What are the best casual shoes for travel in Japan?

What are the best casual shoes for travel in Japan?

When planning overseas travel, typically two considerations often stand out when selecting items to take. How much does it weigh and is it really practical for me?

How much will my shoes add to my suitcase weight, how easy are they going through customs, are they comfortable, easy to clean, do they add value (save me time and effort) and do they allow me to put more things in my case due to their size and weight.

If you are planning a trip to Japan these questions may be top of mind.

Casual shoes for everyday use in Japan need to be comfortable, easy to take on and off and of course stylish.

 

If you go to the hot spring or traditional style restaurant or visit some ones house you will be bending over constantly playing with your shoes and typically you will be the only one. As everyone else has their shoes sorted out. Easy to put on and easy to take off. Lace up shoes are a bit old fashioned in Japan, in my experiences.

So when travelling to Japan consider your shoes, you may be glad you did.

Video: Manga generator lets the reader step inside a Japanese Manga Comic

Video: Manga Generator lets you step inside a Japanese manga comic 

Source: Diginfonews

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0-MGjpLUY&feature=c4-overview&list=UUOHoBDJhP2cpYAI8YKroFbA

News & Video: Japanese beer market is dominated by four large national players

Video: Products # 74 Beer Asahi W Zero No Alcohol and No Calories

Source: JapaneseCustomer.com

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuMUCCXOZF8

"The beer market in Japan is dominated by four national players and one regional player. Health benefits and ‘healthiness’ have been key trends in the commercial beverage market for years."

Source: Japanese beer market in-depth analysis

by S. C. 

02 September 2013 

Teatro Naturale International n. 9 Year 5

http://www.teatronaturale.com/article/4402.html

Japanese customers attracted to smartphones as subscriptions climb to 59 million in 2013 and predicted to rise to 71 million by end of 2014

"MM Research Institute estimates that by the end of the 2013 fiscal year, some 59.15 million people in Japan will be enrolled in smartphone plans. The institute estimates the number to climb to 71.12 million by the end of fiscal 2014, which would make smartphone users the majority of contracted cell phone users in Japan."

Source: Multipurpose smartphones making other electronic devices redundant

September 1st 2013

Mainichi Shimbun

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130901p2a00m0na005000c.html

The global marketing power of "Japanese school girls" in fashion, trends and style

Picture: Japanese school girls

"In Japan... schoolgirls are seen as style mavens. A symbol of youthful freedom, they are a widely exalted as fashion and pop-cultural icons, featuring in manga such as “InuYasha,” anime like “Sailor Moon” and Hollywood movies such as “Kill Bill.”...They also have tremendous power as consumers. Thanks largely to their parents, they often wield a decent disposable income, and they have an uncanny ability to instigate new trends."

Source:Where Japanese Schoolgirls Rule

August 30 2013

By MANAMI OKAZAKI

WSJ Japan Real Time

http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/08/30/where-japanese-schoolgirls-rule/

Video: A collection of Japanese Television Commercials 2013 (in Japanese)

Note: Although these commercials are in Japanese you can still enjoy them by just watching. Enjoy!

Video:Japanese TV Commercials [ 2013 weeks 30 & 31 ]

Source:JPCMHD

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcRCLt14-WI&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLBCA0F10FE6785BE6

Kyoto pizza restaurant in Japan launches new Megaburger pizza weighing in at 1.2 kilograms

"Kyoto pizza parlor Pizza Little Party .....their Megaburgerpizza...weighs in at approximately 1.2 kgs...is topped with full 400g patties of juicy grilled beef sandwiched between two 27-cm pizza pies.....There are all of your classic burger toppings as well like ketchup, onions, pickles, and mustard too....The Megaburgerpizza will go on sale from Sept 1 to Nov 22 for 2,580 yen which is pretty reasonable considering pizza prices in Japan."

Source: Kyoto eatery offers Megaburgerpizza

August 27th 2013

Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/food/view/kyoto-eatery-offers-megaburgerpizza

'Generic furniture' whose design rights have expired gain following amongst cost conscious Japanese customers

""Generic furniture" refers to furniture modeled on brands whose design rights -- lasting 20 years -- have expired. As manufacturers of this type of furniture don't need to pay any licensing fees, they can replicate the originals cheaply. Here the term "generic" derives from generic medicines -- cheap reproductions of existing medicines whose patents have expired."

Source:

'Generic' furniture lures customers with lower price tags

August 19th 2013

Mainichi Shimbun

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130819p2a00m0na015000c.html

What is the history of L.L.Bean in Japan?

"What is L.L.Bean’s history in Japan?

We first started selling L.L.Bean products through Sony Plaza in 1979. By 1991, we had built solid brand awareness in Japan and thought we could grow more effectively by opening branded retail stores. We licensed the L.L.Bean brand to a joint venture responsible for opening L.L.Bean stores. In 1997, we became a part of that joint venture, eventually buying the entire business in 2001, making the Japan business a wholly owned subsidiary."

Source: The best fit: L.L.Bean stakes out its niche in Japan

By Chris Betros

EXECUTIVE IMPACT

JUN. 03, 2013

Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/executive-impact/view/the-best-fit-l-l-bean-stakes-out-its-niche-in-japan

Kaishi is a traditional tissue paper used with kimono, sweets and the tea ceremony

Picture: Japanese tea & manju dessert

"Kaishi is a type of tissue paper that is folded and tucked inside the kimono, giving it its alternate name, "futokoro-gami" (bosom paper). It has historically been used to store sweets, take notes or clean the rims of tea bowls and other objects used during Japan's famous tea ceremony ritual."

Source: 

KYOTO GOES KAWAII: PyonPyonDo 'washi' shop offers traditional multi-purpose 'kaishi' paper

By MICHIYO SATO

August 10th 2013

Asahi Shimbun

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/AJ201308100042

News & Video: Japanese designer leads a fashion success, no heel shoes

Video: Noritaka Tatehana CHIMERA exhibition (Heelless shoes)

Source: David Asmutis

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txd9lmCku3M

"these shoes are high minus the heels. Pioneered by Japanese designer Noritaka Tatehana, the trend has found steam due to Lady Gaga's penchant for crazy footwear. Designers such as Alexander McQueen, Antonio Beradi and Giuseppe Zanotti have released slightly more wearable versions in recent collections.

Source: No rhyme nor reason in fashion success

August 4, 2013

Paula Joye

THE AGE

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/no-rhyme-nor-reason-in-fashion-success-20130803-2r63c.html#ixzz2b94mY7yl

Japanese customers see high end condominiums put on sale for first time since Lehman shock

"The average price of the 22 units per 3.3 square meters will be about 8 million yen, the highest of any condominiums put on sale in the nation since the global economic downturn triggered by the September 2008 collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers, according to Mitsubishi Jisho Residence."

Source: 

Priciest condos since Lehman to go on sale

August 6th 2013

Jiji Press

Daily Yomiuri

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000436330

What is the Japanese method of washing your hair?

"The Japanese do it best. Shu Uemura has a whole ceremony around it that is now available at selected salons in Australia using its products. The treatment takes about an hour and involves several relaxing steps, including shiatsu-inspired gestures during the shampooing."

Source: Help! Is there a right way to wash your hair?

Natasha Hughes

August 5th 2013

THE AGE

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/help-is-there-a-right-way-to-wash-your-hair-20130802-2r3bw.html#ixzz2b4Iji0Ny

Video: JapaneseCustomer.com

Video: JapaneseCustomer.com 

 Source: JapaneseCustomer.com 

You Tube Channel 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMnOfRiJQsY

“In Japan, Kawaii cute is better than being sexy" Jenna Templeton

“In Japan, Kawaii cute is better than being sexy..Animals and even ordinary objects with cute faces on them is Kawaii culture".

 Jenna Templeton

Source: Kawaii craze sweeping the world has reached Australia

Annell Knight

July 23rd 2013

THE AGE

http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/growing/kawaii-craze-sweeping-the-world-has-reached-australia-20130723-2qfw4.html#ixzz2agI8wiU6

Japanese customers started the trend of taking many photos while travelling

Picture: Digital Camera

"we travellers have become obsessed with taking photos when we're away, with recording every moment on film. It used to be that the Japanese were made fun of for their compulsion to take photos, but the rest of us have caught up."

Source: 

How digital photography is ruining travelling

July 31st 2013

By Ben Groundwater

THE AGE

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/blogs/the-backpacker/how-digital-photography-is-ruining-travelling-20130730-2qvv2.html#ixzz2aa3X4bXH

Video: A selection of Japanese TV Commercials 2013 in Japanese

Video: A selection of Japanese TV Commercials 2013 in Japanese

Source: JPCMHD

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZDmTNRZV04

Ayame Gouriki is most popular model on Japanese television for the first half of 2013 with 173,000 seconds of air-time

“Talent” Ayame Goriki, 20, has dethroned Aya Ueto as the TV commercial queen for the first half of 2013.According to Video Research Co, Goriki had the most air time—her commercials were aired 10,793 times for a total exposure of 173,005 seconds. Last year’s No. 1 Ueto was second with 8,210 commercials aired for 134,790 seconds."

Source: Ayame Goriki is TV commercial queen for first half of 2013

July 29th 2013

Japan Today

http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/ayame-goriki-is-tv-commercial-queen-for-first-half-of-2013

A selection of TV commercials with Ayame Gouriki 

(Note commercials in Japanese)

1.

Video: [HD] CF Mister Donut Yakido baked donuts by Ayame Gouriki

Source: TheFREAK4456·

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZMTODYXjX0

2.

Video: 

2種 剛力彩芽 CM ヤマザキ ランチパック ♪絢香

Source: aiueotanasinn06

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=226BjCIXOt0

News & Video: Beers girls a cultural icon at baseball games in Japan

Video: 

Beer Girls at the Tokyo Dome

Source: CheapyD

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcW3wJ5yqfQ

"beer girls...These women, biru no uriko in Japanese, roam the (baseball)stadium with kegs strapped to their backs, ready to pour fresh drinks for thirsty fans"

Source:July 26, 2013

Buy Me Some Gyoza and Bento Boxes: 

Japanese Ballpark FoodBy Stephanie Butler

Hungry History

http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/buy-me-some-gyoza-and-bento-boxes-japanese-ballpark-food

Japan is the fourth-biggest diamond market in the world

" “Conditions in India and Japan remain more uncertain due, in part, to the continuing volatility of their currencies.”...Japan is the fourth-biggest diamond market"

Source:De Beers Counts on U.S. Jewelry Demand for ‘Moderate’ Gem Growth By Thomas Biesheuvel

July 26, 2013 

Bloomberg BusinessWeek 

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-26/de-beers-counts-on-u-dot-s-dot-jewelry-demand-for-moderate-gem-growth