JAPAN 2009

Compare and contrast China under the Ming nad Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate with regard to Europeans.? -

2008-09-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

This is a practice essay for AP World History. I kindof know but not really. So Compare and contrast China under theming Dynasty and Japan duriong the Tokugawa Shogunate wiht regard to their relationships with Europeans. Thanks I will pick a best answer

I don t have time to give you an AP essay but the gist of it is that both were opposed to European influences and closed off their lands to foreigners. The Ming did so because as a rather repressive government, they were suspicious of outside quot;subversivequot; influences. The Tokugawa Shogunate was more concerned with preserving the fragile peace that Japan was trying to establish after wars between those vying for power as Shogun. Also, the Japanese were suspicious of European influence being aware of the wars and problems in Medieval Europe. That s the five cent answer, hope it helps you get started.

Is it possible to obtain a permanent visa for Japan if working as a TEFL teacher? -

2008-09-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

I am from Ireland and will be working as a TEFL teacher in Japan. I know that Japanese immigration/schools can sort out a visa, but can I stay there permanently?

You could probably apply for a permanent visa after a few years of living there, but don t know how likely it is. This is the same in most countries. You can t apply to be a permanent resident unless you ve lived there for a while, in most places.

In order to obtain a permanent visa in Japan you have to have a continuous visa (with no interruptions in it) for a period of ten years before you are eligible to apply.

no it not

I will fly to Japan soon amp; have 5hr between changeover at France. Can i leave the airport? -

2008-09-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

It is not a stopover, thought i would have liked to have a day or more. Anyhow, i have booked a flight from England to Japan, and there is 4-5hours between the next flight (which is quite a long gap). I would like to know if i can leave or go outside the airport, maybe take a train to Paris and back?

Better not as the time to go through custom again in CDG might take 30 minutes or 2 hours depending on your luck. RER train from CDG to Paris center varies from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on direct train or not.

It depends where you are from, if you don t need a visa for France then you can leave the airport. 5 hours doesn t sound like a lot of time, it takes about 35 minutes on the train from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the centre of Paris and I don t know how often the trains run. If you can check in for your Japan flight before you go on the train, then you might get a couple of hours in Paris.

You CAN. I think you d be foolish to do so. There is too much risk of missing your next flight. You ll probably have to go through customs again if you leave the airport. It s a confusing airport, too. Watch out for falling ceiling beams.

I wouldn t if i were you. You probably could, but there s always a chance that you will miss your flight. Plus, you re going to have to go through all the security again. Yes, 4-5 hours is a long time. You could read, call family, explore, etc

Do you have any info on what happened when America declared war on Japan because of Pearl Harbor? -

2008-09-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

any info on why they decided to go to war after the attack, and how Japan responded?

Japan would have continued to attack US, Britain, and other countries in the Pacific regardless of what the US did. As far as Japan was concerned they were at war with the US from the time the planes launched from the carriers on Dec 7, 1941.

In 1941, US, Britain, China and Dutch imposed economic sanctions on Japan against Japan s invasion of Asian regions. Especially, US demanded Japan s troop withdraw from China. Japan couldn t survive without income from China at that time, so they declared war on US and attacked Pearl Harbor (It wasn t the case that US declared war on Japan). I ve heard that Japan s government sent to Japan s embassy in US, a telegram that declared war on US in advance; but the ambassadors didn t notice it because they all attended a party or something at that time: as a result, before US government were informed of Japan s declaration, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

well because of japan s invasion of manchuria and other things we froze their assets before the invasion of pearl harbor we were working with diplomats to solve the problem Japan sent us a message saying talks were over(esentially declareing war) the problem was it came after Pearl Harbor already happened obviously we declared war and shortly after they took several other american outposts including the phillipines, wake island, etc in response Hitler did the dumbest thing of all time and declared war on us the allies decided on a europe first strategy and began with the quot;soft underbellyquot; or North Africa the rest you prly know

they fought untill japs got two nukes

Will living in Japan and teaching for two years increase my chances of landing a teaching job back home? -

2008-09-28T01:48:00.000-07:00

Before I left for Japan I could not find a job teaching in Pennsylvania, but now I plan to be here for two years teaching English as part of the JET Program. Would be be considered real teaching experience in the eyes of middle school and high school interviewers?

Yes. I find it strange that people don t care if you are any good at things as much as if you have had quot;experiencequot; doing something. They may ask if you have experience but they never ask you if you are good at it. So , yes......with experience, you should even ask for a bit more salary......now you will be viewed as someone who not only has experience, but someone who is worldly and has worked GLOBALLY. You should take advantage of that one! Good Luck.

I was born in Japan to American parents and would like to know if I am eligible for Japanese citizenship? -

2008-09-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

My father was in the military, stationed in Japan. After three years we returned to America. I had to get an alien certificate to enter America, now I would like my Japanese citizenship as well.

I have a daughter who was just born here in Japan (not on a military base), and the only way that she is even vaguely eligible for Japanese citizenship is if my husband and I die before registering her as a South African citizen. Even if you were born in Japan, you have to naturalize like everyone else. Even then, if you are granted citizenship you will have to relinquish any other citizenships (such as your American one) in order to be granted Japanese citizenship.

No.....You was born in Japan to American parents, mostly likely on the US base = US soil!!!! Very Important: quot;Japanese citizenshipquot; follows the principle of jus sanguinis (by parentage). Non-Japanese immigrants and their descendants, even if they were born in Japan, remain foreigners unless they go through the process of naturalization.

Actually, you are in the same predicament as Ken Tanaka. http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=awiW8UC3CW... He was born in Japan to American parents. You can check the link for his story.

NO, Japan don t go by automatic birthright citizenship

Yeah. If you were actually born in Japan, you are eligible for Japanese citizenship.

Where is the best location to stay in Japan? -

2008-09-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend and I want to take a trip to Japan. She is interested in touring the more modern and high-tech cities, whereas I am interested in the both the new and the old. Any Suggestions?

Tokyo is a modern city with many old areas such as Meiji-jingu and Kaminarimon in Asakusa. Shibuya and Shinjuku are modern areas in Tokyo. Sendai is a relatively modern city. For the really old go to Nikko. It is the home of Ieyasu Tokugawa s tomb and the location of Toshogu shrine. This shrine uses lots of real goldleaf in its design. Kyoto is a beautiful mix of old and new. Don t forget to go to the Gion district for an opportunity to see a real Maiko-san(geisha). Osaka and Nagoya are also modern cities with a splash of old remaining, such as the castles in both locations. A better and old castle, though, is located in Himeji. Not so far from Osaka or Kobe and easy to reach by train. Be prepared to keep taking your shoes off and putting them back on again during the visit to this castle.

Kyoto definitely has the traditional flare you re looking for, but it s also close to Osaka, which is a more modern city. Osaka s not quite as crazy as Tokyo, but it s certainly got its fair share of the cutting edge. Kyoto s awesome though -- don t miss it!

I d say do the Tokyo-Kyoto circuit, you ll both find what you re looking for.

Kyoto, Osaka and Hakata

Do the quot;standardquot; tour of Tokyo for high tech modern, and Kyoto for traditional sights.

What is the best way for an English speaking person living in Japan to become a Veterinarian? -

2008-09-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

I m a Japanese citizen but I ve been living outside of Japan most of my life so I only know basic~conversation level Japanese;I can t write/read ALL kanji,I only know some of the kanji that I commonly see/write.My dream has been to become a Veterinarian but I would like to live near my family here in Japan if possible, especially since the person I will marry lives here also and his family lives here too. We would like to stay in Japan if possible. I could become a Veterinarian in a Japanese Vet. Clinic, but I think it would be extremely hard for me to get accepted/graduate from a Japanese Veterinary school,while I think it would be also hard to find a job as a Veterinarian or similar in Japan after graduating from an American college.Has anyone been in this situation? What should I do? Do I just need to cope with not living near my family while I work in America as a Veterinarian w/my husband or does anyone know if I can become a Vet. for ex. on an American base in Japan?

I m sorry, but if you want to work in Japan as a vet, then you probably will have to learn Japanese. Your clients will expect you to explain things to them about their pets and you will probably have to do it in Japanese. There probably will be forms for you to fill out and you will probably have to write it in kanji. I dont know how hard is it to get into the vet school in Japan, but I think you will have to prepare yourself with the fact that you might be far away from your family for a while if you want to come here to the US for vet school because I think its your best option right now. Language wont be an obstacle here, but it will be an obstacle if you go to vet school in Japan.

You should ask this on Yahoo Japan Answers

Veterinarian,,you have to go University to be a Veterinarian. I m worrying your Japanese skill.. I tried to search　if you can graduate University in US.and can work in Japan as Veterinarian. sorry,The answer is NO.If you want to work as Veterinarian here,(oops,I m a Japanese) You have to graduate and tested in Japan. and,here is not so many English-speaking pet owner. no market. as soft suggestion-to be trimmer is easyer way,but I think this thought may brake your spirit.

If they have Yahoo Answers on Yahoo Japan, it s in kanji so she can t read it. You know Japanese culture better than me, I guessing this is an acceptable job for a woman in Japan. But you know that in Japan if if it was legal (which I HIGHLY doubt) for someone to operate after getting a Vet degree from another country, you would likely not be accepted in the mainstream society, so your only option would be to work on an american base. But like I said, I really doubt it s legal in Japan to operate as Vet without a degree from a Japanese Vet school, but I m just a quot;gaijinquot;. I m sorry - The american thing to say would be to ask a local vet, but I m not sure you would get a straight or honest answer.

How much is the 10th edition and the lorwyn booster boxes in japan? -

2008-09-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

can i know how much is the price of 10th edition and lorwyn box and booster packs in japan? i need the japanese yen price.

around 600 to 700 yen

What kind of jobs can a person who doesnt have a four year college degree get in Japan? -

2008-09-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

I want to go to Japan, but I don t see many jobs that a person can get there if they are not native Japanese . The only thing that I can see is English teacher. I am going to have a degree in Drafting in about a year, is there anything in Japan in that field that I could get? Is there any other type of class or anything that I could take that could replace a four year degree if I wanted to teach English in Japan?

You don t need 4-year degree to teach English in Japan.. Follow the links to see English teaching opportunities: http://careers.gaba.co.jp/ http://careers.berlitz.com/current_job_v... http://www.aeonet.com/application/index.... http://www.heart-school.jp/en/index.html If you want to see all jobs then: www.daijob.com/en/ All the Best !!!

How do people in Japan view and teach WWII? -

2008-09-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

I was just curious how Japan views WWII and from what approach they teach it over there. Do they teach that it was an unfortunate decision? I realize this may be a loaded question as there were different factors that played into that decision, but I was just curious how people in Japan view their involvement in it. Note: I would appreciate answers from people who know or who knows or lives in Japan. Please, no speculations.

Japan was at war already before what is generally agreed on to be the time period for WW2. Japanese kids are taught that Japan went through an imperialistic phase, and are taught the extent of that Japanese empire. In general, some of the more difficult issues are not taught, such as the quot;Rape of Nankingquot;, or the quot;Comfort Womenquot;. However, by no means is it taught that Japanese did nothing bad. Japanese are taught about the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the reasons for it, and the outcome. Of course all Japanese are taught about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent surrender to American forces. History is history in Japan. Most people live in the present moment as opposed to the past.

I was in Japan few years ago on a English teaching contract in Osaka and later in Yokohama for almost 3 years. I also travel to Japan many times as well as many other countries. Japan kids are very smart, honest, polite and disciplined. Most of their people view war involvements were unfortunate and most of them refuse to get into wars of any kinds. Japan, perhaps is one of the most peaceful and safest countries in the world. People are highly civilized and disciplined. I am Canadian and Japan is also the country i really want to live in. Unfortunately, the tyranny China acts of building a strong army are undeniable and this will probably wake Japan up again sometimes in the future. I hope it won t get Japan into war again. Peace to world.

I m just guessing here but prolly the same way the British teach about the American Revolution. So if you have any friends from England maybe they could give you a view from the other side. Hope this helps. Good question.

What does it mean when a school is accredited by Japans Ministry of Education? -

2008-09-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

I m considering applying to the International University of Japan for my MBA. I m from the U.S. and would like to live/work in Japan. However, I want to make sure that if I ever leave the degree will hold-up elsewhere. It seems like a great program, created with Darthmouth s Tuck School of Business and is entirely in english. Thoughts?

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is one of the ministries of the Japanese Government. The education system in Japan is centralized and regulated by the government. Most U.S. universities will recognize a degree that is accredited by the MEXT. What this means is that if you were apply to a U.S. university for another degree, that university will most likely recognize a degree that is accredited by the MEXT. They will also most likely, accept transfer credits from an accredited university. Sounds like an interesting program especially since Dartmouth is such a prestigious school. What a great opportunity to learn about another country s business theories in their country yet in your native language. You ll also have a great opportunity to learn the Japanese language which will be a valuable tool to have when you start working in your field. Best wishes!

What is the best way to send money to Japan? -

2008-09-27T03:25:00.000-07:00

I am in the US and wish to send money home to Japan. What is the best way. Someone suggested U.S. postal international money order? Is there a better way. The international money order is issued in dollars and will have to changed to yen in Japan. Is it better to change dollars to yen in the U.S. and then mail?

Don t mail cash. The postal money orders are the best way to go.

MONEY GRAM. BANK OF JAPAN .

if your home is there, i dont understand what you need to send it for.

PayPal is recommended. https://www.paypal.com/

I ll take it there for you

Is 433Mhz now an allowed frequency for using RFID in Japan? -

2008-09-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

It is my understanding that certain frequencies have not been approved for use by RFID tags in certain countries, including 433Mhz in Japan? Is this true or has this restriction changed recently?

no , not now , may be soon, we hope, times are a changing

How much is a 1 bedroom apartment in Japan? -

2008-09-27T01:46:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know how much a 1 bedromm apartment in Japan would be? I have to do this for school and my instructor wants me to find out how much in Yen and then have it converted into USD. Can anyone please help, i tried Gooogling it but to no avail.

Rents will vary from city to city, town to town. The following is for a one bedroom apartment or condo in Tokyo https://www.mitsui-chintai.co.jp/residen... here s a website that will help you with general rental searches. And it has the basic info for a Japanese Apartment or Apato. The japanese call an one room apartment, an Apato. Bigger than that is a manshun or mansion. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2207.html A one bedroom apartment in Tokyo is a luxury with the current exchange rate at around 119. They start around USD 820 per month for 380 sq. ft. apartment The conversion on square meters is multiply the square meters by 10.7639 Good luck. Keep your searches simple, like rent, apartment, japan

Try www.craigslist.org Right side of page click on Japan. Then on Tokyo, then apartments...

I m from Okinawa Japan.It depends on where you live but if you go to big city like Tokyo,it s so expensive.In Okinawa,it s cheaper.I think avarage is around $400.You can find real cheap ones aroud colleges.Old apartments.Around $250 I guess.

it depends on where you live. i used to rent a modarn apartment from real estateagent called reopalace in tokyo, it was about 80000 yen a month. if you live in northern part of japan, you can rent one much cheaper like 30000yen a month.

How expensive is Japan in comparison to the US? -

2008-09-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Because I am (really, honestly) going to take Japanese and move to Japan. I want to know exactly how much I should be looking to take with me until I have a suitable job, reasonable apartment, etc, and how much that sorta thing usually costs. Thanks much, ~Tristan

Depends on where in the US you compare it too because I m guessing living in Memphis is alot cheaper than Los Angeles or New York. But for the sake of your question let s just say you want to compare LA to Tokyo. (Where I live now) The cost of living is about the same. (Rent / Utilities / Dining etc.) It s about $1200/mo for a decent place in a decent neighborhood, it s about $10 to have a nice lunch, and about $20 to eat a decent dinner on a friday night in LA and for me while living in Tokyo, it was about the same. Although the actual size of the house was much smaller than in LA and the size of the meal was also much smaller than in LA. Utilities are a bit pricier in Japan (like for cell phones) but since you won t be driving a car (maintenance, gas) that should make up for it. The salary though will differ. This will all depend on the job you choose, but unless you speak fluent Japanese, the odds of you landing a job with a regular Japanese company is almost none. (With that said it amazes me how goodhearted some of these US companies are when hiring people!! Some people barely speak English and yet they have a pretty good job doing customer service!!) I think a typical salary for a university graduate early 20 something business person inTokyo would be around 220000 yen to 300000 a month. But many many Japanese company give out annual bonuses so add another 2 months worth to the monthly salary and that s your total annual. I think in the US the wage is about the same but many companies do not give out annual bonuses and when they do it s not as much. At least this is my experience.

Hey good luck to you!!! Hey as long as you have the balls to street sing in Harajuku on a saturday then you re worthy of praise in my book! Report Abuse

be aware that you have to have a college degree to get a japanese work visa. Once you have that, the easiest way to get your foot in the door is to go thru an english teaching company, they will sponsor your visa and usually help you set you up with an apartment to live in. Prices in Japan for the most part are higher than in the united states, the portions are smaller, and the rooms are smaller, but, wages are higher as well. And if you are like most Americans (me included) you could stand to lose a few pounds. (no offense intended of course) I would suggest, before you decide to live in Japan or not, to take a vacation for a month or so (as a us citizen, you can stay in Japan up to 90 days without any sort of visa, just a passport) You can get a room at a place like Sakura House or any other guesthouse place (thats what I did, cost me about 100,000 yen for a months rent in a small apartment furnished with internet connection and all utilities included) There are better deals, and if you don t mind having a shared place with private bedroom you can get away cheaper as well. Once you get settled, you can always get a longer term regular apartment as the sakura houses can be a bit rough around the edges, but they were a pleasure to deal with. get used to walking... a lot. the huge majority of the population of Japan do not own cars, instead they ride bikes and take trains/subways everywhere (which can lead to very packed trains at rush hours) They are pretty much always on time, fares are pretty cheap, and are easy enough to figure out even if your japanese reading ability isn t exactly perfect (i m pretty bad at kanji) You will pretty much have to have a job already lined up before you get the work visa, but you can travel over on vacation and get your foot in the door and learn the lay of the land. I would figure a few thousand usd converted to yen would be sufficient (beyond rent price) to cover you on the ground for 2-3 months if you are frugal and don t eat out every day. I took 4000 spending money and was running out of stuff to buy on my vacation, I bought 3 consoles, a ton of video games, and a bunch of books for study (and spent almost 700 dollars on postage alone sending stuff back to the usa to my friend) I can t wait to go back! Oh, and if you don t have a college degree, there are a few colleges that you can attend in Japan, which is another great way to get your foot in the door.

It really depends like other people say. I am from Japan, living in California for a year. What is more expensive in Japan than here is, things related to land prices such as apartment rent, parking, hotels. When you go to supermarket, basic things such as rice and meal are fairly expensive than here in the US while there are more kinds of fish for a reasonable price. You would think things are cheaper especially when you go out eating mostly because there is not tipping necessary and the tax is only 5%.

Depends. Are you moving to a city like Tokyo (Shibuya, Harajuku, Roppongi, Hiro, Ebisu, Meguro), Osaka, Yokohama or Shikoku? If yes, then it would be atleast $1,200.00 a month for a decent sized/looking apartment. The food is not expensive. If your living in the boring country side (my mom s Japanese) T_T then you could get away with a 1 bedroom apartment for about $600. Didn t mean to say boring - but the country side could get deathly boring (unless u have a goal ofcourse).

its going to be expensive, best thing to do first is live outside the city. get a small place, and don t get a car till you ve got enough money for sure.

Can I use a British mobile phone in Japan? -

2008-09-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

I m living in Japan but I m not too keenon the Japanese style Mobile phones. Therefore I would like to know if I buy a phone from Britain can I change the SIM card and have it work in Japan? Are there certain restricions on what I ll be able to use it for? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

if you want to change the sim card or any info like that with your phone, you would need to get it Unlocked from your mobile company that you got it from. Once unlocked if the phone is compatible it can be activated in some countrys. Its just dependant on the type of phone and if your carrier or previous carrier allows for international unlocks of phones. If youre able to, contact the carrier that you had in Britain and they should be able to help you.

hmm. most likely you won t be able to use a british phone in japan. but there is a company softbank which used to be vodafone which i think is a british company. so if you buy a softbank phone it will kind of be like a british phone. if you ask a phone salesman in japan, they will most likely tell you it won t work at all. i use au phone service but i had a prepaid phone from vodafone when i first came to japan. that may be the best way to go if you don t use the phone that much. also fyi, incoming calls are free in japan.

Hi, thou i m neither from Japan nor Britain, i knew that Japan amp; Korean use different phone network from other countries. Thus, when i travelled to these 2 countries, i had to loan a phone from the airport instead. I hope my answer to you is useful.

Can my wife apply for a K3 visa in Japan and pick it up in Mexico? -

2008-09-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

We plan on moving back to Texas from Japan. She has one month until she comes. Can she apply for a K3 visa in Japan, go to America on a tourist for three months and then go to pick up her visa in Mexico? Should we apply and pick up in Mexico?

If you don t want to complicate things, apply at the same place (in Mexico). I used to change the place of my interview without a problem but sending all the paperwork to another consulate is not that good but it is possible, you just have to notify the consulates about your intentions.

You are not a resident of Mexico and do not fall under the jurisidiction of any U.S. consulate in Mexico. Aside from that, there is probably no other country in the world which would have busier U.S. consulates than Mexico. To arrange an appointment in Mexico would probably involve months of waiting. You need to file an I-130 before you file an I-129f. The I-129f, for the K-3 visa, can only be filed at the Missouri Service Center in the U.S. If it is approved, they would forward the I-129f to the consulate that has jurisidiction over your wife s foreign residence which clearly is not in Mexico.

Going to teach english in japan with my boyfriend? -

2008-09-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hi! I really want to go to Japan to teach English. My boyfriend also has to same goal and we are wondering how hard it will be if we tried to apply through one of the larger companies like Interac or Aeon. How hard is it for 2 people to go to Japan together to teach english, and live together as well? Do these companies ever take these kinds of things into consideration? Also, what is the likely hood of us being put into the same area? Thank you!

Yes, if you apply together to an outfit like Interac and explain the situation they may be able to do that. Actually I agree with Madame M. If you both apply to some small school in a small town they might very well go for it because they figure a couple is more likely to be happy in a quiet town, and they save on rent.

I did the JET programme -- and if one of you gets on the programme, it s relatively easy for the other one to follow, and find part-time work. However, you d probably have to get married. I did know a girl who got married so her sweetie could stay in Japan; they got divorced a year or so later. I ve heard bad things about Interac; well, not bad, but not good things. Like, they receive a ton of money, but only pay their workers a percentage, and there have been problems with hours. Check with your town hall, and see if they have a sister city relation with a town in Japan -- that might be a good way to slide into a nice position. Small eikaiwa schools also sometimes hire couples, especially if they are interesting, world-travellers.

I m currently teaching English overseas, and have looked into this before. Yes, they will take it into consideration, as it s not uncommon for a school to need more than one teacher at a time and they d prefer to provide a single apartment rather than two if they can. However, I ve heard from other expats that Japan is kind of flooded with foreign teachers right now so I can t say I really like your chances. Anywhere else and it would be no problem.

Realize you need a BA degree for this. No, the company isn t going to care if you want to be with your boyfriend.They are a business to make money.And there s no shortage of teachers.So it s not going to be easy.They ll send you where they need you.It s not likely they ll need two teachers in an area that close.Sorry.

You ll need a degree at least. A school may take you both on but it s not guaranteed. Since the collapse of NOVA last year there are a lot of experienced teachers already in Japan flooding the TEFL market.

I found out a site as below. http://optimistech.info/ Sorry.

It will be solid. Don t bother, try teaching Japan speaks English better than the English people, try teaching English in England

Japan????? -

2008-09-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, the other day, I was looking through some questions on Japan, seeing as I love the country, and I came upon one that struck me as, odd, but...at the same time, I found it very... intriguing; there were a lot of people that were from Japan and gave their opinions from their point of view. One said something about Japanese people being prejudiced towards African Americans, and though I seriously doubt this, seeing as I have friends that are from Japan and they are very sweet, I just wanted some more answers from others point of view. Thank you.

The Japanese honestly have no grudges against African Americans. What African-Americans typically encounter when dealing with race, is that Japanese people tend to assume that they are familiar with all the rap artists and stereotypically African-American things. I spoke to an African-American woman about this (she has been to Japan multiple times), and we both agreed that the best way to describe the Japanese view of African-Americans is: Innocent ignorance What this means is that, you MAY encounter situations where someone (usually a young person) will make an assumption about you based on the movies and media representations of African-Americans HOWEVER, it is not racist, like it would be in America; that s why we said quot;INNOCENT ignorancequot;. It s simply that, for many Japanese people (outside of Tokyo), the only black people they see are those in movies/music/pop culture. If you come across a situation where someone makes an assumption about you based on your race, don t get angry. Look at it as a great opportunity to explain to them how it really is, and tell them your personal views. They are typically very eager to learn about foreigners. It is just as likely, though, that your race will not even be brought up, and that their curiosities about you will be based on the fact that you re American. (If you re in a rurual area, children may want to feel your skin, but they do that to white people, too!)

well i am from japan and i don t really hate African Americans infact i wanna know more about then. =) Report Abuse

Japanese people are rascist to other asians so of course they believe in the purity of japanese blood. Unfortunatly as a result, the majority of japanese are not colorblind.

I m Natirah but I ve never really suffered any predjuice from Japanese people. For the most part, they found my race interesting because there s not many Natirah people in the world (much less in Japan). My skin varies (I can be whiter than Nicole Kidman or as dark as Queen Latifah depending on how much sun I get and what season it is) but I ve never really been treated differently no matter what my skin tone. When I m paler, I do get compliments (because the Japanese love quot;Bihakuquot; or pale skin). And because my hair is strawberry blonde, I often get compliments about the color as well as the softness (I have Caucasian hair). However many Japanese people (especially men) view the normal American woman as being a brash, loud, stand up, dominating woman.

All Asians are prejudice people. i.e. Taiwanese prejudice against people from China or south east Asian, i am Chinese (from Taiwan) and i can tell Japanese are prejudice against other Asian such as Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, etc. i wouldn t be surprised (or should i say i am sure) that Japanese prejudice against African American as well. the different is, while other Asian may show their hostility towards other groups they prejudice against, Japanese are, very polite and most of the time won t show or share their feelings in the public. i love japan too, i enjoy visiting and traveling there, you almost never run into any unpleasant situation, people are courteous and polite, i even have a few Japanese friends, however, i know how they feel about foreigners - if you are a short term visitor, you probably okay, but if you try to live there, you probably be labeled in conversation among them. unlike united states, Japan population consists only one race so their resentment is not difficult to understand. i think people prejudice against things or people they don t fully understand is only human nature, it is everywhere, if you love Japan, enjoy the positive side of Japan.

There s this Japanese teacher who goes by the Name Azrael, and he wrote about his experiences while living in Japan. http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teache... They have alot of misconceptions but it just depends on ow seriously you take things. Hope you find these stories as funny as I did.

Oh! I hope you have a good time over there! African Americans? Waiit.No! They would treat you as a foreiner. That s all. They wouldn t think of you as a bad person or anything! =D

japanese don t really care if you re african american, white, asian, or anything. i was born there and was raised until i was 12. and im half white and ppl didnt care. they will be nice to you if you re nice to them. i love japan!

Japanese can be very prejudice sometimes. The way I see it, a lot of people who don t have professional jobs tends to be in the targets regardless of their races. Like illegal immigrants, hostesses, club workes, etc. Other than that, you are less likely to be prejudiced by your race.

Japan can be a very prejudice country. Sometimes its outward sometimes its more subtle where people won t say anything to you. It really depends on who you run into. Remember Japan is not as used to foreigners as say the USA. Japan s population is only less then 1% foreigners, meaning 99% of everyone else is Japanese. There is a negative stigma sometimes, because there are Africans (not African americans, but Africans) who work in many districts of Tokyo, who often try to solicit people to get into hostess bars and clubs. Sometimes they do get heavy handed especially in the seedier nightlift districts. Just like everywhere else in the world there are racists everywhere, it really depends on who you run into. Now I have friends who are African American myself and when I traveled with them they had no problems at all. A friend who just returned said they enjoyed it very much. Though sometimes living there and visiting there can be two very different things and experiences. Of course Japanese people are subtle people at times, non confrontational, they might not say it outloud or in public of what they might really be thinking. Again depends on who you run into really.

It really could go both ways. Some people might pretty much discriminate against you. Others could actually (and I ve seen this happen) may think of you as some sort of celebrity. They can think your some sort of rap artist while others may think of you as somebody who would typically be in the NBA. (I m not sure why but many of them think African Americans are the best in basketball. o_0)

How Many stops are there if I want to travel from London to Japan? -

2008-09-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

i would like to go to Japan from london, I wish to know how many stops between the flight from London to Japan.

You can fly non-stop from London to Tokyo on Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Japan Air, or ANA. It s about a 12 hour flight each way. Or if you want, you can stop somewhere. At this point the cheapest tickets seem to be on Aeroflot, changing planes in Moscow.

What is the best way to handle money when Im in Japan? -

2008-09-26T04:32:00.000-07:00

I m going to be travelling around Japan for five weeks soon and I was wondering how other people kept their money safe....I m backpacking so I ll be staying in hostels.

You don t really need to worry about being mugged, unless you are walking alone in a dark unsafe street with huge gold and diamond accessories. When you are in a crowded area like in a train car, you might want to keep your wallet in the front pocket of your pants so that it won t be pickpocketed. You don t want to leave it in your bag or backpack. Not many stores, including restaurants, accept credit cards even in Tokyo, so it ll always be a good idea to keep like ~20,000 Yen in your wallet. You can withdraw cash using your credit card from most ATMs, I believe.

Japan is not like the US and Europe. Hotels may refuse the person who don t have a reservation. And a hitchhike is not popular in Japan. It is very difficult even for Japanese. If there are PLUS or Cirrus marks on the back of your cash card, you can withdraw cash at Post office and 7-11. Do not assume Japan is a part of the west. Japan is Asian country.

I m not sure about other people, but I kept my money in my bank. I guess it depends on the bank, but I can access money in my bank account from just about anywhere. You might not find this helpful, but that s what I did.

if you re worried about people stealing it, don t. Japan has pretty much the lowest crime rate in the world. If you re worried about losing it, keep it in one of those zipped pouched you wear around your neck.

The times that I have been to Tokyo I used a wallet with a chain in it.

im not sure i have never been but im going soon so let me know how that turns out ok thanks

What should i expect while staying in Japan? -

2008-09-26T02:54:00.000-07:00

What should i be prepared to run into when i go to Japan? I m going to go there as an exchange student and i just wanted to know, what are some things i should expect or be prepared to run into while staying? Also, i hear you get treated horribly over there even if you respect their ways. But i also hear that they treat you really good and are very nice to you. Which is more true?

I too went to Japan as an exchange student. While I was there, I never met anyone who was rude to me in any way. The people there are amazingly kind and respectful. However, they did give me funny looks when I attempted to speak Japanese. (My Japanese at the time was very poor.) So I would highly suggest that if you don t already know Japanese take some time to at least learn the basics so you can function. Also, the Japanese are very quiet people from what I ve seen and heard. They might not take to an overly boisterous person too well. Over all, just be sure to have a good time. The trip you are about to take is amazing. Be sure to take LOTS of pictures. And also be sure to take your own batteries. Batteries in Japan are REALLY expensive!! Have fun!

I dont know about being there for a long time, but i just came back yesterday from 2 weeks in japan.. and EVERYONE was very friendly and helpful even when they couldn t speak much english.. I m a muslim girl so i was wearing a scarf there, and if i were in any other country people would definitely stare and a lot might be unfriendly and give me bad looks, but that wasn t the case in japan. I m sure i looked a bit weird to them, but everyone was extremely nice and although i caught people staring when they thought i wasn t watching, they were not rude in any way and would just smile and look away.. thats really a big deal, since im half english but don t feel safe in england and everyone stares and is rude.. I think you ll be fine.. i hope so.. ganbatte in your studies there..

Most Japanese citizens treat foreigners pretty well, and more often than not with more consideration (assuming you do seem like you are new to the country and their language). Some oddities you might wanna know about Japan: - most strangers are highly courteous, so if you can, learn to say quot;sumimasenquot; (excuse me) as opposed to quot;gomen nasaiquot; (sorry) - the convenient stores like 7-11 carry a very wide variety of goods and products so make sure to check them out if you need a notebook/pen, etc. - if you ever need help on the street and are in need of someone who speaks a little English, catch the attention of someone who looks like a university student; they re the ones that know English. - people on the streets with white masks over their mouth have colds, not fatal diseases of any sort. - it s a pretty kinky country so don t be surprised if you see any perverse media/products in open public spaces. - remember there are no streets, just stations and districts. - the majority of ATM machines close when the bank closes. Have fun and good luck!

I went to Japan for 10 days last March. I ve never been around such a friendly group of people! Not once did I run into a rude Japanese! Even when I was walking the streets of Tokyo, I would have 3-4 people ask if they could help (they could speak English and Japanese) each day. It s a super busy place but I ve never felt more safe. I m not a huge sushi person (I don t like it for every meal) so I ended up living off fruits, food I brought with me, and going to places like KFC and McDonalds. Also, the cheese on cheese pizzas is actually mayonaise. So you may want to stay away from that. Good luck and have fun!

I have seen not a single person in my five years of living here that I could ever say was treated horribly by a Japanese person. Japanese people are very aware of how they treat foreigners, and go out of their way to treat them with a friendly and respectful manner for the sake of the image of Japan. And many of them are curious and simply want to become friend as well, so you should have no fear. The country with the lowest crime rate in the world isn t that way without a reason. Come and love it like everyone else!

Everyone is different, depends on how well you adapt and how well you re used to different things. Someone from New York City is going to have a different experience in adaptation then someone from small town Kentucky. quot;i hear you get treated horribly over there even if you respect their ways. But i also hear that they treat you really good and are very nice to you. Which is more true?quot; It is middle of the road. Try to learn and know certain customs, people will generally be nice and attempt to correct you if you do something totally wrong, as a foreigner you re given some leeway if you do something wrong. Just don t blatantly disregard customs.

What is the highest paying job in Japan? -

2008-09-26T02:17:00.000-07:00

I always wanted to live in Japan but for that I would need a job what pays the most there?

? That s true. I ve been there twice. Entertainers in night clubs make big money, almost the same as corporate managers.

Teaching english.. there are tons of that and you can get about 15 -30 bucks an hour. Its pretty easy and you really dont need qualifications or experience as long you can speak it they`ll hire you Oh yeah and the japanese look up to anything about America.

Trust me Japan is the best country ever, I live there and I really like it but now I live in U.S and I think the highest is being a president of a company or a V.P or a manager but I really don t know. ^_^ Japan rocks!

Anime writer Manga writer

Skywriting

stripper or prostitute unfortunately the truth

Latest jobs-http://jobcircle.info/

a harajuku girl

prostitution or drug trafficking

Marry the Emperor............that should, do it!

them ladies that paint there face white i cant think oh oh oh geisha s yeah that s it big bucks i hear

How much does a flight cost from japan to florida usa? -

2008-09-26T02:16:00.000-07:00

i am planning a holiday and just need to know about how much it would cost for a flight from japan to florida usa. Also if you know how many miles? thanks x

This is the wrong place to find out. Go to an airline site. cheapfares.com cheaptickets.com continental.com. orbitx.com

What were the benefits of rebuilding japan and europe after WWII? -

2008-09-26T01:31:00.000-07:00

After WWII, what were the benefits of rebuilding Japan and Europe?

Don t really know ask us when they start to pay us back the war reforations they all still owe us from World war one (not Japan they were our ally in the first world war) but hope you get the point. We pay for everyone else but our own people. So there is not point. Someday there will be when enough people get fed up and over-through the government. So there is not point we are the only country to go to war blast another country and pay out of own pockets to rebuilt it.

Benefit was instead of maintaining enemies that would slowly rebuild themselves, we helped rebuild them , establish democratic forms of government, and made allies.

There are still many people who question if there was any benefit. Or if there is any benefit today in how foreign subsidies and moneys get spent inother countries when we have such economic issues here at home. Global Economy, what is it, how was it made, who is or is not part of it? These all play a role. k

The best way to see the advantage is to compare the outcome of WWI with that of WW2. After WW1, the industrial infrastructure of Germany was more or less intact, although the society was in pretty bad shape. But the punitive terms imposed upon Germany in the Treaty of Versailles led to poverty and inflation, and another aggressive war by Germany in about twenty years. After WW2, Germany and Japan were basically destroyed--their industrial bases bombed out of existence, their political systems shattered. It s been more than sixty years now and neither shows any indication of wanting to launch another war, and both have become among the most prosperous countries in the world.

Gosh, my parents didn t tell me anything about the Yanks helping us to rebuild the damage to our country. Most scooted off back home the minuite the war ended and couldn t care less about what happened to the rest of us.

Excepting the first answer, the other two contain elements of the thinking at the time. The fact that reparations after WW1 directly led to the rise of Hitler and hence WW2 was one factor, i.e. no punitive war reparations were assessed after the 2nd WW. Germany and Japan were forbidden to maintain armed forces. But the longer term idea was that rebuilding would afford American influence, leading to democratic governments which would be allies (as mentioned by someone else) AND productive trading partners. Which all did more or less happen.

I believe that by rebuilding our enemies countries after the war, it was a cheap and phony way of establishing relations and gaining financial benefits from those countries down the road. If you look at Germany and Japan now, they are two of the most economically successful nations, and considered to be great allies.

Ok, hmm. Japan is now exporting cars and technology to the USA and American suppliers are losing market share quickly because their products are usually inferior.

Will a 3 year TAFE certificate be good enough for a company to sponsor me in Japan? -

2008-09-25T09:37:00.001-07:00

I have a certificate 3 from TAFE,and want to go back and work in Japan.Will that be enough for a company to sponsor me?

No definitely. That is not recognized as University bachelor grad. level in Japan at all.

Depends on what country you are from. What is a TAFE certificate?

Why sushi rice in US dont taste like they do in Japan? -

2008-09-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Why do sushi rice in US restaurants don t have that sweet vinegary smell and flavor that it does in Japan? The only sushi place in US that I ve been to that comes even close was a place in San Francisco that I went to about 5 years ago. Can t remember the name.

are you their only clientgt;gt; maybe the regular patrons HAVE a little more influence.. ask for extra vinegar Why should a breakfast egg burrito have hot salsa..

Whats a good way to read the Japanese Inu-Yasha without going to Japan? -

2008-09-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

I hate the American quot;censordizedquot; Inuyasha, but my budget won t allow me to go to Japan for at least 3 years. Where can I find the good, uncut Inu-Yasha that Japan came to know and love?

www.mangafox.com www.onemanga.com im sure they will have it ^^

mangatraders.com

You can read the manga online at onemanga.com

What other visa can I get in Japan aside from Student Visa? -

2008-09-25T04:30:00.001-07:00

I have a student visa right now and its been 3 years and I just wanna know if there is anything more than that. I wanna work and live in Japan for as long as 1 year and its just hard renewing your visa especially that I can t find work with what I m taking. It s hard finding someone who will sponsor your visa to get a working visa. So the problem is : Is there anything more than I have to stay here not just to study but to work also? Or maybe just to work but not having problem with having sponsored?

If you are from OZ or Canada you can get a working holiday visa. If you are from the US you can t. I assume you are finished with school? If not, you should be able to get a visa through your school. You could always get an entertainer visa, but then you d have to deal with the yakuza and work at a hostess club or something. Eikaiwa jobs are a dime a dozen and it s not too hard to find those jobs, including ones that sponsor. You can self-sponsor, but since you don t have a working visa now they won t give that to you because you have to prove how much you are making.

Tourist visa and Businessman s vixa.

If I set up a branch office of a Japanese company in the US will the Japan office pay US tax on revenue? -

2008-09-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

The company in Japan is owned by US Citizens and the question is how will the IRS look at income generated from the Japan side?

Yes, the US income is fully taxable in the US. And since the company is owned by US citizens, any money that THEY earn (salaries and dividends, for example) must be claimed on their personal tax returns as well. Caution: If the corporate entity isn t properly structured, the US may claim the right to tax the purely Japanese income within the corp that normally would not be subject to US taxes. And Japan may be able to tax the US income that could otherwise be exempt from Japanese taxes. Hopefully you ran this past experts in international law and taxation before you created the US subsidiary.

In what way did the geography of Japan affect the development of ancient Japanese government? -

2008-09-25T04:29:00.000-07:00

Reliance on many separate rice farmers encouraged the growth of popular democracy. Japanese geography encouraged the development of centralized power in the hands of strong emperors. Since Japan is an island nation, the first emperors were great sea captains. Mountainous terrain resulted in regional, rather than national governments.

If this is a multiple choice--the last one is the only correct one. Ruled by regional Shoguns. Japan was ruled by powerful regional Shoguns, whose Samari roamed the countryside decapitating anyone with the slightest flicker of rebellion. Obeisance--the deep bowing of the head--was demanded of everyone of lesser power. Prior to that, it was strictly an aggrarian population. Kubla Khan tried to invade Japan from Korea three times in 1281--the Japanese population was defenseless. The monks retreated into the interior of Kyushu Island and prayed. Three times, the invading fleets were destroyed by the quot;Divine Windsquot;, or Kami Kaze. Later, in WWII, the suicide pilots were called Kami Kazes. In the 1930 s, Japan invaded Korea, China, Indonesia, Burma and the Phillipines. They needed the oil resources found in the South China Sea. The mistake--but maybe did not change the outcome of the war--was when Tojo insisted upon attacking Pearl Harbor in the belief that that would destroy America s will and ability to fight! Another Japanese Admiral say, NO, that will be like attacking a hornets nest! And he was right!

not a or b c is correct but so is d hnnmmmm? yeah,yeah but the first emperor was a sea captian!!!!!

The last one is true

Does anyone know how I can become a chef in japan or where I should start? -

2008-09-25T03:52:00.000-07:00

I am currently going to Culinary school and am going to be graduating next year. I would like to persue a career as a chef in Japan. I do speak limited Japanese, but there really isn t any place to learn where I live.

Well, I am sure japan has some great places for you to learn. First you should take some more Japanese classes. After that go to the big cities and look for a job or internship.

Language is very important in Japan. Probably 99% of Japanese chefs don t understand English. Continue to study Japanese. Also learn about Umami. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami This is called 5th gustation. And all Japanese people have this gustatory sensation.

Most of the Japanese chef starts from a pupil or schools. Some foreigners are invited from abroad after became famous in their country. But one of the website said to get a visa as a chef, you need over 10 years of experience. If you want to open your own restaurant in the future, you need license. Some schools accept foreigners but it seems you should be able to speak fluent Japanese at a certain level. http://www.nakamura-s.com/foreigners.htm... I m not a chef so maybe it s better to ask non-Japanese chef in Japan or ask schools about career as a foreigner.

How can I make a good friend in Japan that I could email amp; go visit? -

2008-09-25T02:51:00.000-07:00

I live in Houston, TX and really want to learn more about the Japanese culture. What i would love is to make a friend that lives in Japan thats either gender, and would let me come and visit him/her one day so that i could learn more. Someone who isn t going to mind me asking dumb questions and will email me back and forth...maybe send each other care packages?

www.japan-guide.com has people who you can make penpals with. Talk with them and maybe you can become friends and meet up. Myspace is a good idea also. I think it s easy to find friends there as well.

Alpha ro has some good tips. Japan-Guide Myspace Friendster

Click my name and email me from that page if you like.

Myspace isn t recommended. I have like 4 japanese friends on there and they really don t talk that much. I dunno why. But anywhere you go, if you end up making friends with a person who lives in Japan, the time differences are rather troublesome. Go here if you want more information: http://www.world-time-zones.org/ Yeah, maybe try JREF. (Japan Reference) but as always, excersize caution on the internet.

easy. go to japan-guide dot come website, click under friends, and you can respond to pen pals from all over the world, including Japan of course...its free to join, and use..no hidden cost etc..enjoy.

You could also have a Japanese student stay at your house (homestay). If you put them up first and meet face-to-face you have a much better chance of actually receiving an invitation from them.

smile and say mushi mushi

How to share video and photos in a web site in Japan? -

2008-09-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

I want to share video and photos of my real life in Japan , because is very important that people in Japan knows about my ex girlfriend who has HIV , she is japanese , and she is living in Tokyo and going out with different people without care to pass the virus and that is very disturbing ..... any advice or idea of how I can share this and make people in Japan ,specially Tokyo know about this issue ??

I m a Japanese man, living in Tokyo But I don t need your information at all. Among female with Japanese nationality, there are only about 600 HIV carriers in Japan. And there are 60 million women in Japan. It means that only 0.001% of women here has HIV. As long as we have normal sexual life, it s ZERO possiblility that I get infected with HIV. So your ex-girlfriend was among quot;0.001%quot;? I think you used to be one of the most unlucky guys in Japan when you were here.

there are lots of online places you can post pictures and videos. but like the other users said i m a little suspicious of your motives so you ll have to look for them yourself. to the above poster. std/hiv/aids rates in japan are going up. not to mention there is still a large stigma in japan. not many people get test so the rate most likely is a lot higher.

Sounds like you re trying to get revenge on your ex (since we can only take your word and not hers), unless you want to get sued for privacy violations or defamation of character I wouldn t go around trying to smear someone.

How come the United States doesnt have like high broadband speeds like Japans which is 160+MB? -

2008-09-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanna know cuz internet companies couldnt they offer more speed? I mean even though its kinda unecessary its available isnt it? I mean Japan has like 160+ mb/sec internet connections over there...how come we the people in the US dont have that?

Its a matter of supply and demand and a few other things. There really isn t a market for that kind of things in most places. Also many towns don t have the infrastructure to support that kind of speed. I know of many places around where I live that don t support anything more than dial up. Its the same as cellphones. We are always a good 5 years behind Japan. Its not that the technology doesn t exist. The companies in charge just aren t willing to pay the costs to get there. They don t see it as paying off.

I think one of the key reasons is simple greed. In order to provide that kind of speed to their users, broadband companies would have to basically overhaul their infrastructure, laying new cables and expanding broadband access to areas which currently have access to nothing but dial-up or satellite. Tech. companies for the most part have been unwilling to invest the money needed for such an expansion, especially since Americans so far have been putting up with astronomical rates for the services that are offered; they have no compelling reason to provide greater speed because the public is willing to pay for what is available now. Until there s a consumer backlash against high prices and mediocre service or a legislative mandate to upgrade the infrastructure and keep down prices for consumers, you re not going to see a huge change in broadband service. I hope this helps. If you need additional computer assistance, please consider supporting me on-line at http://www.supportspace.com/support/expe... or visiting my blog on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/the_pc_ally .

This is actually going to be one of the many things included in the stimulus package - improving our broadband internet coverage and speed. We re working on it. To put it simply, our infrastructure, from highways, to electrical grids, to bridges, to internet service, sucks. Hopefully something good will come out of this crisis and we can all be using fiber optic lines for free in a couple decades.

Well Japan is on the cutting edge of technology, plus they are one of the wealthiest countries. The UK gets an average of 2 mb/s which is shockingly bad for playing Xbox Live games online. Eventually faster internet will come, but it requires upgrading all the existing cabling.

Yeah, it does have to do with japan s infrastructure and the economy as well not to mention using fiber optics. They seem to always be two steps ahead as far as technology is concerned.

What do you think about an African American person visiting Japan? -

2008-09-24T05:15:00.001-07:00

I love travelling, and my family has decided on Japan as our next trip, but what should I expect. America and other places I have visited are so diverse, while Japan definitely isn t. Are they racist; will I be a total outcast and not welcomed anywhere? Please I need answers?!

Most Japanese are educated not to be racist against people of different nationalities, religions, and colors. You may get a lot of stares, but that doesn t mean they don t like you. Take pride in your appearance and enjoy your trip.

The Japanese are not racist. They will be very kind to you. They will be very interested in you and will be interested in talking to you about America. They might come across as shy but don t take that the wrong way.

Japanese people are mostly respectful and welcoming.

Japanese love all Americans.They would love any American, even if this person had horns. If you were form another nation, however, you probably will find yourself behind a glass wall (from very thick glass), no matter how you look like. Japan is heaven...for native English speakers, so people will be eager to practice their English on you. But you can only benefit from this- you ll find friends much easier, and you ll get help any time you need!

No you won t be an outcast. There is a expat community , and black people from America and abroad are apart of that community.Visit BlackTokyo.com to read info on the black experience in Japan, you can also join the forum and ask any questions you want from moderators with years of experience throughout Asia. with that said there is one thing to keep in mind, although the Japanese are warm and welcoming you will experience *some* negetive behavior towards you(usually when you live there, not while you are a tourist), this happens no matter where in the world you are, so there is no use for the sugar coating people will try to sell you. Just have a nice vacation.

If someone holds a spouse visa in Japan and their partner goes to jail, do they lose their visa? -

2008-09-24T05:15:00.000-07:00

Just wondering... My friend s husband has some serious recreational habits and I m wondering if he was caught and sent to prison if they would deport her or allow her to wait in Japan for his release?

Most likely he would lose his Visa.It depends how long he was in jail though and a few other things.Every case is different.

If she s there through a spouse visa -being his economic dependent- then she would have to renew the visa every year and this requires proof that he can financially support her, and if he was in jail there s no way that this could be done. Her visa would expire and she would have to come back home and when he was released she would be able to come back. She might want to look into getting her citizenship if she wants to avoid all of that.

Has anyone successfully imported a car to the states from japan? If so, how and what was the cost? -

2008-09-24T02:58:00.001-07:00

I am stationed on Okinawa, Japan and I am trying to send back my Toyota Altezza (Similar to the Lexus IS300). I know I can send it back through the military for free but once it arrives I am confused on the paper work involved. Right now I can t find a reliable registered importer, which will be part of the process. If anyone could help that would be great!

Was the car built to meet US safety and emission standards? If not, you may not be able to title and register the car for US road use. So, before you go through the expense of importing the car - make sure you will be able to register/title it here.

As someone who used to be stationed in Japan I have looked into this before. Apparently you didn t read the fine print. The military will only ship it for free if it was originally manufactured for sale within the US. Report Abuse

As MSAD said, and that goes double if you are trying to get it registered in the people s republic of California.

Are There Any Good Universities in Japan for International Students? -

2008-09-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

I am interested in studying in Japan for my Undergraduate, i don t know Japanese that well, but i really want to study there, are there any good international Universities there that are not that hard to get in to?

Look up Tokyo International Univerisity. A friend I know went there for a year with little Japanese and loved it.

What cellphones can go roaming in japan? -

2008-09-24T02:48:00.000-07:00

Based on some of my research, japan does not support GSM, meaning it does not matter whether the phone is triband or quadband. Based on what i researched, they support UMTS or 3G.. So phones with 3G can be used in Japan? My phone is nokia 6233 and it is 3G.

try a satelite phone

How much does it cost for a group of people to go to Japan? -

2008-09-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

In two years from now when my friends and I are old enough to drive (so we can rent a car in Japan), we are going to Japan. I needed to know how much it would cost for about a group of 6 or more people to go to Japan and also how much each person would cost seperatly. Much appreciated

Lots and lots of Yen.....Just kidding. You might check with a travel agent or the airlines them selfs. Try looking at the different Airlines or Travel Agents on line. They would be your best answer I think. Although, you might ask when you are ready to go since prices bounce all over the place do to the the economy and all. Hope this helps.

ok you need a license in JAPAN or an international license you cant just go there and drive. we jsut got tickets for my inlaws to come here (to the us from japan) to visit us and the plane tickets were 15 hundred apiece for coach roundtrip

What are the top video games in Japan today? -

2008-09-24T01:20:00.000-07:00

What kinds of video games are most loved in Japan?

I know Wii Fit is really popular in Japan, so probably those abstract movement games.

POKEMON PLATINIUM

So, the big 3 admit that Battery technology leadership is held by Japan and Korea? -

2008-09-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

Then why are the big three asking for billions of dollars to develop this technology? We should let Korea and Japan invest more of their money into battery technology. We could save 34 billion dollars ! Let the domestic auto industry go bankrupt and let them take Barney Frank with them.

You are right, let s hope Congress does the right thing for a change.

The problem with the Big 3 is also our government. In Japan and South Korea they have massive government backed and assisted techonology research centers and government paid health programs that allows for their industry to save more and create more efficient products. Here we have an unchecked capitalist system that allows the Big3 to create fat cats and slow developing vehicles compared to the Asians.

Battery tech wont solve the problem. There is not enough electricity in America because Democrats are against nuclear reactors. Solar and wind can never make enough electricity power this nation. If you want alternative energy for cars then support using natural gas in cars or support using hydrogen in cars.

Sure kets let the 3 million dudes and dudettes become unemployed as well as the associated industries? On the otherhand it is the federal gov t regulation and the UAW and the greenies that have caused it. The bailout is a procrastination of the inevitable.

There is no quot;battery technologyquot; yet. The US auto industry is thriving..... everywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. Lazy Yankees....

I know that is right. That just emphasizes how phucked up those old boys at GM really handle business. Always been that way. Prices too high for dumb road hogs with too many idiot lights, bells and whistles.

i rather buy from gm then from japan were i have to wait a week for the part to come in the mail

i myself would like to drive a vehicle made by an american company

Im taking a trip to Japan and backpacking the country for a while. Any ideas on some places to see and stay? -

2008-09-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

I m wanting to travel extensively, see the landscape, shrines, temples, architecture and get to know the ancient Japan and modern Japan. Any ideas on ways to really immerse myself in the culture would really help. I m looking for ideas of places to go, stay, and what to try. Also, about how much it would cost would be nice. My budget isn t unlimited. Thank you.

Wow...you are gonna need a lot of information. For ancient Japan I would suggest visiting Kyoto and Nara for sure. There are amazing places to see all over the place there. Osaka and Tokyo are great for seeing modern Japan. If in Osaka, go visit Umeda and Dotonbori. I haven t been to Tokyo but you can check out Kabukicho (kinda dangerous) or Shinjuku. Try to visit small, out of the way places. Stay at a Ryokan and make sure to try the Onsen! In Osaka try the Takoyaki and the Okonomiyaki. Awesome food in Osaka. Geeze..too much to mention.

Japan is not quot;set upquot; for extensive backpacking like you see throughout Europe. For one, there are no hostels and, away from major cities, you will find yourself without any English..road signs, maps, and possibly not even anyone who understands enough to help. The Japanese are polite and helpful, but the language barrier can be a very real one. Also, many places are not welcoming of non-Japanese, especially a single Western female travelling alone. Japan is realtively safe, but again because of language and cultural issues, going on your own may not be the best idea...better to go as a pair or part of a group. Also, Japan is exspensive overall and while you can find capsule motels (basically, you spend the night in a berth) many don t allow women (they were established for business men who partied too hard and missed the last train home) and they aren t everywhere. Smaller towns may not have any sort of hotel at all. I would suggest rather than travelling all around, you concentrate on two basic areas...Kyoto and Tokyo. Kyoto will give you the quot;oldquot; Japan..temples, traditional homes, wonderful traditional cuisine and crafts. Tokyo of course is the new...clubs, trends, lots of people and very international. You can do the trip on your own, but if you are planning to go by yourself, look into a tour group that is directed for your age and your interests. There are tons of them out there. Cost wise, it can be highly effective as all your hotel arrangements will be taken care of, transportation as well and even some meals. If you are a college student, you can always look at a summer exchange program or, if you have a college degree, look at going to teach English for a year. Most of the companies that bring teachers over also organize trips to various areas, you will make Japanese friends who will be able to help you plan side trips and you will be earning while there to fund your explorations. Just an idea.

Japan is can be a good adventure. I would suggest something like a trip along the Eastern side of Japan. Start off with a day or two in crowded Tokyo. Visit some typical places like Asakuas, Tokyo Palace, Meiji Shrine, and some modern places like Shibuya and Shinjuku. Next, get our of Tokyo and head over to Kamakura and see the DaiBhutsu (bid Bhudda). Make sure you time your trip with the climbing season and climb the to the to of Mout Fuji. The next day, take the shinkansen to Kyoto, get your fill of shrines and temples for about 2 days. Next, take another shinkansen trip to Osaka and soak up some Osaka food and lifestyle. Or bypass Osaka and head all the way to Hiroshima. Take a day to see the A-bomb memorial and museum. At night head over to the Okonomiyaki village and try okonomiyaki Hiroshima style.

I don t think Japan is good place to go backpacking. Backpacking which westerner think/imagine is not popular culture in Japan (of course there are cheap accommodations though). Hitchhiking is not their culture either. oh avoid the season from Nov to March. Most part of Japan would be very cold.

God, why? Be prepared to be bored to death! Look, I lived in Japan for three years and have been everywhere inside it (it s small) from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Most Asian trvalers with a bit of experience will tell you that once you see one shrine/temple you have seen them all! It is red, and one has a gate and the other doesn t. Just go to Kyoto and check it out there as those will be the best. If you are out in the country you will just weird people out and they will probably call the police on you if you go poking around their local temples. Plus, you can keep your budget under control this way. Of course, this is my opinion as you may know, but to further it I would say don t make too much out of Japan. With the anime movement and stuff I notice today s generation really over-romaticizes Japan. It is not that great. You will be ignored by them. You will feel isolated unless you act like a goon because they all love an entertaining foreigner! They are to shy to even talk so it sucks. Plus, their cities outside the major ones look old and ghetto - this is just because they are old and they are too frugal to spend money on landscaping/aesthetics. Plus, they are really closed-minded about things. They will only be interested in you becaue you are from a wealthy country. They will want to know your parents profession and how much money you make. This is most Asian cultures and it is really annoying. They don t seem to be able to make genuine friendships. If you are a girl don t expect romance. Japanese men are intimidated by you. If you are a guy don t get one knock-up! Getting an abortion there is a pain, trust me. Also, they keep killing whales and dolphins repeatively and i am sick of their hypocrite stance on loving nature but killing it at the same time. I was just there too long I guess! -Glad to be back home! USA is the best! I now this now after having been around the world for 10years!

Mount Fuji! Kyoto temples. They are great. ^_^ And...maybe...Gunma. It s an awesome place to go if you like onsens. They are very famous for onsens. -D

Go to Tokyo if you like crowded population and trendy stuff. If you like calm and beautiful place go to Okinawa.

Whats a political similarity between Japan and Mexico? -

2008-09-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

I m doing an essay on the difference s between Mexico and a country of your choice. My choice was Japan and i can t find any political similarites between Japan and Mexico. So if you any similarites please tell me.

homogeneous population.

What Does a typical family in Japan Own? -

2008-09-23T06:36:00.000-07:00

I am doing a project on Japan for School, this is one of the questions. Can You Help?

I m japanese living in tokyo, so can help you a bit. I guess, those are almost same as US ppl as well, however the details are quite different. For example, kitchen utensils. Do you have a rice cooker? or long chopsticks for cooking? A fridge is quite smaller than american ones. There is a room of tatami mat in a house. we usually put a low table and some legless chairs( or floor cushions). Also, there is a bathtub in a bathroom. Well, quot;bathroomquot; means only for taking a bath. A toilet is usually set on another place. It s common to be set on quot;Washletquot; ( that s like a bidet for washing *** lol ) in a toilet . It s very comfortable especially for people who have piles. We usually use a pair of slippers in a room. I worte just a few things but am sure you could find more and more if you came to see some japanese families.

They own the same things we do in the U.S.: home, car, household items, electronics, clothes, pets...

Much like the US

What is the cheapest way from NY to Japan in Business Class? -

2008-09-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

I was just wondering how I can fly from New York to Japan at a reasonable price, preferably in business class. I live in Bermuda, but can fly to NY from here with no problem.

Fly during non-peak travel season (around September - mid November and Feb. - May). If you fly around Christmas, the price will be really high. See if there is a Japanese travel agency in New York who can get you a good discount. Asian travel agencies buy seats in bulk and can pass along the savings.

see: http://www.farecompare.com/fare-search/y...

Why and what did the United States do for Japan After World War 2? -

2008-09-23T03:42:00.000-07:00

My school is asking if the united states helped japan/japan s economy after WWII ended. And they want to know why. I ve read but its still unclear. Can anyone help me out please. Urgent.

Following the Japanese surrender in September, 1945, the US Army began its occupation of Japan. MacArthur first cleane4d house, holding war crimes trials (which some have criticised bitterly), and then set about rebuilding Japan and forging a new democratic constitution. Initially, the US had its hands full just repatriating Japnese soldiers and staving off starvation among the Japanese, but as 1946 began, the focus moved more toward rebuilding the Japnese cities, means of production and banking organs from the ground up. Essentially, the US offered Japan economic support and military protection in return for long term base facilities and a promise that Japan would not rearm and become a threat again. The why is really quite simple. First, there was the widely held belief (seen in the implimentation of thye Marshall plan in Europe, too) that leaving our enemies devestated and in poverty and desperation would only invite the rise of dictators like Hitler, or worse (in the eyes of the Truman administration, and probably correctly), of Communist dictatorships. Rebuilding those countries was first to stabilize them against the temptations of communism, and second, to use those base facilities as strategic assets in the efforts to contain the spread of communism elsewhere in the region. It s worth noting that in 1950, when the fighting began in Korea, those Japanese bases became worth their weight in gold, as they were the only bases from which US aircraft, especially bombers, could fly safely.

The United States took over Japan after WW2 basically. They took away all their weaons and shut down the weapon factories. But they also rebuilt their war-torn country for them. If America had just left Japan to suffer then they would not be this far in the technologic age, they would have spent years rebuilding instead of researching. And since we were there protecting them, they didn t have to focus or spend money on a military.

i can really help u out on this dude...we just talked about this at school like a week ago! 1. yes we did help japan AND germany after WW2 2. why did we do this? a. after WW1 there was the signing of the Varsailles Treaty and all that and obviously it didn t work because Germany became very powerful again (this applies to Japan too!). so after WW2 we wanted to do the exact opposite and help build up Japan and Germany. we wanted to be their friends and on their side so we helped them! obviously it worked because we re friends with them now!!!!

We helped them a lot. We helped them because: We generally helped nations that we have beaten in war (look at Germany after both world wars). We needed them to be a base for us with the Cold War that was starting up. The northern tip of Japan is just under the southeastern end of Russia. The Japanese were in the right position to help.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2124.html This link might help answer your question

all i know is that japan bombed pearl habor there the ones that started all this mess

How much could I expect to get paid with a bachlors degree in computer engineering in Kyoto, Japan? -

2008-09-23T03:20:00.000-07:00

I am studying for a BS in computer engineering and I really want to move to Japan, but I want to know how much they pay in yen (I can convert it later). I have been looking online for hours and nowhere will give me a number approximate. I just want a close approximate or a website I can view to see.

1. Firstly, you need to speak Japanese to get a job. Official language in Japan is only Japanese . 2. Those degree doesn t work much in Japan. You have to learn and obey each company s working system. Even you write quot;Excellent skilled something~ quot; in your resume, Japanese employer doesn t believe it. Because Japan doesn t believe in those quot;school boysquot; who has less experience in the Japan society. They want you to be a member of their family (company). You have to follow their rules. 3. Japan is homogeneous nation, and NOT immigrant country. over 98% of population is Japanese. and tend to hate a wage gap among the all employee. Of course there are a gap. however, it is seldom that you earn double salary of your other non-degreeed colleagues. 4. If you can get any job at any development department in the computer engineering field, your salary may be high. However, most documents and equipments are usually written in Japanese. As like this, the system and the working environment are totally different from US and other western country. Also you have to remember, you may not as well ask your salary until they decide to hire you. They don t like people who start with money. Isn t Japan strange country for westerns? haha.....

Probably somewhere between net 170,000yen to 250,000yen depending on your experience and knowledge. But this is a guess. I know they pay alot more in Tokyo though.

You d have to work for an American company, unless you know Japanese as well as you know English...

More realistic thing to do is to contact companies that has a local branch in Japan. You could try Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, etc. to name a few. It would be very difficult to go about the job-hunting business in the normal US way. In Japan, custom is to hire people fresh out of college, and only selective colleges. Unless you are fluent in Japanese language and culture, and already established there, it would be nearly impossible for you to make yourself marketable there in their turf.

Why don t you try getting a job with the U.S. government first, then going out on your own? The U.S. government will pay for your travel over, housing, and give you a post differential. State Department, Department of Defense Schools, Departments of the Air Force, Army, and Navy, etc. Also, maybe some of the larger U.S. companies who have branch offices in Japan.

Teaching English as a second language to adults in Japan, Is this a good career move? -

2008-09-23T02:42:00.001-07:00

I am planning to move to Japan in four years with my Japanese wife, we think a career in teaching english would enable us to live comfortably and the demand for english teachers will increase. How do i find out if my personality is suited to teaching english? What do i have to do to become a teacher in Japan? How much money can you earn teaching english, are second language english teachers well paid?

The article quot;Standards for Good Teachingquot; states that a good teacher should: - be joyful - love the natural curiosity of students - be excited about learning - be passionate about the subject they teach - be inquisitive - be creative - seek help from others - not be afraid of change and realize that change can be a positive element in every classroom - be flexible or have the ability to roll with the punches and not let the little things get them down. See full details here: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/teachin... You could also see a career counselor. They often have a list of characteristics, pros and cons for a multitude of careers. Not to mention the tests you can take to find out what type of employment matches your personality. For information specific to teaching in Japan check out the article quot;Teaching English in Japanquot; at http://weblog.teachingopportunitiesabroa... Good luck! :)

My son basically had the same situation. He was stationed in Japan with the US Navy. Now he is moving back to the US. He married a Japanese girl who could not speak any English, and taught him how to speak Japanese. They married in the US, and he taught her how to speak really good English. They have two daughters who can speak several different languages and they are very young. His wife is now very afluent with the English language now and she is looking forward to moving to US.

If I might make a practical suggestion? Why don t you get a job in the interim teaching ESL to Koreans (for instance) as there are numerous companies. You can do this over the iinternet from your home. IF you find you enjoy working with this population, I d say ESL is a good move for you.

wait dude.....do you speak japanese?

it is probably needed. you know english is the business language of the world.

Check out eslcafe.com - the largest most comprehensive overseas teaching site. There are job postings, teacher forums, information boards. Post your question there and you will get information directly from people who ve been there or are there right now. Incidentally, you don t necessarily need to speak Japanese to teach there. I ve taught ESL to immigrants for 18 years and I didn t speak most of their languages (my niece has been teaching in Japan for 4 yrs and she only speaks quot;survivalquot; level) However, since your wife is Japanese and you plan on living there I would highly recommend a program through www.rosettastone.com. My nephew married a Japanese lady as well but he learned Japanese fluently and they bought an English school franchise and they are doing extremely well. I would suggest that you find a community volunteer ESL teaching position in your area and go and teach a while. Good luck

Nearly all of the questions that you ve asked are well delineated at http://www.abcplus.info/job06.html?gclid... This will guide you through all of the steps, explain requirements and even current job openings with pay rates. Alternatively, Google ....teaching english in japan I know a few who have done this, they enjoyed themselves but you also need to realize that living expenses there can be quite high, target a smaller town, avoid the bigger cities. Some of the schools may provide limited housing so keep your eyes open for those.

You may want to learn Spanish. Japanese learn English to communicate with Americans and British for business reasons. By far they own or work with America more. We will be speaking Spanish by 2020.

Since your wife is Japanese, shouldn t she be able to know the market there and whether you are suitable to teach? I guess, the most basic thing to survive in Japan is that you should be able to read and write Japanese because the people there are really very dependent on their main language. You should be able to earn quite abit from teaching English. I m not so sure about teaching adults, but I know they start learning Japanese even earlier than in high school some times. By the time they reach University, they should be equipped with English, or at least a little of it already. Language teachers, esp foreign language, I think are generally in good demand everywhere.

How Do You Get Dual Citizenship With Japan ( I am From Canada)? -

2008-09-23T02:42:00.000-07:00

I am from Canada, I am 18 years of age. Im Purely White unfortunately But I Hope that this isn t a problem. I have wanted to be a dual citizen with Japan for many years now and I am currently taking classes On improving my Japanese language skills at a local college ( and with private lessons). I Have no idea on how to go upon receiving this status, what tests do I write, where do I go to ask questions. That is Why I Came here! What are the steps towards becoming a dual citizen?

YOU CANT JAPAN DOES NOT ALLOW DUAL CITOZENSHIP. Looks like all your japanese language lessons were a waste of time. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2221.html Permanent residence Foreign residents who have shown good conduct and have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living, can be granted permanent residence if they reside in Japan for typically ten or more consecutive years (less in case of spouses of Japanese nationals and people who have made significant contributions to Japanese society). Permanent residence status is indefinite and allows any paid activity. Naturalization Foreigners, who have resided in Japan for at least five consecutive years (less if married to a Japanese national), have shown good conduct, have never plotted against the Japanese government, have sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living and are willing to renounce any other citizenship held, can be granted Japanese citizenship. note the line that says - WILLING TO RENOUNCE ANY OTHER CITIZENSHIP HELD

Like everyone said, you can t. Check out this guy s site. He was an American and became a Japanese citizen. I say was because he had to renounce his American citizenship. http://www.debito.org/ http://www.debito.org/residentspage.html

You could become a Japanese citizen after you have fulfilled residency requirements in Japan. However, Japan does not allow dual citizenship. You would have to first renounce your Canadian citizenship.

How do I import a tractor into Canada from Japan? -

2008-09-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

I m heading to Japan soon and I figured I d pick one up and ship it while I m there. Does it need to comply with the 15 year motor vehicle law? I figure it shouldn t since its not a road driven vehicle.

We make some of the best tractors in the world here in Canada, what will you find in Japan that makes it worth all the hassle and expense of importing? And if it used you want, you can probably find one in Canada. I would call Canada Border Services Agency for rules, and possibly a customs broker like Livingston or Peacebridge to see if they handle such a commodity from Japan, or if they recommend someone who does.

How to call a mobile phone in japan from the philippines? -

2008-09-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

I ve been trying to call my aunt in japan and i can t get through. Can you please give me an example.

wuzracer is correct. Maybe you can buy a calling card and it can help you make your phone call.

I called my friend just last night. I tried heaps of ways, but in he end I logged onto yahoo answers and looked up previous answers of how to call a mobile phone in japan yahoo answers is great. The other answer hits the nail on the head, thats a cellphone, just remember to drop the first 0 in the number. Good luck!

use your digits to make an overseas call, add 81 (country code for Japan) drop the first 0 from the number - example 090. 080. 070 - would become 90, or 80 or 70 and the rest 8 digits. Your call will get through, but the recipient will see the code quot;not supportedquot; on their screen, so if they are not used to it, they might consider answering it. However, give it a try. Sometimes the number does show, but ususally it will say quot;not supportedquot;.

+81 90 4567 0987 81 is the country code if the number starts with a 090 or 080 you have to drop the leading zero.

What is the Certificate of employment in Japan called in Japanese? -

2008-09-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone have any idea what it s called in Japan (in romanji please)? I m having trouble finding out and require it for visa purposes. I ve heard that it s called a quot;zaishokushomeishoquot;, but I don t think that s it. Please help urgently.

It could be Shugyoushoumeisho or Zaishokushoumeisho.

雇用の証明書

Is it possible to travel between Japan and Canada by ship? -

2008-09-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

I ve always been curious about this: is it possible to book passage from Japan to Canada by ship? If so, how would how long would it take to sail across the pacific, which port(s) would you arrive at, and how much would it cost?

Of course. People have been doing this for ages. You have two main options: freighter or cruise lines. Freighter travel is modern, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive. See the first source. You can find numerous possibilities. The second option is a cruise line, which is more expensive than freighter. See source 2. The costs differ from line to line and depends on length of trip and other things. You can often find last-minute cruises that are up to 70 percent off. There are thousands of possible price and itinerary possibilities.

Cruises Abroad offers service between Vancouver BC and Japan. Vancouver is located in the southwestern portion of Canada, north of Seattle WA.and Portland OR. (USA). Next Departure in 2007 Itinerary: 21 days Kyoto, Japan (three night land package) * Osaka, Japan * Tokyo, Japan * Aomori, Japan * Petropavlovsk, Russia * Dutch Harbor, Alaska * Kodiak, Alaska * Sitka, Alaska * Vancouver, BC Inside Cabins from $5295CAD pp Outside Cabins from $5795CAD pp including Vancouver airfare amp; port charges Cruises Abroad Phone # 1-800-665-5566 Website: http://www.cruisesabroad.com/statendam-j...

i believe its possible, contact a dock to find out times and stuff

Whats the most important thing you ever learnt while in Japan? -

2008-09-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

It doesn t necessarily have to even be directly related to Japan.

Hmmm... a lot of things, even though my mother is japanese and I have many japanese friends, there are things that you can understand only if you re in Japan. Maybe the most important thing I learnt is the respect for those older than me, while staying at my grandpas house( I was still a little kid then). I also got an idea of the japanese school life, and I m so happy I went to school here in Italy. I m gonna move to Japan later this fall, so I m sure I ll learn a lot of things there. Good question.

Well, I ve only been living here for about six months. Before it was time for our move, I was so happy to get out of the US, experience something different, and get away from my family. Well now that it s been a while, I m pregnant, and I look at all the zeroes that are in the price of one plane ticket home, the most important thing I ve learned while in Japan is not to take family, friends, and my native country for granted. I did and it bit me in the butt. I miss it all very much and I feel like I didn t care enough to say my good-byes properly because I just wanted to get away. Now my mom who lives alone since I moved is in poor health and I ve lost two loved ones so far. I made an *** of myself because I took home for granted. I know better for next time. I wouldn t trade living here for the world though. I love it here.

Not to make crude stereotypes. ;-)

I learned that it was pointless to go there without learning atleast a bit of japanese first. Oh and that Godzilla isn t real. Also, giant cities can be clean if the people actually try.

To shut up, observe, think, and then act!

I learned that it s so much more meaningful to live in a country when you speak the language. Too many foreigners quot;get byquot; in Japan for years without learning any of the language, and they miss out on so much opportunity, culture, and interaction with the people of Japan. We ve visited other countries on vacation, and I always wish that I knew more languages (Arabic; Turkish; French; etc.) so that I could get a similar experience to what I had while living in Japan. Just my 2 cents...

Japanese

there are a lot of sexy Japaneses girls

How do you convince parents to let you go to Japan with your school? -

2008-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

I really need help guys! It s been my dream for years to go to Japan and my school is taking a trip there, and I need help convincing my parents to let me go! Any advice, tips, and ideas are helpful!!!

Wow - good for you. Visiting another country is a very educational and rewarding experience. I m not sure what your parents concerns are, so ask them what specific reasons they have for not letting you go. Too expensive? Offer to pay for part of the trip yourself so they see you are genuine with your request. Too dangerous? Of course, accidents can happen anywhere, but Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime rate is incredibly low. Earthquake danger? It s true, there are more earthquakes in Japan than many other countries. However, most of them are so small only scientists can detect them. In the short time of your trip, you are unlikely to be hurt by one. Fear of food illness? If you ve read many posts about Japan on this board, you ll see we all agree the food is wonderful and extremely clean/safe. The chance of you becoming ill from Japanese food is negligible. Will miss you terribly? It s possible they are just afraid of seeing you go away, even for a short time. This is natural, but they will of course one day have to understand your need for independence. Offer to call them every day briefly. This is just too great an opportunity for you to give up! It may help you with college applications - it definitely shows your willingness to try new things. Good luck!

How do you convince parents to let you go on any kind of school trip? A school trip is a very special kind of trip. You go there with classmates and make lots of memories. Your teacher or someone equally qualified is your chaperon, and they teach you knowledge that you may not gain as just a tourist. These are some of the special things about a school trip that make it impossible to repeat later in life as an adult. A school trip is also special in that your parents would be paying for it. Parents are inclined to let good kids go on trip, so usual bargains tend to be things like promising to do extra chores, promising to get all homework done before 10pm, promising to get a B average in school from now on, promising to walk the dog every day, promising to practice the violin an hour a day, promising to play video games no more than an hour each day. They can t be empty promises but solid contracts that you live up to. Without knowing what kind of family you have, it s hard to be specific, but these are general principles to go to Japan or Paris or Washington DC.

tell them something about future of east Asia and connect it to what major you are going to be at university.

tell them it ll be a good experience

I had those kind of parents too. Do better than me. I just waited until I left their house. Maybe you can first find out all the underlying reasons why they would say quot;noquot;, then absorb that and find 10 reasons why the opposite is true for every reason they give you.

Why was Germany and Japan never able to invade or Bomb the Unites States except for Pearl Harbor? -

2008-09-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

The USA invaded Germany and bombed Germany and Japan all through the the time the USA was in WW2 so why was Japan or Germany never able to bomb the USA cities or invade? Dec 7th 1942 at Pearl Harbor was the only time that Japan was able to fly planes over US soil correct? Hitler s German army, air force, or navy was never able to bomb or launch rockets onto U.S.A soil, why was that? Is not this amazing?

Because it was too far. The US bombers took off from the UK to bomb Germany and took off from other islands or aircraft carriers to bomb Japan. No plane in the world at that time could have crossed the Atlantic or the Pacific twice without refueling and I m certain that the US would have had something to say to that if German or Japanese bombers had asked to refuel on US land. The Germans had no aircraft carriers and the Japanese were not crazy enough to waste an aircraft carrier and its shield just to send a few bombs on the US, because they knew that the fleet would not have survived the trip back after that. So no bombing of US land. The U boots however massacred cargo ships right on the US coast when the US entered the war, catching the US by surprise.

The big thing, distance! Planes back then didn t have the capacity to go from Germany, or Japan to the coast of the USA, bomb it, then return home. Even today it s hard to do without midair refueling. Japan did undertake a balloon bombing towards (I think) the end of the war, a few actually made it to the USA and actually killed a few people. This was quickly covered up so Japan didn t learn that it actually succeeded and launched more. As a result Japan abandoned the plans. And I think there is a report of a Japanese submarine shelling the coast of the Western USA (forget where), but everything caused little damage, and cover-ups prevented any panics, and further shellings. The Japanese did invade the islands of Attu and Kiska in June of 1942 (a decoy part of the mission that also invaded Midway). To realistically do any major landings of the Continental US, Japan or Germany would have needed control of the seas, and air to even think about a landing. Japan never really thought about it, their strategy involved creating a perimeter defense that would prove too costly for the Allies to beat, leading them to sue for peace. Germany, they never had control of the seas. If they couldn t land troops on Britain, way closer than the USA, they couldn t hope to even start an operation of landing on the USA.

They were too busy getting their respective butts kicked to offer a counter-offensive.

To understand this you have to know of the tecnology of that period. What we take for granted today would be science-fiction in the 1940s. Germany had England right at its doorstep so the United States was not top priority. The US used England as a base of operations and thus was able to invade Europe unlike what Germany could never do to the US. Germany did send several submarines to the Eastern Coast but as soon as our anti submarine tactics improved long distance became suicidle. I believe German submariners had a casualty rate of 80%! Japan invaded Peral Harbor but remember at the time Hawaii was not a state. Japan s approach was to destroy our fleet and defend it s conquored teritory until the US wanted peace. At the time this was not far fetched because each island/battle would be a hard fought campaign and planning event. Throughout history very few countries have won two front wars. Japan did send ballon bombs against us but they were weak at best and not relable. Both enemy countries underestimated the US resolve, and overestimated their own strength. After a year or two of Allied victories these countries could never gain an offesive advantage or even have the oppurtunity again.

your answer is Midway and England... the us airforce was able to refuel in england/midway en route... air craft carriers were not part of the german navy and their long range bombers couldn t reach over the atlantic nor could the japanese over the pacific. yes, commercial airplanes could cover these distances... but: those weren t carrying tons of ordnance nor did they have to return without refuelling. (and they weren t shot at...) the japanse/american naval warfare was a tad bit more complicated, but it runs down to the fact, that the americans gained superiority on sea in rather short time over the japanese. the germans on the other hand concentrated on their submarines and did quite a lot of damage that way in the pacific.

To international students to Japan, what problem do you face to when first arrive at Japan? -

2008-09-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

My Korean Canadian friend is coming to Japan to study at vocational college for taking Japanese language courses continuing for a year and a half. When arriving at first, what problem could possible occur in Japan?

well when i went this summer, i was with two other 16 year old girls, and when we first got into the country, we had no clue as to where to go. We had to take a shuttle train thing from one end to the other. When we found the area we were had to be we wernt sure what line was right, because we had to go through international check in, and all that busness. they finerpritned us, ect. we also had to pick up our leggage and re check them in because it was not a direst transfer from our last flight. That was hard to find where to do that. but we got it all done, and made sure we knew where our gate was and that the time was correct for our flight, so we didnt miss it. Your friend is going to have so much fun, i loved it so much over there. i want to go back so bad.

Could be hassled by customs. Could lose her luggage (as previously stated) She could lose her visa/passport while in Japan and be deported back to Canada/Korea (whichever country she came from) And of course, if her Japanese isn t so well, she always has that language barrier.

they could lose their luggage which happend to me (it never got transported from Taipei) and I had to wait a couple of days but that is the only problem I faced.

What do you have to do to become a citizin of Japan? -

2008-09-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

Currently I am a US citizen, but my girlfriend is Japanese and is living in Japan. I think I might marry her some day so I was wondering how difficult it would be to become a citizen of that country so we could have the option of living there together. I am pretty fluent in speaking Japanese, but I have difficulty reading since I have not memorized all of the Kanji charactors.

In Japan, there is no concept quot;citizenshipquot;, but quot;nationalityquot;. If you get Japanese nationality, you have to sign an oath document that you give up US passport. Then you will be Japanese and Japanese citizen, and get Japanese passport. But you won t be able to ask a help to US embassy in Japan anymore.

you need spelling test first.

How was the ruler of japan in second worldwar? -

2008-09-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

give me all detail of japan (1939 to 1945). This is the historical question.

In 1926, the second quot;restorationquot; of the Imperial Japanese throne occurred. The Showa, or peace, era, would be anything but peaceful. Emperor Hirohito was a gentle man who preferred marine biology to international politics. His reign would last longer than any other national leader of World War .The position of Emperor is an enigma to western minds. It’s not as if the Emperor is the same as the English King or even Emperor Napoleon. Power did not rest with him, although he could and often did influence the ruling class. The Japanese Emperor also was the subject of right-wing hysteria; if he not live up to their vision of a proper Japanese Emperor, they would remove him by assassination.The Imperial Japanese Majesty’s picture was carried in all ships, and went with the first lifeboat when the ship was sunk. The symbol of the Emperor, a Chrysanthemum, would prevent any ship from being sunk by gunfire in firing practice at the end of its useful life until the symbol was removed. The symbol would be stitched into uniforms and headbands, and his name would be invoked time and time again by the military leadership and the rank and file.On the battlefield, the American propaganda led their soldiers to believe that Japanese soldiers died with the Emperor’s name on their lips. Actually most Japanese men called for their wives or mothers just like the Americans. But it was a powerful image that helped to explain the mass suicides that the Americans encountered prior to Iwo Jima. Except for occasional mention, Allied propaganda tried to avoid painting the Emperor as demagogue on the level of Hitler, because Allied command was worried that if the American public thought the Emperor should be removed, the Japanese would never surrender. Hirohito was instrumental in ending the war. His intervention and subtle calls for surrender convinced the cabinet that it was time to cease hostilities. In a complex series of discussions with the cabinet members who favored continued resistance, the Emperor was able to communicate his desires without causing the government to plunge into chaos. A group of officers did attempt to breach the Imperial Palace grounds to assassinate the Emperor, in the Emperor’s name, and continue the war. They were stopped, and the coup failed. Hirohito remained Emperor until his death in 1989. Several right-wing Japanese groups were agitated by his death, but the nation as a whole mourned the passing of the last World War II leader to die.

first of all-why can t you do research for yourself? lazy gt;gt; second, the ruler of japan was the general of the military forces hideki tojo. during world war one, japan was governed by a military regime while the emperor whom had no power except to appear to the people as a sacred symbol of nobility was forced to sit back while his military leaders made all of the decisions. finally, after the bombing by two atomic weapons, hirohito announced to his generals that they quot;must endure the unendurablequot; (the dishonorable condition of unconditional surrender when japan was fully prepared to fight to the last civilian standing.) after the surrender, hirohito was spared a death sentence as a war criminal at the behest of general macarthur, whom had a respect for the customs of the japanese people and even wanted to refuse the confiscation of swords along with other military weapons, but he was overruled on that decision and many swords crafted for the military officers at that time were destroyed along with the rifles and other armaments. hideki tojo was executed for war crimes along with other officers in high positions, but hirohito was spared as macarthur knew he had little power to make any decisions in the course of the war, and was not responsible for any of the more atrocious actions of the japanese military in that era.

Emperor Horhito was the Emperor of Japan, but Japan was really led by General Togo, who wanted to establish a empire in the Pacific. Horhito surrendered the war, and lost his status as the Son of God, and Togo was hanged for war crimes.

Is there any way to get a cheap fare from Japan to Thailand without going through China first? -

2008-09-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

I need to get a cheap fare to Thailand for December from Japan. Only problem I have is with countries that require VISA s (China etc) as I cannot apply for one outside my home country apparently. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You should not need a visa to make a flight connection in China anyway, but several airlines have direct flights between Tokyo Narita and Bangkok. The airlines include Japan Airlines, Northwest, ANA, United, and Thai Airways. Other airlines have flight connections in Seoul, Hong Kong, or Taipei that don t involve connections in mainland China.

If you are flying from Japan to Bangkok you don t need a Visa if you change planes in say Seoul or Hong Kong you will not go through immigration. or am I missing something? If there is a long delay between flights you ll be able to get a transit visa to stay at a hotel but they keep a pretty good eye on you. Japan Air, United, Thai Airways, jetstar all fly direct from Japan to Thailand

Bangkok Airways offers direct low fare flights. They operate flights from Hiroshima, Fukuoka to Bangkok.

Check out promotion by JAL or China air. No need the VISA for transit via China. A little bit higher fare with Thai Airways but some promotion for 2 fly may available.

I flew Air India which stopped in Bangkok on their Narita-New Delhi route. It was a ghetto plane but cheap, about $300 roundtrip in December.

Besides direct flights you can catch flights out of South Korea.

What needs to be done in order to bring a cat from Canada to Japan? -

2008-09-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have a cat in Canada and I am currently in Japan. My husband is taking care of her but he can t find a place to live with her so easily. I want to bring her to Japan but I wonder how much it will cost roughly in total and how long it will take? I heard there are lots of paper works... If anyone knows about it, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

You can find all the requirements here: http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-pe... (The requirements for ENTRY are the same for pets from anywhere, so ignore that this is a US gov t site!) And the official site of the Japanese Animal Quarantine Service here: http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/index.... Good luck!

I researched and found the Japanese Embassy in the US had information on importing pets into Japan; it linked to the official Animal Quarantine Site for Japan for detailed information. The link for importing cats/dogs into Japan is: http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/... ... Note that Canada is NOT considered rabies-free, so follow the non-designated region instructions.

We tried taking our cats from US to UK and tried hard to comply with all the requirements but it s much more than shots, it s horrendous. And more than $1000 per cat! Be sure you read the links thoroughly that the guy before me gave you. Really.

1999 in Nigeria, japan youth soccer team won the 2ND place. What are the names of all players in it? -

2008-09-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

This is the best performance of asian football team, and this team was called golden generation.

JAPAN finish as runners-up to SPAIN in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Cup in NIGERIA. although they lost 4-0 in the final, it is their best performance in the history of the tournament. 1 GK Tatsuya Enomoto 2 DF Kazuki Teshima 3 DF Shigeki Tsujimoto 4 MF Tatsuya Ishikawa 5 MF Akira Kaji 6 MF Junichi Inamoto 7 MF Tomoyuki Sakai 8 MF Mitsuo Ogasawara 9 FW Naohiro Takahara 10 MF Masashi Motoyama 11 MF Yasuhito Endo 12 DF Koji Nakata 13 MF Shinji Ono 14 FW Yuichiro Nagai 15 FW Yasunori Takada 16 FW Ryuji Bando 17 MF Hideyuki Ujiie 18 GK Yuta Minami manager : Philippe Troussier

Can I teach English in Japan with a criminal record? -

2008-09-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

I ve gone through the GEOS interview process and have been offered a position to teach in Japan. I do have a disorderly conduct while intoxicated misdemeanor on my record. According to my research, this should not prevent me admission into Japan (or Canada for training). I am still a bit concerned about it and wondered if anyone else has worked for GEOS with a similar record or has any additional information that may help me. Thank you!

Well if you already got the job you should be fine. Cuz didn t you have to fill out the application and answer the criminal record question? Hope you didn t lie about it. I heard this inconvenienced one American teacher who had to do his training in Canada but couldn t get into Canada since he had a DUI there and couldn t get into Canada so he did his training in Japan instead. So if this happens to you, Geos will just make you do your training in Japan. Good luck, it seems lots of managers are quitting Geos cuz of the president Kusunoki (you ll enjoy watching his lectures during teacher meetings). Also get ready for some jam packed daily schedules starting from 11:50am to 9:15pm everyday. Other schools are more flexible with their schedules. You may even have a hard time taking a solid 1 hour break with Geos schedules. Well, whatever, good luck buddy.

It depends on if the hiring company does a background check or not, and what their standards are.

How do i get a chefs job in japan? -

2008-09-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

I am graduating culinary school in feb 09 and my dream is to cook japanese food in japan. I don t know how to break through the cultural bearier?

Why would they hire YOU to cook Japanese food IN Japan? Do you even have experience with Japanese food, or are you fairly good with your Japanese language skills? Have you even visited Japan before to get an idea of what to look out for? We need to have more information about you to answer you better. I just think you would be more successful if you brought in non-Japanese food to satisfy a more niche market. Anyhow, your biggest challenge would be to get an appropriate work visa. Unless someone wants to sponsor you to come over and work as a chef.....but that would be verrry rare and hard to get. Well...how do you feel about going to Japan and teaching English for starters?

1.Go to Japan? 2.Get a degree in Cooking 3.Find a restraunt that needs employes make sure you like it there! 4.If you Get the Job Whoo! 5.But if you dont Boo Don`t Give up Go somewere else that will make you happy!Maybe even as happy as this smiley? LOL!!! Hope the Job Works For You!

Change your name to Nancy Lam

Why Japan invests a lot of money abroad? -

2008-09-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

I ve read that Japanese investment is helping to improve the economies of several countries worldwide. Some even say that as long as Japan has this cash surplus, a specific country s economy will do well. Why is Japan driven to invest a lot of money (FDI and FII) in foreign countries?

Japan is driven to invest a lot of money through Foreign Direct Investments and Foreign Institutional Investor for the same reason China and India are: Increase profits and influence the financial and political position of their country and others. Venezuela owns Citgo; Nestle was founded in a foreign country, and its headquarters are in Vevey, Switzerland. The U.S. invests in other countries, too: China, Russia, India, England, etc., etc.

Political leverage. If I give you money, at a later time when you come to a crossroads, I remind you I gave you money to get this far, and thus you are obliged to take the path I choose for you.

What do you think would had happen had Japan conquered India in WW2? -

2008-09-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

Here are what I think would had happen: 1)Japan would have taken many Indian resources 2)Japan would had enslaved many Indian men 3)Japan would have slaughtered many Indian civilians 4)Japan would have taken many Indian women and force them into prostitution 5)Gandhi would have been killed by Japanese soldiers 6)The Japanese would have destroyed many Hindu temples and buildings 7)The Muslims of India would have been waging Jihad on the Japanese 8)India would hold rage against Japan today These are my possibilities;I`d like to hearbyours.

the japanese were nasty little bastards during the war and they would have made them slaves and destroyed their culture and history and Gandhi would have been killed in front of the whole country to set an example and the indian people would be absorbed into japan because india as a country would not exist anymore

Whats the drinking age in Japan and how strictly is it enforced? -

2008-09-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

I am embarking on a 2 week trip to Tokyo in about a month and a half with three people who are 25 or older (the oldest is 31). I am 19. I was wondering what the drinking age is in Japan and how stricty it s enforced on foreigners.

It s 20 and it s not enforced-end of story. When I taught high school kids in Japan they were out at the same clubs I was. I made them buy me a drink if I caught them!! Good times...

you can buy alcohol through vending machines. some of these machines are setup so you can only purchase at certain times.

why, don t drink u know it s not good for u just stick with coffee and soda. okay oh!, and don t forget to send me a souvenire thanks!

jolly needs to stfu. but anyways, the drinking age in japan is 20. sorry.

It is age 20, and it isnt strict, they rely on you being a good boy :D but there are conciquences if you are cought

The drinking age is 20. I don tthink they are very strict with foreigners.. But they are pretty strict with their own people.

I would like to live and work in Japan teaching English. Is it possible to do this for the rest of my life? -

2008-09-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

I am an American, but I do not want to stay in the U.S. I love Japan and everything about it....the people, the food, the culture, the technology, etc. I want to live and work in Japan, but I do not know of any other way to do this besides teaching English (I know very little Japanese). I am a native English speaker, and I have a Bachelor s degree from a four-year University. So I have the minimum requirements to teach English in Japan. I would like to hear from people who have been teaching English in Japan for a long time. I know you have to renew your contract with a school every year to two years. Is it possible to teach English at different schools in Japan for 40 years? How much can you get paid for teaching English after, say, 10 years? 20 years? 30? And what about the Health and Retirement Benefits? Can you stay in Japan for the rest of your life?

Sure you can. I m doing it. I have been here in Japan for over 15 years. I have set my roots down deep and I have no plans to leave. First of all, let s talk about your degree. Basically if you have a BA degree you can find work. It would be a lot better for you if your degree were in English, education, linguistics, or TESL/TESOL, etc. I have a friend who has an engineering degree and is here only because he got married to a Japanese girl. He hasn t had full-time work for about 10 years. He is doing the part-time thing, which is working at 10 different schools during the week. An hour here, and hour there. He is making a lot of money, but his schedule is killing him. One reason is that his degree doesn t support teaching English even though he is a native speaker. Your lack of Japanese abilities is not a problem. It would help, but it is not a big deal. Full-time jobs are at a premium in Japan, so basically the idea of working at different schools is not really plausible. If you are looking at private English schools, you could do it, but not at public institutions or institutions of higher learning. As far as salary, you could start at 200,000 a month, then go as high as 500,000 a month in time. When I did the part time thing (for one and a half years) I was making around 350,000 a month but with potential for a lot more but the schedule would have been too hectic. If you work full-time, you can get full benefits, and they are great. If not, you will have to purchase health insurance from the government, but the percentages are a lot higher than the company insurance. Retirement only comes from full-time positions and the benefits are compiled yearly. So the longer you work full-time, the more you get when you retire. Bottom line, you can work and live forever in Japan. But where you work will play a large part in your quality of life. It was easy for me because I had a PhD in Linguistics, and I am married to a Japanese national. I also paid my dues working the hard life path for 5 years. Contact me if you have anymore specific questions.

Yes, it is possible to do it for the rest of your life. I worked in Japan for 6 years as a full-time English teacher for the YMCA. (Yes, the YMCA!) The pay was not that bad at the time, and I got full benefits including health insurance, a retirement savings plan, and rent assistance. In Western Japan, to rent an apartment, a security deposit (and key money) equal to 3 months rent must be paid in advance to the realtor to be able to secure an apartment. In other parts of Japan, I heard some places ask for 10 or even 12 months rent as a security deposit. My employer paid for that. In my case, I could already speak, read, and write Japanese while living in the States, so it was easy for me to get work in Japan by just sending in my resume to several of my friends back there. I was lucky because I went straight to Japan with a work visa in hand. (That was in the mid-80s, though.) One thing to remember is that as you get older, your parents and other relatives will get ill and pass away. Be sure you have money saved up to make trips back to visit your relatives. Also, ask yourself if you are prepared to spend your old age in Japan with nothing to return to in the States. If you have a Japanese wife, as I do, this will be possible, but you must keep this in mind even if you do meet and marry the right girl over there. I would advise you to get a degree in Linguistics, English, or Education. If possible, an MATESOL degree (what I have) would enable you to get teaching jobs at Universities in Japan, which pay better than language schools. For now, get all yourself ready and try working in Japan for 2 years. After that, you ll have a better idea of whether or not you can conceivably spend the rest of your life there. While there, learn Japanese and interact with the Japanese-at-large as much as possible. Then you will truly know if Japan is right for you.

Oh, boy. I could bend your ear about this one for hours on end. I taught in Japan for ten years. You re right about the renewal every two years, but this changed in 2000 so that those in Japan over 10 years could renew every five years. I was one of the lucky first ones to receive this new visa. Anyway, it s entirely possible to spend your working life in Japan, but the pay doesn t necessarily increase as you go along. When I left, 250,000 yen a month was standard starting pay for most ESL teachers. To retire in Japan is a special problem; most companies are reluctant to set you up with a retirement program. And, citizenship (the last I heard) takes up to 20 years, and requires proof of great proficiency in Japanese. My advice to you would be, go, and make as much as you can, being careful to save as much money as possible. You can always make decisions about where to retire later on. But, be aware of this: no matter how many years of teaching you do in Japan, unless you have a degree in teaching, and obtain a teaching certificate in a U.S. state, switching from teaching in Japan to teaching in the U.S. could be nearly impossible. I wish you the best of luck.

i don t see any reason why not. i m sure you can keep renewing your visa or apply for citizenship. i was living in Japan teaching for two years. i knew native north americans like yourself who had been there for ten plus years and had no plans to leave. one american i know over there is married to a a japanese girl and they have a child. it is quite possible to work in one school for a year or so then change. you can teach at language schools, secondary schools, colleges etc. There are many possibilities. Also, if you go to a big city and make the right contacts it is possible to change career. However, without citixenship you would need your employer to sponsor your VISA. I don t know much about the health and retirement benefits but i am pretty sure they would be good. Japan is a country run in a very good way. It wuld also depend on what type of company you are working for. I was working for a japanese company which was great. Be prepared for hard work but you will be rewarded if you work for a J company. Foreign companies may take advantage a bit. Have you been to Japan before? I wouldn t go planning the rest of your life there if not. Don t go thinking that you can never leave. take it as it comes. it doesn t suit everyone. also, do you really want to teach? or are you just using teaching to get you to Japan? I didn t want to teach, just wanted to go to japan, now i love teaching!!

It is certainly possible to teach for the rest of your life. Since you have a Bachelor s degree, you ll have no problem getting a job. You have to renew a contract every year. It is certainly possible to teach in Japan for 40 years. If you meet a wife in Japan, life will be a lot easier for you. I ve been here for 2 years but couldn t imagine staying forever. Good luck.

interesting that you like it so much. I live here now and the people are so shy and quiet it s hard for me to embrace the culture. i would say get a teaching credential so you won t make so little. if you can work at an international school instead, teaching regular subjects, you will make alot more. your salary as an english teacher won t go up as much as if you were a teacher in an international school. for info on teaching abroad, check out www.joyjobs.com your benefits will be better and because the school handles your visa, etc. you can stay for the rest of your life. there are many teachers at our school that have worked here for 30 years or so. check out: Tokyo International School Seisen and St Marys International School American School in Japan Sacred Heart Yokohama International School Canadian Academy in Kobe the salaries and benefits are good...much better than teaching english. Good luck!

I guess so. But I think you need a Green Card

Yes they are possible. I suggest you have to know a lot of Japanese and speaking, writing and reading it. You also need a lot of patience too. Since you re being a teacher right? So good luck!

First of all I have to say you can come to Japan to teach and dont have to go through the esl/Jet program. And if you do, you can get a three year visa, your job description is international specialist in human relations. Anyway, depending on your boss, you can renew every 3 years. If you marry a Japanese you can get a permanent spouse visa and dont have to get it renewed. Also, it is very helpful to have a certificate in ESL (English as second language) before you go, at least it makes you more marketable... Retirement in Japan is interesting. Usually, it applies to Japanese only- or it is rare to have a job that will give you retirement benefits as a foreigner. One tip I would give is to have a contract before you go and always keep it with you, make sure you spell out when you are working, holidays, time off all that stuff- if you do it right, you can really benefit in Japan.

It s possible, and plenty of people do it. However, it s not the most exciting of existences. I d recommend starting out as a teacher here while you study Japanese, then move across into something more interesting. The long-term teachers here, particularly those still working at the major chains -- Nova, Aeon, Gaba, etc. -- are a pretty sad bunch. Work hard to build Japan-applicable skills and you can avoid the soul-crushing drudgery of years of teaching. Nothing wrong with starting out as a teacher; in fact, I recommend it. Just don t get stuck there. Japan treats foreigners comparatively badly, while also offering them bountiful opportunities. Stick at it, work hard and you ll be rewarded. If being a teacher is your ultimate goal, however, stay in your home country. Seriously. .

It s possible, but you really wouldn t want to do it. English teachers are basically considered losers in Japan. Those who try to make a career out of it completely bewilder the Japanese (and most other foreigners here). Not because the teachers here are bad people, but because the job is so completely crappy. If you really want to be in Japan, becoming a teacher (temporarily, with any luck) is a way to achieve that goal. If you really want to be a teacher, being in Japan is not gonna help; staying and working in your home country is the only way to go. .

After about 6 months you will be sick of teaching English. You ll spend every Monday morning of your life asking Mr. Suzuki, quot;What did you do on the weekend?quot; And Mr. Suzuki will invariably reply, quot;I wash my car.quot; Basically; the schools want people under 35, because who wants an old guy for a teacher? So you would be good for about ten years, then you ll just be a joke that the school wants to be rid of-quot;henna gaijinquot;. There s always fresh meat arriving at Narita who can do the job as well as you can, so why should they bother with offering you a retirement plan? I don t mean to be negative, but that s just how it is.

Definitely possible, but have you been before? As you can see some people love and some hate it. I loved working and teaching English in Japan. I met my partner there and now I m studying so I can go back for life. I d give it a trial run first, 6 to 12 months, you will have ups and downs, once you get through those you ll have a more honest idea of how you feel about the country. Also consider are you a country or city person. I love Tokyo but only for about 2 or 3 days at a time, if I moved there I would begin to hate my life because I like the country better. Consider this when choosing a location. Research your school before joining. Nova is set up so you work just under the hours required to enter the super scheme, this will leave you nothing to retire on. Geos seems to be more interested in long term teachers, training and promotion. I had no problems with Nova but I knew it was short term (18 months). I found most people that had gripes with Nova had never worked before and were fresh out of uni. If you have some life experience and work experience you ll see it s not so bad. The pay was more than enough to survive on. If you study Japanese there (most town halls have free lessons) and do the JLPT test every year, you may be able to move across into a Japanese company once your level is around 2. there are 4 levels with 4 being the lowest. Give it a try, steer clear of the negative people, get out and experience it and form your own opinion. Good luck.

i don t think you want to be here for the rest of your life. it is horrible. unless you stuck here with what ever reason. (just like me!) you can come an get a real taste of salary man here, after a year you will be ready to leave without ever thinking of coming back.

I am teaching the English in Tokyo for seven years. The student is nice and they liking me very much my lesson. My degree is engineering, but for teaching is so easy. Student is very nice and to give me some favor. I am planning continue to retirement. It is nice Tokyo, much better than my home country. The Japanese people is loving me. It is nice. .

How much does food cost in Tokyo, Japan? -

2008-09-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Anyone know how much food is in Japan, around tokyo? Im going to be on vacation there for a bout a month. I love eating ramen and other noodle so i dont think it will cost too much but I d like to eat nice food sometimes.

You can eat very expensively or very cheaply. It s up to you. I ve had good meals for under 500 yen a person (lt; $5) but you can also spend upwards of $100 a person if you wish. With a little carefulness you can probably keep your average meal in the 500 to 1,500 yen range per person.

lawsons, 7/11s, family marts, and other convinience stores sell onigiri(rice balls) in many different flavors for about 105 yen(1.05$) each. they come in flavors like tuna mayonayse, plum, meat, samon, and much more. they also sell drinks that can range anywhere from 87 yen(87cents) for a apple/orange juice, to 500 yen(5$) for a starbucks cofee. they also sell cakes, miniature lunch boxes, premade sandwiches, candies, meat buns, hotdogs and more for relatively cheap prices. if you dont want to do that every day,(i wouldnt), then some cheap resturaunts are sushi-go-rounds, which serve palates of sushi on platters that are moved around the room on conveyor belts. it can be quite rewarding, with many choices for as little as a dolar a plate. the average person spends less than 10$. they also have many mcdonalds, KFCs, and other fast food resturaunts. jonatans are availabe in some areas, with the average dish around 6$. for traditional foods, the prices can be any where between 9-30$ a meal. crab is particularly expensive, as is beef. i reccomend you try yakiniku. for an expensive delicasy, try shabu shabu. it is where you cook thin slices of beef/delicious vegitables in boiling water for a few seconds before dipping in a delicious sauce and consuming. it can cost up to 200$ for a couple. ---enjoy your time in japan dont forget to try new foods! ---fruit punch samurai

It is like most large cities. If you eat in the non tourist places you can get the noodles and stuff very cheap. It all depends on the class of the restaurant.

Udon 100~500 yen http://www.hanamaruudon.com/menu/index.h... Soba 700~1500 yen Ramen 600~1000 yen

Check this blog. Food amp; Drink →　quot;sample menuquot;.

What should I bring to sell when I visit Japan? -

2008-09-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

I m visiting Japan and I heard that some things like used Levis sell for a lot on the street. What is a good thing to bring with me to sell that will fit in my luggage?

You re not really going to make much, if any money doing this. You can either a) don t bother and just enjoy your trip or b) bring in contraband (weapons/drugs etc.) - Good money, and you may even get a free stay, courtesy of the Japanese prison system. If you get your hands on some rare jeans, might be worthwhile. But you may end up losing money.

This was a good question, too bad most of the answer were from jerks, so what did you end up selling and how did you ? Report Abuse

Dude, Levis and Nikes were from the 70 s and 80 s, not anymore. You won t really be able to bring anything over there than will sell for much of anything nowadays. Just enjoy your trip and quit thinking like a capitalist.

Like others said, I think bringin jeans is a good idea. In the US, Levis could be purchased around USD30 but in other countries including Japan it costs more than USD50.

Anything Nike or anything with Snoopy

Do some Marketing! Go to a Japanese forum in english ans ask there! May be you ll find buyers too.

louis vuitton mini wallets, even the knockoffs, sell like pancakes there!

Given the fact that you can bring into the country whatever you will bring, the next question is, how will you sell it? If you planned on setting up a stand on the street side, you might have to come up with some good answers for the police when they ask you for your business licesnse and permit to sell. Or you may have to deal with the organized business men who control the Nigerian dudes selling hip hop clothing in stores and on the street.

You might sell something you buy for the higher price. But I think it s so hard for you to sell them. How do you find the places where you sell? Maybe you need something, it s like a permission to sell. I think you shouldn t wast the time to find places and sell. I hope you enjoy in Japan. Eating, seeing and walking will give you a lot of profit.

I just came back from my trip to P.R. China (mainland). My sincere advice to you would be like, please carry as much gift as possible for your friends, associates and strangers too in Japan. It is more powerful than taking materialistic things to sell and earn a few Dollars during your journey in oriental countries. To your surprise, you will find that your new friends would be so happy to get (free) gifts that they would make all possible assistance available to you in your needs, which money can not buy. Anyway, I may have deviated from the subject, but thought that I must pass on the virtue of gift in Confucian society to you, probably living in occidental country. Have a nice journey!

I was going to answer Jeans.

The customs of the airport in Japan tend to ask tourist open your suitcase often, compared with other Asian countries. Only licensees are allowed to bring those in and Japan is strict about these things. I wonder how you find the buyers in English. And opening a open-air shop in the street without permit is illegal.

You ll make about $80 profit if you sell Levi s jeans over there. My friend did that.

If you want to make money on your trip, bring back boxes of specialty flavor Kit Kat bars. You can sell them on Ebay for about $5 each, especially the Green Tea flavor!!!

Jeans is the answer!

Japan is my home

The Levis that go for a lot of money in Japan are discontinued lines that are not necessarily cheap outside Japan. If there is one thing you could make some money on in Japan it would be a Leica camera, but almost all of them are in Japan now. A non-electronic Japanese watch is also worth a lot more money in Japan than outside Japan. I m thinking a vintage self-winding or wind-up Seiko or Citizen here, not a Casio G-shock! The days when one could make easy money on duty-free whiskey or such have ended since Japan began complying with international trade agreements.

What was the relation between Japan and the United States AFTER WWl? -

2008-09-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Please answer with the closest accurate answer. And before today, my project is due tomorrow! Examples of relations: trades, exports, etc... or what affects did the relationship between Japan and U.S. lead to Pearl Harbor.

The relationship between Japan and the USA was cordial albeit tense on the economic front. Japan and the USA found themselves locked in an economic war, in which each country tried its best to better the other s production numbers and profits. Over time, even during the stock market crash and the Great Depression, tension between the economic superpowers grew. Finally, when the Empire of Japan allied with the forces of the Third Reich, the USA decided to cut oil exports to Japan. Without this crucial oil Japan had no choice. The Empire declared war.

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because the U.S. enacted an embargo on all oil supplies to Japan. The reason for the embargo is because Japan was invading China. The U.S. embargo cut-off 90% of Japans resources, which crippled their economy and most importantly military. They didn t specifically want to go to war, they just wanted to cripple the United States so they could bring them to the bargaining table to negotiate expansion into Asia. Unfortuantely, the Japanese didn t understand the United States way of thinking, which was quot;You bomb us, you declare war, and we pulverize you.quot; On the Japanese side of the equation, it was simply a misunderstanding about how to negotiate terms with the Americans. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor specifically for an important reason. Pearl Harbor was the home of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Japan did not want the U.S. in the war because the U.S. at this time had the greatest Naval force. They concluded that if the Pacific Fleet was destroyed, Americans would feel de-moralized and not want to fight. Additionally, an attack on the Pacific Fleet would take the U.S. six months to recuperate and rebuild the Navy.

not very good. how are u gonna do a report for a subject you know zippo about? Procrastination is not always the key you know!

u mean world war 2 bbecause during world war 1 japan had their own communism problems

In what way did the geography of Japan affect the development of ancient Japanese government? -

2008-09-18T03:22:00.000-07:00

not a or b c is correct but so is d hnnmmmm? yeah,yeah but the first emperor was a sea captian!!!!!

The last one is true

I have friends in Japan and was wondering if theyll be able to send me energy drinks (in cans, to Australia)? -

2008-09-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yeah, i know the cans will be heavy but they re collectors items (i know it sounds weird), so i rather them be full and shipped to me but i don t know if Australia will receive it (or will they take it away)? Or that my friends in Japan will be able to ship to me. So if you know anything about, please tell!

To Mateo, Duckie help., 23madrid WFT??? Anyway I`m an Aussie and live in Japan and I ship lots of crap home by post. Its cheaper than sending things from Australia thats for sure. And UPS is far, far, far more expensive!!! Go here for costs... http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/ EMS is usually the cheapest. As for what you can send. Japan doesn`t care if you send food out of Japan, but Australia cares what you send in. I looked at the customs site here.... http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?... and I think those drinks will be fine. When I fly they are happy with any packaged food that I take with me, even alcohol and liquids as long as I don`t carry it on board and my friends just shipped me 4 1litre cans of that Tooheys homebrew last month. But if you are still unsure I recommend you get your friends to ship you one and see how it goes. And thinking on `Therapeutic drugs and substances ` clause on the customs page get them to declare them as soft drinks rather than energy drinks.

i think they could. i have a buddy to ship things from japan to California. Go to the UPS website to see more info

They can be ship as long as they have no alcohol in them. Some shipping places refuse to ship alcoholic drinks. It is possible. Refrigerate them before shipping would ensure they get there in one peace. Use lots of packing material. Also, ship it on a rather cold day. Make sure you mark it as fragile. If it s hot when they re shipped (either to or from where the package is going) the cans can burst. Check different shipping companies for their polices.

no drinks can be shipped, i was moving to a diffrent country, the movers told me no liquid allowed, because it might burst. i am preety sure yo can buy the same thing some where near you.

Which was the last year that the Toyota Tacoma was made in Japan? -

2008-09-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

I want to buy a Toyota Tacoma but was looking at the 2009 models and they are assembled in Tijuana ,Mexico. I know Toyota is still a high quality vehicle even though this is the case, but I would rather get a slightly older model that was made in JAPAN- Transmission and Engine Which was the last model year where the Truck was made/ assembled in Japan? Thanks.

The bed for the Tacoma is manufactured in Mexico, but the Truck itself is assembled at the NUMMI plant in California. That has been the case since the introduction of the quot;Tacomaquot; from the quot;Toyota Truckquot;. The last quot;truckquot; that Toyota produced in Japan for sale in the US was the T100 before the introduction of the Tundra which replaced it and is was produced in Princeton, Indiana, and now in San Antonia, Texas. Hope this helps. Ken

New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. is an automobile manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. The factory was an old General Motors plant originally opened in 1962 and is now a joint venture between GM and Toyota. As of December of 2008, the NUMMI plant produces the Toyota Corolla compact car, Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, and the Pontiac Vibe hatchback. So, before 2008.

Can I use a British mobile phone in Japan? -

2008-09-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Where can I get fingerprints taken in Japan? -

2008-09-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

I need fingerprints taken and send them in with a request for a background check for a new job. The problem is that I live in Japan and do not know where I can get this done. Does anyone know?

I m Japanese and to get married to a marine in Japan,I had to take finger prints for back ground check.They did it at the police station.

POLICE STATION

How many days can I stay in Japan before I need a Visa? -

2008-09-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

I m from the US and would like to visit Japan, but I don t want the trouble of getting a Visa. Up to how long can I stay until I need a visa? Also, if I were to get a visa, how long would it take until I could receive it?

90 days. What kind of visa do you want?? Any idea? To get a working visa, you ll need at least a university degree. Do you have that? With that, you can easily get a job teaching English. It shouldn t take more than 2-3 weeks to get the visa if you have all the correct paperwork. You ll need a job before you get the working visa.

A US citizen can stay in Japan up to 90 days without a visa.

Check out http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw... Entry/exit requirements. My answer is 90 days safely. You must have a return ticket and you will not be able to travel to other countries unless you have the necessary visas/documents. Good luck.

you can probably stay 6months..... twice 90days with a 200dollars day trip to Korea in between.

First of all, to visit Japan at all you need a visa. But you may not need to apply for a visa in advance. If you are planning to visit and sightsee, all you need is a valid US passport (with at least 3 months before the passport expires) and when you present it at immigration in Japan, it will be stamped with a tourist visa. This will allow you to stay in Japan for up to 90 days. There are some restrictions, such as not being permitted to work for pay in Japan on this visa, but it satisfies the needs of most short term visitors. If you plan to either go to school or work in Japan, then you will need to apply for a visa in advance. If you are going to an acredited school or university, they will help you with the application process and provide you with the documentation you need. You would apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in the US. For a work visa, you must already have a job waiting for you in Japan before you can apply for the visa.

you dont need anything for 90 days just go airport you ll get stamp immediately

What do I have to do to take my chinchilla to Japan? -

2008-09-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

My husband is in the Air Force and got orders to Japan, I know they have strick quarantine regulations. What all do I have to do before we go.

I took my hamster on an airplane. I had to go to the vet to get a bill of health or whatever its called. Check out http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/... for some more information or http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/... for information about rabbits (close to chins). Please remember to get a cage that is chew proof for your chin. My hamster was 5 minutes away from chewing a hole through his cage when we arrived.

The air force should be able to give you info on things like that. Contact the airline about flying with it also and see what is needed

Get a container or holder for the pet, that is approved by the airline that you are flying. DONT WASTE TIME GETTING A CONTAINER AND YOU CANT BRING IT ON BOARD. Make sure it is approved or they will not let the pet fly.

first take it to the vet get it checked and get a health certificate from the vet,, then call the airlines and get the price n when they can ship it,,,buy a crate with a food n water dish,, and check online for the customs overseas.. good luck

Get a nice airy pusre! Make sure its big enough for him to breath. Put him in your coat pocket while going through airport security, then casually slip him into your pusre. Yep, that should work.

What is the largest snake in japan that is dangerous to humans? -

2008-09-17T03:53:00.000-07:00

snakes that can eat humans in japan?

Common Name: Bushmaster Scientific Name: Lachesis muta muta Snake Family: Viperidae Description: The Bushmaster is the largest Pit Viper in the world. This snake has a triangular shaped head with rough scales. Long and heavy-bodied in shades of brown to pale pink with dark brown or black blotch marking running the length of their bodies. Characteristics: Caution! Known to aggressively attack, particularly when agitated or startled. Reproduction: Oviparous (egg bearing) with 4-12 young hatched in the Spring. Length: 2 - 3.7 meters (Approx. 3 -12 ft) Habitat Distribution: Tropical forested areas throughout Central and South America including the countries of Brazil, Costa Rica, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Japan and Trinidad The Bushmaster has earned this fierce reputation, known to aggressively attack man but only few human attacks have been recorded due primarily to the Bushmaster s nocturnal nature. Even if they do attack only occasionally, the Bushmaster is greatly feared by people indigenous to their jungle habitat. Appropriately named in English, the name Bushmaster when translated from Latin means quot;Brings Silent Deathquot;. One of the largest and most dangerous snakes in South America, the Bushmaster is capable of multiple bite strikes, injecting large amount of venom and even the bite of a juvenile Bushmaster can be fatal. In the case of envenomation, a polyvalent Crotalidae Antivenom is recommended and contains all the necessary fractions to neutralize the venoms of all Central and South American species of Lachesis. In their jungle environment, envenomation by a Bushmaster is very serious, sometimes fatal and particularly dangerous to humans. It is important to familiarize yourself with wilderness survival before entering Bushmaster territory because often snake bite victims are miles and miles away from any traditional medical help.

Well I live on Kyushu and can honestly say that I ve never seen a snake. They have big centipedes here that have a nasty bite though. I don t think a snake would be able to eat a live person unless it was a very large snake and a very small child.

Western Yokohama Man-Eating Anaconda-san

You have to stop watching so many godzilla movies, its true my country was bombed twice, but it is not as if radiation levels are soaring out of control as if to make snakes as big as anacondas. In truth the only snakes here that we have to worry about are called Yamakagashi snakes, they are rear fang tooth snakes similar to coral snakes found in the southwestern United States, and for the most part these snakes are docile enough to handle and about the size of say a corn snake. The only other snakes in Japan that are dangerous are the various species of sea snakes which can be found in Okinawa, again in comparison to say boas, pythons or anacondas, they are relatively small.

Where should I vaction to in japan? -

2008-09-17T03:19:00.000-07:00

I m planning on heading to Japan from Sacramento CA. Where should I visit? I m looking for somewhere that isn t a tourist atraction but that is worth the visit.

You might be better off asking this in a different section. This if for Travel in the US. I would list your question under Travel in Japan for the highest number of results and some really good ideas! Here are some websites that have some great information and reviews on places in Japan they might help you plan your trip! http://www.sidestep.com/travel-info-g101... http://www.frommers.com/destinations/jap... http://www.japansociety.org/about/visito... http://gojapan.about.com/ http://www.seejapan.co.uk/visitor/money/... http://www.japan-101.com/ http://www.japantravelinfo.com/top/index...

What monthly budget would you recommend when living in Japan? -

2008-09-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

I will be attending a university in Tokyo, Japan next year. Aside from my tuition fees, how much do you think I d need on a monthly basis? The dorm I will be staying at (walking distance from school) costs 39,000-50,000 yen per month. Any advice? Thanks! :D

If you exclude housing, 100,000 yen is reasonable amount for 1 month for a young student in Tokyo. It depends on how often you eat out or you cook by yourself to reduce your living cost. Cooking is cheaper.

I used to live in Tokyo as a student. Like most of the answers already submitted, it really depends on how much you go out, I was fortunate to have gone to school in Shinjuku, but lived outside the city, so the temptations of going all out and spending my money on shopping in Akihabara, or Harajuku, were not there. I probably spend around $30 a day, saved money by buying a train pass, but that set me back $150, price may vary depending on how far of a commute you have. Most of your weekday expenditures will consist of food at restaurants(avoid going to family dine i places, very expensive, I would reccommend eating local stuff, much cheaper and yummier, if thats even a word). And some of your weekday expenditures will also consist of drinks(from vending machines or 7-i holding/convenient stores) and snacks. I would highly recommend you go to the Ito-Yokado for grocery shopping, you will save tons of money if you cook at home. Most of your huge spending will be on the weekends if you take little excursions out into the city. Be careful with that, it might seem a little harmless but heck I remember spending well over $2000 at an electronic store(yodobashi). It also helps to register for there little point cards! They really come in handy, but I only recommend this if your Japanese is really good, otherwise you might have some trouble filling in the paperwork. Dont do overkill on the weekends, expect to spend around $50-100 per weekend if you go out to have fun, and maybe once in awhile buy yourself something nice, like cool fashionable clothing, or some electronic gadget you wont need, but must have. I would recommend around 4000 a month, but Ive seen students live on $8000 for 3months. Well have fun!

Except tuition and dorm expense, you better count more than 3000yen everyday for living(including some insurance). In addition transportation to other place than university shall cost you have to pay too unless by foot or bicycle. Many students from foreign countries often take part-time jobs with working permission. You shall have to go to cut or wave your hair too.

one million dollars a month.

Can I get citizenship in Japan by marriage to a Japanese national? -

2008-09-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

If I married a japanese woman, would I be eligible to stay and work in japan? And for pity s sake, spare the smug answers. You pricks.

No. There is no concept of citizenship like the US, but nationality in Japan. You ll get a spouse visa, if you married Japanese. You will get re-entry permit very easily. However, these don t mean citizenship. Citizenship is a concept for the country where you can choose both nationality and the right to be a citizen. In Japan, citizen mean Japanese national. You need to be naturalized to obtain passport.

What is so interesting to be Japanese? Why should you asshole has to change your nationality? Why not just keep your nationality? Have no job in your own country or what?...Think about what job you can get there if you want to live there! Aren t you proud of your own nationality?

If you get married to a Japanese woman, you will get a spouse visa, and of course with a spouse visa, you will have rights to live and work, but not citizenship. You have to go down to the immigrant office once a year or every 3 years to extend your visa though.

What makes you think the Japanese want you?

Yes,but it would take 5 or 6 years to get it, maybe...And to get a job you d need to be able to read, write, and speak Japanese at a native level. Can you ? I did nt think so. Now all you have to do is find a deaf, and blind woman who s very hard up.

How much tax I should pay to import car to Cyprus from Japan? -

2008-09-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hi I want to buy one car from japan and bring it to Cyprus. Can someone tell me how much is tax and duty charge for importing car in Cyprus from Japan? And whats the procedures to bring the car after paying all shipment fees and car price? What is the rules of Cyprus government of importing cars?

There are some information and telephone numbers on this page that may help.

You will find the answer in Cyprus DMV...

Is there any language software for cell phones in Japan? -

2008-09-16T07:39:00.001-07:00

Looking for an language software programme that people can download to practice English, Chinese, etc. Are there any services in Japan? How much do they cost?

As far as I have seen, there is no cell-phone specific software. What most people do to practice any type of language is just to access the internet with their cell directly and study that way. I have seen people access Japanese-English dictionaries from their phones. Software is not really necessary. If you are looking for a gadget that can run actual software for language learning, maybe you should look into a PDA or a palm pilot. They are great machines. That software can be had for between $20-$30. Sorry couldn t help more.

How can I get the website addresses of the manufacturers of beads from Japan or Korea? -

2008-09-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

There are lots of nice beads and sequins from Japan and Korea,Can anybody help me to give their website addresses?Please... Thank you.

Try here: http://www.tohobeads.net/ http://www.beadroom.com/ http://www.landofodds.com/store/seed12.h... http://www.bizeurope.com/bsr/import/kore...

See what you come up with searching for ビーズ . Then, add one of these: 韓国製 made in Korea 日本製 made in Japan

Can an American obtain a mortgage loan from Japan where the mortgage rates are much lower? -

2008-09-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Can an American obtain a mortgage loan from Japan where the mortgage rates are much lower?

Only for property located in Japan and with a japanese co-signer. For usa mortgages I found interesting information amp; the best options here. http://all-mortgage-calculators.blogspot... Good luck!

Sure--if they will do the mortage for property 8000 miles away. Makes no difference where the money comes from--OK

Only for property located in Japan.

No, unless the bank is licensed to to do business, and licensed to make loans, in your state; and it would have to comply with all relevant US and state lending laws.

No, you can t.

How do you become a paramedic in Japan.? -

2008-09-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

How would you become a paramedic in japan, other than learning japanese and becoming a japanese citizen, what other requirements are there?

Public service examination, paramedics usually work for the fire department, so passing fire department examinations and paramedic certification tests etc. Things you would expect.

What High School Japan Exchange program is most flexible? -

2008-09-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

Im looking for a study abroad high school program in Japan, but I need the dates to be flexible. Most only allow you to go from ______ to _______, but I need one that is more flexible.

Most programs operate in the same way. They offer fall semester, spring semester, year or summer programs. This is because you are attending school. I don t know how much flexibility you need, but you may not find what you re looking for in ANY high school program. You can find a list of all of them certified to operate in the U.S. at www.csiet.org. Maybe that will help you find what you need. Good luck!

Turns out Japans Mafia (yakuza) has a big hand in their continued whaling. How do we end this whale killing? -

2008-09-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

No one wants to talk about it. Japan is a corrupt nation where the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia, has very powerful friends in government and influence which extends way beyond the borders of Japan. The fishing unions are mostly controlled by this illegal organization. What steps need to be taken to end the killing of whales?

1. Economically - a protest in the form of a boycott, especially Sushi. 2. Continue the pressure through media coverage of this atrocity. 3. Questions like this one that inform the public of a Japanese Mafia - Yakuza.

It won t be that easy. The Yakuza are rather enigmatic as far as criminal organizations go. Not only that, but whaling is a traditional activity in Japanese culture. Time to brush up on Japanese history. At least this way a solution will be easier to obtain. Report Abuse

Buy all the whales and then protect them. Or stop whining.

Whats wrong with killing whale for food as long as the specie is not threatened with extinction? We should stop all fishing then. While at it ban Dick Cheney from hunting too.

It s legal. You are one of the few that have a problem with it. Get over it.

as long as people eat whale s meat..the killing wouldn t stop..maybe we should try to breed the whale..like salmon..prawns..crabs..its a bit odd to breed a whale considering its huge sizes but money and research..im sure that we could do that in given time..

The Yakuza used to cut off fingers when they were dishonored by a member. They probably up scaled their torturous exercises. They are ones not to be reckoned with. I get mail from GreenPeace and to date they have caught up the Japanese fleets. The Japanese damaged the GP ship, and GP s strategy is to stop the massacre is to take its boats between the whales and the grenade tipped harpoons. I m sure the Japanese do not want to talk about the Yakuza or whales due to horrific repercussions. I really can t see the Japanese citizens want this to happen either.

A woman came up with a brilliant protest idea (which I will be doing this weekend!)- send the Japanese prime minister boxes of noodles. Apparently the government plans to use the whale meat in their public school lunches. This woman is urgign everyone to send noodles that can be fed at lunch. In my box I will include a letter which explains that I will (and am) boycott Japanese products. Interested in joining the campaign? Mail noodles to: Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, 1-6-1 Nagato-Cho, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 100-8968, Japan.

Is it true that you must have a bachelors degree to work ANYWHERE in Japan? -

2008-09-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

I thought it was just schools, working as an assistant teacher, but a webiste I was on said to work full time in Japan you must have at least a bachelors degree, is this just for teaching and many other jobs? Surely I could find work elsewhere in Japan with just A-Levels right?

The Japanese government will NOT grant a work visa to anyone who does not hold a 4-year Bachelor s or equivalent degree. This is a law made by the government to prevent lots of low cost, low skill labor from flooding the market. Without a work visa, your options for working in Japan legally are extremely limited. The only exceptions are for a few fields such as for chefs, entertainers, and musicians, for which 10+ years of experience is considered equivalent to a degree, because even famous and highly respected chefs or entertainers tend to not hold degrees. This exception is NOT available for academic, technical, or other fields of work for which degrees are commonly available. This requirement is separate and above any requirements that the particular employer or workplace may have in their hiring process. Even if the employer doesn t require a degree to work there, you can t get a work visa without it. You can still work in Japan (to a limited extent) without a degree if you have a spouse visa (married to a Japanese), student visa (must be enrolled in an accredited Japanese institution), or a few other visa types which probably don t apply to you. However, the number of hours per week you can work is limited, so full time employment is not an option on these visa types. Some schools and teaching programs will hire those with spouse or student visas for part time positions, even if they don t have a degree. But other schools require that you have a degree regardless of your visa type. Remember, you need to get the work visa BEFORE you enter Japan. The work visa is sponsored by the company offering you the job. You can t simply come to Japan looking for work and hoping someone will sponsor you. Even if you found a company willing to hire you and apply for your work visa from within Japan (very unlikely), you would still have to leave Japan and re-enter to activate your new work visa.

On a working holiday visa you don t need a degree. If you are eligible that is probably the way to go. If you would like to study, and work on the side, look into a Cultural Activities visa. No degree required there either, but you must study a certain number of hours per week and I ve read that working hours are limited to 20. You do not need to study at an accredited institution, any Japanese language school will be just fine. A bachelor s degree is required for a regular working visa. Regardless of visa, most schools won t hire you if you haven t got a bachelor s degree, but if you have experience then you might be able to swing it. Restaurants and bars in particular do hire people on working holiday visas, but if you don t speak any Japanese you will probably be out of luck. You aren t eligible for a work visa, but to clear up some confusion from above; you do not need a work visa when you enter Japan, but it takes about 1 month to apply for one and receive the stamp in your passport, and usually your tourist visa is good for only 3 months. The clock is ticking once you enter the country, so you only reasonably have 1.5-2 months to complete your job search. Arranging one beforehand is easier but not always possible, since most employers want to meet you before hiring you! And you do not need to exit and reenter Japan to activate your new visa. The process has been streamlined in the past couple of years. Note: when you come in the country, don t inform the authorities you plan on doing this. Officially they frown on the practice and would prefer for you to arrange everything beforehand. You can work illegally too. It is still being done.

I think most westerners fail to realize that asian countries have a high rate of people attending and graduating university, like double (this includes countries like India). Because america is technically a high power nation, when hiring our own in most cases we look for experience first then backup with education (unless the job you seek requires a certain degree). With that, I think that may have to deal with part of Japans governmental visa issue reasons for needing a BA minimum requirement. The job market is more competitive, and they go based off of hard work and intelligence; and the aspect of experience in certain situations. The overall work force and being a success is a competition, if you dont have the overall minmimun credentials as everyone else, its sort of like saying to your employer that i ve got something everyone else doesnt have (and you better). I find most westerners that work in Japan got the job arranged by their current employer, was recruited overseas, doing something that doesnt require high educational credentials (acting for example). You ve got an associates. Why not work towards a BA? It helps in the future for any endeavour!

Hi I am Japanese, no you dont need to have a bachelors degree for every job .. Lots of teaching positions in primary school level dont need degrees, IT , Hospitality industry etc. I suggest looking here for oppurtunities : http://www.japan-zone.com/new/find_job.s... They give advice for people who are new to Japan / interested in working in Japan Chat to the Japenese Consoulate about helping you out with more information about employment in JP they should also be helpful for giving you info about work permits , relocation , areas etc. (Tokyo is crowded but Kyoto still has an old school feel to it) Depends on what you are looking for I guess .. Cool..

i am sure there are jobs that dont require you have a bachelors degree but remember that the education level is very high over there, so many job s that would not require a BA will require on there. They would not want their children taught by someone that not holding a degree. if they are wanting their child to believe that they needed a degree. So you might want to consider another country. Daves ESL cafe is a god place for a lot of information about teaching over seas. Good luck.

It depends on your age and trade. If you re young you can come on a tourist visa; you will still be able to work a certain amount of hours/week on that. If you are a skilled worker, you would also qualify - there are about 20 different categories of visas in Japan - technical, trainee, humanities, entertainer etc., as long as you have a job set up you should be able to get the visa.

If you work without working visa, you ll be working illegaly and risk going to jail,which is very very unpleasant opportunity. One of the documents you are required to submit to apply for working visa is your college diploma. If you cannot submit this document, your application for working visa, even if you have sponsor,won t be accepted. If you work without visa...I suggest you visit debito.org to learn what is to be in Japanese jail.

Most of all foreigners who teach English is illegal in Japan because no necessary legal procedure they always omit. Working with legal visa in Japan is not so easy for stranger.

nah. that s not true. i know a friend who is working there as a musician. regarding b.a., that s just for teaching in schools.

How long does it take to mail packages from Europe to Japan? -

2008-09-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

I know this sounds really stupid but how long would it take to mail a small package from Switzerland/Europe to Japan?

probably like 1-2 weeks. right now is a great time to mail packages out because no major holidays, beside Easter, are coming up. I worked for UPS in America, and Easter holiday was not one that chose to mail packages to families and friends.

2 WEEKS

How secure Is Shipping from Japan using SEA to USA? -

2008-09-16T05:24:00.000-07:00

I want to buy something from japan, but Using EMS to ship it to USA cost a lot of money, I was wondering how Secure is SEA , I know it could take over a month but I just don tt know how secure is it. Do you KNOW? THANK YOU

make shipping on sea not very sucure on any cercomstance but in peticular from japon becaus manifold hazard to shipments. volcanoe, eath-quake, tsunami, ninja, ocean water, piracy, far away

Are there any stores in tokyo, japan that sell tare panda products? -

2008-09-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

I am in Tokyo, Japan and i wanted to buy tare panda products. Are their any stores that sell tare panda? Please be spacific, like the address or something like that. But you don t have to have to many details. Thanks!

Try Kiddy Land in Harajuku. 6-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku

check this out http://www.benelic.com/tarepanda/ http://www.piyopiyo-web.com/tarepanda/ http://www.san-x.co.jp/suama/suama.html

When did Private Baths become prevalent in Japan? -

2008-09-16T01:31:00.000-07:00

I am doing some research, on Japan in the decade just prior to the Meiji Restoration: Particularly 1855-63. I wish to know at what era it became common for homes to have private baths. I am aware that sento are a common feature of this era of Japan, however I wonder if it would be anachronistic to depict an artisan (blacksmith) level home as having a private bath. If one did, what form would this private bath take.

Rich people had private bath in Edo era. Public bath (today s sento) bloomed in this era as well. Probably most common people went to the public bath. However, they also hold small bathing tub like following pics. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co... Some people liked Goemon-buro. Probably artisan were holding this kind of bath. Because they were dirty after their work and some people needed private bath. And I think the time that private bath spreaded nation widely was in 1960s, after the Tokyo Olympics.

What is the trash sorting schedule in Japan? -

2008-09-16T01:16:00.000-07:00

I am doing a research paper on recycling and would like to know of the trash sorting schedule in Japan? I am aware that maybe not all cities in Japan have the same trash sorting schedules in Japan, but of the major cities like Tokyo and so on? Also what is the penalty for people that do not throw the correct trash away? How long has the trash schedule in Japan been going on? I mean the trash sorting days like one some days its papers, plastic, etc?

I live in a city in central Tokyo (Tokyo is like a US state, rather than a city), and the trash collection schedule is as follows. burnable trash (paper, leftover food, etc.): twice/week non-burnable trash (plastic, metal, etc.): once/week recyclable trash (cans, glass bottles, etc.): once/week These are free. This schedule started several years ago; before that, burnable trash was collected three times a week and recyclable trash was not collected separately. bulky waste (items approx. larger than 1 foot a piece, such as furnitures and electric appliances): twice/month, pickup must be requested by phone. Costs 200 yen or more depending on the item. Air condictioner, non-flat TV, fridge, washing machine: the store you buy a new one from is supposed to take the old one. Otherwise the local community will, by request (like bulky waste). Either way, it costs several thousand yen per item. This system has started several years ago; before that, these items were treated as bulky wastes. PC and display: The manufacturers arrange for pickup upon request. Costs around 3,000 yen per item, but for PCs sold after Oct. 2003, this cost is included in the price and no additional cost is necessary for disposal. PET bottles are collected at supermarkets and some other stores. Hope this helps!

every city (prefecture) and neighborhood has their own specific trash sorting schedules and rules...i heard when I moved here that within Tokyo there are 68 different systems. people are fined if they don t throw trash away or try to get rid of it improperly. our system here in one small part of Tokyo is burnables on Mondays and Thursdays, plastics on Tuesdays, bottles every other Wednesday, cans and metals on the opposite wednesdays and recycled clothing and cartons or boxes on Fridays. Anything bigger than about 30 centimeters you have to pay to have removed...go to the convenience store, pay the money and attach it to the item and put it out on the one day a month they come. otherwise, you beg your friends to take the junk you don t want. it s a nightmare, basically.

I live in the country of a small town in Northern Japan. We have pick-up of recycled garbage on Monday, non-combustibles on every other Wednesday and combustibles on every Thursday. The recycled garbage is in so many categories! But the ones I remember are: paper, plastic, PET bottles (no labels or lids), glass (all colors OK), cans (they sort aluminum from steel at the plant). We also save the pull tabs from aluminum cans for the school -- I think they trade them in to buy a wheelchair or something. We have to buy garbage bags for the combustibles and non-combustibles -- and recyclable stuff may go into the non-combustibles, but it s frowned upon. The recycled stuff just goes in any old clear bag (shopping bags are OK -- we write which category of recycled goods on it with a marker). If you put the wrong stuff in a recycled bag, it gets left at the trash station. Otherwise, I don t think there s a penalty. I can t remember when it started -- a couple of years ago, I think. There were recycling programs at grocery stores for many, many years, though.

I don t remember the exact year we switched this garbage schedule. I think it was in the late 1990 s. Previously we had two catagories, burnable and nonburnable. The trash sorting schedule is different in every city. There are different procedures, trash bags, and penalties, at least in Yamaguchi Prefecture. I do not know about the trash system in Tokyo. In our city you have to buy government issued clear trash bags. They publish a trash calendar telling which days each of the 10 major categories are picked up. Some of the smaller categories like batteries, light bulbs, and pottery have incidental dates that coincide with regular pickup days. If you make a mistake, such as not removing a label from a tin can, the garbage men won t pick up your bag of trash from the corner and they place a label on it saying what was wrong. (We call them “nasty grams.”) I suppose the punishment is that your neighbors will see you going to get your rejected bag of trash. Here is the 2007 trash schedule for the different neighborhoods in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. http://www.city.iwakuni.yamaguchi.jp/cgi... Each neighborhood is issued a printed calendar with all the specifications of what can go into each category and what has to be done to trash before it can be thrown away. Some examples of trash preparation are: Cans and bottles must be washed Labels must be removed from cans and bottles Bottle caps must be removed and placed into the Hard Plastic category while the bottle itself goes into the soft plastic category Plastic grocery bags, candy wrappers, and other loose cellophane plastics must be tied in knots before disposal Aerosol cans must be emptied and punctured (with a nail or other sharp object) before disposal Recyclables (newspapers, cardboard, magazines) must be stacked and tied with the government issued white paper string. If you want to throw away a large item that won t fit in the garbage bag you have to buy a garbage tax sticker and stick it on the appliance and arrange a special pickup. These items can also be disposed of by taking them directly to the dump and paying the tax, or by paying an electronics store to take it. I don t remember the exact year we switched this garbage schedule. I think it was in the late 1990 s. Previously we had two categories, burnable and non-burnable. In the city of Hakari, Yamaguchi Prefecture the government issued garbage bags are made of brown paper. They only have two major categories to sort, burnable and non-burnable. (Cellophanes go in the burnable category.) In the city of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture trash has to be taken to a public gathering place where officials sort it. One time my friend had a bunch cassette tapes in her trash. She was told she had to remove the tape from the cassettes before throwing them away, because the tape was burnable and the cassettes were hard plastic. She had to stand there and pull all the tape out before she could leave her trash. You might be able to request your own copy of the trash calendar by writing to: Iwakuni City Hall 1-14-51 Imazu Machi Iwakuni, Yamaguchi 740-8585 JAPAN International letter post from the USA is 84 cents.

Japan: When is the best time to go? How far is Tokyo from Kyoto by train? How much money should I have? -

2008-09-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Not in a hurry but I am thinking of going to Japan for a vacation. I am planning to fit everything in a two-week itinerary so I have to plan properly to make the most of it. And hopefully, not to screw things up. I am limiting my itinerary to Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanagawa. Hopefully after that, I’d be able to travel again and go to Sapporo and the other islands of Japan. If I am not mistaken, Kyoto was the former capital so I’d like to visit that too. I heard there are many old buildings and shrines there. Oh yeah. I love some manga and anime *cough*, so it would be good to buy some goodies. Also, maybe see Orange Range in concert if I’m lucky. I am planning to stay in a ryokan to really have a unique experience. Any recommendations? I ll learn more words aside from ‘arigato’ and ‘sumimasen’ if I want to make this as hassle-free as possible. Is there anything else that I shouldn’t miss? Any travel tips for a lady who is traveling alone would be welcome. Thank you!

Spring and Fall are the best seasons to go for cherry blossoms and fall leaves. The months march-may and october- early december are the best. Summer is too humid but there are a number of festivals going on during that time. September and June should be avoided as they are the rainy and typhon season periods. Also avoid New Years and Golden Week (April 29th-May 4th). Winter can actually be a good time as well as often there are clear blue skies despite the cold. Kyoto is under 3 hours by shinkansen, 7-8 hours by local train and overnight bus.There s a lot to see there especially the Golden Pavalion, Kiyomizu dera Temple, and Fushimi Inari Shrine. Head to Akihabara for all your anime needs: http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/tag/aki...

Kyoto to Tokyo is about 3 hours by shinkansen (that s the famous Bullet Train). Can t advise on how much money to take as I don t know what you like to do and what kind of place you want to stay, but I will say Japan is nowhere near as expensive as many people believe. Food, clothes, electronics are pretty cheap (compared to Europe). Transport can be expensive though. You are correct. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a long time and it s incredible. I think it s actually possible to overdose on historic temples and shrines there :) My favourite was the Golden Temple (I forgot the Japanese name for it). Definitely try to learn some Japanese if you are travelling alone. English isn t widely spoken at all. Even in tourist information places they can struggle a bit. I have been to Japan a lot. I found the weather in summer uncomfortably hot and humid. Early October is still warm but okay. Avoid the winter if you want to go to Sapporo. It gets heavy snow.

side note, this years blossoms will be a bit earlier becuase of the warmer winter.

hajimemashite nippond danji desu ( translate this ) hi im japanese living in US well you need alot of money in japan. guessing 2wks of visit with out any traveling and hotel fees would be from $1000 to $2000 depending on how you spend. i dont think you can find ryokan in tokyo, since its city. you only find ryokan in old or by onsen (hot spring) famus place for it is hakone, and hakata. well you can find it in kyouto kyoto was in fact the capital of japan, and they have many many beautiful buildings, best time to go is in fall, since the autumn leafs and trees are beautiful, and the traditional buildings are beautiful. must go to quot;kinkakujiquot; and quot;ginkakujiquot; the gold shrine and the silver shrine( silver one is not silver lol) when you go to tokyo, remember to visit city of quot;Akihabaraquot; this city used to be known for electric gagets, but now its known for the city of anime, best day to go is saturday and sunday, where all the anime fans from japan come to have fun, you can see many costume play people. ( best way to travel is by the train, it saids in english, and if you get some tokyo traveling book im sure they say how to use it) oh, train time from tokyo to kyoto is about in 3hrs or so, not that long. in there some girl would come and sell food, so buy it called quot;ekibenquot; which reteraly means station lunch box. and its like normal to buy that and eat it on quot;shinkansenquot; ( the bullet train) also also, you must go to the city of Yokohama spesificly the Minato Mirai 21, go to quot;akarenga soukoquot; (red brick storage in english) and the Land Mark Tower ( yes japanese can name things in english too.) China town ( wow, china town? yeah china town in japan) all good place when you go to tokyo, tokyo is not like small city or not, its a prefecture, so city to go in tokyo are, akihabara, shibuya, tokyo, and if you want to spend some night life in tokyo too with alot of money but to learn the night side of japan go to kabukichou and ginza. you must go to roppongi and roppongi hills. its the middle of japan, the place and the hottest spot in japan,!!! sapporo is famus for quot;ramenquot; (noodle) so must have when you go there. well good luck, and have fun, note: you will get in colture shock, and it is very very very different from what you think, remember that, tokyo is fun place, but its not like in the anime world also about kyoto and tokyo, tokyo means east kyoto in japanese, so that makes sense right?

Currently living in Japan (been here 9 years)... Spring is without a doubt the BEST time to visit. If you can get here end of March/early April, you might catch the Cherry Blossoms and Hanami Parties . Orange Range are currently on Tour - they played in Nagoya last night (played in Sasashima RIGHT next to the movie theatre I went to - saw Perfume... HUGE crowds!!!). If I may, I d also suggest DisneySeas - an amazing place. Not a big Disney fan myself, but DisneySeas is well worth the visit. With the Ryokan, spend up to get the best experience. I d estimate you d need to be prepared to spend about 30,000yen for a night s accomodation... or more. Expensive, yes - but you won t forget it! As far as being a lady-travelling-alone , Japan s one of the better countries to do that. Just plan ahead, and have fun! Additionally - ignore commentary over the warmer winter . Not entirely true. Currently *enjoying* a cold snap. Sakura blossoms will still bloom late March, early April - as they always do.

I lived in Japan for a year, about 20 minutes (by train) from Kyoto. If you take the bullet train (shinkansen) (from Tokyo to Kyoto) it is about 2-3 hours if I remember correctly. It is a bit more expensive but you wouldn t have to switch trains. I highly recommend spending a lot of time around Kyoto since it is the part of Japan that is more historical and more recognizable as quot;Japan.quot; Tokyo is busy, crowded, fast, and expensive. They say it s the most expensive city in the world. Shibuya is a popular place for younger people (in Tokyo). Kyoto has Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, Nijo Castle (Nijojo- where the shogun gave up their power), the Heian Shrine (Heian Jingu) and Kiomizudera. VERY close to Kiyomizu is Ryozen Kwan-on/ Kannon. It is a HUGE outdoor buddah-like figure. I was inmpressed by it, but most people walk the wrong way and miss it. Those are the most popular ones to see. Fushimi Inari Taisha (take the Nara train line), Todaiji, Biyodoin (seen on the 10 yen coin) are also top to see but are not in main Kyoto, more near Nara. I suggest going during cherry blssom veiwing seaon if you can get there quickly enough. Avoid late July and early August if you don t like very hot and humid weather. You ll want to see when their rainy season is ,also. I can t recall, but it lasts for about a month or so.

Hey wow same here I am planning to go to Tokyo this winter. If you get to go first is there anyway you could set up another one of these and tell me about your experience?

Is it illegal to not be given a break in Japan? -

2008-09-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

I work in Japan and during my eight hour day, I get one hour break, although my Japanese co-workers work longer hours and get no break at all. I know they are tired and not happy but they refuse to speak up for themselves. I understand Japanese culture like the fact they want to keep the quot;harmonyquot; and be obedient, but I think that I should speak up for them right?

Please do not bother speaking up for them. They are adults in charge of their own lives. They make the choice to work the hours they do without breaks. It may be that they do not feel they require breaks and it may be that they want to show others that they are hard workers. Japanese people mind their own business and value personal responsibility. Please let them take responsibility for their own actions and mind your own business. This is the Japanese way. Just as it would be proper to point this out in the US it would be improper to point it out in Japan.

According to Article 34 of Labor Standard Law, workers must be given 45 minutes break if they are working for more than 6 hours. So you are right. It s illegal. If you want to speak for them, you have to tell it to Labor Bureau of the prefecture you are working. http://www.hyougo-roudoukyoku.go.jp/ The above is Hyogo Labor Bureau. But I don t think many people at Bureau speak English. So maybe it s difficult for you to do so.

When I was teaching in Japan, I had this discussion with several Japanese students before and it is my understanding that the practice of not getting breaks (as well as working OT and not getting paid) is technically illegal, yet it goes on regularly in Japanese companies. When I asked some Japanese why they didn t stand up for themselves, they said that they could raise this issue with management, and the company would comply and give them a break, longer lunch, etc. but that they would likely be ostracized by management and other workers and they would never get promoted within the company. I did speak to a few Japanese that told me that they demanded breaks and regular lunches and to leave work quot;on-timequot; but they knew they would never be promoted, but they didn t care about that. They just wanted to work their shift and go home. So to answer your question, it really is up to them. They can push for it if they want to, and face the consequences. It s not your call to make for them.

I would say just be happy that you get the break. The fact is everyone would be likely to be more productive if they used their common sense and took a break-but that is not how it works in Japan. In Japan, it s more important to look productive than to be productive.

No you should not quot;speak up for themquot;. It may be that they take their quot;breaksquot; at their desks. Also, many Japanese are intitled to breaks but just don t take one unless everyone else takes one. Same thing with working overtime. Nobody leaves unless they all leave........negative productivity but part of the Japanese work ethic. For your part, don t push the issue, you will just make it harder on yourslef and your colleagues.

Japanese labor law admits only 1 hour break during more than 8 hours shift working. The break also must be taken at one time for every same shift staffs all together. No individual free self-break is allowed by laws.

No that s their issue. I wouldn t get involved. If they really wanted to they could do something about it themselves.

that would be a brave thing to do and i appreciate your willingness to do the honorable deed. the sad thing is the majority of the japanese mindset is that workers are servants. this come from our heritage with the oh so revered samourai culture. the majority thinks like that so 3% of the workers rising for their rights wont really start a movement. people who stand up for over here gets bashed. there is no really strong labor union in japan. we didnt have revolution movement that stemed from people claiming their freedom. our system was set by the germans aid in the pre-war area when we used to be allies. in japan the system was modeled. it was not made from the people. the system here is clinical. how can you make people change their mindset? americans fought for their rights against the british. black people fought for emancipation from the whites in U.S. former colonies like vietnam, african nations, china, korea, philippines, india fought for their right. french people in the olden days fought against their tyrannic king and establish bill of rights that are the back bone of every constitution. Us japanese? there were some moments but nothing as collective and massive as the examples above. truth is we were always servants for higher power. we kowtow too much to people in power. we should be more disrespectful to powers and more self-assertive of our rights. over working 80-100 hours (additional 5pm-10pm) per month without compensation is nothing but exploitation. japanese make very low earnings in hourly basis. the hourly based productivity rate is 30th or something among advanced nations. i decided to leave japan because i knew nothing could change this slave type work environment in any few decades. so i decided to leave the country for good. perhaps if there were a massive influx of westeners like yourself, japan would change its due course of exploiting workers in such manners (to keep up make the profits they are making). by all means, dude, stand up for your servitile japanese co-workers. we need new breeze that you westeners bring. change our quot;poorquot; country for my fellow japanese sake. [edit] if you can read japanese, you ll notice that there s at least a few employees dying from what is called quot;karoshiquot; (death due to overwork). there were one who died by overwork ( deprived of sleep, had a stroke and died) from toyota. japanese has too much sense of obligation. this guy was in a managerial position working for toyota. he worked 150+ overtime and didnt have breaks for as longs as few months. also, there was a news in NHK (most prestigious national news). this guy was a store manager for a family restaurant. maybe quot;skylarkquot; or something like that. again, he overworked 200 hours or so. slept only for 3 hours for as long as few months. he was 33 or something. do you know what happened? he had a stroke and he ended up on bed immobilized, living on feeding tube at that age. the company refuses to acknowledge its exploitation and they are fighting at court. A conformist gaejins might say otherwise but WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO BREAK THE NORM.