This Week in Tokyo – 28 July 2020

Welcome to the another multi-venue ‘This Week in Tokyo’! ‘This Week in Tokyo’ is a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the city. Check out photos from our adventures and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide. This week: Lotustastic; Baseball in the time of COVID-19; Mercedes-Benz Art Scope 2018-2020; Business Success Japan and Value for mascot! 

Featured image – Lotustastic: A very early start braving a rainy day may not sound like fun, but when sights like this lotus flower at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno are your reward, it’s worth it.

One thing that has been important to me on the Maction Planet blog has been to present a ‘real feel’ of Tokyo and Japan. Almost every photo on this website, and almost all the videos on the Maction Planet YouTube channel, have been shot using my trusty Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (Injustice Edition, for those Otaku out there) – four years old and still going strong. I want to show guests, through the images we showcase in ‘This Week in Tokyo’ and posts such as these images of cosmos flowers, that the power to take great pictures of their time in Tokyo is in their pocket. I love sharing advice on improving your photography with my guests.

Baseball in the time of COVID-19: Fans were greeted by a simple message when they arrived at Jingu Stadium on Friday: “Welcome back to Sweet Home”.  Baseball fans are back in NPB stadiums to watch Pro-Baseball for the first time in 2020… and if you couldn’t make it or are curious about what Japanese Baseball during COVID-19  is like, we have you covered in the latest video on the Maction Planet YouTube which you can watch above! Join me and experience the excitement of the first game back at Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium on Friday 24 July 2020 as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows took on the Yomiuri Giants in the Central League. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to the Maction Planet YouTube channel and click the bell to turn on notifications. I truly appreciate your support. Enjoy, and we continue…

Mercedes-Benz Art Scope 2018-2020: I was honoured to be invited to the press day at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art for their latest exhibition, Mercedes-Benz Art Scope 2018-2020. Since 2003, the Hara Museum has partnered with Mercedes-Benz Japan in the Art Scope artist-in-residence program which invites young artists from Japan and Germany to live in and draw inspiration from a different cultural environment. In 2018, the Japanese artist Tsuyoshi Hisakado was sent to Berlin for the 2018-2020 program and from Germany, the Cypriot artist Haris Epaminonda was sent to Tokyo in 2019. This exhibition presents the fruits of their respective experiences, as well as new works by a previous Art Scope participant, Meiro Koizumi (Berlin, 2010). All artists intend to present new work that addresses the current situation, made during a time of social and physical constraints. The above installation is from Tsuyoshi Hisakado. Thank you to the team at the Hara for creating a safe space for patrons to enjoy much-needed art in these covidacious times. The exhibition is on from 23 July – 6 September 2020.   

Business Success Japan: I have been following the Business Success Japan podcast for some time, so when host Lydia Beukelman reached out and invited me to be a guest, I was honoured.  “With his years of experience in Japan and his profound admiration for the country and its culture, I knew that he would be able to share important insights with my podcast listeners.” said Lydia. “Mac’s story is proof that, while head-knowledge is important, true success in Japan can only be reached through deep and meaningful connections.” 

In this episode we discuss my experiences moving to and falling in love with the country, as well as practical insights into how best to build and maintain relationships in Japan. 

I hope our conversation proves inspirational to those considering moving to Japan, or who want to take their experiences and relationships in this great nation to the next level.

You can listen to the Maction Planet episode of Business Success Japan here.

Value for mascot: I first featured Miraitowa and Someity in ‘This Week in Tokyo’ when they were celebrating two years to go until the Tokyo Olympics. These two were expecting to be hard at it this week as everything they had worked towards, the Olympics and Paralympics, were meant to have begun. The competitions have been postponed a year. Who knows what the future will hold, but I do know that Miraitowa and Someity bring a smile to my face whenever I see them. Whatever happens, we continue…

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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