Out with the hotel and into the Mansion (aka Apartment)

It has been about three weeks since I arrived in Japan and I am pretty use to the life style now. The only thing that I have been waiting on is getting into my new mansion (aka for apartment in Japan). So after 3 weeks of being in two different hotels, I finally received my key at 4pm on 7/28/07.....don't ask me why I wrote down the time and date, but I guess it is a great day in my life here. Luckily the hotel I was staying was a 3 min walk to my mansion, so I moved all my suitcases and stuff within a few trips.

In this week since my last blog, I have done a few things. Of course moving into my mansion, going out on the town and attending matsuri's (Japanese festivals). See below some of the pictures of my week. Also, like usually, more pictures are posted at http://picasaweb.google.com/yamamotohenry.

Here is the picture of my apartment from about a block away, close to the hotel I was staying at. Right now they are doing open house and about 1/3 of the building is taken. I wonder who is going to live on the 17th and 18th floor. Those rooms go for about ￥900,000 ~ 1,000,000.....><.....equivalent to about $7,500 ~ 8,333. Dang that is super expensive, but those rooms are really pimp. Oh well, maybe someday =P.

A picture of the dinning and living room, before having anything in it.

Getting all my stuff from the US, IKEA and Don Quijote (a Japanese department store that sells everything....I mean everything).

This is where it all happens, lol. Well I guess this where I sleep only, because after fitting my twin bed in here, I barely have any room in here. Maybe only space for a few side tables and a small cabinet. I tell you Japanese apartments are small and where I live is considered big in Japanese standards for the area.

Need I say more!!! Time to have fun....

The TV that Wii will be played on. 37" HDMI digital TV for about $800. Not bad, huh.

After getting all the furniture together. See that sofa coach on the right, that is where you can crash anytime you come over. It is super comfortable and when folded down is about a twin size.

View of Roppongi Hills from my balcony.

Roppongi Hills during the day time.

View of Tokyo tower at night from the left side of my balcony and from the room. A million dollar view I must say.

Tokyo Tower during the day time.

Our KPMG AZSA matsuri festival dancers. If you don't know what a matsuri is, here is a explantion. Sorry for all the underlined words, but I couldn't format thenm for some reason.

Matsuri (祭, Matsuri?) is the Japanese word for a festival or holiday. In Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple, though they can be secular or Christian.There are not specific matsuri days for all of Japan; dates vary from area to area, and even within a specific area, but festival days do tend to cluster around traditional holidays such as Setsubun or Obon. Almost every locale has at least one matsuri in late summer/early autumn, usually related to the rice harvest.Notable matsuri often feature processions which may include elaborate floats. Preparation for these processions is usually organized at the level of neighborhoods, or machi. Prior to these, the local kami may be ritually installed in mikoshi and paraded through the streets.One can always find in the vicinity of a matsuri booths selling souvenirs and food such as takoyaki, and games, such as snatching goldfish. Karaoke contests, sumo matches, and other forms of entertainment are often organized in conjunction with matsuri.

Favorite elements of the most popular matsuri, such as the Nada Kenka Matsuri of Himeji or the Neputa Matsuri of Hirosaki, are often broadcast on television for the entire nation to enjoy.Some examples of famous matsuri are the Jidai, Aoi and Gion Matsuri held in Kyoto; Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka; and the Kanda, Sanno and Sanja Matsuri of Tokyo. Especially, Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri, and Kanda Matsuri are three most famous Matsuri in Japan.

Our KPMG AZSA dancing up and down the streets of for three hours near our office. You all did a great job eventhough it was very hot and humid.

A picture with some of the people I work with during a break. I plan next year to join you all in the dance.

Dang, look at these slippers that some of the lady dancers had to wear. Wow, I am amazed that they could dance and walk in those for hours. Many props to you ladies.

The ladies wearing the shoes above.

Me and Matthias having a bite to eat before going out.

Here is most of the people that we went out with during the night. Four of them are the interns who will finish soon with KPMG AZSA. You guys did a great job...hopefully see you all in the future with KPMG.

After a few drinks it was time to dance. Do I see John Travolta, haha.

After a long night, it was time to call it a night at Flower's one year anniversery party. What a fun night it was.

Until the next post, take care all!!!!