■Dec. 26th, 2009 "Mock Up"

The picture is the full scale mock up for currently designing boat.
The space is very tight and related with many things, so we have to check with the mock up!
Even if we can save only few millimeters, it is very important to create the mechanical space and walkway in safe space. There are sometime few image gaps between CAD drawing and real things. We have to check it before the construction.
When I know it may be difficult to organize the space, I will ask to make the mock up. It is better to check before the construction. It is really hard to modify in a middle of construction. After check the mock up, we will feed back the design and check again. The boat construction is related to many, many things, so it better eliminate the possible risk on the drawing first.
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■Dec. 22nd, 2009 "2010 International Boat Show Schedule"

The 2010 International Boat Show Schedule is up in the NEWS category.
I must go to Miami on Feb. and Ft. Lauderdale on Oct, but also would like to visit some European boat show in next year. In addition, Japan Boat Show will hold on March at Yokohama.
I am very anxious to see some Asia’s boat show that is growing market in the world and also pretty close from Asia country Australia’s boat show.
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■Dec. 14th, 2009 "KAWASAKI City"

A nice weekend, I went to cycling by the Tama river.
My office is located in Kawasaki city where is mixed of residence and small industrial area. It’s only 10 minutes to come to Tama river and across the river is Tokyo.
When I see Kawasaki down town from along a river, it used to be small town, but now it’s still growing. About two decades ago, there is only IBM high building, but now there are many tall buildings.
Even though the town is getting new blood, my town, Kawasaki, still have old school taste.
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■Dec. 2nd, 2009 "Already December"

Time goes really fast. I realized that it’s already December.
Year by year, in other word when I’m getting old, my sense of time goes faster.
October is obviously end of year. I have to keep concentrating on what I’m doing NOW, at the same time think about what I want to do on the year 2010. I like December because it is kid of busy month for preparing coming happy new year.
The photo is photographer Ms. Mika Ninagawa’s work.
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■Nov. 23rd, 2009 "Tokyo Bay Night Cruising"

It is obvious that Tokyo Bay is very beautiful site from the boat.
There is a big bridge, which is called “Rainbow Bridge” and are many high buildings along side the waterfront.
There were many Japanese traditional party boats that are called Yakatabune on the 3 days holiday weekend. It was clear sky and clean air especially in winter time, so the sunset was breathtaking.
I believe Tokyo waterfront area is very attractive compares to the other city, but it is necessary to get the government assist to develop the project.
Even it is cold, it is worth to go out and take a look at Tokyo Bay night view.
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■Nov. 15th, 2009 "Florida - �I Custom Shipyard in FL"

I had a chance to visit “Custom Sports Fisherman Builder in Stuart, FL”.
The yard is not so big, but the site and yard inside is very clean. The core material is using light weight core material throughtout the boat.
I was very impressed that a worker was checking on PC from the parts list they are supposed to use.
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■Nov. 10th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�H AXE Bow"

I’ve seen AXE Bow styled mega & super yacht recently.
I think one of the benefits of AXE Bow is long LWL. Mostly ocean going vessel is using this style of bow. Feadship already proved the function of AXE bow, so I would like to get on board AXE Bow boat in the future.
The Benetti interior & exterior booth design is modern and rich booth design. Especially the exterior booth is something like Tokyo, Aoyama’s luxury shop.
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■Nov. 9th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�G Floridian Art"

It is very typical Marin sculpture in front of Ft. Lauderdale convention center.
There is cute boat motif made by mosaic tiles at the lobby of hotel.
Those things are very Floridian art to me.
There are many super yachts at Pier 66 for the boat show. I’ve seen many boats out to the sea at the weekend. That is very American to me.
Final photo is custom Vespa motorcycle. Even only change the original seat and hardware, it makes very characteristic product. This is good example to me.
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■Nov. 9th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�F POD Drive System"

Volvo, Penta’s IPS and Mercury’s Zeus Pod system is outstanding drive unit.
I was amazed Zeus’s high usability to match with Caterpillar, Cummins, and Yanmar engines.
The ZF’s prototype display the big POD drive unite is I can see the population system is going to go.
It is big benefit to use POD system to get better interior and easy to maneuver.
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■Nov. 7th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�E Mochi Craft, Dolphin 44"

It is very famous for the Lobster boat, Italian manufacture, Mochi Craft.
The boat interior is sophisticated and elegant taste. Using original yacht quality hardware makes the boat richer. The grid interior window, like Shoji screen, creates space more open and the design feature over the door design as well.
Mochi’s design is always stable to be fitted in the natural colors.
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■Nov. 7th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�D Alexa C2 114'"

I came back in Japan from Florida. While I was in Ft. Lauderdale, I’ve got tons of information and that makes me very motivated. I will up the boat show information eventually.
The boat name “Alexa C2” was displayed at Las Olas. She was build Nordlund Custom Boat Yard and designed by Ed Monk Jr. When I was in Seattle’s design office, I involved her interior design. I clearly remember that I had detailed interior meeting with owner’s wife and sometime went to design center.
Mr. Noel Coon and Ms. Alexa Higashi went home the day before I visited the boat. I met them 3 years ago at outside of Seattle restaurant.
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■Oct. 31th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�C"

I had a chance to shoot the bird-eye view of boat show. This is just only one part of boat show.
There are bunch of Super Yacht which is over Mega Yacht in a size and operation-wise.
I attend the US Superyacht Association meeting at Bahia Mar Hotel in the morning. Mr. Wayne Huizenga Jr made an interesting speech.
I’ve met Mr. Alexander Cabrera who is very famous Japanese professional baseball team at Ferretti booth.
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■Oct. 30th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�B"

It opened 50th Anniversary, Fort Lauderdale Boat Show yesterday. The first show was obviously held in 1959.
The boat show display place is on land and floating dock. It’s huge place, so it’s impossible to look around only in a day.
Even I look for certain thing and go to the booth, there are many related items in the category to display. It’s quite easy to compare and get the idea of items.
It is common, in US, to market the items compare with the brand names and stress what the strength.
As long as I have to be in Ferretti Group booth, I checked Riva, Mochi Craft, Pershing and Bertram.
The Sunseeker 80 is hull painted by dark brown and superstructure by light brown. I was stunning to use a brown color such a big amount of area, hull and superstructure, but it looks very elegant.
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■Oct. 29th, 2009 "LORIDA-�A"

It’s going to be held Fort Lauderdale boat show at Bahia Mar Yachting Center from today, October, 19th. This boat show is one of the biggest boat show in the world.
I had a chance to take a look at one of the CRN’s super yacht. I hesitate to up the photo of it for dealer’s kindness. The hall is still preparing and bunch of boats are dressing up beautifully.
I went to some boat material shops in the morning and found Burger office same mall as the dealer meeting. The Burger has been caught my attention and is very famous for custom builder in US.
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■Oct. 28th, 2009 "FLORIDA-�@"

It’s been a year to visit Florida since I came here for IBEX at Miami Convention Center in 2008. This time, I will stay mostly in Fort Lauderdale where is located north of Miami.
It is still really, really hot in Fort Lauderdale. It is strong sunshine, but the sky is just beautiful at sunset.
I arrived last night, 27th, at Fort Lauderdale, from Narita-Tokyo. It was very long flight, and unfortunately there is no direct flight. I transferred at Washington DC. It seems like nice city to visit from the sky. If I have a chance, I’ll drop by in the future.
I had typical American dinner which was good.
I will introduce thru this blog something I see while I’m in Fort Lauderdale.
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■Oct. 5th, 2009 "Naval Architect"

Mr. Ward Setzer is an American Naval Architect who does original design boat by boat.
I encountered his article and have been influence my as a designer attitude. I would like to note his sentences for the notes.

“I have had one driving principle: Never wait for the client to knock on the door and shape your business by what you are commissioned to design.
Explore, analyze, and innovate at all times.
A designer should never be satisfied and should never give up on learning new things, nor be afraid to experiment.”
- Ward Setzer
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■Sep. 28th, 2009 "Haneda Air Port"

It’s been quite long time to use Haneda Air port, because when I use the air plane, it is always international plane, so I have to go Narita Air Port in Chiba.
It is very convenience access to Haneda Air Port and air port facility is very clean and nice compare to the Narita Air Port.
I can see the Tokyo Tower and Shiodome skyscraper from my eyes.
I sipped a cup of coffee at the nice interior bar in the air port before got on boarding. This wall and ceiling wood design is quite unique. I am thinking that I can use this idea for the headboard in the Master State Room. The bar interior contains antique furniture and quiet color tone to be combined nicely.
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■Sep. 24th, 2009 "Okinawa, Japan"

I am just back from Okinawa that is the very south island in Japan. It was very hot and many red hibiscus blooms along the street.
First, we went to new Marina in where the 76 ft motor yacht ported. It’s been quite a while since the boat was launched. Around the Marina, there will be a big land development in the future. After the checking on site, we had a meeting at the yard.

After finish my job, I joined my friend’s dinner in the night. There was an Okinawa traditional folk song in the restaurant. It was a first time for me to listen the Okinawa traditional folk song, the song speed is rhythmic to dance.
I attended my friend’s wedding party tomorrow morning.
The party was held the white building the background of emerald green sea. It is quite difference style Okinawa than Tokyo. Congratulation, my friend!!
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■Sep. 18th, 2009 "Celebration"

There are many my family and relatives celebrations in this month, September.
It will be a big holiday week in next week in Japan, I have to go Okinawa (very south island in Japan and famous for beautiful sea and vacation island) for attending my friend’s wedding party.
I stopped at Okinawa last December in 2008 for pumping up the fuel and water for 105 ft motor yacht heading to Tokyo. I will stay only one night in Okinawa, but I will meet my partner in Okinawa and check the 76 ft motor yacht (she has water jets).
I am going to bring my single-lens reflex camera and try to shoot beautiful sea and sunset, and happy wedding.
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■Sep. 14th, 2009 "Inquiry"

Majority of our Web site viewer is except Japan, in other words international.
According to Web access checker, it is accessed from Asia and Europe country. There is some access from USA right now.
We received bunch of boat related material or service introduction mail, and information of china and lighting to be appropriate for a Mega Yacht from traditional Europe companies. I have also received some resume from the shipbuilding and design major student in Korea and Europe. I am very happy to see those inquiries.
I want our Web site to be more attractive contents to appeal people who visit our site and open and/or share the information.
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■Sep. 2nd, 2009 "OUTSTANDING! Express M/Y Breakers 61"

I had blog Breakers 37 that is built at Yasuda Shipyard in Tokyo, before. The Breakers 61 is launched this summer.
Since I glanced at her profile in the yard, I have been wondering what her boat ability at the sea. I had a chance to be on Breakers 61 from the Yasuda Shipyard’s CEO Mr. Nozawa’s kindness.
Even though she is 61 feet, it feels like smaller boat handling, very easy and soft ride!! This is coming from very detailed ship construction and profile design. I can see it stem line at bow. In addition that she has Volvo IPS engines.
Breakers 61 interior is also totally outstanding. There are some boats that don’t match the profile and interior design, however Breakers 61 is blended in unique finish. I want to say a lot of things about the interior, but I point out the art gallery at starboard wall in big Salon. The interior is really welcoming with elegant coziness based upon deep thought.
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■Aug. 17th, 2009 "Laminated Wood"

The “Laminated Wood” is used in a various field, such as appliance, car, house building and etc.
The method of the making Laminated Wood is time consuming process.
The thin plywood puts into phenol resin and makes layers to certain shape under heat compression. The looks of the wood is real and rich. It is very good at heat-resistance and water-resistance. It is even natural wood, at the same time laminated wood is stand as permanent wood.
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■Aug. 10th, 2009 "Japanese Boat Market Article"

It has a 5 pages article about Japanese Boat Market in a monthly UK boat magazine.
The article title is “Uncertain Horizons”. Not only the tile is negative feeling, but the content also shows the bad weather in Japanese boat market.
The data is based upon JBIA (Japan Boat Industry Association), the each picture is obviously showing downsizing the market. The article is only focusing on what it is right now, I'd like to read about what we better do for the future.
It is very important to know what volume the market is, but I think there is a way to expand the market even though in a niche industry.
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■Aug. 4th, 2009 "Keep Motivated"

It is very hard to keep motivated in a daily work.
I think the source of motivation is basically three elements.

"Goal Setting"
"Risk Management"
"Commitment Possibility"

In other words, there is a circle of "Creation", "Promotion" and "Vacation", then go back to "Creation". This circulation keeps things new and makes thing better and better.
Our company also put "Proposal Power", "Creative Power" and "Cooperation Power" with source of motivation.
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■Aug. 1st, 2009 "Many PC"

There are many PCs on the desk.
I mainly use desk-top PC, but when I need to work on DVD file, CG rendering work and something contains heavy file, I deal with each file process on each PC. It takes sometime overnight to finish it.

It will be held many fire works in August. These pictures are a little bit earlier held at Choufu, Tokyo. I can't shoot a good fire works photo with sound and dynamism.
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■July. 28, 2009 "A Meal on the Yacht"

It is nice to have a catering meal on the yacht, but if the chef is on the yacht, it is great to have a decent full-course meal. The chef plans a meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a various style of cuisine.
The Chef can cook the fish that is caught from the boat right away. Not only inside Galley, there is a BBQ at aft deck that makes stimulate the appetite by smell and it is interesting to see the chef's movement.
Of course, the bartender is on the boat to serve any kind of cocktail.
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■July. 20, 2009 "Beach House @ Shounan Beach"

I've heard that it is very interesting concept beach house just opened in Shounan Beach. I made a time to check it, out not only visit the beach house, but to research the beach house trend.
The rain season is over in Tokyo area. It was cloudy day, but very warm and humid day. Our first stop was called “Zushi Beach”. I could hear very low sound from a beach house form a distance. There is variety type of beach house, such as beach club, beach studio and sponsored beach house which is obvious. The design of beach house is huge difference than decade ago. It is mixture the city sense with each own concept beach house and ends up with great!! I could learn that is the good scenes to mix two different scenes.
We had a lunch at FIAT CAFFE @ Yuigahama Beach where is my purpose to visit the beach. I had a fried Pizza. The taste is very, very good!! The inside the house, there is the demonstration car, 500C, in a center, and the seats are around it. The interior is basically white, but using a red is as good accent to make a movement in a space. This beach house has a core concept and attached with relatable idea and service in a good shape. It makes very comfortable space. I could come up with many, many ideas while I was seating at there.
I wonder how many times I will go there in this Summer.
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■July. 14, 2009 "Yasuda Shipyard Co., Ltd"

The Yasuda Shipyard is located in Keihinjima, Otaku, Tokyo. The yard is close to Haneda air port.
The shipyard is building the express sport fisherman motor boat, “Breakers 37” & “Breakers 61”. I was very lucky to see the Breakers 37 hull #1 in the yard. She was in the yard for maintenance. Mr. Nozawa, CEO of Yasuda Shipyard Co., Ltd, has started this project from scratch and been building up the clear concept and direction of Breakers series motor yacht.

The Breakers 61 is under construction right now. Her profile is 61 ft express fisherman. She will be elegant enough to stand alone on the sea.
At that time, the interior wood paint wasn't finished yet. But it's already done by great wood color and finish.
It's first time to see that the pin striper was working at the boat transom, ship name and graphic decoration. It is worth to see the transom. It is reaching to the art stage.
I feel CEO, Mr. Nozawa is trying to reach or “break” the area that is very deep design and enhance the possibility of boat design.
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■July. 11, 2009 "Web Design & Programming"

One of our company's services, Web Design, is becoming another core of service.
It has been some years since Web 2.0, we have been learning the new technology and method of Web design and programming, and using techniques to practice the real web site.
About the SEO, we are checking the detailed Web analysis sheet daily, and have a meeting in a half month and a month based upon the month statistic of web analysis data sheet. We discuss about the status of the Web site and find out the point to improve the site.
I personally like the Web design, because it is changeable design. What I meant is the design can be changed anytime. It is the huge difference between interior design and web design.
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■July. 07, 2009 "Stray Cat"

Since last couple of month ago, the calico cat came to my office. Some day calico cat had two kitties.
The calico cat that is stray cat and use to walk around my office is lady and became a mother.
We gave her cat food someday, since then her family is coming certain time for food in the morning and evening.
When I tried to shoot the photo of them, kitties were almost running away, however mother calico cat was concentrate to eating.
We will keep eye on them from now on.
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■July. 01, 2009 "Glass Holder in a Motor Yacht"

These are the picture of glass holder for wine glass, tumbler, and champagne glass etc.
The picture is for inside the cabinet, the holder made of plywood as same as inside cabinet wood. There are various shape and size of glasses, so it needs to measure each type of glasses and make sure which point of glass will hold the wood holder. It is very important, but takes time to make it.
In the decorative cabinet, the holder is made of translucent acryl, because there is down light to bright up the crystal through the translucent shelves.
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■June. 24, 2009 "A Meeting"

This is a picture of a meeting in a partner company in China.
We, as an international team, really cared about procedure of the contents and timing of the strength items.
We were prepared enough to make a clear presentation. We have a competitor on this project, I wish we are able to carry on this project.

The beach picture is after meeting to make sure the site.
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■May. 25, 2009 "Turning Point"

I've been trying to expand our services from beginning of this year. The key word is "Create the Value”. I have deeply searched what the essential value is. I am approaching new value sometime strategic, and sometime following my instinct.
We've got a lot of support eventually and are moving forward step by step.
I don't have any fear when I'm looking forward. There is no dream behind my footsteps. The dream is only ahead where I'm going to go.
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■Apr. 27, 2009 "2009 Shanghai Boat Show"

I visited Shanghai via Dalian for meeting.
It is first time for me to visit Shanghai. The city is modern and huge, bad traffic though. The boat show was held pretty close to center of the city. There was no floating show at all, only on land display.
It was amazed to see how much improve the Chinese pressure boat building and many, many US and European boat manufacture and boat related company is marketing big and quite new China market. Some manufacture put their capital into China market to promote their brand.
Here are the photo of boat show and many tall buildings area in Shanghai.
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■Mar. 24, 2009 "Custom-Furniture"

Furniture is a one of key aspects to create sophisticated interior.
It is obvious that famous designers’ furniture is really good. However it would not fit in a certain space such as yacht interior design.
We always designed several custom-furniture on the mega yacht project. To put the custom furniture in the interior, the space to be perfectly bonded with different components. There should be any reason for the design of interior.
The picture is “Piano Table”, “Vanity Chair”, “Bar Stool”, “Lounge Chair” and “AFT Deck Table”.
To build furniture is just small scale of building the architecture. It is very difficult and related to ergonomic. That may be why it is worth to deeply think about the design of furniture.
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■Mar. 13, 2009 "Japan Shop 2009"

It was held a show called “Japan Shop” and “Architecture + Construction Materials” at Tokyo Big Site until March 6th.
I go to this show every year, I couldn’t attend last year because I was in Taiwan for yacht project, this year’s show was little smaller in a number of vendors than before.







The show held at the same time is “Lighting Fair”. This show was really good to update the lighting technology right now. The lighting technology is all about “LED” and “Organic Electro-Luminescence”.
The use of LED down light in Yacht Interior wouldn’t meet with the hardness of fixture depth.
“Swarovski” lighting makes me extending my imagination of yacht interior. I seriously consider to use this lighting on next project.
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■Mar. 03, 2009 "Baccarat Tumblers"

I presented the custom tumblers to the mega yacht owner for whom we did an Interior Design.
I had been looking for perfect glasses to match with the interior design theme of the yacht. I ended up with the Baccarat (France) glass.
I chose two type of glasses for final check and went to Baccarat Bar. I compared two type of glasses as weight, dimention, quality and feeling of touch to the lip with drinking whiskey. Both were really good, however I chose the series name “Piccadilly”.
I wanted to put the ship name on tumblers. I had to make sure the logo’s largeness, location and direction on test piece. The custom tumblers are done by sand blast precisely and I am very happy to present these tumblers to owner.
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■Feb. 25, 2009 "Favorite city in China"

I had a chance to join the business trip to mainland China.
It took about 3 hours by air plane from Narita, Tokyo. It is quite close city.
We went to a marina because I’ve heard that the brand new Azimut, Leonardo 98 ft was arrived in China on late last year. I wanted to feel the meaning of this Azimut mooring in a Chinese marina from my eyes.
I was taking photo with thinking of how Chinese enjoy boat life? What boat life style appeals to Chinese?
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■Feb. 16, 2009 "Noise & Vibration Measurement"

Mega yacht’s engine room is typically located underneath Salon area where widest area in yacht is.
The engines and related machinery equipment (generators), of course, makes noise and vibration. We, as interior architect and engineer, have to know the figure.
These measurements are usually included in sea trial procedure. According to the data, engineer deal with arrangement carefully.
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■Feb. 4, 2009 "Ginza, TOKYO"

I often go to Ginza, Tokyo to refresh and do brain storm. Ginza is located in center of Tokyo and very modern city. Many tourist visit this city for shopping and sight seen.
There are a lot of brand new buildings which are pretty unique style. To see those designs makes me thinking deeply. What I mean is I try to read each building design concept as why is this here, this location? why architect does this design? or many question in my head. I will never go away until I get my answer.
I change the subject to recent yacht business in the world. I am hearing many layoff and close yacht yard in the world (especially in US). It is very sad to see some manufacture gone from the market. I’m personally happy for Albemarle to stay in business.
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■Jan. 21, 2009 "Tokyo Water Front"

I walk around the town name called “Shibaura & Tennoz” on the other day.
I have been really curious about the town, because the town is very close to water, so I would like to see what the relationship between town and boat.
Shibaura is recently developed for high scraper residence building and, in contrast, Tennoz is office town. There are several charter boats at floating pontoon on the canal. I thought there are more amazing possibility for yacht business, if more freedom to use canals.
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■Jan. 17, 2009 "IBEX Show @ Miami - �B - Final"

I have been very busy for international business trip, brought the boat to Japan since last fall, so I couldn’t update the Miami trip blog. It is just little excuse･･･
It is natural sight to port the yacht in front of the house around FL. But most people who see this situation amaze what the great boat circumstance it is. It is almost impossible to do that way in Japan.
How about manage yacht & share the summer house? For instance, when the yacht doesn’t use, owners can rent their yacht for charter. In house situation, people own the house with some people and organize annual plan for use. Even though staying Japan or somewhere, we can get this dream situation.
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■Jan. 10, 2009 "UCHIYAMA Design, Inc. Year 2009"

A Happy New Year.
We, Uchiyama Design, Inc., are going to gear up & challenge many things in 2009 because this global financial crisis situation.
This year’s motto is “Where There is a Will, There is a Way”. We have strong will to arrange an idea and/or create relatively new way. We have to maintain strong will & guts throughout this year.
We appreciate for kind attention and direction.
UCHIYAMA Design, Inc.
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■Jan. 5th, 2009 "Year 2009"

Wish you for the Very Happy New Year.
Uchiyama Design, Inc.
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