What's going on with Yucca!?

Spring in Japan.

2006-04-01T22:36:00.000-08:00

Spring has come in Japan, just like the picture below shows.

In Japan, everything starts in April. New semester, new job...

I'm still trying something new for my life. Hope I'm going to be able to tell you real soon what I'm doing now.

Oh, UF Gators basketball team goes to the finals of the national tournament, NCAA! UF Gators is going to beat UCLA on April 3rd at 9:20pm ET. The game will be on CBS. Go Gators!!
http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball

Fresh Sakura 2006

Tomorrow is the big day!!

2006-03-11T19:23:00.000-08:00

Too many things to write now...

March 13th is a really really big day for me...Hope I can tell you guys good news after the day.

Also Florida Gators, (the basketball team at univ. of Florida) goes to Fianls of SEC on March 13 (Japan Time).

http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=3&url_article_id=6145&change_well_id=2

Go Gators and Good Luck on me!!

Always trying something new.

2006-02-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

Yonghan, happy new year to you, too! Are you moving on to grad school? I guess this is your last semester, isn't it? Let me know what's happening to you.

Stuart, congratulations again on your third title from the U.S tennis tournament. If we play together now, you can beat me 6-0 in half an hour, seriously.

Qichao, I could not see the Gators in Taipei last month because of my bad time arrangement. Hope we'll make it next time, and you're there as well!

Anyways,

Dear all my great friends in the world,

How is your year so far? It's already the end of Feb. Time really flies.

I'm actually trying something new right now. Some of you know what I'm talking about. But for those who don't understand, sorry... I can't write details here now. But it's something good. Hopefully, in a few months, I can write the details here!

Well, it was very warm last week in Tokyo, but this week is back to freezing again. It's confusing, on/off jackets. But spring is coming here. You all should think about visiting me in April because tremendous amount of Cherry Blossoms will welcome you in Tokyo.

Talk to you all soon,
Yucca in Tokyo

Post some old pictures.

2006-01-02T02:33:00.000-08:00

http://www.ycbs.com/library_pictures.htm

I just posted some old and new pictures on my Japanese website.

Happy New Year 2006!

2006-01-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

I hope you all have the best 2006!!

Apple Art

Nice watching you all on my screen!!

2005-09-11T04:47:00.000-07:00

Dear my friends in America,

I have just watched the video piece which you guys are on!

It's a really great work! Nice team work!!

I could feel you guys so close. Thank you!

Well,

I have exciting news for you all!

The president of my TV station has decided to produce a program for our travel channel and to have me work as a producer!

It's going to be co-production between our TV station and another from an Asian country!

We haven't decided details of the piece yet...

Next week, I'm going to visit the country and talk about it out there!

You know,

the things which I did with you guys at both Univ. of Florida and Emerson College have been helping me out here in Japan,

really…

Thank you again,

Takamasa,
Makiko,
Rick,
Olive,
Basak,
Elif,
Andy,
Yuri,
Sumina,
Qichao,

And, Momoko&Hochun!

Yucca in Boston, April 2005

Time flies in Tokyo!

2005-08-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

Basak, one of my dearest friends from Emerson College, asked me over the MSN messenger, "Do you miss the US?"

My answer was "Yes".

You know that there is an old saying, "That's crying for the moon" which means you always want something you don't have.

I think that makes sense very much.

When I was studying and working in the U.S, often times, I wished to study and work back in Japan.

However, now, I miss my life out there.

Well, let me share some short story with you.

The other day, I saw my co-worker wearing very nice summer dress.

So I was going to say something nice about her, but I didn't.

You know why?

Because it's sort of too weird to say something like that in a work environment in Japan.

It might be taken as flirting or even sexual harassment!!

This is not exaggeration, trust me.

I do like the way they communicate with their co-workers in the U.S.

So, still, sometimes, I have to control myself to live and work here in Japan, especially in my company.

Other than that, my life in Tokyo has been pretty good. I can't complain.

Oh, thank you for your e-mails right after the big earthquake in East Tokyo.

I was home and experienced it, which was very scary, but I was fine and fortunately no one died in Tokyo.

Well, about my job at the TV station, my exact position has been decided last week.

I'm a marketing planner for the international market!

I'm mainly in charge of selling our TV programs such as traveling, documentary, funny talk show and so on.

The current main market is Asia, and I'm going to expand it to the American and European markets.

So, the day I work with you guys may come real soon!

From time to time, I join some production as an assistant producer, too.

Also, I work as a director for post-production including editing and audio mixing.

The most amazing thing is that our TV station used Avid and Pro-Tools, which I learned at Emerson College!!

Now I'm perfectly sure that I made the right choice transferring from Univ. of Florida to Emerson College, although I cannot express how much I appreciate UF in terms of getting academic skills like conducting research and writing paper.

Anyways, so many things are going on with me out here!

Sorry that I could not update this weblog more often in spite of your many kind messages…

But! Let's keep in touch through this weblog.

Post your comments as often as you can!!

Everyone looks same!

2005-07-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

It was the first day to work at the TV station today!!

As you might know, the rush hour in this country is just crazy!

People have to wait for a few trains to get on!

It's just because lines of the passengers are too long!!

Anyways, I found another problem, which is even more serious.

You know, how you feel in a foreign country. I mean I always think, “Oh my! Everyone looks same in this country!” don't you?

So, now, since I've been away from Japan for about 4 years, I feel exactly the same as I was in the US for the first time!

So many people look same! That never happened before!

Even worse! Because the US is heterogeneous, which means you can see many kinds of races out there.

But here, everyone is Asians!! Plus, same size!! Not too tall, not too short…

My first job is to memorize everyone's name and face correctly!

The television industry in Japan

2005-06-26T02:32:00.000-07:00

The most surprising thing about the Japanese television industry is that the viewers have only 7 channels, even in Downtown Tokyo: 2 public and 5 commercial channels.

Why is that?

Because the terrestrial broadcasting system is the most popular way we watch TV here.

As you know, the terrestrial is free and very limited in terms of program variety.

Of course, we can also watch hundreds of channels like the US.

That's the satellite television, which we have to pay to watch, unlike the terrestrial.

There are mainly 2 satellite television systems in Japan: BS (broadcasting satellite) and CS (Commercial Satellite).

Most of the BS channels are operated by the terrestrial companies while the CS channels are provided by many other kinds of companies, like manufacture, security, or credit card companies.

By the way, the first digital broadcasting in Japan was launched through the CS television in 1996.

And the CS has the most channels in Japan now. It's about 300 channels!

Actually, the company which I am going to work for is one of the CS TV stations in Tokyo.

Well,
Some of you might hear that the Japanese TV industry is very conservative. (I know some of you might want to say, "Japan itself is conservative! It's homogeneous!")

I think, that is very true, because the Japanese viewers have been watching only 7 channels through the terrestrial for more than 50 years. Plus, that's been the most popular here.

BUT! These days, finally, we have begun to realize that we may need more channels to really enjoy TV. (Too late? I'll say…)

So, now, we are accepting the fact that we have to receive one more bill to become a wise subscriber with the CS television.

One of the reasons I chose to work for the CS television is that the CS is capable of showing their programs on other media as well, such as through the Internet, cell phone, cable, VOD, IP and so on.

That makes the CS have much more business chances than the terrestrial does, I believe!

Like I already said, the biggest TV is the terrestrial in Japan even though there are only 7 channels.

But again, the terrestrial is still very conservative and having lots of problems, like the copyrights.

For example, each terrestrial TV program should deal with as many copyrights as the actors on it. So, if a terrestrial TV program has 20 actors, they should pay for the 20 actors every time when they put the program on the air.

That's too much time-consuming and expensive.

That's why they cannot share their programs with the other media just as the CS can.

However, it's too optimistic to say the CS is better than the terrestrial, in terms of the history. It's been only 9 years since the CS was launched in Japan while the terrestrial has been going more than 50 years.

Sometimes, history beats technology.

Some say the terrestrial is the best because of the size (It has about 45 million householders) while others say the CS is getting popular more and more because of the contents, which I believe. (but it has only 3 million householders so far…)

So, no one really knows which TV medium is going to win or lose.

Anyways, I hope, sooner than I am expecting, many of the Japanese viewers will realize that TV has become one of the media we should pay to utilize just as the high-speed Internet!

Every newspaper has a TV program list everyday like this. This is possible because we watch the only 7 channels, which not so many audiences find weird in Japan.

Finally, Finally, Finally!!

2005-06-20T03:13:00.000-07:00

I have just got the offer from the TV station!!

Thank you for all your wishes!

And… I'm happy for me!

To get this first offer, it has been about two months.

It was a long long way…

Next week, I have to visit the company again and discuss details such as salary and exact position.

Anyways, now finally, I can relax deeply…that's for sure!

A bridge, near my APT and I use everyday. Something relaxing...

Interview going on…

2005-06-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

I passed the interview at a TV station in Tokyo!

Thank you for your all wishes!! They helped!

The interview was with the president and manager of HR, and it went about 45 minutes.

Anyways, I passed!

But! It's too early for you to congratulate me.

Because I have to go through one more interview, which has been done today!

It was VERY SCARY!!

The president and HR manager were there again, AND the vice-president and 3 other managers also showed up!!

So, the interview was 1 (me) on 6 (the interviewees), which was 45-minute long again.

Can you imagine how much pressure I felt when I was asked questions from the 6 people???

Well, not so much.

Hahaha!

I really enjoyed! So, I hope it went well…

Again, they said that it would take about one week for them to make the decision.

I tell you, I applied to Sony and they said that it would take ONE MONTH to view my resume and cover letters.

I didn't write a thesis! Only a few pages!

It seems to take forever, doesn't it?

Anyways, that's the way it is in Japan. I just have to get used to it even though it's my home country…

BTW, something happy happened today.

I met this French guy on a train and he asked me how to get to the airport in English!

So, I spoke some English today! And we did some handshake as well.

Oh, I really miss the communication in English with you guys!!

New York City, which is one of the most communicative cities in the world!

I have to get used to Japan.

2005-06-04T06:25:00.000-07:00

I had a dream about having a good time and working at the company which I worked for a while.

I had this dream, obviously because I am missing my friends and days in the U.S.

It is funny! It was my choice to come back to Japan. I did want to.

But, now honestly, I am having a hard time here.

So many things which I enjoyed in the U.S cannot be happening in Japan.

Speaking with friends from different countries…
Driving to somewhere very far…
Playing tennis everyday…

You know, during an international orientation at Univ. of Florida, one of the speakers said something like this.

"You are going to have to take 3 steps before you really like this wonderful/strange country.

#1 You may immediately like the U.S because everything here is new and interesting to you from another country.

#2 You may realize that there are so many things which are different from your country and hate that.

#3 In a certain time, you may become able to accept the difference as cultural difference and love it."

Based on my own experience, I would say that is correct.

The funny thing is that I am having the same experience here in my home country.

When I came back to Japan, I was very very happy. Food, service, transportation, everything was just great. I got so excited every time when I had a meal. (That's #1)

But, now, I am in #2. I am realizing the difference between the US and Japan.

Especially, when I apply for a job.

I have to change the way I speak, the way I behave, and even the way I think/feel.

Is it frustrating? Yes, it is.

But I know that it must be something when we make a change just as it was when I got to the US, isn't it?

I just hope that I am going to get used back to the Japanese ways real soon.

I have an interview tomorrow at a TV station in Tokyo, by the way.

Wish me luck!

A huge alligator in Florida, which was creeping near my car!!

How to apply in Japan.

2005-05-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

It's been almost 3 weeks since I came back to Tokyo.

I'm still looking for a job although I started doing it right after I came back here.

It really takes some time to apply for even one job in Japan.

Japanese resume should be handwritten!!

First of all, we have to have a resume, of course. It's very common.

But!

It's very time consuming to make even one resume here because it should be handwritten!!

It's 2005 now!

People use PC and Mac!

In Japan, no, no.

Some companies say it's OK to send an electronic file, but most companies require us to write a resume by hand.

The harder rule is that we have to write again from scratch if we make a mistake.

We cannot use correction fluid or something.

It's crazy hard, but that's the way we show how much we want to work for the company.

Your resume should be perfect.

I know it's crazy, really.

Oh, also, we have to put a face picture and write about all information about our parents and sisters/brothers on a resume.

Plus,

We have to make another document which has all details on your career history.

Usually 3 to 4 pages.

If I apply to a production house, of course, I need portfolio and some paper work which shows how I got involved with the production and how this experience could be useful for the company.

I am talking about only applying here.

Already, a long story, isn't it?

If I start talking about interviews…

Don't worry. I won't.

Why is that???

The answer is because hiring a person is like finding a family member for the company.

So, they take so long to hire someone.

The company expects us to work for a long time, like 10 years or even for the rest of our lives.

That's why the company takes care of everything, including part of our rent, medical exam, and so on.

If we have kids, it pays some for each kid.

So we cannot complain about the resume thing.

Once we are hired, we get a good deal.

It's changing, but "changing" is not "changed."
It's still going on out here.

I have to struggle with this messy desk for the time being…

Message Book

2005-05-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

Makiko, Takamasa, Yuri, Yu-ching, Olive, Rick, Sumina, Lulu,Andy, Yuki, Elif, Hochun, Yoriko, Basak, and of course, the Producer of this book, Momoko, I thank you guys all.

This book really means a lot to me.

I met so many great friends in Boston through a class, production, wedding, my website, working, playing tennis, and more.

This message book has many messages from the friends in Boston.

The good thing is that no one wrote "Good bye" or "So long". Everyone said, "Keep in touch!" which we are actually doing through this weblog!

Looking forward to seeing you all again real soon!

Popular fortunetelling.

2005-05-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

I went to a shrine near my place. The white paper which has some Japanese characters is a fortune slip. It told me that I should not rush to decide something and take my time, so something nice should be going to happen. Sounds like not only for me, but for everyone, doesn't it???

I had to pay a dollar to try this fortune thing. Now, in my country, it's kind of popular to hear your fortune through a cell phone, which is a big business now. They make even some website of a fortunetelling for the cell phone.

If you can tell someone's fortune, you could get a job easily in Japan.

Picture ID on strawberries.

2005-05-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

Did you know that, in Japan, you can see picker's face when you buy strawberries?

Take a look at the photo below.

The couple made the strawberries and packed them.

It's funny if you knew them, isn't it?

"Oh, look, they are my friends! I want to buy these strawberries rather than those!"

Nice marketing.

The funnier thing is that the photo has a URL and you can see all the information of the pickers through the Internet, including their address, phone number, and even careers!

You can make a phone call and say,

"Hey, I bought your strawberries and didn’t like them at all! Can I return them?"

or

"Dear Mr. Takamatsu. I was very impressed by your strawberries. Please keep making such good products. Take care."

You know which thing I would say.

Well, I visited the website and found out that they have been making strawberries more than 30 years! So professional!! It actually tasted very good!

This picture ID thing is a great way to keep the product information accessible and get a direct feedback from a customer.

Not only fruits, but also some meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables have also each picture ID. (Not everything, just you know)

Do you think it's too much???

Tennis with my younger brother

2005-05-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

I had a tennis match with my brother, Kazu, yesterday.

In college, he belonged to a very strong/serious tennis club and got trained by a famous couch. So, he is a better player than me at that time, obviously. I always play for fun.

BUT! He has been too busy with his work while I have played almost every day in the Boston area. And it was kind of serious, I mean, how I played these twon years.

That is why I thought I was going to beat him easily or at least, to win.

And, the result was…

0-6
1-6

He beat me very easily!! Even though he is busy, my brother tries to play 4 times a week, he said.

Stuart! This guy is waiting for you in Japan!

It took only one hour for him to beat me for two sets.

What I have done so far.

2005-05-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

-Got a new cell phone
-Took a picture for my resume
-Had some Sushi

Japanese cell phones are crazy. You can use the Internet/E-mail, watch TV, take pictures/videos, and even play video games! To me, it’s too much! If I want to watch TV, I sit before TV. For e-mails with you guys, I need a PC. Why do you have to stick to such a small screen?

Another strange thing in Japan. We have to attach a picture on a resume, like a picture ID with your all personal history. Also, we have to show our exact age and family members. It’s like an arranged marriage, isn’t it! Actually, some say, “getting a job is just like getting married.” But I never say "I do" when having an interview, of course.

The last thing is something nice about Japan. Sushi here is just great. Once you put a piece of Sushi, it melts in your mouth. You almost don’t have to chew, and it smells like just an ocean. You should try it. It’s a different experience than eating Sushi in the U.S!

My new cel phone!

Open a weblog!

2005-04-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just like I talked to you guys before leaving Boston, I've just made a web log. From now on, I'll let you know what is going on with me here, in Tokyo.

Your comments are very important to inspire me to write something here often. You know, it's just so sad if I don't get any response after writing something... So, please say anything and share your stories here as well. Also, if you can add where you are now, that would be make this weblog more interesting, I guess.

Any other suggestions, questions, and even complaints are welcome all the time. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!!

April 30th, 2005
Yucca