Japan Saying Farewell To Boeing 747

Above, a Japan Airlines 747.

Japan's airlines are ending their usage of the venerable Boeing 747 this month.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

The Boeing 747 "Jumbo Jet" will end 44 years of service with Japanese airlines at the end of March, as those in the aviation industry bid the aircraft a reluctant farewell. 

Japan Airlines (JAL) was the first Japanese carrier to introduce the 747, in July 1970. That aircraft was around 70 meters long and 20 meters tall with a 60-meter wingspan, making it massive compared to all other passenger aircraft of the day. 

The 747 was originally developed as a military transport, but the U.S. military ended up choosing a Lockheed Corp. design instead, leaving Boeing with a hugely expensive project and no one to sell it to. Boeing staked its future on making the 747 into a civilian airliner instead, and in January 1970 the plane took off on its first commercial flight between New York and London for Pan American World Airways.

The Boeing 747 began to be phased out as jet fuel prices surged and airlines started looking towards new jets that are capable of longer, more fuel-efficient flights such as the Boeing 777 and 787.

To read the full story, go here.

Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak's Statement On Flight MH370

Malaysian Prime Minster Najib Razak has issued the following statement on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370:

Charms of Sendai

Above, Sendai Station was featured in two kaiju movies in the 1990s. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sendai, Japan is the Tohoku region's largest city. Sendai sustained some damage (particularly the airport and surrounding areas) from the 2011 tsunami, but it is back in business for tourists.

Sendai was featured in two kaiju movies: Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II (1993) and in Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996). Sendai's main focal point in both movies was Sendai Station. Rodan flies over the station in the Godzilla movie, while the station is the detonation point for the Legion flower pod in Gamera 2. Sendai is spotlighted on page 16 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Above, the statue of Date Masamune at the site of Sendai Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Asahi Shimbun has set up a special travel page for Sendai, "Charms of Sendai," with links to articles on places of interest in and around the city.

They begin with:

Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, is known as “Mori no Miyako” (City of the Trees) because of its tree-lined streets. Four centuries ago, Date Masamune, a feudal lord who ruled the Sendai domain in northeastern Japan, founded Sendai Castle. Ever since, Sendai has continued to prosper as the largest city in the Tohoku region. The city is the perfect destination for tourists to get a taste of old Japan. We explore with our readers the scenic sights and places of historic interest in and around Sendai.

I visited Sendai in 2006 to see some of the places my father was at while briefly stationed there during the Korean War. Matsushima Bay is only a short ride on a commuter train from Sendai Station.

To see the Asahi Shimbun's page on Sendai, go here.

"Top Ten Souvenirs From Japan, As Chosen By Foreign Visitors"

Above, an Asakusa souvenir shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RocketNews24 posts many interesting articles on topics ranging from Japanese pop culture to travel stories. They didn't disappoint today as they have an article on the "Top Ten Souvenirs From Japan, As Chosen By Foreign Visitors."

I have not purchased any of the ten items, but it is likely either nobody or very few bought the things that I have in Japan.

The article begins with:

Earlier in the year we brought you Japanese people’s best souvenir recommendations for foreigners, in which items like folding fans, Japanese wagashi sweets, and even traditional swords were featured. But what do visitors to Japan themselves choose as the best things to buy as a memento of their trip, or take back for their friends at home? The answers may surprise you!

To read the full article, go here. 

Hachiko and His Owner To Be Reunited In A New Statue

Above, the Hachiko statue outside of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new statue honoring the famed Akita dog Hachiko and his master that will be erected at the University of Tokyo has been announced.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

A statue commemorating the 80th anniversary of the death of Japan’s beloved dog Hachiko is being erected on the university campus where its master once taught. 

The bronze memorial featuring Hachiko, known for unswerving loyalty, and his owner Hidesaburo Ueno (1871-1925), a professor of agriculture at what is today’s University of Tokyo, is scheduled to be unveiled March 8, 2015, at the school. 

Hachiko is known as the embodiment of a dog’s devotion to its owner. Legend has it the Akita breed dog waited at Tokyo’s Shibuya Station every day to greet Ueno upon his return from work, and did so, showing up at the same time, even years after Ueno died.

The Hachiko statue outside of Shibuya Station is a popular meeting point in the Shibuya district.

To read the full article and to see the model of the new statue, go here.

Several Posts Picked Up By The Japan Daily

Several of my blog posts were picked up by The Japan Daily.

They include:

To view The Japan Daily, go here.

Warner Studios "Godzilla" Giant Poster Relocated

Above, the giant Godzilla sign/poster is now facing busy Olive Ave. in Burbank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Earlier this month, I posted some photos of the big Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures Godzilla giant sign/poster that was on one of Warner Bros. Studios out-buildings across the street from the main studio lot.

This morning, I noticed that the sign was moved to another location on the building. Now it is facing south on Olive Avenue. This is a more prominent position for the sign/poster and it is sure to catch the eyes of passing motorists driving north on Olive Avenue in Burbank. The location is at the intersection of Olive and Pass Avenues looking north.

Recently, the spot was occupied by a giant sign/poster of the Sandra Bullock/George Clooney flick, Gravity.

When I saw it this morning, I thought immediately, "Looks like I'll have to bring my camera again!" So, here's the big Godzilla sign/poster for your viewing pleasure.

Above, the new position of the Godzilla sign/poster. Previously, it was mounted
where the sign/poster on the left is located. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Godzilla now occupies a space that gives motorists a clear view. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Godzilla and busy Olive Avenue at right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Crossing The Pacific Ocean: International Date Line Explained

When people fly west from North or South America to Japan, Australia and Asia, their airplane will cross the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific Ocean. Then this happens, they will be going ahead one day. 

Ever wondered why there is an International Date Line and why should you care?

LiveScience.com explains in detail the International Date Line.

Dan Heim, President of the Desert Foothills Astronomy Club, wrote:

We all heard about the International Date Line (IDL) in geography class — it was this special line on the globe where the day and date change. But beyond that, our teachers didn't say much more. 

That's probably why I keep getting questions like these on my [Dan Heim, President, Desert Foothills Astronomy Club] blog:

• What is the IDL, why do we need it, and who invented it?

• When you cross the IDL, what exactly happens?

• If you stood on the IDL with one foot on each side, what day would it be?

• Is the IDL a legal thing, or just some kind of scientific idea?

• Could Superman repeatedly fly around the world and go back in time?

• Does the IDL apply in outer space?

To see what the International Date Line is all about, go here. 

ANN: Nerd Tour Japan 2014 Day Two

Above, Harajuku Station, which can be reached via the JR Yamanote Line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nerd Tour Japan 2014 Day Two has been posted at Anime News Network by Zac Bertschy and Hope Chapman.

Here, they wander around the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku and Shinjuku and provide many photographs of they things they saw.

Their next installment will cover Shibuya.

To view their tour, go here.

Monster Island News Website Is Off and Running

Ken Hulsey asked me to get the word out that he has the Monster Island News website configured the way he wants it and it is ready for your viewing enjoyment.

Hulsey has been operating the Monster Island News blog for several years (I am a contributor) and has created a website for monster, horror, sci-fi, comic books, anime, manga and pop culture fans. He throws in some real life goodies (such as UFOs and Bigfoot) for your enjoyment on occasion.

To view the site, go to http://www.monsterislandnews.com/.

Japan Daily Picks Up "Nerd Tour" Blog Post

The Japan Daily picked up the blog post on the Anime News Network's article, Nerd Tour Japan 2014 from yesterday.

The article is on a recent visit to Japan by two of ANN's writers.

To see The Japan Daily, go here.

New "Godzilla" Posters and Banner

Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures have released two new posters and a banner for the upcoming Godzilla.

Looking at these reminded me that I detested the green color scheme of the TriStar Godzilla of 1998 with the silly tag line, "Size Does Matter."

The new art conveys, at least to me anyway, the serious tone of the new movie. I like these.

This is definitely Godzilla, not some oversized iguana.

Japan Is A Treasure Trove For Travelers

Above, a view of Tokyo, the "world's largest city" from the Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting to read articles on Japan travel from sources located in other countries or, in the case of the U.S., other states.

Such is the case with the Richmond, Virginia Richmond Times-Dispatch.

They posted on their website an article on Japan being "a treasure trove for travelers."

They start it out with:

Outstanding gardens, magnificent pagodas and intriguing culture entice tourists to Japan — and they don’t disappoint! — but the Land of the Rising Sun offers so much more. Japan is rich with scenic sites and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. 

It’s also a country of dichotomies: unspoiled villages and ultramodern metropolises; humble simplicity and complex rules of refinement; ancient tradition and futuristic vision; peaceful tranquility and hold-on-to-your-seat adventure.

To read the article, go here.

ANN: "Nerd Tour Japan 2014"

Above, the writer of the article took a ride on one of these, but found it underwhelming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For one who has traveled to Japan seven times, I still find it interesting to read about other people's experiences there and to see their photographs.

One of the writers at the Anime News Network (ANN) recently visited Japan and just posted the first part (he will do several as he indicates that the next one will cover Harajuku, Shinjuku and more) of his travelogue.

The article covers his visits to Asakusa, Odaiba (including Gundam Front) and Akihabara. He calls his trip "Nerd Tour Japan 2014." Plenty of photographs are included with the article.

To read it, go here.

Dreamliner Blog Story Picked Up By Backpacker Travel Daily

Most often (lately, anyway), The Japan Daily will pick up and post links to my travel-related blogs. This time, The Backpacker Travel Daily picked up one of my blog posts.

The blog post they picked up was the one I posted yesterday on the FAA's review report on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner being safe.

Well, if one wants to go backpacking in foreign lands, they'll need to be certain that the plane they're flying in is safe. Any kaiju fans backpacking enthusiasts?

To see The Backpacker Travel Daily, go here.

Cool Japan Project Launches New Website: 100 Tokyo

Above, the Wako Dept. Store in Ginza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a website, 100 Tokyo, that people thinking about visiting Japan should check out.

Here's part of what Japan Today wrote about it:

TOKYO —The Cool Japan project has launched a new website that introduces unique products, events and places in Tokyo and all over Japan. It covers design, fashion, art, food, technology, architecture, tourist attractions, accommodation, events and more. 

100 Tokyo has useful features like maps and a bookmark function to enhance convenience for tourists planning a visit. Additionally, using social media such as Google+, 100 Tokyo gathers photos with the hash tag #100Tokyo, creating an instant snapshot of the here and now.

The article goes on to list the features of 100 Tokyo such as "What's Hot In Tokyo," "Tokyo Spots Selected By Celebrities" and "Convenient Features."

To read more, go here.

World's Happiest Places

CNN.com has a list of the "world's happiest places." Most of them are in Scandinavia.

The first one, Denmark, caught my eye. On that, they wrote:

Denmark came in first place as the happiest country in the world in the 2013 happiness report and one of the happiest places in Denmark must surely be Tivoli Gardens. One of the world's oldest amusement parks, Tivoli Gardens will reopen on April 10 for the season to throngs of native and foreign visitors. If a calmer Copenhagen is more your preference, visit the King's Garden at Rosenborg Castle, a popular spot for locals to picnic during the summertime. 

To really capture that Danish sense of hygge, we recommend you dine in a Danish home. The "Dine with the Danes" organization matches tourists with Danish families all over the country for a home-cooked dinner. Count on candlelight -- almost a requirement for that special "hygge" experience.

Their mentioning of Tivoli Gardens reminded me of a cheesy, but popular giant monster movie, Reptilicus (1961). The Gardens were featured quite prominently in the movie along with a song:



To read the full list, go here.

FAA Says Boeing 787 Safe To Fly In Report

Above, the Boeing 787 at Los Angeles International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued its review report on the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" and it has deemed the jet to be safe for flights.

According to an article in TravelBizMonitor.com:

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, grounded for months last year after battery overheating problems, is soundly designed and safe to fly, according to a joint review by the planemaker and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday. The review, which was initiated by FAA after a battery fire aboard a 787 in Boston in January 2013, encompassed the entire plane, not specifically the battery issue, Eric Beech reported for Reuters. 

"They found that the 787 met its intended level of safety. The plane's fundamentally sound design and the processes the FAA and Boeing had in place to detect and correct issues that emerged were the underpinnings for that conclusion," Michael Huerta, Administrator, FAA, said. He said the review team did find some problems with Boeing's manufacturing process and the way the FAA oversees it. He said the agency was "moving quickly to address those problems". 

The recommendations called for the FAA to improved its oversight of Boeing's parts suppliers, including those outside the US, and urged the company "to ensure suppliers are fully aware of their responsibilities".

I flew aboard the Boeing 787 to and from Japan last month and found it to be comfortable and quiet. The leg room in Economy was quite sufficient and I was able to stretch out.

To read the full article, go here. 

Japan Is Ready For A Record Tourism Year

Above, Asakusa's Nakamise Street that leads to the Sensoji Temple. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few days ago, it was posted in Travel Daily UK that Japan is "ready" to enjoy a record year in 2014 in foreign tourism.

The reason for the optimism?  They wrote:

Since the disaster [of the Great East Japan Earthquake], Japan and InsideJapan Tours initially saw a huge drop in tourism. In 2013 however, Japan saw a record number of foreign visitors with a 24% increase on the previous year to reach a high of almost 11 million. 

Our figures certainly reflect the increase in visitors to this unique country. The first two months of 2014 have seen a 55% increase in sales for InsideJapan compared to the same months in 2013 and departures for the year ahead look very healthy beyond this record peak cherry blossom period (late March – mid April).

People are reading good things about Japan and it is rightly gaining interest in the travelling world as one of the destinations to travel to.

As was posted yesterday, Japan saw a record 880,000 foreign visitors come to Japan in February. The Travel Daily UK article was written before the February numbers were released.

To read the full article, go here.

Record Number of Tourists Visit Japan In February

Above, the Hibiya Godzilla statue at dusk. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The February Japan tourism numbers are now in and it looks like a new record had been set.

According to News On Japan:

A record number of foreign travelers visited Japan last month. The rise is mainly due to an increase in tourists arriving from China. 

Officials at the Japan National Tourism Organization estimate 880,000 people came to Japan in February. That's up 21 percent from the same month last year. 

Much of the increase is attributed to a softening of Chinese sentiment towards Japan and the weaker yen.

Well, Jonathan Bellés (who came in from Spain) and I did our part in their numbers by visiting Japan last month.

To read the article, go here.

McDonald's In Japan Lowering Burger Prices

Above, the golden arches in Shibuya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Speaking of food (in reference to my previous blog post on sushi), McDonald's in Japan is lowering its prices on regular hamburgers and cheeseburgers.

According to the Japan Times:

McDonald’s Co. (Japan) said Wednesday it will lower the price of its regular hamburger to ¥100 from ¥120 including tax, bucking the trend of price increases in the restaurant industry. 

Starting April 1, when the consumption tax will be raised to 8 percent from 5 percent, McDonald’s will also trim its cheeseburger price to ¥133 from ¥150.

To read more, go here. 

21 Photos of Sukiyabashi Jiro Sushi

Above, the poster for Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

Sometime back, I posted about an excellent documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Today, RocketNews24 posted an article, with many photographs, on Sukiyabashi Jiro. Sukiyabashi Jiro is the top-rated sushi restaurant in Tokyo. Reservations are required about three months in advance.

The article starts out with:

Cooking, like any art, requires an incredible amount of skill, dedication, creativity, and perhaps most important of all, technique. So, you would think that when it comes to a niche style like sushi, the competition for “best in the world” would be the very definition of intense. But it turns out that for most sushi connoisseurs, the answer is simple: Jiro Ono, owner and sushi master of Sukiyabashi Jiro. 

With an entire documentary dedicated to the now 89-year-old sushi master, he’s become well-known throughout the world for his legendary cuisine–but not many of us will ever have the chance to try his perfectly prepared delicacies ourselves. While it’s not quite the same, we’ve found the next best thing: Close up photos of his creations waiting to be devoured! Just try not to lick your screen, okay? 

For a single meal, which consists of 21 courses and is eaten in about 19 minutes, diners will pay 30,000 yen–which is worth about US$295 at today’s exchange rate. Which translates to eating roughly $15 worth of food every minute! That’s a lot of cheeseburgers…

If you are at all a big fan of sushi, then you should check out the full article with 21 photos of mouth-watering sushi by going here.

"Godzilla" International Trailer Released

Warner Bros. released their international trailer for Godzilla today and it appears to contain some additional footage that we haven't seen before.

UNGCC and Tsukuba Hotel

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel last month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After I posted the photo at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno, Tokyo at The Monster Move Fan's Guide To Japan Facebook page, Andrew Nguyen asked if Tsukuba was the main headquarters of the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasure Center (UNGCC).

Having not watched the Heisei Series of Godzilla movies for some time, I could not recall if this was the case. I then Googled and found that it was.

According to this page (cached) of the University of Kansas:

...in 1993, the Heisei series depicted G-Force units under the control of a United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center in Tsukuba, Japan.

I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno back in October 2005. As my usual hotel in Tokyo, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan was fully booked at the time of my Japan visit last month, I stayed at the Tsukuba. Godzilla had nothing to do with my hotel choice. It is interesting that the name of the hotel is the same as the UNGCC headquarters location.

Great catch, Andrew!

At The Tsukuba Hotel

Above, Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii and Armand in the lobby of the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno, Tokyo.

It has been a little over a month since I left Japan. Time sure does fly!

I don't believe that I posted the above photo before. It is of Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii (assistant special effects director of Godzilla Final Wars) and myself at the Tsukuba Hotel lobby in Ueno the night of Bellés's arrival in Japan. I had arrived in Japan a few days before and we met up in the hotel lobby that evening. Bellés had a much easier time getting into Tokyo than I did and arrived that afternoon from Spain.

Bellés was in Japan to conduct interviews and to visit Hiroshima for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga.

6 Things Japanese Expats Miss Most About Japan

Above, the Keisei Line stopped midway between Tokyo and Narita Airport due to snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Quite often, people working abroad will eventually miss some things about their homeland. The Japanese are no exception.

RocketNews24 has an article on six things Japanese expats miss the most about their homeland after working and living abroad. I can easily see why they would miss the things listed.

They start it with:

As you may have noticed, we here at RocketNews24 are definitely not shy about giving out our opinions about life in Japan. But although you’ve heard plenty about what we think are the best and worst parts of living in the country, we thought it would be interesting to look at what Japanese people think of their own country. 

After living and working abroad for a while, Japanese expats coming back home may find themselves thinking they’ve lost touch with their own culture. But we found a list of things that Japanese expats say are some of the best parts of life in Japan that you just can’t find anywhere else. Click below to find out the six things that Japanese citizens living overseas miss most about home!

Number 2 on the list came in handy as the train I was riding to Tokyo from Narita International Airport was delayed (for hours) due to snow. I received a pass for free travel as an apology from the line. Other train companies honored it.

To read the full article, go here. 

Blog Article On ANA Picked Up By Japan Daily

The Japan Daily has picked up and linked my blog post on All Nippon Airways being awarded a 5-star rating for the second year in a row.

To check it out, go here.

Rondo Awards Ballot Now (Finally) Up!

After several weeks delay, the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards ballot for the best of classic horror and science-fiction for 2013 is now up!

There's a lot of great nominees and will take a great deal of thought to vote for the best.

My only suggestion, and this is a write-in vote, is to vote for Haruo Nakajima to be inducted into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame (category no. 35).

So, go to it by going here!