A Better Life in Japan - Learn the Japanese Culture

Japanese Crises?

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:29:00 +0000

No matter what the TV news can say, but Japan is really going down, faster than Titanic...
I remember a year ago when things were just on the TV, people use to not mind too much about the news, specially economic news... but this time is different most Japaneses are losing their jobs and foreigners didn't even had a chance to say something... they just got cut and sent to their born countries... but something wrong is happening, even now you can see people coming from countries like Brazil or Peru... ??? what they have in mind? No really their fault, but much more people who tries to take advantage of the situation and make more money sending lots of nikeis Latinos to Japan... Yes, they lie to the pour souls and say that Japan still have lots of job opportunities... The truth is that if you go to the famous harou work, the place where they try to present to the foreigners and Japaneses for new chances jobs you can see the situation is more heavier than what we see in the TV... lots of people more than 1000 going there everyday looking for jobs... the situation isn't bad only for foreigners, if you notice and count the unemployed Japaneses is 3 or 4 times bigger than the foreigners...
Most don't get a job, but they still have a better chance than foreigners... now think that lots of people going back to their countries, is easy to understand, but why Japan let more foreigners come to Japan knowing that the situation can get more worse than it is now...
Why they don't stop to giving visa for foreigners... that come to Japan without work???
Now lets say that Japan is too, taking advantage of the situation, because now they have an excuse to increase the products prices and reduce the salary of the foreigners workers, making more money than they made before... when there was no economic crises...
No matter what happens, poor people will be always poor and rich people more richer...
Economic crises? LOL

BASQUASH

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:12:00 +0000

I don't post about Japanese anime too much because it's always too violent and full of blood... Watching TV late night I saw this new anime started 2009 april , named Basquash.
The whole story happens on a city called mooneyes, where the technology is high advanced and machines named Bigfoot where used to help humans to build cities and to play basketball too... I like the way they using the colors and the 3D and 2D anime mixing is very well balanced. The characteres are very funny with a sweet erotic taste...
Mark my words this will be one of those big hits like Pokemon, etc, if not at least you will know how the technology is making some changes on the old style Japanese anime.
The site is only in Japanese if you can read it...

http://basquash.com/

Pics for MSN Friends phishing SCAM

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Today I’ve received one offline messages to my Windows Live Messenger that contains only a link and nothing else. The weirdest part was some of the message came from contacts that were really old which I’ve removed from my list long ago. I noticed that most of the link uses .info generic top-level domain name and some of the letters are being replaced with numbers such as number 1 for letter L, number 5 for letter S and etc. The messages are being sent offline and the main page uses indexxx.php file.

Pics for MSN Friends phishing SCAM

Clicking on the link will bring me to a page with a webform that looks like the latest Windows Live Messenger asking me to login with my MSN to continue. It is a phishing site which is supposed to represent “100% real and upcoming Messenger Community Site” called PICS FOR MSN FRIENDS (v1.1c).

If you got such message from your friends, do not panic because both you and your friends are not being infected by MSN virus. Only your friend’s account has been compromised. Here’s what you should do when you receive such message.

First thing is to tell your friends to change their password. By doing that, the bots can no longer access your friend’s MSN account and spam their contact list.

To change or reset the password for your Windows Live Messenger account, follow these steps:
1. Go to http://login.live.com web page and then click Forgot Your Password.
2. Type in your MSN e-mail address, type the characters that appear in the Picture box, and then click Continue.
3. Click Send yourself a password reset e-mail message.
4. Click Send Message.
5. On the confirmation page, click Done.
6. Sign in to your e-mail account, and then click the link in the e-mail message to reset your password.
7. On the Confirm your e-mail address page, type your e-mail address, and then click Continue.
8. Type your new password two times, and then click Continue.
9. If you want to enter an “alternate” e-mail address, type the address two times, and then click Continue. If you do not want to enter an “alternate” e-mail address, click Skip.
10. When you receive the “You’ve changed your password” message, click Done.

Some examples of the links are the below but please DO NOT enter your MSN email and password! I’m sure there are a whole lot more, so be very careful not to simple enter your MSN login details.

# username.bl1ng.info
# username.jumphost.info
# username.n1cestuff.info
# checkdiz.info
# username.awes0me.info
# username.ther1ng.info
# username.snapsh0t.info
# username.da-real-deal.info
# username.ch33se.info
# c0ol-th1ng.info
# imgeshack.info
# m0bil3.info
# imageloko.info
# imagedino.info
# imagealina.info
# hostapic.info
# holyimage.info
# imagrshak.info
# get-that-stuff.info
# coooool.info
# datsyou.com
# is-thatt-you.com
# is-dat-u.com
# thatzyou.com

If you know any other sites that is the same, please leave a comment so I can add it in the list. I am not sure if we can do anything to these websites because it does say that “By logging in you accept the Terms and Conditions”. The terms are “By filling out this form, you authorize TST Management, Inc to spread the word about this 100% real and upcomming Messenger Community Site. By using our service/website you hereby fully authorize TST Management, Inc to send messages
of a commercial nature via Instant Messages and E-Mails on behalf of third parties via the information
you provide us.” What we can do is to be cautious and do not simply enter our login information to any websites.

Note: If you suspect that it might be a virus, try scanning your computer with free Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool or MSN Photo Virus Remover.

If you use MSN or know some who uses this try to alert this person about, it's really dangerous lost your password and account.

See you.

Magical Numbers - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:19:00 +0000

Like in other countries Japan has Magic Numbers too, some good and others not so good, superstitions and urban legends exists here in Japan too.
If you are a first comer probably will take some time to get used with those kind of Magic Numbers.

Number 4: in Japanese they say for as "shi" that means death if write with the character 死, different character is used for the number 4=四 you probably will notice the door numbers in building or apartment that starts generally with the number 101 and goes in sequence like 102,103,105, yes they pass the number 104 and if the number 104 exists the room is avoided from the Japaneses or it is rented for persons that don't believe that numbers can give a bad lucky.

Number 666: the number known as the Satan number where some people associate it to the Japanese coins, that goes as 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yens if you add it it will result as 666. The influence of the religion and occidental culture, started this type of urban legend of course most don't believe on it. In part money can be devilish too.

Number 7: known as a lucky number and most used on Japanese culture, for example the Shichi Fuku Jin; the seven Japanese Gods of happiness and luck, others relation with number 7:

On January 7th, nanakusagayu is eaten (rice porridge with seven herbs) to ward off evil for the coming year, in addition to inviting good luck and longevity
A baby's birth is celebrated on the 7th day
A death is mourned for seven days
and again, after seven weeks
In Buddhism, the main religion of Japan, people believe in seven reincarnations
There is a saying: nana-korobi, ya-oki, which means fall down seven times, get up eight times. Life has its ups and downs; more ups than downs, so persevere when things are tough and you will surely get through them.

Number 893: the combination of number that relate to the Japanese Mafia (YAKUZA) as it reads 8=YA, 9=KU, 3=ZA, the therm YAKUZA comes from a type of card game called (KABU) where the cards with the value of 8,9 and 3 is the worst combination of cards or better saying useless as the same for people related to the mafia. Other combination related to the mafia is the 5910 that reads GOKUDOU= masters of the streets, in the past it was used to people who protected the weakest and fight the stronger more like vigilantes but as the time passed the meaning changed and it is now related to the mafia probably because those vigilantes use brutal force to do their job.

It's only a small part of the numbers related to the Japanese Culture, if you search for more numbers and study the Japanese culture you probably will find more interesting numbers, architectual, musical and in the general life in Japan.

Apple iPhone Sold 1 Million - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:06:00 +0000

Only 3 days after the release of the new iPhone 3G on Friday July 11, in Japan, it came to the number 1 millionth iPhone 3G devices, the Apple CEO Steve Jobs says that he is really surprised and expect to the numbers to grow. (BIG SMILE)

The first edition of the iPhone took a month and half to accomplish: 1 million devices sold, we can see how great is the influence of the Japanese consumers, since we didn't get the first edition of the iPhone in Japan.

So now if you thinking in buy your iPhone 3G probably will have to wait for some days since the Softbank stores are out of the stock.

Apple's 3G iPhone launched to massive crowds at 8 a.m. local time on Friday. The coveted second-generation iPhone is now available in 21 countries, including the U.S., U.K., China, Japan and a host of others. The smartphones will hit France on Thursday.

"iPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend," Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, said in a statement. "It took 74 days to sell the first 1 million original iPhones, so the new iPhone 3G is clearly off to a great start around the world."

Lines started forming at Apple Stores days before the iPhone's initial launch. Even on Sunday, smaller lines of Apple faithful could be seen waiting to get their hands on the new handset.

iPhone 3G is making waves, taking many of the features of the original iPhone, but adding 3G functionality, meaning it can transmit data up to twice as fast. The new iPhone also features built-in GPS for location-based mobile services and iPhone 2.0 software that includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. It can also run more than 800 third-party applications available through the new App Store.
* Here is an image of the first day iPhone sales in Japan, where we can see the CEO of Softbank Mr Massayoshi Son, in front of the Omotesando Softbank.

AKIHABARA RAMPAGE

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Akihabara Rampage, new images... here we can see the "Akihabara Killer" buying knifes on the store and on the security camera when he ran over 3 persons with a 2 ton truck, after that he left the car and stabbed the other 11 persons that were win the place for shopping... 7 died and the others still on the hospital...
The news about the Akihabara Rampage still all over the world now... It's a scary thing that a peaceful country like Japan is changing this way.
My respect for the victims and families... Just hope for a Better Japan.

Airport Security System 1St Day - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:12:00 +0000

Airport Security System 1St Day - Japan

The first day of the Security System was kind a troubled, it made people (foreigners) wait on lines for more than 1 hour. The system really works, the airport officers catch 5 illegal foreigners (faked passport) two of then had was once in Japan and have been deported in the past and tried to reentry in Japan.
Japan immigration laws are very hard, so big part of illegal foreigners come by the sea inside fishing boats. Some get caught on the port. They come from everywhere with great percentage of Asian countries near Japan, Korea, China, Philippines, etc.
It can sound kind a racist since only foreigners has to pass by the airport new security system, but it is the only way to protect the country and the foreigners too, foreigners without legal visa don't get a place to work easily, so they end up working to the japanese mafia or turn to a homeless.

Passport, eyes and finger - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:22:00 +0000

Passport, eyes and finger - Japan

Starting from today any foreign (16+) will have to pass the new security system installed on the Narita airport. With the new system, nearly all foreigners will have to have fingerprints from both hands and a picture of their face recorded. Fingerprints will be verified with a list in what the government says will be an attempt to prevent terrorists or known criminals from entering Japan. Japanese nationals will be able to pass through Immigration via an automated gate instead of waiting in line to be processed by officials if they have applied for permission and submitted fingerprints in advance.

NOVA Teachers reemployed - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:21:00 +0000

NOVA Teachers reemployed - Japan

After the bankruptcy of NOVA Corp. English Schools, a company named G Education will as start take over 30 about of 670 Nova branches reemploying 1760 English teachers. G Education said that will hire the other 3000 unemployed teachers in Japan who wish to work at G Education. The company "will make effort" to eventually take over 200 Nova schools in total, but they didn't give a specific timetable or other details of the take over plan.
Will Nova workers, many of whom haven't been paid for more than two months, start to see some of their money?
The trustees say Nova will pay the wages by tapping a public safety net provided by the Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organization, a state-backed body that guarantees 80 percent of unpaid wages in cases of corporate bankruptcy. However, limits are placed on the benefits based on a worker's age.
The organization said it usually disburses the money within a month after an application is filed, although the Nova labor union claims it will take more than half a year before workers can actually receive benefits from the organization.
What about the unused lesson tickets still held by Nova students?
All the tickets will probably be deemed invalid. The trustees say there are "no prospects of refunds" since the liability is Nova Corp.'s.
G.education said it will offer Nova students equivalent lessons if they pay an additional 25 percent fee on top of what they have already paid.

Lots of things still under question mark, we hope for the english teachers to get their job back fast as possible.

Another Boot Camp? - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:36:00 +0000

Another Boot Camp? - Japan

After Billy's Boot Camp the Japanese Shop Channel presented this new? DVD for help some people lose their over weight, but the true is that japaneses are so busy that they don't have time to do exercises. Anyaway it's a funny video so I just captured it and put here to you guys have some laughs... :))

Bad Japanese English

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:02:00 +0000

Bad Japanese English
Some time ago I bought a magazine about House Reforming, just to know a little more about housing in Japan and the way the house are going to be in a near future. Well with this magazine they give as a gift a kitchen cutting sheet (not catting sheet), to cut cakes and other things, very use full.

The problem is that it has a spelling miss, it's not the first time that I find a thing like this. Here in Japan is very difficult to find Japaneses speaking a good English. I think that is a shame to find some kind of miss spell on a published and sold material. Looks like they really need a better English teacher.

Sony Style - X Ramen Radar - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 01:23:00 +0000

Sony Style - X Ramen Radar - Japan

If your think that Sony is only in to Electronics products you are totally wrong, from October 28 Sony started a new service that uses WIFI Network of your cell phone or your pc to locate Ramen Shops near to the area where you walking. Isn't it good? The service can be used from your car or even if your riding your bicycles.
The range of the system covers an area of 3Km for cars and 1Km for bicycles you can install it on your computer too, but you need a wireless connection. From November 8th the service will support Coffee Shops too. The use a free cost community map to display your position and the place of the shops. Have a nice ramem.

More info and the software only in Japanese, X Ranen Sony Style it's free.

The endless Halloween - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:38:00 +0000

The endless Halloween - Japan

For a country like Japan where they accept any kind of culture or religion the Halloween is not more than another way to make some business. Most Co. just ad some pumpkin flavour to their products and wait to see if it sell or not.

For the foreigners in Japan, Halloween is more celebrated at the disco and clubs of Roppongi and Shibuya and small home parties, not all get in to costumes.
For the Japaneses Halloween is the day for eat sweeties in pumpkin flavours. Not all but for some Japaneses that prefer to keep out of the real world living in a fantasy forever get in to costumes like maid, game characters, anime heroes, etc the Halloween is a endless day. Most the Japaneses don't even know what is Halloween, so sad...

May be you wonder why? Japaneses like to get inside game characters or go to fantasy worlds like maid cafe, etc. The truth is that not all accept the life in Japan as it really is, so rushy and so slavery. Stressful days at the work and all the rush, competition to get in to the top of the world is not an easy thing. So getting inside costumes make them close the reality in front of their eyes for a moment, outside Japan most run to drugs or alcohol, but here the life inside a costume can keep them safer and out of the stressed Japanese society. The problem is that some are just too stressed that lost control of the reality and live their lives like game characters, falling in love to 2D images, girls at maid cafe, manga heroes, etc. It's the paradise, they will live there until there money rest.

May be you have heard about Japaneses guys living inside an Internet cafe both, the homeless with some dignity, some are guys that lost all their money buying games, small figure dolls or even frequenting the maid cafe for hours and paying lots of money just to stay near the girls they will never have as a girl friend but only inside their minds. So sick, yeah what can be normal in this world? Only you can decide what is real or not in this world... Happy Halloween!

Japanese Swords x American Pistols - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:34:00 +0000

Japanese Swords x American Pistols - Japan

Today's talk is about how big is the influence of movies over people brains, sometimes getting to the point to brainwash people minds. If you ask people about a movie they saw on last 10 years about Japan they will probably say KILL BILL, Last Samurai, Ninja warrior or something like that. Yeah for sure it's a part of the Japanese Culture, but at generally so distorted that people begin to love it (so cool) even not knowing the real history about the Japanese weapons. At the same time some young Japaneses love Americans Gangster movies and all that violent stuff that comes with the movies, guns, drugs, the way gangsters wear, walk or talk, etc we also have lots of Japaneses trying to rap or be a gangster (only on the fashion way) in Japan, LOL.
Here in Japan we still have air guns, small kids and guys with more than 30 years old playing with plastic air guns, because they think that guns are cool. Some are not satisfied with the power of their little plastic air guns and ask for "professionals" to tune up their guns at the point of making holes on beer cans or more rigid materials just for your info it is out of the Japanese laws, you can get a 3 years prison for moding a plastic air gun.
In other parts of the world I saw that lots of people have a big obsession to have their own Japanese Sword (katana) some asking how bring those swords to their countries etc. Yes you can buy a Japanese sword in Japan (it's very expensive) but without the polished blade I mean they will sell you a type of souvenir without any cut power and you probably will not pass with it in the airport. If you will live forever in Japan you can buy a sword but you need registrate it on the Departament of the police and you have to pass a lot of criteria to get the license to buy it first.
The fiction put inside the movies brain wash people minds and make them think like weapons (violence) are the coolest thing in this world, come on people can't you see what is happening in this world? Movies are just movies 99 percent fiction, so don't believe in all you see in movies, even Japaneses can't have their own swords and gangsters are not cool as they look in the movies, people die because weapons no matter if it's a Japanese sword or a gangster gun.

Samurai's may look cool on the movies, but in their age they use to nail people with their swords by the back sticking it on their enemies and sometimes ordinary people (kids or womens) without any previous contact or conversation, for sure a movie like this will not sell, it was really cruel and a coward way to kill people, the same way gangster may look cool on their gold chains and "ices" but most use to sell drugs on the streets and in their young ages they have killed lots of people for few dollars and sometimes just to protect their area.

"I wish people could see the real truth behind the movies and the world we live, on the time we keep killing and hurting each other, BIG GUYS on the top just watch us like watching a TV comedy show" and the worst thing is that those BIG GUYS on the top still making money every time that you buy a weapon or a gram of white powder...

Leopard or the Mule system which one ? - Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:58:00 +0000

Finally Leopard is out, I saw lots of people buying Windows Vista ? No matter how many years pass, Mr Bill Gates still keeping the old way to do bussines as the whole Microsoft products, it still looks so obsolete and useless, thanks for the CTRL+ALT+DEL. Sometimes I just wonder how people buy a system like windows vista that is so heavy to run and so useless, it haven't changed, we still have the paint software? Just check this video about the new OSX Leopard and you will see what I'm talking about... Which one you will buy?

Amazing video

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:16:00 +0000

After long time not visiting my space I've found that the whole internet is going in to videos like you tube. Well in this world looks like when someone have a good idea the rest just go copyng it and making some profits, anyway check this video very cool and creative, I wish I have done it first, LOL.

Add to My Profile More Videos

$10k from 10 Yens - Japan Work

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:16:00 +0000

$10k from 10 Yens - Japan Work
At first the concept could sound a little crazy, but it's true... working in Japan is not just a dream and most people make a good money from small coins everyday.
You may wondering how could it be possible, since 10 yens isn't more than 10 cents in American dollar.
I'll tell you how, if you came to Japan to work and don't have any professional background and want to take any type of job (even 3K type) you are near to make $ 10k working in Japan. Let's say that you looking for a job (no matter what type) probably you will see the free newspaper for search for a job, where you can find a lot of information from the type of job, start and end of hour and the more important the salary per hour.
One of my friends took one job that pays a 1200 yens per hour, his function was to put pieces of metal inside the lathe and push the bottom, so simple as it sounds... if it was in another country but here in Japan, things are a little different because the speed to make one piece is about 30 secs and to make it more complicated he had to work with two machines at the same time, meaning 2 pieces/minute 120 pieces/hour, so he made his own calculation, if his salary is 1200 yens per hour it means that any piece has the price of 10 yens and after working 10 to 12 hours a day he will making around $100 a day that will make $3.000/month. It's not a good job or something that will make him a professional but it's the way people work in Japan just producing piece by piece, yes it is really hard to make $3K a month but he knows that is not for his whole life and after six months or a year of work he will save around $10K and will return to his country to work on his own life.
Yes, it's really boring and sad to have to work 12 hours a day doing the same thing everyday for a year or more but it's the reality of great part of the foreigners that come to work in Japan trying to save some money to have a better life in your home country or even in Japan. Some never return to their home countries, making their own family here and still in Japan for the rest of their lives sometimes by option, sometimes by bad lucky.
If you compare the salary in Japan from other countries it may look a very good salary, but if you live in Japan soon you will notice that $3.000 a month is not a big salary, you will need at least $1500 a month to make a good living here.
It's not easy but it's a chance that most people outside Japan want to take since they have to work for a small salary in worst jobs than a lathe machine...
Now Japan is in a economic crises and great part of the BIG electronics or autos went to China because the workers salary are cheaper than Japaneses. Now the salary by hour in Japan is around 1000 yens or less and some co. don't have over time that most foreigners love to do. So some foreigners has more than one job to make a least $3000 a month salary...

Making money in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:46:00 +0000

Let's say that you have your job but still need some more money to buy a new electronic product or to go to visit Kyoto, etc. The most fast way is to find a "one day job", they call it "arubaito" those type of work usually pay by a day job at the end of the day. There is various types of arubaito, some you have to work at least 3 days a week and others you can work only one day and make a $1oo in the end of the day. Generally "arubaito" are more like a temporary job for students or people who needs urgently make some money to pay a 2 months retarded bill, etc. If you don't know where to find information to a job you can go to the convenience store and check the free job newspaper. If you can't read it ask to some Japanese friend to help you to find a good temporary job. The better part of the "one day work" is that you can receive the money in the end of your day work and if you like the job you can ask to the co. to call you again when they need people to work. Those type of arubaito don't need any type of professional skills so anyone can do it. So good lucky on the arubaito.

How to make and save money in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:06:00 +0000

Japan's life is one of the most expensive in the world, so what you can do to save your money and have a fun time in Japan at the same time? Here's some of my tips to save some money.

Facilities: gas, water and light: after your house rent bill, facilities in Japan are very expensive, water is around $30 by 2 months, gas if your are using the propane bomb it will be around $50 a month or more if you like to use the Japanese bath tub (ofuro) and for last the electric energy that will increase conform your breaker house, generally around $50~$100 by month.

First you can save some water checking your house to see if there is no problem in your pipe system, a drop of water can not be much in one day but at year it can be very expensive. Another thing to do is to not take so much time on the bath room more you are there more you will use the water. If you like the Japanese tub (ofuro) fill the tub with only half of water, the ofuro usually can contain more than 100 litters of water, so take care.

Second the gas more hotter you make the water more gas bill will increase, so take care usually 42C is a good temperature to take a bath and save some money. If you have the option to chose a house with the Tokyo Gas, choose it because it is very cheaper than the propane gas from privates companies.

The electric energy: check the size of your house breaker generally it will be around 30A, if you don't use lots of electronics you can ask to Tokyo Denryoku to change it for a small breaker for example a 20A breaker it will reduce your bill in half of the price. If you work a lot and let the house empty from more than 10 hours you can turn of the breaker it will reduce a lot your energy bill.

The electronics: if you have a big television and make the display brighter than normal it will consume more energy, the same way the volume of your television, more louder means more energy.

I don't want to buy cheap food, because it can results on damage in your health, but if you are addicted to drinks like Coca Cola, etc. you can search for a place called SEIMS, it's a type of Pharmacy, but it sells everything from body care products like soap, shampoo, toilet paper, etc. There you can find a 1.5 litter of Coca Cola, from about 150 yens= $1.20, it may not look so cheap but if you check the price of the mineral water that is around 250 yens for 1.5 lt you will soon notice the difference. At the same place they do a type of bargain on the food like bread, eggs, etc. check it after 6pm, the use to close at 8pm.

On the supermarket you can look for Japanese obento, if you go to the supermarket near the close time most of the food will be around 30%~50% cheaper.

Working hard in Japan and making some money is a good thing but learning how to save it is a good way to have a better life. Don't be afraid to buy cheap things, because even Japaneses use to buy it, Japans life isn't hard only for foreigners but for Japaneses too. If you want to buy something and don't know where to find the best price ask a Japanese friend, they usually know where you can buy almost everything.

You probably can save more than $1K a year, just taking some care and controling more your life in Japan.

How to make money in Japan

First Say Sorry, explain it Later - Japan Life

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:23:00 +0000

What I've learned from Japanese people? Say sorry first, explain it later... Anyone can have a bad day at work, we are humans and not perfect... You just start your day at work and the boss/superior came to you very mad because you forget to send that important email to the VIP client yesterday... Well, if you are a foreign like me probably you will try to explain why you forgot it... well very bad to you at this time your boss/superior will be more mad than ever... Here in Japan, people use to say Sumimassen = (I'm sorry) fist and try to explain why or how after.
So learn to apologize first and explain later (you don't need to bow your head to the ground but an small bowing of the head can help show your boss that you really feel sorry about it), you will save a lot of trouble and will keep a good relation with your boss/superior.
It's not being wrong or right but first to learn how to make people feel better even when you don't think they deserve it, or even when you know that you are right, some people will never learn it, no matter if you have good intentions to help them learn things, so don't loose your time trying to teach what they don't want to learn. Most Japanese co. workers are in very high pressure everyday and they don't really mind why you have failed to do your job, they know that anyone can miss something here or there, so if you say the magic word first "sumimassen" you will have the rest of the day to laugh about what happened (don't laugh in front of your boss...). Living the life in Japan is not just about to learn the culture or the language, but to learn how to deal with different people with different cultures, there is no better thing than a happy client...

Guide Dog working in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:03:00 +0000

Guide Dog Working in Japan
Walking in Tokyo you probably have found one of those Guide Dogs generally (Labrador Retriever) inside the train or bus stop or helping blind people to walk on the streets, some don't know that those Guide Dogs are trained to work and not to play like a normal dog. For sure they are very cute and once you may want to play with the dog, don't do that Guide Dogs are not allowed to play, they are trained to work only and protect his owner. Poor dog life on the training camp they are trained to even give their lives to protect their owners, if a blind person try to walk on the street and a car is to run over this person the dog take this person position and die protecting this person. So next time you find a Guide Dog don't play with it, because they are at work time and any type of distraction can be fatal, for the dog and his owner.

JGDA Japan Guide Dog Association

The Youngest Rock Band in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:23:00 +0000

The Youngest Rock Band in Japan

The project started a year ago from a television show named "sanma no karakuri" where they searching for youngest and talented music players, now with their original song composed by the guitarist with help the famous guitar player Char. Check out the video, nice sound.

The Yellow Brick Road - Japan Life

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:39:00 +0000

The Yellow Brick Road - Japan Life

Things that you can see and never may notice or things that you can not see but are very special to others... not the start of a beauty poem, I'm talking about the yellow line that you walk on everyday inside the train station or on the sidewalks in Japan. It's not just a way to make the streets more beauty or to separate the right from the left traffic. Here in Japan those lines (yellow tiles) in different patterns are used by the blind people to help them to not get in an accident. You can find it near the station, on the building entrance, inside the train station, on the train platform, etc. It's very important to not put objects blocking the yellow lines or stand on the lines.

Any tile has a different patterns so the blind people can be oriented in what is to come if it is a stair, the elevator, etc. Try to avoid the yellow tiles and keep it clean for those who need it. Of course if you want to lead someone to the train platform it's OK too, they will be very thank full for your help, usually workers at the train station help people in wheel chairs, etc.

Escalator Rules - Japan Life

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:17:00 +0000

Escalator Rules - Japan Life

Check out this image, you may wondering why is the right side free?

If you live in Japan and don't know why, remember that it's a rule in Japan

Japanese workers life is very busy, some have to take the train without lost of time.

So as a rule people left the right side for those who are more busy so they can walk on the escalator...if you are not so busy just keep the left and wait until it takes you to the top.

Obs.: In some parts of Japan they keep the left side open, but you soon notice it.

The Rich Homeless - Life in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Silvio) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:55:00 +0000

The Rich Home less - Life in Japan, not this old man in the picture...

In a country like Japan it may be dificult to imagine how a person can go down in such a level and turn in to a homeless, I will try to explain what happens in everyday Japaneses life.

First of all anyone can get down to near a level to a homeless, sometimes because a family problem, bank rupt of your own co. lose the job and not get employed again for a long time, etc. But in Japan things are very different most of the homeless were in the past very workfull person, but in a country like Japan things happens to fast that anyone even a loyal workman can turn to a homeless.

*How did they turn to a homeless?

-the first wave came around 15 years ago where big co. stop to use professionals began to install automated machines, yes robots can rob jobs from normal people, most can say that automating a co. can generate more jobs for professionals (robots engineers, etc) but what happens to the other workers that are too old to learn new technologies? The answer is if the co. don't need them anymore they will be transferred to another section of the co. to do heavier work or sometimes to clean the factory walls, etc. this technique is very used in big co. so most that feel not welcome in the co. just leave the co. to search for another job, but most don't get employed because their age. (the cut head age in Japan is 35 years old).

-the second is the pressure on the work here in Japan just work isn't sufficient you have to be the best in what you do since the competition is really high in any type of work, life is really fast in Japan.

- the third wave came when big co.s started to install computers on the offices to do the paper work, most couldn't learn the windows system that in time was in a version 95, duh who can... those who couldn't learn and adapt to the new system get fired and not employed again.

- the fourth type as the competition get heavy every year workers are in super pressure everyday, having to follow rules, showing their performance with results better than other co. That type of pressure and rules, made people quit their job and some was in so heavy pressure that commit suicide.

- Japan is not just a place to work, is a place where people really work, overtime, fast pace, heavy work, etc.

- Because these types of issues most prefer to turn in to a homeless instead have to work like a slave everyday being treated with no respect. Here in Japan we can have a good life, buying new TVs, cars, etc. but we have to work a lot to have this kind of luxury, most foreigners doesn't adapt well because they prefer to live their live with their family than pass the holy day working in the co. yes people work in the holy day here too.

* Once a homeless, where they live?
-Like in other countries, most live under the bridge or in the park benches, about 15 years ago we could see people on the train station trying to avoid the cold winter in Japan, walking through the station the smell and people under blankets was not a good thing to the image of Japan so the govern took all to the homeless to places where they could live a little better until they could find a job, since the time to stay on those "installations" was limited most return to the park bench again.

* How they survive?
No job no money no food... here in Japan you need at least $20 a day to eat well. Most homeless walk in the city collecting aluminium beer, coke cans to sell it and make some money. Think it's a $1 for kilo. It means that they can't eat well and most are very sick just waiting to die.

*How they regret to the society?
Most don't, they die under bridges or in the bench park. The Japanese govern has a project to help them to return to the society but as most don't have house, telephone for contact or any type of reference, is very difficult to find a place to work, most hide their actual situation and just pick a place to stay even if it's for a day for week. Lately we can hear about people living inside the Internet cafe booth (usually 1mtx80cm) space, probably better than stay in the park bench...

The Japan situation now is very different from 20 years ago now the salary is not so high and people loosing their jobs very fast, because their age, their incapability to lean new technology etc. that's how life is here in Japan you have to really work if not you are near to turn to a homeless.
No matter how they turn in to a homeless, is very difficult for them to return to the society, without others help.