You may be wondering how to help the people of Japan cope with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred March 11.  You can do it by buying goods from Japanese companies online.  This post tells you the best way to shop Japan via the Internet.

One idea for economic recovery that I have not seen mentioned is to shop directly with Japanese businesses online.  Americans and others around the world have donated millions of dollars through various relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, and many others have traveled to Japan to volunteer their services.  But, while donations of money satisfy the immediate need to get supplies to the people in the towns of the tsunami-ravaged Tohoku region, dollars can be infused into the Japanese economy long-term by shopping via the Internet from anywhere in the world at Rakuten.

Click to explore Rakuten's huge online mall

Many people outside Japan have not heard of Rakuten.  It is an online shopping company.  It is Japan’s equivalent of Amazon.  The Japanese name “Rakuten Ichiba” translates to “Rakuten Shopping Mall,” which is exactly what it is — an aggregation of 33,000 Japanese shops and businesses.  This huge online shopping site offers 60 million products.  Rakuten is the second most visited site in Japan, with over 50 million registered users.  In fact, this Internet shopping giant is the reason Amazon has not been able to make much headway into the Japanese market.  It is estimated that one-third of households in Japan shop at Rakuten.  And that says something:  Japanese consumers, particularly online, are known for being finicky and demanding.  Rakuten has met their needs to the point that it is now one of the top ten Internet companies in the world, and has an international presence.  In addition to products, it also has its own extensive travel services site, which anyone in the world can use.

Rakuten is now actively expanding its shopping services in other markets throughout the world, including Europe and the United States.  Amazon may be the largest online shopping company, but sheer size is no guarantee of quality (Microsoft sells more operating systems than any other company but no one thinks their OS is the best, and General Motors became the largest automaker in the world selling cars inferior to a number of other makes), so I would not be surprised if, in a few years, Rakuten has noticeably eroded Amazon’s market share.  You can think of Rakuten as the Honda of online retailing.

What does that mean with respect to helping the Japanese economy weather the aftermath of the earthquake?

We know that the world’s economic fortunes are subject to ripple effects that transcend national boundaries.  Mortgage foreclosures in the American mid-west affect the value of the Euro.  The price of labor in China impacts how much Walmart pays its US workers.  The Russian wheat harvest affects the price of food in Delhi and Des Moines.  With respect to the world economy, Japan is a titan, boasting the third largest economy after the US and China.  So any financial woes that Japan experiences as a result of the triple whammy of the earthquake, tsunami, and radiation contamination from damaged nuclear power plants will affect not only the Japanese people but people in the United States and around the world.  (Already, it is projected that demand for the Prius will not be able to be met, since there are parts suppliers for the car in the affected region.  And US beef exports to Japan may be hampered by damaged port facilities.)  In other words, the domino effect from an economic slowdown in Japan coupled with the need to re-build infrastructure could affect your personal financial situation.  So it behooves you to help your neighbor.

Thus, if you shop for Japanese goods, you can help not only Japanese businesses and consumers as they recover and re-build, but your own economy as well.  The easiest (and most enjoyable) way to shop in Japan from outside Japan is Rakuten. Spend a few bucks there, get yourself some interesting, well-made Japanese products, and you’ll be helping float everyone’s boat.  After all, just imagine what it would have meant to a local hardware or stationery store in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina if they had had a steady influx of customers…  If they had experienced damage or hardship from the hurricane, sure, packets of freeze-dried food and blankets would have met their immediate physical needs, but long-term, it’s customers buying from businesses that sustain an economy, whether in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi or Ofunato, Japan.

You can find just about any kind of product at Rakuten, from books to ice cream to motorcycle parts.  But why not get something interesting or unusual?  How about:

• Sake
• Momotaro Jeans (maybe the best jeans in the world)
• Japanese Sandals
• Tea Sets
• Samurai Clothes and Accessories
• Edible Seaweed from Ofunato (the northeast region)

You can also try using the search field on the Rakuten homepage to search for city names in the northeast region, such as Sendai, Kamaishi, Miyako, and Kuji, in order to find stores in those cities from which to buy.  Keep in mind that operations at those stores might be curtailed or slowed for awhile — but they will still appreciate the business!

Rakuten currently ships to over 50 countries (and the list is expanding) and their site has pages optimized for a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, China, France, and the UK.  If you’re outside Japan, when you place an order you’ll usually be put in touch via email with the shop that sells the item to arrange a shipping method and cost.  (Note that some shops offer special free international shipping promotions, or $1 international shipping.)  There is a weight restriction on items shipped to the US via certain carriers, but many shops can arrange a shipping method to the US that gets around this limit.

When you first explore the site, you may wonder where to go and how to approach it, but anyone familiar with online shopping can quickly figure it out.  Explore.  In addition, they have a handy instructional page here.

Think of it as an adventure, man.  As well as a good deed.

Here’s a testimonial from a customer in the US posted on the Rakuten site:

“I recently found Rakuten via Facebook, and boy I couldn’t be happier. As a person interested in Japanese culture, this website is great. I’ve found many things I had been looking for as well as new items that have caught my eye. The website is well laid out and very intuitive to navigate. And the search feature is one of the better ones I’ve encountered for a merchant website. And this is all from a website that isn’t set up for business in the USA. If the USA website is half as good, then it’ll be better than most merchants that I’ve purchased from.   by Nick M – NJ, USA”

Hey, if Nick can do it, you can, too.  And remember, you’ll be helping the cause.  It all adds up.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)
2. Sure, Your Mom Would Appreciate Flowers for Mother’s Day — But What About Something Sorta Different?

Here’s a wide variety of Father’s Day gift ideas.  As you go through them, consider nabbing something for yourself.

Wait a minute…  Get a gift for yourself for Father’s Day? Sure.  When it comes to Father s Day gifts, if you get something for yourself, you know you’ll get what you want.  Besides, why not celebrate your own fatherhood?  You can do that even if you don’t have kids.  After all, every mature man is a sort of “father”:  an originator of ideas, shepherd of projects, creator of art, instigator of adventures.  And if you do have kids, if you get a cool gift for yourself, you’ll be able to enjoy it along with your kids’ heartfelt (hopefully), competent (or not) gifts — their attempts to express their appreciation for your love, guidance, and encouragement.

Of course, you want to get a good gift for your own dad for Father’s Day, something that expresses your gratitude for his presence and influence in your life.  I say “hopefully,” because Father’s Day can often be kind of an afterthought when it comes to parents’ days.  Mother’s Day gets most of the headlines.  Father’s Day seems to come in second in the popularity polls.  The cliché of dad always getting a necktie for Father’s Day is a cliché because it’s true.  But your dad deserves some consideration when it comes to gifts, doesn’t he?  To jump-start some ideas, following are suggestions for gifts that don’t suck — things he will actually enjoy and use.

Let’s start with a classic gift idea that can’t miss:  a wristwatch, and for a good price (he’ll appreciate your sensibleness).  Watches are useful, stylish and, when you think about it, cool pieces of technology.  (There’s a reason they’re given on important occasions such as  graduation and retirement.)  Every day, ChronoShark offers a new watch at the absolutely lowest price anywhere.  You only get 24 hours to nab it.

I have a dedicated page to ChronoShark here).  And if today’s watch deal doesn’t do it for you, there’s a good chance that tomorrow’s will — they select from the best when it comes to performance versus price.  You could also try an excellent online retailer of watches:  Discount Watch Store.  They have thousands of watches for men, good customer service, guarantee the lowest prices on the Internet, and offer free shipping on all orders.

Polar FT7

Along the same lines as a watch, but a little more specialized and beneficial — how about a heart-rate monitor?  Here’s a heart-rate monitor that’s well-reviewed:  the Polar FT7.  Outside magazine, among others, recommends it (“intuitive and powerful”).  It has everything you need and nothing you don’t, and the price is right.  Plus it’s cool-looking.  Encourage your dad to achieve his fitness goals.  Find the Polar FT7 at REI or Moosejaw.  And if you want something more top-of-the-line, check out the Garmin Forerunner 110, which adds GPS capability to workout monitoring.

Everybody likes 007.  Whether your dad is trying to get fitter or not, guys appreciate action (even if it’s vicarious), and quintessential manly action has always been carried out by James Bond.  Get your dad a complete set of James Bond movies.  Here’s Volume 1:

You can also find the complete collection of Bond movies on both DVD and Blu-ray at CD Universe, one of the best online sources for music and movies at good prices.

Or would he rather have a TV series?  See my post on the best television series for men availale on DVD and blu-ray (for example:  The Wire and Fawlty Towers).

With regard to relating to women (your mom or whoever), a good cologne is always appropriate (unless she’s got MCS, in which case there’s a whole ‘nother set of things to worry about besides smelling good).  I have found only a few that seem to be universally appreciated by the opposite sex and here’s one of them:  Marc Jacobs for Men.  In my own informal polling, I’ve always had positive responses (I try it on at the store and ask random women if they like it).  It’s also endorsed by the PUA community, and they should know, right?  You can get it for an excellent discount from FragranceX.

Every guy should have at least one multitool.  They’re handy and confidence-inducing.  Here’s one that the editors of Outside endorsed as a practical, everyday choice:  the Leatherman Squirt PS4 (can’t go wrong with anything from Leatherman).  It’s got 9 tools (including pliers and scissors) in a compact form that isn’t annoying to carry around (just 2¼ inches closed).  And it’s only about $40 (or less).  Get it from REI.  Or from Massey’s Professional Outfitters.

The sword of William Wallace

Here is something that is not a multitool.  It’s a single-purpose tool:  William Wallace’s sword from the movie Braveheart.  Of course, this is not an actual battle sword ( for that you need to go to Swords.com or Budk), but it is an impressive 61-inch replica in high-carbon steel — the most accurate prop replica ever made of this sword.  It comes with a display plaque.  Inspire your dad with the formidable weapon that helped establish freedom!

 Guys need a top-drawer pair of knockaround pair of shoes, whether for late-night ramblings along urban streets or stalking across frosty stubble pursuing a great telephoto shot of a wild turkey.  Fortunately, Timberland has a classic pair of chukka boots that fit the bill — the Eastern Standard Chukka (that’s them above) – a vintage style based on shoes that first appeared decades ago, made with premium Horween leather, hand-finished for a rustic look, with coarse waxed cotton laces and a Vibram outsole.  Intended to protect a man’s feet during diverse activities, while simultaneously making him look good.  Get them from Timberland.  Made in the USA.

And if you don’t think these boots are exactly your dad’s cup of tea (or you don’t know his shoe-size), then get him a gift certificate to Zappos and let him choose his preferred footwear.  That goes for all the companies linked to on this page – if you’re not sure about a specific item, get a gift certificate:  it always fits and is totally in style.

Kansas City Steak Company

You get hungry after a day of stomping around in your boots, swinging your sword, and when a man gets hungry, the food of choice is meat (unless he’s a vegetarian — in which case, well, get him a carrot).  Anyway, if you want to treat your dad to a premium steak or other great hunk o’ beef, you can’t go wrong with the Kansas City Steak Company — one of the best online companies for steak and other meats.  And of course they’re offering some good deals now — for example, get 8 Classic Steakburgers FREE with a $100 order (use code ABRG84 at checkout).  And get $4.95 shipping on all orders. This makes a mouthwatering gift…

Savile Row, London

You want your dad to look good and, believe it or not, he wants to look good, so how about getting him a shirt or two from one of the most renowned shirt makers in the world:  Savile Row.  They offer exquisite tailoring, use the finest cottons, and carry a variety of styles (all posh).  Right now, if you buy 2 shirts you can get a third for half price (through June 21st only).   They also carry men’s suits, casual wear, and accessories.  Which means you can get him — yes! — a tie.  But Savile Row ties are pretty cool.  They have a 3-month satisfaction guarantee.  Shipping to the US is only $21 and is free on orders over $175.  And, for the quality, their prices are quite reasonable. Click the banner below.

A laser-engraved flask makes a personalized gift

We’ve handled your dad’s steak needs but what about when he gets thirsty?  I’m not talking about when he needs a bit of agua after running a 10K.  No, I’m talking about when he needs a drop of something a little more flavorful.  For that, he doesn’t want to carry a Camelbak.  He’ll need something a bit more sophisticated:  a flask.  And why not get him one that’s laser-engraved with art or a message of your choosing?  This will be a gift that keeps on giving.  See more flasks than you can shake a stick at at the FlaskShop, including photo flasks, stainless steel, novelty flasks, leather designs, monogrammed, and martini shaker sets (which he can use while unwinding with a Bond movie).

TaylorMade R9 Driver at InTheHole Golf

Your father must have a few hobbies.  Is one of them golf?  If so, my commiseration.  No, just kidding…  My 81-year-old dad plays golf and loves it.  I know he always enjoys upgrading his equipment.  So why not get your dad a new club or something else from InTheHole Golf, one of the best online destinations for everything you need to play the Game of Gentlemen.  Check out the TaylorMade R9 driver — an advanced, adjustable design that is getting rave reviews.  Or maybe he just needs a new golf bag (consider the Ogio Nexos Stand Bag).   Or simply get him a gift certificate.  You can’t go wrong at InTheHole Golf.  Their helpful, informative website will help you choose a great gift.

And, from now until June 20, get 10% off for Father’s Day at IntheHoleGolf — just enter code DAD at checkout.

This is not your dad.

Of course, maybe your dad’s inclination is toward a sport that’s a little more mano-a-mano (as opposed to mano-a-course-o).  How about tennis?  Does he need a new tennis racket?  Then the place to get it for a good price, with a wide selection, is Tennis Boom.  Of course, if your budget is limited you could always just go with a can of balls.

The Daiwa Saltiga Surf Spinning Reel is one of the best

Or maybe your dad prefers the contest between man and fish.  A new rod or surf reel could be in order.  Find a huge selection of fishing equipment, from fly-fishing to deep-sea trolling, at Cabelas, the premier outdoor recreation/adventure outfitter, all offered with excellent customer service.

Utrecht Master's Studio Easel - on sale for over $100 off

Is your dad a visual artist?  Remember how I mentioned that a man can be the ”father” of art?  Well, if your dad fits that category, you can get art supplies and equipment for him at Utrecht.  They’ve been supplying equipment and materials for artists since 1949.

They are currently offering their Master’s Studio Easel for an excellent discount.

Click for exclusive designs at Sunglass Hut

Now that we’re coming into summer, every guy, including your dad, needs some cool shades to wear with shorts and Hawaiian shirts.  You can’t get cooler (or higher quality) than Ray-Ban (and Maui Jim).   See an excellent selection of Ray-Ban models, including one-of-a-kind designer styles such as those done by graphic designer and muralist Matt Moore above, at Sunglass Hut.   A pair of Ray-Bans, whether wayfarers or aviators, is a can’t-miss gift.

Click to see the Droids at Wirefly

A new phone — something he can use to call you or just surf the web.  The new iPhone is about to come out and the Google Nexus One is getting rave reviews.  Those aren’t the only excellent phones out there — the various Droid phones are also top-of-the-line.  Is it about time for your dad to have a cool communication/Web/photo/GPS machine that won’t break the bank?  Find many good selections at Wirefly (such as the Droid Incredible pictured at left, or the featured model in the banner below).

Maybe your dad isn’t much of a gamer.  But he could be, especially when he finds out about the cool sports games you can play on the Nintendo Wii.  Or he is a gamer but he hasn’t gotten around to getting the Wii yet.  Or he’s gotten a Wii but he doesn’t have Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 yet.  In any event, get him one or all of these things and he’ll have fun.  Include Resident Evil 4, too (also find it here).  And don’t forget Super Mario Galaxy 2 (about which CNET wrote:  “…the new standard against which every 3D platformer must now be judged”).  You can also find the Nintendo Wii in black at Buy.com, plus a bunch of accessories.

MEZZI WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase

When you combine style, a cool gadget, and uniqueness, you’ve got an unbeatable combination for a gift.  And that’s what you get with the   MEZZI WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase — a well-made aluminum briefcase with a wood finish and a chrome handle from Mezzi.com.  The WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase was featured on Mission Impossible 3.  (Mezzi has supplied cases for a number of TV shows and films, including all those nifty silver cases on Deal or No Deal.)  This briefcase is made of high-quality aluminum and has chromed corners.  The black interior has 4 compartments, 3 pen/pencil holders, customizable foam, and will securely hold a laptop of up to 17 inches.  It’ll keep your dad’s stuff safe with a dual keypad combination lock.  And he will own the most distinctive briefcase of anyone he knows.  MEZZI makes stylish, durable briefcases at sensible prices.  Check the customer reviews for this case on their site.  You can also read an independent review of another MEZZI case — the LuxSlim Aluminum Laptop case in black — at Gear Diary, if you want additional input about their products.  But really, all you need to know is that, in addition to Mission Impossible 3, the WOODLine Aluminum Briefcase was featured on NBC’s Chuck (one of my favorite shows).

Top 30 Bestselling Signed Books at Abebooks

Does your father like to read?  All readers enjoy having a book signed by the author.  And you can find a whole bunch of signed editions at Abebooks.  Here’s a link to the latest, most popular signed editions at Abebooks.  If you don’t see an author that you know your dad likes on that page, use the Abebooks search function here to search for signed editions by authors you know he’s a fan of.  It makes for a cool, one-of-a-kind gift.  And here’s something especially for Father’s Day:  books by father and son writing teams.

Subscribe for under $12 for a year

Then again, maybe your dad is a reader but he doesn’t like books.  He likes his reading short, practical, entertaining, and with plenty of pictures.  In that case, get him a subscription to a car magazine.  Every guy likes car magazines.  Me, I like Car & Driver best.  But hey, some people swear by Road & Track and AutoWeek.  Also check other titles at University Subscription Service, which is one of my favorite online discount magazine subscription services (along with Blue Dolphin).  You can’t beat the prices and the service is good.  And a magazine subscription is a gift that keeps on giving every month.  And don’t you want to let your father how much your care about him every month?

Happy Father’s Day!

Related posts:

1. Want to Help the Japanese Economy Recover? Shop at Rakuten
2. A Big Gear Sale at Eastern Mountain Sports

There are a number of reasons why I’m touting GamersGate as an excellent way to get downloadable (digitally-distributed) games for your PC and Mac:

• They are a Swedish company and Swedish companies are inherently cool (my opinion has nothing to do with the fact that my heritage is Swedish — well, maybe a little.  But check, for example, Koenigsegg and Flygfabriken.)
• They have a huge catalog of both triple-A games and indie titles, and they maintain a good collection of older games.
• They are dedicated to customer service.
• Their pricing is good, with frequent sales.

Pre-order Assassin's Creed II from GamersGate for $49.95 and get 5,000 Blue Coins, Price Guarantee, and Pre-Load privilege

Since its launch in late 2006, GamersGate has moved into the forefront of companies that offer customers the convenience of downloading games right to their computers and they continue to offer innovations and improvements to make their service more attractive.  For example, just a couple of weeks ago they significantly enhanced their already-fast download speeds by migrating their game library to a performance-optimized content delivery network maintained by Internap Network Services (out of Atlanta, GA).

You can download and install games for PC and Mac from GamersGate to any computer with an Internet connection, without having to install a separate client application.  Once purchased, games can be installed as many times as you like.  They offer a simple user interface, game guides, easy access to serial keys (as needed), and the ability to purchase titles (including easy gift purchasing) using a credit card or your PayPal account.

Since early 2009 they’ve offered games for the Mac (unlike several other download services) and have entered into a partnership with TransGaming, joining their GameTree network.

GamersGate offers a cool customer loyalty program known as Blue Coins, which is a virtual currency for use on their site.  You may purchase Blue Coins, accrue them by buying games, or get them by participating on the site, such as by writing reviews, rating games, or answering questions in the Game Tutor area.

Why drive to a store, wait in line, and deal with clerks who may not be game experts when you can conveniently shop for games online, read helpful customer reviews, download the games quickly, go through the easy automated install process and be playing within minutes?  Not only is it easy, it’s better for the environment.  Plus, it’s cold outside right now.  So order a pizza, find a game online, and be playing before the delivery guy gets to your door.

GamersGate frequently offers discount pricing, as well as daily, weekly, monthly, and weekend specials, and special game bundles, so it pays to check their site frequently.  You can search for and sort game search results by quite a few criteria, and you can be notified by email when a game you’re interested in goes down in price.

They have an excellent selection of strategy and role-playing games (which I like), but they don’t skimp on action games either (for example, they have Avatar:  The Game , Mass Effect 2, and Tomb Raider:  Underworld).  (By the way, they don’t currently offer Modern Warfare 2 because the game forces users to install Valve’s Steamworks marketplace app — a decision I agree with.)  They also offer the full collection of The Sims 3 games, including for Mac.  Click here to see and buy the current top-rated games.

The bottom line is GamersGate is an agile, creative company that has rapidly become a player to be reckoned with in the digital download marketplace, and you’ll enjoy using them to find a ton of great games for your PC or Mac at good prices.  (Click the banners below to find out more.)

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1. The Game “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” for PlayStation 3 Came Out Yesterday
2. Order “Mockingjay,” the Final Book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, from Barnes and Noble for a Great Discount

You mean you haven’t yet gotten the game rated 96 on Metacritic (“Universal Acclaim”), 96.3% on GameRankings, and 9.5 out of 10 on GameStats?

Unless you’ve been working with the Peace Corps in Eritrea or something — and if you have, this post is for you – you were probably already aware that Sony released Uncharted 2:  Among Thieves, the highly-anticpated follow-up to Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on October 13, 2009.  If you haven’t gotten yours yet, why not?  It’s still pretty close to payday. 

Probably the most decorated game of 2009, among the awards and accolades “Uncharted 2″ has received to date are:

Game Critics Award, Best of E3 2009 (Electronic Entertainment Expo): 

• Best of Show
• Best Console Game
• Best Action/Adventure Game

 IGN.com Best of E3 2009: 

• Best PS3 Action Game
• Best PS3 Graphics Technology
• Best PS3 Multiplayer Experience
• Achievement for Technological Excellence
• PlayStation 3 Game of the Show
• Best Graphics Technology Overall

 GameSpot E3 ’09 Editor’s Choice: 

• Best Graphics
• Best PS3 Game

 1UP.com Best of E3 2009: 

• Best of Show
• Best of E3 PS3 Game

GameSpy Best of E3 2009: 

• PS3 Game of Show

GamePro Best of E3: 

• Gold Medal

GameTrailers.com Best of E3: 

• Best Graphics
• Best Third Person Shooter

Basically, what you should take away from all this is:

This game is great to look at

This game is a lot of fun to play

Okay, so wait no further.  Get it from GameStop:

Don’t have your PlayStation 3 yet?  (I won’t tell anybody; I know you’ve been waiting for a good deal.)  Get the 320 GB system with PlayStation Move Bundle (pictured below) from J&R Computer/Music World, New York’s legendary electronics retailer (and get free ground shipping).   You can also still get the 160 GB system here for just under $300.   

Following is a video review on the PlayStation 3 Slim (120 GB) from CNET:

Get the Sony PlayStation 3 Slim here.  

If you prefer to acquire Uncharted 2 from another vendor, you can get it from Best Buy:

Click to get it from Best Buy

If you’re still sort of hesitating…

C’mon, are you ever going to pull the trigger?  Following are excerpts from a few reviews…

PlayStation:  The Official Magazine (US):    “A veritable master class of all-round game development.”

Games Radar:  “Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.  It looks amazing, plays like a dream, and the voice-acting/story-telling will hook you in right from the off.”

PlayStation:  The Official Magazine (UK):  “Unless you’re born without thumbs, eyes, or a sense of humor, it’s obvious that Uncharted 2 is a 10/10 game after two minutes of the first level… It’s the most complete, polished and fun adventure game — and maybe just game — on PS3, and it’s absolutely essential.”

Eurogamer Portugal:  “Could use many words to describe Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, but I will just use one.  Too beautiful.” 

Well, that’s 2 words, but who’s counting?

Gametrailers.com:  “This is the best-looking game on the planet right now.”

‘Nuff said.  May you enjoy Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Related posts:

1. Download A Huge Selection of PC and Mac Games to Any Computer from GamersGate
2. Father’s Day: Get Something Good for Your Dad (or Yourself)