Next week on the 25th in Tokyo we will have the official launch party
for Tokyo.JapanTimes http://tokyo.japantimes.co.jp

You can find out more about the launch party on its ever changing Facebook events page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=362274829656

I won't talk about how earth shattering or game changing the
Tokyo.JapanTimes platform will be. I've learned my lessons from trying
to innovate within the music industry.

I think the beauty of Tokyo.JapanTimes is its simplicity. Its about
Tokyo for people who love Tokyo. Much of the content is consumer
generated content, but this is in no way a attempt to shift the
business strategy of a media company. The Japan Times benefits from
Tokyo.JapanTimes by being a part of the conversation.

Already several Japan Times reporters have voluntarily joined the
community and become a part of the discussion. The great thing is that
Japan Times reporters and members of Tokyo.JapanTimes all have the
same mutual interest, Tokyo and to a larger extent Japan.

The party guest list for the 25th is a virtual who's who of the Tokyo
young professional and creative scene. So I think this could become
something meaningful if its allowed to grow.

We provide a platform and a venue for Tokyo lovers and in exchange,
The Japan Times gets a pulse on what people are thinking, talking
about and interested in. This type of real time information is
invaluable.

If when people around the world think of Tokyo they think of The Japan Times. The
platform will have been a huge success.

One thing you may notice immediately on the site, besides the beautiful photographs is the
absence of banner advertising. The greatest challenge at this stage is
to nurture the community. That will be our immediate focus.

In my opinion there wasn't a English language user portal on Tokyo
that was well done, if anyone should build one, why not The Japan
Times? And here we are.

See, no major pronouncements about changing the world.