<div dir="ltr"><div>* * * * * * * * * T E R R I E 'S T A K E * * * * * * *</div><div>A weekly roundup of news & information from Terrie Lloyd.</div><div>(<a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>terrie</span>.com)</div>
<div><br></div><div>General Edition Sunday, July 07, 2013, Issue No. 717</div><div><br></div><div>+++ INDEX</div><div><br></div><div>- What's New -- Used Clothing Recycling Boom</div><div>- News -- <span class="" style>Fukushima</span> radiation is not done yet</div>
<div>- Upcoming Events</div><div>- Corrections/Feedback</div><div>- Travel Picks -- Organic Cakes in <span class="" style>Tochigi</span>, <span class="" style>Washi</span> in Tokyo</div><div>- News Credits</div><div><br></div>
<div>SUBSCRIBE to, UNSUBSCRIBE from Terrie's Take at:</div><div><a href="http://mailman">http://mailman</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/mailman/<span class="" style>listinfo</span>/<span class="" style>terrie</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>BACK ISSUES</div><div><a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/<span class="" style>terries</span>_take, or,</div><div><a href="http://mailman">http://mailman</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/<span class="" style>pipermail</span>/<span class="" style>terrie</span>/</div>
<div><br></div><div>----------------------DELTA AIR LINES-----------------------</div><div><br></div><div>GREAT DEALS TO SELECT ASIA CITIES, NOW FROM JPY37,000.</div><div><br></div><div>Delta is offering special fares to Beijing (<span class="" style>PEK</span>), Bangkok (<span class="" style>BKK</span>), Singapore (SIN) and Manila (<span class="" style>MNL</span>) for travel in July. The <span class="" style>roundtrip</span> fares(*) from <span class="" style>Narita</span> (<span class="" style>NRT</span>) are now as low as JPY37,000 to Beijing or JPY55,000 to Bangkok or Singapore. There is also a special fare from (Nagoya) to Manila from JPY52,000.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Find out more about these offers at: <a href="http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/shop/deals-and-offers/deals-from-japan/japan-">http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/shop/deals-and-offers/deals-from-japan/japan-</a><span class="" style>asia</span>-flights.html</div>
<div><br></div><div>Book now at <a href="http://delta.com">delta.com</a> or call Delta Reservations at 0570-077733.</div><div><br></div><div>*Seats are limited. Fares/fees are subject to change without prior notice. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions/baggage charges may apply. Terms and conditions apply.</div>
<div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>+++ WHAT'S NEW</div><div><br></div><div>A popular destination for residents in the <span class="" style>Shibuya</span> area over the weekend is the occasional clothing flea market held at the <span class="" style>NHK</span>-<span class="" style>Yoyogi</span> Park Amphitheater. The last market, held about a month ago, had over 400 stalls, selling tons (literally) of used clothing in good condition. As our teenage kids already know, although the flea market starts at 10:00am, the best time to get over there is around 14:30, as stall holders are starting to pack up prior to the 15:00 closing time. It is in that 30-minute period that you can get a JPY5,000 pair of jeans, already marked down to JPY1,500, for JPY500 or less. Why? Because the stall holders are typically university students selling for a bit of extra pocket money, and since they get the clothing in bulk (by the kg, actually) from recycle shops, they don't want to lug all that stuff back home again. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Held by the Friends of Recycling Association (Recycle <span class="" style>Suishin</span> <span class="" style>Tomonokai</span>), the <span class="" style>Yoyogi</span> event is the most visible part of a broad movement towards recycling happening in Tokyo, and for that matter across the country. The flea markets are indicative of the massive attitude shift by Japanese in terms of used goods and clothing. When we first arrived in Japan in the 1980's it was almost impossible to give used things away, let alone sell them. Japan had the reputation of being the ultimate consumer society and apart from some Catholic and Salvation Army used clothing stores, you had to trash things to get rid of them. The first signs of change and the move from trash to chic came in the 1990's, post-bubble, when people really were becoming needy and having to find ways to reduce their costs -- and yet, being addicted to shopping, they still wanted that form of entertainment. </div>
<div><br></div><div>We remember a Japan Inc. magazine story about a company called Treasure Factory back in 2004 (<a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>japaninc</span>.com/article.<span class="" style>php</span>?<span class="" style>articleID</span>=1286), which was one of the early players in the commercial recycling business, being founded in 1999. Their business model was to exercise good product <span class="" style>curation</span> coupled with clever marketing that pitched a huge range of new-looking products at amazingly low prices. It worked and with very little outside capital the company went public (3093) in 2008. It now has sales of JPY7.9bn and is making an <span class="" style>EBIT</span> profit of JPY639m or 8%. Not bad, and very much in line with the industry standard.</div>
<div><br></div><div>[Continued below...]</div><div><br></div><div>----------------------- <span class="" style>MORI</span> LIVING -----------------------</div><div><br></div><div><span class="" style>ROPPONGI</span> HILLS RESIDENCES: A PLACE TO SETTLE DOWN</div>
<div><br></div><div>The <span class="" style>Roppongi</span> Hills Residence is the perfect place for foreign families to start life in Tokyo, one of the world`s most vibrant cities. Current residents agree that it provides comfort, luxury and most of all safety for the whole family.</div>
<div><br></div><div>"It feels like home," says a wife and mother of three. On-site workout and medical facilities along with easy access to transportation, schools, and a variety of community events make daily life simple and fun. Completed in 2003 using state-of-the-art construction, the complex includes a high-rise office tower, movie theaters, restaurants, designer boutiques, and a world-renowned art museum. The <span class="" style>Roppongi</span> Hills Residence is a spectacular starting point for life in the city.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Please find out more about the <span class="" style>Roppongi</span> Hills Residence and other serviced apartments from <span class="" style>MORI</span> LIVING under: <a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>moriliving</span>.com/en/</div>
<div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>[...Article continues]</div><div><br></div><div>The used consumer goods recycling business is now a hot sector, and the main players are going all out to grow their market shares as new entrants try to muscle their way in. The leader is probably <span class="" style>BookOff</span>, which has divisions selling not only books but many other products as well, and which recently started expanding overseas. <span class="" style>BookOff</span> had revenues of JPY76bn last year but had a stock price hiccup after a significant fall in <span class="" style>EBIT</span> earnings. <span class="" style>BookOff</span> reckons the setback was due to their making significant investments both overseas and in new business segments, so as to fend off competitors. <span class="" style>Hmmm</span>, we'll see.</div>
<div><br></div><div>One of those competitors is <span class="" style>HardOff</span> (ahem, yes this is one of those Japanese names that won't travel well abroad...), which is originally a <span class="" style>Niigata</span> company. On consolidated revenues of JPY12bn last year, they managed to churn out a very respectable 12% <span class="" style>EBIT</span> of JPY1.4bn. They're enjoying massive growth thanks to their mix of in-company and franchise stores. As of May 31st this year, they had 199 self-owned stores and 489 franchised ones. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Clearly there is money in junk, and it's a business that pretty much anyone can do because the cost of inventory is minimal (between JPY50 and JPY500 per kilo to the person selling <span class="" style>HardOff</span> the clothing). Indeed, it's better than "minimal", because you have the suppliers of that inventory (the customers themselves) laundering it, transporting it to the shop, and most likely spending the money they receive to buy more product before they get out the door..!</div>
<div><br></div><div>What caught our attention with <span class="" style>HardOff</span> is their clothing brand <span class="" style>ModeOff</span>, possibly the cheapest place in Japan to find clothing (yes, cheaper than the Salvation Army store in <span class="" style>Wada</span>, <span class="" style>Suginami</span>-<span class="" style>ku</span>). There is a branch in <span class="" style>Sakura</span> <span class="" style>Shimmachi</span> (<span class="" style>Denentoshi</span> Line) which is typical of the company's offerings. Two floors in a modest building down a side street from the station, and probably EVERY mother in the neighborhood knows about it -- judging by the number of mama <span class="" style>chari</span> bicycles lined up outside the store at any given time of the day. Clothing is sorted according to gender and season, and is discounted even further if its out of season. <span class="" style>ModeOff</span> checks and repairs everything before it goes on sale, so the quality of goods there is about as good as you could want. Typically clothing is about 50% to 10% of the price of new, and there are plenty of childrens' sizes to choose from.</div>
<div><br></div><div>A number of other recycled clothing stores are starting to make an impact on the market. One of the most interesting is <span class="" style>DonDonDown</span>, which has a unique pricing system for cutting the cost of clothing the longer it sits on shop shelves. The effect of their pricing model is something like a reverse auction, where shoppers are encouraged to come to the store every week to see if their wish list items have become cheaper, yet at the same time encouraging them to snap up a reduced item before someone else does. It's very clever -- and an effective lesson in how deflation works. This chain is also growing strongly, with more than 60 stores currently. Like <span class="" style>HardOff</span>, they are using a franchise system to turbocharge their business.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Another new player expected to make a splash in used clothing is the online shopping giant <span class="" style>Zozotown</span> (operated by Start Today). Their new venture, <span class="" style>Zozo</span> Used, was built on top of an online auction site acquired by Start Today in 2011, and is now leveraging the 5m fashion followers on <span class="" style>Zozotown</span>. Given that the average female (mostly) shopper has a wardrobe full of dated or otherwise unwanted clothes, <span class="" style>Zozo</span> Used has a huge base of potential clothing inventory "suppliers" to draw from. The company is investing in a new logistics center so that it can boost sales from the current JPY4bn to JPY10bn in the next couple of years.</div>
<div><br></div><div>To wrap up this look at recycled clothing, have you ever wondered how much used clothing is disposed of in Japan every year? According to an FY2009 survey by an <span class="" style>SME</span> agency under the auspices of <span class="" style>METI</span>, the number is about 940,000 tons -- that's about 7.4kg per man, woman, and child annually... Given that fact, we think this sector has a huge capacity to grow over the next 5-10 years, not only here in Japan but abroad as well. Logistics systems, franchising, and product quality control will be the defining factors for success, given that the cost of goods is such a negligible input. </div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>...The information janitors/</div><div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>------ English Community Manager for Travel Portal --------</div>
<div><br></div><div>www.<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> is expanding and is looking for a English native editor/writer who has previous experience managing online communities and curating content. <span class="" style>JapanTourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> was set up to help Japan promote its many attractions to foreign tourists and in particular to demystify and remove anxiety by travellers about how to get around and deal with Japan. The site has been running for 18 months and is now Japan's largest online inbound travel portal.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The job involves:</div><div>- Servicing the needs and concerns of our partners around the country</div><div>- Working with Technology to prioritize software development of the site</div><div>- Working with Sales to harmonize and integrate the efforts of that team with the <span class="" style>Partners</span></div>
<div>- Curating the best stories (and occasional editing) for display on the top page of the site</div><div>- Working with contributors to help them improve their writing and photographic <span class="" style>efforts</span></div>
<div>- Creating content ideas and campaigns to get community engagement by <span class="" style>contributors</span></div><div>- Creating incentives and campaigns to re-engage dormant <span class="" style>contributors</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>This position is open to full-time (preferred) and part-time (possible) applicants, including, potentially, applicants not residing in Japan. You must be able to deal with the many personalities involved in the community and have a clear sense of mission and have a self-starter attitude. Japanese capability is helpful but not essential.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Contact: info@<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span> for details.</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>+++ <span class="" style>NEWS</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>- Restaurant worker wages <span class="" style>increase</span></div><div>- <span class="" style>AIJ</span> investors get just 6% of money back</div><div>- Yes, foreigners can use <span class="" style>Juki</span> <span class="" style>Net</span></div>
<div>- <span class="" style>Fukushima</span> radiation is not done yet</div><div>- Taiwanese still love Japan</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>=> Restaurant worker wages <span class="" style>increase</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>A survey conducted by Recruit Jobs has found that wages for part-time employees in the restaurant sector have increased to the highest level in almost four years. The average salary in May was JPY920/hour, about two yen (yes, just two yen) more than the same period in 2012. Perhaps more newsworthy than the two yen raise is the fact that the same survey found that there was a 30% increase in the number of part-time jobs being offered compared to May last year. But before you start thinking this is thanks to <span class="" style>Abenomics</span>, competitor Intelligence Ltd., has just come out with another survey finding that average part-time wages across all sectors actually dropped 1.3% over last year, to JPY969/hour. The reason is that professional positions are seeing wage deflation. (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from e.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com, Jul 04, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://e">http://e</a>.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com/e/ac/<span class="" style>tnks</span>/Nni20130703D0307A04.<span class="" style>htm</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>AIJ</span> investors get just 6% of money back</div>
<div><br></div><div>Companies and individuals who invested in <span class="" style>AIJ</span> Investment <span class="" style>Advisors</span>, the fund that went bust in March 2012 with JPY145.8bn of assets under management, have only been able to recover 6%, around JPY8.5bn, of their investments. There is still another JPY4bn in unlisted stocks and other illiquid securities that probably will not be recoverable, so overall losses will be more than JPY130bn. An <span class="" style>SESC</span> investigation has found that most of the assets invested on the behalf of clients cannot be accounted for. ***Ed: Does anyone else get the feeling that there is a cover up going on over the <span class="" style>AIJ</span> fraud?** (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from e.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com, Jul 03, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://e">http://e</a>.<span class="" style>nikkei</span>.com/e/ac/<span class="" style>tnks</span>/Nni20130702D0207F03.<span class="" style>htm</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> Yes, foreigners can use <span class="" style>Juki</span> <span class="" style>Net</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>Foreigners didn't get a chance to vote for the <span class="" style>Zairyu</span> card, and for most people having to have one is the inevitable consequence of living in someone <span class="" style>else's</span> country. But the Japanese <span class="" style>Juki</span> Net ID card system was much more hotly debated, being viewed as an unwarranted intrusion on personal privacy, and there are still some locations objecting to it. Nonetheless, the government is rolling out <span class="" style>Juki</span> Net, and the conveniences it offers in simplifying administration procedures (such as registering residence changes through the Internet) at your local ward or city office are sure to win over public support in the long run. The government has now announced that foreigners will also be able to use <span class="">Juki</span> Net from tomorrow. ***Ed: You need to apply for a <span class="">Juki</span> Net card ahead of using it.** (Source: <span class="">TT</span> commentary from <span class="">japantimes</span>.co.<span class="">jp</span>, Jul 06, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://bit">http://bit</a>.<span class="" style>ly</span>/<span class="" style>14VaD84</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>Fukushima</span> radiation is not done yet</div>
<div><br></div><div>While life since 3/11 has returned to normal for most of the country, the threat of radiation leaking from the crippled <span class="" style>Fukushima</span> power plant is not yet over. Several announcements this week remind us of this. Firstly there was the admission from <span class="" style>TEPCO</span> that they have detected in test wells radioactive substances such as strontium and tritium, at 3,000 becquerels/<span class="" style>ltr</span>, being carried by ground water seepage towards the ocean. If you eat fish, we definitely do not recommend eating any caught within a few hundred kilometers of the plant. Then, later the same week, it was announced that moss growing on the rooftop of an apartment building in <span class="" style>Fukushima</span> city had cesium levels exceeding 1.7m becquerels, the highest radioactivity levels detected since last year. ***Ed: What's scary is that <span class="" style>Fukushima</span> city is a good 50km distant from the nuclear plant.** (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from <span class="" style>asahi</span>.com, Jul 04, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div>http://<span class="" style>ajw</span>.<span class="" style>asahi</span>.com/article/0311disaster/<span class="" style>fukushima</span>/<span class="" style>AJ201307040081</span></div><div><br></div><div>
=> Taiwanese still love Japan</div><div><br></div><div>According to a Visa travel survey, Japan is still the most preferred destination for Taiwanese considering travel abroad. 36% of those polled said they were planning to visit Japan in the next 12 months, followed by 12% to China, 9% to <span class="" style>Hong</span> Kong, 8% to South Korea, and 6% to the USA. Those polled said that the factors most influencing them to visit Japan were travel friends, tourist attractions, and the quality of food. ***Ed: We dare say that the cheaper yen, safety, and <span class="" style>onsen</span> probably also play a big role in those decisions?** (Source: <span class="" style>TT</span> commentary from <span class="" style>chinapost</span>.com, Jul 6, 2013)</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://bit">http://bit</a>.<span class="" style>ly</span>/<span class="" style>1a2OojT</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>NOTE: Broken <span class="" style>links</span></div><div>Some online news sources remove their articles after just a few days of posting them, thus breaking our links -- we apologize for the inconvenience.</div>
<div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>------ The Robert <span class="" style>Grondine</span> Memorial Scholarship Fund ------</div><div><br></div><div>In 2011, we lost a great friend and colleague, Bob <span class="" style>Grondine</span>. Bob made considerable contributions in Japan to the legal and business community as well as important civic and charitable efforts. Not only was Bob a wonderful friend, family man and mentor, he was also a role model as a leader in US-Japan relations.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Among a number of US-Japan causes, Bob was an important supporter and chair of the Japan Advisory Committee of the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, an organization established to grow global leaders through a program providing scholarships to American college students to study in Japan. Students designated as <span class="" style>Grondine</span> Scholars will be selected for their ability to emulate Bob's intellect and spirit as well as his dedication to the</div>
<div>US-Japan relationship. The fund will keep his mentoring spirit alive and memorialize his great legacy.</div><div><br></div><div>Donations of all amounts are welcome. To learn more, visit www.<span class="" style>bridgingfoundation</span>.org or click on the link below. Thank you.</div>
<div><br></div><div>https://<span class="" style>donatenow</span>.<span class="" style>networkforgood</span>.org/us-<span class="" style>japanbridgingfoundation</span></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div><br></div><div>+++ CANDIDATE ROUND UP/<span class="" style>VACANCIES</span></div><div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>BiOS</span>, a leading bilingual IT services and resourcing company, is actively marketing the following positions for customers setting up or expanding in Japan, as well as other employers of bilinguals.</div>
<div><br></div><div>** HIGHLIGHTED <span class="" style>POSITION</span></div><div><br></div><div><span class="" style>BiOS</span> is urgently looking for an Account Manager with experience in recruiting and account management for IT infrastructure service delivery, at our <span class="" style>BiOS</span> office in the <span class="" style>Minato</span>-<span class="" style>ku</span> area. The candidate will be responsible for supporting the continued development and management of our existing clients, and serving as the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> front line and primary point of contact for new clients and <span class="" style>onsite</span> staffs, as well as networking and developing opportunities with potential clients. You will also be responsible for providing a permanent recruitment support.</div>
<div> </div><div>Due to the technical nature and demanding work environment, this position is suitable for someone with solid experience in recruiting, sales, account management, or similar client-facing tasks, preferably in IT. In addition, since this role requires direct communication with both internal staffs and clients who are bilingual in English and Japanese, fluent English and Japanese will be required.</div>
<div> </div><div>Remuneration is JPY3.6m - JPY4.5m plus commission, depending on your experience and skill level.</div><div><br></div><div>** POSITIONS <span class="" style>VACANT</span></div><div><br></div><div>- Project Manager, global payment services provider, JPY7M - <span class="" style>JPY9M</span></div>
<div>- Junior Network Engineer, Japanese IT services provider, JPY3M - <span class="" style>JPY4M</span></div><div>- Technical Support Engineer, medical equipment services provider, JPY4M - <span class="" style>JPY5M</span></div>
<div>- Bilingual Data Center Engineer, global financial firm, JPY3.5M - JPY4M </div><div>- HR/Office Manager, global licenses renewal services provider, JPY5M - <span class="" style>JPY7M</span></div><div><br></div><div>Interested individuals may e-mail resumes to: <span class="" style>tomohiro</span>.<span class="" style>kimura</span>@<span class="" style>biosjp</span>.com. Check out the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> web page for other jobs: www.<span class="" style>biosjp</span>.com/careers.<span class="" style>php</span>.</div>
<div> </div><div>** <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job <span class="" style>Mail</span></div><div> </div><div>Every 2 weeks <span class="" style>BiOS</span> sends out a regular communication to its job seeking candidates, called <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail. Every edition carries a list of BiOS’s current and most up-to-date vacancies, with featured entries containing a short job description and every job being linked to the main entry on the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> home page. Regardless of whether you are unemployed and searching, thinking about a career change, or just curious to know if there is something out there that might suit you better, the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail newsletter is an easy and convenient way for you to stay informed. If you would like to register for the <span class="" style>BiOS</span> Job Mail, or to find out more, please email <span class="" style>tomohiro</span>.<span class="" style>kimura</span>@<span class="" style>biosjp</span>.com.</div>
<div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>+++ UPCOMING EVENTS/<span class="" style>ANNOUNCEMENTS</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>------------------ <span class="" style>ICA</span> Event - July 24th-------------------</div><div>Speaker: Dr Greg Story, President, Dale Carnegie Training Japan</div><div><br></div><div>Title: "Igniting Workplace Enthusiasm - How to Create Engaged Employees"</div>
<div><br></div><div>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>icajapan</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span>/</div><div><br></div><div>Date: Wednesday, July 24th, 2013</div>
<div>Time: 6:30 Doors open, Buffet Dinner included and cash <span class="" style>bar</span></div><div>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members). Open to all No sign ups at the door!!!!!!!</div><div>RSVP: RSVP by 5pm on Sunday, July 21st. Venue is The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://www">http://www</a>.<span class="" style>fccj</span>.or.<span class="" style>jp</span>/<span class="" style>aboutus</span>/<span class="" style>map</span></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>+++ CORRECTIONS/<span class="" style>FEEDBACK</span></div><div><br></div><div>In this section we run comments and corrections submitted by readers. We encourage you to spot our mistakes and amplify our points, by email, to editors@<span class="" style>terrie</span>.com.</div>
<div><br></div><div>=> No corrections or comments this week.</div><div><br></div><div>***------------------------****-------------------------***</div><div><br></div><div>+++ TRAVEL DESTINATIONS <span class="" style>PICKS</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>=> <span class="" style>Isetatsu</span> Paper Store in <span class="" style>Yanaka</span>, Tokyo</div><div><span class="" style>Edo</span> period art in the 21st <span class="" style>Century</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>Walking around the old-fashioned suburbs of <span class="" style>Yanaka</span>, I was a bit in a daze. There isn’t anything flashy or particularly eye-catching about this area, like you might find in the neon signs of <span class="" style>Akihabara</span> for instance. But there’s something about the small town main street vibe that this part of town gives off that I absolutely love.</div>
<div><br></div><div>At first glance, the exterior of <span class="" style>Isetatsu</span> doesn’t seem to be any different from the residences that surround it, except for the intricately designed portrait of a woman in a traditional robe above the door. I stopped to take a photo of the portrait, but that was before my sister, a going-on-four-year resident of Japan, pointed out that it was indeed the traditional color woodblock print store.</div>
<div><br></div><div><span class="" style>Isetatsu</span> was originally founded in 1864 in <span class="" style>Iwamotocho</span>. The owners, currently in their fifth generation of print makers, use <span class="" style>Edo</span> period patterns typically found on traditional fabric and print them on <span class="" style>chiyogami</span> paper. The store is popular with women and children, as the paper is used for paper dolls and toys.</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://en">http://en</a>.<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span>/view/<span class="" style>isetatsu</span>-paper-store-in-<span class="" style>yanaka</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>=> Patisserie Merci, <span class="" style>Utsunomiya</span>, <span class="" style>Tochigi</span></div><div>Fresh ingredients, no additives or <span class="" style>preservatives</span></div><div><br>
</div><div>My spirit lifts when I behold the sea of rice fields next to Merci Patisserie. While not far west of downtown <span class="" style>Utsunomiya</span>, in <span class="" style>Tochigi</span> Prefecture, this cake shop embraces and showcases country living. At Merci, you can find not only gift goods, cafe fare, cakes, sweets (cream puffs, custard, <span class="" style>gelato</span>!) but also shelves of health food goods and farm fresh, local, gourmet quality eggs. Indeed, eggs are central to this patisserie. They have won awards in Tokyo. The chicken farm is nearby. Apparently, the chickens are raised in a clean environment and are not administered antibiotics, antibacterial agents or synthetic coloring.</div>
<div><br></div><div>With the same sentiment, baked goods at Merci are made with next to no additives, and as much as possible local ingredients are used, such as rice flour, eggs, fruit and vegetables. Yes, vegetables! Japanese often combine vegetable flavors into sweets. Merci is no exception, offering typical French sweets along with tantalizing and unusual combinations such as tomato ice-cream, tomato jelly and pudding made with white wine and spinach mousse.</div>
<div><br></div><div><a href="http://en">http://en</a>.<span class="" style>japantourist</span>.<span class="" style>jp</span>/view/patisserie-<span class="" style>merci</span>-<span class="" style>utsunomiya</span></div><div>
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