What are you waiting for?

How long do you wait....?

How long CAN you wait.....?

for donuts!!! I can hear someone yelling at me "not just donuts!"

Yes, yes... How long can you wait for Krispy Kreme Donuts!




Krispy Kreme openned on 15th of December in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

People waited for 2.5 hours in a cold winter day.

Are you waiting for something?

Ocean? or Mountains?

Years ago, I read a statistic taken among business people in the USA and in Japan.

The question was this:

"What is the first thing you do when you feel tired?"

Most of the US business people said they put in for a vacation.....

Most of the Japanese business people said they buy a vitamin drink....

What do you do when you feel tired?


Okinawa, JAPAN


If you were to choose between the ocean and the mountains, which do you pick?



Montana, USA

What do you do when you feel tired?

Do you put yourself in? ::: part III

Do you put yourself in your photo? That is my question.

Do you have more photos of yourself with a scene and/or people?

Or, do you have more photos of other people and/or sceneries?

Many Japanese people would put themselves in the photo when they take pictures. I am one of them.

How about you? Do you? or Do you not?

Why?

Do you put yourself in? ::: part II

In Colombo, Sri Lanka






In Chiang Mai, Thailand






In Mongolia






In NY, USA






In California, USA






In Oregon, USA





In Singapore





In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia





In Delhi, India





In Tokyo, Japan

Do you put yourself in? ::: part I

In Colombo, Sri Lanka




In Chiang Mai, Thailand




In Mongolia




In NY, USA




In California, USA




In Oregon, USA




In Singapore




In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia




In New Delhi, India




In Tokyo, JAPAN

It's everywhere

The photo was taken in Fujigawa Service Area of Tomei Express Way. This will be the Starbucks closest to Mt. Fuji. You can see it very close from this place. This shop will be open this Friday (15th).

This year is the 10th anniversary for Starbucks Japan. They opened their fist shop in Japan in August of 1996. In the same year, they opened 2 other shops. They grew rapidly since then.

1997: add 9 more (Total 12) all in Tokyo area
1998: 28 (40) First Kansai Area shop opened
1999: 57 (97)
2000: 97(194)
2001: 127(321)
2002: 113(434)
2003: 69(503)
2004: 40(543) They started licensing business.
2005: 8(551)
2006: 51(602)
* deta from company Information Timeline & History (http://www.starbucks.co.jp/en/company_history.htm)

Their sales have been growing constantly. The prfitability has been changing.

What do you think of Starbucks? Do you drink coffee?

What do you think of what you have been doing? Do you like what you do?

Where am I?

Eight more days for the opening of "Krispy Kreme Donuts." It seems like no matter where you go you see the same kind of shops. This photo was taken in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

You will see McDonalds, Denny's, KFC, Starbucks.... everywhere you go. But each of the successful business has adapted or contextualized their business in each country without changing the core.

How do you describe your culture?

There is a classic study done within IBM worldwide. The researcher wrote a book based on the research. The tytle of the book is Cultures and Organization - software of the mind.

Travel within Japan

I made my last trip of this year to Shizuoka Prefecture. I drove to Kakegawa city. There is a large conference site called "Tsumagoi". I went there for the pastors' conference. I translated for Rod Denton, the speaker from Australia. This is his third time to speak at the annual conference. We became good friends. The conference was great. We make plans, but the Lord always has His plan for us. If you are interested in Rod's teaching visit clovercrest church and download his MP3 messages.

After the conference, Rod came to stay one night at our place. We went out to eat to a restaurant in my city. On the way, we found an Australian BBQ restaurant. I hadn't notice this restaurant before. We ate Australian dinner that night. It was fun. They opened in August of this year. We prayed for God's blessing on the restaurant with the onwer.

Rod talked with his family and his church staff via Skype with my computer. Skype video really helps to get connected with people. My Skype name is "takeshitakazawa"

I enjoy new communication tools like Skype especially when I am away.