The typical Japanese household will prepare for this by thoroughly cleaning their home and throwing out unwanted items. Almost akin to preparing for a fresh start and also rather a good way to ridding oneself of any disappointments that may have occurred in the year in question.

On New Year’s eve, toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), symbolizing longevity, are served. A more recent custom is watching the music show “kohaku uta gassen”, a highly popular television program featuring many of Japan’s most famous J-pop and enka singers in spectacular performances.

January 1 is a very auspicious day, best started by viewing the new year’s first sunrise (hatsu-hinode), and traditionally believed to be representative for the whole year that has just commenced. Therefore, the day is supposed be full of joy and free of stress and anger.

It is a tradition to visit a shrine or temple during shogatsu (hatsumode). The most popular temples and shrines, such as Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, attract several million people during the three days. Most impressive are such visits at the actual turn of the year, when large temple bells are rung at midnight. It is customary to make your big prayer for the year ahead.

Various kinds of special dishes are served during shogatsu. They include osechi ryori, otoso (sweetened rice wine) and ozoni (a soup with mochi).

It is also customary to send a postcard to friends and relatives with a photo of your family on the front wishing a happy and prosperous year ahead.

I was recently invited to the Swedish embassy for a Midsummer party. A really fun event, and a great way to connect with the local Swedish community. This ancient Swedish festival is celebrated at the end of June, and is a time to enjoy summer with virtual all day daylight.

Traditionally, this event happens on a Friday. Children and grown-ups collect flowers and greenery from the fields and woods to dress the Midsummer pole and to make flower wreaths to wear on their heads. In the afternoon, people gather to eat, drink and dance.

Swedish Midsummer Party

Food is traditionally Swedish with salmon and various herrings as the core items, washed down with Snaps & Beer. A very different way to enjoy Tokyo without the traditional sushi & sake!

This was part of a week called ‘Tokyo Designers Week’, which was celebrating its 25th year of showing innovative products from designers all over Japan. Just 10 minutes walk from the main exhibition centre, a house had been redecorated by a leading furniture retailer incorporating sustainable solutions for the home.

You can see from the photos that the impact is really significant bringing warmth and colors to create a real feel of life at home. Japanese people live in very confined living spaces, which meant that the task of showing sustainable simple solutions was even more challenging.

Healthy, fresh and natural would be good words to describe the overall impact, with good use of plants and lighting. Well worth it and hope this stimulates the Japanese to look at they way they live and change accordingly.

Earthquakes are a regular feature of life here in Japan. They happen so often that households and offices equip themselves with emergency kits. The Japanese archipelago is located in an area where several continental and oceanic plates meet.

Back in 1995, Kobe was devastated by an earthquake 7.2 on the Richter scale. I was recently there on a business trip, and the city is immaculate. The locals told me that it took no time for the Japanese authorities to get the city back on the ground running.

In such circumstances, the news agencies are very efficient reporting the whereabouts of earthquake occurrences in addition to potential tsunami.

The big discussion here in Tokyo is the expected big earthquake due to happen within the next ten years. The last big occurrence was in 1923 resulting in the deaths of 100,000 people.

Somehow, I just feel that if any country can handle devastation, Japan would certainly be top of the list.

I recently went to a great event at Roti in downtown Roppongi district to sample USA wines from the Charles Smith winery. Amazing value at 1500 yen for ladies (£10) and 3000 yen for the boys (£20). All you can drink and eat for 2 hours! Executive Chef Ian Tozer was expecting 30 guests to turn up, but by 6pm the bar was crammed with over 70 people.

Really tasty food – mini burgers with stilton, crab cakes with cajun creole sauce, fava bean hummus with falafel and grilled bruschetta were my favourites.

And my recommendations on the wine – definitely ‘Eve Chardonnay’ with its honey crisp apple characteristics and ‘The Velvet Devil Merlot’ with soft red plum aromatics.

These types of events provide good networking opportunities, and young professionals from all walks of life attended. Good vibes are at last returning to Tokyo!

The survey was conducted from October 1st-18th on 5,000 men and women aged 20 and older in the form of face to face interviews, with 64.8% responding. 68% of women in their 20′s said they did not intend to have a child even after getting married – a view also held by 61% of women in their 30′s and 56% of men in their 20′s and 30′s.

A significant change has emerged with regard to the stereotypical way that women are deemed to stay at home whilst men go out to work. 55% of respondents expressed opposition to this. And when asked whether they thought it was better for women to continue working after having a child, 46% of respondents agreed.

These findings present a real challenge for Japan, as she struggles to remain competitive with China and other Asian neighbours. How Japan will cope with a dwindling labor market and increased social welfare costs caused by older people still remains a mystery. The government needs to take firm action to provide incentives to women, including child welfare support and employment flexibility.

My personal feeling as an insider living in Tokyo is that the locals are more concerned about holding onto their jobs and homes than worrying about the huge financial burden associated with operating the Games.

Just read a very interesting article on the aftermath of the result.

The Tokyo 2016 bid committee is facing some awkward questions about the failed 15 billion yen bid, including calls for explanations of how the money was spent and the fate of land set aside for Games’ sites.

I read that there may be a plan to pitch again for the 2020 Games. But will the locals really buy into this plan after all these costs surface? Certainly Tokyo’s 2016 bid offered the best options for eco friendly management and sustainability. It is interesting that even Obama could not bring success for Chicago.

Japan is dogged by political scandals, so no doubt the next few weeks we will hear of the lavish spending that went on. Plus the former Foreign Minister, who famously appeared drunk in front of reporters at a European Summit, has just been found dead in his apartment.

Never a dull moment in the political scene here in Japan!

I was entertained in a traditional Teppanyaki style restaurant with a chef preparing and cooking in front of our group. The meat was cooked with garlic and served with sliced daikon, beansprouts and peppers. Very rich in flavour and an amazing tenderness that I have never experienced before.

Kobe Beef is in fact one of the top grade beef in Japan. There are mainly four breeds in Kobe beef termed as Wagyu (wa means Japanese and gyu means cattle): Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Polled, and Japanese Shorthorn.

Japanese Kobe Beef is from Tajima-ushi, which is one of Japanese Black. So why does it taste so good? Well, the Wagyu cattle are fed organic grains, Japanese beer, and even sake mash.

On the evening in question, our chef proudly showed off his license permitting him to sell Kobe beef, and furthermore his training certificates. His skill was awesome with the way that he handled the meat, slicing so carefully and cooking to perfection. Slightly pink in the middle.

Such a delicacy will of course attract a high price. £60 per head to be exact, not bad when you consider the truly magnificient taste of the beef.

Japan is a very long country stretching four islands from north to south with varying climatic conditions, and so the cherry blossom is enjoyed at different times. Those with ample leisure time have been known to follow the cherry blossom as it moves through the country. This year, I was invited to a party at Yoyogi Park in the centre of Tokyo, one of the biggest public open air spaces. The Japanese take the event rather seriously. In fact, many arrive the day before or very early on the day to stake their preferred pitch.

On the day in question, you could not move as the park was packed with people enjoying a picnic and noisily drinking copious amounts of beer, wine and sake. The atmosphere was incredibly warm and friendly. Families with young children through to students having fun playing various games could be seen. What is so beautiful is being perched under a tree in its full bloom.

These trees could be viewed across the whole park, and it was quite spectacular. Our group brought along food and drink to be shared by all. In the evening, we all moved to an open air dance club that had been erected on one side of the park. An amazing day out and recommended for anyone visiting Japan.

• You will be invariably required to remove your shoes before entering the restaurant. Slippers will be provided.
• Before eating, you say ‘itadakimasu’ (meaning I gratefully receive) and after the meal ‘gochisosama deshita’ (thank you for the meal).
• When the food arrives, compliments are always warmly received. Say ‘oishii so’ (it looks delicious).
• Sharing food is very common. Do not use your personal chopsticks to take food, but rather use the chopsticks or cutlery provided for serving.
• Do not blow your nose at the table or burp as these are considered bad manners.
• It is considered proper to finish all of your food.
• When you have finished eating, put all of your items tidily back to the original position and fold your hand towel neatly.
• When drinking, it is customary for you to serve other people at the table and for them to serve you. When you are being served, hold your empty glass up for them to easily pour the drink.
• Do not start drinking until everybody at the table is served and the glasses are raised for a drinking salute, which usually is “kampai”.
• Avoid using “chin chin” when drinking a toast, since in Japanese this expression refers to the male genitals!
• It is very common for the bill to be divided between all the group. Tipping is not generally practised in Japan.