konishiki the gentle giant

Written by David Bracey
Published in link issue

konishiki the gentle giant

Konishiki, The Gentle Giant

From Sumo Champion to Cultural Ambassador

By Dr. Anthony Al-Jamie

Statistics
Birthplace:	Oahu Island, Hawaii
Birth Date:	December 31st, 1963
Height:	6’1”
Weight:	600 pounds+
Given Name:	Salevaa Fauli Atisanoe
Sumo Name:	Konishiki(named after former Yokozuna Yasokichi Konishiki)
Name given as Stable Master:	Sanoyama Oyakata
Japanese Name:	Yasokichi Shioda
Former Wrestling Stable:	Takasagobeya
Wrestling Debut:	July, 1982
Wrestling Retirement:	November, 1997
Highest Rank Attained:	Ozeki (Champion)

The intimidating stance . . . the piercing stare . . . the tremendous strength and power . . . these are the traits that made Salevaa Fuauli Atisanoe one of the most formidable wrestlers in the sport of Sumo. Hailing from the Hawaiian island of Oahu, the colossus who is most widely known by the name Konishiki, was recruited by former Hawaiian Sumo Wrestler Jessie Takamiyama at the age of 18. After graduating from high school, he moved to Japan where he adopted a grueling lifestyle and fought incredible odds to rise to the top of the sport of Sumo. Becoming the first Hawaiian-born wrestler to reach the position of Ozeki (Champion), Konishiki refused to fall prey to the Japanese media despite the controversial denial of his promotion to the ultimate rank of Yokozuna (Grand Champion). Konishiki had clearly left his mark in the history books of Sumo wrestling, not only as one of the first foreigners to excel in the sport of Sumo, but as a champion wrestler who had attained 733 wins prior to his appointment as Stable Master and eventual retirement from the sport in 1997.

When Konishiki announced his retirement, many wondered what would become of the Hawaiian Sumo Wrestler who had opened Sumo’s doors to the West. Rather than becoming a faded memory and a blurb in the history books, the “retired” Konishiki once again adopted a grueling lifestyle and schedule and fought incredible odds to rise to the heights of stardom. Konishiki has become one of the most popular foreign celebrities in Japan with regular appearances on variety and game shows as well as in television commercials and advertisements for such companies as Suntory, Sanyo, United Airlines and most recently Visa back in his native homeland of the United States. From fierce fighter to gentle giant, Konishiki is once again scaling the ranks of another profession. In March 2000, Konishiki debuted his remarkable vocal talents with his first CD and is hoping to top the charts with his second CD entitled “Simply . . .” which is soon to be released. What’s more, in mid-July, Konishiki will make his acting debut in “Sakura”, a popular NHK television drama series.

While carrying out a hectic schedule of public appearances on television, he has managed to make time in his busy schedule to visit public schools, hospitals, lodging homes and community centers. Konishiki has managed to keep his goal of helping to make the world a better place foremost in his list of priorities. In 1997, Konishiki established the “Konishiki Kids” Foundation to provide the children of the Waianae Coast of Oahu a chance to experience the Japanese culture that has been an inspiration to Konishiki for the past 20 years. It is for his work in community service that he was recently granted the Ambassador’s Award distinction by Newport Asia Pacific University of Hawaii.

TJ recently interviewed Konishiki to find out what the biggest kid on the block is up to.

TJ: So you’ve made it to the top as a professional athlete, and now as a TV celebrity. What’s next?
K: Giving back to the community is the most important thing I can do. The kids are what it’s all about. They need someone they can look up to — someone who is doing something with their life. That is why I work so hard in the other areas of my life so that I can lead by example. I came from a rough neighborhood and many of the kids I grew up with wound up in prison. It’s a shame to see the wasted potential. Even if I can make just a little difference, I’ll be happy. If I can save just one kid, it’s all worth it.

TJ: Tell us about your family?
K: Well, I had four brothers and four sisters and I was the second youngest out of all nine children. My older brothers and sisters were born in Samoa, and only the last three of us were born in Hawaii. We had a very hard working dad who came to Hawaii to get a better education for his family. He wasn’t afraid to try and he never let his lack of English stop him from trying. Now, he’s in his seventies, but he’s still kicking. He’s a very strong man – both physically and spiritually.

TJ: What was it like growing up in a big family?
K: My childhood was very rough, but coming from a big family was good, because I had older brothers and sisters to look out for me when my dad wasn’t around. We were very close-knit. We did everything together – whether it was going to church or just hanging out on the beach. That’s how Dad wanted it.

TJ: Well it seems your parents did a good job in raising you. Were they strict?
K: You better believe it. Samoan people are very traditional and have respect for their elders. I didn’t get in trouble in school – not because I was afraid of the teachers but because I was afraid of what my father would do to me when I got home.

TJ: So you came from a traditional Samoan family. Do you speak the language?
K: Yes, of course. Thanks to my parents, I speak the language and I know my culture. I plan to teach it to my own children so that they will be able to understand where they came from.

TJ: Oh, so you plan on having your own family?
K: Yeah, in the future.

TJ: You seem to have great respect for your father. What’s the most important thing that you learned from your father that will help you as a parent?
K: Family values. You see, the way it works is, it starts at home. You gotta teach the kids strong family values. Those values go out to the community, the state, the country and hopefully – eventually the world. If you wanna make a difference, you gotta start with the kids and you gotta start in your own back yard. That’s what I’ve been trying to do with the Konishiki Kids.

TJ: Tell us about the Konishiki Kids Foundation. How does the program work?
K: I started this program in the Waianae area where I grew up. So far, we have brought 175 kids to Japan over the past five years. I want to give them an experience outside of their normal surroundings – an opportunity to experience a different culture and see a different way of life. Most of all, I want them to realize how important it is to have a dream. The Konishiki Kids get to fly to Japan, visit Disneyland, museums, watch Sumo tournaments, make friends with Japanese kids, ride the bullet train, and experience all that Japan has to offer through all kinds of activities.

TJ: What motivated you to start the Konishiki Kids program?
K: Well, the idea came from my experience in high school. You see, I went to a high school affiliated with the University of Hawaii. It was the best thing for me because by catching the bus downtown I got to see an environment outside of my own small community. I got to meet a lot of people that were very different from me – all with different backgrounds. I learned to appreciate my own people and at the same time respect others. It was very deep, man. I wanna give the Konishiki Kids the same opportunity that I had. I want them to know that there is a whole other world out there.

TJ: Obviously, you can’t bring over every single Hawaiian kid. How do you choose?
K: I wish we could bring them all. This is the hardest part of the whole thing. Each year we bring 35 six-graders, five representatives from each of the seven schools along the Waianae Coast. After reviewing five areas, including grades, work habits, an essay on the meaning of Aloha, a questionnaire, etc. we select representatives from each school to become Konishiki Kids.

TJ: I noticed a picture of Musashimaru with the Konishiki Kids. Do you get along well with the other Hawaiian wrestlers?
K: Oh yeah. Musashimaru is the only local boy left, so we support him. He’s a very nice guy – low key, outgoing, humble and very funny, but at the same time, very shy. Akebono and Musashimaru are like my younger brothers. I took care of them when they first got in. So now when we talk, they get to buy my dinner.

TJ: I listened to your first album and really like it. How seriously are you taking your singing career?
K: To me, my singing career is really just a hobby. I believe that singing comes from the heart. If you sing from the heart, the sound just comes. It’s all about loving what you do.

TJ: Thinking back, if you had a chance to do it all over again, would you have chosen to have stayed in Hawaii, or are you happy here?
K: I have no regrets. I enjoy myself wherever I am. That’s my philosophy. Go happy – go easy.

baseball godzilla invades america

Written by David Bracey
Published in link issue

Godzilla Invades America

Look out America! Japan’s latest export is not a car or electronic gadget, it’s a giant – the Yomiuri Giant they call Godzilla. On December 19th 2002, Japanese baseball slugger Hideki Matsui, a.k.a. “Godzilla” agreed to a $21 million contract with the New York Yankees and the 186 cm/95 kg power-hitting outfielder is leaving Tokyo for American shores to join the wave of Japanese baseball players who are making it big in the big leagues.

Godzilla is perhaps the biggest Japanese baseball star yet to join the major leagues. The eyes of the country of Japan have been on Matsui since his days as a high school player in the televised 1992 Koshien National High School Baseball Championships where he was intentionally walked five times, once with the bases loaded. Matsui went on to become the Number One draft pick by Tokyo’s Yomiuri Giants in 1993 and now at 28 years old, is the three-time Most Valuable Player of Japan’s Central League.

There have been doubts whether a Japanese baseball player could really make it in the major leagues. Ichiro Suzuki helped to lay these doubts to rest when he won both the Rookie Of The Year and Most Valuable Player Awards in 2001 with his speed, great throwing arm and skillful hitting. However, Major League Baseball has yet to see a Japanese Power Hitter. 2003 will be the year for Hideki Matsui to prove that Japanese players can come over to the States and slug with the best of them. Matsui may be Japan’s strongest power hitter since Sadaharu Oh, the former Yomiuri Giant who broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record in 1978. According to the World’s Homerun King, Matsui “has tremendous ability and discipline. He has brought the art of hitting to new heights in Japan and he is certainly equal in many ways to the major leaguers.”

More than a dozen Japanese have come to the U.S. to play in the Major Leagues including Seattle Mariner Ichiro Suzuki, L.A. Dodger Hideo Nomo, San Francisco Giant Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Texas Ranger Hideki Irabu and others who have played for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and the Kansas City Royals. Hideki Matsui may be the latest player to head to the US, but he will not be the last. Others are on their way, and at the Japan All-Star Series, all eyes were on not one, but two Matsuis. In addition, to the powerhitter Hideki, Kazuo Matsui, Shortstop for the Seibu Lions was turning the heads of the Major Leaguers and most agreed that both “Godzilla” and “Little Matsui” were the top players to look out for.

As his coaches and colleagues looked on with mixed emotions about Godzilla’s departure from Japanese baseball, Matsui donned his Yomiuri Giants uniform for the last time in November 2002 to take part in the Major League Baseball VS Japanese Professional Baseball All-Star Series. The Japanese players, coaches and fans were faced with the paradoxical situation of having to bid farewell to a local hero who will be greatly missed while at the same time excited about the attention that Godzilla’s success in the Major Leagues may bring to Japanese baseball.

The following are excerpts and translations of interviews with Tokyo Journal Editor Dr. Anthony Al-Jamie.

“It’s definitely a positive thing when you think about the fact that Ichiro achieved success in the U.S. and now Matsui is going there. Their success will stimulate players into believing that they can be successful in the U.S. too. In other words, they are helping to set a higher aim or goal for Japanese baseball players. Achieving their dreams of playing in the Major Leagues will motivate other players to try to improve their technical skills which will in turn raise the whole level of baseball in Japan. Back when I played, there were just no opportunities to cross over, so it was basically impossible. If I would have had the chance, I would have loved the challenge of playing in the major leagues and I am very envious of the opportunities the players have today.”
Baseball legend Sadaharu Oh on Japanese baseball players going to the U.S

“There are a lot of beautiful things in Japan. There is a lot of talent in Japan. It’s good for us to come here and watch. Not only has being a participant in this tournament been a great experience, but also to see the great talent of Japanese players has been a wonderful opportunity. It’s a lot more exciting than some people think it might be. We were warned in the United States, “Don’t go there thinking you’re going to rock their world. They can play!” So, it’s a great experience for us to see how much talent there is in this country.”
Diamondback pitcher Miguel Batista on Japanese baseball

“I think it’s good for Matsui himself to have the opportunity to play in Major League baseball. As a Japanese player, I am glad to see he’s coming to the U.S. and I think he’ll do well.”

MLB star Ichiro Suzuki on Hideki Matsui

“As his coach, I am sad to see Matsui go, but I do wish him the best of luck. He has played hard for quite some time now and his contract allows him to be a free agent, so he deserves to play where he wishes, but we sure will miss him.”

Yomiuri Giants Manager Hara on Hideki Matsui

“He is good with the fastball and he has a good eye for the ball. He is very aggressive and I think he can be a success in the United States. I based my pitching on his numbers. This means that I’ve got to have power because he’s got a good average.”

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez on Hideki Matsui

“They’re good. They play the game right! There are huge expectations about Hideki Matsui. You can tell he’s a good player because he’s got great hands, he can hit good, he’s smooth, but I think there’s a lot of hype right now, so that’s why he hasn’t hit any home runs this time. Anybody that hits that many home runs, it doesn’t matter what league he’s in. I’d love to have him on my team. He’s a good hitter, and anytime you’ve got a good hitter, you want him on your team.”

L.A. Dodgers pitcher Eric Gagne on Japanese baseball and Hideki Matsui

“I like both Big Matsui and Little Matsui. The big Matsui’s got a nice swing. He’ll be fine in the U.S. He’s just got to keep his focus on the game and not let the media pressure get to him. I especially like Little Matsui. He’s definitely Major League material. I’m looking forward to both of them coming to the U.S.”

MLB slugger Barry Bonds on Japanese baseball’s two Matsuis.

“They come out here, play the game hard and they are going to execute the game – no matter what the cost is. You know, in the States you might get more of a team that is going to try and drive the ball out of the park, but the Japanese are going out to hit and run, and play the fundamental type of game, more of what I’m accustomed to! I think Hideki Matsui’s real good! I saw him using all parts of the field, taking the ball out of the park and that type of quality is very rare in any type of hitter, so he’s something that can be special. I love Kazuo Matsui. He’s a real good player. He’s going to take my job!”

World Series star David Eckstein on Japanese baseball players and the two Matsuis

“The players in the U.S. are power hitters more so than they are over here. That’s not to say that the players over here don’t hit home runs, because they do! One of the things I really like about Japanese players is the great discipline they demonstrate, and the way they behave during and after the game. I just wish that they could rest a little more. I believe that they overwork sometimes, but that is the way they do it here. The conditions that they have are great, but sometimes they overwork and their bodies get tired, especially the pitchers – that is why they have injuries. They are good players. They understand all of the fundamentals of the game. A lot of them can play in the States on a worldwide basis. They always do everything hard. I love the way that they play the game. They are always alert and aware of what may happen. I think Hideki Matsui could be great in the U.S. It solely depends on him though. He has to adapt to a new culture, different environment, and things like that. I like the shortstop Matsui. I love him! I think he’s going to be a tremendous player in the United States.”

Baseball great Sandy Alomar, Sr. on Japanese baseball and the two Matsuis

“We knew they were good when we first came over here. They beat us the first three games. We’re battling back trying to win the series. We’re playing our butts off now – not that we weren’t the first three games. They just beat us flat out. You’ve got to play hard to beat these guys. All of these guys could play in the States as far as I am concerned. Hideki Matsui’s got a great approach at the plate. He takes a lot of pitches. I think he’s going to do great. I’d like to see the short stop over there – Kazuo. He looks real good. I like him a lot. He’d be a good lead-off hitter for somebody.”

Toronto Blue Jay Eric Hinske on Japanese baseball and the two Matsuis

“Kazuo’s my boy. I was here the last couple of years when he was on a farm team and then in the big leagues with us. I told him he was going to be a star but he is so humble. He said, “No, maybe not” He’s got fine tools. He’s worked hard. He stayed humble, but he stayed aggressive and I think he’s a wonderful kid. Really, by far, the all-round best player in Japan. He’s not a homerun hitter like Hideki Matsui because he doesn’t have the power. I think he’s going to have a smashing year next year and we’ll see how it goes from there. Hideki Matsui’s a wonderful player. There’s a lot of pressure playing in this gig. I know first hand because when I went back to play for the Florida Marlins, there was a lot of pressure put on me as I was the only power hitter. If he goes to New York, there will be a lot of good hitters around him so there won’t be as much pressure on him. Believe it or not going to a team like Seattle might be even more difficult to some degree on the field because Seattle doesn’t have a true power hitter. So then there would be a lot of pressure on him to be the guy to hit a lot of home runs. New York – they’ve got a power hitter. They’ve got superstars, so there should be less pressure.”

Former Japanese and Major League Baseball slugger Orestes Destrade on the two Matsuis

“Japanese and Americans are so different. I like them both. The American guys are always hitting and looking for power. The game is different here, but there are some great players like Kazuo Matsui. He’s the best. He’s unbelievable.”

Japanese professional baseball MVP Alex Cabrera on baseball and Kazuo Matsui

“He’s going to the U.S. as a representative of Japan and I very much look forward to watching him succeed in the major leagues.”

Kazuo Matsui on Hideki Matsui

“He’s a wonderful player and he’s living up to everyone’s expectations. If he is stealing the show, then that’s the way it should be.”

Hideki Matsui on Kazuo Matsui

U.S. Ambassador Howard Baker on the U.S.-Japan 2002 All-Star Series
“It’s a great American sport and a great Japanese sport. This is sort of symbolic of the friendship between our great countries.”

Ken Shida President of Shidax ambassador of health

Written by David Bracey
Published in link issue

Ken Shida President of Shidax ambassador of health

Ambassador of Health

X-Treme is a keyword in the U.S. these days whether you are talking about sports, entertainment or even food. Add the X from X-Treme to Ken Shida’s family name and you get Shidax, Japan’s leading food service and karaoke business started by his father some forty-five years ago. Shidax has come a long way since then with its new headquarters located in Tokyo’s trend-setting city of Shibuya at Shibuya Shidax Village.

When one hears the name Shidax, many associate the name with karaoke. Although Shidax is #1 in Japan when it comes to karaoke with 300 shops throughout Japan – which is more than double the number of shops of their #2 competitor Big Echo, karaoke is only 40% of their business and Shidax is primarily in the food service industry with more than 3,000 locations throughout Japan. 60% of their business comes from serving food in hospitals, kindergartens, primary, junior high and high schools, colleges, universities, companies, restaurants and nursing homes.

In fact, Shidax is fifth in Japan’s food service industry behind McDonald’s, Skylark, Hoka Hoka Tai, and Yoshinoya. However, what separates Shidax from a hamburger shop, family restaurant, bento (take-out lunch box) and beef bowls? According to Ken Shida, President of Shidax, health is their main priority and their slogan says it all – “Mother Food”. According to Shida, “When a mother chooses food for her children, she chooses food differently than the way most husbands would. She is more concerned about health. People often say you have to eat at home if you want to eat healthy, but as you know, this is almost impossible to do every day due to our lifestyles and we often have to eat out at restaurants so that we can enjoy life.
Therefore, our concept is to take the same care in preparing food that your mother would.”

From providing food to people ranging from infants to the elderly, Shidax takes great responsibility because for many, his food is the first nutrition that a child gets when he/she is born in a hospital, and the last meal that an elderly person may eat in a nursing home. “In 10 or 20 years from now which will be 60 years from when Shidax started, there may be customers who ate Shidax food from the beginning to the end”.

According to Shida, it is important to have a good balance of food, exercise, rest and relaxation, and mental health. Whether it comes to serving healthy food or releasing stress through singing in a Shidax karaoke room, Ken Shida is the Ambassador of Health. Senior Editor Dr. Anthony Al-Jamie visited Shibuya Shidax Village to meet with this bilingual socially responsible business leader.

AA: You have a beautiful location here. Why did you choose Shibuya?

KS: To be successful in business, you need to have a good brand name and image. Shidax needs both a healthy and innovative image. Every day Shidax is changing and I think Shibuya is one of the largest markets for both food and karaoke, and its speed of change is faster than any other city. Also, very different types of people gather in Shibuya. It is very interesting because different cultures are divided by different streets and these cultures change every 10 years. You can find people of all ages walking the streets of Shibuya depending on which street you are on. Therefore it makes for an excellent testing ground for our various restaurants, allowing us to analyze the needs of each generation.

AA: So do you do a lot of market research?
KS: Yes, we have invested in the IT industry because we want to have a direct connection with every customer. We now have more than 14 million members and we keep individual data on how they use our karaoke rooms, as well as what kind of food they like. We then arrange our menus according to this data. We have 6 restaurants in the area such as the one on the first floor of this building and each restaurant has a different theme focused on a different target market. I personally go to each of these restaurants and try different things on the menus so that I can not only check on our own restaurants, but also personally observe our clientele and see what trends are happening. We are a very meeting-oriented company. Every other week I gather my supervisors and conduct the meetings myself, and every Friday night you can find me on the 1st floor gathering information from people in my restaurant.

AA: What type of people do you meet here?
KS: Many types – people from the IT industry, singers, venture capitalists, models….First we gather on the second floor for a lecture to learn something new, and then we drink and have a good time. The rule is that you can bring your friends but they have to be people who want to learn something or gain something out of life, and not someone who wants to sell their product. I don’t want to meet salespeople.

AA: You place great importance on health. Why do you serve food like karage (fried chicken)?
KS: We try to buy good ingredients and are concerned about oil. We are not going to deprive people of the pleasure of eating their favorite food. We watch what people want to eat and if they want to eat food like fried chicken, we will serve it, but then we will arrange the plate so that it is accompanied by salad to provide balance.

AA: Is your management style different from that of your father?
KS: Yes. I worked for Saga Corporation which was #1 in the world for catering. I tried to bring their system to Japan, but nobody listened. I wanted to create a chain system in the Japanese food catering industry, but I faced a lot of resistance trying to do an American style of business here. Now people recognize the need for it and we have finally been able to do this in the last 2 or 3 years.

AA: Has your MBA been helpful?
KS: Yes, it helped a lot. I began my career by washing dishes and learning all aspects of the food service industry in both Japan and the U.S. I started my MBA when I was 35 years old, after I had been working for this company for 10 years. In my MBA program I could meet many globally minded business people from different fields and we imagined about the future. This experience inspired me to get into the IT industry, which has really helped our company with market research. I was Vice-President when I entered the MBA program. I knew I was going to be President and I wanted to create my own style. I decided that a new age president needs to have three faces – the management expert, socially responsible leader and academic. My MBA provided me with a lot of information and I learned that you have to have new and innovative ideas combined with management skills to make a successful company. The Internet provides us with a lot of information that anyone can access, but it is important to know how to use that information and that is why you need to have an academic side. In turn I am trying to educate my employees and have begun a series of Marketing classes which we hold downstairs on Saturdays. Finally, I learned about social responsibility and that is why we are trying to serve social needs.

AA: Why is solving society’s problems important?
KS: Because when I get to God’s door, God will judge me.

AA: Are you Christian?
KS: Well, my great grandfather was a Buddhist monk and my mother is Christian. I am in between.

AA: Your father started the business. Is he still active in Shidax?
KS: Not as much as he used to be. He is very involved in new business creation and socially responsible activities.

AA: Do you have a close relationship with him?
KS: Yes, he comes to my office every other week and we meet for 2 or 3 hours.

AA: You are lucky to have such a good mentorship!
KS: Yes, he is 70 years old. Usually people in their 70s want to do other things, but I think his aim is broader than most. He wants to climb to a higher place. That is why he let me run this company. He wants to climb to another field.

AA: Do you ever get scared?
KS: Every night. Every day.

AA: Do you get scared about your business?
KS: Yes. I ask myself, “What is God thinking about me? Will this business still exist in the future? Will my concept and strategy be good for people in the future?”Ken Shida, the Ambassador of Health is a business leader trying to make a difference. With more socially responsible entrepreneurs entering the world of business in Japan we can expect to live in a better world.

Takafumi Horie, CEO tokyojournal exclusive interview

Written by David Bracey
Published in link issue

From Livin’ On the Edge to Livedoor

Takafumi Horie, CEO

TJ Exclusive Interview by Dr. Anthony Al-Jamie

As I sat across from a man younger than I, I thought to myself what makes Takafumi Horie special? Out of the millions of IT venture companies and young entrepreneurs driving these companies, why is it that Livedoor and Horie made it to the top and avoided all of the pitfalls that destroyed the thousands of dot coms? Is it confidence? Arrogance? Sheer luck? I just couldn’t put my finger on it. What is it that makes Horie successful and at such a young age how did he become one of the most controversial and leading-edge figures in Japan’s competitive business arena? After several minutes of speaking with him, and he revealing very little information, I realized just what it was that makes Takafumi Horie special: Strategy. He always has a strategy and he always keeps that strategy a secret until he is ready to unveil it in front of the entire country. I realized that like Mikitani from Rakuten and Son from Softbank, Takafumi Horie has a secret strategy behind everything he does.

One would naturally assume that Horie was defeated when Livedoor lost the bid for a baseball team while two bigger Net companies, Rakuten Inc. and Softbank Corp., succeeded. When Livedoor first entered their bid, many from the traditional side of Japanese business were wondering who this unknown was that refused to don the corporate uniform and attended meetings casually clad in a t-shirt and jeans as opposed to the customary suit and tie. Although Horie did not win the bid for a baseball team, he wound up with something much more valuable: free PR through a nation-wide media blitz that helped put Livedoor on the map. Most any marketing strategist will agree that free media coverage is an excellent marketing maneuver if you can do it. Japanese consumers loved Horie’s courage and determination when he took on the Old Boy’s Club of baseball, and then were sympathetic when he lost out. Now, “Horiemon” has become a celebrity with regular appearances on TV game shows, a model for a girlfriend, a chic office on the top floor of Roppongi Hills, and five best-selling books with such ambitious Trump-esque titles as “How to Make 10 Billion Yen” and “The One Who Makes Money Wins”.

How effective was the baseball team bid strategy? Hiroshi Kamide, an analyst at KBS Securities in Tokyo stated, “Livedoor never really had a chance of winning the baseball franchise, but from a publicity standpoint they were 100% right to do it.” Livedoor’s profits at the year ended Sept. 30th, 2004 quadrupled to $54 million, sales increased by 185% to $294 million and according to Net Ratings Japan, livedoor.com was the second-fastest growing website in Japan in 2004.

Then in February 2005, Horie made top story news again when he bought many of his Nippon Broadcasting System (NBS) shares in after-hours deals. Livedoor bought 40% of NBS for $500 million, – a highly aggressive strategy which could have allowed Horie to build a stronghold in radio, television and newspapers via NBS’s holdings in other companies. This time it ended with Livedoor getting paid and many would say that once again his strategy was successful. In this case the strategy resulted in raising more than a few eyebrows mostly from those who agreed with him from a legal standpoint but ethically may have found his strategy to be too aggressive. Nonetheless, he remained in the public eye with television appearances and front page newspaper coverage.

The bottomline is, Livedoor is booming. Livedoor offers web hosting, an Internet auction site, DVD rentals, and online securities trading, as well as a venture-capital investment arm, an IT consulting business, and a mobile-phone-software developer. All of this from a 32-year old entrepreneur born in Fukuoka who dropped out from the prestigious University of Tokyo to start his first company originally called“Livin’ on the Edge” in 1996. Even in this early part of his career, you could see Horie’s cutting-edge strategy by using an out of the ordinary name. Less than four years later Horie took his company public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Board and in February 2004, through an acquisition he changed the company name to Livedoor. The company now has one of the fastest growing internet portals in Japan.

Horie’s advice for being a successful entrepreneur is in line with how he started in business.

TJ: What is your advice for those wishing to begin their career as an entrepreneur?
Horie: Get going soon. Start as fast as you possibly can.

TJ: You’re still quite young. Do you think you will you continue to improve in business over the years?
Horie: No. I’m past my prime. I was in my prime when I was 20

TJ: Did you say you were in your prime when you were 20? I always thought that men were in the prime of their business career when they are in their 40s.
Horie: No. Men are in their prime when they are 18, 19, or 20. That’s the best time to get started. The younger, the better.

TJ: That’s surprising. Do you feel this is unique to you or do you believe that this applies to people in general?
Horie: All business people hit their peak when they are 20 or even 19.

It’s hard to believe Horie could be past his prime. Livedoor made 20 acquisitions in 2004, including an online travel agent, an accounting-software company, and a Shanghai-based Internet portal. A horse racetrack may be on the horizon as well. Although criticized by some for having a scattered strategy which can be seen by Livedoor’s diverse portfolio, Horie insists there is good reasoning behind all of his acquisitions. In January 2005, Livedoor announced plans to launch an online bank with Saikyo Bank Ltd., which will help Livedoor establish an online settlement system for its auction and shopping services. The strategy behind November 2004’s $22 million acquisition of accounting software house Yayoi Co., can be largely attributed to the ability to acquire Yayoi’s 400,000 small and midsize business customers. The bank will be able to make loans to businesses and offer an easy online credit check for companies, who will be able to upload their financials to the bank over the Internet.

Part of Livedoor’s success may be attributed to its diversification and Horie’s desire to stay on top of things.

TJ: What kind of manager are you?
Horie: I guess you could say I micromanage.

TJ: Livedoor is very diverse in its activities. How would you describe its corporate culture?
Horie: “There is no corporate culture at Livedoor. We are like the United States, or many countries grouped together – we have many cultures together under one roof”

TJ: Do you believe it is important for young employees to learn to communicate in English?
Horie: Yes, of course.

TJ: You speak English very well. How did you learn English?
Horie: By studying words – thousands of words, and sentences are just a combination of words, so if you know a lot of words you can understand the meaning. Although I can’t speak well, I can understand what people are saying.

TJ: What is your hobby?
Horie: Everything. I’m always thinking. I never stop thinking wherever I go. I’m always coming up with new ideas, so I am too busy for just one hobby.

TJ: Do you have a lifetime goal?
Horie: Yes, I want to travel outside our solar system.

TJ: Are you serious?
Horie: Yes, absolutely.

What is in store for Livedoor? Horie hopes to increase Livedoor’s portal revenue by developing its content and adding new services such as online dating, expanded shopping and an enhanced blogging area. Let’s not forget Horie’s personal goal to travel outside the solar system. Livedoor is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, and Takafumi Horie is behind the wheel of the ship on a strategic mission to go beyond the Milky Way. As I learned during my interview, the secret to their success is not sheer luck or a hotshot’s confidence or arrogance. It’s strategy. And Horie’s strategic plans do not include small steps. He takes huge strides towards the goal with confidence. As fellow multimillionaire and entrepreneurial strategist Donald Trump has said, “As long as you are going to think, think BIG”. No one can be sure of what Takafumi Horie’s next strategy will be, but we can be sure of one thing, it will be big.

education elementary english education

Written by David Bracey
Published in link issue

education elementary english education

Experienced Educator Explores Elementary English Education

Renowned English Language Educator Yuri Kuno Gives TJ the Inside Scoop

Yuri Kuno began her career as an elementary school English language educator at Seijo Gakuen Shoto Gakko nearly a quarter of a century ago and remains dedicated to enhancing the quality of English language education in the Japanese school system. Kuno Sensei was recently appointed to the Ministry of Education’s advisory panel as one of only two elementary school teachers on a twenty-two member panel established to provide guidance to the Ministry of Education which is currently revamping English education standards in Japan. Since retiring from Seijo Gakuen, Kuno Sensei has continued her career as a teacher trainer and researcher . In addition to her teaching career, Kuno Sensei has been involved in the development of numerous English Language Teaching materials for children such as CD ROMs and Prentice Hall’s renowned textbook series “Super Kids”. Most recently, she has been involved in the creation of an NHK twenty-program television series for school children that will be aired nationwide beginning this upcoming school year.

TJ: Most people in Japan are under the impression that English is and has been a compulsory subject at the junior high and high school levels for many years. Is this true?.
Kuno: No. Contrary to common belief, English has never been a compulsory subject in the public school system here in Japan. Over the past several years, an overwhelming number of junior highs and high schools have opted to teach English. This phenomenon has led most people to assume that English is a compulsory subject. However, the Ministry of Education has concluded that English will become a compulsory subject beginning in the 2002 school year.

TJ: I have heard conflicting reports regarding the implementation of English language education at the elementary school level. I was originally under the impression that a program would be implemented in April of 2000 but have recently heard reports that nothing is scheduled to begin until April of 2002. Could you shed some light on this?
Kuno: Actually, the Ministry of Education originally planned to implement a program that would involve English language activities in the year 2003. They have since pushed the start date up to April 2002 and have given permission to elementary schools to begin implementing English language programs anytime during what they call “the transitional period” which is between April 2000 and April 2002

TJ: I see, but I am still a little confused. I know that a number of elementary schools already have English language programs. Are these progressive schools breaking the rules of the Ministry of Education?
Kuno: No. There are certain periods of time that are dedicated to school activities and the principals of these schools are allowed to fill these time slots with whatever activities they choose such as community cleanup, school assemblies or English language activities.

TJ: So, beginning in the year 2002, it will be mandatory for all elementary schools to have English programs. Is this correct?
Kuno: No, not exactly. It is up to each individual school and district to decide if they wish to implement English language programs

TJ: I am still a bit confused. What is the difference between the process in past years and the Ministry of Education’s plan for the 2000 and 2002 school years? It seems as though the schools have had the option of teaching English all along and the Ministry of Education is still not making it compulsory at the elementary level.
Kuno: That’s a good question. In the past, schools were able to use their free periods for English lessons. Officially beginning in 2002, schools will have the option of cutting into time normally allotted for other subjects such as Mathematics, Japanese language study, etc. and devote this time for English language study. They may begin to do so anytime during the transitional period.

TJ: Do you feel this is going to create further debate as some parents may be upset that the implementation of English language study may hinder the study of other important subjects such as Math, Science, etc.?
Kuno: Yes. Some people have expressed concern – especially since the year 2002 will also mark the beginning of the five-day school week and the beginning of a General Studies program which will allow students the option of choosing between four subjects – Social Welfare, Computer Education, Environmental Studies and International Education, which would most likely be English language study. Three periods a week will be dedicated to this new General Studies program and it will be up to the student, of course with the guidance of their teachers, to decide which classes they would like to take during these three periods. So in essence, students will be losing four periods on Saturday and the General Studies program will take up three additional periods during the week. This time will have to come from somewhere and teachers will need to adjust their curriculums to fit all of it in.

TJ: Are elementary school teachers who are not proficient in English nervous about the implementation of English?
Kuno: Yes, of course, and it is not only elementary school teachers who will be faced with this. Many junior high school teachers who are used to teaching students who have no experience with English are concerned about dealing with students who have already been exposed to the language. Some are intimidated by the idea that students may want to correct the teacher’s katakana-like pronunciation as many of the students will be exposed to native-like pronunciation in elementary school.

TJ: Rumor has it that you have been working with NHK on a new English language television program for school children. Can you tell us about it?
Kuno: Yes, we are going to produce a series of twenty-minute English language programs that NHK will air nationwide twice a week during the school day throughout the entire year. Elementary school teachers will be able to begin their English lessons with this program. Although I may be too optimistic, I would guess that by the year 2002 approximately 70% of the elementary schools in Japan will incorporate this program into their English lessons

TJ: It all sounds very exciting. I thank you for taking the time to speak with us and wish you good luck on your project.
Kuno: It was my pleasure.

Did you know . . .

. . . the average TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score in Japan passed 500 points for the first time in 1999? However the score of 501 still ranks among the lowest in Asia, only higher than Afghanistan, Cambodia and Laos.
(Source: Educational Testing Service)

Issues #227

Written by David Bracey
Published in Issue

between a rock and a soft place – the culture of love hotels

It’s Sunday morning, 10:43am, and you don’t have any particular plan for the day.
So here is tj’s tip of the month:

Get yourself a folding chair, place yourself comfortably across from the entrance of one of Japan’s 30,000 love hotels, and just watch. Apart from a few surprises, your private program should include the following: an old man accompanied by a 15-year-old girl in school uniform rushing into the hotel to make use of the reasonable 2-hour ‘rest’ rate; a middle-aged couple from outside Tokyo parking their car in the parking lot, then running the five meters to the entrance, hiding their faces like criminals; a teenage couple entering the place as if it were a McDonald’s; and, as an encore, a newly-arrived foreign woman in her 40s with her luggage walks happily in, only to come out confused and ashamed three minutes later. So just by sitting around you have a perfect overview of Japanese culture right at its most interesting point.

In English-speaking countries, couples checking into a hotel for a clandestine purpose once gave false names at the front desk — Mr. and Mrs. Smith, for example. In Japan, however, it is the hotels themselves that apparently use aliases. We can no longer call them ‘love hotels.’ Hotel owners nowadays prefer to avoid the decades-old accumulation of sleazy association that such a term evokes. Instead the smart businessman with his money invested in the pay-as-you-bang hospitality business would prefer us to use such gleaming new terms as ‘leisure hotel,’ ‘boutique hotel,’ ‘couples’ hotel,’ ‘fashion hotel,’ ‘theme hotel,’ etc.
But, to avoid any confusion in these articles, we will constantly resort to the old established term and hope no one gets offended.

	This struggle with words wasn’t an issue back when the hotel for purposes other than just staying overnight was established in this country. The history of the love hotel has its roots in the late Edo era, when people talked about ‘otebiki-jaya’ or ‘deai-jaya,’ which was changed to ‘tsurekomi yado’ after WW2.
Those places — and this might give His Holiness Wojtyla some additional shivers — were mostly set up around temples and shrines, to offer pilgrims meditating on the transience of life some respite from their religious duties. Death and sex have, in this way, always walked hand-in-hand. Further study would also reveal the Japanese kami as a rather horny bunch of gods just like the Olympians of Greek legend. It was this point of view that produced such a natural attitude to sexuality in Japan (before westerners started importing some rather odd ideas), and which even today makes it so easy to interview a young lady (see below) about what she expects from a love hotel.
The ‘tsurekomi yado’ (or ‘tsurekomi ryokan’) was not a love hotel in its modern sense, but a place that just provided the space for professional ladies to earn a crust, a whorehouse if you want. The interior was sparse — tatami rooms with futons. The walls were thin, and the customers would only get their shoes back after handing the room fare to the owner. These houses were mostly run by families, which had some vacant rooms and saw this as a chance to make ends meet.
In 1958 such practical arrangements fell foul of a new law which prohibited prostitution, thus putting the squeeze on the owners. Some of the more adaptable came up with the idea of renting the vacant space to ordinary people — couples who were looking for the chance to spend a hot night away from prying parents, drying laundry, and frying soba. In a country where traditionally several generations of a family live together under one roof, and a host usually greets guests using formulas such as “please excuse our small and dirty hovel,” this became a runaway success, and soon the shrine visitor could — or had to — bring his own partner for the ‘after-prayer meeting.’ The surroundings of the sacred places quickly turned into private amusement zones. This explains also why you will hardly ever find a love hotel in the city standing all by itself, but instead all concentrated around one lively area, such as Kabukicho or Shibuya’s Maruyamacho. The first center of the booming love hotel culture, however, was Osaka, whose people enjoy the reputation of being especially open-minded. In contrast to the usual 2- or 3-hourly rates in the rest of Japan, Kansai area love hotels also provide a 1-hour bargain fares for day use . . .
Inspired by the motorization of Japan in the ‘60s, another prototype of the love hotel were the simple and functional motels that sprang up near highway interchanges. Then came the time when more and more people started to visit exotic, foreign countries, and soon a simple, cockroach-ridden tatami room in a ‘love hotel’ with a dasai (corny) Japanese name were not satisfying anymore. Especially the female half of Japan demanded to relive their honeymoon at such venues as the “Hotel Paris,” with its romantic, French interior, just like the cute little place near Versailles that left such an impression on their connubial memories. These were actually the avant-garde of western-style hotels in Japan, and such hotels as the “Hotel Chanel” even gave fashion labels some much-needed free advertisement.
How the love hotel developed during the ‘70s and ‘80s, with gimmicks such as rotating beds, transparent bath tubs, or mirrors on the ceiling, is easy to imagine, so let’s skip the ins-and-outs of the process and have a look at a typical modern love hotel room. While a clean place where one could get down to some serious lovemaking was enough to attract couples before, nowadays it has to have a little more. A giant, flat TV screen with DVD, an indoor laser show, and a selection of video games, is more likely to hit the mark. And as these demands escalate, so does the cut-throat contest, which lets only the best survive.

Running a love hotel is no longer a family affair and is anything but a small-scale business. To build a perfectly equipped hotel today costs the owner a crippling ¥500,000,000 (minimum). A 1985 law, which prohibits normal hotels from providing condoms, accorded different status to love hotels, making it harder to get bank loans. This, combined with contractual problems over the continued use of the same site, mean that most traditional city center love hotels have to fight to earn their monthly survival target of ¥500,000 (minimum) per room. In view of this there is now a trend towards fewer and bigger ‘amusement center’-style hotels built outside towns.

The main attractions here are the total atmosphere, the comfort, the space, and the latest technology installed to entertain not only inside the rooms. If you are one of those who have queued up for hours to purchase a model of PlayStation 2, just to be told it’s sold out, why not go to the next love hotel and try it out. An up-to-date place will surely have it in every room. The fun starts when you check in with the robot staff. These droids don’t take your shoes, and there’s no need to hide your face like 10 years ago. Instead, after inserting your member’s card, the computerized concierge greets you with a friendly “hi, long time no see, what’s new?” reminding you to ‘come’ more often. As you leave — senses on overload from the multi-media phenomenon you’ve just experienced — you might well ask yourself, with the same degree of metaphysical yearning as the early temple visitors, ‘What did I come here for? What is it all about?’

To find some answers to these and other questions, tj decided to track the beast to its lair by meeting a guide and user of love hotels and a designer. We hope that Takako Imafuku’s insights and Yuji Nishioka’s inspirations cast some light on a shady world where even hotels prefer to go by another name.

	Takako Imafuku Working for Elf K.K., a company specializing in production and editing of guidebooks and maps (Pia Map, etc.) since 1994, she has just published her first book “Tokyo ii Mise, ii LoveHo,” a guidebook recommending ‘date spots’ for couples. The guide includes basic information on restaurants, bars, coffee shops, love hotels, etc. with descriptions, categorization (“first date spot,” “advanced date spot,” “quiet place,” etc.) and maps to each place. The book is a good information source, and the personal anecdotes and comments written from a female point of view make it especially attractive for females looking for nice, romantic places. After a wide selection of wining and dining venues, the second half of the book introduces 46 love hotels (here referred to as “boutique hotels”) in the Tokyo area. Two pioneering women-only sex shops are also featured. Leaving judgement of the bars and restaurants to its readers, tj took on the more onerous task of selecting the best love hotels in town as featured on these pages. “Tokyo ii Mise, ii LoveHo” is available in every fine book shop, for a reasonable ¥750.
tj: Are the facts in the book, especially those about the hotels, all based on your personal on-the-spot studies?
imafuku: No, not all of them. I’m not such an extensive love hotel goer. I got a lot of info through the internet, where I found some pages made by young love hotel fans and couples who organize tours together with other couples. But, of course I had my own experiences to throw in as well.
tj: How are love hotels and their clientele changing. What are the latest trends?
ti: The average age of people using love hotels is getting younger, bringing with it the trend for more entertainment. The latest fashion seems to be providing party rooms for a bigger number of people.
tj: How about the bedrooms in those party rooms?
ti: There are some with one big bedroom, but also others with two or three separate bedrooms. I haven’t experienced such a party, so I can only guess what kind of things they get up to in these kind of party rooms. Most of these parties are certainly not different from your normal house party. The hotel just provides a location more comfortable than your average living room.
tj: How do you think the love hotel business will change in the future. What do you think the next step will be?
ti: Many hotels now include restaurants, bars, or clubs in the basement. However, now we are also seeing the rise of ‘total amusement centers’ where you can spend hours just exploring the interior or watching robots. Personally I think separate trends will develop: on the one hand towards bigger and better, while on the other hand the trend will swing back to more basic hotels where you only go for one purpose. The style of hotels also depends on the area. In Shibuya, the average age of the kids on the street is around 15 so you find the theme park kind of hotels, while in other, quieter areas the hotels are simpler, to attract the over 40s.
tj: It seems that most hotels are mainly trying to attract females.
ti: Yes, I think the philosophy is to attract girls, because the guys will follow anyway. Besides this, I would feel strange if a guy took me to a place because it was ‘kirei’! Girls also seem to be easier to get to visit a place they like many times, and it’s these repeaters that count double.
tj: Where did the idea to make a book like this arise from?
ti: The company I’m working for mainly does maps, so we had the idea to make a guidebook based on maps. The company that published the book used to make a well-known ladies’ magazine, and they came up with the idea to focus on love hotels and dating spots for women. For foreigners a guidebook like this might look strange, but I think that the fact that most Japanese love guide books justifies this step.
tj: Did you start your love hotel expedition after that, or was it you who said “I have experience, let me do this”?
ti: It was in fact me who volunteered for the job, since besides me there are only men over 40 in my company. Most of the research started then, but I also got some information and inspiration from my adventures during the time when my boyfriend and I used to go out to Kabukicho almost every night. At that time it usually happened 3 or 4 times a week that we missed our last train, and the best and cheapest way to get a bed for the night was one of the hotels around. Other information I got from various magazines that all deal with dating issues.
tj: Is there a difference between the so-called “love hotels,” “leisure hotels,” “boutique hotels,” city hotels,” or however you want to call them?
ti: When it came to giving the book a title, many places complained about the word we used. In general, there is a cheap, dirty feeling about the name “love hotel,” so most places don’t use it today, but prefer something like “leisure hotel” or “boutique hotel” (which already sounds a bit old.) But, in the end, they’re all the same, just different variations.
tj: What were the criteria you used to pick the places?
ti: There weren’t really strong criteria I stuck to, but most women seem to be concerned about standards like the size and atmosphere of the rooms, a clean bathroom, or provided amenity goods, so places that matched these were my first choice. After this there are points such as unique features and services, and, to tell the truth, the cooperation of the hotels themselves. In the book there are a variety of places, comfortable but not so interesting as well as lots of really good ones. Personally I prefer places that have that pinkish, forbidden smell, are not too modern, and don’t pretend to be anything else but a love hotel.
tj: Were the hotels mostly cooperative after you approached them and told them you wanted to include them in your guide?
ti: The places in the book were, of course, but there were others who wouldn’t even give me their phone number. There are many places that totally exclude the media, usually the yakuza kind of places. As a matter of fact, you find prostitution in these places, so there wouldn’t be any point putting them into the book anyway.
tj: As a Japanese yourself you probably don’t know, but have you ever heard of places that refuse to serve foreigners, for whatever reason?
ti: I haven’t encountered this of course, but I can imagine that there are certainly some older places that don’t want to deal with foreigners, because they fear problems of communication or trouble with foreigners who don’t know the rules of behavior in love hotels. Different from regular hotels, love hotels expect their guests to take off their shoes before entering the rooms. Some love hotel owners also complain of foreigners who didn’t understand the time system, and tried to pay in advance. But as far as I know, the hotels in my book have no problems with foreign guests, and I’ve never seen signs like “No foreigners!” or something. At most modern places the guests aren’t seen anyway, since check-in and check-out is done using cards and machines. In cases where there are people sitting at the front desk, they often can’t see the guests’ faces, but can only communicate through a little hole at the level to pass you the keys and receive payment. The latest trend, however, blurs the line between regular hotels and love hotels, and the front desk is not much different from a big city hotel.
tj: How is the love hotel business doing in general recently?
ti: Generally speaking, the number of love hotels is decreasing. For every new, big place that is built, two old ones disappear. This is partly due to the limited contracts commonly used in this business, which don’t allow love hotels to be passed onto the next generation. On the other hand, huge, spectacular hotels on the outskirts of big cities seem to be increasing, since here you have the space, and ground prices are reasonable. Just like Disneyland or Fujikyu Highlands, people don’t mind traveling there by car. However, it’s a tough business, where you always have to be up-to-date with the latest trends, and have a complete renewal at least every 3 years.

	To experience one of the country’s state-of-the-art love hotels requires a little journey, since it’s located in Takasaki, about 100km north of Tokyo. But The Rock, the latest and most impressive example of the recent boom in theme park-style hotels, is well worth the trip, since it offers enough attractions to keep one entertained for not only an overnight stay. The theme, as well as the name are — as film fans will be able to guess — inspired by the Sean Connery blockbuster, and even those not so interested in Hollywood movies will know what to expect.
When the guests finally figure out that the door only opens after hand-scanning and enter the beat-up-looking building with mud brown walls and rusty iron doors, they are served by a variety of mobile devices, including a mechanical “warden” who comes down from the second floor to lead you in.
The way from the front desk to the rooms is an adventure in itself, including dark and cold corridors with haunted-house-like effects at every second corner, and an elevator with a glass roof from which black-light paintings inside the elevator shaft are visible, to name but a few. But once the guests enter one of the 20 rooms the horror mood changes. At first sight the rooms look simple, and — according to owner Atsushi Matsui — in fact most of the guests are somewhat disappointed when they discover that the ‘prison cell’ has more comfort than expected. But in the end it’s exactly this point that gives perfect relaxation and makes most of them come back. Besides enjoying the tasteful, modern interior design, attractions inside the rooms include the latest technology and various entertainment devices. Fridge and microwave ovens, TV games, karaoke, 32-inch high-vision TV screens and big jacuzzi baths are the standard features, and above this there are rooms with a 42-inch plasma display screen, a black-light virtual bath, dry/steam sauna, as well as various sound and light features.

	Rates at The Rock range from ¥4,600~ for a 2-hour rest to a reasonable ¥7,600~ for an overnight stay. Various discount fares and special offers are available after 3am and at daytime on weekends. The Rock is located on National Route 17, near JR Takasaki Station, Joetsu Line (local or Shinkansen) 1095-3 Kami-Sanomachi, Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture 027-325-6969 The management of The Rock is handled by Total Well Co., Ltd. www1.biz.biglobe.ne.jp/~totalwel/
With a hotel like this, owner Matsui (Total Well) and designer Yuji Nishioka fulfill the growing need for total entertainment spaces instead of simple love hotels which don’t feature much more than a bed and a bathroom. Both Matsui and Nishioka pooled their inspiration for the hotel, with specialist designer Nishioka’s experience making The Rock a solid success. They decided to call their creation a “couples’ hotel” or “amusement theme hotel,” and in fact there is actually no reason why single guests, groups of more than two people, males-only or females-only, or even young families shouldn’t come and enjoy a stay here. The only problem might be that The Rock maintains the old love hotel tradition of refusing to hold reservations, so it’s recommended to avoid the rush periods on evenings and weekends.
Yuji Nishioka, whose own company is based in Osaka, left his first traces as an interior designer in shops, restaurants, discotheques and clubs. It was this experience creating entertaining and thrilling interiors that soon earned him work to design love hotels. Nishioka has designed about 100 such hotels nationwide to date, and with The Rock in February 1999, he delivered his masterpiece. Located in an area with virtually no rivals, the hotel is well received by young and old — according to owner Matsui the oldest guest so far was in his ‘70s and came in a wheelchair — from Takasaki and the surrounding area, but people from Tokyo and other cities also frequent The Rock.
As a newly built hotel of the “leisure hotel” category, The Rock stands out from Nishioka’s bread-and-butter work of hotel renovation (see photos on the left). As a result of the fast progress of technology, combined with the fickleness of a clientele who quickly loose interest in familiar things, hotel owners are forced to update and change the images of their hotels once every two or three years to stay in the game. In this race it’s obviously a clever move to increase the number of day guests rather than just securing overnight stays. Compared with the average 2.2 bookings per day per room at an old-style city love hotel, a theme park such as The Rock registers up to 4 bookings, which means an average of up to 3 visits during day time, mostly for 4-6 hours. But even with such a successful hotel, Matsui knows that the writing is on the wall for The Rock, and is already working on his next exciting concept. tj

TOP TEN LOVE HOTELS

SHIBUYA
1 P&A Plaza Hotel
Sun tanning and fitness equipment. Cave-like bathroom for 5-8 people in room 902. 2 hours ¥4,700-¥13,000, overnight ¥9,100-¥25,000.
In the Shibuya love hotel area, near Bunkamura.
3780-5211
2 Dixy Inn
American antique-style hotel, with US oldies to choose from the music box. Jacuzzi in all rooms, room 101 is good for parties. 3 hours ¥5,600-¥9,900, overnight ¥8,800-¥14,900.
Behind On Air West, near Shinsen Station.
3461-3033

1 P&A Plaza Hotel

SHINJUKU
3 Hotel Chez Moi
Fluorescent wall paintings appear when turning off the light, making you feel like you’re walking on the sea floor (room 201) or floating in space (room 203). Also “Body-sonic” installed in the beds for musical accompaniment and rhythmical help. 3 hours ¥4,200-5,200, overnight ¥6,800-¥10,000.
Behind Kabukicho, near Shin-Okubo. 3209-2414

2 Dixy Inn

IKEBUKURO
4 Hotel J-Girl
Fascinating view of the illuminated Sunshine/ Amlux buildings from room 1003. Varying themes (log house, chalk walls, etc.) from room to room. All rooms have jacuzzi, karaoke, video, etc. 3 hours from ¥4,900, overnight from ¥8,000.
North-west of Ikebukuro Station, right next to the Yamanote tracks. 5951-6833
5 Hotel En
Quiet, hidden-away hotel, which gives birthday presents in the form of panty-stockings to female guests. 3 hours ¥4,500-6,200,
overnight ¥7,500-9,500.
Off Gekijo Dori, west of Ikebukuro Station.
3988-3988
6 Hotel Lala 33
Rooms designed using bricks, wood, and other natural material, giving you the illusion of being in a mountain lodge. Satellite TV and video with large screens, karaoke, body-sonic, etc. in all rooms.
3 hours ¥4,200-6,000, overnight ¥7,200-10,000.
North-west of Ikebukuro Station, right next to the Yamanote tracks. 3590-6933

3 Hotel Chez Moi

AKASAKA
7 Hotel New Akasaka
Luxurious Japanese-style rooms, with large mirrors hidden behind the fusuma creating a Yoshiwara-like atmosphere. Recommended for tourists. 2 hours ¥7000-12,000, overnight ¥11,000-20,000.
South-west of Chiyoda Line Akasaka Station.
3583-0753

MEGURO
8 Hotel Charme Meguro
Log-house style, European style, Japanese style, and other themes varying from room to room. The disco-interior of room 401 is recommended for karaoke lovers. 2 hours ¥6,000-¥10,000, overnight ¥8,000-¥15,000.
North-west of JR Meguro Station, near the Yamanote tracks. 3491-4810

4 Hotel J-Girl

UGUISUDANI
9 Hotel Sekishu
The relaxed atmosphere takes you to a remote onsen resort while being in the middle of Tokyo. Rock bath in all (Japanese style) rooms, with snack service for overnight guests. 3 hours ¥5,000-¥5,900, overnight ¥6,900-¥8,100.
In front of Uguisudani Station North Exit. 3874-8826

OTSUKA
10 Cinema In Cast
Guess what is the theme of this one. With posters of film scenes and portraits on the walls, and a wide selection of videos. Two-floor room 802 offers a selection of over 300 movies to watch on a 100inch screen. 2 hours ¥5,000-¥7,000, overnight ¥9,000-¥26,000.
In front of Otsuka Station North Exit. 3940-9911

10 Cinema In Cast

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