All Posts By

fukai

20/02/2020
1

There are disadvantages of big windows.

By | Interior Coordinate, Real Estate

（１）The resistance to earthquake is weak.
A room walled is solider than a room with big windows. A building with floor-level windows has little walls and so the earthquake resistance is weak.

（２）The cost of big windows mounts up.
Windows are more expensive than walls. Big windows costs more than small windows.

（３）Crime prevention is weak.
60% burglars break windows and invade into a house. Especially the floor-level windows in a living room or balcony.

（４）Insulation is bad.
A room with big windows is not well insulated. Summertime is hot and the winter season is cold.

（５）Fuel and lighting is expensive.
Since big windows are not well insulated and airtightness, the air-conditioners consume more power and consequently it comes to be expensive.

（６）The arrangement of furniture is limited.
Big windows make the arrangement of furniture difficult. Walls in a room are better for good interior coordination.

（７）Acoustic insulation comes to be weak.
Big windows make the room’s acoustic insulation weak. A noise outside the house cannot be shut our well.

（８）Privacy protection is weak.
People who live in a house with big windows shall fell someone’s eye from outside. Especially when lights turned on at night, the protection of privacy comes to be weak.

 

On the other hand, the followings are the merits of big windows.

  • The room is well-lighted
  • The house is well ventilated.
  • People can go in and out through the big windows.
  • Big windows give a sense of spaciousness.
03/02/2020
1

Tokyo Bay area for living

By | 未分類

(Photo: Toyosu area from Tsukada Island)

Tsukuda area was largely developed 30 years ago. Tsukuda area is the pioneer of Tokyo bay area, but this area is still popular region. However other bay areas are showing remarkable growth for exclusive residential areas.  Tokyo bay area means Tsukuda area,

Tsukishima area, Kachidoki area, Harumi area, Toyosu area, and Ariake area. The Olympic village will be constructed in Harumi area. Tokyo bay area is noticeable area where the largest-scale real estate developments are planned.

In Kachidoki area there are MID Tower, SEA Tower, and urbane shops. Harumi Park Tower has brand new beautiful building and lots of green spaces inside the site which are very attractive.

In Toyosu area there is “La La Port”and enough commercial institution. The consideration that will carry weight is that the apartment is close to Subway station or not.

In Kahidoki area there is Subway Oedo line Kachidoki station. However because of the large tower buildings, Kachidoki station looks crowded with people. Nevertheless Kachidoki area is expected to be very attractive town in the future.

In Toyosu area there is Subway Yurakucho line Toyosu station.

In Tsukishima area there are two Sub way lines: Subway Oedo line Tsukishima station and Subway Yurakucho line Tsukishima station.

Tokyo “BTR” (= a bus route) will be opened in Tokyo Bay area because of Tokyo Olympic Game.

（https://toyosu.tokyo/access/tokyo-brt-plan-info/）

However compared to Subway, a bus route does not have so large transport capacity. So Tokyo Bay area near Subway stations is good location for an apartment to live in.

01/02/2020
1

Complex use real estate development

By | Life Style, Real Estate

Photo by Dios : Kachidoki area (MID Towrr and SEA Tower)

“Complex use” is a real estate development that apartments, offices, hotels, shops, and entertainments are combined.  Roppongi Hills is a typical example of “complex use”. “Complex use” is a real estate development to meet the Japanese needs of the time. The key industry of Japan was a manufacturing industry. However now it is the age of the knowledge-information society In the wake of changes of the Japanese industrial structure, the design of apartments and Japanese lifestyle also have undergone change.

Tsukuda area from Hachobori (photo by Dios)

“Complex use” is a real estate development to meet the Japanese needs of the time.  The key industry of Japan was a manufacturing industry. However now it is the age of the knowledge-information society. In the wake of changes of the Japanese industrial structure, the design of apartments and Japanese lifestyle also have undergone change.

To work with a laptop computer at a cool café. Business meeting is not at a dull office, but at a center of town in a pleasant atmosphere. Persons with remarkable talents, the rich, and powerful international business persons will meet at the center of attraction where luxury apartments, shops, and services.  Hereby “Interlayer effect” is produced by “complex use” real estate developments. The mainstream of luxury apartments in Tokyo or Osaka will be “complex use” developments.

A commercial and entertainment complex at Toyosu Island

 

28/01/2020
0

Osaka Castle Ume Garden Orchard

By | 未分類

The ume blossoms are coming out one by one in the Osaka Castle plum orchard today. The fragrance of plum blossoms is floating about in the garden now.

Ume is one of flowers which typifies Japan and Japanese loved since old times.   

Ume is always used for a matter of congratulation and a glad occasion in Japan.

Ume endure the rigors of winter and the tiny lives are born.

Ume is not gorgeous. It feels simplicity and modesty.

Ume has the language of flowers which are “faithfulness” “devotion” “lofty” and “patience”.

There are ume flowers: red, white, and pink.

The language of flowers (red) is “Grace”

The language of flowers (white) is “Dignity”

The language of flowers (pink) is “Pureness”

When ume mature to fruition, it becomes umeboshi or ume brandy. June in Japan is written by “Ume rain”. June is Japanese rainy season. Please try to put umeboshi in hot water and drink it!  Drinking the hot water will surely help to cure an upset stomach.

Please appreciate the beautiful Japanese flower Ume. Then you could feel Japanese aesthetic sense which came since one thousand years ago in Japan.

Access & Time of flowering 2020

https://www.osakacastlepark.jp/flower/plum_grove.html?lang=en

26/01/2020
0

How to deal with natural wood floored

By | 未分類

Natural wood floored like solid natural wood conveys a sense of extravagance and so preferred.However in case it is a rental apartment, natural-wood floored needs to be careful.

  • Fading of floor ~ Avoid direct sunlight

Natural wood floored often fade and loss of color in the sunlight or lighting. Direct sunlight increases the speed changing color. So direct sunlight shall be shut out by a curtain.

Please shut out the sunlight by a curtain to avoid curling, cracking, fading.

  • About a chair and a table

Furniture like a chair and a table should be put some felt. Felt is always better for any future.

  • To be resistant to soiling and stains

If the wood floor gets wet for a long time, it will cause stains, changing color, and cracking. So it is important that the water shall b

  • Around a kitchen and a washstand

The places where water splashes shall be covered by mats.

  • Water condensation

In case wood floor absorbs water by water condensation, it causes stains and flapping of the floor.

  • A foliage plant

A flowerpot for a foliage plant must be put on a receptacle to be stop water from getting wet of the floor.

  • A medicine / a seasoning

In case a medicine or a seasoning is slopped on the floor, they shall be wiped up with a rag which is wrung tightly or soaked with a neutral detergent.

  • Air-conditioners

When heater of air-conditioners are used too many hours continuously, the air in the room could be too dry. Then it causes a crack of the floor. So the air humidity in the room shall be regulated properly.

 

06/01/2020
1

Work flow of Lease Contractual Procedures

By | Real Estate

The steps of Lease Contract are (1) Application Form, (2) Sign on Lease Contract (= money payment) , and (3) Handing over Keys (= the first day of rent payment)

Step 1

  • Tenancy applicant fill out necessary information and submit it with copies of identification cards.
  • At this point the applicant does not have to pay down payment.
  • Since this application form is not yet acquired legal force, there is no penalty.
  • Once the owner receives this application form by FAX, the owner begins the examination.
  • With this examination, the property is held for the applicant by the owner.

Step 2

  • If the owner accepts the application form after examination, Lease Contract documents will be prepared.
  • It will take about two weeks between Step 1 and Step 2.
  • As soon as the Lease Contract is signed, the applicant shall pay all settlement amount of money to the owner.
  • In case of lease contract, all settlement amount of money is paid instead of down payment.
  • The date of contractual conclusion is different from the first day of the lease contract.

Step 3

  • When the first day of the lease contract comes, the owner shall hand over the key to the new tenant.
  • The period between Step 1 and Step 3 is usually one month (= 30 days). However this period is not specified in the law, so there are various owners.
  • The new tenant cannot bring in luggage and furniture until this first day of the lease contract.

 

 

16/11/2019
0

Apartment Investment

By | Real Estate

I would like to analyze the existing circumstances of real estate investments.

Real estate property is individual and different. There is a quite high variation about each property. On the other hand, there is the average real estate market trend of all properties. I analyze about the general trend here at the moment.

The Gross Rates of Return (%) are consistently trending downwards since 2014. Japan national average of the Gross Rate of Return was 9.0% in 2014, but it is 5% level in 2019.

The Gross Rate of Return means the percentage of yearly rental income divided by the purchase price of the real estate property. (Gross Rate of Return) = (Yearly rental income) ÷（Purchase Price）

However, the Net Rate of Return is the percentage figure of net yearly rental income divided by the net purchase price.  (Net Rate of Return) = (Net yearly rental income) ÷ (Net Purchase Price)

  • (Net yearly rental income) = (Yearly rental income) － (Overhead expenses）
  • (Net Purchase Price) = (Purchase Price) － (Overhead expenses at the time of purchase)

The capital cost means the bank charges %. Therefore, the figure real estate investors should consider is the following percentage.

(Net Rate of Return) － (Bank charges)

The number of this percentage is approaching approximately 0% or below 0% now.

What is meant by this figure?

If real estate investors can expect for capital gains, they will continue to purchase properties even if the income gains are below 0%.

Conversely speaking when property purchase prices top out and show signs of retreat, real estate selling price begins all downward trend in real estate purchase prices because investors do not buy.

Since the purchase prices decline and then the income gain % will be adjusted, the suitable opportunity for investment will present itself.

When the time comes the income gains become normal %, namely, properties of over 10% gross return rate are beginning to come onto the real estate market, it will be the investment opportunities.

07/10/2019
1

Cosmos (Autumn Cherry Blossom)

By | Sightseeing

Japanese October is the height of the cosmos season. The cosmos flowers are in full bloom now. “Cosmos” is written “Autumn cherry blossom” in Japanese kanji.

Cherry blossom in spring season has particular significance for Japanese people.  Pink cherry blossom has the cultural flower in Japanese history.

In October the temperature drops sharply about 10 degrees in a week. Since the temperature changes sharply, many people often get out of condition.

Summer changes to autumn.  One feels unaccountably lonely on autumn season. Cosmos admirably gives expression to the Japanese lonely feelings.

 

　Higanbana 彼岸花

とよのコスモスの里　Toyono Cosmos no sato

TEL: 072-739-1363

MAP : https://goo.gl/maps/WqXXb9as6b11CjSp6　

 

コスモスの里　穂谷 Hotani Cosmos no sato

TEL: 072-841-1348 

MAP：https://goo.gl/maps/LwwG6vTgL8Gpt31v5

 

 

 

29/03/2019
0

The attractions of Echizen Japan Paper

By | 未分類
  • We visited the village of Echizen Washi in Fukui prefecture.

http://www.echizenwashi.jp/english/index.php

The history of Echizen Japan Paper dates back to 1500 years ago.

Echizen Paper is used for fusuma paper of the Katsura Detached Palace.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_Imperial_Villa

The Louvre Art Museum also adopts Echizen Paper.

It is said that Picasso Pablo had treasured Echizen Japan Paper habitually. 

In the building we visited there was a shop various Echizen Washi were on sale.

I felt the price isn’t so expensive and suited my pocketbook.

Most paper were not finished product for interior design, the Paper itself were on sale in the shop.

We visited Udatsu traditional handicrafts house.

http://welcome-echizenshi.jp/tourism_detail/udatsunokougeikan/

After my return from Fukui to Osaka, we did various work with Echizen Paper I purchased.

It was utterly delightful to create handmade products.

I think we can provide very attractive interior design for our customers by Echizen Japanese Paper.

We stuck Echizen Paper on the back of our smart phone.

Furthermore we colored in the pap

I twisted Echizen paper around a light.

This is our office.

20/03/2019
0

The Ritz Carlton Kyoto

By | 未分類

The Ritz Carlton Kyoto

I would like to provide information about The Ritz Carlton Kyoto

It is a low-slung building by the Kamo River and the atmospher is different from the Ritz Carlton Osaka.

I think the reason for the low-slung hotel is the Japanese Building Standards Law, however the building is thoughtfully designed for the underground floor to admit sunlight.

The interior is designed on the theme of The Tale of Genji.

I found in the picture by the Italian restaurant that an image of Hikaru Genji (a main character of The Tale of Genji) appears on the picture as I watch from the side.

The best part of the interior design of this hotel is the Moon which reflects and hangs on the large glass.

The moon has fine stitching. It is on the wall of the opposite side.

The Tale of Genji is the Japanese literary work in the Heian Period which is one thousand years ago. The literary artist is a woman writer. It is often said that Japan is an exclusively male society, however actually women were playing leading roles in Japanese society since one thousand years ago.

It was long before European women’s participation in society.

 

The Tale of Genji is the highest pinnacle of Japanese literature.

There is no other Japanese literary production up to the present.

There are a few representatives of foreign managers in the Ritz Carlton Kyoto. They are real professionals of hotel management. Japanese staffs are managed by these few foreign management.

The Ritz Carlton Kyoto is a charming hotel which combines Western style of design and Japanese history.