Where to get your hair done in Tokyo

Getting around in Japan can be quite tricky if you're not familiar with the Japanese address system, so I hope this video will help navigate you to Number76 in Omotesando, Tokyo, without too much trouble. :-)

Getting around in Japan can be quite tricky if you're not familiar with the Japanese address system, so I hope this video will help navigate you to Number76 in Omotesando, Tokyo, without too much trouble. :-) Video Contents: 0:01 - Start off at Omotesando Station, look for exit A2 0:18 - As you exit the station, The Apple Store should be on your right.

Video Contents:
0:01 - Start off at Omotesando Station, look for exit A2
0:18 - As you exit the station, The Apple Store should be on your right. From there, just remember "Right-Left-Right". First right, first left, then first right again.
1:01 - Hair Service Menu/Price at of March 2016
1:03 - The address (if you're searching for it on Maps)

Previous blog posts related to Number76:
1) Last visit to Number76 Omotesando (pictures of the whole process, price of services, etc) 
2) Number76 Starhill in Kuala Lumpur (styled by Odera San) 
3) Number76 Starhill in Kuala Lumpur (an introduction, hair makeover & bangs! Styled by Owner/Founder Hama San)

This video features:
Yoshitada Dejima: https://www.instagram.com/76deji
Dai Kitayama: https://www.instagram.com/76kitayama
Satoru Osawa
Bryan Lee: https://www.instagram.com/bryannlee
Number76: https://www.instagram.com/number_76/, http://www.number76.com/

Music from https://soundcloud.com/jeff-kaale

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MORE GIRLY CONTENT HERE

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FOOD & TRAVEL. Click Here.

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Nighttime exposure to blue light from your electronic devices can lead to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity

It has everything to do with sleep and the amount of melatonin our body is able to produce. Here's little bit of science for you: 

Melatonin, AKA 'the hormone of the dark' is a hormone that is naturally secreted by our body (the pineal gland in the brain, to be exact).

What melatonin does for our body:

• It creates the urge to fall asleep at night
• It helps regulate the other hormones in our body and maintains our body’s circadian rhythm (internal “clock”)[1]
• It helps control the timing and release of female reproductive hormones[2] which help set the pattern of the menstrual cycle
• It is a powerful free-radical scavenger and wide-spectrum antioxidant[3]
• It is useful in fighting bacterial infections, infectious disease including viral, such as HIV, and, potentially in the treatment of cancer.[4]
• It protects our body against glucocorticoid (part of the feedback mechanism in our immune system) damage[5] 

As it gets later and darker, your body cranks out higher levels of melatonin. "Normally, by around 8:00 p.m., your melatonin level starts rising. They keep increasing until about 3:00 a.m., when it peaks and your body temperature happens to be at its lowest. We call that 'biological time zero’. After that, your levels drop again.” -Sanjeev Kothare, M.D.

Melatonin (blue) is produced naturally by the pineal gland (purple) at night-time indicated by light entering the eyes (left), and by the arrow showing the melatonin secretion signal sent by the optic nerve to the pineal gland once darkness has fallen. [http://www.yourhormones.info/]

While we know now that melatonin is important to our body, we also learn that its production is affected by our body’s exposure to light. That is why exposure to light at night throws our body’s body’s biological clock—the circadian rhythm—out of whack.[6] 

But not all colours of light have the same effect. While they help to boost alertness and reduce fatigue during the day, blue wavelengths in particular are most disruptive at night.

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DID YOU KNOW: Blue light, a short-wavelength light, has been singled out as more significantly disruptive to sleep than other colours on the light spectrum. It delays release of melatonin, disrupts circadian rhythms, and may influence negative changes to mood.[7] Recent studies also suggest that the blue end of the light spectrum may also contribute to retinal damage and possibly lead to AMD.[8]

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“An eye doctor says he’s recently seen a few 35-year-old patients whose lenses, which are typically clear all the way up until around age 40, are so cloudy they resemble 75-year-olds’. A sleep doctor says kids as young as toddlers are suffering from chronic insomnia, which in turn affects their behavior and performance at school and daycare. A scientist finds that women who work night shifts are twice as likely to develop breast cancer than those who sleep at night.” – www.gigaom.com

The common denominator - nighttime blue light exposure.

http://modmom.blogspot.com/

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DID YOU KNOW: Blue light is considered a “carcinogenic pollution” that in mice correlates with higher cancer rates.

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So what can you do? 

Some lifestyle adjustments that may help[6]:

http://www.mathmos.com/

• Use dim red lights for night lights. Red light has the least power to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin.
• Expose yourself to lots of bright light during the day, which will boost your ability to sleep at night, as well as your mood and alertness during daylight. 
• Avoid looking at bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed. 

Smartphones, tablets, computer screens, TVs, high-efficiency lightbulbs/LEDs – they’re the culprits of blue light emission. And while it makes sense to just stay off your gadgets after sundown, it just not realistic in this day and age. What about people who have to work night shifts in front of the computer? They obviously can’t just quit their jobs to avoid the side effects of nighttime blue light exposure.

Can’t do without the gadgets at night?

No problem. If you and blue light are inseparable, all you need to do is filter the relationship with a blue-blocking lens or amber filter.

Here are some options:

1) Install an app or a program that will make the colour of your gadget’s display adapt to the time of day, giving you warmer colours at night and (most importantly) blocking the blue altogether. A free app/program you can try is f.lux, which matches the the color of your computer's display to adapt to the time of day – warm at night and like sunlight during the day.

2) Get amber-tinted glasses or PC lenses. I found this brand in Japan called Jins that sells affordable PC glasses which can cut blue light by up to 50%. You can get a PC lens package (frame + PC lens) between ¥3,900 to ¥5,900 and have the option of adding an extra ¥6,000 for prescription lenses (with power). Foreigners that spend ¥10,000 and above qualify for “tax free” benefits (save 8% on the consumption tax), but don’t forget to bring your passport along when you shop. 

Hope this helps! :-) 

STORE DETAILS

• Store Name: Jins
• Website: http://www.jins-jp.com/
• Japan Store locator: http://shop.jins-jp.com/b/jins/

References

1. University of Maryland Medical Center 
2. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/melatonin
3. Tan DX, Chen LD, Poeggeler B, Manchester LC, Reiter RJ (1993) - https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxkdW54aWFudGFufGd4OjVkMjA5NGZkMzFmYjRkOTU
4. Maestroni GJ - http://dx.doi.org/10.1517%2F13543784.10.3.467
5. http://www.sott.net/article/233468-The-Importance-of-Melatonin
6. http://www.health.harvard.edu/
7. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michael-j-breus/blue-light-sleep_b_4993859.html
8. https://www.macular.org/ultra-violet-and-blue-light

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How to burn fat while eating a juicy steak

If efficiency, affordability and red meat is your thing, I may have just the perfect recommendation for your trip to Japan.  But first, you’ll need to tick the following boxes before deciding on whether or not you should read on (since hate mail from disappointed readers isn’t something I get too excited about):

1. Wouldn’t mind a decent, juicy steak
2. Willing to spend between 6 yen/gram (for ribeye, the cheapest option on the menu) – 10 yen/gram (for wagyu, the most expensive option) on your decent, juicy steak
3. Quite happy to just have a decent, juicy steak on its own and do not require the presence of side dishes to complete your meal
4. Not too bothered about smelling like barbecue
5. Posses legs that are strong enough to support your body weight for the entire duration of the meal
6. Up for an efficient meal – basically eat-and-leave, saving the chit-chat for a post meal dessert somewhere else or whatever makes you happy
7. Eating alone or with people that are okay with #1-#6 above, and don’t mind being potentially split up from the group (since a “table-for-one” is what you’re likely to get) 

So my fellow foodie, allow me to introduce you to Ikinari Steak, the place for meat porn at very reasonable prices. As you would’ve already guessed, the bonus is that you get to enjoy a satisfying meal (for both tummy and wallet) and burn some fat while at it - by standing throughout your meal. *laugh* I know it’s not a life-changing fact, but meat lovers will be pleased to know (if you don’t already) that you can burn fat while eating a [juicy] steak.

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DID YOU KNOW: Our body burns the most calories while digesting protein, since protein has the largest thermic effect (as compared to carbohydrates and fats).*

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Thermic what?!

Okay, basically, the thermic effect of food is the caloric cost of digesting and processing different macronutrients in your diet. Generally 20-35% of calories are burned through processing protein, 5-15% through processing carbohydrates and 0-5% through processing fats.** You get the idea.

So since research shows that our body actually burns calories while digesting protein, you can go ahead and fantasise about this decent, juicy steak you plan to have with a clear conscience.

Deciding on the cut

Weighing the slice

Putting on the paper apron

Garlic rice (side dish)

How to order?

When you get to the standing steak bar (and assuming you don’t speak or read Japanese), you may want to do the following:

• Ask for an English menu – “Eigo no menyuu ga arimasuka?”
• Point to whichever item on the menu you wish to order. It may be helpful to note that each cut has a minimum total weight requirement for orders. Example, for the ribeye, the minimum order is 300 grams, so you cannot ask for anything less than that.
• The chef will slice the meat and weigh it in front of you, so just nod when they do that to acknowledge that you’re okay with the cut (they’re likely to say something in Japanese while doing so but if you give them an apologetic smile, they’ll probably do their best to speak to you in English).
• While the chef heads to the kitchen to prepare your juicy steak, you’ll want to slip on one of those paper aprons (they should be folded and placed right in front of you, where the sauces/seasonings are). The stainless steel flask/pot holds the steak sauce. *wink*
• Enjoy your steak when it arrives (you can add some sauce/seasoning to taste) and pay at the counter when you’re done with your meal.

Here's the English menu for your reference:

View fullsize

View fullsize

A tip would be to avoid the typical lunch and dinner hours. Be prepared to queue during those times as the more centrally located outlets tend to get rather crowded with office workers from 1pm to 2pm.  

Up-to-date, there are 28 outlets within the Tokyo Metropolitan Area; 1 in Miyagi, Okinawa and Kanagawa respectively, 2 in Chiba and Saitama and 3 in Osaka. Details of the outlet I visited this trip (with no queue at 7pm on that particular week day) are as follows: 

• Restaurant name: Ikinari Steak (いきなりステーキ市ヶ谷店)
• Website: http://ikinaristeak.com/
• Address (Ichigaya branch, second floor of the building): Japan, Yubinbango102-0074, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Kudanminami 3-9-11 Myrtle Court Kojimachi (〒102-0074 東京都千代田区九段南3-9-11 マートルコート麹町)
• Telephone: 03-3239-9229
• Operational hours: 11am – 11pm, lunch menu from 11am – 3pm

いただきます！Itadakimasu! [meaning: “Let’s eat!”]

いきなりステーキ仙台店　２月２４日オープンＣＭ

References:

• *http://www.acaloriecounter.com/diet/daily-protein-intake/
• **http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ask-the-macro-manager-what-is-thermic-effect.html

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READ NEXT: Adult content, costumes, medicine, furniture and rollercoaster in 1 building.

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Adult content, costumes, medicine, furniture and rollercoaster in 1 building.

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Warning: There are more than 100 hi-res pictures in this post, so page loading may be a tad slow. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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From http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

So the Japanese are known to be one of the most innovative, creative and curious societies of modern civilisation. Tech aside, from the bizarre “yaeba” trend (of undergoing dental surgery to make your teeth crooked) to capsule hotels and restaurants that serve only canned food (Mr. Kanso), Japan never fails to intrigue.

If venturing into Tokyo’s ladies-only masturbation bar or paying ¥6,000 to lie in bed with a complete stranger for an hour at the “cuddle-club” (top up another ¥1,000 to stare into each other’s eyes for 3 minutes, sexual advances prohibited) is too outlandish for your tourist appetite, a visit to the country’s iconic 1-stop tax-free discount store may be worth your amusement.

With an array of food, cosmetics, clothes, medicine, furniture, electrical appliances, pet supplies, costumes, magic tricks, branded merchandise, adult content and several “unconventional” items available for purchase 24-hours a day (selected outlets), you’ll never get bored browsing the shelves of my favourite store in Japan – Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ) or “Donki” for short.

In Osaka and Roppongi, Don Quijote even comes complete with a rollercoaster on its roof. Although I’ve never ridden it before (am not even sure if it's a functioning one), I have been quite a regular customer at this oh-so-amazing store. *big-grin* 

When I first moved to Tokyo in 2008, most of my furniture, pots and pans (even my kitchen knives), electrical items (including my TV and stereo), cleaning aids (clothes detergent, toilet cleaner), and everyday items (toilet paper, toothpaste etc.) were bought from Don Quijote. *laugh* Yep. Heck, I even got my suitcases, contact lenses and Christmas tree from that store. Totally reliable, very accessible and as you can tell… quite affordable to shop at. Haha.

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DID YOU KNOW: Don Quijote Co., Ltd is a public listed company with stores in over 160 locations throughout Japan (and 3 in Hawaii).

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Here are some of the things you’d be able to buy from the outlet in Shibuya. 

Fresh food, dairy, etc.

Drinks, beverages, alcohol, etc.

Sinful stuff that make you fat

Cosmetics, toiletries, beauty and grooming products

Girly stuff

Boys stuff

Footwear

Household and cleaning stuff, towels, home fragrance, etc.

Vitamins and medicine

Electrical and electronics

Stationary, furniture and home improvement

Pet food, phone accessories, bicycles, sports/fitness items, protein shakes, slimming belts, etc.

Funky costumes, decorative items, audio/visual content

Adult content/toys

Kitchenware

The odd items, miscellaneous and random stuff

So if you can’t sleep and have nothing better to do in the middle of the night, you know where to go. *laugh* Happy discovering! Hehe. 

STORE DETAILS

• Store Name: Don Quijote
• Website: http://www.donki.com/
• Japan Store locator: http://www.donki.com/search/?pre=ft
• Don Quijote Shibuya Branch Address: Japan, 〒150-0043 Tokyo, Shibuya, 道玄坂2-25-8
• Shibuya Branch Operational hours: 10am – 4.30am

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