I (HEART) Adventure!

As you know, I'm a firm believer in adventure. This post is dedicated to all things adventure like...

My friends Matt & Lindsey Baker having a baby! Carson Matthew Baker joined us on March 6th, a whopping 6lbs. 13oz. I got to hold him tonight and am still on Cloud 9. Even on Day 10 with his scrawny little legs and constant gas (and smiles -- granted, they have gas, but their smiles are amazing!). What a treat to get to hold this new life. Carson, I'm THRILLED to be your Uncle and look forward to our adventures!

I saw Disneyland Tokyo!... and will be going! Granted, this is the best shot I got, but that's not the point. The point is, I whipped out my camera and had the guy in the next seat think I was taking a photo of him. That in itself was an adventure, and I soon hope to have one with Mickey in Japan!

Daien-ji!

Good morning, Avid Reader! I FOUND IT! After wandering aimlessy through the streets of Tokyo last night, nearing being washed in to the Bay of Tokyo, and not finding Daien-ji, I was successful this morning!

From my guidebook, with my photos: Established sometime around 1615, this small, photogenic temple hemmed in by trees commemorates stillborn and miscarried chidren and aborted foetuses (sp). There are red-bonneted jizo figures (small stone statues of the Buddhist protector of travellers and children). Completely lining one of the walls are Arhat (atonement) statues of the 500 followers of Buddha, the Gohyakuran. Each stone marker, made to appease souls that departed in the great fire, has it's own design and facial expression. Water is often placed in front of the statues to ease the degree of victim's suffering.

What was amazing to me -- as it always is in old cities around the world -- was the reality of old and new in such condense space. Not fully knowing where I was going today, I was in a main intersection, then turned down a smaller one-way road and VOILA, the temple was just right there. And right next to the huge ARCO Tower! I also enjoyed additional interesting architecture, from store fronts to the Hinomuru Driving School. Yes, Driving School, complete with a road course inside for beginning drivers. It was SWEET!

All in all, it's been an awesome week here in Tokyo. I'm about to check out of the hotel here and head to the airport; my bus arrives in about 45 minutes. Having visited Daien-ji and the jizo figures, I'm psyched to get on an airplane and jet back to the States.

Thanks for joining me on this first of many adventures to come!

It's raining nekos and inus!

I tried trapsing around Tokyo this afternoon in search of Daien-Ji, a temple built in 1615 and allegedly fairly close to my hotel. To commence said adventure, I looked up "umbrella" and "please" and then practiced for a good 30 minutes before making my way to the concierge desk:

"Ka-sa, ku-da-sai."

And he brought me an umbrella! It worked! If this doesn't go to show you that hard work and practice pays off, I don't know what does!

Of course, I then march outside to a rain-free afternoon and through seemingly back-roads of Ebisu, the neighborhood in which I'm staying. Having planned my way to Daien-Ji, I quickly got lost, but found UNI-QLO where I scored a pair of jeans and a super jacket!

After the pit stop and circle-walking around Meguru, I started to head back to the hotel when I got caught in one of the craziest rain storms I can remember. Streets were flooding. Small Japanese dogs were floating off. Scooters were stalling. As for me, save my soaked pants, I was ultimately protected by my hard work and practice.

"Ka-sa, a-ri-ga-to!"

It's (still) a Small World afterall!

A couple of things to report from the world of MSN Japan:

Small World
I met with the MSN Japan project team launching DRIVE on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Today I met with the MSN Korea team who are charged with the same feat. It turns out, the world is still small.

One of the guys working on the DRIVE Japan launch is Hirotashi Sakashita. He did an internship with DRIVE when we first launched in the US. We worked together four years ago!

Today, I started talking to the MSN Korea Director of Product Marketing and Seattle came up... go figure. I asked how often he gets to the NW -- he gets there frequently and said he enjoyed living there during Business School. Oh? Avid Reader, Keun Wook (aka Chris) Jung is a UW MBA Class of 1999 grad! We were in school together (I was Class of 2000). Craziness and brilliant altogether!

So, even 1/2 world away, I have a history with both of the guys launching DRIVEpm in Japan and Korea, respectively. Unbelievable!

MSN Japan Office
More on the interesting things about the Japan office (see Toilet Control Panel entry). Turns out, each floor has a smoking nook! It's glassed off in the common area around the restooms/elevators, but it's there. You wouldn't know from the smell of smoke because folks go in, stand around a table vacuum, and enjoy a nicotine hit!

Of course, I just had to get a photo. Stephen thought me ridiculous (and has effectively nicknamed me "Howdy-Doody" -- should I be upset?), but you have to see it to believe it!

In addition, you can see into Jingu Gaien from the office -- the private residences of the Japanese Royal Families! Looking at them, they're modest (though large) homes. Turns out, the grounds are completely private and even disallow flight paths overhead for security purposes.

Funny that we could look right on to them and a good, solid rock chuck across the street from the rooftop would certainly break the solar panels on the Uncle Kim's home!

It just takes a little getting used to, that's all...

Avid Reader! What is this photo of, you ask? Would you be shocked to discover that this is the control panel to the TOILET?! Indeed, the toilets have control panels. I kid you not. Powerful shower, anyone?

Relative to the biggest surprise of all, the toilet seats are also HEATED! Gross at first -- thinking that I sat down too soon after the previous tenant -- I was quickly thrilled at the idea and execution of a completely automated, heated bathroom adventure.

Now having shared, I feel that you must rush to Japan also to share the experience!

Sake and other MSNjapan Adventures!

Sadly, still no photos. However, many Day One adventures to report!

It was a busy day in the MSN Tokyo office today -- meetings throughout with the various stakeholders in the launch of DRIVE Japan. Interestingly, I thought I would be playing a more passive role to "learn" about the Japan market and to take all of the information in. What I'm learning however, is that my SuperPower of Opinion is working overtime and I'm in the position to advise as well as to deliver. This was the day.

The night however, found us at TORIYOSHI (I think), enjoying conversation and chicken specialties and Kirin and wine and sake. This is where I really reconnected with Hiro (a DRIVE intern in 2004 who now does Ad Planning for MSN Japan) and the team who will be bringing DRIVE to life here in Tokyo. It was an awesome night of traditional Japanese cuisine and conversation and I feel like I'm already a part of the birth of DRIVE here in Tokyo.

My colleague and I also enjoyed a nightcap at the hotel here -- being serenaded by a large Black piano man singing Whitney Houston (I Will Always Love You) and Aretha Franklin hits. Let's just say that I needed more sake in the hotel bar to endure that.

So, Day One a complete success. Business objectives? Being completely met. Seeing Tokyo? Total miss. Totally in-line with expectation. And I look forward to Day Two.

(Another highlight today: reconnecting with BHennigan. I love you, man.)

Hello Tokyo!

Today was just another Monday. I got up, tired from Springing Forward, went to work, then FLEW TO JAPAN!!

It's nearly 10PM Tuesday night here in Tokyo (~6AM Tuesday morning in Seattle). I sit in my hotel room looking out on the Tokyo skyline and the incredible Tokyo Tower. Our friends from Japan take air safety seriously as I've never seen more red flashing lights atop buildings anywhere in the world. Amazing.

I landed ~4:30PM here this afternoon, made my way through the most polite customs officials EVER, then enjoyed a 1.5 hour bus ride through the ins & outs of this amazing city. So far, it's an odd cross between NYC and SanFrancisco, though with a lot more script I can neither read nor understand. I have seen plenty of comforts from home, however, including 7-11s and am/pms. Good to know in case I get a late night corn dog craving!

I met my Australian partner, the GM of our Asia Pacific region, tonight and he took me to an incredible hole-in-the-wall, sweat-on-your-brow ramen joint* somewhere not too far from here through a maze of underground shops and passageways. I will never find it again. I retire having successfully accomplished my mission of staying awake until 10PM. At this point, the exhaustion is even overwhelming the spice in my belly!

I will tell you this, Avid Reader. As I sat at the airport today, I realized that I was boarding an airplane (previously "airport" for those keeping score at home) for Japan. Yes, THAT Japan. The one in Asia. The one I told Yoko Farley years ago that I longed to see. And I realized I was going as if it was no big deal. And then I quickly snapped out of it. I'm in Asia. I'M IN FULL-ON ASIA!

Awesome.

*updated entry... I discovered both the name and location of the ramen joint! Kazuki Ramen, described in my handy guide book as... "Steam rises above chrome as you sit on your stool at the counter and watch the calm ramen cooks methodically moving that line of customers along the wall and back out the door, as they'll do all night. When your massive, well-balanced bowl arrives, be stingy with extra condiments. Propriety demands you take no more than 20 minutes to eat."