ALT Online | The JET Program and Japan Blog

JET Participant Fatalities

2011-04-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

Tragic news about two JET participant fatalities caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Northern Japan.

Earthquake Information

2011-03-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

As you've probably already heard, a massive earthquake hit Japan. Here is some useful crisis information from Google.

Here is a link worth checking out if you are looking for relatives in Japan

My thoughts and sympathy go out to everyone in the area. For those of you with friends and family in Japan, I hope for the safety of your loved ones.

Japanese tourism fad: Factory tours

2011-03-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting post on CNN that drew my attention. Apparently, the latest tourism fad is for Japanese to go and visit factories at night...and we're not talking about walking around inside of a factory either. So why on earth would you want to go and visit factories at night in Japan? It's all in the eye of the beholder...or camera lens.

Disney English Learning

2009-04-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Walt Disney Company is moving into the English teaching business in China. The company is looking into building Shanghai Disneyland (Update: Groundbreaking just occurred on April 8, 2011).

With China's economy on the rise, this sounds like a pretty solid international business strategy. The plans are to establish more "Mickey Mouse" operations in other countries as well.

Could Disney English in Japan be next?

Utada Hikaru: New Album

2009-03-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

If you follow J-pop music at all, you'd know who Utada Hikaru is. She has been hugely popular as a J-pop artist over the past decade or so and tried breaking into the US market a few years ago with the all-English album, "Exodus". Unfortunately, it didn't fare too well from what I recall.

The new album titled, "This is the One" (with current single, "Come Back to Me") came out in the States just yesterday. We'll see how well it does. Had a listen to a few of the sample tracks. So far, it doesn't sound too bad. Definitely much more modern sounding than the last album. If you're curious, have a listen to some of the material here:
"This Is the One"

Hanami

2009-03-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

Spring is here! And that means hanami is here as well. What is hanami you ask? Hanami is a tradition that dates back to 7th Century Japan when aristocrats would enjoy looking at beautiful cherry trees (sakura) while writing poems. Hanami festivals are held all over Japan. Hanami parties usually consist of people having fun drinking, eating, and singing during the day or night.

There are over 400 varieties of sakura in Japan. The most popular one is called "somei-yoshino". An interesting thing to note about Japanese cherry trees is that they do not yield fruit like other cherry trees.

A Smart Car Vending Machine?

2009-03-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

I've seen iPods in vending machines, but, wow, Smart Cars? What'll they think of next? Actually, this is a faux vending machine that spits out brochures. Pretty neat marketing idea, though, especially in the land of vending machine worshipers: http://tr.im/huQN

Toyota in talks for 200 billion yen (US $2b) bailout plan

2009-03-03T11:03:00.001-08:00

And you thought the recession was only hitting the U.S. automakers hard. Toyota is in talks with a Japanese government-backed bank for a 200 billion yen bailout loan:
http://tr.im/gYEX

Teaching English through Obama's Speeches

2009-02-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

It looks like getting students to practice reciting President Obama's speeches is the latest trend in Japan. Why not try to incorporate some of that into your own lesson plans?

ALT Online has been Updated

2009-01-31T14:07:00.000-08:00

I've gone back and updated the Guidebook I've written up about being an ALT on the JET Program! I hope to personalize it further with photos and stories at some point in the near future. Stay tuned!

The ALT Guidebook, Part 4

2009-01-31T13:56:00.001-08:00

On Going Home

So you didn't want to continue on as an ALT for another year? Or maybe you've overstayed your welcome. Prior to 2006, JETs were allotted to a maximum 3 year stay (like yours truly). During the 2007-2008 year, the number of years has been increased to 5. One clause for staying longer is that the ALT would have to pass Level 4 of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) or by completing an official CLAIR Japanese language course.  

Passing Level 4 shouldn't be too difficult, though, if you attempt to study a little bit during your first and second years in Japan. To be honest, I felt 3 years was plenty. I really couldn't imagine staying longer than that, but that's just me. Everyone will has their own opinions on how long is enough.

Regardless, one thing is for certain when you leave Japan: reverse culture shock. That's right! The concept was initially formulated by Richard Brislim and H. Van Buren in 1974 and refers to the difficulties one can face when returning home from a long absence.   Reverse culture shock can be felt in different ways. Common conditions can include: boredom, apathy, problems starting a new job or project, anxiety, depression, and problems with social relations. Some people come to the conclusion that they are unable to "return home" and end up moving to another country. You may feel as if you have been "demoted" in social status.  

Some of the anticipated behaviors one can expect upon returning home include: negativism towards the native society, personal change (trying to go back to your old self will likely be difficult, if impossible), and cultural change (you might have a greater appreciation for foreign cultures).   There is good news about all of this, though. Upon returning home, you start to evaluate and become more aware of what you have learned while you were abroad. Some of these things include race relations and sensitivity towards other cultures and ethnic groups. Many people feel that they have learned about both the foreign and home cultures and feel that they have come to understand themselves better.  

Some returnees may have a feeling of contentment just prior to leaving Japan. They know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that the contract has been successfully accomplished. For others, they may be feeling excited about starting a new phase of their life. Things that may have seemed irritating at the time can now be viewed with more objectivity or affection.  

So, how should you deal with all of these new feelings and conditions? Maybe your friends and family aren't all that interested in what you have done/accomplished. Your best bet would be to vent your frustrations in a supportive circle. That's where JET Alumni Association can come in handy. It's always good to seek others, like yourself, who have also lived and worked abroad. You are now a multi-cultural person.  

If you don't want your reverse culture-shock experience to be that painful when you return home, here are some things you can do to "keep up with the times" in your home country:

- Develop an interest in domestic affairs. Afterall, it was you who was away.
- Keep up with the changes in business jargon, political expression, and social language by reading through letters or periodicals.
- Access the job situation back home as much as possible.

  What do you do now?   You have some work experience now in education, but suppose that's not what you want to do the rest of your life. You might be afraid that you don't have any real practical skills aside from a little bit of Japanese and a pocketful of yen. What are you to do with yourself?

Graduate school might be an option. More specifically, maybe you're pondering business school!   In many ways, b-school is similar to the JET experience: Competition to get into b-school is just as intense as getting into the JET Program. Once in a program, you start to get comfortable with the notion that you are invincible and should be treated with respect (sound familiar?) Your degree will take you a few years and since you will probably be super-busy with your studies, you'll almost feel like you're in a foreign country because you hardly see your family and friends.

  Now, with that said, here's where the similarities end. B-school is hard work -- really hard work. I went to Thunderbird (The Garvin School of International Management) for a short time and I can tell you, it was tough! You'll be spending a lot of time reading and writing. You will also have to deal with attending a lot of lectures, meeting groups with your peers, and let's not forget getting cold-called(!) during classes. Participation is part of your grade! But hey, some people would rather challenge their brains than stand in front of a classroom full of students acting like a tape recorder. Also, with b-school, depending on where you go, you may get to do interesting things like: take up internships/fellowships and get to study more Japanese (or another foreign language).  

Thus, with all of this said, b-school is not for everybody. But if this is your planned route of choice, remember to plan early. Since most schools require a GMAT score, you'll want to take that well in advance. You'll also need to obtain a copy of your undergrad transcript, a couple of letters of recommendation, and have to fill out a lengthy application form. Also, don't forget, you'll need to send money in as well in order to get all of your forms processed.   So, what to do if you don't want to go to b-school?

Check out your local chapter of JETAA (JET Alumni Association) and they might be able to help out with that. Good luck! Life is short -- HAVE FUN!

The ALT Guidebook, Part 3

2009-01-31T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Arrival in Japan!

Congratulations! You've made it to the land of the Rising Sun! Bet you never thought you'd finally be here, huh? Yup, I still remember the feeling of jumping off of the airplane, fresh from a 10-hour flight from the states, and getting into the luxury bus that whisked my group away to the Keio Plaza Hotel in downtown Tokyo (actually in Shinjunku which is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Narita Airport).

  Depending on when you arrive, you could either be a part of the first batch of JETs to go to Japan, the second group, or even possibly a third smaller group. I was part of the last group to head out. This is not always a bad thing. Actually, if you ask me, I think it was probably more intimate as I had to chance to meet and really get to know the other people around me since we were the smallest group and felt sort of like the "outcasts" compared with the rest of the pack(s) that had arrived in Japan earlier than us.  

Orientation is the time when you attend lectures, workshops, and get to meet your colleagues whom you might not see again (a good time to meet as many people as you can -- you might not get another opportunity like this!) After Orientation is over, you'll probably meet up with someone who will escort you back to your placement.

Daily Life in Japan

So, you're probably wondering what life and times are like in Japan, huh? If you're like any other gaijin who ends up in Japan, you're going to go through your share of ups-and-downs, homesickness, and then final adjustment to everything. If you're not, you'll end up leaving Japan feeling really bitter and you won't enjoy your experience at all. However, most gaijin usually end up loving Japan, but always end up with a different philosophy about everything then when they first arrived.  

Let's focus first on housing: you shouldn't have to worry about that too much. Your supervisor(s) will probably be taking care of that for you. What they might not take care of, however, are furnishings. Depending on if you have a predecessor or not, you may wind up with a lot of stuff or you might have to go out and buy everything yourself. If anything, it would probably be a good idea to bring along at least 200,000 yen (about $2,000 USD) before arriving to cover room and board until you get your first paycheck.  

Weather in Japan can go from one extreme to the other as the seasons come and go -- so make sure to dress appropriately, too. Summers in Japan are extremely warm and humid. You could take a few steps out of your apartment and before you know it, you feel like you just got out of the shower! Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and make sure your apartment is equipped with air-conditioning. Hey, what's up with those *%?&$! noisy cicadas? They're all over Japan -- but fortunately, only during the Summer months.  

Winters can be really really cold -- so make sure that you eventually buy a nice thick coat (and maybe some thermals), a kotatsu (table with heater), and lots of bedding for those cold nights. Brrrr! Don't worry about bringing that stuff, though, you should be able to purchase goods in Japan that'll do the trick! I remember going into classes in the winter and having to throw my jacket on -- and I was still cold! (My school didn't have central heating) Fortunately, they would bring portable heaters into the rooms, but students still carried around kairo (pocket hand warmers) because it was so cold.

  Transportation in Japan is pretty amazing: just about all of the trains, subways, buses, and ferries all over Japan are almost always on time. Make sure that you have the correct time schedules, however, as these tend to change pretty regularly.  Should all of these modes of transportation fail you (for instance, perhaps, you missed the last train back to your apartment), you could always take a cab. Just make sure you don't try to close the back door by yourself (the driver does this for you via automatic door).

The ALT Guidebook, Part 2

2009-01-31T11:00:00.001-08:00

How to Prepare for Becoming an ALT

Let's talk about how much money you should take with you. You may not get paid right away so it would probably be a good idea to bring at least 200,000 yen or so (USD $2,000) with you to cover the costs of transportation and food. Japan, as I'm sure you're aware is not always a cheap place (you have to know where to look!) for lots of products/services you find back home for less. But, don't despair! You'll get paid -- it might just take a little time, that's all.   Other things you'll want to have taken care of are your passport and visa (for without these, obviously, you won't be able to get into the country), possible medical insurance, and supplies.

So, let's take a look at things that you might want to bring with you:

   - Toothpaste (levels of flouride in Japanese toothpastes are probably lower than in your home country. Also, tap water does not contain any flouride. Rather than pay premium prices for imported toothpaste at places like Sony Plaza, it might still be a good idea to bring your own from back home).
  - Shaving cream and razors
  - Pharmaceuticals like aspirin, cold medicines, etc. (If I remember correctly, Tylenol, cannot be brought into the country legally -- so you might have to opt for some other alternative medicine.) 
- Antiperspirant and/or Deodorant
- Prophylactics 
- Nylons 
- Clothes (unless you're keen on Japanese fashion.) 
- Shoes (especially if you have really large feet.)
- English books and magazines  

And for the ladies:

- Sanitary pads/tampons 
- Make-up 

Some other things worth bringing: photos of your family, friends, house, and daily life in your hometown. These will certainly come in handy for presentations to friends and any speeches you might have to make. Things like interesting ink stamps, postage stamps, coins, and stickers will definitely come in handy when giving out prizes to students. Also, slides may be helpful, too.

Be aware that all of the way to the very last day of your contract (even three years into the program!), you're probably going to still be making introductions! Bleah! I think that to this day, I can still recite my introduction in my sleep!   If you have a laptop, I would definitely recommend bringing it with you. It will definitely make things easier (and neater!) when you're preparing things for classes. Also, if you have some computer literacy, you might be able to whip up some nifty "PowerPoint" or "Flash" presentations! Wow the kids! Ooh, ah, oh!  

The Interview Process

This is probably what some of you have been waiting for. How do you ace the interview? There is no perfect answer to this, but there are lots of things you can do to prep ahead of time and separate yourself from other applicants.   For starters, if you're still in school, you could opt to take Japan-related courses: Japanese history, Japanese (language), Japanese Literature, Japanese Film Studies, etc. You might consider taking up a Martial Art such as: kyudo (archery), iado (swordsmanship), karate, judo, kendo (fencing), etc. If this is not your area of interest, you might consider taking up ikebana (flower-arrangement), bonsai, shodo (calligraphy), chado (tea-ceremony), or even a musical instrument such as the koto, taiko (drumming), or shakuhachi. Heck, even listening to Japanese music (J-Pop), reading manga (comic books), and watching anime or Japanese dramas can help you to develop a deeper sense of understanding and appreciation for Japanese culture and society. 

 Do keep in mind, though, that first and foremost, you're going over to Japan to become an Assistant Language Teacher. You should, therefore, attempt to figure out how you could enrich others' lives with your own culture and identity. You should also try to learn more about the Japanese Education System if you can. There are many books on this subject (some are pretty dry, though -- even for us History majors. :-p) Understanding the system you become a part of will come in handy later on.  

Okay, so here's how the interview process usually works:   You'll get a call from the Consulate or Embassy asking to set up an appointed time for you to go down for your interview. When you get to the appointment place, you'll probably have to sit in a waiting room, briefly, before getting called in. You'll probably have a couple of people on a panel before you asking a lot of questions. Generally, the panel consists of the JET Coordinator, a former ALT or CIR, and possibly a Japanese professor from a nearby school (at least that is what the panel was comprised of when I gave my interview).  

Some questions you might get asked during the interview:

- What made you decide you wanted to apply for the JET Program?
- How do you see yourself being different from someone else applying for the JET Program?
- Have you always felt comfortable living in your home country?
- Do you have an interest in Japanese culture?
- What do you plan to teach the students about your culture when you get to Japan?
- What would you do if you were 'groped' on the train? (directed at females)
- What would you say are the highlights of your country's history?
- What do you think makes a good Assistant Language Teacher?

You might get asked to explain how you would carry out a sample English lesson in a class. Not to worry, though. Remember, it's not like you need to have a TSL certificate to go on the program. And there will always be a JTE (Japanese Teacher of English -- love the acronyms strewn all over the place?) in the room when you're doing the actual teaching. So keep that in mind.

How should you dress? Well, how would you dress for other interviews? More than likely, you'll want to wear something professional. If you want to make a good impression, trust me, I don't think you're going to get hired wearing shorts, t-shirt, and flipflops. You'd think it's common sense, but I saw a guy wearing just that at his interview. I'm sure he didn't get selected.

  Do you need to know Japanese? No, but it may come in handy during the interview if you have prior experience. I had taken a year of Japanese in college and so during the interview, they wanted to see how much I knew even though I wouldn't be accounted for my answers. (You can bet I was sweating!) Well, they turned out to be some pretty simple stuff.

Don't worry about not knowing anything about the culture either. The key thing to remember here is that you're interested in the program so that you can learn, learn, learn!

Bottom line, the best thing to do is to try and practice interviewing with a friend or relative. Have them ask you some of these questions (and maybe others, if they think of any). Before you know it, you'll have your answers down so that you could probably recite them in your sleep! Good luck with the interview!

The ALT Guidebook, Part 1

2009-01-31T10:30:00.000-08:00

What is the JET Program?

What is the JET Program, you ask? The JET Program was originally started in 1978 as a program strictly for British university graduates called the "British English Teachers Scheme". The program was eventually merged with another program called the "Mombusho English Fellow Program" and became the JET Program in 1987. Its goal is to embrace "internationalization" in Japanese schools and communities through interaction between the native population and foreigners. The most recent numbers show that there are over 4,500 participants from over 40 countries on the program. It seems interest has waned a bit over the years (or maybe it's partly due to the recession in Japan). Regardless, that's still a much larger number of people than when I was there.

The program is designed to allow university graduates the chance to serve in public and private junior and senior high schools as ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers). You could also become a CIR (Coordinators for International Relations) or SEA (Sports Exchange Advisors) and work at the local government level, but you must be fluent in Japanese. This site doesn't focus on the CIR or SEA positions. For more on becoming a CIR, go here. Instead, we are focusing on the ALT position. That's why you're here, right?

The program is run by local Japanese governments cooperating with several national ministries. The Program lasts approximately one year, but participants may renew their contracts (provided they're on good terms with the respective employer) up to five years.  

A very resourceful book was written about the JET Program. It is called, Importing Diversity: Inside Japan's JET Program and is written by David L. McConnell. The book goes into great length about the origins of the JET Program and also offers insight into Japanese society and its educational system. In addition, the author gives accurate depictions of ALT experiences in Japan.  

Let's cut to the chase: many of you are probably wondering how much you get paid. Last I checked, the program salary is still 3,600,000 yen/year (note: you get paid in yen). Do keep in mind that your salary will vary depending on other factors including: the currency exchange rate, local taxes, Japanese Social Security, and your placement.   A portion of the cost for mandatory health insurance and pension fund expenses is borne by each participant's monthly salary. Assuming you leave without unmanageable debts in your home country, this salary should be sufficient to cover average living expenses in Japan.

What are Expectations of the ALT?

Now maybe you're wondering what you do as an ALT: ALTs are basically engaged in English language instruction. Their duties usually include the following, but always vary depending on your placement. First and foremost, ALTs assist with classes taught by Japanese Teachers of English. ALTs are usually assigned to help out with Reader, Grammar, and (at the senior high level) Oral Communication classes. Lots of fun to be had here! Just make sure you have a decent memory as there will be tons of Japanese students' names to remember!   Here are some things ALTs usually help out with:

- Assist with the preparation of supplementary teaching materials. If you're lucky, or if you've been teaching for awhile, the teachers may even give you free reign to design and plan lessons for the day! After my second year on the JET Program, teachers at my high school actually let me design classes for the whole semester! Again, though, keep in mind, it all depends on your placement.

- Help with language training of Japanese Teachers of English. This can come in a variety of ways -- whether just helping during teacher meetings or maybe even during language seminars that are conducted by several ALTs.  

- Provide assistance with the English language clubs at their respective schools. These are after-school activities in which you may be asked to create short lessons or games that help a small group of students that really want to increase their knowledge of English and who also want to communicate more with a gaijin (foreigner).  

- May get asked to provide information on language and other related subjects for Teachers' Consultants and Japanese Teachers of English. Sometimes, there will be school district or regional meetings where you may get asked to help prepare and provide teaching information to your colleagues. Usually, you will do this with a Japanese Teacher of English from one of your schools. This may not always be the case, however, and again, depends on your placement.  

- May get asked to assist with English speech contests (although I never did, but I did have to evaluate a ton of tapes with students' reading voices included on them). In addition, there will most likely be local international exchange activities (such as festivals and other events) and other activities and duties specified by the host institution (this could include school cultural festivals, plays, and enkais - he he he. What? Don't know what enkais are? They're basically big school/office parties thrown throughout the year -- usually after big events. Now, don't have TOO much fun! ;-)) 

 More than likely, you'll probably be placed in one of three types of placements: working out of one senior high school or junior high school, working out of one senior high school or junior high school and going to other schools on a periodic basis, or working out of a school board office and going to as many as 30 different schools during the month(!) All three types of placements will have their advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, you won't have a choice on which one you get.

Prior to going to Japan, I had the misconception that all students I worked with would be hard-working and getting ready for the university exams (at least at the high school level). While part of this was accurate, I also found that there were students who were on the opposite end of the spectrum: I regularly visited one school where the fire alarm would get pulled at least once a day and the kids would throw their books out the window. I recall trying to open the window during one class to let lingering tobacco smoke out (students would smoke in the classroom when teachers weren't present) and a girl student kept closing it saying it was too cold outside because it was the middle of winter.

Bullying can also be a problem at some schools: I recall a class where a student placed thumbtacks on another student's chair as he was about to sit down (I intervened). And there was yet another incident where a student came into the teacher staff room with gum stuck in his hair.

Cell Phone Straps!

2009-01-26T11:43:00.002-08:00

Leave it to the Japanese to make fashion statements with -- cell phone straps? Actually, cell phone straps have been around for years, but more recently, it seems to have become popular to have a whole bunch of straps attached to your phone holding everything from characters to screen cleaners and USB rechargers. Check out some of the pictures from this site.

Follow me on twitter!

2009-01-04T14:44:00.010-08:00

Check out the Twitter feed I've placed in the right column. I'm just starting to embrace the "micro-blog" movement and think this will be a good way to keep the site updated about interesting Japanese culture-related items I come across.

If you'd like to follow me on Twitter, you can do so here. Thanks!

Ramune - latest craze?!

2008-09-11T12:34:00.006-07:00

So I thought this was kind of funny. I was looking through the store flyers that come with the Sunday paper. One of them was for Cost Plus. They were advertising Ramune soda as being the "latest craze from Japan". Latest craze?! Come on, Ramune has been around forever! Ramune, for those who don't know, is a carbonated soft drink known for its distinctive bottle-sealed-with-marble design and often sold at festivals in Japan.

What's interesting about Ramune is that although it is deeply ingrained into Japanese culture, it is not Japanese at all. It was originally created back in the late 1800's by a Scottish pharmacist, Alexander Cameron Sim, who lived most of his life in Japan. The distinctive bottle was designed by an English engineer named Hiram Codd.

What IS unconventional about Ramune is that recently, there is a company putting out new flavors including: Green tea, Oo-long, and get this: wasabi, curry, and annin doufu(!) The latter three flavors would be interesting to try.

Benihana Chain Owner dies

2008-07-18T16:27:00.004-07:00

Rocky Aoki, the man known for starting the Benihana chain of restaurants, has died at the age of 69. What I didn't realize about him was that he started out as a wrestler on the Japanese Olympic team. This eventually brought him to the US where he served ice cream by day and studied restaurant management at night dreaming he would one day blend food and entertainment.

Nomo is No More

2008-07-18T16:17:00.003-07:00

It looks like Hideo Nomo, MLB's second-ever Japanese baseball player and the one noted for starting the wave of Japanese players to come to the US (including Ichiro and Hideki Matsui), has decided it is time to retire. 39-year-old Nomo's amazing career in the majors began with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 2, 1995. Nomo wants to continue playing, but is afraid he won't be able to continue throwing at the "professional-level" anymore.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T17:11:00.003-08:00

Yup, it's that time of year again -- time to celebrate one of the most commercial holidays of the year (probably neck and neck with Christmas and Halloween -- your choice). I'm laughing at my co-worker, right now, as he sits and ponders (and stresses) as to what he should take home to his girlfriend (flowers or chocolate?). It's also probably THE holiday, if you have a significant other, when you shouldn't come home empty-handed -- unless you're a guy in Japan (or Korea or Taiwan, I'm told). He was shocked when I told him that in Japan, the guys get something on V-day, but then have to reciprocate one month later (March 14) on "White Day".

Watch out for bad gyoza!

2008-02-07T11:06:00.001-08:00

Well, if you haven't been perusing the Japanese headlines, lately, you probably don't know about the big "gyoza" scare that's been going on. Apparently, a bunch of frozen gyoza (both meat and vegetable versions) from China has been tainted with pesticides getting people sick. This, has also been hurting business for gyoza restaurants leading some to take gyoza-related items off of their menus. I wonder if this would affect gyoza in other countries as well.

I Can Get My MUJI now!

2007-12-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

Mujirushi-ryohin (Muji, for short) along with UNIQLO, and Tokyu Hands were my fave stores in Japan. Looks like the first Muji store in the US is now open! :) It opened last month in NYC.

Gairaigo -- beneficial for who?

2007-10-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

This is nothing new, but I thought this article was an interesting one commenting on the concern over the abuse of borrowing loan words (gairaigo) from other languages, particularly English, when there are already perfectly good Japanese phrases that can describe something.

If this is a benefit to anybody, it should be for us non-native Japanese speakers. But seriously, if someone were speaking to you in Japanese, would you be able to understand them if they said something like this: "pa-bu-ri-kku-i-n-bo-ru-bu-me-n-to". Say it with me...come on, I know you want to. :) Or how about this one? "ro-do-pu-ra-i-shi-n-gu"(unless you have a knack for phonetics, you may need to read the article to see what these actually mean). I'm guessing, in the end, though, nobody really benefits from stuff like this.

Earthquake hits Northwestern Japan

2007-07-17T23:03:00.001-07:00

All over the news today: a major earthquake registering 6.8 on Japan's meteorological agency's scale (US Geological Survey put it at 6.6) shook the northwestern coast of Japan (Niigata-ken) causing a fire at a nuclear power station and sparking fears of tsunamis. The earthquake killed nine people and injured another 1,000.

This puts nuclear safety in the limelight as authorities feared the accident could raise public doubts over all of Japan's nuclear reactors. The country relies on the generators for about 1/3 of its electricity.

Ichiro will stay with the M's for roughly $100m

2007-07-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, that sounds like a LOT of money. Do the Mariners need Ichiro THAT badly? Well, if you look at other ex-M's stars, you'll see that this isn't all THAT crazy:

The M's tried keeping Ken Griffey Jr. with a $148 million over 8 years contract, but he left to be closer to his family.

When A-Rod became a free agent in 2000, the M's didn't want to pay him the $252 million 10-year contract the Rangers shelled out. THAT would've been crazy.

So does Ichiro really need the Mariners? He seems happy at Safeco Field. He also seems to enjoy playing for teams for long periods of time (he played with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan for 9 seasons).

If anything, this is a great time for M's fans. You've got a future Hall-of-Famer on your hands...