This Week in Tokyo – 21 April 2020

In this week’s ‘This Week in Tokyo’ Mac, Founder and Lead Guide of Maction Planet, keeps us abreast of the Maction Planet comings and goings, or rather stayings! This week: Natsu Summer; Kichijoji is Alright; The Kaminarimon Lantern is back!; Yamatalk x Tokyo Taste Test and #SupportLocalBusinesses.

Konnichiwa from Tokyo. Once again, our thoughts go out to all those who have lost loved ones or are suffering as a result of COVID-19.

The reaction to my message in last week’s ‘This Week in Tokyo’ was nothing short of phenomenal. Thank you to everyone who read it, likes and shared it on social media and responded to it via commenting, messaging or email. The entire Maction Planet team is eternally grateful for this incredible outpouring of support.

So, what’s been going on this week on Maction Planet? Well, we continue to fulfill our mission of bringing Tokyo and Japan to the world across out various outlets – our website, blog, YouTube channel, radio station and social media:

Featured image – Natsu Summer: Maction Planet Resident DJ Royce Leong interviewed the fantastic City Pop artist Natsu Summer for tokyophonic.com, our sister site dedicated to Japanese music. If reading it inspires you to check out some City Pop tunes, I highly recommend you listen to Royce’s non-stop Neo City Pop mix. As Natsu says, “it seems like ‘city pop’ as a genre is really having a moment now on YouTube, streaming platforms and social media, even among non-Japanese people. City pop sounds glamorous and shiny to me, but it also is exciting and new and maybe that’s what appeals to people nowadays.” Wise words! Follow Natsu Summer on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Kichijoji is Alright: Royce has been busy! We released the latest episode of Tokyo ON, our flagship radio show on Maction Planet Radio. In it, he honours the cancelled Craftrock Circuit ’20 event was due to be held in Kichijoji last weekend. In the episode Royce takes the opportunity to rep for one of Tokyo’s most liveable areas, discussing some of the sights, sounds and flavors of the neighborhood. He exclusively features artists who were supposed to be at Craftrock Circuit ’20 such as Luby Sparks, Tokumaru Shugo, Homecomings and more. Listen to ‘Tokyo ON #61: Kichijoji is Alright’ here. This photo is the last one I have taken in Kichijoji in 2020. I took it on Saturday 21 March from one end of Inokashira Park’s pond.

The Kaminarimon Lantern is back!: On April 17 the Kaminarimon lantern was replaced for the first time in seven years. Events like this give us an excuse to write about the history of iconic landmarks in the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and that is exactly what we did, publishing ‘An Ode to Kaminarimon’ which tells you everything you need to know about the historic entrance to Sensoji, the oldest Buddhist Temple in Tokyo. (Photos of the lanternless Kaminarimon: Copyright Satoshi Toyoshima, used with permission). 

Yamatalk x Tokyo Taste Test: Our Tokyo Taste Test Video reviewing ‘The Hole in the Wall’ pub in Nishi-Ogikubo was featured on the Yamatalk English blog! (Former Mac on Tokyo interviewee) David Watkins founded Yamatalk English roughly seven years ago. They specialise in teaching young Japanese kids to read and write in English. They also conduct teacher training workshops to aid Japanese teachers in their teaching of English literacy skills all across Tokyo and it’s surrounding prefecture. More info can be found at their website http://www.yamatalk-english.com/. We love seeing our videos pop up across the net, and beyond. I really love that idea that once you create something it takes on a life of its own. Thank you to everyone who helps share the Maction across the multiverse. If you are not already, please subscribe to the Maction Planet YouTube channel.

And finally… #SupportLocalBusinesses: Here are ways to support your tour operator or travel agent friends. These suggestions apply to all freelancers and many other businesses – artists, musicians, interpreters. We hope they are useful to you. 

Ways to help your tour operator or travel agent friends:

These suggestions apply to all freelancers and many other businesses – artists, musicians, interpreters -#SupportLocalBusinesses:

If you have used their services:

• Write a review of your trip on TripAdvisor, Google Reviews or Yelp – check with them for what their forum of choice is. Ideally do this if you enjoyed your trip and are going to give a high rating 🙂
• Talk about your trip with your friends – word-of-mouth recommendations are the most powerful.

Even if you haven’t used their services:

• Buy a gift certificate to use in future – for others or for yourself!
• If they sell any merchandise, consider ordering some.
• Subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and whatever other platforms they operate on!
• Share/Repost their content/work/articles – help them build a platform.
• Comment on and like their content.

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours or to purchase a gift card, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com

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