Japan

The Motley Fool's readers have spoken, and I have heeded your cries. After months of pointing out CEO gaffes and faux pas, I've decided to make it a weekly tradition to also point out corporate leaders who are putting the interests of shareholders and the public first and are generally deserving of praise from investors. For reference, here's my previous selection. This week, we'll "step" into the retail sector and examine why Foot Locker CEO, Ken Hicks, is truly a class act. Kudos to you, Mr. Hicks Ken Hicks took the reins at Foot Locker during one of the toughest times in recent retail history. Since becoming CEO on Aug. 17, 2009, Foot Locker's dividend-adjusted share price has catapulted by 268%, or an average of about 2.9% per month! However, the retail industry certainly isn't a walk in the park -- even for Foot Locker. Shoe retailers and footwear companies have all struggled to some extent as higher payroll taxes and delayed tax refunds have weighed on consumer spending habits domestically. Overseas, slower GDP growth in China has drastically slowed down Nike's plans of dominating the region. In Nike's most recent quarterly report, it grew its sales in all regions, except for China and Japan, where it was forced to step up discounting to move higher-than-expected inventories. Constantly changing fashion styles also require continued innovation to keep customers loyal. Deckers Outdoor , the company behind the Ugg brand, has struggled in recent quarters as sheepskin costs have risen and its styles haven't clicked with younger consumers as well as they had in the past. Even the stores themselves haven't fared too well. Finish Line's fourth-quarter results pointed to domestic weakness in its previously high-growth running business, which is a serious cause for concern. Source: commons.wikimedia.org.  And then there's Foot Locker, which increased its net sales last year by 11.4% on a 9.4% rise in same-store sales in spite of all these concerns. Foot Locker's success has come about because of a number of growth and cost-cutting initiatives. First, Ken Hicks has kept a tight lid on expenses and worked on closing underperforming locations over the previous couple of years. Even the nation's biggest companies have stores that struggle, and recognizing which stores are unsuccessful and not allowing them to remain a drag are one of the keys to great leadership. Hicks has also re-emphasized his company's focus on running shoes. Although Finish Line is seeing weakness with this category, Foot Locker has capitalized by rapidly expanding its direct-to-consumer offerings, targeting a younger generation of consumers, and giving consumers an unparalleled selection of name-brand footwear to choose from. A step above his peers The interesting aspect about Foot Locker is that's is so much more than just its bottom-line results. Ken Hicks has completely transformed the culture at Foot Locker for shareholders, employees, and its surrounding communities. On top of the huge 268% surge in Foot Locker's share price since Hicks took over, shareholders have also seen a gigantic boost in their quarterly payout. Source: Nasdaq.com. *Assumes payout of $0.20 per quarter for remainder of 2013 and 2014. Since 2003, Foot Locker's quarterly payout has risen 567%, from just $0.03 to what is now a $0.20 quarterly payout. With the yield currently at 2.2%, you'll struggle to find better dividend growth in the retail sector. Foot Locker also does a good job of taking care of its employees. In addition to offering comprehensive health and dental packages to employees, Foot Locker will reimburse up to $5,200 worth of qualified tuition annually, provide wellness benefits like flu shot vaccinations and fitness membership discounts in some locations, and, of course, offer a hefty 30% discount off regularly priced merchandise. If you love shoes, you're bound to enjoy working for Foot Locker. Ken Hicks also believes strongly in giving back to the communities that i

La Cittadella [? ??????] - a slice of Italy in the heart of Kawasaki. Stylised to look like a small town in Italy, La Cittadella contains a cinema complex, concert hall, shops and a load of restaurants - especially Italian ones. La Cittadella is also home to the annual Hallowen parade too. Today wifey and I go for walkies around the area. You can see a bit of what the area is like by day in the video below. To get to La Cittadella, get of at Kawasaki Station and head to the following location on the map. [gmap=35.528299, 139.697878]We start off our evening by parking at Kawasaki Lazona and then walk towards La Cittadella. Building in the background is the MUZA concert hall.Latest news in Japan is that they want to raise the initial fare of Tokyo taxi's to 730 yen which would last for the first 2 kilometers before you need to start paying more. How does that compare to your neck of the woods? Tis better than some of the taxi's I tried to take in Malaysia at least - when I ask "How much to Blah" the drivers would answer "How much you got?"Walking through Kawasaki Station.Starting to explore more of Kawasaki.Discover a street filled with a ton of restaurants.Due to the lack of space in Japan, each building more often than not contains many restaurants or shops so always make sure to always look up at the signs or you may miss some gems.Many restaurants have some really nice exterior designs."Kawasaki Blender" It says that a cosplay girl with give you a wash.You already know the word Oppai (meaning mammies) but another useful daily word you should know is "Kyonyu" [??[?????]] (pronounced kyo-nyuu) which means "BIG OPPAI." "?" means "huge" or "gigantic" and is the same kanji used in "?????" (Shingeki no Kyojin).When you reach the end of this post make sure to shout out "Kyonyu" 50 times to memorize the word.Check out more plastic food and find out where to buy in Japan."Aroma Beauty Salon" - photo annotate the one who you want to attend to your beauty needs.Many of these "DVD rooms" allow you to "watch DVD's" in the privacy of your own small room. I know many gaijin folks who are travelling cheap use these places to stay in instead of a hotel as the rates are really cheap in the early hours of the morning. For example its 3,000 yen for 12 hours.Can you read that katakana? If not then I'll need to bring out a Katakana learning product in addition to Moekana.I always stop by a Gatcha to see if there is anything 1/3 cale for my daughters - and when I find something I usually get it but ends up in the cupboard most of the times >The gate you see across the road is the entrance to La Cittadella.This place looks like an Izakaya - its like a Japanese pub.This is the main square at La Cittadella - kinda looks like a set to some movie.A list of some of the restaurants at La Cittadella.Moo.Nice place to take a stroll in the evening.And after walking for a bit, once you see things turn back to normal then you know you have left La Cittadella ^^La Cittadella have a fountain show that takes place at certain times throughout the evenings.The seeing-eye dog will open your mind and show you the future.Occasionally you will see the head of some sea monster placed in a bucket of ice outside a restaurant to entice you to go in. There is a poll embedded in this article.Heading back to Lazona.Exploring the shotengai in the area.Remember to always take the stairs if you dont get the chance to exercise much!Back at Lazona.Got to meet comrades from many corners of the world who I went to see Iron Man 3 with.Then its a quick look around Lazona. Would love to go camping but probably very unlikely that I'll ever get to relax in this lifetime to be able to do so >I've only seen bicycles like these in Japan where the child seat is at the front. Bicycles like these are usually called Mamachari [?????] which is a short form of Mama Chariot. "Chariot" [???] is a term used to refer to a bicycle.Looking for some magic potion to keep water off the car.Mor

You is being familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh! If so then you will probably be familair with this little lady - Dark Magician Girl which has been given the Cu-Poche treatment by Kotobukiya. I managed to nab one from the Kotobukiya offices before she's out this July. Dark Magician Girl will retail for 3,990 yen and if she tickles your fancy then you can check out one of the following online retailers who may have her up for pre-order. http://1999.co.jp/eng/ http://amiami.com http://hlj.com http://jlist.com http://kidnemo.com http://toylet.netAs with the other Cu-Poche figures, this little lady comes with a load of accessories and face plates.How many of you have consumed Yu-Gi-Oh! contents (anime, card games) in your lifetime? Many people I speak to say they used to when they were younger. There is a poll embedded in this article. More figure photo reviews listed up below. Dark Magician Girl Kaiyodo Office Tour Volks Mirai Suenaga Doll Asuka Shikinami Langley Kotobukiya Dollpa 29 Part 2 Dollpa 29 Yui Takamura Figure Cu-poche Madoka Iron Man Nendoroid View more... Find out more about the Culture Japan girls >>>

The third film in the series has redneck teen Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) being sent to Tokyo to live with his father. Once there he gets mixed up with another high school punk who just happens to be the nephew of a powerful gangster (Sonny Chiba). The first film in this series was good and the follow-up wasn’t too bad when you considered everything that it was. This third film, however, is a complete disaster from the word go and it’s rather shocking that this here didn’t put an end to the entire series. Even more predictably Sean’s forbidden romance puts him in the middle of rival Yakuza drift racing gangs. Moving the story to Japan is reasonable because it will change many aspects of the previous films, but sadly isn’t enough to make the movie good. Too bad the only things that I really enjoyed about this experimentation project are the soundtrack and the racing scenes, since the cheesy dialogs and the campy characters ruined many minutes of this movie. The most important part of The Fast and the Furious is inarguably the racing sequences and their overall effectiveness. I will admit that the sequences themselves are well-filmed and eye catching, highlighting the cars, as they should. However, except in a few fleeting moments, they are not as enthralling as they should be and this is one of the most disappointing aspects of The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. The final confrontation, for me, is pretty good to watch, but only arouses the senses once in a while. The fact that you see confident Asian characters portrayed by talented Asian American actors, while smoothly giving the audience the feel of what it is like for an outsider to visit Japan. I would also like to add that it was actually Lin himself who volunteered to take on this project when he realized that it was the only major Hollywood theatrical film to predominantly feature an Asian American cast in 2006. Lin read the script, realized it was riddled with stereotypes. Lin just could not bare to see the fact that a film with this much exposure around the world was going to misrepresent Asians and Asian Americans, so he bit the bullet and took one for the team, and decided to take this on as his next Hollywood directorial assignment. Although Lin could not get his way in casting Sung Kang as the lead for “Tokyo Drift,” because the studio specifically wanted a white actor for the lead role, Kang was still given a prominent role as the non-stereotypical Asian American mentor for the male lead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-EheX9m-dE Also, the big “final race” occurs, and the hero’s dad has the body of a classic 60s Mustang in his garage (a somewhat unlikely situation in Japan — not just the car, but the idea that he has a entire garage for this purpose in one of the world’s most expensive and crowded cities). So Sean and his friends take the engine out of one of the Japanese cars he has wrecked earlier in the film, and in a few hours they manage to install this into the 60s muscle car. I admit I am not a mechanic or specialist, but it does not seem logical that you could retrofit a Japanese front wheel drive engine into a vintage 60s American rear wheel drive car….if it could be done AT ALL, it seems to me that it would take a long time and involve a lot of custom parts. That’s not even considering that they drive on the opposite side of the road in Japan, or that a 60s era car would be much heavier than a current model Japanese car. There are too many other absurdities to list, along with the inclusion of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). I wish I could say that “Toyko Drift” was campy, or that you could have a good time just laughing at the many absurdities, but actually its fatal flaw is that it is extremely dull.

Altered Beast is about to wise fwom its gwave on 3DS. Sega has announced that Altered Beast 3D will arrive on the eShop next week in Japan, bringing with it several new features, according to Tiny Cartridge. Like the Japanese eShop re-release of Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast 3D will include both the Japanese and western versions of the game, button remapping and an optional mode that emulates CRT monitors. None of Sega's 3DS re-releases have been confirmed for a North American release, including Space Harrier, Super Hang-On, Sonic the Hedgehog and, now, Altered Beast. Tiny Cartridge does note, however, that Space Harrier was recently confirmed for Europe, so there may be hope the game will be added to North America's growing Sega eShop library.Altered Beast 3D coming to eShop in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Executive is replacing Peter Glusker who will rejoin Gilt in the United States and become vice chairman of Gilt Japan. Continue reading...Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Japan keen to bolster N-ties with India

The annual BoA Merrill Lynch Car Wars research report has been released, and contains some specific details on Lexus future product plans — from Motor Trend: From Japan, notable future product includes a coupe and convertible version for the 2014 Lexus IS; a source told us that the coupe has gotten the green light, but a revival of the convertible has yet to be approved. Lexus will also receive a long-awaited three-row crossover, which should bear the CX name. A coupe based on the LF-CC concept has been the topic of much discussion, and is currently rumored to arrive in 2015. The big news is the idea of a three-row crossover — this possibility was first mentioned in an interview with Lexus USA VP of marketing Brian Smith earlier this year: Smith says one of the brand’s two large body-on-frame SUVs, the GX and LX, could be converted to unibody platforms as the auto maker works to meet looming government-imposed fuel-economy regulations. “In the future, if we could do a 3-row unibody (utility vehicle), I think that’s what consumers would want to see,” he says. Also rumored is a compact crossover, which is expected to debut this year as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show — adding these two SUVs would be a huge boost to the Lexus lineup, especially if they can capitalize on the success of the RX. [Source: Car Wars Report via Motor Trend]

A look at how decisions from television executives changed the entire history of pro wrestling over the last 30 years is the lead story in this week's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that is on the web site today.           The issue goes back to 2001, when wrestling changed with the death of WCW and ECW, and trace the rise and fall of both companies.  We look at the planned angle in 2001 that would have ended up with Nitro every week on Monday nights on the USA Network and how it was supposed to open, why the obvious angle didn't happen, and how abruptly everything changed and why.           We also look at all the plans for that year that dropped, the most successful non-WrestleMania PPV that WWE ever did, the death of WCW, the time WCW came close to dying a decade earlier and why it didn't, the history of pro wrestling on TBS, what led to Vince McMahon's association with Ted Turner and why feelings ended up bitter, the decisions that led to the death of Mid South Wrestling, ECW and WCW going down the tubes and more.           We also look at what contract WWF signed that killed their chances to greatly expand their TV network, the real story behind Vince McMahon's backing of ECW, the strange goings on regarding the sale of WCW to Vince McMahon, how much Vince McMahon paid for WCW, what it was a WWE decision that is the reason TNA is still in business and thoughts on what if ECW could have continued.           We also have a look at the life and career of Mick McManus, the all-time greatest villain in British wrestling.             We also have a look at the Extreme Rules PPV, with background notes on the show, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.           We also look at HHH's angle, WrestleMania the next few years, Dwayne Johnson surgery notes, as well as Gina Carano talking about Rock, another writer gets fired, Lesnar's next program, repackaging of Joe Hennig, WWE donates to Sports Legacy Institute, WWE announcing, why the Colons aren't on TV, Linda McMahon at WWE headquarters, and more.           We also look at Bruno Sammartion Day in Pittsburgh, the brunette dancer with Fandango as well as business notes.           We also look at the situation with Nick Diaz, all the allegations against Bryan Caraway, why Diaz was fined, looking at suspensions of UFC fighters and more.           We also look in depth at the recent WWE hirings and firigns.  We look at who has signed, their backgrounds, who has been let go, and notes on why certain people were hired and fired.           We also have coverage of the UFC show over the weekend, the Vitor Belfort controversy, the ratings and match-by-match coverage.           We also have coverage of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.             The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.         The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world.  The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe.  Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively.  They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world.  Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.        If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choic

They’re uncomfortable sights, even for seasoned ringside aficionados: A deaf man and his opponent–paralysed from the waist down–bound at both hands and feet, reduced to head butting. Two men, normally wheelchair bound, writhe around on the canvas ring delivering blows to one-another with their elbows. It feels dangerous, almost wrong. The members of Doglegs, the self-described “superhandicapped” pro wrestling league, aren’t looking for your pity, however. They want you to watch, wide-eyed, and feel the power, the ability, and the fire hidden inside their unusual frames. The idea for Doglegs was born in 1991 at a volunteer group for the disabled. Two men were arguing over a mutual romantic interest, and as the argument became more heated punches were thrown and a brawl began. The group went wild, both fighters and spectators, at the sudden, electrical feeling of strength and empowerment the fight had given them. The leader of the volunteer group saw the potential: pro wrestling as a platform for these fiery fighters to be seen, and to challenge the public’s views towards disability. Fast-forward 20 years and Doglegs has developed quite a following, with public tournaments several times a year and somewhere around 30 fighters dogging it out. Disabilities range from those physically able-bodied, but afflicted with mental illnesses like alcoholism and clinical depression, to “miracle heavy class”, where fighters are unable to stand. Audience members are often also disabled or come from the disabled care community, along with a core base of able bodied supporters and fans. But regardless of their background, after seeing a Doglegs match viewers are left with much to think regarding their preconceptions of the disabled. Director Heath Cozens wants to spread this mind-blowing opportunity to a wider audience. For the past three years, he has been documenting the lives of Doglegs wrestlers, with the hope of introducing their struggles and glories to people in and outside of Japan. His film centers around “Sambo” Shintaro, a man with cerebral palsy who is one of the heartbroken brawlers from the very first Doglegs fight. After 20 years, Shintaro is ready to retire from the league and focus on living a happy, normal life. Doglegs leader and organiser of the original volunteer group, Yukinori “Antithesis” Kitajima won’t make it easy on him, however. The able-bodied fighter challenges Shintaro to the match of a lifetime, on which his future hangs. The bouts may be difficult to watch for some–seemingly “weak” people being violently beaten for the sake of entertainment. But that uncomfortableness is part of the film. Says Cozens, “Hopefully, people will have unresolved questions and conflicting emotions forcing them to reassess their own assumptions about disability, how disabled people should be treated, and who gets to decide: Is what Doglegs is doing aspirational, healthy, fun? Or does it exacerbate and endanger already vulnerable people?” For Doglegs brawlers themselves, wrestling is unquestionably about empowerment, and giving the finger to a society that often pushes them to the wayside. Says Shintaro, in an AFP news clip about the league, “This is a thing disabled people aren’t supposed to do, but we do it–and that’s why I like it.” Cozens sees that as one of the keys to the film. “A lot of non-disabled people have resistance to seeing disabled people–they avert their eyes. But people with disabilities need to be seen to be recognized on a human level.  How do we bridge the gap? In this film, with drama, humor, and a dash of violence. In other words, entertainment. When people can empathize with the characters, then they start to see beyond their disabilities.” Currently, Cozens is seeking the financial support necessary to complete post-production on the film. He