Japanese Hawaiian Folk

"Hiki No!" an Hawaiian-themed Japanese band and "Unchaka" a popular Japanese folk/pop duo performed live last night at Kaneyo Shokudo, a bar built right on the beach in Yokosuka.

Kaneyo is open all through the year and often has live groups playing. Last night was called "Accoustic Friday vol.3".

To get there, take the bus or a taxi from Mabori Kaigan Station on the Keikyu Line south of Yokosuka Chuo. Takes about an hour from Shinagawa on the express train.

Tokyo Bay on the Coral Princess

See Tokyo from the water and enjoy the song "Storm Warning" by Whitney Steele, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

The parents of a Japanese friend of mine invited me to take a ride on their boat, the Coral Princess, on Sunday afternoon.

The boat was handmade out of wood 23 years ago and seemed to be in amazing condition. I want to go again!

Chinese Orchestra in Kawasaki

A Chinese orchestra did a performance the other day in an underground shopping mall in Kawasaki, between Yokohama and Tokyo.

I heard the sound and saw the crowd, and so recorded a few minutes. Sorry I couldn't get any closer.

It was cool to be listening to a traditional Chinese tune in the midst of a happy Japanese crowd, which seemed hooked on the performance. Good China-Japan relations.

They had been on different TV programs that morning and for most of them it was their first trip across to Japan. I hope they come back again soon.

UPDATE: The band is called 12 Girl Band. Thanks Jessica! Looks like you can buy their CD - Romantic Energy from this site: http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/MCT061

Radiant City Yokohama

It's Culture Day in Japan. Take time for a walk through the new Radiant City housing estate in Yokohama. Set to "Sound Scientist" by bill, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Radiant City is a large complex with about 3000 three to four bedroom European-style apartments being built near where I live.

I like it, but it is so big and has basically wiped out half of the hill it is built on. They should have kept more of the vegetation. And it's strange that there is no way to get directly from there to the city area below. It's all fenced in.

Still, the pizza I bought there was really good and only cost 500 yen (around $5), which is cheap for Japan. The people seemed pretty happy too.

Shibuya Apple & Bear

We visit the Apple Store in Shibuya, Tokyo and meet a friendly bear. Set to a looped sample from "Kyrie Eleison" by Fumitaka Anzai, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Shibuya is a youth city in Western Tokyo that is always packed with people and fun to visit.

An Apple Store opened there recently and that's where I bought my iPod video.

See tech related videos for the iPod on the TechToys Video Podcast!