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August 2, 2007 12:35 PM PDT

Hitotoki.org: A different kind of Tokyo import

Posted by Caroline McCarthy
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(Credit: hitotoki.org)

The Japanese word hitotoki is defined as "a single moment; one's moment; a point in time." That is, understandably, the central concept behind Hitotoki.org, a site that has devoted itself to user-contributed "short narratives describing pivotal moments of elation, confusion, absurdity, love or grief--or anything in between--inseparably tied to a specific place" in Tokyo. The site is now in the pre-launch process of creating a New York-centric version, and is calling on writers of all stripes to contribute through the end of August in anticipation of a September debut.

(Credit: hitotoki.org)

You can consider Hitotoki to be the more erudite, less snarky sibling of Overheard in New York, or perhaps a more introspective version of a Craigslist Missed Connection. It's also just a lovely Web site to look at: all submissions are connected to a central Google Map of Tokyo, and notable snippets from notable entries are displayed on the home page. Most importantly, the hitotoki are, for the most part, well-written and a nice, snack-sized break from the RSS feeds of long-winded bloggers.

(Via JoshSpear.com)

Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
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CNET News' Caroline McCarthy is a downtown Manhattanite who believes that, despite popular opinion, the Web can actually help your social life. She's happily addicted to fun social-media tools from Twitter to Yelp to Facebook, sends an inordinate number of text messages, and has a tendency to waste time at the office reading restaurant blogs. Here, she explores all facets of the Web's gregarious side, as well as the unique tech culture in her home city of New York. (Don't call it Silicon Alley.)

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