Vino Hirata and Scala Dei are a short taxi ride from the Roppongi entertainment district.

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Hirata Technical used to make only car-body parts for Honda, but has now branched out into making parts for dry batteries.

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Also in Milan, Panasonic and Akihisa Hirata teamed up to produce "Energetic Energies, " a 30-meter-long cityscape covered in solar panels.

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With a quietly chic decor warmed by wood floors and bistro-style tables, Vino Hirata (3456-4744) in Azabu Juban is a good choice for a quiet evening with a few friends.

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Playing DVDs of her favorite musical group while on the road "is a form of therapy for me, " says Ms. Hirata, a fan of a popular Japanese boy band called Arashi.

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