New Article Submitted To JapanTravel

Above, Geoff Day (far left) and Armand (far right) at lunch with the JapanTravel team last year.

Now that I am getting (somewhat) comfortably settled into my retirement (although I've been told it takes about three months to really get used to it), I now have time to tend to other avenues of writing.

Finally, after several months, I submitted a new article at JapanTravel.com.

JapanTravel began two years ago as JapanTourist and has steadily grown since that time with a great stable of contributors. I've been with them pretty much from the beginning.

Last year, while I was in Tokyo, I met for lunch with operations manager Geoff Day and two other members of the JapanTravel in Roppongi Hills.

Once the new article is approved, I will post a notice on this blog.

JapanTravel Unveils New Logo and Website Design

Above, JapanTravel's new logo.

JapanTravel.com has unveiled its newly designed website and logo.

It was formerly known as JapanTourist, but changed its name last year. JapanTravel is striving to be Japan's largest multi-language travel website. I have been a contributor since 2012. Last February, I met with the team of JapanTourist over lunch in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills.

Above, at lunch in Roppongi Hills last February with the JapanTravel team.

To visit JapanTravel.com, go here.

Lunch Meeting With Japan Travel

Above, Geoff Day, Tom Roseveare, Tom Hanaway and yours truly at lunch at Roppongi Hills.

The main highlight of my first full day in Tokyo was a lunch meeting with Geoff Day, Marketing Manager, Tom Roseveare, Content Manager and Tom Hanaway, Community Manager for Japan Travel. Japan Travel was formerly known as JapanTourist, the Japan travel website database I contribute to.

We met for lunch at a very nice Japanese restaurant in the Roppongi Hills complex and discussed future plans for Japan Travel.

I brought along copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan for Geoff.

Working On Japan Itinerary

Above, a view of Yokohama from the Landmark Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The itinerary for the upcoming trip to Japan is coming along well. I have about two days to do stuff on my own before Jonathan Bellés arrives from Spain. This will be my seventh trip to Japan.

One of the things already set is lunch with two executives of JapanTravel (formerly known as JapanTourist), which I am a contributor to.

Another is a visit to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka at the Kurihama Flower World. While in the vicinity, I may be meeting up with a college buddy (from my Young Republicans of El Camino College days) who lives in Yokohama. I haven't seen him since the 1980s. If the meet-up comes to pass, hopefully it will, this will my first visit to Yokohama since 2005.

One of the things I am planning to do in Tokyo, souvenir-wise, is to pick up a chef's knife for Jes (I can tell she is feeling better since she asked about it today). We already have it picked out and where we'll get it. I'll probably get a few other things as well.

More things will be added as they fall into place.

Japan, Things Coming Together

Above, a view down the Sumida River from Asakusa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Things are progressing for the upcoming trip to Japan.

Besides working on more material for an updated The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, I will also be assisting Jonathan Bellés with interviews for his documentary, Godzilla & Hiroshima: The Rise of Kaiju Eiga.

I will also have a luncheon meeting with two executives of JapanTravel (formerly JapanTourist), the Japan travel-oriented website that I contribute to (the trip will also provide me with some material for future articles there) in the Roppongi section of Tokyo.

JapanTourist Is Now JapanTravel

is now...

As most of you readers of this blog know, I have been a contributor to JapanTourist for the better part of a year. My contributions on Japan travel have been with the kaiju tourist/fan in mind.

A few days ago, I received a note from the administrator of JapanTourist advising that they have made a few changes:

As the year winds down we wish to announce a few major changes coming to JapanTourist.

First and foremost, the operator of our website will be changing from Japan Partnership KK to a newly formed company, Japan Travel KK. Japan Partnership will remain a stakeholder. All points totals, personal data, and operating policies conducted by Japan Partnership KK will continue to be implemented by Japan Travel KK. Unless otherwise notified within 21 days, we assume that all contributors and partners agree to the change in ownership. 

We will also be changing our primary domain from www.japantourist.jp to www.japantravel.com, though japantourist.jp will still be controlled.  This is an exciting change for us as it will lead our website to a larger global audience. 

Thank you for your continued support and we hope you will continue to share your stories with Japan Travel.

I thought at the time that there are so many websites calling themselves "Japan Travel" that they'd be lost in the forest. I still think that (a Google check confirms my view), but that's not my decision. Regardless, if this change helps to make JapanTravel a more successful website for tourism information to Japan, more power to them. I will still be a contributor.

To view the site, go here.

The John Lennon Museum

Above, the John Lennon Museum. Photo: BillyT. Fried/Wikipedia.

The only museum in the world devoted to ex-Beatle John Lennon is not in England or in the United States. Instead, it is in Saitama, Japan.

One of my co-contributors to JapanTourist has an article on the John Lennon Museum. And here is a snippet:

Construction began in 1998 and the museum opened on October 9, 2000 - which would have been John’s 60th birthday, and was also kanreki, - an auspicious event in Japan. It could also be considered as Yoko’s millennium project. The museum attracted over 35,000 visitors a year, of which 5% were foreigners. Yoko came to the museum at least once a year. 

On entering the museum, visitors watched a 7-minute biographical film. Then, in the permanent collection, there were 9 “zones” (each with appropriate music and displays) corresponding to stages in John’s 40 years. Yoko deserves credit for not glossing over John's life. On the contrary, it is depicted warts and all from his being essentially abandoned by his mother (John was raised by his mother’s sister, Mimi); to his Beatle days; the first meeting with Yoko; John and Yoko’s bed-ins; John’s solo career; the “lost weekend” (an 18-month period when John and Yoko were separated); culminating with the recording of “Double Fantasy.” All information was presented in English and Japanese.

To read more, go here.

Kumamoto Station Featured At JapanTourist

Above, Kumamoto Station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Eitetsu Terakado, one of my co-contributors at JapanTourist, has posted an article on Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto, Kyushu.

Kumamoto Station is the embarkation point to Mount Aso Volcano National Park from Kumamoto on the Hohi Line (also spelled Houhi Line) of the Kyushu Railway Company. Mount Aso was featured in Rodan (1956). Mount Aso Volcano is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 46.

A new shinkansen service has recently opened between Hakata (Fukuoka) and Kumamoto. When I visited Kumamoto and Kyushu back in 2007, I had to rely upon local commuter trains.

Besides being the way to Mount Aso, Kumamoto is also the home of Ultramanland. Ultramanland is spotlighted on page 49 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read the article on Kumamoto Station, go here.

"The Kaiju Diet" In JapanTourist

Above, the National Diet Building.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest article contribution to JapanTourist, in order to educate the non-fans with some interest in Japanese monsters, has been posted. As today is Friday the thirteenth, this is their lucky day!

The article is on the National Diet Building or, as it is titled, "The Kaiju Diet."

Fans are familiar with the National Diet Building as it was prominently featured and partly demolished in Godzilla (1954). It is also spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To view the article, go here.

Latest Article Submitted To JapanTourist

Above, the National Diet Building.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest article submitted to JapanTourist takes us back into Tokyo. It is on the National Diet Building, where Japan's bicameral legislature meets.

It was also featured in several monster movies, the first being in Godzilla in 1954.

The National Diet Building is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 24.

A notice will be posted once the article is available for viewing.

Superman Plaque News in JapanTourist Daily

Most readers of this blog know that I contribute travel articles to JapanTourist. As such, I get their regular JapanTourist Daily via email.

While perusing today's edition, I saw that they picked up the article on the Adventures of Superman plaque news (above) with Bob Shayne, John Hamilton and George Reeves pictured.

To read today's Daily, go here.

JapanTourist: Atami For Kaiju

Above, a view of Atami City.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My latest travel article for JapanTourist has been approved and posted.

It is titled, "Atami For Kaiju."  It is best known for the ending of King Kong vs. Godzilla, but the Gappas paid a visit there as well.

To view it, go here.

Atami Article Submitted To JapanTourist

Above, perched atop a hill overlooking Atami harbor, is Atami Castle.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, after being busy with other stuff for the past two months, I submitted my latest Japan travel article to JapanTourist.

It is on King Kong's and Godzilla's favorite Japanese seaside resort town: Atami.

Godzilla fans are aware that Atami was the final battleground of King Kong and Godzilla in 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla. After demolishing Atami Castle, both Kong and Godzilla toppled into the ocean at the end of the movie. Kong surfaced and swam back to Faro Island while Godzilla disappeared under the waves leaving fans wondering for the past 51 years, "Who won?"

Once the article is approved and posted, I will post a notice on this blog.

Atami is spotlighted on page 35 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

JapanVisitor Guide To Fukuoka City

Above, a view of Fukuoka City from the observation floor of Fukuoka Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those wishing to visit Fukuoka in Kyushu to see the Fukuoka Tower, featured in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994), and the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome, featured in Gamera, Guardian of the Universe (1995), JapanVisitor has posted a guide to things to see and do in the city.

Both of those sites have been spotlighted by yours truly, most recently at JapanTourist and in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To see the JapanVisitor guide to Fukuoka, go here. 

Asakusa's Tsubaya World Cutlery

Above, knives on display at Tsubaya World.  Photo by K.W. Hedlund.

The next time I head to Japan, one of my goals is to pick up a high-quality cutlery set.  We've been doing a lot of cooking at home and having a good cutlery set would make the whole process a lot easier.

Japanese cutlery is world renown for its craftsmanship and quality. All one has to do is just find the best while there.

JapanTourist, the tourist website I contribute to, has an article on one cutlery store that is located in Tokyo's Asakusa district that is worth checking out.  It is called Tsubaya World.

According to the article:

Starting in 1952 as a family business, Tsubaya now has an international reach, shipping knives all over the world. 

Asakusa is one of my favorite places to visit while in Tokyo.  Tsubaya World will give me a good excuse (although I really don't need one) to head there on my next trip.  Even if you're not interested in buying cutlery in Japan, the article is interesting enough for the casual reader.

To read the article, go here.

Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome At JapanTourist

Above, Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

JapanTourist has approved and posted the latest article on monster movie locations: Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome.

To view it, go here.

Next Stop At JapanTourist: Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome

Above, the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My latest opus blending kaiju locations and Japan travel for JapanTourist has been submitted.

This time, we are headed back down to Fukuoka in Kyushu for a look at the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome, which was featured in Gamera's return to the big screen after a fifteen-year hiatus in Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995).

For the serious kaiju fan, this is familiar stuff as I have spotlighted Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome in G-FAN magazine and on this blog.  For the casual fan, this may bring some awareness to them that there are places to visit in Japan that were featured in the movies and get them off the sofa to make a trek.

Once the article has been approved and ready for viewing, I will post a notice here.

Stripes Kanto Posted "Tokyo Tower, The Monster Magnet"

Above, Tokyo Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Stripes Kanto has posted my JapanTourist article on Tokyo Tower, "Tokyo Tower, The Monster Magnet."

Stripes Kanto is part of Stars and Stripes.  According to the site:

Kanto.stripes.com is an interactive version of Stripes Kanto, a newspaper serving the U.S. military community in mainland Japan with local, community-focused news and information on events, dining, activities, travel, and entertainment. Stripes Kanto and kanto.stripes.com were established to meet the demand of the U.S. military community for local news and information in an easily accessible, English-language format. 

Stripes Kanto is printed every week and is a product of Stars and Stripes Pacific. Stripes Kanto and Stripes’ other community products are supplements of the daily Stars and Stripes newspaper and its corresponding website, stripes.com. Stars and Stripes is authorized for publication by the Department of Defense (DOD) for members of the U.S. military serving overseas.

I am guessing that the article also appeared in the print edition of Stripes Kanto.  As JapanTourist is a part of Metropolis magazine, it appears that Metropolis provided the article.  If there are any G-fans in the military in Japan and has a copy, kindly provide a scan of the article and I'll post it and credit you.  My email address is: AMVaquer@aol.com.

To view it, go here.

JapanTourist: How Japan’s Non-CG Sci-Fi Films are Made

Above, a Godzilla prop from "Godzilla x Megaguirus" (2000).  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla fans are very much familiar with the techniques used to create the illusion of giant monsters attacking Japanese cities.

However, the average person probably is not familiar with these techniques or very little (chalking them up as guys in rubber suits smashing "cardboard" buildings).

JapanTourist, the Japan-travel related site that I am currently contributing to, has an article on the making of Japanese giant monster movies (or non-CGI sci-fi films).

Currently, there is a "lavish exhibit" in Japan at the Ehime Museum of Art on those techniques.  The article tells about this exhibit, too.  The article includes plenty of pictures.

Here's an excerpt:

The exhibition is housed across all of the galleries and media rooms on the second floor, and there’s never a dull moment. The exhibits show the history, design, and craftsmanlike creation behind favourites such as Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera, the Ultraman series and Nihon Chinbotsu or Sinking of Japan.

To read more, go here.

Rocket News 24: "The Very Best of Japanese Love Hotels"

Above, the Shibuya 109 store.  Shibuya's "Love Hotel Hill" is located in
the side streets directly behind the 109.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something to entice travelers to Japan: Love Hotels.  I've heard about them over the years (and seen a few while exploring Tokyo and other places in Japan), but I've never stayed in one.

JapanTourist posted a link to Rocket News 24's article on Japan's love hotels, which includes photographs of some love hotel rooms.

As the article explains:

In a country where a lot of people live at home until they get married, it can be hard for couples to get a little private time. Luckily, Japan has solved this lovers’ dilemma with the love hotel, a place where you can get a room for a couple of hours of sexy times. And not just any room! Love hotels are famous for their crazy themed rooms and over-the-top decor.

The photos that accompany the article will give you an idea on what to expect.  Some are pretty crazy.

The Shibuya section of Tokyo has its "Love Hotel Hill" which is located in the side streets behind the Shibuya 109 department store.  Japan-Guide.com has a map here.

To view the article with photos of different love hotel rooms, go here.