Tokyo - Oct 2012

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Its been a year almost that we have been trying to get all newly introduced approvals etc for our travel from office.Finally in Sept Ajay succeeded in getting it and we were on.It was approved for me & Siddharth for a week long travel to Tokyo & Singapore respectively.I decided on week of 8th Oct but while arranging the logistics,it came across that all hotels in Tokyo are fully booked due to a IMF Annual event in that week in Tokyo.Plus Monday was a Tokyo off.Given these 2 issues, i was forced to push my dates to a week after.

With so many travel experiences behind us, preparing for Tokyo was least of my concerns.My focus was on my agenda as this was my first abroad visit after becoming VP earlier this year.I was visiting there as Asia regional Finance Controller for Fixed Income Markets of JP Morgan Investment Bank.It was big and it was important that i plan my week & each day in Tokyo carefully to achive optimum benifits of the visit.At Home the concern was how Sai will react to not seeing her "Baba" for 8 days.To address this we invited Nam's mom to my place so that Sai doesnt feel my absence..and thankfully it helped in the end!

i have booked cab for my drop at airport at around 4 pm ie 4 hours ahead of Air Nippon direct flight at 8 pm. It came on time and i left home by 415 pm. Sai & Nam came down to see me off at the building gate.Sai was crying to see me go but Nam managed her. I reahced in good time and after clearing thru check in and immigration, quickly settled down in Luftansa Lounge which is Air Nippon's Sky Team partner so they share the lounge for their business and first class passengers.Free WIFI and good food, i relaxed well before the flight departure at 8 pm.After a good meal on the plane,i slept watcthing "Madagaskar Movie".It was a business jet ie business class only flight so passengers had really good attention and service from the staff.In Tokyo flight landed at scheduled time of 830 am.There was fair amount of rush f acror the immigration.After clearing thru, i first located a Soft Bank counter to check out the Sim card plan for my stay in Tokyo.After going thru their choices, i picked a local sim with free talk time for a week.I Phone helps everywhere!!It was easy to get and get going with it.It was breakfast time and i was no hurry so when I saw a Starbucks cafe at the airport, i went in and enjoyed a good warm coffie with Doughnuts.Called up home and informed Nam that i have reached safely.Airport transport in Tokyo is world class as most of their things.Narita Express which runs almost every 30 minsfrom NArita to Tokyo suburbs is a express train that takes you to of Tokyo in 50 mins flat.I boarded one at 1030 am andreached Tokyo station sharp at 1130 am.Old emories revived at that time of 5 years back when I came down here with Nam for her training on Asia Migrations from JP Morgan.I have explored majority of tourist place in that visit. Only place that I missed out was Odaiba and that was the plan that afternoon.From the station, i picked up a cab which dropped me at the "Hotel Monterey Ginza - La Seour" in 10-12 mins.Knowing that hotel is this close to office was comforting.I checked in and got refreshed before getting out on foot for exploring Odaiba.I noted the directio ns given by the reception.I have to get down to Yurakucho Station which was a 10 mins walk and then reach Odaiba via Shimbashi on Yurikamome Line.Its been few hours since i had breakfast.I was hungry.They had Mac outlet near the station.I ate there and continued.I first went wrong only to be guided by the station staff to correct path.Yurakucho to Shimashi on Yamanote line is min fare of 130 yen.From Shimbashi i changed to Yurikamome.Its one of a kind manless train that runs on elevated track thru the city of Tokyo before cutting across Tokyo bay for Odaiba.Odaiba is a developed on reclaimed land of what used to be a port in the past.One can still see huge anchors on the shores there.On the train, i met a very friendly Japanese family who inquired about my visit and also informed me of a Japanese-German collaborated Beer festival which was incidentaly closing that Sunday.

First thing which i did after reaching there is to call Nam.I know that she will be happiest person to know that finally i got there.In our last visit, we both once tried but lost direction.Nam was there for extended period hence she got a chance to visit Odaiba but i missed.I called her up and shared my excitement with her.Talking to her and enjoying the beauty of that place with replica of Statue of Liberty in my front in the backdrop of Rainbow Bridge was great fun.It was a equally wonderful sight.One can see Tokyo Tower as well frm there as well as the newly constructed Tokyo Sky Tree.From 330 to 8 pm, i had fun walking around that area visiting Venus Mall,Fuji Tower, Toyota Factory and OktoberFest ie German Beer festival.I walked tirelessly till i dropped.On the return i stopped at Starbucks again in a nearby mall for getting refreshed.Train was more crowded on return.From Yurakucho i walked down to the hotel.Also bought some bananas and crackers and cold coffie for dinner that night.I was exhausted so slept fast.

Next Day On Monday Morning, i got up very early by 730 in a bid to make it to office by 830 am. Directionwise i thought i knew but i failed.I reached the wrong exit side of Tokyo station ie Yeasu Exit i/o Marunounchi South.It took me a while to figure out my correct path.But once I reached Marunounchi South, it was familier.Cross the roads and 2 mins walk opposite Hato Bus station.JP Morgan occupies last 5 floors of the Marunounchi building from 26-30th.We have seperate 3 pairs of lifts only for JPM there.I thought i will be the last one to reach but i was wrong.I discovered that folks typically start by 9-915 am and i was there by 845.All that extra mile didnt cost me much except bit more tiredness to my legs!!Day 1 to Day 5 ie Monday to Fiday in office were really good from my agenda standpoint.I was able to meet with all the groups that i intended to from my role standpoint.Andreas Isnander who is counterpart for Japan Rates FX business in Tokyo took really good care of me from hospitality & Host standpoint.He introduced me personally to all the key managers in all functions for business...even took me to the trading floor to meet business managers.My meetings with support groups were well attenwqhided and participated by all audience.All in all my office agenda was hugely successful over the week.

One thing additional that I was able to achive out of this visit Iam sure most senior managers want to achieve is networking oppourtunities across the firm.All the meetings and formal handshakes helped but where you are really able to connect with people is when they are out of office.Iam really happy for the fact that each of lunch & dinner thruout the week except Monday when I went shopping to Shibuya solo, was with different folks.Apart from interacting with those folks informally, i also had a chance to taste food in variety of Restaurants out there. Staring with MOnday lunch, I went out with Andre, Tim Rosener & Arka Gupta to a Japanese restaurant in nearby building.We had chicken there with customary Japanese tea.Tuesday was with Arka in yet another Japanese place where we had fish.Same evening we went out to have pork/Eil/Octopus varieties.Wednesday afternoon Keldrin Pereira & Andre accompanied me to a Indian joint where we had Mutter Paneer with Naan.Same day evening I spent with Kel in whats most frequently visited Japanese Bar by office bloaks.Again variety of fish/chicken/pork.Thursday noon i invited Asia SPG group ie Ryoko San/Miyazaki San/William.They took me to a place where we had "Tonkatsu"- ..Same Day evening team dinner out was organised by Miki Ishikawa with Rates FX folks.We had fun together with a group of 9 having "Yakitori".I learned a few Japanese dinner etiquettes that evening from some of Japanese lady colleagues.Friday noon, i was able to join some collegues from Operations ie Haynes Harvey & co with Andre.We tried some Japanese Pasta at one of only few open roof restaurant opposite Yarakucho station.That evening being my last in Tokyo, colleagues that was unable to spend good time came together.I was also joined by couple of more visitors from Singapore & Hongkong.We went to this place called "Gompa chi".Basis what I was told,its this chain of hotels where Hollywood movie "Kill Bill" was shot and is also the place where Japanese Prime Minister took US President Bush when he was on visit to Tokyo some time back.Looks like a very elite joint!

Friday night was extra fun and it came when few with I had dinner suggested we go to feel the Tokyo night life at one of the best spots in town ie Roopongi.I was accompanied with Yoko Hasunuma/Keldrin/Tim Rosener/Okano Satoshi.We started with a Bar called "Train" which is a train boggie theme joint owned by a Indian.Okano San also took me to another bar which had disco.We had drinks thruout.We again joined the group at Train Bar.Played some dice games with 100 yen as min bait.That was fun too!!I never realised that its almost 230am on Saturday morning and i had flight that same day at 12 noon.I decided to move.After saying Chao to my collegues i hailed a cab and reached Hotel by 3am.Quickly packed my bags and went to sleep by 4 am after setting the wake up alarm for 730 am.I was tired and was nervous about me waking up.But i managed!!Took taxi from Hotel to Tokyo station.From there got down to Narita Express station for 930 am train.Train as expected arrived dot on time and dropped me at Narita by 1030.I returned the Soft Bank sim at the airport counter and proceeded for immigration.I had still an hour or so before gate would open.So spent rest of the time relaxing at the ANA Lounge.ANA flight back to Mumbai was as easy and comfortable as the one coming to Tokyo was.Reached Mumbai by 7 am local time and home by 8.30 pm.I was meeting Sai after a week.She was as happy as i was to meet her.The week in tokyo went as fast as it camewas fun and most importantly largely successful from my agenda standpoint.One doesnt get to enjoy & spend time out of office as one would like on official visit for a small period like a week. But Iam happy that I made the most of whatever limited time I got.I visited Odaiba which I missed last time! Wanted to visit Sky Tree but didnt got time plus colleagues told me that its still very crowded and usually takes whole day to visit.I could not enjoy siteseeing but instead I got a chance to enjoy variety of food in various joints in Tokyo.That time I spent with my colleagues was no doubt the best memory of mine of the visit closely followed by Odaiba.

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Photos

Beautiful Weather on my last day in office
Mt Fuji is seen clearly in the background.

Comments

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