RANmagazine Issue 9 January / February 2011

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January / February 2011|ISSUE 9|

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o, I’m dead tired of hearing people complain aboutNagoya. It isn’t that I’m in love with this city, far from it,but the same old complaints just create a really viciouscycle of that same stuff over and over again. That in mind,there are some things I love about Nagoya:Great Transportation, even if it stops running at 12am,the public subway system here rocks! It’s on time, fast, clean,reliable and dare I say, comfortable? I mean, compared toTokyo’s sardine tubes and New York’s ‘come-whenever-we-damn-well-feel-like-it’ subway system, Nagoya’s lines seemalmost perfect by comparison. I’m on the Sakura Dori line,catch me if you can…Parks. Come on, lots of folks say Nagoya could use lotsmore green space, true, I’m one of those people, but Nagoya’spark system is pretty good. All the major parks I go to,Shirakawa, Meijo Koen, Tsurumai Koen, Heiwa Koen, ShonaiRyokuchi Koen, Higashiyama Koen, even Central Park, theseare great places to lounge, play, chill, sport it up, dance, eat,relax, learn, meet, refresh and progress! Here’s to Nagoya’sPARKS, see you in one this year!Ease of living. Lots of folks complain that Nagoya is‘boring’, ‘uninteresting’, ‘not exciting’, etc, well, let’s turn thataround and say Nagoya is calm, peaceful, low stress, andrelatively friendly. Sure, Nagoyans aren’t the cosmopolitanbunch Tokyo-ites like to think of themselves as, nor areNagoyans the loud and outspoken brash comedians Osakansproclaim themselves to be, we’re somewhere in between.We’re laid back but upbeat, we’re mellow but interested, we’refun without being obnoxious. We’re down for the cause butwe’d just as soon stay home and chill. Nagoya and Nagoyansmake for a low maintenance but lively combination, all in asafe and easily-commutable city, best of all worlds I’d say. Citylife without city strife, heard? Word…I mean, let’s face it, where on earth is the absolute perfectlocation? Sure, there are lots of spots “cooler than”, “biggerthan”, “more interesting than”, wherever you’re currentlyliving, but it’s all relative, isn’t it? Me, give me a place witha city nightlife, some art and culture, an open-mindedpopulation, a few good restaurants, some decent bookstores,and throw in some mountains, or a seaside, and I’m good.It might be said Nagoya has none of those, but what it doeshave, I’m adapting to, and still, I’m good…you live insideyour head mostly anyway, it’s up to you how you read yourenvironment, and the grass is always greener on the otherside, never forget. We all came here for a reason, let’s explorewhat that/those reasons might be, and learn something,contribute something, get something and give somethingwhile we’re here. “You go through stages…”, my friend Yokotold me recently. Damn right. However you handle thosestages is what decides how your daily life is going to be. Half empty/half full, how do you see it?I hope in 2011 here in Nagoya, more people will takemore chances on themselves, their ideas, their dreams, andcontribute more to the environment of art and culture herein Nagoya. It’s a really fertile time, the soil seems ready to beplanted with some great ideas, concepts, innovations anddreams…why wait? Why wait for the perfect moment/time/ place/person? That time is Right About Now, make it happen,I’m looking at the man in the mirror, are you?2011 is the year of the rabbit, classy, sensitive, creative,optimistic, compassionate, this year is a year to PRODUCE, asthe rabbit is so well known for. The rabbit is also expressive,well-mannered and stylish, so 2011 looks to be somethingspecial! Reinvent yourself as how you see yourself in yourmind, the voice in your head is right-.Make it your best year ever,We plan to do the same thing.BLESS UP!We still love you Nagoya.TDHOUCHENRAN MAGAZINE PUBLISHER

REASONS TO LOVE NAGOYA

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