JapaneseRuleOf7

Renewing a Japanese Visa, More Fun Every Year

Ken Seeroi — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:35:05 +0000

Ah, May. What a wonderful month. The seasonal rains wash away winter, it’s finally warm enough to sleep without a hat, and I get to enjoy renewing my Japanese visa. That’s how I know spring has come. Unfortunately, unlike going to the Japanese doctor, or being arrested by the Japanese police, there’s no apparent redeeming [...]

Japan, After the Love

Ken Seeroi — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:38:33 +0000

And then somehow I ended up in Fukuoka for Golden Week, eating at this yatai along the river. It all had something to do with a Japanese girl and way too much sake, as I recall. I mean, assuming I could recall, which actually I can’t. But anyway, Golden Week is a great holiday time [...]

Why You Shouldn’t Learn Japanese

Ken Seeroi — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:57:55 +0000

Anyone with an interest in Japan should learn a little Japanese, I really believe. Daily life is much better when you know a few key phrases: Hello. My name is. Please. May I? No really, please. Why not? Oh come on, please. You sure? Last chance. Well fine, be that way. Sorry for causing a [...]

What to Bring to Japan: An 8-Item Checkist

Ken Seeroi — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:14:58 +0000

If you’re planning to visit Japan, there’s definitely some stuff you should and should not bring. And moving to Japan? Whoa, then you really need to consider what to stuff into your gym bag. But not to worry! As always, Ken Seeroi is here for you, doing all that pesky thinking business so you can [...]

How to Start Learning Japanese

Ken Seeroi — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:33:07 +0000

Someone on Facebook recently asked me: What’s the best way to begin learning Japanese, for someone starting from zero? Never one to shirk authorial duties, I did the responsible thing by jumping up, slamming my laptop closed, and running to the convenience store for a bottle of cheap white wine and a bag of spicy [...]

Sakura Ka-Boom

Ken Seeroi — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 04:19:35 +0000

Another year, and already sakura season’s almost over, thank God. So exhausting, all that relaxing under the cherry blossom trees, for real. Sakura season isn’t just great. It’s better than great, whatever that is, since everyone’s waited like six months for Japan to get warm again, and then once it does, Boom! it’s Hanami Party [...]

Smog Time in Japan

Ken Seeroi — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 02:00:06 +0000

Ah, springtime in Japan; there’s nothing like it. The world is once again alive with color as the ume trees bring forth their red blossoms, sakura bloom with pink, and half the nation is covered in a delicate, yellow smog from China. It is, as the Japanese say, a breathtaking sight. And God, nothing makes [...]

Learn Japanese Quickly – in 7 Easy Steps

Ken Seeroi — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:36:06 +0000

So you want to learn Japanese fast? Great—you can!—in just seven easy steps. Just like the pros. Now don’t deny it, you want to believe those guys on the internet claiming to have “learned Japanese” in like a year or two. For some reason it’s always guys too—why is that? Aren’t women supposed to be [...]

On the Run from the Japanese Police

Ken Seeroi — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:20:11 +0000

So last Wednesday I taught at this Japanese middle school. And as I was riding home on my midget little scooter, I caught a glimpse of a Japanese motorcycle cop off to my left. I was cresting a small hill, and he was just kind of sitting there when I cruised past. I thought for [...]

7 “Features” of Working in a Japanese Office

Ken Seeroi — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:51:32 +0000

Somehow, things never work out like you think they’re gonna. Take for example, my plan, if you could call it that. I was working an office job in the U.S., and I concocted this great escape by which I’d run off to Japan and teach English to pretty girls for a year before settling into [...]