tripitaka

Only Aussies could export a property bubble to Japan!! I will eat my hat and shoes with sweet Thai chilli suace.

Rag Doll, great summary. In this day and age, many people have some pretty unrealistic expectations from property.

Interesting Stunts. You have to ask yourself why the real estate industry is doing so poorly if there is so much potential out there. Anyway, what you're saying supports what I initially said: the money is made by corporations in the development stage, definitely not in private investment and "buy and hold."

Originally Posted By: Stuntcok Those figures actually make the strength in high end buildings weaker as they aggregate includes outdated stock that is not holding their value (pencil buildings etc). Some of the newest residential and office buildings in central Tokyo have almost doubled in value. For instance, the developments in Akasaka Green Park, and Mid Town have made a lot of money for the those who invested (and then sold). Are you sure about those buildings have "doubled" in value? Roppongi Hills has actually fallen in value. If you follow any of the large REITs, you will know t

SNP, land prices are only one component of the costs of owning a property. Talk to anyone who has an understanding of Japanese property and they will know what I'm talking about. Successful property investors are usually developers, not buyers. Granted, there are a few property developers sitting on land in Tokyo (and Niseko) who have made a buck from land transactions, but this doesn't relate to a foreigner picking up a condo in a ski resort that will be empty for 2/3 of the year!!

Originally Posted By: Mamabear Originally Posted By: tripitaka You wonder how well some of these foreign investors really understand Japanese property. Most of the buyers are just purchasing to own thier own piece of the paradise - they are happy enough if they can resell it without a loss. There are a few making a big investment, but I am sure they have done the research. Mama, you show me anywhere in Japan where you can buy a property and resell it without a loss. If you can, I will eat my hat.... and then my shoes. Yes, some people have made a big investment. Those are the

Apparently, Niseko ski holidays are also being marketed heavily in NZ newspapers. Rumors of the collusion between Aussie airlines and the property investors seem far fetched but who knows. I think if the property market tanks in Australia, you might see some impact in Niseko. You wonder how well some of these foreign investors really understand Japanese property.

Originally Posted By: muikabochi How far away from where you are is that tripitaka? I really don't know that area at all. Can get there from Osaka in three hours.

Originally Posted By: Creek Boy Davo and I had a nice run Saturday up in Takarazuka. Great mountain trails right in his backyard, soooo jealous. We went just over an hour, and struggled getting up the steepest part of the long climb, but we didnt stop and made it to the top. Had a good breather after that but were basically fine afterwards. Thanks for the run mate and looking forward to another one soon. Mtn. Biking has been great too! Had some good rides the last several days and glad to be rolling again Mtn. biking in the Kansai? Takarazuka? Minoh? Kawachi-nagano? I used to ride in

Women's tennis is pretty sexy.

It's a lot more fickle at HK but it gets plenty of snow at times.

Bert and Ernie. Reminds of Martin Scorcese's Sesame Street

Originally Posted By: Creek Boy >in junior high, i was in a t&f club and ran 100, 200, 800, 1500, and 3000, but never ran 400. 400 is tough perhaps.. quite an interesting combination there ewok. Generally people use either white or red muscles but hardly both - or maybe its harder to be the best at both which is why you quite often see winners taking the 100/200 combo or maybe the 200/400 for sprinters; and often the 800/1500 for mids. I always wanted to be a pure 800/1500 runner but was better at the 1500/steeple/5000. There's a lot of concern about Japanese kids being physi

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver I finished work today at 10am so decided to use it productvely and go out running. Had a bit of a monster run (for me), dunno the distance but it took me 1hr 45mins which I'd have never believed I could run for!! Then as a treat I had a few al fresco beers in the 20 degree afternoon sunshine!!! Good work TB. That's about the same time I stretched for this morning at 5 a.m. Hopefully will do a Bikram tonight.

Originally Posted By: Creek Boy ...it is Track and Field club Well it's good to see you pushing them. It makes my high school rugby training look soft!!

That looks pretty intimidating to me. That's over 5 km of 400-m shuttle runs!! What are you guys training for? The Olympics?

Some friends went to Takasu y'day from Osaka.

Originally Posted By: Indo Gold @ $1,002!!!! keep going baby! I'm still in and have been buying. Not doing bad as my speccies are starting to fruit. Only 1 I have been slammed by and you won't be suprised to know that it's a bank/insurance co! Still fundamentals are very strong so this one is my long long term keeper. If I think I can pick the bottom I might top up, but that's months away... I bought a little gold too. However, it worries me that the mainstream is now talking about it. We've seen what happens when everone jumps into property speculation. Many of those people are pro

Originally Posted By: Go Native And soubs I think you'll find that Japanese lifespans have much to do with their diet. But as more western junk foods make their way into the culture they'll be dying off just as quick as any of us I agree. It also has to do with attitudes about portion sizes. Super-size portions usually leads to super-sized physiques and associated health problems.

Hachi Kita

I've heard some nightmare stories, but personally the only problem I've had are with wisdom teeth. With four impacted teeth, the hospital still refused a general anaesthetic because of "liability." I had one out but felt like I was visiting a blacksmith. In Japan, healthcare is either state-of-the art or bordering on primitive, with little in-between. Stick to the big public hospitals or recognized private hospitals and you can't go too far wrong.

Awesome stuff. I hope you applied your sunblock.

I thought Karl Taro Grenfeld's 'Speed Tribes' about the wilder side of Japanese culture was good when it came out but it's dated now. 'Pink Samurai' by Nicholas Bornoff is also a very good book that is thorough and interesting. Pop culture books about Japan can be a little tedious at times but there's a lot of good books on Japanese film. Check out Midnighteye.com

'Tokyo Underworld' by Robert Whiting is the most hard-case and hard-boiled books I've read about Japan. Even though it's about the rise and fall of an American shyster, you get a perspective of Japanese attitudes post-WWII. Apparently, Hollywood's onto the script. Roland Barthes' 'Empire of Signs' is worth a read if you want to get all post-modern and abstract. Actually, it gave me a fresh way of looking at Japan. Ian Buruma's 'Behind the Mask: On Sexual Demons, Sacred Mothers, Transvestites, Gangsters, Drifters, and Other Japanese Cultural Heroes' was the first serious book I read

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver Cool, are they ALTing it or are they here purely for the snow? Do you know where in Scotland they are from? I wish I lived in Hakuba!! I think one guy owns a lodge.