Were Dinosaurs Warm-Blooded or Cold-Blooded?

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios. He has his own
way of generating internal body heat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Throughout my school years, we were taught that dinosaurs were cold-blooded. New research is finding that really wasn't the case.

The Japan Times reported:

PARIS – A new method to chemically analyze dinosaur egg shells has allowed scientists to gauge the extinct lizards’ body temperature, researchers said on Oct. 13. 

The findings support recent work by other teams that dinosaurs were neither warm- nor cold-blooded, but somewhere in between, researchers wrote in the journal Nature Communications. However, it also indicated that body temperature differed between dinosaur species.

Of course, Godzilla has his own way of heating through the radioactivity that was absorbed from H-bombs.

To read more, go here. 

Foreign Visitors' Recommendations Are Popular To Japanese Locals

Above, a video and photo shoot at Sensoji attracts spectators' attention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When foreign visitors visit Japan (or anywhere else), they often post their experiences on social media and make recommendations on which places to visit. Based upon those recommendations, other foreign visitors will then visit those places. And so on.

An interesting thing is happening. Japanese residents are also looking at those recommendations and are visiting those places.

According to Nikkei Asian Review:

TOKYO -- A growing number of foreign tourists visiting Japan are posting information about good travel spots in the country on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Such content is now attracting the attention of the Japanese themselves. 

Japanese tourists are now taking a cue from foreign visitors and rediscovering their own country. 

 To read more, go here.

Screen Legend Maureen O'Hara Dies At 95

Hollywood screen legend Maureen O'Hara has died. 

O'Hara was probably my favorite actress from the golden era of Hollywood and beyond. The chemistry she had with John Wayne was perfect in such films as The Quiet Man and McLintock!

She handled both drama and comedy with great ease.

USA Today reported:

LOS ANGELES - Maureen O’Hara, the flame-haired Irish movie star who appeared in classics ranging from the grim How Green Was My Valley to the uplifting Miracle on 34th Street and bantered unforgettably with John Wayne in several films has died. She was 95. 

O’Hara died in her sleep at her home in Boise, Idaho, said Johnny Nicoletti, her longtime manager. 

“She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family as they celebrated her life listening to music from her favorite movie, The Quiet Man,” said a statement from her family.

Fortunately for us, we will always have Maureen O'Hara as her films will live forever.

To read more, go here.

Foreign Tourist Spending Hits ¥2.60 Trillion Record In Japan

Above, the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Spending by foreign tourists in Japan hit a record for the January-September period, already surpassing 2014's record.

The Japan Times reported:

Spending by foreign tourists in Japan hit a record ¥2.60 trillion ($21.7 billion) in the January-September period, already surpassing the all-time high of ¥2.28 trillion for the whole of last year, the government said Wednesday.

Much of the increase is attributed to the relaxing of visa requirements and the expansion of duty-free goods.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's Imperial Hotel Logs Record First-half Profit

The first time I ever heard of the Imperial Hotel was in the 1956 Americanized Godzilla, King of the Monsters! There, reporter Steve Martin (Raymond Burr) tells a Japanese official that he's staying at the Imperial.

Last week, I held a little dinner party for friends from Toho Co. at the Imperial Viking restaurant on the 17th floor.

The hotel is currently celebrating its 125th Anniversary and it reported some good news yesterday.

From News On Japan:

Imperial Hotel on Friday reported its highest net profit for an interim half since switching to consolidated earnings in 2000, thanks to a sharp increase in guests from China and other parts of Asia. 

The Japanese company said group net profit for the April-September period jumped 31% on the year to 1.1 billion yen ($9.02 million) on a 4% gain in sales to 26 billion yen.
At its flagship Tokyo location, average sales per room rose 12% to 32,908 yen amid an uptick in foreign visitors.

Above, the dinner party held last week at the Imperial Viking restaurant.

- See more at: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/114061.php#sthash.Pv1Omfxi.dpuf

Artist Murphy Anderson Dies At 89

Above, Murphy Anderson. Image: Murphy Anderson.com.

One of the greatest artists and inkers of the Silver and Bronze Ages of comic books has passed away yesterday at age 89.

DC Comics posted:

The DC Entertainment family is deeply saddened by the loss of Murphy Anderson. 

Anderson was a giant in the comics industry and one of the driving forces in the evolution of not only DC Comics, but the Silver Age of comics in general. As one of the great artists and inkers at DC Comics, his style helped define the DC look in the Silver Age, and brought to life some of DC Comics’ most prolific characters, including Adam Strange, Atomic Knight, Hawkman and Zatanna, as well as his genre-defining collaborations with Superman artist Curt Swan.

Anderson's inks on Curt Swan's pencils helped to revitalize Superman during the early 1970s.

The image below is a page from Action Comics of Anderson's inks over Swan's pencils.

From the collection of Armand Vaquer.

 To read more, go here.

2014 & 2015 Dollar/Yen Exchange Rates Received

What a difference a year and a half makes!

Last year, the rate of exchange at Narita International Airport when exchanging my dollars for yen was at ¥99.37.

This year, the rate of exchange I received was ¥116.99, a difference of ¥17.62 per dollar exchanged. A definite improvement!

Currently, the exchange rate in Tokyo is at ¥121.45-121.47. This rate is available only for "high rollers".

Still, I am pleased about the exchange rate I received this year.

10 Reasons To Visit Tohoku

Above, Matsushima Bay and the Godaido Temple. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2006, I visited Sendai and Matsushima in Tohoku to see where my dad was briefly stationed before being shipped over to Korea during the Korean War.

I especially enjoyed Matsushima Bay with its views of islets that are sprinkled throughout the bay.

There are other reasons to visit Tohoku and Inside Japan Tours has listed ten of them, one of which is Matsushima.

They begin their article with:

Tohoku, the northernmost region of Japan’s main island, encompasses six prefectures and countless fascinating destinations. It is a region of wild countryside, rustic hot spring towns and deep winters spent under a thick blanket of snow, brightened by some of the country’s most impressive festivals. To the Japanese it the home of culture and legend, and it famously inspired the poet Matsuo Basho to produce his magnum opus, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, as he made his epic journey northwards in the 17th century. 

Despite its manifold charms, Tohoku remains one of the least-visited of Japan’s eight regions, and is thus one of the best places in the country to venture off the beaten track. Foreign visitors to the region are scarce, so you will be received with more than the usual hospitality and interest – quite a novelty in a world where tourists are often tolerated rather than welcomed. 

Tohoku has so many areas of interest that it was incredibly hard to choose just ten. The following represent a handful of our favourites – you’ll have to head out there yourself to find your own!

- See more at: https://www.insidejapantours.com/blog/2015/10/13/10-reasons-to-visit-tohoku/#sthash.CgNvIHVH.dpuf

Central Japan Railway Co. Upgrading Shinkansen Trains

Above a N700A Shinkansen pulls into Atami Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we went from Tokyo to Atami and then from Atami to Osaka, we took Shinkansen trains operated by the Central Japan Railway Company.

The lines between Tokyo and Osaka are the busiest in Japan and I am pleased to note that the company is upgrading its trains.

According to News On Japan:

Central Japan Railway, which runs the country's busiest bullet train line, will roll out new cars to keep improving a service that has seen 50 straight months of passenger growth. 

The Nagoya-based company, better known as JR Tokai, said on Thursday that it will spend about 104 billion yen ($866 million) on 20 N700A train sets and improvements to rolling stock already in service, including redesigned brakes. It plans to begin running all the trains on its mainstay Tokaido Shinkansen line, which links Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, at up to 285kph in the spring of 2020.

We rode on the N700A trains and found them to be smooth-riding and comfortable.

To read more, go here.

Yes, There Are Blimps In Japan

While strolling around the area near Sensoji temple, I spotted a blimp flying in the direction of the Asahi Beer Hall.

At the time, it was too far away to see what the blimp was advertising. But, fortunately, the camera was able to get the information for me, once I downloaded the photos to my computer.

It was advertising Met Life.

Over Half of Japan's Hotels Bar People With Tattoos, Survey Finds

Above, a private bath will solve the problem of tattoos at ryokans and onsens. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A recent survey of Japanese hotels and ryokans (Japanese inns) has revealed that a little more than half of them ban people with tattoos.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —More than 50% of Japanese hotels and ryokans nationwide bar entry to their bathing facilities by guests with tattoos, according to a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). 

The JTS published the results of the survey on its website on Wednesday. 

The survey, conducted in June, asked 3,768 hotels and ryokans in Japan: “Do you refuse admittance to people with tattoos?” and “Would you accept someone with tattoos if they cover them with stickers?” and “Do you know the reason for the custom of barring people with tattoos?” 

Of the 581 that replied, 56% said they do bar guests with tattoos, while 31% said they do not and 13% said they allow guests with tattoos into onsens if their tattoos are covered up.

According to the article, the ban on tattoos stems from keeping out criminal elements from hotels, ryokans and onsens:

In Japan, tattoos are associated with yakuza organized crime syndicates, and many public institutions bar people who have them as a way to keep gangsters out.

We knew about this ahead of time and opted for a ryokan room in Atami with its own hot spring tub as Denise has some tattoos.

To read more, go here. 

Getting The Beast's Vent Fixed

It has been two days since returning from Japan and I still feel the jet lag effects. But they are diminishing.

On Tuesday, outside of finishing my unpacking, my goal was to get the repairs to The Beast's bathroom ceiling vent done. What should've been a minor thing to accomplish for a minor repair, turned into somewhat of a major hassle as Camping World (an authorized warranty repairer) wouldn't return calls to set up a date and time to get the repairs done. Winnebago authorized the warranty repairs on September 2 and sent the parts to Camping World. Camping World had the parts from Winnebago on September 14, even though they told me on September 18 they were still waiting for them. I had to call Winnebago and got information on the date, time and who received them at Camping World two weeks later as I heard nothing from Camping World.

Once armed with that information, I called the service representative at Camping World and he said he would check on available dates and get back to me. He didn't.

Repeated calls to the service representative and the service manager went unanswered until I enlisted the help of Winnebago's customer service department. At first, they weren't getting return calls from Camping World either.

I called Winnebago's customer service department on Tuesday and they immediately jumped on it. They knew ahead of time that I would be in Japan the prior week.

Within an hour of calling Winnebago, I received a call from the Camping World service representative and we set up a repair appointment for next week. Finally!

I'd do the repairs myself, but the vent has an electric fan inside and I didn't feel that I should mess with it since it is under warranty.

If you are considering buying a RV of any type, I do recommend Winnebago as they make quality units and their customer service department is top-notch. Once you're in their system, their records on your vehicle and service/repair history are complete with details that even I couldn't imagine. Yes, they even noted when I would be back from Japan.

If I do go to Chicago for G-FEST next summer, I plan to take a slight detour to visit Winnebago's Forest City, Iowa plant and take the tour of their facilities.

A Visit To Shibuya

Above, Shibuya Crossing (or Shibuya Scramble). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest trip to Japan is the first I've made since work began to redevelop Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Shibuya Station was the battleground between Gamera and several Gyaos in Gamera 3 (1999).

Work began a year or so ago and a section of the Tokyu department store is now gone.

Here is what Shibuya Station looked like (in December 2010) before the redevelopment began:

Here's what it looked like last week with the Tokyu department store gone:

No visit to Shibuya is complete without doing some shopping. There are many stores to choose from including Lush and Forever 21, two popular stores in the U.S.

Above, Denise shopping in one of many of Shibuya's stores. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In case anyone's wondering, the famous statue of Hachikō is still there. It is a favorite meet-up spot in Shibuya by the locals and visitors:

Above, Hachikō's statue. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More On Japan's 2015 Tourist Numbers

Above, Godzilla peers over a building in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun) reported that the number of foreign tourists to Japan has topped 15 million as of October 9 (the day before we departed the U.S. for Japan). The article is from the Japanese news agency Jiji Press.

The article states:

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The number of visitors to Japan this year had topped 15 million as of Oct. 9, Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Akihiko Tamura said Wednesday. 

Tamura revealed the most recent available figure at a press conference to announce foreign visitor data for September and January-September compiled by the Japan National Tourism Organization. 

At a separate news conference the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga attributed the foreign visitor growth to progress in deregulation in the country. 

According to the government-affiliated organization, the number of visitors to Japan in September stood at an estimated 1,612,300, up a sharp 46.7 percent from a year earlier, pushing up the cumulative figure for the first nine months of this year to 14,487,600, which already surpasses the full-year record of 13,413,467 marked in 2014.

 To read more, go here.

Japan's Tourism Numbers Has Broken Last Year's Record In Just Nine Months

Above, a moving sumo wrestler figure greets visitors at an Asakusa gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has already broken last year's total record. The record was broken in only nine months.

The Japan Times reported:

Japan continues its popularity as a tourist destination for East Asians with a record number of visitors in September pushing the total for 2015 past all of last year, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Thursday. 

The September visitor count grew 46.7 percent over the same month last year to a record 1.61 million. 

The total, which continued a run of over 40 percent month-on-month growth since February, brings the total visitors in the first nine months of the year to 14.5 million, surpassing the annual record of 13.4 million last year.

Japan had set a tourism goal of 20 million by the year 2020. It appears that they will reach that goal in the not-too-distant future.

To read more, go here. 

Tourist Spending Reaches Record In Japan

Above, the Asakusa section of Tokyo with the Skytree in the background Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest Japan tourist numbers and their spending is continuing to rise, thereby taking up some of the slack caused by Japan's anemic economy.

According to Bloomberg:

Foreign tourists to Japan spent a record 1 trillion yen ($8.3 billion) in the three months through September as Chinese visitors -- encouraged by a weaker yen -- continued to splash their cash. 

The number of visitors rose to 5.35 million, up 54 percent from the third quarter of 2014, the Japan Tourism Agency said Wednesday. Not only are more people going to Japan, but they are spending more, with the average person using about 187,000 yen per trip -- a rise of 18 percent.

During our recent trip to Japan, we spent around $5k (we did our fair share in pumping money into the Japanese economy) during our eight days in the country. Since most of the trip was to gather material for the upcoming updated edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, much of it can be written off during tax time.

To read more, go here.

Singapore Airlines L.A. To Tokyo Review

Above, the Singapore Airlines A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, the first G-TOUR to Japan flew to Japan aboard Singapore Airlines Boeing 747s. Prior to that trip, my only experience in overseas flights was on a United Airlines Boeing 747 in 2001.

At the time, I enjoyed the service and food offered by United. It was my favorite U.S. airline back then. However, United is way down on my list since my February 2014 trip to Japan. I found the service, scheduling and food to be not up to snuff.

Up to that time, my favorite air carrier for overseas travel was Singapore Airlines due to the service and food in 2004.

Since 2004, I have also flown several times with Korean Airlines. I found their food and service to be very good to excellent.

On this month's trip to Japan, I flew with Singapore Airlines (SQ11 and SQ12) aboard one of their new Airbus A380 jets. I will have to say that in comparing this trip with Singapore with the one in 2004, I am a bit disappointed.

Above, a view of the Economy class cabin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The legroom in the Economy (where most common folk fly) Class seating was cramped. Perhaps it was due to age, but my knees became painful since there was no room to stretch out. Also, we were only served two meals on the flights: dinner and breakfast. In 2004, they also served lunch and generous snacks. I found the service by the flight attendants to be rather aloof, with passengers being passed up (including me) when they served coffee refills. One had to put in more effort to get their attention to get a coffee refill or anything else. They seemed more attentive back in 2004.

After we landed at Narita International Airport, I overheard a passenger complaining about the service to the head flight attendant. Unfortunately, I found myself agreeing with his complaints. He also found the flight attendants to be aloof and expected better from Singapore Airlines.

Above, another view of the Economy class section. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As for the A380, I had hoped to see the upper deck level, but I saw no doorways to get there to take a peek. There must be some ways to getting upstairs from the lower level. It is my guess that the way to getting there were through flight crew-only areas.

As for the look of the lower level, the A380 is a nice-looking plane and the ride was generally very smooth. I was impressed with the size of the overhead storage compartments for carry-on baggage. They were big!

At present, based upon this trip and comparing it to the flights aboard Korean Airlines, I would have to give Korean Airlines the edge on the food served. Singapore's food did taste better than United's. But it didn't even compare to the food served by Singapore in 2004. The service by the flight attendants were better in 2004.

As for the legroom issue, most airlines today are squeezing in more seats in Economy by reducing the amount of legroom. This is causing problems when people recline their seats, further reducing room for people sitting directly behind. Arguments have been reported to have broken out over this. The cramped space will also cause more problems, especially for older passengers. It has been my practice to get up once an hour or so to walk around. People can get blood clots in their legs when sitting for extended periods.

I would fly with Singapore Airlines again, but not with the enthusiasm I had before this trip. I will probably try All Nippon Airways or Japan Airlines on the next trip.

My grade: B+.

For The Beast

When people go on vacation, they generally bring souvenirs for their homes, friends, family, co-workers, etc.

Such is the case with my trip to Japan that ended today. I picked up a scroll of the Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion in Kyoto for my motorhome, dubbed "The Beast".

It now hangs on the door of The Beast's refrigerator:

Back In The U.S. of A.

Above, I think I'm ready to face L.A.'s traffic again. Photo by Studio Nanairo.

The trip to Japan is over and I am back in the wilds of the San Fernando Valley. I am tired! But pleased at how much fun the trip was. Having girlfriend Denise Santos and her son Aiden along added to the trip's enjoyment.

I just finished unpacking and there's lots of stuff to sort and put away.

It looks like I may have brought back some milder weather to Los Angeles. When we left, it was around 100­­° in the city.

There were a couple of SNAFUs. First, my luggage didn't arrive with me on the flight. The fine folks at the TSA had something to do with that. Singapore Airlines, although not at fault, gave me ¥12000 to buy some essentials at the airport.

The second was our fault. Denise had to return to L.A. on Saturday, but we got to the airport ten minutes late for her to board. A measly ten minutes! She had to stay an extra day in Japan.

But, overall, the trip went well and I can start working on the updated edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Regarding the photo at top, since the check-out time at the hotel (the Hotel Sunroute Asakusa) is 11:00, I had to kill some time before heading to Narita International Airport. So, I decided to have my own photo-shoot at the same place where Denise had hers. That was a fun two hours! A friend said I looked more like a Jedi Master than Japanese.

For you guys who have wives or "significant others", I highly recommend having her (or him, depending upon your, uh, preference) do a photo session and have one done of yourself  while in Japan. The studio we went to is near Nakamise Street in Asakusa and it is the Studio Nanairo. Their website: www.nana-iro.tokyo.

Here's one of Denise's:

Photo by Studio Nanairo.

Godzilla vs. King Kong To Be Part of Trilogy

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that Godzilla and King Kong will be reunited somewhere around 2020 (according to most reports).

At least, this is what an article at Huewire.com indicates, and it begins with:

Both the character, Godzilla and King Kong have an huge potential to be converted into a franchise together in one space.

The first film, “Kong: Skull Island” has an estimated budget of more than $25million, though Warner Bros. will also include it in a three-picture contract which also includes the proposed sequel and the crossover film. 

The second installment is titled “Godzilla 2″, and it will hit the theatres on June. Both films feature the human Monarch organization. 

The Legendary CEO, Thoman Tull and Warner Bros CEO, Kevin Tsujihara made the announcement and combined the epic monsters in a trilogy. 

Who would you like to see appear in the trilogy alongside Godzilla and King Kong?

At the dinner party last Tuesday night, the subject of pairing Godzilla with King Kong came up. My Toho dinner guests couldn't say (it was essentially a "we don't know," but with big winks and grins that even George Reeves would envy), but the indicators are that the "rematch" is a definite "go".

To read the full article, go here.

Hungry? Visit The Tokyo Skytree

Above, one food vendor under the Tokyo Sky Tree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Besides the great views of Tokyo from the Skytree, there is another reason to visit the tower: food.

Below the tower and complex of stores surrounding it, there is a huge food court on the 2nd Floor. We happened to go there following our trip to the observation deck.

There are stalls of Japanese foods of all kinds and descriptions. We began calling it "Foodieland" after a while. The real name is Food Marche.

Here are some photos of a few vendor stalls:

Above, Denise ordering snacks for us. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japanese Motorhome

Earlier this week, we were walking back to our hotel from Nakamise Street in Asakusa, Tokyo when I spotted this vehicle parked across the street:

I did some checking on Japanese motorhomes and this appears to be one. With the number "520" emblazoned on the coach, this vehicle may be a rental motorhome.

Atami Shinkado Ryokan

Above, the front of the Shinkadoya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I've always wanted to try is a hot spring ryokan. Now I have.

The town of Atami is about an hour out of Tokyo on the Shinkansen. There are natural hot springs in Atami as the town is built on an ancient volcanic crater. It is a favorite resort town of Tokyo residents.

Above, the front desk. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We (girlfriend Denise Santos, her son Aiden and I) checked around for a ryokan that has a hot spring and found the Atami Shinkado. I made reservations via email (they said that it is better to call them for reservations).

The rates are a bit pricey. Ours was 24500 yen (roughtly $205.00) per person. We stayed one night.

Above, our room's living area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view looking towards the bathroom and the room entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the area where our luggage would be placed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The room we stayed in was very spacious, not like the hotels one finds in Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan where you're practically bouncing off the walls. It featured a private bathroom and toilet (western-style, not a squatter) and a tub outside on your own private terrace with a great view of the town.

Above, filling our outdoor tub. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our terrace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We also ordered a dinner and breakfast. The meals are extra, but well worth the price. The dinner was brought to our room in either nine or twelve courses (I lost count). By the time the last course is brought to your room, you're already full. The breakfasts were equally filling, but not quite nine or twelve courses.

Above, a morning view outside from the living area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the sunrise view from our terrace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The ryokan has several floors and it is pretty big for a ryokan. One can easily get lost in the place. It also has communal baths (inside and outside), with the sexes separated. The outside spas were on the ryokan's rooftop.

Above, the women's outside communal tub. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the men's outside communal tub. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff outside. After checking in, guests are led to their rooms and your luggage is brought to your room.

One we were settled in the room, we filled the outside tub and soaked. It was very relaxing.

Above, Aiden and Denise at the rooftop communal tub. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After dinner, we were so stuffed, we elected to put together our futons (instead of waiting for the staff to do it for us) and went to sleep. We had a great night's rest.

Check-out was also pleasant as the staff arrived at the time designated by us to take our luggage down to our awaiting taxi. We were given a nice send-off by the staff as we entered the taxi.

Above, a photo taken during our departure by a staff member.

Although pricey, I wouldn't hesitate to stay at the Shinkado ryokan again. You'll definitely get the most bang for your buck!

My grade: A+.