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Tom Takihi's Articles

  • Your Home Is Your Sanctuary
    Home is sanctuary. It is a place that conjures the powerful feeling of belongingness where rest and renewal happens. Here we expect tranquility and peace. We expect protection from the outside world we participate in.
  • World’s Top Five Golf Courses
    Wonder where the world’s richest, famous, and avid golfers tee off? In a sport where the playing field is not as rigid or as restricted as other forms of sport, the outdoor can make the difference. Where nature is not only the backdrop but the playing field itself, how this sport is played is what
  • Why It’s Important To Know All About Your Insurance Policy
    It’s an accepted fact. There are things in life that we have no control over.
  • Where You Can Learn About The Latest In Online Security
    The almost flawless convergence of personal computers and the internet brings convenience to a whole new level in the 21st century. Not having to leave the comfort of your own home to purchase the latest novel by your favorite author or getting your hands on that rare collectible via Amazon.com
  • What's the Buzzword? Tell Me What's Happening!
    In my younger days, the word "buzz" referred either to that irritating sound that winged insects used to make in your ears or, in ordinary conversation, to the latest gossip or scoop pertaining to a particular subject, most often, show business.
  • What Jewelry Should You Wear To Your Wedding?
    Ever since time immemorial, brides have always relied on accents to
    highlight their glow and beauty on their special day. The first stop for
    this is your jewelry. But how do you choose?
  • Webmaster Tools And Resources At Your Fingertips
    As the Web continues to evolve as the venue for competition in business, the webmaster’s role is increasingly becoming critical. What exactly is a webmaster? He, or she for that matter, is essentially the administrator of a website.
  • Ways To Speed Up Learning Of A Second Language
    Learning a second language is never easy for the simple reason that it is exactly that — a second language. Ninety-nine percent of the time and, of course, barring the existence of congenital speech defects, the difficulty of learning a new language is brought on by the learner’s adherence to the co
  • Visiting the Japanese Home
    So, you plan to visit a Japanese home? Well, before you do such you must first learn the etiquette in Japanese homes. The Japanese home culture revolves around three values: courtesy, cleanliness, and graciousness. Learning to apply these values whether in the Japanese context or not benefits you no
  • Useful Scripts for your Business
    Anyone who is managing a business would have a wish list similar to this: a demand for a product or service that he or she provides, a streamlined base of operations in making and providing the product or service, besting the competition with a plan of action, having loyal customers,
  • Understanding Comparative Philosophy
    As a branch or subfield of philosophy, comparative philosophy is quite young and is still in its early stage of development. Its aim is to work on problems and compare various philosophies by taking into account all sources regardless of culture, language or philosophical stream.
  • To Join or Not to Join a Blog Network, That is the Question!
    One clear proof of the blog's immense popularity is the fact that there are currently hundreds upon hundreds of new blogs that have been created since the time blogging caught the attention of Internet surfers a few years back.
  • Things To Remember About Credit Card Ownership
    Owning a credit card is like owning a gun. Handle it responsibly and it will take care of you and save you from occasional tight situations. Misuse it and it can bring you to grave financial disaster.
  • The World of the Geisha
    Yasunari Kawabata's crystalline novel Snow Country relates a love affair between an aloof dilettante and what is known as an onsen, or "hot-spring", geisha; and much of the novel's relentless melancholy arises from the onsen geisha's low place on the geisha totem pole.
  • The World Cup Fever!!
    Waiting for the World Cup to start has always been a punishing yet rewarding experience for soccer aficionados. The former is felt days after the last World Cup ends, the latter, days before the next one starts.
  • The Truth About Low Carb Diets
    Low carb diets are very effective in achieving weight loss when followed. But the key word there is that they should be followed. However, there are controversies about their “healthiness”. Definitely, people get into these diets to lose weight.
  • The Trend In Gadgets
    Almost every week, we have news about the latest technological gadgets being invented and made available in the market. We usually think of gadgets as something portable and handy and that which can make our work faster and easier. Remember the robot or perhaps, Gadget Boy?
  • The Tao of Breathing
    One of the impressions I have gained recently in speaking to Zen friends about practice is a certain attitude towards breathing in zazen. For the sake of brevity, and just for fun, I wish to refer to it as "samurai breathing".
  • The Pros and Cons of Applying Online
    Job-hunting has never been as exciting and as efficient as it is now with the abundance of data available via that great information vehicle we all know as the Internet. Nowadays, all you need to do is go online and you immediately gain access to hundreds upon hundreds of websites that carry lists
  • The Japanese Geisha
    Contrary to popular western belief, a geisha is not a prostitute. Although she works as a professional hostess at a teahouse called O-chaya, the kind of work she does has actually very little to do with prostitution or sex.
  • The Geisha World in Print
    The Japanese culture is rich and full of zest. One huge part of this culture is the performing art world of the Geisha. Fortunately, this world is captured in many Japanese books and in books about Japan.
  • The Gambler's Tavern
    Gambling has been around since the dawn of mankind and it will probably outlive any and all of its detractors whether politically or morally. It does not matter if you are for or against gambling, we can all say that it was part of our history and it will be part of our future.
  • The Charm of Kitakyushu
    Moji, Tobata, Wakamatsu and Yawata. Not as well-known to tourists as the bigger cities like Tokyo, the city of Kitakyushu preserves its’ natural beauty amidst clear blue seas and lush, green mountains. This peculiar blending of beauty, modernity and relative anonymity makes up the city’s charm.
  • The ABC's of Gambling
    Gambling is the general term for various games. Various forms of gambling exist, each with its’ own distinct history. Regardless of the type, however, gambling will always be an important part of history and all cultures, as a source of entertainment (and money) for people of all classes.
  • Teaching Japanese Language
    The Japanese language is an interesting one. Reading Japanese signs, books and all sorts of written material will require you to at least know katakana, hiragana and some kanji.
  • Syndicating Your Articles For Free
    As the competition to get to the top of Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) intensify SEO engineers are finding more and more legitimate ways to help their clients. People dealing with SEO know that one of the major things, aside from meta tags and such things, that really do work and contribute to
  • SUVs Can Be Environmentally Friendly!
    In the past few years, the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) has gained amazing popularity. When before sleek sports cars and petite Japanese cars were the only “in” thing in the world of cars, now these big macho brutes have taken the world by storm. With their style and size, SUVs make a statement lo
  • Submitting Your Website To Directories For Free
    What is the one thing webmasters the world over wants for their websites? They want their websites to be visible on the net! And what better way to do this than to have their websites included in site listings and search engines.
  • Submitting Your Website To Authority Directories
    Search engines have come to dominate the internet as the ultimate portal for information retrieval. However, even before directories came to existence people used to rely on link directories to get them to the website they needed to view. When search engines first surged in popularity a lot of peopl
  • Sri Lanka's Tsunami Recovery
    Sri Lanka, an island well known for its natural splendor and beauty, has proven itself a worthy tourist destination, as well as a key location for ecological diversity. Its natural treasures, however was greatly affected by the tsunami of December 2004, caused by a tremor in the Indian Ocean.
  • Social Bookmarkers
    The advent of the phenomenon known as “WEB 2.0” that is now revolutionizing the way we use the internet is now re-shaping the internet as we know it. The traditional way we use the internet is usually through web browsers that give us a list of the most relevant web pages that match exactly the word
  • Searching for the Right Host
    There are hundreds, if not thousands of websites created all over the world everyday. Personal sites cover subjects on anything from dreary daily activities of the webmaster to the conflict raging in the Middle East between Israel and Lebanon.
  • Searching For Information In Blogs
    There are all kinds of blogs like personal blogs, topical blogs, culture blogs, political blogs, science blogs, educational blogs, news blogs and much more. One of the things these blogs have in common is that they are generally good sources of information.
  • Search Engine Optimization: Why is it important?
    The internet can still be considered as a new frontier and a website constantly faces a tough competition in order to be heard and be noticed amidst so many other websites who are all vying for the attention of millions of internet surfers every single day. This would be relatively easy if each webs
  • RSS And Multi-Media Content Delivery
    RSS, or Really Simple Syndication as it is generally known, refers to a family of file formats that is used for web syndication. It is normally used to automatically deliver newly posted content from websites – including forums, blogs and news sites, among others - to its readers.
  • Renovating? Learn How To Do It Yourself!
    Those who think that the internet is just a venue for high-speed socialization, e-businesses, and virtual recreation better think twice.
  • Reality Check On Your Capabilities As A Pet Owner
    People often fall for the trap of impulse buying. Impulse buying or buying something based on a whim at a certain moment is devoid of careful thought and weighing of consequences. It really wouldn’t matter much if this sort of caprice is used for buying items like clothes every once in a while.
  • Profile Up My Space
    My Space is a popular social networking website that boasts of 95 million existing members and 500 thousand new members each week. If you’ve been spending even just a small amount of time online, I’m sure I didn’t have to tell you how popular it is.
  • Planning That Perfect Wedding
    Getting married is a big step. It is the day that girls dream of as the most momentous event of their lives. Preparations fall on the bride to ensure that this becomes a special day.
  • Painting Throughout History
    Painting is the art of applying pigments to a surface whether it is on paper, canvas, a wall or any other medium, to create an image with lines and colors. The image can represent real objects found around us or imaginary ones.
  • Must-See Places for Tourists Visiting London
    Those with friends and relatives living abroad who may want to come visit London for a bit of sight-seeing will be happy to note that there are many ‘must-see’ places in this lovely city. For purposes of providing them a ready reference, allow me to list some of these places.
  • Making Good Loans
    At some point in our lives, many of us make a loan whether it be for personal or professional purposes. These loans do help us when we’re in dire need of funds to support any worthwhile endeavor.
  • Life at Its Fullest Through Online Guides
    If you had 1000 years to live, what would you do? What are the things you would aim for? What would you strive to be? What would you keep on doing and what mistakes would you correct?
  • Learning The Skills of Parenting
    Parents unite! Complex as it is, it is possible to rear children into responsible, happy and well-adjusted adults. From our end as parents, it will take patience and commitment. However, it will also take wisdom and experience. This is where our support system and access to those who know will p
  • Learning How To Create The Ultimate Blog
    One wonders where all that pent-up rage, radical views, strong opinions and peculiar beliefs would be deposited without blogs. For some people, blogging offers a cathartic experience in that they are able to write about who or what is troubling them.
  • Landing One Way Links Ethically
    It has been said many times that the Internet has revolutionized how people live, play, and do business. With this advancement in communications technology, doing business has evolved in so many ways. Together with this evolution, the competition has also taken on a different twist. Advertising a
  • Keeping Your Blog Alive and Well
    Okay, so you've done all that you need to do to put up your blog. You've picked a topic that is most interesting to you and decided on how to go about developing this topic.
  • Kawasaki: A True Must-See
    Looking for a travel destination in Japan? You need not search further as Kawasaki City in Japan could give you all you’re looking for in a place and more.
  • Jugend Magazine - German Expressionism's Greatest Influence
    In every culture around the world there are eras where different fads and trends reign supreme. The popular trends dictate the arts and many facets of life during their either brief of long reign and reflect the character of that era. What sets the trend differ in each instance so that some may be d
  • Japanese Video Games
    Horror junkie that I am, I started playing Tecmo’s Fatal Frame II for the Playstation 2 this morning.Knowing the Japanese’s mastery of horror, I was expecting a thrill ride with this game… and I was not disappointed.
  • Japanese Sumo Wrestling
    Among the activities associated with this country, also called the land of the rising sun, there is perhaps none which is as iconic of Japan as is Sumo wrestling. Steeped in thirteen centuries of history and tradition, Sumo originally served a religious and cultural purpose as a means of entertaini
  • Japanese Restaurants
    Whoever said Japanese food is merely all about sushi and sashimi may be in for the biggest gastronomic surprise of his life. While these offerings may lord over the tables in most Japanese restaurants around the world, there exist a wide variety of cuisines and food specialities in Japan that visit
  • Japanese Pop Culture
    Some people say that music is a universal language. No matter where you go, music will always be one of the things you could find in common with other people.
  • Japanese Pets
    Literally translated as a “Lucky Bag” or “Fortune Bag”, the Fukubukuro is Japan’s version of the gift pack, or those food baskets given around the world at Christmastime and the New Year. Of course, as with all things Japanese, this time the humble gift pack or fruit basket has been taken to new hei
  • Japanese Origami
    Origami, whether it be of Japanese or non-Japanese origin, is the art of paper folding. In fact, the word itself, in Japanese, is derived from oru meaning “to fold” and kami, meaning “paper.”

    Although using only a small number of different folds, when combined with one another in a variety of w
  • Japanese Music
    Music in Japan is called ongaku, which when directly translated can be taken to mean as sound for comfort. Although mostly identified nowadays by the outside world for its pop, “bubblegum” type of songs, Japanese music is essentially an eclectic combination of musical influences from all over the w
  • Japanese Massage
    Have you ever felt during a massage that the masseuse was just not strong enough to push through the ridges of tension in your shoulder blades, and at the same time not gentle enough to melt the tension in your neck or legs? Then try Japanese Hot Stone Therapy, a post-modern combination of gentle ma
  • Japanese Ikebana
    The art of arranging flowers and beautifully cut stems and leaves aesthetically to represent a balanced relationship among the sky, the earth and mankind is what Japanese "ikebana" is all about.
  • Japanese Housing
    At his favorite neighborhood cafe, Shunsuke Yamagata, a college student who proudly calls himself a nerd, smiled shyly behind his horn-rimmed glasses at waitresses hurrying about in black Minnie Mouse shoes and lacy, racy mini-dresses inspired by Japanese comics. The place is a dream come true for Y
  • Japanese Healthcare
    When you start looking at birthing options, you’ll notice that most of the hospitals work with mid-wives. In the USA, mid-wives are virtually synonymous with “natural delivery.”
  • Japanese Fashion
    Yellow and fuschia, black and white goth look but still in baby doll dresses, layers of clothing beyond imagination — these are some of the common elements in Japanese street fashion. The Japanese youth sport this look and is it an influence of the Japanese pop icons? Maybe, maybe not. After all, it
  • Japanese Earthquake Engineering
    The tremendous devastation that followed the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, more popularly known as the Kobe Earthquake where more than 5,500 were killed and over 26,000 were injured, further opened the eyes of the Japanese people to the need to develop structures that would be able to withstand the
  • Japanese Cinema
    Godzilla probably epitomizes how the west viewed Japanese pop culture, especially since this sometimes lovable, sometimes despicable reptile has evolved and developed as well as Japanese cinema has.
  • Japanese Children
    Curry dishes are among some of the most popular dishes in Japan, and indeed a firm favourite of children. Thicker and somewhat milder in flavour than other curries found around the world, many Japanese kids are happy with just the sauce on rice, but it is often served with chicken, beef or vegetable
  • Japanese Baseball
    One of the most popular sports in Japan, baseball, is about to start its new season soon and is well worth catching a view of even if you are not an avid fan. Japan’s professional baseball season is from April to October. There are two leagues in Japanese professional baseball: the Central League an
  • Japanese Anime
    To the world outside Japan, the word anime refers to animation of cartoon or comic-style illustrations that are of Japanese origin. These may either be hand drawn, computer-assisted animated illustrations, or a combination of both. For the Japanese however, the word anime refers to all things anim
  • How To Remember Those Important Dates!
    C.S. Lewis’ stated, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” In other words, you and I have the same amount of time as the president of the United States has everyday.
  • How To Find The Best Domain Names
    Registering a domain name is a pretty straightforward matter. You find a web hosting site, register with them, look for a desired domain name, select one that suits your business or personal fancy, choose what’s available and then you will be on your merry way to building the website’s innards.
  • How to Be Anonymous Online
    If the company you’re working for is anything like where I used to work, I’m guessing that you are only able to access select websites from your office computer. While I am all for productivity and efficiency for the organization’s welfare, I am also for a bit of fun time to get my mind off work.
  • Hitting The Boards with the NBA Forum
    Well, here we are at the end of another great season. The NBA Finals is almost over. Its outcome is still to be determined and there’s nothing much left to do about it but watch and wait to see who will become this year’s champions.
  • Health in the 21st Century
    People of the 21st century are obsessed with looking good and (for the most part) being healthy. Gym membership, south beach diet, Atkins diet, diet pills, spa treatments, personal trainers, cosmetic surgery … the list goes on and on.
  • Globetrotting Cities Of The World
    How much of a globetrotter are you? Guess this city? Hint: This city is an eclectic mix of old and new, East and West. It is a bustling metropolis and an epicurean paradise. Formerly, Constantinople, it is the only city in the world that bridges two continents – Asia and Europe.
  • Giving Your Home a Japanese Touch
    The beauty of a Japanese home is derived from its simple and uncluttered appearance that creates an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Its interiors are normally painted in neutral colors to serve as a bare and simple backdrop to the beauty of the architecture. Because a Japanese home places greater e
  • Getting Around Japan
    As if quitting your current job, selling your car, packing your life into boxes and saying goodbye to friends and family isn’t difficult enough, settling into your new life in a new country can also be overwhelming and difficult for even the most brazen travellers. Moving to Japan is not for everyon
  • Get Your Joke Pass For Free!!
    Laughter and humor are necessities in life. We need to have a release for all the pressure that comes our way and nothing is better at helping us keep our equilibrium than jokes and funny stories, just like at jokepass.com.
  • Freely Hosted Personal Files on Demand
    Back in the mid 90’s, a computer with a 200-megabyte hard drive was good enough for us and one with 300 to 400 megabyte would impress even the computer geeks. I remember the high-pitched sound they made indicating their excitement with the hardware.
  • Freelance Writing 101
    Freelance writing is a great way to earn money. You can do it at your own pace and at your own convenience. Research is usually a breeze – in this age of modern technology, information is just one click away. However, before you start searching for online freelance work, you may consider these tips
  • Free Flight Exploits in Europe
    The allure of flying has prompted man to make remarkable discoveries and developments in the fields of transportation, entertainment, and even sports. For who would not want to soar high above to experience a bird’s eye view of spectacular sceneries?
  • Free Blogs: Electronic Windows to Our Soul
    It is often said that the eyes are the windows to our soul. The interpretation of that saying would depend on people’s point of views but for me, this is because how we perceive or see things through our eyes often conveys who we are.
  • Forum Posts in an Instant
    Every internet user at some point in their on-line life has posted a comment, suggestion or opinion in a forum. It might have been about anything as complex as astrophysics or something down-to-earth like gardening.
  • Finding The Best Email Services Out There
    Communication has always been and always will be a vital part of our existence. Without communication society will surely cease to exist. A wonderful thing about communication is that it isn't stagnant. As technology advances so do methods of communication. Traditionally people communicated by speec
  • Finding Suitable Partners For Your Website
    One thing I learned early on in life is that the spirit of cooperation always results in success and that the strength of a group is unyielding versus that of a frail individual. One Chinese legend has it that a dying king was dismayed on how his sons were fighting among themselves for a piece of th
  • Don't Just Plug Your Ideas, Blog Them!
    Without a doubt, the most often used and sought after medium of communication in the Internet is no other than the ever popular blog.
    While there are still individuals who have no idea what a blog is exactly, those who are regular web surfers know that this popular medium is a very effective too
  • Divining The Future
    Whether in movies or books or in life, it is human nature to be curious about “what happens next”, what the future holds in store. Because of this curiosity divination methods were developed, some even centuries old. There are several tools and ways to divine the future.
  • Discovering The World of Babies
    How dull this world would be had we no babies to tend! Imagine the monotony of sounds without their contagious giggles, pitiful cries, and puzzling babbles. Oh how awful it would be without their incredible innocence or their charming naughtiness,
  • Discovering Countries Of The World
    Do you look at pictures or images of faraway countries and think to yourself, “Someday I’d like to personally explore that country.”? Whether the visit is perceived as a cultural or business, educational or pleasure, days of frolic or days of rest,
  • Discover The Many Facets of Finances
    The finance of a business is its lifeblood without which there is no point in putting up or maintaining one. At the end of the day, money is what matters in any kind of business and that is an established fact. Most of us know how elaborate money matters are.
  • Discover the Light of Japan
    "We may simply have lost our appreciation for handmade goods." Igarashi san has been making chochin paper lanterns in his small shop for his whole life.
  • Dealing With Tantrums
    As parents, most of us wish that our children will grow up to be smart, responsible and loving individuals. So, we always find ways to boost their intelligence quotient or IQ.
  • Dating And Finding Companionship
    Since the advent of time, man has always sought companionship. It
    could range from something as platonic as a close friendship to a deep and
    lasting marriage with shared responsibilities such as children.
  • Consumers Beware: Do Your Research Online
    Today’s society can be described as consumer-oriented. With the plethora of products and services available to anyone and everyone, each single person on this earth is considered a consumer. With the increasing awareness of consumers as to what they want and need, manufacturers and service provide
  • Computers- The Essential Tool Of The 21st Century
    There are computers everywhere. Whether we realize it or not, we use computers all the time. In this day and age, a person is more reliant on his computer than anything else – especially his personal computer or the PC.
  • Codes and Scripts at your Fingertips
    Creating beautiful websites is no longer the monopoly of techies. Now, with web designing codes made available through the Internet, anyone can dabble into the exciting world of web development and web design.
  • Cars Of Every Size And Color
    There are cars of every size and color. There are cars of every model and make. Cars truly generate an array of exhilarating emotions among a lot of people both men and women for different reasons. However there is a lot to know about cars.
  • Auctions: A Closer Look
    You’ve read about them, you’ve heard about them, you’ve probably participated in one. But what exactly are auctions? Isn’t it just the simple method of selling an object to interested people who bid until the highest bidder gets it?
  • Auctions: A Closer Look
    You’ve read about them, you’ve heard about them, you’ve probably participated in one. But what exactly are auctions?
  • Article Submissions- The Quickest and Most Cost-Efficient Way To Promote Your Website
    Websites are all about information. There is a website for almost anything you can think of or imagine. News sites are aplenty and so are technology centered websites catering to the techie in all of us. Just the other day I stumbled upon a website that taught its visitors how to take game consoles
  • Acupuncture: The Japanese Way
    Japan has been world-renowned for its breakthroughs in electronics. Need proof? Just take a look at all the cellular phones and other technological gadgets around you with Japanese brands.
  • A Blog Of Brewed Coffee, Anyone?
    Coffee is something that we a drink to enjoy the quiet moments of our day. It is also something we drink to jolt our systems when our system is falling asleep and we still need to work. What contrasting reasons to drink this brew yet both are accurate.
  • 71 Webmaster Tools All For Free
    Just about anyone with a computer and an internet connection can make a website. Creativity and purpose though, solely rests on the author’s shoulders. There are plenty of free web hosting services out there and you only have to look for one that suits your needs.

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