A PEEK INSIDE ANDREW LEWIS DOG FOOD SECRETS - Health - Nutrition

Andrew Lewis' work Andrew lewis dog food secrets has garnered quite a number of reviews on the web. From dog owners to book critiques, Lewis' factual, informative and instructional book has caused quite a stir in the online pet owner community. Discussed here are three concepts to sum up most of the existing Andrew lewis secrets reviews: (a) Its effects, (b) practical dog care, and (c) the online purchase of the book.

Reviews have discussed, also as can be seen by the e-book's title, the many neglected pieces of information on what unfortunate events could result from feeding your dogs with commercial food. It has been given that even to the human body, processed food is unhealthy and sometimes even dangerous. The same thing goes for dogs. Lewis reports in his book that though commercial food companies claim that their products are packed with the right amount of nutrients to boost your dogs' strength, performance and overall health, some food provide more harm than good. Lewis shares the many additives and ingredients that are created with. Such chemicals are said to cause liver malfunction, premature blindness, cancer, and even behavioral problems among others. One Andrew lewis secrets review considered sharing that aside from chemicals, preservatives, and additives, This could also include inedible material and even some hazardous ones.

Aside from focusing on food effects and disadvantages, Lewis emphasizes on the best ways to take care of your well loved pet dogs especially in terms of nutrition. His book includes suggestions on how to properly feed them, which kinds of food to bank on and which to avoid, and the proper feeding amounts. With the e-book even comes a listing of doggy treats and recipes that are health and nutrition based. After all, avoiding this will not do much good without the knowledge on what kinds of food to replace them with. Lewis was said to have provided ample information not only on what bad effects entail but also what good diets should be given to those lovely four legged fur balls.

Upon Andrew Lewis' release of his book, many reactions emerged. Many interested pet lovers and dog owners grew wild with curiosity upon hearing of the possible hazards and dangers they could have put their dogs in. Some reviews were given quite a number of feedback on the book being a scam. An individual insisted online on a Andrew lewis secrets scam as he was not sent a copy of the book even three weeks after payment. However, no follow up information was provided to prove of it being a scam. Do not worry about it being so as it is not a hard copy rather an e-book that could be downloaded minutes upon payment. Do not be easily moved by misinformed claims as Andrew lewis secrets is a hundred percent legitimate.

So don't open that can of dog food just yet! While not all dog food are bad, it does pay to be at least more cautious than usual. Be informed and allow a best lived life for your dogs with Andrew Lewis' Andrew lewis dog food secrets.

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REVELATIONS: ANDREW LEWIS' DOG FOOD SECRETS - Health - Nutrition

Many books on pet care are published and released yearly, yet only Dog Food Secrets - has focused on an unexpected topic. In his e-book, Lewis reveals the many unknown effects and dangers of food which include severe cases such as cancer, and many more.

Andrew Lewis' Secrets has alarmed many pet lovers, especially dog owners, of the health risks they never knew they have been putting their dogs in. But more than it is alarming, it is an informing report that offers pieces of facts and advice not only on what to avoid, but also what to include in a dog's diet. Lewis has authored the book allegedly after losing his own pet dog Noble from the harsh effects of commercially produced food. His research and insights have then been fused into an informative report that is this e-book.

The said Dog Food Secrets book has highlighted one thing in general: That it is best and safest to simply home cook food for your dogs. Just like in human beings where processed food might provide unhealthy effects, dogs are also unhealthily affected by processed food. To help his readers with this, Lewis has included recipes for home cooked meals well and healthily suited for your doggies' diets. He says in this e-book that home cooked food may increase a dog's health and lifespan by as much as 8 years or so. Lewis also claims that it contains harmful to even toxic material that the manufacturers could easily and legally cover up.

Many consumers believe that this e-book is only a conspiracy to pull down progressing food manufacturers. They believe that those companies who produce these products have nothing but the best intentions for their pets. However, Andrew Lewis' book has in it included many supporting evidences to his claim on the dangers of dog food. To be fair, though, he has not stated with finality that all dog foods are toxic. Besides, anything claimed by food manufacturers such as protein doses and healthy body weight among other things can easily be achieved by home cooked meals. "There's nothing to lose in playing safe," most readers conclude.

In the end, Secrets by Andrew Lewis emphasizes the most important information needed for feeding dogs the right diet. This well written e-book gives its readers an easy time understanding even the most important of concepts. Lewis' revelations are properly laid out so that users could easily be moved by the presented facts. It is also easily accessible as it could be downloaded right after a payment process has been made.

Skeptics and fans are both drawn to Andrew Lewis' presentation. Its readers can choose to ignore or to fully accept the challenge of understanding what they can do to provide their dogs with the best of health conditions and the longest possible life. Indeed, Dog Food Secrets is just another of man's best friends.

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Quickest Way To Starting Your Cash-Creating Internet Business: Part One - Website Promotion - Online Promotion

Thousands and thousands of people are rushing onto the idea of having their own Internet business every day. Nevertheless, there just seems to be no concise guide to teach people how to start their online business from scratch - right from zero.And so, here's all the information people ever need to start their Internet business, even though they have no experience at all. The summary:* Find a product, target a specific audience. * Once you have chosen your niche or topic, time to find information! We'll reveal where to get any of the information you want, very well written ones! * Compile your information, finish your product and then, time to get some business started. You will create your money making machine, your sales page. * Have a domain name galore, get your website up and host it, very easy part. * Alright, the exciting moments, accepting money! Everyday there are people shopping in exclusive shops like Giordano, Hugo Boss, ZARA, Georgio Armani, Gucci and many mor e because they want to find beautiful clothing for themselves.People want to eat good food, have nice dinners in hotels, breakfasts in Dome, enjoy rich flavored brewed coffee in Starbucks or Coffee Bean, drive nice cars, enjoy life by the beach and going for vacations around the world - they want a lot of things!* "I have added a lot of weight lately... looks like I have to find a way to solve this problem."

* "How can I learn to play like a professional golf player?"

* "It's the same thing showing on TV everyday, don't they have something special?"Everyone is searching to solve, learn, or specialize their "wants", and now the Internet is where people turn to when they need to seek for information. Whenever people need to know about something they'll just have look it up on search engines like Google, Yahoo or MSN and get what they want in a few seconds.

Having an Internet Business is simply providing people with what they want, nothing harder. You just need to sell something, a product, service, it can be almost anything - even garbage sells. You can visit to see garbage being sold at 50 dollars, and someone is going to buy them for sure.Pick any niche you want and create a product out of it. If you wonder what a niche is, consider it a topic. Again, it can be almost anything. As long as you think somebody will be interested in it, go ahead with the idea.

Nevertheless, some ideas can be slightly worse than the others, especially the ones which are very crowded or saturated. The competition will be really high and it is harder for you to make a fortune out with similar products."This is blind, I don't even know any products or things I can create to be sold."It's easy and you definitely know how. The difference will only be its popularity and the target audience - in longer words, people who will buy your product.

Undoubtedly, informational products are the best, it is what you want to sell. Brainstorm your best niche, your best topic, or the ones you feel like doing most. If you haven't got specific ideas about what you might like to create, here are some questions and suggestions:* Do you feel especially passionate about any subjects in particular? * Are you an expert in anything? * Do you have hobbies or interests that you pursue regularly? * Are you active in a sport? * Ask your friends and family what they think you might be especially good at doing.What have you learned from your jobs, hobbies and general life experience? What problems have you solved in the past? Brainstorm as many ideas as you can. Look at the following list - are you knowledgeable in one or more of the following subjects?* Accounting* Arts and Crafts* Auto Buying* Auto Mechanics* Canning* Carpentry* Catering* Child* Development* Computers* Coaching* Cooking* Dating* Decorating* Divorce* Dog Training* E-book s* E-zines* Fitness* Gardening* Health and Fitness* Home Business* Home Buying* Home Finances * Home Maintenance* Home Remodeling* Internet Business* Makeup Application* Marketing* Pet Care* Pet Grooming* Pet Shows* Plumbing* Program Scripting* Recipes* Relationships* Romance* Self Improvement* Sewing Tips* Single Parenting* Skin Care* Small Appliance Repair* Software Design* Teenagers* Traveling* Web Design* Weight Loss Sparked any ideas from that? If you haven't, here's more!

* Accessories - Cosmetics/Fragrance, Handbags, Jewelry - Shoes* Art/Photo/Music - Art, Music, Photo* Automotive - Cars & Trucks, Motorcycles, Parts & Accessories* Books/Media - Books, Magazines, News, Television, Videos/Movies* Business - Business-To-Business, Marketing, Office, Travel* Careers - Employment, Military* Clothing/Apparel - Children's, Malls, Men's, Women's* Commerce - Auction, Classifieds, E-commerce solutions/providers, New/Used Goods, Telephone services, Utilities* Computer & Electronics - Computer HW, Computer Support, Computer SW, Consumer Electronics, Peripherals* Education - Children, College, Languages, Professional* Entertainment - Memorabilia* Family - Babies, Children, Entertainment, Teens, Weddings* Financial services - Banking/Trading, Credit Cards, Investment, Loans* Food & Drinks - Gourmet, Groceries, Restaurants,, Wine & Spirits* Games & Toys - Electronic Toys, Games, Toys* Gifts & Flowers - Collectibles, Flowers, Gifts, Greeting Cards* Health & Beauty - Bath & Body, Cosmetics, Health Food, NutritionalSupplements, Pharmaceuticals, Self Help, Vision Care, Wellness* Home & Garden - Bed & Bath, Construction, Furniture, Garden, Home Appliances, Kitchen, Pets, Real Estate, Utilities* Insurance - Commercial, Personal Insurance* Legal - Services* Marketing - Business-to-Business, Network Marketing* Medical - Equipment* Phone card Services - Online/Wireless* Recreation & Leisure - Astrology, Betting/Gaming, Communities, Events, Matchmaking, New Age, Outdoors, Party Goods* Shops/Malls - Virtual Malls* Sports & Fitness - Exercise & Health, Professional Sports Organizations, Sports, Water Sports* Travel - Accessories, Air, Car, Hotel, Luggage, Vacation* Web Services - Advice, Banner ads, Domain Registrations, Email Marketing, Internet Service Providers, Intranets, Search Engine, Web Design, Web Hosting/Servers, Web ToolsLots of them. There is so much you can sell on the Internet, pick one that you are more inclined to and si mply start writing it. It is very important that you take action continuously, everything starts from there.

It doesn't matter if your product is not fully complete, you just need to "sketch" the contents, and perfect it some time later.Want to know if your product is highly sought after? Here's how you do it(you can even get ideas for creating a product from them).There are several ways, easiest one which is by using Overture's Free Suggestion Tool. You can also download this free software - Good Keywords, it somehow represents Overture's Free Suggestion Tool, without you going to the site over and over again.Other than that, you can also choose to use WordTracker - this is the free trial, the paid one is definitely the best. The main thing about WordTracker is that with a decent fee you can get to see a lot of more specific searches and information. WordTracker works especially good for this - it shows you the number of competition, and also lets you know if you are targeting a good niche by KEI - Keyword Effectiveness Indicator.Other than these search tools, you can also look in places like eBay or Amazon to see the hot products. Find your niche and get it started and start it right away, you'll be up in no time depending on your motivation.

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The West Highland White Terrier - Family - Pets

So you have decided you are going to buy a West Highland white terrier, otherwise known as a Westie. Westies are great little light-hearted dogs. They are quick to learn, and as a rule they are very self sufficient, and have wonderful, unique personalities. Most Westie owners will tell you that their dog possesses a "big personality." They are lovable, but will never be mistaken for a lap dog.

If you are looking for a cuddly lap dog, a Westie may not be the right breed for you. They are notoriously independent, and won't tolerate being held for very long periods. They like to be in close proximity to their owner/families, but they need their space. As a rule, when a Westie chooses a sleeping area they will find a private space. Away from the family, this sleeping area will most likely be somewhat protected on three sides; they also like to "cover their backs" when they sleep. Naturally there are exceptions to the rule. If the dog is taught to be a bit of a lap dog, they will most likely be a lap dog. But the Westie is not a natural lap dog. They like to call the shots, so to speak.

The Westie likes to be taken along with the family whenever possible. They are friendly, and love people in general, especially children. They are very loyal to their families and prefer being with their owners/families whenever possible.

When purchasing a dog most people prefer to buy a young puppy, and train the dog themselves. This can be rewarding. If buying a puppy, make sure you are home regularly enough to train the puppy properly. Westies are easy to train, but someone has to be in the home to do the training. Remember, it can be a frustrating and time consuming task to train a puppy. The other option is to purchase a dog that is a bit older, and has already been trained by the breeder. This is a good option, and many breeders can accommodate with a dog that is a little older and trained.

Male or female? In regard to temperament, there is little or no difference between the two in the Westie breed. It is said that Westie males are more affectionate than female Westies. The female is smaller and lighter, so easier to control on a walk or carry when necessary.

This pure white, sturdy small-framed dog is always full of energy and always on the alert and looking for fun. They love to get out and walk, and run in a wooded area, looking for game.

Westies' ears stand up naturally at each side of their fluffy, happy face. At the opposite end, a perky short tail, which - by nature's design - comes to a gradual point. As adults, it is desirable for the male Westie to be 11 inches in height; the female 10 inches in height. A Westies coat should be pure white. They have a double coat; the under coat being soft and fluffy, the top coat a bit coarse and wiry. This dual coat is natural to the Westie. The breed was developed and bread for a hard and dangerous job - that of hunting out and killing vermin. So the dual coat provides the Westie a good natural form of protection, not only from the elements, but the claws and teeth of its prey. The dry texture of the Westies coat also works to cut down on doggy odor. Due to this dryer coat they require less baths. They can be kept clean with frequent brushing and dry cleaning (this is done by adding a bit of corn starch to the dogs coat, brushing it out after a few minutes.)

Choosing a reputable breeder is very important. It is impossible to know when picking out your particular puppy just how that dog will turn out emotionally and physically. This is the best reason to find a good reputable breeder. A good breeder strives to breed healthy dogs that will exhibit traits that are natural to the dog they chose to breed. There are three choices when it comes to breeders; pet shop breeders, back yard breeders, and serious hobby breeders.

The pet shop breeder is the worst possible choice you can make when buying a dog. The puppies are poorly bred, and are thought of as merchandise to be sold for at a high profit. This form of breeding as a rule puts out sickly, unstable dogs, and I highly recommend you stay clear of pet shop breeders.

The backyard breeder can also be a poor choice. This type of breeder may be a Westie owner that thought it would be "fun" to have puppies. They know little about puppies and the training of puppies. As a rule they are not well acquainted with the stud dogs, and can offer little information on his background. They are unaware of the history of the breed, and any special needs of a given breed. To sum it up, they are ill-equipped to breed dogs, and lack the knowledge one needs to be a good breeder.

Your best choice when buying a dog is to find a serious hobby breeder. They have done their homework on the breed they are selling. As a rule, they are dog fanciers and do not look at breeding as a profit-only venture. They are breeding for show dogs. They strive to breed the best of their chosen breed. They will take responsibility for any and all pups produced, and stand behind their dogs. You can be assured the dogs are healthy, and have been given all the veterinary care they need as puppies along with proper training. A good breeder of Westies will belong to the "West Highland White Terrier Club of America", and/or other well known Westie Clubs. They will most likely be involved in showing their dogs. A good breeder will ask you questions, and be very discriminating on the homes their puppies go to. They will guarantee their puppies, with an agreement to take the puppy back if for some reason you find you are not compatible with your new puppy. They will give you time to have the puppy looked at by a veterinarian of your choice, just to ensure there are no health problems looming, and that the puppy is in a good healthy condition.

A good breeder will have numerous references. They will be able to provide you with such references, in the way of other persons that have purchased dogs from them, along with their own veterinarians references. The breeder should be able to answer questions on the breed, and show a good knowledge of the breeds history. The breeder should also provide written instructions in regard to the puppies needs. Diet, exercise, and health care needs as a puppy and adult dog. The kennels should be clean, providing the dogs with a healthy environment. The dogs should be comfortable with the breeder, and show a good rapport with them. The dogs in the kennels should be of good temperament, and healthy in appearance. The good breeder will never sell a puppy that is too young to leave its mother.

And finally, the breeder should provide you with a record of the dates and types of vaccinations and worming that has been done on your puppy, along with any and all records on visits to the vet the puppy may have required while in the breeder's care. It is also desirable to ask questions on the health of the parent dogs. The breeder must provide you with A 3- to 5-generation pedigree, and a "blue slip" to apply for registration of the Westie into the AKA.

Once you have found a trustworthy breeder here are a few tips on choosing the right puppy: Age is important; a puppy is usually ready to be taken to its new home at the age of eight to twelve weeks. You may find that all Westie pups look alike; they pretty much do all look alike. Look for a puppy with a sturdy build. The dog should feel firm, with good muscle tone. Their legs should be straight. The pup should be active when picked up, squirmy, after a short time relaxing and willing to be petted and cuddled a bit. Their coats should be thick and clean. There should be no discharge from eyes, nose or ears, and no odor at the ears. The eyes should be bright, with an alert look. The gums should be moist and pink. The dog should be active with the other pups. It's a good idea to ask the breeder about the puppies personality. They can help you pick a dog that will be suited to your needs and your personality.

It is always smart to observe the dam for her traits. Does she appear overly shy, aggressive, stand-offish. Is she patient and watchful of the puppies, and not overly aggressive of the liter? Do the parent dogs look in good health? Are their coats healthy and do they appear active with good stamina? It is well known puppies can and do inherit traits from the parent dogs.

If you do your homework, you are more likely to pick just the right dog. The Westie is a wonderful breed. They are bright, happy spirited dogs, and will bring with them their own special outgoing personality. They will fast become your best friend.

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Top Tips to Keep your cat happy! - Family - Pets

Some people think cats are only happy if they have a wide and varied outdoor territory to patrol. If you live in a city, or have no garden, this may dishearten you, but cheer up! It isn't true! Simply playing regularly with your kitty will fulfill most of her exercise and hunting instincts! Here are my top tips based on 5 years of looking after Oakley

1) It's best to start when your pet is just a kitten. If they grow up indoors, they may never particularly want to venture out.

2) If possible, providing even a tiny bit of outdoor space (a small terrace, a screened balcony etc) may be enough. Just make sure your cat can't climb out and possibly fall, or otherwise come to harm. Because animals may try to come IN to the space, you should always be there when your pet is 'outside'. This is the favorite resource for Oakley, who enjoys nothing more than 30 minutes in the sun on a hot day. Beware of toxic plants, escape routes, or other dangerous things that could harm your kitten.

3) try taking your cat out on a leash. If the area is quiet, you cat may enjoy this. Just remember that if you come across any dogs, you are likely to become a 'human tree' for your cat to run up! As a rule, cats don't like leashes, but if you start early enough, they can be trained to it.

4) Treat your cat to a 'cat tree'. Cats love to climb (Oakley does!) and it's great exercise for them.

5) Be sure to play with your cat every day. The best 'lures' are always the home made variety. You cat will much prefer to chase an old bit of cloth on a string that YOU have made for her, rather than an expensive shop-bought mouse or some such. This is just a way for your cat to show affection too - they really do value your efforts to entertain and exercise them!

6) A single cat is never as happy as a cat with company. Even on a tight budget, 2 cats cost little more than 1 to keep, and they will both be happier as a result!

7) Hygiene - clean the litter tray and food bowls every day - cats are fastidious, and after all, how would YOU like to eat from a plate that hadn't been washed up, or use a toilet that hadn't been flushed?!

8) Don't forget collars. If your cat should get out, a collar is the surest method of getting her back. Oakley likes to 'shed' her collar regularly - never give a cat a hard time about this - it's just a little game they enjoy. If you can afford it, get your cat 'chipped'. This makes it much easier to reunite you in extremis.

That's about it for now! If you have enjoyed these tips, or they are useful to you, please feel free to vote for Oakly - /vote.asp?vote=1054 is the link. It doesn't cost anything, and you will be supporting animal charities including my favorite cat charity too!

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Bite Inhibition & Appropriate Chewing - Family - Pets

This is a short article to help you train your puppy to stop chewing your furniture and to teach him to play-bite appropriately. This training will give your puppy a basic grounding in canine manners which will help prevent him becoming an adult dog that bites or a dog that is destructive when alone in the house.

Bite Inhibition

It is important initially to teach your puppy bite inhibition. This is basically training your puppy that it is advantageous for him to play-bite or mouth softly. All puppies have rather weak jaws but very sharp teeth and they use biting and mouthing as a way of playing with each other, with adult dogs and with humans. When a litter of puppies are playing together, there will often be a loud yelp and a halt to the play when one of the puppies bites a litter mate too hard. Once the puppy is living away from the litter, you must continue this instruction so he learns when he has bitten too hard for the games to continue.

The way to do this is to play with him each day for a minimum of four weeks (little and often is always best in puppy training), allowing him to play-bite until he does it too hard. When this happens you must say "ouch" straight away, loudly enough to stop and startle the puppy, then you should turn away and stop the game for a couple of minutes. After this pause, resume play, stopping again as soon as he nips to hard and repeat the procedure. He will soon learn what he must do to keep the game going. When you want to stop playing, make sure it is whilst he is being gentle. Stop the game, praise him and give him a little treat so he knows that he has been good and is not being punished.

As your puppy matures you will need to make the rules of the game more exacting. After four weeks of the above method, switch to saying "ouch" every time his teeth make contact with your skin. Ignore him for several minutes, then start playing again, thus encouraging him to have a "soft mouth" when playing.

Chewing

Chewing is a common problem with dogs that are left alone in the house or car, and a lot of damage can be done in just a few short minutes. Training your puppy or dog to chew on appropriate objects is very often a successful way of avoiding a lot of damage of treasured items around the home. You must also train yourself and your family to put away precious items and not leave things out in accessible places. This will help your dog to learn that there is usually nothing of interest on the table or the kitchen counters and he will learn not to look or search there.

You can only scold your dog for chewing something if you catch him in the act. If you arrive home to find some damage, scolding him will only increase his anxiety next time you are out and he anticipates your angry return. He will not be able to make a link between his previous behavior (which has already forgotten) and your scolding.

If you do catch him chewing something he shouldn't, shout "off" and give him an appropriate toy or chew. Provide him with plenty of these and praise him whenever he chews them. Do not give him old shoes to play with as he cannot distinguish which is old and which is new and precious. A rubber kong is great, especially when stuffed with kibble or some other tasty treats, and raw hide chews from the pet shop are also ideal. Be sure to inspect the chews and toys regularly and make sure there are no small pieces that your dog could choke on.

You may also wish to protect your furniture with a special bitter-tasting spray from the pet shop which discourages chewing. Until he truly understands chewing rules, never leave him alone with access to inappropriate chewables.

If chewing and destructive behavior continue to be a problem, you may find it helpful to read my article on separation anxiety as this often plays a role in these types of issues.

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Interesting and offbeat places to visit in Tokyo - Travel

Not everyone visiting Japan is interested in the temples and museums. Sometimes to get to understand a culture you need to go beyond the places suggested by your guidebook. If you are looking for some strange and quirky things to see and do in Tokyo, read on for some ideas.

You will need to wake up pretty early to see the Tsukiji fish market in full swing. Tourists can only enter a small section of the market as they were becoming too much of a nuisance touching and poking the fish. Skip breakfast from your hotel and head to one of the many sushi restaurants located around the market.

Perhaps before you eat lunch, you should visit the Meguro Parasite Museum. On display are over 300 species of parasites, including a 30 foot tapeworm which was found inside of a man - not recommended for people with weak stomachs.

From Meguro, take the JR Yamanote line which circles Tokyo, to Harajuku. Harajuku is not only the fashion center of Tokyo, but on Sundays, it is where younger Japanese dress up and hang out for the day. Japanese refer this as "cosplay" and you will see everything from gothic to French maid outfits.

Takeshita-dori right in front of Harajuku station is a street lined with mostly cosplay and accessory shops. This is where the teenagers buy their gothic and French maid costumes. There is even a shop which sells clothes and accessories for your pet dog. Crepes and waffles seem to be the choice of food for the teenagers shopping here. If you want to try one, be prepared to wait a while as the lines can get long.

Also on the weekend in Harajuku, just across from the Yoyogi National Stadium, Japanese young and old put on a variety of amateur musical, dancing and comedy shows. Some are good, some are pretty average, others are just weird. Impress your friends by getting some pictures of punk rock guys all dressed in high school uniforms. Outside of Yoyogi Park you will find Tokyo's Rock-a-billy group decked out in denim and leather with hair-styles to match, dancing to the tunes of the fifties and sixties.

Find out what all the controversy is about by visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. Each visit by Japan's Prime Minister to the shrine causes outrage and makes newspaper headlines across China and Korea. Yasukuni Shrine is fairly unremarkable to look at, but what makes it famous, is that it commemorates Japan's involvement in World War Two. No fewer than 12 convicted Class A war criminals are enshrined at Yasukuni. Interestingly, the shrine is a popular tourist destination for Asian tourists.

If you have ever been to a Japanese restaurant you will know about the plastic food displays they use to put in the the front of their window. The plastic creations are sold in a place called Kappabashi Street. It is located between Ueno and Asakusa. You can also pick up some interesting souvenirs, including sushi key chains. Kappabashi is the place where restaurants and serious cooks buy their cooking utensils and accessories.

Akiharbara is famous mostly for cheap electronics, but more recently it has become the center for otaku culture. Otaku is a word which describes mostly males who are into video games, computers and animation. "Maid cafes" have sprung up to cater for the otaku who visit Akihabara. In maid-cafes waitresses dress up in french maid outfits or in character costumes from popular computer games. Maid cafes greet their customers with a phrase which loosely translates as "welcome master". Photography of the "maids" only seems to be encouraged.

A narrow alley not far from Shinjuku station is aptly named Shomben Yokocho, or piss alley for the lack of toilets in the shops. It is a narrow street lined with Yakitori or grilled chicken shops. Barbecue smoke wafts from each of the shops. Fortunately public facilities are now available in the area. The place has a interesting atmosphere of old Tokyo, but for a better feed of Yakitori head off to the area around Yurakucho station.

The small Yakitori restaurants sit right underneath the railway lines. The noise of the trains and the vibrations they cause as they go overhead, only adds to the atmosphere. The area is popular with Japanese salarymen grabbing a beer and a snack before they head off on their commute home.

Once dinner is done, most foreigners head off to the bars and clubs of Roppongi. For a more interesting Japanese experience, visit Golden Gai area in Shinjuku. Golden Gai is a group of tiny bars frequented with a client el of Japanese artists, writers and musicians.

Development is fast paced in Tokyo and many of the more interesting places like Golden Gai are threatened by bulldozers. It is a sad reality but it is the ever changing fads and fashions that make Japan less of a holiday, but the creation of many an anecdote that will surely liven any dinner party.

Mike Henry has lived in Japan for over ten years and is operator of the website Tokyo Essentials - a travel and tourist guide to Tokyo.

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