Hiroko's Hitokoto

Saturday is Teddy Bears' day. There's a famous story that the stuffed bears were originally named after Theodore Roosevelt, and this Saturday is his birthday. The original teddy bear (not necessary known as a Teddy Bear back then) was made by Steiff, a German stuffed animal company, back in 1880. An original old Steiff bear is now worth more than a few million yen. I use to make some stuffed animals, and it's very hard to make one with a good smiling face. Positioning the eyes is especially difficult! It might be one of the reasons why I can't help buying cute stuffed animals whenever I see them -- because I know it's almost impossible to make the exact same face. My mania for stuffed animals sometimes makes me the target of fun by my male friends. But then, I have to ask them, "What's up with all your toys: robots, pikachu, PCs, audio equipment, and such...?" That usually shuts them up!

Mobile phones have advanced amazingly in the last few years, but the other day a unique new accessory caught my eye -- a mouse pad phone! This strange looking device is a fully functional push phone made out of a flat rubber molding. It has a microphone and ear phone built in, so that you can use it hands-free. It's got 2 modular jacks so that you can connect a regular phone and modem. You can even pick a color scheme of blue, green, red, and yellow. I've seen unique mouse pads, such as one with a calculator, one made of china, etc. But seeing one with a built-in phone really takes the cake....

Polaroid in the USA applied for Chapter 11 protection last week. They've announced their restructuring plan, but given the market trends of digital cameras, it's hard to say whether they can really make any improvement. Digital means that there is no more anticipation while you shake the photo to speed up its development -- instead you get instant gratification.Easy and fast were the key phrases used by Polaroid. No longer is either adjective true when used in comparison to digital cameras. Recently I've been hearing that even some professional photographers have given up using manual cameras. And that teachers at some photography schools are telling students not to bother with the courses about exposure or lighting, because they can correct the photos digitally later. On a personal level, a man who runs a photo store in NY told me he has to shut down soon, because he can't keep up with digital camera techniques and technology. He's an old guy and started his career

Autumn Equinox has passed, the air is becoming cooler and a little drier everyday. I tend to walk a little longer than usual these days to feel the air and the fragrance of Kinmokusei (Oleaceae/Osmanthus) which has started to bloom. The sweet scent of the flowers makes me feel that life is not that bad. I can walk, see, hear, eat and smell. Maybe this is a kind of aromatherapy after the brutal heat of Tokyo summers. It's often said that lavender is good for relaxing, but there are some other smells that I love, such as the smell of coffee in the morning, roasting tea leaves, tubs made of Japanese cypress, new green tatami mats, and martini -- even though I don't drink. Close your eyes, and enjoy your favorite aroma -- Fall in Japan is the right time to do it.