Arc Communications fun NOTE - Spring Greeting 2009 -

First we revamped the printed edition of fun NOTE, and now we've sprinkled some fun into the web edition. How do you like it so far?

Japan is on the same boat with the world at large in this 'unprecedented financial crisis.' But we at Arc think that a time of hardship is the perfect time to plunge into new challenges.

During the past two months we launched four new services—Japanese Rewriting Service, CMS Consultation Service, English Website Evaluation Service and Foreign Language Website One-stop Service—which we hope you'll find useful.

We also had the chance to translate branding guru Professor David A. Aaker's Spanning Silos: The New CMO Imperative, which was published by Diamond, Inc. under the Japanese title Synergy Marketing. This practical book tells how to break down "silo" walls in corporate organizations to realize efficient and effective global marketing from the perspective of total optimization.

I hope you enjoy the fresh changes we've made to fun NOTE.

We have launched a Japanese business translation service rewriting translated documents to provide for easier-to-read, more polished finished products.

We have started a consultation service for companies considering the implementation of a content management system (CMS). Don't miss the limited free offer!

We have started an English website evaluation service targeting Japanese companies. Don't miss the limited free offer!

We have launched a one-stop service that covers the need for English and other foreign language websites.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our many other translators for their continued cooperation and dedication. Their passion for learning and sense of responsibility often awes our project coordinators. We look forward to another year of working with our excellent team of partners.

Draw it in 45 Seconds! has produced many masterpieces (and mysterious pieces) through six sessions in the past. This time, Arc's staff went back to the series' starting point and challenged the theme of the memorable first session: a shrimp.

How difficult, even the second time around! Despite its distinctive features, a shrimp is tough to draw from memory. All our staff racked their brains, whether it was their first or second challenge.

This time, voters can choose a favorite from all the drawings instead of a few pre-selected candidates. Your choice doesn't have to be the drawing with the highest artistic quality. It can be one that you simply like although you can't explain why, or one that you want to see win a prize. Make up your own voting criteria. Comments via email are also welcome. We look forward to receiving your votes.

After the vote is closed, we will post the artwork from the first "shrimp" drawing contest. Check out how our staff's talents have improved over the past three years.

The vote was closed on Sunday, 5 April.

We thank everyone who voted.

View drawings here

Application deadline: Sunday, 5 April

• Winners will be determined by a lottery drawing.
• Presents will be shipped to winners in lieu of an announcement. Please note that we may contact a winner by email to ask for a shipping address.
• Presents are available only to residents of Japan. Our apologies that we cannot ship to overseas addresses.