My very first guest blogger, Thomas, had this to say about the latest Taiko-no-Tatsujin which came out in Japan on April 24, 08 and arrived here by post on May 5, 08 in perfect time for Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day in Japan):

“I found the second Taiko No Tatsujin better in some areas than the first one. The second one has a better interface organisation, and more new content than the first one.
The first one has a better song selection (in my opinion), but comes short on a good menu.

Anyhow, both games are absolutely brilliant when one looks past their small flaws, and I can advise anyone to get them as soon as possible!

Thank you, Yuko and Akihisa, for sending me the second game!”

The song Ue wo muite arukou was renamed Sukiyaki as the American record company’s president thought the dish name would be easier to remember than its original title. He remembered having eaten Sukiyaki on a visit to Japan and to him this delicious dish and its name became unforgettable.

Kyu Sakamato, the artist, did not live a long life. He was killed in the Japan Airlines Flight 123 plane crash in 1985.

Click here for the lyrics

Yamada Denki Co, Japan’s biggest consumer electronics retailer, said it would not open any of its 1,000-odd outlets across the country on New Year’s Day starting in 2009 based on an article by Japantoday

Most shifts on the sales floor run from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. with an hour extra in the morning to prepare and another hour to close. And then the staff is subjected to listening to fairly loud music all day as well. But they might have become immune to the music for all I know. Adding to the fact of loud music, this regular music gets interrupted at certain intervals by the company’s infamous jingle.

While in Kitakyushu in April, we had a good shopping experience at Yamada Denki, but then again, we were there for about 40 minutes only.

I had worked in Japanese retail once before in one of the department stores in Kokura-ku in Kitakyushu city. I wore a Bavarian Dirndl and sold German products for a German-Japanese company. All day long I had to praise the goods by saying: “Doitsu no sausage – ii ka ga desuka?” After 10 days of working at this German fair in a Japanese department store, my feet were tired and my mind was blank after endless days of conversing in Japanese, Jinglish, and English.

But then again, I saw only young people working at Yamada denki. I’d suppose most employees don’t grow old with this company. Yamada Denki’s jingle might be enough reason to quit one’s job after a while.

Yamada Denki, give the jingle a break for one day. Turn it off on January 1. Give your employees a break on one of the most celebrated family holidays.

Our friend Yoshiko noticed the toilet sign had been taken at YAMADA DENKI in Orio near Kitakyushu. YAMADA DENKI also has its own PR tune and she warned me that the following is a real ear worm.

Some people claim it is really annoying to have this tune interrupt the shop’s regular fairly loud music and a few claim this to be noise pollution. Yes, we had shopped there and we still carried a normal conversation. But for those working there all year long with the music on..?

One of the coolest presents I brought back from Japan are these sushi erasers. At first glance they look like something edible – similar to a Haribo gummy. These sushi erasers make great gifts from Japan for your friends, family, and/or students.

sushi erasers

For more information, click here: pencilthings

Thanks, Yoshiko!!