gyukaku
More mad crushage at work, but I managed to get outta the office about 9:30 and met The KnewMan for dinner. We wandered Roppongi looking for decent yakiniku and I was really hankering for some gyukaku, and finally we found it and feasted in cheap, meaty splendor.
michelin
Furthering my assertion that Tokyo is the most awesomest city in the world, the indefatigable frogs have now declared it the Place for the Palette.
The new Michelin guide for Tokyo gives it a whopping 191 stars, leaving Paris with only 65 a far second.
The new Michelin guide for Tokyo gives it a whopping 191 stars, leaving Paris with only 65 a far second.
virgin a5 cow!
virgin a5 cow!
Originally uploaded by renfield.
Brilliant teppanyaki dinner at Kisentei in Midtown with the defenders of the free world.
rock garden circle
Yoga Hippie has a video of us making a rock garden circle at the retreat this year.
He has lots of cool videos.
He has lots of cool videos.
honesty
Been thinking recently about the various problems people have with their training. Actually it's not so much a problem with the training, it's actually a problem with all the other stuff; life in general perhaps.
There are a couple of different theories that focus on most of the problems being Gosoke's fault. I agree that Gosoke is at the center of the issues, could even be called the cause or trigger, but he's not the one at fault.
One theory goes like this: Gosoke is too nice. He is too quick to promote people to a rank undeserved and too free to give out responsibility to those who cannot meet the requisite demands.
The other theory is, amusingly, the exact opposite: Gosoke is too harsh. He punishes for the slightest infraction of protocol, allows no second chance, expects perfection.
I tend to think both theories are correct. It comes down to the simple expectation that Gosoke has: he expects you to be honest; to do what you say will do, to be responsible for your words and actions.
I don't think it's possible for anyone to be honest with others without first being honest with himself. This means possibly admitting that you cannot do what is asked of you. It's much more sincere and downright impressive to honestly say you cannot do what is asked of you than to say that you can and then get it done half-assed and late.
A big part of Japanese society is "effort". Trying hard is important, oftentimes regardless of the outcome. You work 14 hours a day every day for 15 years, you deserve a promotion and a fat pension. Never mind how much value you actually added to the company. I remember when I first came to Japan and was amazed at the school graduation ceremony. Students got top awards not for academic achievement but for attendance, for not missing one day of school, never mind how much they actually studied nor how well they scored.
I have a hard time believing this is an old tradition in Japan. Back in the day I imagine you were expected to do what you said, and trying was lovely but if you didn't deliver you were probably told to split your stomach to atone for your failure.
Some people these days seem to think that if they promise to do something, pull three all-nighters in a row and finally deliver half of what they said they would, they somehow deserve praise for such an heroic effort. Gosoke doesn't believe that doing what you say you will do is heroic or even praise-worthy. It's merely expected. And not doing what you say is dishonest. Far better to be honest about doing nothing well than be dishonest about doing something badly.
So Gosoke has no problem with people who want to get rank, take responsibility, and work hard. And the more you say you will do, the more he expects you to actually deliver. Therefore, the farther you have to fall when you cannot deliver. The problem is not that someone didn't deserve that rank or that position, it is that they failed to live up to it.
Gosoke likes to push people out of their comfort zone and demand that they constantly strive to get better and achieve more. People mistake promotion for praise. Gosoke doesn't promote you because he thinks you deserve that rank, he wants to put pressure on you to step up to that rank by forcing you to face the fact that you're not deserving of the rank you have. But alot of people get the order confused; they think that since they are now promoted, they somehow deserve some respect or praise or something. They feel entitled, not under pressure to grow.
There is often this fundamental mismatch between what people expect and what they deserve; how the world is and how they think it is, or how they think it should be.
Amazing how it comes back to the basic zen principle of truth. The name Mugai is taken from the first line of a poem that starts "there is nothing but the one truth."
Being honest with yourself is first recognizing the truth, of yourself and your situation. Your abilities and your limitations, what you can do and what you cannot. If you are honest with yourself then it's easy to be honest with others, and people will recognize your honesty, sincerity, and humility.
There are a couple of different theories that focus on most of the problems being Gosoke's fault. I agree that Gosoke is at the center of the issues, could even be called the cause or trigger, but he's not the one at fault.
One theory goes like this: Gosoke is too nice. He is too quick to promote people to a rank undeserved and too free to give out responsibility to those who cannot meet the requisite demands.
The other theory is, amusingly, the exact opposite: Gosoke is too harsh. He punishes for the slightest infraction of protocol, allows no second chance, expects perfection.
I tend to think both theories are correct. It comes down to the simple expectation that Gosoke has: he expects you to be honest; to do what you say will do, to be responsible for your words and actions.
I don't think it's possible for anyone to be honest with others without first being honest with himself. This means possibly admitting that you cannot do what is asked of you. It's much more sincere and downright impressive to honestly say you cannot do what is asked of you than to say that you can and then get it done half-assed and late.
A big part of Japanese society is "effort". Trying hard is important, oftentimes regardless of the outcome. You work 14 hours a day every day for 15 years, you deserve a promotion and a fat pension. Never mind how much value you actually added to the company. I remember when I first came to Japan and was amazed at the school graduation ceremony. Students got top awards not for academic achievement but for attendance, for not missing one day of school, never mind how much they actually studied nor how well they scored.
I have a hard time believing this is an old tradition in Japan. Back in the day I imagine you were expected to do what you said, and trying was lovely but if you didn't deliver you were probably told to split your stomach to atone for your failure.
Some people these days seem to think that if they promise to do something, pull three all-nighters in a row and finally deliver half of what they said they would, they somehow deserve praise for such an heroic effort. Gosoke doesn't believe that doing what you say you will do is heroic or even praise-worthy. It's merely expected. And not doing what you say is dishonest. Far better to be honest about doing nothing well than be dishonest about doing something badly.
So Gosoke has no problem with people who want to get rank, take responsibility, and work hard. And the more you say you will do, the more he expects you to actually deliver. Therefore, the farther you have to fall when you cannot deliver. The problem is not that someone didn't deserve that rank or that position, it is that they failed to live up to it.
Gosoke likes to push people out of their comfort zone and demand that they constantly strive to get better and achieve more. People mistake promotion for praise. Gosoke doesn't promote you because he thinks you deserve that rank, he wants to put pressure on you to step up to that rank by forcing you to face the fact that you're not deserving of the rank you have. But alot of people get the order confused; they think that since they are now promoted, they somehow deserve some respect or praise or something. They feel entitled, not under pressure to grow.
There is often this fundamental mismatch between what people expect and what they deserve; how the world is and how they think it is, or how they think it should be.
Amazing how it comes back to the basic zen principle of truth. The name Mugai is taken from the first line of a poem that starts "there is nothing but the one truth."
Being honest with yourself is first recognizing the truth, of yourself and your situation. Your abilities and your limitations, what you can do and what you cannot. If you are honest with yourself then it's easy to be honest with others, and people will recognize your honesty, sincerity, and humility.
more photos
break @ muji
break @ muji
Originally uploaded by renfield.
Yesterday the rain let up and it wasn't too cold, so we headed to the big Muji in Yurakucho to check out the all-wooden walker for Tonchan and various other bits and bobs. Afterwards went to MOS Burger and Tonchan had a burger and fries. When we came home we sat in front of the TV and zoned out. I guess being overseas so much has really made her American now!
crushed
Had a lovely time at Peter and Jenn's wedding in the Santa Lucia Preserve (photos coming later) and am now back in the grind, getting crushed. Leaving work after midnight, waking up at 4am.
Strangely, I don't feel tired as in sleepy, just exhausted.
Strangely, I don't feel tired as in sleepy, just exhausted.
killy
Things I love about Killy:
The Rittenhouse Hotel
Things I hate about Killy:
It's a stereotypical city of the USA
The Rittenhouse Hotel
Things I hate about Killy:
It's a stereotypical city of the USA
chicago
Weather was actually fairly reasonable in Chicago. Checked into the loverly Ritz Carlton and then immediately headed out to the dojo for some training. Couple of hours and we hit the local Irish pub for dinner.
By then I had a pile of emails from Tokyo and discovered that we are being inspected by the regulators, so was on the phone all night figuring out if I needed to fly back to Tokyo immediately. Final conclusion was that there's no point in coming back early, so I just stayed on email until 3 am, then got up for a reasonably light day of interviews and evening presentation.
After the presentation we had massive killer steaks at Gibson's before heading home.
Now at the airport taking the early morning flight to Killy.
By then I had a pile of emails from Tokyo and discovered that we are being inspected by the regulators, so was on the phone all night figuring out if I needed to fly back to Tokyo immediately. Final conclusion was that there's no point in coming back early, so I just stayed on email until 3 am, then got up for a reasonably light day of interviews and evening presentation.
After the presentation we had massive killer steaks at Gibson's before heading home.
Now at the airport taking the early morning flight to Killy.
el lay
Pretty uneventful flight from SF to LA, but when we got to the Four Seasons it was before noon and our rooms weren't ready yet, so we had to change in the spa and head over to the Bev Wilshire for the lunch presentation.
Good turn out, small presentation room, excellent food. I had two huge plates of salad and steamed vegetables, justifying my over-eating with the fact that it was all reasonably healthful foodstuffs.
Interviews went ok and of course the monster presidential suite at Bev Wilshire does not suck, and they even had wireless. Applause.
Skipped the team dinner and got Korean BBQ with Daboo and N3i. Best meat in LA deep in the heart of K-Town. N3i was dying to get the new Guitar Hero so we went to Best Buy, where they turned the roof parking lot into a rock show (rumor was Slash would be making an appearance) but the store wasn't open. So we went to Daboo's office and played Guitar Hero on the giant projection TV.
That game is SO. MUCH. FUN. As soon as Tonchan is old enough to hold a controller, I must get her a PS2 and we will rock out!
Jak was on a train coming back from San Jose so we couldn' hook up. My bad as originally we were gonna hang out on Sunday but then I changed my flight to Chicago to early Sunday. However all is forgiven because he'll be coming to Japan around new year's so we are totally going to have an enjoyable time of it.
Good turn out, small presentation room, excellent food. I had two huge plates of salad and steamed vegetables, justifying my over-eating with the fact that it was all reasonably healthful foodstuffs.
Interviews went ok and of course the monster presidential suite at Bev Wilshire does not suck, and they even had wireless. Applause.
Skipped the team dinner and got Korean BBQ with Daboo and N3i. Best meat in LA deep in the heart of K-Town. N3i was dying to get the new Guitar Hero so we went to Best Buy, where they turned the roof parking lot into a rock show (rumor was Slash would be making an appearance) but the store wasn't open. So we went to Daboo's office and played Guitar Hero on the giant projection TV.
That game is SO. MUCH. FUN. As soon as Tonchan is old enough to hold a controller, I must get her a PS2 and we will rock out!
Jak was on a train coming back from San Jose so we couldn' hook up. My bad as originally we were gonna hang out on Sunday but then I changed my flight to Chicago to early Sunday. However all is forgiven because he'll be coming to Japan around new year's so we are totally going to have an enjoyable time of it.
and to SF once again
Spent a few days in Stamford with the familials. Did some Tonchan shopping at the mall, ate mama's famous meatballs, got some take out from High Ridge Deli, watched some American TV (is everything a CSI or a Law & Order?)
Tonchan seems reasonably well-adjusted, but being less than one year old she'd rather goof off and play around with her relatives than eat. She did figure out how to climb up the three stairs from the living room to the dining room, but she hasn't got the going down part yet. She continues to dive head first off of anything; stairs, couch, etc.
I'm now back in SF at the as-lovely-as-expected (closer on the spectrum to NY than Toronto) Four Seasons. Full day tomorrow so methinks this evening I'll catch up on email and get some Chinese takeout.
Tonchan seems reasonably well-adjusted, but being less than one year old she'd rather goof off and play around with her relatives than eat. She did figure out how to climb up the three stairs from the living room to the dining room, but she hasn't got the going down part yet. She continues to dive head first off of anything; stairs, couch, etc.
I'm now back in SF at the as-lovely-as-expected (closer on the spectrum to NY than Toronto) Four Seasons. Full day tomorrow so methinks this evening I'll catch up on email and get some Chinese takeout.
manhattan
Went into the city to have dinner with Hibaba and granpa, and then we took a break at Uncle Lee's.
toronto airport
Lovely airport. Except for the US Immigration and customs.
Because the Canada-US flights all fly into US domestic airports which have no customs/immigration, we clear that joyous process here in Canada before checking lugging, going through security, and heading to the gate.
As soon as we lined, it was like we were in America already! They were so rude! They directed us through endless switchbacks for no apparent reason! The signs were unhelpfully confusing, and if you lined up incorrectly, they yell at you!
Even better, they don't care that your flight is about to leave. Never mind that the final flight to the US is at 9:10 pm, and it's always full. Why bother opening up all the immigration lines, or splitting US passport holders into a separate line? That would be far, far to un-nonsensical and efficient. Instead, if you even dare to ASK, you will merely be barked at with a resounding no, and told how much my feet hurt from standing here directly you cattle into the appropriate immigration interrogation. And take your time checking my name and stamping my passport. By all means attempt to make banal small talk with me with what little Japanese you picked up guarding our borders. Take your time!
Because the Canada-US flights all fly into US domestic airports which have no customs/immigration, we clear that joyous process here in Canada before checking lugging, going through security, and heading to the gate.
As soon as we lined, it was like we were in America already! They were so rude! They directed us through endless switchbacks for no apparent reason! The signs were unhelpfully confusing, and if you lined up incorrectly, they yell at you!
Even better, they don't care that your flight is about to leave. Never mind that the final flight to the US is at 9:10 pm, and it's always full. Why bother opening up all the immigration lines, or splitting US passport holders into a separate line? That would be far, far to un-nonsensical and efficient. Instead, if you even dare to ASK, you will merely be barked at with a resounding no, and told how much my feet hurt from standing here directly you cattle into the appropriate immigration interrogation. And take your time checking my name and stamping my passport. By all means attempt to make banal small talk with me with what little Japanese you picked up guarding our borders. Take your time!
15 minutes
One of the guys at the retreat this year was an AP reporter. His story is now all over the place and the photo used looks familiar.
4 season toronto is...not nyc
Well the Four Seasons in NYC has set the bar, high, and Toronto is a lovely city but the hotel is decidedly old school. Nothing particularly wrong with it, but it ain't like New York.
Actually the city of Toronto is very much like New York, if everyone was nice and polite, and everything was clean, and there were more trees everywhere.
Actually the city of Toronto is very much like New York, if everyone was nice and polite, and everything was clean, and there were more trees everywhere.
four seasons nyc does not suck, either
OK so flying out of Logan sucked.
Firstly, we were flying US Airways but booked through United. This time we were smart enough to go check-in at US Airways. Having a first class ticket, I went to the first class check-in. However, there were only two staff serving first class, so everyone lined up behind me actually lined up over at regular check-in and get served first.
Now, in a civilized country that prides itself on service (like say, I dunno...Japan) that does not happen. What usually happens is the first open counter at the regular check-in asks the people lined up at first to come check-in. Because we're better? No, because we've got first class tickets, which cost more. Why do they cost more? Because we are paying for better service. This a concept entirely lacking at Logan Airport.
So I finally get to check-in and she tells me "This is the wrong check-in. You're on a Shuttle flight, which has its own check-in down there." Ah right, of course I was supposed to just know this somehow. So she begrudgingly checks me in, but won't check my buddy's bags. Oh and btw the flight has been cancelled so we're on the next flight, and no first class seat.
We walk down the terminal to the Shuttle check-in line (no first class check-in at all for some reason) and get told: "Ask at the gate for first class, I can't do that here?" Huh? Can you be more specific as to why you can't? Different computer system? What, they have a separate booking and seating system at the gate? What, then, is the purpose of actually having a dedicated Shuttle check-in if you can't actually assign first class seats to a first class ticket holder? This discussion ends quickly with me as the recipient of a blank stare (this is a recurring theme, btw.)
So we go through Security Theatre and to the gate. I hand over my first class ticket and my coach boarding pass and ask for a first class seat.
"There are no first class seats."
[Tickets slid back across the counter. Blank stare.]
...
"Uh...ok. Thank you...umm...so what are my options?" I ask as humbly as possible.
...
[Blank stare...]
...
"You'll have to get a refund of the difference from whomever sold you the ticket."
[Blank stare.]
Wow, service with a smile!
So we got to La Guardia without incident, lined up for a cab with everyone else, and decent in the joy that is riding a NYC cab into Manhattan on a Friday afternoon. After cutting off everyone, crossing 12 lanes to get into the EZPass tunnel entrance, tail-gating a bus, and riding expertly in the blind spot of not one but two limos, we arrived on the island to battle mid-town traffic up 3rd to 57th. Our cabbie displayed his driving prowess by weaving back and forth between lanes as if we were the only car on the road, attempting to crush pedestrians who crossed against the light, who crossed with the light, who stayed on the sidewalk...the 20 minute ride from the airport took an hour before we got to the Four Seasons.
Ah, the Four Seasons. Huge 35th floor suite looking north out of the bedroom complete with park view. Every female at the concierge desk beautiful and Euro-accented, every male chiseled handsome and gay. We attempted to get Two Boots delivered but they wouldn't come up past 51st even with a $50 tip promised, so I went for Chinese takeout and enjoyed my sweet 'n sour pork with shrimp fried rice whilst watching the SciFi Channel in the suite lounge.
Today we had a reasonable schedule of interviews; some non-useless candidates that we may see again. And now gearing up for the evening flight to Toronto.
Firstly, we were flying US Airways but booked through United. This time we were smart enough to go check-in at US Airways. Having a first class ticket, I went to the first class check-in. However, there were only two staff serving first class, so everyone lined up behind me actually lined up over at regular check-in and get served first.
Now, in a civilized country that prides itself on service (like say, I dunno...Japan) that does not happen. What usually happens is the first open counter at the regular check-in asks the people lined up at first to come check-in. Because we're better? No, because we've got first class tickets, which cost more. Why do they cost more? Because we are paying for better service. This a concept entirely lacking at Logan Airport.
So I finally get to check-in and she tells me "This is the wrong check-in. You're on a Shuttle flight, which has its own check-in down there." Ah right, of course I was supposed to just know this somehow. So she begrudgingly checks me in, but won't check my buddy's bags. Oh and btw the flight has been cancelled so we're on the next flight, and no first class seat.
We walk down the terminal to the Shuttle check-in line (no first class check-in at all for some reason) and get told: "Ask at the gate for first class, I can't do that here?" Huh? Can you be more specific as to why you can't? Different computer system? What, they have a separate booking and seating system at the gate? What, then, is the purpose of actually having a dedicated Shuttle check-in if you can't actually assign first class seats to a first class ticket holder? This discussion ends quickly with me as the recipient of a blank stare (this is a recurring theme, btw.)
So we go through Security Theatre and to the gate. I hand over my first class ticket and my coach boarding pass and ask for a first class seat.
"There are no first class seats."
[Tickets slid back across the counter. Blank stare.]
...
"Uh...ok. Thank you...umm...so what are my options?" I ask as humbly as possible.
...
[Blank stare...]
...
"You'll have to get a refund of the difference from whomever sold you the ticket."
[Blank stare.]
Wow, service with a smile!
So we got to La Guardia without incident, lined up for a cab with everyone else, and decent in the joy that is riding a NYC cab into Manhattan on a Friday afternoon. After cutting off everyone, crossing 12 lanes to get into the EZPass tunnel entrance, tail-gating a bus, and riding expertly in the blind spot of not one but two limos, we arrived on the island to battle mid-town traffic up 3rd to 57th. Our cabbie displayed his driving prowess by weaving back and forth between lanes as if we were the only car on the road, attempting to crush pedestrians who crossed against the light, who crossed with the light, who stayed on the sidewalk...the 20 minute ride from the airport took an hour before we got to the Four Seasons.
Ah, the Four Seasons. Huge 35th floor suite looking north out of the bedroom complete with park view. Every female at the concierge desk beautiful and Euro-accented, every male chiseled handsome and gay. We attempted to get Two Boots delivered but they wouldn't come up past 51st even with a $50 tip promised, so I went for Chinese takeout and enjoyed my sweet 'n sour pork with shrimp fried rice whilst watching the SciFi Channel in the suite lounge.
Today we had a reasonable schedule of interviews; some non-useless candidates that we may see again. And now gearing up for the evening flight to Toronto.
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