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

Not all ALTs are the same.

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.

Often when tourists come to To... Read More