No story of success would be complete without beginning with disaster. For those interested in the clubbing scene in Japan, this article should give a good foray into the unusual world of Tokyo nightlife. To begin, Japan for some reason does not adhere to a set system of street signs or numbered buildings. That being said, finding any location in the major cities is nearly impossible without a guide. We weren't so fortunate.
I stated previously that our purpose in Japan was to bring our musical tastes as Dj's to the Asian market. The first step would be to find a few clubs to play at. To tackle this obstacle we tried a number of approaches. The first was to email every club in the greater Tokyo region with resumes, which proved unfruitful. The second step was to visit t... Read More
Since I arrived in Japan, I tried to think of things that I could do to make myself busy and forget about my homesickness. At first, I requested my husband to order an instructional book for making beads accessories. When the book, DeAgustini, was delivered I realized the instructions were written in Japanese so what I did was to follow the photo instructions instead. I have made beads from simple to a little bit complicated designs. Sometimes, I study Nihongo lessons from Minna No Nihongo book and attend Nihongo class twice a week. I browse the internet once a day to look for a job postings and news from my country. I also use the internet to keep in touch with my family, relatives, friends and co-workers in the Philippines through Yahoo e-mail, Yahoo messeng... Read More
ALT stands for Assistant Language Teacher. They are native English speakers who are required by the Japanese Education System to be placed in all Junior High Schools throughout Japan to help the native Japanese teachers in teaching English.
There are basically two flavours of ALTs. The JETs and the non-JETs.
A JET is typically a fresh-out-of-college graduate who hasn't figured out what they want to do in life yet or an individual taking a break from a career back home. They are hired directly by the government of Japan. They go through a long and arduous application and "screening" procedure and finally arrive to Japan and get placed into their new city after a few weeks of training. Every aspect of their life in Japan ... Read More
My first day working in Japan was very different than I had been expecting. I had read articles about Japanese work hours, Japanese business etiquette, and the Japanese approach to science and engineering, and the combined impression that my research in these three topics left on me was daunting, to say the least. I was worried that I would be scampering about the lab for fourteen hours a day, skipping meals and avoiding interaction with others to increase my productivity. I resolved to do my best, preparing for the worst. As it turned out, my first day was indeed an intense one, but not quite in the way that I had predicted.
The day began at seven with short briefing from my boss, a prominent professor at Keio University, which took place as he walked ... Read More
My boss's favorite soba shop has gone smoke-free during lunch hour, a sign of the times if ever I've heard one. Although women are generally thought to be the preservers of traditional culture in most societies, it's men in Japan who seem to be intent on keeping food culture intact. While office ladies may while away their lunch hours eating pasta or organic salads, the salarymen are down the dark alleys munching on tonkatsu or slurping their soba. I've even heard soba referred to as food for "oyaji"- or old men. And the atmosphere of the soba shops usually reflects this- they are usually smoky dens of middle aged men with their ties folded up and tucked into their shirt pockets. The very idea that the venerated haven of havens should go kinen is a complete, albeit welcome, shock.<... Read More
Let’s face it, there are times when living in Japan can be pretty lonely for a foreigner. Japanese people are generally reserved around both Gaijin and fellow Japanese, so don’t worry, you are not being singled out. But unless you have family here, are very wealthy, or are a super model in a club in Roppongi, there are going to be times when you may feel the need to check the mirror just to make sure you exist.
Again, don’t despair. When the time is right and when you least expect it, you will find yourself on the receiving end of a great deal of friendliness. You just have to be patient and open to it.
We all have our stories; here is my most recent one.
Last month while returning home to Japan from a four month stay in Thailan... Read More
Not all words are equal. Life without the word “frothy” would be livable, but life without “love” would be nearly impossible. Some words are essential, while others are mere luxuries. And so it is in Japanese.
The Japanese are masters of the apology. Probably the most ubiquitous and utilitarian of apologies would be “sumi-masen,” which works on strangers, superiors, and intimates. Body language must be integrated with its usage or proper attitude will not be projected. Start the word looking the recipient in the eye and quickly drop your head as you complete it. Leave your head down for a moment. Try it next time you step on someone’s foot in a crowded train ? if you can identify the foot’s owner.
The Japanese also have many ways to praise. I ... Read More
The Zen of Tokyo rush hour is all about your state of mind. When you think of Tokyo rush hour you may picture hoards of sweaty commuters being shoved into already full train cars. This image is unexaggeratedly accurate. However, you may also imagine that is a chaotic, nearly unbearable experience, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The morning commute is actually a well-organized, systematic rhythm; where the packed trains that snake around Tokyo take in and give out passengers at every station, like breathing. Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Tokyo. Breathe in, breathe out. The flow of passengers is like the tide on the beach. The doors open, people rush out, the music plays, and more people rush in.
I'm sure a lot of the users on the site are either friends of English teachers or English teachers themselves. Those of you who are Englsih teachers have probably come to realize, too late in most cases, my own in particular, that life in a Japanese corporate entity is a little different than anticipated. I thought I had done a significant amount of research before my arrival here. Surprise, surprise, the reality of the situation is a little different. When I originally attended the recruitment drive on my college campus I was awash with altruistic intentions. The recruiters regaled the packed auditorium with tales of educators furthering the goals of Japanese students overseas. I was sold. I graduated and six months, as well as a fifteen hour flight, later I ... Read More
I assume you are quite familiar with the movie starring Zhang Zi Yi, “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Then this article is for you.
I am a fan of those girls walking gracefully in the streets with overly white face, very red lips and Japanese classy looking hair do’s. What I don’t know is the secret behind that grace and beauty.
I chanced by asking a friend who had experiences knowing and chatting with Geisha’s in Kyoto and I tell you, their lives are never easy.
Geishas are not whores per se they sell their talents and hide their beauty and real identities in those colorful kimonos (Japanese National Costume). In short they are high class entertainers in Japan.
In preserved places like Kyoto, the competition of the finest Geisha’s is so tight t... Read More
Japan is one of the 1st world countries engaging in high-technology. However, the population with formal education capable of working as technology operators (e.g. IT and engineers) is not enough to cover up the high demands. That is why Japan hires thousands of gaijin (foreigner) engineers and IT professionals to be stationed and work in Japan. Most of these employees are from Philippines, Europe, US and India. The Japanese companies pays the minimum salary of ?250,000 and they sponsor visas and gave some privileges like free housing (usually studio type), free bus and train tickets, and free hokensho (insurance). But for the unlucky ones who were hired through agency, they are paid less. It’s a fact that they pay gaijin professionals lower than ... Read More
It is customary to attend some afterwork parties. Japanese people love to hold parties for every conceivable occasion. Drinking is the focus of most parties. Most of the Japanese I know would eat little but drink more during parties. This drinking spree is fondly called as “nominication”. This term is a combination of “nomi” which means drinking or drinks and “communication”. This means socializing or establishing better communication through drinking parties. I jokingly mentioned the term “nominication” to my boss when he was about to leave to attend a party. He was quite impressed of my knowledge about the term.
I received a tip from my fellow gaijin employee about what to observe during company dining parties. The rule: do not fill your own... Read More
I married into a family of artists and have met many interesting associates of theirs also involved in traditional Japanese art including my other relatives. Some of the rare artists I have met include a man that hand makes “Yoroi” which is Samurai Armour and another who is a Yuzen painter with his own line of clothing that is all hand painted.
My Father in-law Ken creates and repairs “Makie” which is Japanese lacquerware made with gold, silver and mother of pearl inlay. Makie can be extremely expensive as I have found some of the prices shocking, but then when I consider the time spent to produce some of the amazing art he creates.
Having the Japanese Royal family buy his products and those of his Father and Grandfather in the past, speaks for ... Read More
So you’ve arrived in Japan thinking that you can get a job in an office no sweat because of your great skills, yet are disappointed to find that unless you can speak Japanese really well or can master a Japanese keyboard your luck has just been cut in half. Well that’s my story in any case!
So then you try your hand at teaching English, which is what a majority of people do and for good reason, if you join a site such as findateacher.net, you can make a profile for free and list the times when you are free to teach, where you would like to teach (family restaurants or cafes are the safe and ideal option) and even set your own minimum fee. This works out well, it is not a full time job, yet if managed well can help pay some bills, although it will not pay the rent! I’ve als... Read More
Like many people I believe that some how living overseas has helped me develop as a person. It has allowed me to become bilingual, and have a broader understanding of the world. And in that sense I guess it has. But I have not come close to the goals that I had once set for myself during my high school days. I have chosen the long path and believe there is no easy way to happiness. In my home country with a little hard work I have accomplished the same things that people my age have a new car, small condo and a credit rating.
Things that make an easy start for any newly weds like my wife and I.
And yet I came back to Japan with my wife and decided to start with the couple thousand in savings. Am I crazy? With all the pressure that this country puts on a perso... Read More
