijing

Finally MUJI has come to Beijing!!

MUJI could not open their store for long years since the name has been already registered by someone else.  The very CHINESE incident has concluded.  Now they can use the name  of MUJI in mainland China, and opened outlets here. 

I've very anticipated the opening and went the outlet in Xidan.  The store was smaller size of usual Japanese ones.  Since they don't handle snacks, my son was very disappointed anyway.  Also they don't handle kids clothes and furniture, etc.

The appaerels are almost same price as Japan, but other items are sold by 1.5 times as Japan.  When I entered the store, I felt I was very relieved.  It is same as Japan's  MUJI!.

Please check it!

MUJI at Xidan Joy City

1/F JOYCITY, NO 131 NORTH XIDAN AVENUE, XICHENG DISTRICT, BEIJING, CHINA tel. 86-10-5971-6248

Need Olympic for money?

I have just moved to a new place 10 days ago.

As of March 15th, my lease contract was terminated and the owner of the room suggested the rent raised up about 25% and the contract period would be till end of June or full 1-year (the deposit will be returned only at the end of the contract)   It looks "normal" in recent Beijing, but I could not accept the conditions. 

We had power off several times at night or weekend.   Utilities were included in the rent, but the owner did not charge money in the prepaid card regularly.  Also I requested him repair gas stove and gas-leak alarm, but these were never repaired even for 4, 5 month I requested repeatedly.  Of course, these things violated the contract.

Since the owner stayed in a foreign county (he said he was in Australia, but real estate company guy said different country...), his elder brother actually handled the maintenance.

I thought this is no longer safe place for me since the brothers didn't handle the "owner's work" properly and it was nonsense to give them more money.

Many apartment owners are crazy for money for up-coming Olympic games.  They boost rent and now some room rent will be double, triple or even 10 times especially for July and August.

Also some people were requested to leave the room as soon as possible even middle of contract period!

What is the contract???  Where is real estate company?

So I refused to extend the contract and started looking for another place.  It was not easy for me to find out a new place in my budget since I wanted a place to be refunded at least 50% of the deposit if I stay there more than 6-month.   I disagree with the clause of the leasing period of Chinese lease agreement which is totally unfair for tenants.  Even if you have a 1-year contract, and you live in a place for 10-months or 4-months, they don't refund the deposit as guarantee of their income from the rent.  Owners usually refund the deposit at the full- contract only.

Don't you think it is unreasonable?

1 week before of the end of the contract, I still could not find out a new place to live.  I asked  my owner if I can extend the contract for about 1 week.  The owner's answer was  "No".  As long as I live there, they cannot find out the next tenant, that was the reason.

4 days before of the end of the contract, finally I signed up the new lease agreement at a bit old service apartment.  The rent is same as before I lived, but utilities are excluded this time.  It's old place (but still 10 years old), but looks well-maintained and clean.  The management office people are very nice and handle my request quickly.  They also have a club house with indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym, etc. 

If I live there more than 7-months, they will refund whole 2-month rent of the deposit! I'm totally satisfied with the agreement and this place now.  The real estate introduced this place was great!

However, I still have some problems with the old owner regarding the deposit refund.  He request me to owe me curtain cleaning and leather sofa cleaning .  I did not put  remarkable damages or stains on them.  He just wants me to "clean"them.  According to the contract, if the tenant damage furnitures or room facilities, the tenant has to compensate.   I don't think I have to owe the fee for wearing as using them..

I requested J Real Estate company to get me back 460RMB for curtain cleaning and 800RMB, for leather sofa cleaning total 1260RMB since these are not properly under the contract.

Let's see....How it is settle down.

Why they had to lose their life on the street

An electric pole near Changhongqiao suddenly fell down and 2 people lost their lives by hitting the pole on December 6th.  One of the victim was a French ghigh school girl.  She was on the way back to home afterschool.

http://news.cctv.com/society/20071207/100255.shtml

It is over my imagination that an electic pole on the street suddenly falling toward pedestrians.  A newspaper reported it was windy on the day, but probably not typhoon- class wind. 

The more surprised thing was Beijing goverment has not investigated which organization built the pole and they don't want to reveal that.  It maybe a foreigner is a victim of the case (the compensation must be more complicated).

http://www.thebeijingnews.com/comment/zonghe/1044/2007/12-10/021@082511.htm

Of course it really does not matter the victims were Chinese or foreigner.  The most important thing is it is clear that we cannot walk on the streets in Beijing safely and nobody owe the responsibilities if this kind of disaster has occured.

You guys are not ready for Olympic, City of Beijing!

As a parent of a child living in Beijing I really want to appeal our safety on the street is not guaranteed.  The victim go to the school just as usual and came back to her home as such a miserable "body".....and nobody owe the responsibilities... I cannot forgive that.

Be careful when you are walking on the street, especially windy day. 

hatsune is the best Japanese restaurant?

I guess many people already know that hatsune is awarded as the Best Japanese Restaurant by that's Beijing.  I personally heard the name of the restaurant, but have never been there and nobody talks about there around my Japanese friends. 

I guess many Japanese living in Beijing have never been there.  If there is one good restaurant around us, it is definitely spread out by word of mouth.  For example, recently, Matsuoka, Japanese BBQ restaurant has been relocated to Lucky Street and their lunch menu is great.  It was rapidly spread out. 

But nobody talkes about hatsune.  So...I went there with my family since my husband and son wanted to eat sushi. 

Opened the menu...there were English and Chinese, no Japanese.  Actually, there are some Japanese expressions written Alphabets in English menu.  It was very stressful to read the mixied language menu.

Usually Japanese restaurants in Beijing targeting expats have Japanese menu and waitress/waiters speak Japanese.  Okay...we are living in foreign country.

We ordered assorted nigiri and one roll (forgot the name) for adults.  For my son, we ordered salmon and prown nigiri and tuna roll without wasabi. 

It was so noisy in the restaurant because there are about a gorup of about 30 Chinese.  It was like Chinese restaurant.

My son was disappointed there were wasabi in my son's salmon nigiri.

This photo is assorted nigiri which is about 120RMB.  Most of neta(fishes on top) were very thin, dry and prown and squid were too salty.  Also there were abocado nigiri....I personally like abocado, but it should not be assorted in nigiri.  If you pay 120RMB in Beijing, you can eat more gorgeous assort!   

My husband and I were totally frustrated.

Meshiya Hashiba　（飯屋橋場） offiers sushi combination lunch by around 60RMB and Matsushin at Xin Guang Tian Di （松伸 at 新光天地） also has Sushi lunch by 100RMB and urchin and salmon eggs were in there. 

Also the roll was the worst roll I've ever had... There was tenkasu (fried tempra dough) around the roll so it was too oily.

Our conclusion for hatsune was Japanese style American Restaurant.  It was not Japanese cuisine, Getemono (fake)!

However, I had return match there on the other day to eat more rolls.  We had Catarpillar Roll, Aiguo Roll, famous Motorola Roll, and Ninja Roll.  All of them were actually okay.  Especially, Aiguo Roll was right taste and I was impressed that the dip source was ponzu.  Motola Roll should have very high calory and too decolative.  They are all unique and fun, but our impression was their rolls were absolutely American.

There is no sense of beauty of Japan - simple, enjoy natural taste of the material. 

It is okay if you vote whatever.  Just we don't admit hatsune is Japanese cuisine and there are more delicious dishes in other Japanese restaurants in Beijing.

My father was a sushi restaurant owner for 39years in Japan.

I'm back

Firstly, I'm very sorry that I did not update this blog site. The page viewing problem was resolved in May suddently, but I've been having super busy days which I will talk later.  Recently I really need 25 or 26 hours in a day.

Even I did not update the site for 3 months, I know still many people visited here.  I will try to update the site sometime.  Still there is one problem that you probably cannot leave your comment in my site.  At least I cannot...I don't know why Cocolog is so troubled.  And you probably think why I don't change to other blog.....There is a political issue..... Also I have photo albums in Cocolog and it is difficult to move the albums to the other site. 

From this March, I write articles in some Japanese sites, also have some translations.  Also my son and I will move to new place in August and my husband will go back to Japan.  We had to decide and figure out so many things in the last few months.

But friends, we don't have any crisis of divorce.  My husband and I are fine!  I really appreciate my husband that he supports what I'm doing. 

Anyway, I will continue to write here, too!