A geek going to Japan

The more I discover Japan, the more I like it. I have spent the past month and a half preparing for the big trip. Some check maps, book hotels, look for the best restaurants, order books, and again check some more maps :) I read.

I started with Les Japonais by Karine Poupée. A correspondent for Agence France Presse, living in Japan since 2002, the author is clearly passionate about this country. How else can one explain the immense work she has put into this book, which in about 600 pages collects facts, figures, impressions on pretty much everything: technology, foods, fashion, history, media, sex, women, businesses etc.  Objective and well documented.

Then came CultureShock! A survival guide to Customs and Etiquette Japan. Written by P Sean Bramble, an American who teaches English in Japan, this book is a bit too simplistic for my taste (yes, I know, it’s a « survival guide »). It does have some very funny stories and useful recommendations and tips. The style is entertaining but the ironic tone and permanent criticisms can become annoying. And the pictures even in the latest edition seem very old!

The third book was A geek in Japan, whose title inspired me for this (guest) post. Curiously enough, I first discovered the book and only then the blog www.kirainet.com (in English and Spanish, with some recent beautiful pictures of sakura). Both are interesting, original and helpful.

Not to forget: The mind of a strategist by Kenichi Ohmae (a McKinsey consultant with a PhD in nuclear engineering), which I loved. A classic first published in 1975, it shows how Japanese business people see strategy and what it is that made them so successful a few decades ago. Ohmae explains that Japanese companies don’t usually have an army of strategic planners but rely on their visionary founders, who have the intuition and creativity necessary to succeed. Interesting insights into defining the critical issue (or the central question, pour les connaisseurs), focusing on key success factors and identifying your strenghts over competitors. Among the main learnings: without competition there is no need for a strategy, address the problems not the symptoms and never stop asking why.

Before I leave, I am planning to also read A short history of Japan: from samurai to Sony. And next one on my list, probably once I’m back: The Toyota Way by Professor Jeffrey K. Liker.

Looking forward to my gaijin experience!

Romania: pre-Easter weekend

We recently went to Bucharest for a long family weekend. Main advice if one decides to fly Tarom (or Brussels Airlines, in which case the flight is operated by Tarom): the special foods (vegetarian and especially kosher) are much better than what one would normally get.

As for restaurants (no pics this time, sorry), we went to the Chinese Garden in Bucharest, which we understood is supposed to be one of the best in town. By comparison to other Chinese restaurants in Brussels/Western Europe, we found the food quite average. Big plus for the large number of choices on the menu. My fish in soy sauce and garlic was all right. The shrimp dumplings had spent some time in the freezer and our second main dish, octopus with vegetables, turned out to be quite similar to the fish, plus way too much soy sauce and MSG. Atmosphere was nice (especially when surrounded by dear friends) but service fairly slow.

Second stop in Bucharest was the Sky Bar. Located in the poshy area of Dorobanti, in a rather banal building, this is apparently the first roof bar in Romania. Just that once you get to the fifth floor where the bar is, you realize that there are much taller buildings around and that you are anywhere but "above the city". That surprise apart, I loved the interior design (very chic white chairs and cosy couches, cool lights and entertaining music). They also have a big terrace which must be very nice in the summer. The menu was generous for both foods and drinks, including some original non-alcoholic ones. Definitely recommended!

A nice little surprise was also the Aristocrat restaurant in the old centre of Targoviste, a small city 80km away from Bucharest. We were the first customers that evening, so the staff was welcoming and friendly. Small elegant place, although quite common, with some comfort food options (mix of French and Italian, plus some Romanian options). What was probably best about it were the prices!

PS: r1d may not share the same views, he is more demanding and critical when it comes to food:)

Chinese Garden (Bucharest)
http://www.chinesegarden.ro/bucuresti/
Sky Bar (Bucharest)
http://www.skybar.ro/