It's been over two months since my last blog post. I wasn't underestimating the importance of a daily-updating news site, but posting nearly 15 news stories a day was harder than I expected, so I'll start with the usual excuse.

The white of my right eye was bright red, and acquaintances at various receptions were telling me, "Don't die." They were being considerate, especially since the other day, a fellow employee who joined the company where I first entered this industry suddenly passed away. Apparently, my complexion was that bad. Some say I was staring at the computer monitor too much, but others say it was just that I drank too much.

Last week was the rush of openings before Golden Week. I went to receptions for the first time in a while. On the 23rd, I attended the press preview at Grand Front Osaka, and the following day, the 24th, I attended a reception at Tokyo Midtown. Before that, this month saw a string of gorgeous unveilings, including at Roppongi Hills and art events in Ginza. I experienced the bubble era, but I'm not sure if we're experiencing it "again." But Tokyo is certainly beginning to feel luxurious, with champagne popping everywhere. However, I was surprised by the difference in the number of attendees at the press previews in Osaka and Tokyo. Given the size of Grand Front Osaka, this may be unavoidable, but even now, it feels like Osaka has far fewer press attendees. In Tokyo, bloggers and magazine models are invited along with the press, so I'm reminded of the difference not only in the number of potential media, but also in the glamour of the venue. In terms of party chic, Tokyo truly feels like the best city in the world, including the fashion of the guests. While I was able to leisurely cover the fashion stores at Grand Front Osaka, the food and beverage floor was packed with media representatives. There were far more writers taking notes than in Tokyo. They drank and chatted away. Rare wines were being emptied, and the wine discussions were lively. Osaka, a city famous for its food, is bustling with activity. New fashion stores at Tokyo Midtown were overflowing with people, making it impossible to interview anyone. I'd love to sip champagne and nibble on pintxos, but my bloodshot eyes made that impossible, so I quickly wandered around the shops. ADEAM, which opened its flagship store that day, held a show at Midtown Hall. At the finale, a curtain opened in the center of the runway, revealing a wonderful surprise party, but I held back... Grand Front Osaka announced that it had attracted more than one million visitors in the three days since its opening on the 26th. On the 28th, 8,000 people visited Mika Ninagawa's photo exhibition at Omotesando Hills. Due to the timing of the days during this year's Golden Week, large shopping malls in the city center seem to be attracting a lot of attention. Now that my eyes have finally subsided, I step away from my computer for another round of champagne.