Tokyo Essentials

A globelike screen which featured at the 2005 Aichi Expo, has been moved to the National Science Museum in Tokyo.

The screen is used to show computer-generated scientific video programs.

Further details (Japanese).

A new ice skating rink opened to the public in the fashionable Marnouchi building this week. It will only be open until January 14th.

Dates: Until Jan. 14, 2007 (12 p.m.-9 p.m. weekdays / 10 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends and national holidays).

Location: Marunouchi Building in the Marunouchi district, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Admission: 500 yen.

Source

Information: Call the executive committee of the skating rink at (03) 3231-3415 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Japan’s largest jewellery trade fair will be held from January 24th to the 27th, 2007 at Tokyo Big Sight.

Check out the English website here for further details.

The Tokyo Metropolitan govenrment has outlined plans for future infrastructure upgrades in preparation for its 2016 Olympic bid.

“the metropolitan government predicts the population of Tokyo will continue to increase for some time, reaching a peak of 13 million in 2015.”

Source

The new Sony PS3 went on sale last weekend. I was at the Yurakucho branch of BicCamera on Sunday night and saw a fairly orderly, but long line of eager customers.

Only a limited number were on sale on the weekend, helping to build a buying frenzy for the new gaming console.

The Tokyo Game Show was held this weekend. Sony gave a preview of their new Play Station 3.

Here is some video footage I took of the event.

Link to the official Tokyo Game Show site.

‘Namaste India 2006′ is being held this weekend in Tokyo. The event expects to draw 70,000 people of the the two days.

The event is being held in Yoyogi Park, Shibuya.

Tokyo food prices are dropping according to a survey done by the Japanese government. This is not surprising too much, as competition between Japanese fast food restaurants increases.

Household budgets are being stretched as bonuses shrink. One area which families seem to cut back on is dad’s lunch money. One coin lunch places (500 yen) can be seen frequently throughout the city.

If only my landlord would drop my rent!

It is less than a month away now until the 2006 Tokyo Game Show gets under away.

This year’s event promises to be an exciting one with the new Sony Playstation 3 being demonstrated.

The theme of this year’s show is: New Excitement. New Sensations. A New Generation.

Official Site

Azabu Juban Summer Festival is on today until about 9 pm this evening.

There aren’t any special events but there is a lot of great FOOD!

Be sure to check back and see my video.