Surviving in Japan: (without much Japanese)

HOW TO: Print in Japan Without Owning a Printer

2012-02-28T23:10:00.001+09:00

My first months here in Japan I found myself needing to print things more often than I would have thought before arriving. I didn't have a printer (and still don't) and I would print things out at work when it was necessary to have something in paper form.

Sometimes though, it was a hassle. And I felt bad for using the printers at school for non-work related things. I wasn't really sure what other options I had.

Until one day when I was making copies at the 7-11 (convenience store) near my apartment. While going through the process of entering the information for my copies, I noticed a sign that said "net print" in katakana. Though I couldn't read everything at the time, it appeared that I could possibly print documents out here, at this machine, at my local 7-11.

I went home, typed in the URL and signed up for an account. Soon enough I was regularly printing my documents out at 7-11 with ease and didn't have to worry about doing it at work (although, let's be honest, I did on occasion. Especially when my co-workers were all in a meeting that I was not required to attend).

So, here are three places (that I'm aware of) you can print documents if you don't have a printer at home (I won't go into photos in this post, but you can also print photos at these places):

1. FedEx Kinko's - You can find these if you live in one of the following major cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe.

2. 7-11 - This convenience store has a "net print" (ネットプリント) service from Fuji Xerox. You upload a file to your account, go to a nearby store and print it out at the copy machine. This seems to be available in most, if not all, stores. Scroll down for a step-by-step guide on how to set up an account (a post is coming on how to upload and print the documents once you've set up an account).

3. Circle K - A similar service to 7-11, but this convenience store calls their service from Sharp, "network print service" (ネットワークプリントサービス). They've only recently been implementing this, so it may not be available everywhere yet, but I'm sure if not it will be soon. Below you'll find a step-by-step guide on how to set up an account (a post is coming on how to upload and print the documents once you've set up an account).

A fourth option might include an internet cafe, if you're planning to visit one for an hour or two, but probably not the best choice if you want to quickly print something out.

Do you know of any other places to print out documents in Japan? Let us know in the comments!

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How to sign up for a print service account with Circle K

Step 1

Click the long pink button (アカウントを作成する) to create a free account.

Step 2
This page explains a few things and lists the terms. Click "同意する" to agree and continue.

Step 3

Enter your email address twice and click "通信" to submit.

Step 4
This is the confirmation page. You'll receive an email with a link in it. Click on that link.

Step 5
After clicking on the link in the email you received, you'll arrive at the following page.

Enter your name and choose whether you want your login information to include a user number and name/password combo, or just a name/password combo (more secure). Then click 次へ.

Step 6
Enter your desired password (twice) between 8 and 32 characters. Then click 次へ.

Step 7
Finally, review the information and click 次へ to continue. Click the blue button on the left to go back.

Step 8
The final page to show up is the confirmation page, and you should also receive an email.

That's it!

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How to sign up for a print service account with 7-11

Step 1
Go to this page and click ユーザー登録する to create a new account.

Step 2
The next page shows the terms and some general information. Click 同意する to agree and continue.

Step 3
The next page briefly talks about the privacy policy (there's a blue link to it to read it). Click 承諾します (agreeing to the information listed) to continue.

Step 4
Next, you'll want to fill in your information, including name, name in katakana, phone number, email address, a user id between 3 and 16 characters, how you heard about the service, and if you want to receive emails from them or not. Once you've filled it all out, click the button on the far left to continue.

Step 5
Check over the information to confirm it's correct and click the button on the left to submit.

Step 6
You'll see the following page next. Check your email and click the link in that box. Proceed to step 7.

Step 7
Choose a password and type it again in the second box. Click submit to continue.

Step 8
Confirm the information.

Step 9
You're finished! Now click the button to return to the main page to login.

***
Smartphone Applications for 7-11 and Circle K Print Services

Both printing services for 7-11 and Circle K have free apps you can use to upload files (documents and photos) directly from your smartphone. The apps are Japanese-only. For the iPhone/iPad apps, you must download through the Japan iTunes store.

"netprint" is the 7-11 app, available for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows phone. More on netprint mobile services here (Japanese).

"ネットワークプリント" is Circle K's print service app, available for iPhone, iPad, and Android. More on those applications here (Japanese).

Next up: How to upload and print the documents via these services.

Do you know of any resources for printing in Japan without owning a printer? Let us know below!

30 Worthwhile Japan Links From the Past 2 Weeks (Feb 26)

2012-02-26T20:30:00.000+09:00

A street-side shop in Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan.

Welcome back to another edition of Surviving in Japan's Top Japan Links. We've got Old Navy coming to Japan, Ikea opening in Kyushu, Mister Donut and Mos Burger joining forces, an all-you-can-eat-sushi joint in Tokyo, a chance for free tickets to Japan, a shorter travel distance from Narita to Tokyo, an emotional app, entertaining rabbits, in-style tomato juice, and many other interesting, useful, more serious (and fun) links from around the web. Enjoy! -Ashley

Living in Japan

Firms have few grounds to refuse staff paid leave (Japan Times) - The helpful folks from the Tokyo Public Law Office take over the Lifelines column for the week (they answer legal questions the second week of every month) to address paid leave rights of employees. Yes, employees are entitled to paid leave, no matter what their employer says.

Gap to open 1st Old Navy store in Japan (Japan Today) - Old Navy fans rejoice! I hope they put in more than one...

Flu season has peaked nationwide, say health officials (Japan Today) - Let's hope it has peaked and this whole flu business is now over with.

Softbank to launch new high-speed mobile data service (Japan Today)

Ikea to open first Kyushu outlet (Japan Times) - Any Ikea fans in Kyushu?

Climate Model Predicts Longer Rainy Season in Future Japan (Japan for Sustainability) - A longer rainy season. Wonderful. Just what we all want...

Food

7 Non-Rice Dishes You Can Cook in a Rice Cooker - Did you know you can cook a whole chicken in a rice cooker? Yeah, neither did I. Not sure if I'll try that one though.

Miso's 'moya moya' (Japan Times) - If you've ever wondered about that cloudy stuff that gathers in the middle of your miso soup, here's a lengthy explanation. (I honestly never wondered about it, but it is interesting).

MOSDO store to open in Tokyo's Ebisu (Japan Today) - A combination restaurant of Mister Donuts and Mos Burger. Literally. I like the organic veggies concept though, and the sandwiches look like they might actually be legit...

Kakaku.com Unveils “Tabelog Yoyaku”, Online Restaurant Reservation Site (Asiajin) - Great idea, although I'm curious how many restaurants will participate, and in what parts of Japan.

All-You-Can-Eat Sushi in Tokyo Only 1050 Yen! (But Per-Plate Penalty If You Can’t Finish) (RocketNews24) - Who's up for 食べ放題 (たべほうだい, all-you-can-eat) sushi? Although I'm curious, is all-you-can-eat sushi popular, or even commonly available in the US? I don't think there were any places like that near where I lived. Kaiten-zushi was popular though.

Kōji — Japan's vital hidden ingredient (Japan Times) - Koji is a fermenting fungus used in a variety of Japanese food.

Travel and Recreation

Foreign visitors off for 11th month (Japan Times) - So, who's coming to visit Japan?

'Thank You' visitor campaign starts (Japan Times) - Well, if you are visiting, Japan would like to show you their appreciation.

JAL adds services to San Diego, Helsinki (Japan Today)

Subway to shorten Narita, Haneda trips (Japan Times) - This doesn't appear to be much shorter than the Keisei Skyliner, at first glance, but the Keisei is 36 minutes from Ueno to Narita, while this subway line is expected to get you from Tokyo station to Narita in 37 minutes.

Google Street View Takes You Inside Ancient Japanese Caves [VIDEO] (Mashable) - Travel and explore some of Japan's caves, without leaving your living room!

Flightfox Outsources Your Airfare Search to Save You a Ton of Time and Money (Lifehacker) - I'm curious to try this and see what they come up with. Seems like a fantastic potential resource.

[Updated] Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Blooming Forecast 2012 - Yes, this is an SiJ link, but some of the dates have changed so want to let you all know!

ANA opens ‘Is Japan Cool?’ campaign, offering free tickets to Japan (Japan Today) - Another chance for a couple free tickets. I also thought it was interesting they put "high tech toilet" as something "Cool Japan." I don't know about you, but the high tech toilet thing, as interesting as it can be, is starting to get a bit old...

Just for Fun

App Translates Your Face Into Emoticon [kaomoji] (Japan Trends) - Now this, is a cool app. Take a picture of your face, and the app translates it to an emoticon you can use in a text, email, whatever.

Tokyo's rabbit cafes hopping with customers (Japan Times) - This link was quite popular when I shared it, so, here you go. Hop on over to see some fuzzy bunnies!

Ramen Shop Serves Mountains of Meat, Gets Customers and Laughs (RocketNews24) - If you're vegetarian, vegan, or just plain grossed out by a giant pile of meat, don't click this link.

Japanese Shoppers Buying Tomato Juice Like There’s No Tomorrow (RocketNews24) - Local supermarket out of tomato juice? This could be why.

Japanese facial corset promises cuteness in just 3 minutes! (Japan Subculture Research Center) - For those of you pining away for a smaller face.

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis/Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami-related

Put children before politics (Japan Times) - A quote from the article, "Medical experts are deeply concerned about children and their radiation exposure and the potential hazard to their health." Not just them, I'm concerned too, as I'm sure many parents are.

Nuke crisis caused by Japan, not quake: Kan (Japan Times) - This is probably obvious now...

Residents of three towns received as much as 23 millisieverts of radiation (Japan Times)

Grandparents stifle grief to raise orphaned boy (Japan Times) - Absolutely heartbreaking.

Coins to commemorate March 11 (Japan Times) - Unfortunately these will primarily be sold/given to individual investors who purchase disaster-reconstruction bonds.

Are You a Racist? This Guy is... [Interview]

2012-02-21T23:15:00.003+09:00

Today I'm thrilled to introduce to you Baye McNeil, also known as "Loco," of the popular blog, Loco in Yokohama. A glance at his site and you'll quickly notice that not only does his content set him apart from other bloggers, but his stellar writing stands out as well. He has a knack for mingling words in a way that engages and entertains you, but also makes you think. And he goes straight to reality - what actually happens in Japan every day, at work, out and about, interactions with Japanese folks and foreigners alike. He doesn't complain or whine about life, but paints realistic scenes and then turns inward to examine his own response to various situations.

Baye is a good guy and has been kind and encouraging to me since I joined the Japan blogosphere. I'm so excited for him that he's just published his first book, and believe me when I say, it's good. I'm a tough critic. I don't give praise for these types of things lightly, but I believe Baye's book is worth it.

Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist, a perhaps seemingly controversial book title, takes a look at his life journey from New York City to Japan, and the many events in between, and examines how racism and culture have played out in his life in each place. Although rather than complain or criticize those around him, he turns the tables towards himself. He's honest about the mistakes and choices he's made. It's raw. This guy has really lived life.

As he goes through the scenes of his life, it might make you feel uncomfortable at times. But that, I think, is what makes this book worth reading. Change doesn't occur when we're comfortable, and I think Baye is on to something with that.

No, it's not really just about living in Japan, although parts of the book are about Baye's life here. But the topic is a good one and I certainly thought it was worth my ~~very limited~~ time to read. You might not agree with everything he says, and I don't think that's the point, but at least his book starts a greater discussion for humanity moving forward.

Baye McNeil, aka "Loco"

Ashley: First of all, what brought you to Japan, how long have you been here, and what do you do?

Baye: I came to Japan for a number of reasons, but I think primarily it was to escape from New York. Like many Americans, and in particular us New Yorkers, I think I was traumatized by the events of 9/11. I watched it unfold from a rather close distance and could see the collapse of the towers from my rooftop, as well as the fighter jets shooting by overhead. But, not only that, it was all of that post- 9/11 foolishness. The practical police/military state NYC had become. Armed soldiers on the streets, on the bridges and tunnels and bus stations and subways. It was creepy.

So when a good friend of mine invited me to come stay with him for a couple of weeks here in Japan, I jumped all over it and had such a great time without this literal cloud over me (the actual fumes and smoke from the twin towers lingered for a long time…walking around inhaling the cremated remains of people and god knows what other chemicals went into the construction of the towers and whatnot) was like arriving in St. Lucia on a direct flight from Antarctica. Naturally, I became enchanted. If he lived in Malaysia I’d probably be Loco in Kuala Lumpur instead of Loco in Yokohama. Any place was better than NY. I needed to get away!

Eight years later, I’m still away, still here…and still not particularly eager to go back. I’m an English teacher at a couple of junior high schools in Yokohama. I like it; I like the kids and co-workers, but basically it pays the bills while I try to get my writing career up and running.

Ashley: Going straight to the title of your book - You're a racist? What's that all about?

Baye: It’s about my thoughts, feelings and behavior towards Japanese people; particularly the ones I don’t know. The Japanese people I do know, like people anywhere, range from fairly tolerable to the salt-of-the-earth. But, unfortunately, as is the case everywhere, the majority of the people I encounter on a daily basis I don’t know, and will never know. And for these people, as a result of a rather high number of incidents, both great and small, of a nature that has made me feel on too many occasions dehumanized, ostracized, criminalized, demoralized (and a number of other “izes”), I have developed an unhealthy degree of animosity, disgust, distrust and borderline hatred for these anonymous people.

These feelings have not come about as a result of my ignorance of Japanese people and culture -- as is often the case with many racists -- but as a result of offenses (whether intentional or not) I’ve experienced directly. And although these instances continue on a daily basis and are committed by a relatively miniscule amount of the populace of this fine country, I nonetheless retain these feelings. This book is about how I acquired them, manage them, do battle with them, and remain hopeful of overcoming them.

Ashley: This reminds me of something I learned in a Psychology class in college -- we all (myself included) have biases, whether they are towards race, age, gender, weight, religion, etc. We're either not aware of them or we just never talk about it. We (my academic peers and I) had the chance to take an Implicit Association Test to see if any of the tests uncovered any hidden beliefs we had in one of those areas (despite a few flaws as to be expected with most tests, I recommend anyone reading to take one or more and see what happens).

Do you think this goes along with your line of thinking -- that we're either "shit kickers," "posers," or "oblivious," as you describe in your book? Do you believe your definitions of racists also apply (or can apply) to other discrimination types?

Baye: I’m not sure… Most of the psychological tests I’ve encountered and taken have been biased themselves, or begin with questions with dubious orientation and premises. For example, asking someone who has lived any number of years in most places on this planet whether they prefer whites or blacks, with the amount of Europeanization (and black dehumanization) we’ve all suffered for generations upon generations, is like asking male prisoners locked away in penitentiaries for upwards of twenty years whether they’d prefer prison guards to be male or female (mild exaggeration, very mild…)

Ashley: What do you feel are the main differences and/or similarities within the context of "racism" between the US and Japan, at least, from the locations you have spent time in?

Baye: Difficult question. As I mentioned, I’m from New York City and I really think of NY as a little country unto itself. There’s a culture in NY that is unique. Not to say that there isn’t racism, racial intolerance or racial discrimination in NY. There most certainly is. But, at least over the course of my life time, I’ve seen New York sort of evolve into a place where attitudes of the kind you encounter here in Japan, for instance, are becoming intolerable.

I can’t say this is true for the rest of the US. There are places in the US as “homogenous” and isolated as Japan imagines it is. A Chinese person in Idaho, an Indian in Indiana, a Japanese person in Alabama…they all might experience life much differently than they would in NY, where Chinese, Indians and Japanese do not stand out, and the ignorance of the respect, tolerance and acceptance level that ALL people, regardless of skin color or background, are entitled to is less of a factor in their lives. So, I have difficulty answering that question…sorry.

I will say this, though. I think that a great deal of the racist attitudes one might encounter in the US would be from people who actually think of the old days as the “good ole days.” In other words, it’s about power. Maybe there is a human need to class off, or to “look up to” and “look down on” other people, for a number of reasons, race, gender, sexual orientation, weight, age, etc… and maybe “different” is inherently a threat… but until we get to the point, as a species, where we can evolve beyond the incessant need to do such things, we’ll always be looking over the cliff into the abyss.

Ashley: Do you believe that racism (or any other type of discrimination) is something individuals can overcome through time, understanding, or other means?

Baye: I sincerely hope so. As the greatest writer I know, James Baldwin, once said, when asked a very similar question, “I cannot be a pessimist because I’m alive. To be a pessimist means you’ve agreed that human life is an academic matter. So I am forced to be an optimist; I’m forced to believe we can survive!” (No pun intended.)

To me, to believe that racism will persist as long as humans do is to be pessimistic. I mean, this whole idea of race, especially in the US and Europe, was basically created to rationalize and justify crimes against black humanity, like the European slave trade. So, if it was manmade, I don’t see why we can’t un-make it, or make something new that makes it obsolete, the way the automobile made the horse and buggy obsolete. And I believe we’re on that path.

This book, I hope, will just help people of all nations move a little closer to where we need to be and a little further from where we have regrettably gone. So, I guess my answer is, in the words of another great thinker, “Yes We Can.”

Ashley: Most foreigners living in Japan deal with racism and the "being different" factor to some degree, although we all experience it in different ways, positive or negative, light to extreme. How has racism played out in your life specifically and affected you, as an African-American man, living here in Japan?

Baye: Not much…or I should say, I’m not positively sure how much it has.

One of the conclusions I’ve come to living here in Japan is one that may seem a bit obvious but yet still took me a while to accept. That is, I don’t know what the hell people are thinking here or anywhere. Why the table beside me in that café remains empty, or that seat beside me on the train. Why that woman clutched her handbag and turned away, or the man who ran away to the next car after taking a look at me, or why the happy group of revelers about to board an elevator I’m already aboard suddenly become subdued and decline to board…

These people? I have no idea what’s going through their individual minds… I just hate the behavior resulting from these thoughts. I hate the way it makes me feel about them, and about myself. This book is not about Japanese racism. It’s about my own! Because if I can learn to love people who behave this way, then I believe I can do anything I set my mind and heart to, and thus I have undertaken this task.

Ashley: What advice do you have for foreigners living in Japan who might be experiencing similar discrimination to what you have encountered?

Baye: I have not been the victim of racial discrimination here in Japan. I think I should make that clear. The name of this book is not: “Hi! My name is Loco and the Japanese are racists.” In fact, I’ve only been discriminated against ONCE in my eight years here. By this I mean blatant Jim Crow-style discrimination of the sort my parents endured: refused service or entry or employment or housing, etc…only ONCE! (Which you can read about in the book.)

Of course, others may have a great deal more to say in this area than I do. I’m kind of a hermit. I spend a lot of time writing so I don’t go out very much. Maybe if I did I would have experienced more of this discrimination that I hear about. I’m kind of glad I haven’t. Sometimes when I hear the phrase racial discrimination tossed around, it’s being used in a way that’s not so much wrong as it is a way I wouldn’t use it. For example, if some Japanese person tells me, “sorry, no speak English,” when I’m speaking Japanese to them, that is not what I would call discrimination. But I’ve heard it labeled as such. However, based on the behavior I’ve seen from our hosts, and extended conversations I’ve had with friends and students over the years, I find it entirely plausible that a there’s a lot of discrimination going on and some of it is likely racially related.

But, actually, the form of racism I’ve seen in Japan that I find even more disturbing is the brand being dispensed by the foreigners living here. They prompted me to check myself and write this book as much as the Japanese have! I’m talking about the people who willfully go out of their way to protect, defend, and justify the ignorance encountered here. I won’t elaborate on these people here, but I do so in the book. So, my advice to people living in Japan, for what it’s worth, is this: before you call Japanese people out on what you might interpret as their racist ways, check yourself first! Ask yourself these tough questions about race that I’m attempting to address in this interview and in my book. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone… or something like that. I’m not a Christian, but the Bible is full of truths.

Ashley: What's next for Loco? Another book? Staying in Japan or any plans to eventually return to the States?

Baye: Yep, another book, and then another, and another… Staying in Japan? Nah! Think I’ve gotten about as much out of the experience as I can (take). (-;

But, that’s not to say I won’t keep a place here if I’m ever rich enough to do so. I really love this country. And it has been very, very good to me in many ways.

Ashley: Finally, what are your best "living in Japan" tips for SiJ readers?

Baye: Hmmmm…

a) Learn enough Japanese to get by. If you can, for example, arrange a shipment of packages to your house over the phone (like I did the other day when I received my books) then you can probably survive without being dependent on your Japanese friends too much.

b) Work on your smile. It opens a lot of doors here. But I guess that’s true everywhere…

c) Get a Mamachari. I bought a mountain bike last year and now I miss my basket and not worrying about anyone stealing it so much.

d) Get point cards. Most businesses offer them and they can save you BUNDLES! And also snatch up magazines like Hot Pepper and such. They contain deals galore!

e) Don’t believe everything people living here tell you will definitely apply to you as well. Experiences here vary like mileage on cars.

Baye: Ashley, thank you so much for having me! You, my dear, rock! I appreciate you asking tough questions. The better for your readers to get to know what I’m about and also shows the kind of person you are. You know? I mean, you could have Jay Leno’d me but instead you Charlie Rose’d me LOL! It’s been a real pleasure.

Ashley: Aw, thank you! And thanks so much for taking the time to give us such thought-provoking answers. We wish you the very best success with your book and your writing career!

***

You can find Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist on Amazon in eBook or paperback format. Check out more about the book at Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist. To check out more of Baye's adventures in Japan, head over to Loco in Yokohama.

HOW TO: Schedule a Redelivery with Sagawa

2012-02-18T21:00:00.000+09:00

Last week I showed you how to create an online account with Sagawa so that this week you can learn how to request a redelivery with Sagawa completely online. All you need is your account already set up (make sure you know your username and password) and the missed delivery slip left by the driver.

Step 1
Go to Sagawa's main site and find the login area on the right hand side (see red outline below). Enter your username and password (the ones you chose when you set up an account from the previous post).

Step 2
Once you've logged in, scroll down until you see the redelivery kanji (surrounded by a red box in the picture below). Says Web再配達受付サービス. 再配達 is redelivery (さいはいたつ).

Step 3
Make sure the store number is correct (the redelivery slip they left for you will indicate the correct number, and if your address is listed in the account the default store number should automatically show up.

Enter the tracking number in the next blank space, and click 次へ to continue.

Step 4
Choose your requested redelivery date and time in the top two slots (if desired - otherwise leave them as their default options). Then check that your personal information is correct (phone number and address).

If you want to receive a confirmation message, choose which option (computer or cell phone, or the third option "don't send," if you don't want one). Enter your email address twice and click 次へ to continue.

Step 5
Check over your information to ensure everything is correct, and then press 受付 to submit. You should receive a confirmation email if you chose that option.

Congrats! You've successfully requested a Sagawa redelivery online.

You may also want to check out:
HOW TO: Get something redelivered (online) (Japan Post)
HOW TO: Arrange redelivery online with Yamato (Kuroneko)
HOW TO: Create an online account with Yamato (Kuroneko)

Attention Pinterest and Instagram Users

2012-02-16T22:04:00.000+09:00

For all you avid pinners and phone photographers, just want to you let you know that Surviving in Japan (currently pictured as myself - Ashley) is now on Pinterest and Instagram (survivinginjapan).

Pinterest is a virtual "pinboard" where you can "pin" any image you might come across while browsing the web. You can follow others' pinboards, and you can browse all pins that are shared publicly, "repinning" onto your own boards if you'd like, liking or leaving comments. It's already hugely popular among foodies, fashionistas and all other creative types (but it isn't only good for those fields). It's still invite-only, so if you don't have access to an invite and would like one, let me know (I'll need an email address to send it to you).

I'm experimenting on Pinterest but I'm working on boards you might like such such as "Products for Living in Japan," "Where to Go in Japan," and "Japan Photos," among others. You can find my boards here.

As for Instagram, it's an iPhone-only app for sharing photos. I just joined the bandwagon, so perhaps many of you are already using it. Would love to connect with you there as well and see/share photos. Username is survivinginjapan.

My family is recovering from the flu, but look forward to how to do an online redelivery with Sagawa in the next few days.

25 Useful and Informative Japan Links From the Past 2 Weeks

2012-02-13T22:18:00.000+09:00

Sunset outside a train station in summer. I miss summer. Desperately.

Here we are with another round of Top Japan Links from the past two weeks. I'm now sick with the flu and trying to prevent the baby from catching it. So whilst I try to rest and recover, please enjoy, and have a lovely Valentine's Day! -Ashley

Living in Japan

Flu outbreak hits more than 2.11 million nationwide (Japan Today) - I'm now one of those numbers, unfortunately. Please be careful...

Depression is a national ailment that demands open recognition in Japan (Japan Times)

Police caution more than 10,000 in Tokyo for breaking bicycle rules (Japan Today) - Look out Tokyo cyclists on the 10th of each month.

Government to create new child care program in '15 (The Daily Yomiuri) - This is essentially to combine kindergartens and day care centers.

More part-timers to become eligible for health insurance, pension programs (Japan Today)

Japan takes #1 spot for most shipments from U.S. (Japan Today) - Expats living in Japan aren't the only ones ordering from abroad! Also talks about a useful company that can act as your U.S.-based address.

Tokyo, Saitama, Kagoshima enter Hay Fever season (The Daily Yomiuri) - Link is in Japanese, but if you have Springtime allergies, you may want to start your preparations...

Privacy and Net cafes — a tale of two cities (Japan Times) - I had no idea sexual assault happens in internet cafes. What do you think, how private should internet cafes be?

Immigration cuts lengthy detention for foreigners (Japan Times) - Hopefully you never find yourself in this situation, though.

On a similar note, @lkp48 said "Narita now has signs saying "you must produce your alien card" if you hold a reentry permit." - Has anyone else seen this?

KDDI's 'au Smart Pass' offers unlimited app download at flat rate (Japan Today) - Starting from March 1st.

24% of coastal municipalities lack plans for issuing evacuation alerts (Japan Times) - This is a bit disconcerting...

Illustrated earthquake home prepardness guide (pdf)

Japan to build tsunami warning systems in space and on the sea floor (The Daily Yomiuri)

Just for Fun

Gundam park to open in Odaiba (Japan Times) - Gundam is no longer in Shizuoka, but you can check him out now in Odaiba.

Let’s Get a Foursquare Limited Tokyo Badge! (Asiajin) - If you're on Foursquare and are or will be in Tokyo in the near future, you may want to get this special, limited-time badge.

On Finding a Rubbish Bin in Japan (This Japanese Life) - I had never thought it could possibly be related to the sarin gas attacks...

Why Japan doesn't celebrate the Lunar New Year to the extent of its Asian neighbors (JETwit) - Did you know that many of the current holidays should have been changed/moved when Japan switched from the lunar calendar? Neither did I.

Hello Kitty's Citizenship Controversy: Is She British or Japanese? (TIME) - I am most amused that they actually called Sanrio about the whole thing.

Automatic dishwashers: the square peg in the round hole of Japanese kitchens (Yen for Living) - Ever wonder why finding a "real" automatic dishwasher is so difficult in Japan? (I'm not counting those countertop things as the same, as I'm skeptical they work as well - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Food

Would you order curry with everything on it from CoCo Ichiban? (Rocket News 24) - This looks and sounds truly disgusting. Would you try it?

Okonomiyaki – Japanese Savory Pancake, Osaka Style (Lovely Lanvin) - Who doesn't like okonomiyaki?

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis/Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami-related

"Gov. failed to keep minutes of meetings of various units it set up to cope with March 11 earthquake and tsunami" (Japan Times) - Um, probably not a good idea...

Scientists say contamination of ocean fish minimal so far (Japan Times)

Area near Yokohama school closed due to high radiation levels (Japan Today)

NHK to broadcast documentary series for 9 days to mark 1st anniversary of March 11 disaster (Japan Today) - Can't believe it's almost been a year.

What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 3

2012-02-12T23:00:00.000+09:00

Editor's note: This is part 3 and the final post in the "What to do if You're in a Car Accident" series, written by David Thompson. If you haven't yet, be sure to read part 1 and part 2. This series is a must-read for anyone driving in Japan. -Ashley

I wish I could tell you that the beginner driver’s course was a great experience. However, as you all can probably imagine, it wasn’t. The morning consisted of a written driver’s aptitude test, group discussion, and driving practice on the school’s course. It was during the group discussion time that I was able to ask a lot of questions which I will share with you all shortly.

After a lunch break, we went out into onto the actual streets for driving practice, used a really expensive driving simulator to simulate braking in bad conditions, and then spent the rest of the time talking. While this might not sound that bad, the eight-hour course only had about five hours of actual content and we spent the other three hours talking, which is not something I wanted to be doing when I had an upset baby and exhausted wife waiting for me at home. It’s important to note that since the detailed contents of the course are determined by each driving school, this can differ depending on where you go.

The driving simulator:

Well, enough of that, let’s get to the interesting stuff I learned during the morning discussion.

Words to know:

交通違反	こうつういはん	koutsuu ihan	traffic violation
点数制度	てんすうせいど	tensuu seido	point system
基礎点数	きそてんすう	kisotensuu	base points
付加点数	ふかてんすう	fukatensuu	additional points
反則金	はんそくきん	hansokukin	fine
免許停止	めんきょていし	menkyo teishi	suspended license (免停 for short)
免許取消し	めんきょとりけし	menkyo torikeshi	license revocation

For Beginner Drivers
Japan has a strict traffic violation system, especially for beginner drivers. For the majority of you that got to skip this beginner year when you got your license, congratulations! The rest of you (including myself), beware!

Take a look at this diagram:

As a beginner driver, if you don’t get into any accidents or have any traffic violations that add up to three points (will talk about the point system in "For All Drivers" below) in your first year of driving, you move on with no problems (blue line in diagram). However, even the slightest accident or violation, which you might have gotten away with only a ticket or a slap on the wrist if you weren’t a beginner, will somehow end up being three points or more and will force you to take the beginner driver’s course I had to take (first yellow box on the left).

If you take the course (second yellow box from the left) and don’t cause any more problems in the remainder of your first year, you are good to go (yellow line).

On the other hand, if you somehow fail to take the course or get any sort of traffic violation before your beginner year ends (first red box from the left and red box after "Take Beginner's Course" in yellow), then you have to take the full 100 question written test (that almost all of us didn’t have to take if you had your driver’s license from your home country translated). If you pass, congratulations, but don’t cause any more problems in your first year. If you fail the test, which is most likely since the passing rate for beginner drivers in this case is only 5%, your license gets revoked.

For All Drivers
Japan’s traffic violations (交通違反) have a point based system (点数制度). Whatever infraction points you get for any accident or violation will add up over a three-year period and as you reach certain point totals there are penalties. Not to mention that certain violations also come with fines and/or jail time.

Here’s a diagram of the point totals and their corresponding penalties (definitions for terms in kanji are above).

How many points do you get for what kind of violation? Here’s a picture of part of the list (not all violations are translated below):

You can also find the list online at the following links (Japanese only, but you can use Rikaikun for Chrome or Rikaichan for Firefox to translate terms, or copy/paste to an online/computer dictionary, or use Google Translate):

Traffic Violation Points pg. 1
Traffic Violation Points pg. 2

The website above also lists the jail time for certain violations. I tried to find the list in English but wasn’t able to so if anyone knows where to find one, please let us know.

As you can see from the list, driving with any sort of blood alcohol level will basically get your license revoked. The list in the links is slightly different from the one displayed above, as they say, "酒気帯び
点数" and have two numbers separated by a slash (e.g. 14/25). The number on the left indicates if blood alcohol level is below .25 and the number on the right is if your blood alcohol level is above. Points are also `added on if you injured someone in an accident.

What happens if your license is revoked? During your probation period (minimum of a year) you will be required to take a course for people who have had their license revoked. However, in order to take the course you must acquire a temporary license (good for only six months), so you also have to take that test and pass. After that you will have to go through the process of getting your license which can be split into two different options.

Option A: More expensive but quicker.
After completing the course previously mentioned, you can enroll in a driving school during your probation period. After graduating from the school and once your probation period ends, head to the licensing center and take the written test. If you pass you will get your license.

Option B: Takes longer but cheaper
After completing the course, instead of enrolling in a driving school, you can choose to practice driving (on actual streets) instead. This method will require you to obtain a minimum of 10 certified practice hours, which means you will need someone in the car with you to sign off on your hours and these must be completed no earlier than three months before you go to get your license again. After your probation period is over you can head to the licensing center and take the written and practical tests. If you pass, you will be required to take a short class when you get your license and then also take a high speed driving course before you can get your license.

Things to avoid:

Drinking and driving (like I mentioned above)
Telling a police officer you were tired while driving (automatic 25 points, which gets your license revoked with a 2 year probation)

Other random pieces of information:

Not stopping long enough at a railroad crossing is a two point infraction and a 9,000 yen fine (for a 普通 car)
Driving more than 3km in the right line when you’re not passing someone can get you pulled over
Driving while using your cell phone is a one point infraction and 6,000 yen fine, but if the cell phone causes you to drive dangerously or cause an accident, it is 2 points and a 9,000 yen fine.

All fines must be paid within eight days. Failure to pay the fine on time will require you to appear at the Notification Office in person and you will then be given 11 days to pay. Failure to pay means you will be required to appear in court.

So there you have it. The bottom line is, of course, try not to get in a car accident or get a traffic infraction in Japan, but if it is does happen, hopefully now you have a better idea of what that will entail.

***

David Thompson is currently in his fifth and final year on the JET Program, teaching English at a technical high school. When he's not busy trying to convince teenage boys to pay attention in class, he helps coach baseball at the school (officially), helps Ashley with research and checking Japanese for accuracy, and takes care of baby Ai-chan. He's currently looking for a full-time job in Japan starting in August/September, particularly if it involves working with youth and/or non-profit organizations. You can check out his credentials on LinkedIn.

HOW TO: Create an online account with Sagawa

2012-02-07T22:44:00.001+09:00

Next week a post is coming on how to arrange a redelivery online with the delivery company Sagawa. If you don't want to bother with calling (or find it too difficult), arranging a redelivery online is quick and easy once you've signed up and done it a few times. However, in order to do that, you first need to make an account, which I explain below.

Step 1

Go to this page (shown below).

Enter your email address twice, choose computer or cell phone email, and click the blue button on the left to submit.

Step 2

After clicking submit, the following window will show up, and an email will be sent to your specified address. Go find the email and click the link it provides.

Step 3

The page that shows up is all Sagawa's terms. Click the left button if you agree and wish to continue, or the right button if you don't.

Step 4

Now, time to fill out all your personal info. I've filled in each box in the example below with the English translation in red, so follow my prompts. Note: For the address numbers, you'll want to use the "full-width" numbers or type while you're in Japanese mode, so it would look like "１２３", instead of "123".

Step 5

When I first signed up for Sagawa, a few years ago, they didn't have this survey (below), but for some reason they do now. The translated questions are in red, though if you don't know any Japanese at all and don't care to translate the words, just choose an option for each. (For example, for the first question you might just choose "other" or その他 or one of the last two options meaning you don't use electronic money for anything other than the train/bus, or you don't use it at all.) It's just a survey, so it has no effect on your account.

Once you've finished, click 次へ (next).

Step 6

If you want to receive notification emails from Sagawa, you can leave the default button at the top selected (利用する), but if you don't want to receive any at all, choose 利用しない. You can also leave the default selected and individually select each option. I've written the translations and corresponding numbers to each below the first large box.

You don't need to worry about the second and third large boxes - the second is if you want to add another email addresses to have notifications sent to, and the third is if you want to add a family member to the notifications.

After all that, click 次へ (next).

Step 7

Almost done! Now, just look over the information to confirm it's correct, and if it is, click the blue button on the left (登録). The lighter button on the right (戻る) takes you back a page.

After that, you're done! Congrats, you now have a Sagawa account!

Next week: how to arrange a redelivery with Sagawa.

You may also want to check out:
HOW TO: Arrange redelivery online with Yamato (Kuroneko)
HOW TO: Create an online account with Yamato (Kuroneko)
HOW TO: Get something redelivered (online) (Japan Post)

Contraception in Japan: Getting an IUD

2012-02-05T23:04:00.000+09:00

Editor's note: For those of you considering contraception options in Japan or are wondering about or considering getting an IUD (intrauterine device), Leah Zoller is here to explain everything you need to know. -Ashley

Although the Pill is quite popular in the US, getting the Pill in Japan or having medication sent from home can be a hassle. It’s stressful if you can only get a month’s supply at a time, expensive if you’re buying and shipping pills from home without health insurance, and troublesome for overseas travel.

In my case, after choosing not to re-contract with JET, I decided I wanted to look for work in Japan, and, no longer having a concrete date for repatriation, I needed a better birth control method than having Nuva Rings sent over from the US. However, I didn’t want to go back on the Pill. I’m sure the Pill in Japan is just fine, but I really liked not having to worry about time changes with international travel or the potential for forgetting pills, so an IUD seemed like the best course of action for a busy woman like me with no plans to have children.

If you’re using the Pill mainly for alternative benefits—to control severe acne or for extremely painful periods—switching to an IUD may not be for you, but if you use birth control primarily to prevent pregnancies, an IUD is a cost-efficient, highly effective, and low risk method of birth control.

I’m of the opinion that discussions about sexual health need to be open and frank. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation on the Internet about IUDs, so I’m hoping I can clear some of that up today.

Who has an IUD?

More women than you think! Though often recommended for women who have had children, IUDs are becoming increasingly popular among childless women in their twenties looking for a long-term but reversible birth control method. Depending on the model, IUDs are good for 3-10 years. If you decide that an IUD is not the method for you or you wish to become pregnant, a doctor can easily remove it.

I’ve found that quite a few of my American friends living in Japan have IUDs, though I may have been the only one to have gotten one here in Japan.

What is an IUD?

An IUD (one example)

An IUD is a T-shaped device that is inserted via the cervix into the uterus. A copper wire (or a hormonal device, if you have Mirena in the US) in a plastic casing both disables sperm and prevents egg implantation by irritating the lining of the uterus. Two thin “strings” hang down slightly from the cervix to allow you and your doctor to check the position of the device and for the doctor to eventually remove it.

Fun fact: all copper IUDs have a number in their name that describes the surface area of the copper in millimeters.

Words to know

IUD: Intrauterine device

子宮内器具	しきゅうないかいぐ	shikyuunai kaigu
避妊器具	ひにんかいぐ	hinin kaigu
避妊リング	ひにんリング	hinin ringu

One thing I noticed is that different clinics use different words—my first clinic used hinin ringu for IUD, but the clinic I go to in the city refers to the IUD as shikyuukaigu.

Other words to know:

Birth control method/device	避妊具	ひにんぐ	hinin gu
""	産制器具	さんじかいぐ	sanji kaigu
OB-GYN	産婦人科医	さんふじんかい	sanfujinkai
Gynecologist	婦人科医	ふじんかい	fujinkai
Gynecology	婦人科	ふじんか	fujinka
Uterus	子宮	しきゅう	shikyuu
Cervical Cancer	子宮頸癌	しきゅうけいがん	shikyuukeigan
Antibiotics	抗生物質	こうせいぶっしつ	kouseibusshitsu
Cervical cancer screening/ Pap smear	子宮癌検査	しきゅうがんけんさ	shikyuugan kensa

Types of IUDs

The most popular IUD in Japan is the Multiload CU250R (マルチロードCU250R, maruchirôdo), a U-shaped copper IUD that last for three years (or five years for the Plus). It cost 40,000 yen with my Japanese national health insurance.

In the US, the T-shaped Paraguard (copper) lasts for 10 years and the Mirena (hormonal) lasts for three. T-shaped IUDs have vertical “arms” that hold the device in place in the uterus (shaped like a T), while the U-shaped IUDs curve downward.

To be honest, getting a Paraguard in the US is probably the most cost-effective method if you plan to use it for the majority of 10 years, but since I live in Japan and haven’t visited home long enough in the US to get the Paraguard, I got a Multiload in Japan. (I can’t speak for health care coverage or types in other countries, unfortunately.)

Precautions

Like the pill, IUDs do not prevent STDs or HIV. Because the IUD is in the uterus/cervix, it can complicate a sexually transmitted infection. Therefore, you should practice safer sex and use latex or polyurethane condoms and dental dams with new partners. Because of this slight risk, IUDs are recommended for those in long-term monogamous relationships, but there are plenty of single women who have them, too.

Be sure to check with your doctor about her/his policies on IUDs just to be sure your martial status is not an issue, because clinics in Japan may ask about it. The one where I had my IUD inserted even asked for my spouse’s name! (Mercifully, they did not hassle me about our separate legal names, but that’s another post for another day.)

IUDs are more effective at preventing pregnancy than condoms or the Pill because there is very little possibility for user error outside of not getting it changed when it “expires.” You will need to check for the IUD strings after your period because the changes in the cervix that occur at this time have a slight chance of causing expulsion or shifting. There is a less than 1% chance of pregnancy.

Finding a Doctor

Ask your local friends for their gynecologist recommendations. For the record, many gynecologists in Japan are male. I got a recommendation from a long-term JET whose GYN spoke some English and was used to working with foreign women; more importantly, she said the doctor was easy to understand, kind, and very professional.

After getting your recommendation, be sure to call or ask about actually getting an IUD. Because it requires insertion at the clinic, some doctors may not stock it or may need to order one for you if their supplies are low. Some doctors may not want to give you an IUD if you are nulliparous (you’ve never had a child) or have never had a vaginal birth. The reasoning is that women who haven’t given birth are slightly more likely to eject the IUD and the insertion may be more painful since the cervix has not experienced childbirth. It’s best to check with your doctor about the requirements and procedures before you take the time off work.

Time the IUD insertion for the end of your period if possible, as your cervix will be more open and insertion will be easier. Also, you’ll have less chance of expulsion. If you have irregular periods, consult your doctor about the best course of action.

Editor's note: You may want to consider Japan Healthcare Info, an organization that helps expats living in Japan find medical providers, especially English-speaking if you require that.

Procedure

Ask your clinic what their policies are. My GYN in the US has a policy of doing a blood test for STDs and a Pap smear before inserting an IUD. The clinic I went to believed me when I told them I had a normal Pap and a negative routine test for gonorrhea and chlamydia three months prior (hooray for university health center policies!). Your clinic may want to test you, so ask before you schedule an appointment, as it may take a few weeks to get the results.

In my case, I called ahead and spoke directly with the hospital-clinic gynecologist my friend had recommended. I confirmed that he would give me the IUD as long as my uterus was the right size/shape/position for IUD insertion, which they would confirm at my appointment. At the clinic, I talked to the doctor about the procedure, and he showed me the IUD in its package. I filled out some paperwork and was asked for the date and results of my last Pap smear. As I mentioned before, since I had had one done in the US about three months prior, they said that was fine.

Next, the doctor and a nurse examined me with an ultrasound, speculum, and a probe to see how my uterus was aligned and if it would be wide enough to hold the IUD. I requested to not have the “privacy curtain” drawn, and while the nurse was a little weirded out, the doctor just commented that a lot of foreign women didn’t like the curtain and I didn’t need to have it if I didn’t want it.

After the uterus check, they left the speculum in and inserted the IUD. For all of five seconds, I was in intense pain and made some awkward noises, but once I got over the shock, I was okay. They took me to a room to get dressed and let me rest for a bit. I had some bleeding afterward—sort of like a light continuation of the period—because in addition to the cervical trauma I was coming off Nuva Ring hormones. This lasted for about two weeks, but it wasn’t a big deal.

The doctor prescribed oral medication for the pain (I used it for three days) and another to stop the bleeding (I took all of this as directed). I was back at the pool swimming laps two days later.

Aftercare

Take your medicine: you will probably be given painkillers, antibiotics, and antihemmoragic. (It’s nothing major, but you will bleed a little.) Follow the instructions on the medication.

Try bifidus/acidophilus (probiotics): irritating the cervix/vagina and taking antibiotics can result in a yeast infection. Drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, and promote healthy bacteria with some BL.

Check for your strings: After everything stops hurting, you should check for the strings. There are plenty of guides for this online, but squatting down and using a clean finger to feel for the cervix (the donut-shaped bit of flesh) and the strings is necessary.

Remember PAINS - if you have abnormal Periods, Abdominal pain, Infection, are Not feeling well, or your Strings are longer or shorter than usual, consult a doctor.

You should have the position checked after your first period, at six months, and at your yearly exam. My periods became really irregular so as to be practically non-existent (probably from the copper, which irritates the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation, and being stressed out with the job hunt and the move), but when I had the position checked six months later and explained the issue, the doctor said that just happens to a handful of women.

Some women experience heavier periods after the insertion, some don’t. The first one after you get the IUD might be crampier and heavier and then resolve into something more normal in a few months. Some women have lighter periods (even on the copper IUD) or irregular periods. Keep in mind that your cycle changes as you age--the periods you have at 15, 25, and 35 are going to be different even if you are not on hormonal birth control.

How will I know when I’m going to have a period?

Google “fertility awareness.” Your discharge and cervical position change throughout your cycle, and you can take note of these changes, detailed here, by checking yourself. PMS exists for a reason, too—to let you know when to expect your period. Written records work, but the tech savvy might like to try the free app iPeriod to chart conditions to predict your periods.

***

Leah is a Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture)-based writer and former JET CIR. She blogs about culture, gender, and media at The Lobster Dance and about food at I’ll Make It Myself. She is also a contributor to JETwit.

For more contraception information, you may want to check out:

Contraception in Japan: Condoms, IUDs and Calendar Methods
A guide to birth control pills in Japan

[Updated] Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Blooming Forecast 2012

2012-02-02T23:13:00.002+09:00

This year's cherry blossom (桜, さくら, sakura) blooming forecast has been released! It seems that the sakura in most parts of Japan won't be showing their petals until a little bit later this year in general (probably not surprising with all this cold weather we've been having on Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu).

Below is a translation of the 2012 cherry blossom blooming forecast from the Japan Weather Association (translation mine). If you want to see it for yourself in Japanese along with other notes, click the link. Note: The forecast and dates can change at any time, and blooming dates may be affected by weather and other factors.

Also note that the best time for viewing varies between a few days to a couple weeks from the time they open. If you'd like to take part in hanami this year (flower viewing), you may want to read how to find a good hanami spot (useful if you're looking for more places aside those listed in English).

Cherry Blossom Blooming Forecast 2012
from Japan Weather Association (Updated on tenki.jp Feb. 22, updated here Feb. 24)

Kyushu - 九州

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Fukuoka (Prefecture)	March 28
Oita	March 28
Nagasaki	March 28
Saga	March 28
Kumamoto	March 26
Miyazaki	March 25
Kagoshima	March 28

Shikoku Region - 四国

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Takamatsu (Kagawa)	April 1
Tokushima	April 1
Matsuyama (Ehime)	March 28
Kochi	March 25

Chugoku Region - 中国

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Hiroshima	March 30, 2012
Okayama	April 2
Matsue (Shimane)	April 3
Tottori	April 3
Shimonoseki (Yamaguchi)	April 1

Kinki Region - 近畿

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Osaka	March 31
Hikone (Shiga)	April 6
Kyoto	March 30
Maizuru (Kyoto)	April 6
Kobe	April 1
Nara	April 1
Wakayama	March 28

Tokai Region - 東海

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Nagoya	March 30
Shizuoka Prefecture	March 27
Gifu	March 30
Tsu (Mie)	March 31

Kanto Region - 関東

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Tokyo	March 30 201
Mito (Ibaraki)	April 6
Utsunomiya (Tochigi)	April 5
Maebashi (Gunma)	April 4
Kumagaya (Saitama)	April 3
Choshi (Chiba)	April 2
Yokohama (Kanagawa)	March 31

Koshin Region - 甲信

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Kofu (Yamanashi)	April 1
Nagano	April 13, 2

Hokuriku Region - 北陸

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Niigata	April 12, 20
Toyama	April 8
Kanazawa (Ishikawa)	April 7
Fukui	April 6

Tohoku Region - 東北

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Sendai (Miyagi)	April 13
Aomori	April 26
Akita	April 18
Morioka (Iwate)	April 23
Yamagata	April 15
Fukushima	April 11

Hokkaido - 北海道

Spot	Estimated Blooming Date
Sapporo	May 4
Muroran (Hokka	May 7
Hakodate	May 2

Alcoholism in Japan: Information and Support [Lifelines]

2012-01-31T21:00:00.000+09:00

Living in a foreign country isn't always easy. For some people it's downright stressful on a regular basis. Others might feel depressed or constantly anxious. And in many cases, problems or issues you faced in your home country might surface to a greater extent while you're living abroad.

Then what?

What if you're struggling alone and have no support system, or your support system is across an ocean, thousands of miles away?

It is possible to get help here in Japan if you can't speak any Japanese, even if it's difficult in some cases, especially if you live out in the countryside.

I'd like to refer to alcoholism in particular though for today, as my latest Lifelines column delves into alcoholism in Japan, how it's perceived, how difficult or easy it can be for foreigners to deal with it in Japan, and treatment and support options.

Facing up to alcoholism in foreign land can help or hinder recovery (The Japan Times; Jan 31, 2012)

I hope that this may be of help to you or those you know who may be seeking help. Please do let me know if you have any resources or thoughts to add regarding dealing with alcoholism in Japan.

Survive Earthquakes, Flu, Pollen and Platforms Without Barriers While Hello Kitty Shows You Japan - Top Japan Links Jan 29

2012-01-29T20:57:00.001+09:00

Kitty-chan and the black egg from Owakudani in Hakone. The egg looks surprisingly cheerful for one with a cracked head.

Back again for another edition of "Top Japan Links" I've shared over social media the past two weeks. Enjoy!

Living in Japan

Number of flu patients surpasses 1.11 million as epidemic spreads (Japan Today) - Be careful!

How to direct emergency services to your house from (Tokyo Weekender) - Some useful phrases and information if you ever find yourself in (hopefully not) such a situation.

Japan’s best-selling home appliance brands of 2011 (世論 What Japan Thinks) - In case you're planning to buy a rice cooker or water purifier or some other appliance, this may give you an idea of what customers liked best last year (if you even care about that).

Health ministry aims to get smoking rate down to 10% (Japan Times) - Will they succeed? I'm doubtful. Not that I don't think it would be beneficial.

New 'Big One' forecast: four years (Japan Times) - Be prepared for the next big quake, Kanto folks! Now, what is their prediction for the Tokai quake? They keep saying it's "overdue," and that's it.

What to call baby? (Japan Times) - All about choosing names and name kanji in Japan. I find the methods and thoughts behind choosing names for children really interesting, so it's certainly worth a read if you're into that as well. (We chose a Japanese first name for our little one and a more western, though uncommon, middle name).

Meteorological Agency says pollen will come later than normal (Japan Today) - Allergy sufferers, supposedly the pollen will not only come later than usual, but is forecast to be at lower levels than last year.

Platform doors (Japan Times) - What's the point of the barriers on train platforms? Most of us might think to prevent accidental falls, and you'd be right! Aside my facetiousness, this article is an interesting read. Did you know there were 119 platform accidents in Japan last year between April and September?

Visa Worldwide (Japan) Co Ltd (Japan Today) - Boring title, yes, but some good-to-know info about getting a credit card as a foreigner in Japan.

Travel and Recreation

The Tears of a Cat: Hello Kitty’s Guide to Japan, English and Japanese / ハローティの英語で紹介する (Japan Subculture Research Center) - Kitty-chan will teach you all about Japan in this guidebook, from culture to cooking to lifestyle. It may sound childish, but the reviewer didn't think so (sounds neat to me, anyway).

Book Review: Tokyo On Foot (zonjineko!) - A nontraditional take on Tokyo guidebooks, this "graphic memoir and sketchbook" offers probably the most visual experience of any tour book. Just seeing the hand-drawn maps and handwritten type was enough to pique my interest.

Foreign tourists to get fixed-rate expressway pass (Japan Times) - In an effort to promote tourism, the Central Nippon Expressway Co. will offer a fixed rate toll pass for visitors between March 21 and June 30.

Foreign visitors log sharpest decline ever (Japan Times) - This was one of the most "retweeted" from the past two weeks. Apparently the worst decline since 1950.

7 Unique Winter Activities in Japan (BootsnAll) - Some of these you can do all year round, and some aren't unique to Japan at all (well, maybe most), but still some good ideas if you're trying to think of something else to do.

Food

Maru no Uchi Tanita Shokudo – Eating for the Patient (The Blog Side of Life) - I previously shared this article on a new restaurant that offers healthy, low-calorie meals and free nutrition advice, and asked on Facebook and Twitter if anyone do something like this. Well, fellow Japan-blogger @franeymoon visited recently and wrote a great post about it with pictures.

Fresh nabe ideas bubbling up (Japan Pulse) - Some yummy ideas if you're into nabe but tired of the same flavor(s).

Working in Japan

JET Program Application Process: How Does JET Select Candidates? (Constantine in Tokyo) - An not-so-new post from 2010, but still an informative read regarding the JET Program and how participants are chosen, the application process, among other things. Worth a read if you plan to apply for JET (although I found it interesting as a former JET).

Selling a school or eikaiwa business (Japan Today) - Obviously not applicable to everyone, but I'm sure there are quite a few people out there who own an English school or eikaiwa.

Resources for Business in Japan: Office Supplies (Blooming in Japan) - This blogger shares a useful online office supply store (though it's all in Japanese).

36 national universities in Japan are considering or will consider shifting undergraduate enrollment to autumn (Daily Yomiuri) - This is school-related, but would likely have some effect on the job system here.

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis/Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami-related

Fallout from Fukushima No. 1 on rise (Japan Times) - Apparently January numbers were higher than December numbers.

Photohoku Project Provides Smiles And Memories (Japan Trends) - A great project designed to "give back" photos and memories to those who lost precious photos and albums.

Dairy firms to do own fallout checks (Japan Times) - Large dairy companies plan to do their own radiation checks and disclose this information to consumers.

What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 2

2012-01-27T23:32:00.001+09:00

Editor's note: I'd like to again introduce David for this week's guest post, part 2 of "What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan," a continuation from two weeks ago.

***

A few weeks had passed since the accident. The insurance company was handling everything related to damages and cost for the other party and I naively thought that everything was dealt with. Until I got this paper in the mail from the police department (translation is mine):

Before I continue with that story, let’s rewind a couple of weeks.

I received a rather confusing form from the insurance company in the mail. I read it over but couldn’t make heads or tails of what the form was actually about or what to do with it. I put the letter aside with the intent of asking one of my co-workers what to do with it, but never actually got around to it. Eventually, the insurance company called and asked if I had received the form. Then they asked if I knew how to fill it out and I told them, “no.” So they walked me through it (it was easy if you knew what you were doing…). The form was basically me giving the insurance company permission to pay the other party. Oh Japan and their obsession with paperwork...

That is aside the point. So I opened up the pamphlet I had received from the police department only to find this:

What does this mean? They were informing me that I was required to take a beginner’s driving class because I had been given five infraction points for the accident (will go into more detail about this in the next post). I only had a month in which to take it or else…. (also will talk about this in the next post)

Now, some of you might be wondering why I would have to take a beginner’s driving class despite the fact I have had a driver’s license for over 13 years. Well, if you remember back to when you got your Japanese license, there’s a requirement that says you need to have your license for 90 days in your home country before coming to Japan.

What they don’t mention is that if your license also doesn’t show you’ve had it for longer than a year then you are considered a beginner driver in Japan. Since I had renewed my license 10 months before coming to Japan and U.S. licenses typically don’t have the issue date of your very first license on them, I didn't have documentation that showed I had driven for over a year. You can use expired licenses as proof, but I ~~stupidly~~ didn’t bring them with me and wasn't able to locate them back in the US.

At first I thought, it’s no big deal. This beginning class is probably only a couple of hours and I could take it in the evening. So I let time go by until a week and a half before the deadline I started calling various locations printed on the back of the pamphlet.

And then.

I found out the beginner’s class was eight hours long and most places only offered it once a week on a weekday (meaning I would have to take leave from work). On top of that, the only place nearby that offered the class was on a day that also happened to be my busiest day teaching classes… Luckily, I was able to rearrange classes with my teachers but it was an inconvenience. Oh yeah, and did I mention it cost 16,000 yen.

(Note: If you don’t speak Japanese, you should have someone who does call the phone number on the front page and see if they have classes in English and if they don’t, find out what you need to do. I called our prefecture's Department of Licensing at the police headquarters and they said beginner English classes aren't offered and in that case the person taking the class must bring along someone to act as a translator. However, this likely varies by location around Japan.)

I called a local driving school where the class was offered and signed up. I was supposed to show up at 9:45am the day of with my pamphlet, money and writing utensils. After getting over my initial annoyance, I thought this might not be too bad and I would get a day off of work, but that didn’t last very long once the class started...

To be continued...

My last post on this series will be about this "fun" class and some useful tips and facts I was able to take away from it.

You may also want to read: What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 1

Have you had a similar experience? Please share it with us in the comments!

****

David Thompson is currently in his fifth and final year on the JET Program, teaching English at a technical high school. When he's not busy trying to convince teenage boys to pay attention in class, he helps coach baseball at the school (officially), helps Ashley with research and checking Japanese for accuracy, and takes care of baby Ai-chan. He's currently looking for a new, full-time career opportunity in Japan starting in August/September, particularly if it involves working with youth and/or non-profit organizations. You can check out his credentials and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Breastfeeding in Japan: Nursing Room Locator App

2012-01-24T23:08:00.003+09:00

For any mothers who breastfeed but also for parents who bottle-feed and/or change diapers, it helps to know where you can go when out and about. I previously covered two helpful resources for finding nursing rooms in Japan, and in response, Annamarie sent me an email about a useful little app called Milpas.

The name might sound a little strange, but this app allows you to search for nursing room locations in Japan on your iPhone, in English (though, names and such are Japanese, as to be expected).

The main screen - you can add a photo if you'd like to fill the gray background.

As you can see on the main screen, you have options for "Nursing Locations," "Growth Diary" and "BBS." Personally I use a different app for growth and keeping track of everything (Total Baby, if you're interested - it's really helpful), but if you just want a simple place to keep track (not including your Mother and Child Health Handbook) you might find that feature useful.

BBS allows you to chat with other parents, although so far it doesn't seem like anyone really uses it.

In this post I want to focus on the "Nursing Locations" feature.

Once you click on "Nursing Locations," you have a few options, such as searching by nearest location (using location services on your phone), or searching by keyword. You can also bookmark locations, which will be saved under the "Bookmark" option above.

Choosing "Nearest Location" results in a list of places closest to your location - in Japanese.

You can also choose "View Map" (upper right corner under the "Nearest Locations" option), which will open Google maps and show pins of the listed nursing locations relative to where you are.

Choose any result and you are given the available information, including name, address, phone number, location at place (such as if it's in a building), what facilities it might have, hours and website (the latter two aren't shown in the following image - have to scroll down within the window for them).

The red words in English are mine, but you can bookmark the location, add it as a contact, open the location in maps with a marked route, or email the result to yourself or a friend.

Currently available only for iPhone. There is also a Japanese language version (search for ミルパス in the Japan iTunes store.) According to their about information they also have plans to expand the app to other countries as well.

Thanks to Annamarie for the tip!

If you have any suggestions for helpful apps you think other expats living in Japan would find helpful, please let me know.

What You Should Know About Life in Rural Japan [Interview]

2012-01-20T22:14:00.000+09:00

Today I'd like to introduce Sam Baldwin, author of For Fukui’s Sake: Two years in rural Japan. As the title implies, Sam spent two years in the inaka (the countryside) as a JET Program participant. While I, as a fellow former JET, can relate to some of his experiences in general, many more events are unique to the rural parts of Japan, some of which he talks about below.

So if you're headed to the inaka, or perhaps you're already there, here's a little taste of what living in the sticks is like. If you're currently living in the inaka, please feel free to share your experiences in the comments! -Ashley

Sam and Shiro, the school dog

Ashley: First of all, why did you come to Japan, where did you live, and how long did you stay?

Sam: After a year-long stint working in Canada, I returned to the UK to get a ‘proper job.’ I had graduated with a BSc in Pharmacology and began working in a lab as a research technician in the UK; it was all white coats and microscopes. However, after a year, I knew that laboratory life was not for me, and I began to dream of new adventures abroad.

A friend of mine was on JET at the time and kept sending me stories of his skiing adventures, and I began to set my sights on the Japanese archipelago and applied for the JET Programme.

Being a lover of snow myself, I requested Hokkaido and Nagano as my top choices, so when the acceptance letter from JET arrived my first reaction was “Where the Fukui is that?!”

Although I was disappointed at first to have been placed in Ono, a small, mountain town in Fukui prefecture, it turned out to be a perfect place for me and an incredibly enriching two years. Looking back, I wouldn’t have swapped Ono for anywhere else.

Ashley: Would you mind sharing with us your favorite aspect of life in rural Japan?

Sam: I loved the mountains, the lakes and the rivers in the area. There was a lot of rural beauty and places for me to explore which I did via bike, ski, snowboard, kayak and snowshoe. I also found a bar run by a keen mountaineer called Yasu, and he played a huge part in my enjoyment of the area, both as a guide to Fukui’s inaka secrets, and because his bar gave me a place where I could get to know the Fukui folk who came to drink there.

After becoming somewhat bored with my life and job in the UK, in Japan I felt like every day was an adventure into the unknown. I would often think how glad I was to have come to Japan, and how lucky I was to be living in Fukui experiencing all these new things.

Ashley: How about the worst?

Sam: Coming from the UK, which has a fairly cool, temperate climate, I found the peak summer heat and humidity in Fukui hard to handle. This was made worse by the lack of AC in my apartment and in the classrooms where I taught.

The other aspect that irritated me was the ongoing stares and whispering (“gaijin!”) which tended to accompany me wherever I was out and about. At first, I found this quite amusing and almost enjoyed the attention, but after a year of living in Fukui, it began to grate and I did enter a brief period in which I hated going out, and just longed to shop in Mitsua supermarket or eat at Hachi Ban Ramen without this unwanted attention.

Ashley: What was your greatest challenge living in the inaka and how did you overcome it?

Sam: Probably the language barrier. When I first arrived, I had only done a few months of evening classes, so my Japanese was very basic, and as you’d expect in a rural part of Japan, the level of English that the average local spoke was generally low or non-existent.

This led to some frustrating times, especially during those early days when I needed to carry out what would be easy, everyday tasks back home, like bank transfers, or setting up an internet connection over the phone. I made a number of mistakes due to not being able to communicate properly, and sometimes had to leave the post office/bank/bus station frustrated.

However, the locals were very patient and helpful, and as my Japanese improved and I got to know the locals better, this stopped being such a challenge. A kindly family ‘adopted’ me and Keiko, the wife and mother, gave me free weekly Japanese lessons for my entire stay. They were incredibly generous with their time and gave me real insight into everyday Japanese family life, as well as helping me improve my Japanese.

Ashley: What was the most unusual thing you experienced?

Sam: Before I came to Fukui, I had no idea that snakes would be frequent visitors to the school. One of the teachers used to catch them by the tail and swing them round and round his head to pacify them before releasing them outside – I certainly wasn’t expecting that!

I think my school was also the only one in Fukui (if not Japan) that had a pet dog. I spent many a free period roaming the rice paddies and bamboo thickets with her, taking in Fukui’s wildlife and wild places.

And finally, probably the snow. My second winter was exceptionally heavy with the most snow in 25 years. Seeing snow over two meters deep in the streets was something new for me, and I even saw a building that had been completely crushed by the weight of snow. Most of my colleagues thought that winter was terrible, but for a snow lover like myself, it was a winter of dreams and I took full advantage of all the opportunities that a snowy landscape offers.

Ashley: If you could live/work in the inaka again, would you?

Sam: Yes - I would definitely live in the inaka again. The entire two years was an incredible adventure and I really fell in love with the rural beauty, the wild places and the people of Ono and Fukui. I probably wouldn’t teach English again though; it was fun but two years was enough for me.

Ashley: What did you gain from your experience living in rural Japan that you don't think you would have gotten if you had lived in the city?

Sam: I think that living in the inaka gave me a better insight into a more traditional side of the country, or at least a hidden part of Japan that you just wouldn’t find in a mega-city or the more famous areas. I also got to see that Japan isn’t always the crowded, overpopulated place many people think it to be.

I also felt that I became more part of the local community than I think I would have in a city. Ironically, despite having never been more linguistically and culturally removed from the local population, I felt more part of the community in Ono, Fukui than anywhere else I’ve ever lived.

And finally – living somewhere off the beaten track in Japan gave me an opportunity to document a way of life that very few westerners get to experience. What began as a blog led on to me writing for travel websites, glossy magazines and later national UK papers. That may well not have happened had I lived somewhere more conventional – so domo arigatou gozaimashita Fukui!

Ashley: Finally, what tips do you have for SiJ readers about living in Japan, particularly for those who are also living in the countryside?

Sam: Embrace it fully and whole-heartedly. Practice speaking Japanese with Japanese people as often as you can, even if you only know a few words, by throwing yourself into situations in which you’re forced to use it on a regular basis. For example, join a club or team or hang out with Japanese people who don’t speak much English.

Go out and explore the lesser known areas in your vicinity. In my experience, the crowded ‘must see’ sights aren’t normally the most enjoyable ones. I discovered many amazing places not featured in guidebooks (Japanese or English) and are generally visited very little. Get a map, take road trips, bike trips or just wander on foot to discover the hidden gems in your local area. In Japan, you can find fascination in the most seemingly mundane situations.

Find yourself a good local bar and befriend the landlord. It will become a source of information, a place to practice Japanese, and a place of comfort when times are tough. Get friendly with the locals, and you’ll soon discover that the inaka can be just as intriguing, fulfilling, exciting and strange as the city, in fact, probably even more so.

***

Thanks Sam!

To check out For Fukui's Sake, visit: ForFukuisSake.com

Choosing a School in Japan for Your Kids - Latest Columns

2012-01-17T23:58:00.001+09:00

Parents: we all want our kids to have a good education, right? We want them to have the best, however we might define "best."

What about expat children? Third culture kids? Bicultural youth? Their success in school is influenced by a few more factors.

Then there's the looming issue of language fluency in more than one language, if that's important to you. And how do you also help them read and write well in both or more languages?

Will they fit in, wherever they are in the world? Will they learn enough; will they learn it well? Will they learn the skills your culture deems important, or will they learn the emphasized skills of another culture, or more than one, and what skills do you want them to learn?

Then there's the issue of moving and kids changing schools, perhaps within one country, or perhaps attending school in a new one, and what if you decide to return to a country they previously lived in?

My latest two-part column series covers issues of reentering the Japanese school system after being away, although some factors can also apply to other situations. Please let me know what you think, especially if you or your child or even someone you know has gone through a similar situation:

Rejoining school system in Japan after time away can be tough (Japan Times)
Acceptance — social and otherwise — a crucial issue for Japan returnee kids
(Japan Times)

As mentioned above, there's a lot to consider regarding returning to Japan and reentering the school system, but what about deciding what type of education to pursue for your child(ren) in Japan? Public school? Private? International school? Alternative education? These points were argued to some extent in the following two articles published in conjunction with part 1 of my column series:

Local Japanese school is the obvious choice if you want your child to fit in (Japan Times)
International education a triple-A investment in your child's — and Japan's — future (Japan Times)

Both writers make valid points that all parents should consider, but I think they miss a few important factors, too: the personality, learning style, and resiliency of the individual child. I don't believe there is a "one-size-fits-all" education, and I do realize that this concept wouldn't fly here in Japan, and probably some of you may even disagree as well.

I don't typically share my opinions on Surviving in Japan, more or less because I just want to provide information for others to form their own opinions. This topic hits close to home now that we have a baby.

It's also important to me because I was educated in a variety of ways, including public and private schools, and homeschooling. I did a program in high school that allowed me to attend the local community college full-time for two years, earn a two-year college degree and graduate high school at the same time. After a year attending university the traditional way, I took a few years off and later finished my undergraduate degree completely online. I definitely did not follow any sort of traditional education path, and that worked well for me.

I don't think any form of schooling is perfect. They all have pros and cons. And above all, the pros and cons may vary depending on the individual child. I've worked with kids and teens who've experienced different forms of education and they all respond uniquely.

Some kids excel with alternative education in which they are allowed to follow their own path of curiosity and, driven by their own motivation, learn at a much faster pace than in public school, while other kids need guidance, encouragement and external motivation to learn.

Shy children may struggle in public or private schools, while some may overcome it, others may find themselves bullied (I was one of those kids). We all need to learn social skills, but when a child is fearful at school, it may not be the best environment for learning if the situation can't be resolved.

So when you're choosing a form of education in Japan:

What languages are spoken and used at home?
How well do you want your child to read and write in either language? (Alternatively, perhaps it's not as important to you if you won't be here very long that they learn Japanese)
What type of learning do you want to encourage and will it work for your child?
How invested are you able to be in their learning (for example, do you and/or your partner have to work long hours?)
Is your child an independent learner or do they need support and guidance?
How resilient is your child? Are they easily stressed?
What type of education do you want your child to receive? (Some of the subjects taught at public schools in Japan may differ in how they are taught from those in your home country, such as History)
Will you be moving to another country at any time during their school years? (I moved to a few different cities during the middle of the school year and though I did all right, it was somewhat disruptive).
What kind of doors do you hope will be open for your child upon graduation?
Can you afford international or private school? (That said, can you afford the expensive backpacks the kids get here?)

I could go on, and I'm sure many of you have additional ideas (please share them in the comments!) I think the main point is that there isn't an easy answer. This type of thinking may not be Japanese, often requiring youth to conform to a mold, but I really do think the type of education you choose comes down to the child and what works best for your family. I don't believe public school in Japan will fit every child, nor do I think International school will, though I don't think either is a bad choice.

I'd like to hear your thoughts though, and please share your stories in response to the columns if you have an experience to share for a follow-up column.

What experiences have you had, either personally or with your own children? Do you think International school or Japanese public school is better in some cases, or all cases? What about kids returning to Japan from abroad - do you think it would be easy/difficult to fit back in to the school system here?

Survive an Earthquake, Wake Up to Wasabi - Top Japan Links Jan 15

2012-01-15T21:40:00.002+09:00

Another photo from the Gotenba illuminations.

We're back with more link fun from the past two weeks. Enjoy!

Living in Japan

Recycling of electronic devices (Japan Times) - Potential changes coming to various parts of Japan in 2014, but I suppose that could also change at any time...

Raising your chances of surviving the next big one (Japan Today) - When the Tohoku quake hit, I kept thinking, that was supposed to happen here (in Shizuoka)... Seeing the horrible devastation and realizing that it easily could have happened here (and likely will at some point in the near future) reminded me to be even more prepared than I was before this. So, a few tips on what you can do to protect yourself in the event of the next big one.

Donating blood in Japan (GaijinPot) - Yes, foreigners can donate blood in Japan. Here's info about who can and can't donate, plus maps and addresses of some donation centers in Japan (note there are many across the country though).

Japan last for police trust and legitimacy (世論 What Japan Thinks) - Of various European countries and Japan, Japan ranked last for "satisfaction with the last interaction with a police officer." Although, how often would you be "satisfied,"really, especially if you come away from it with a fine...

Itami airport site to be Tokyo backup? (Japan Times) - On the topic of "the next big one," what might happen to Tokyo in the event of the expected Kanto quake? Government officials are considering backup options, including Osaka as mentioned.

The Kanji of the Year for 2011: human ties that bind (Japan Times) - In case you're wondering what the kanji looks like, it's: 絆.

Travel and Recreation

Delta customers in Japan can now purchase tickets with Pay with Miles (I've been waiting for this forever). Look for "Pay with Miles International."

Yamanote line likely to get first new station in 40 years (Japan Today) - I usually take the subways when in Tokyo, but interesting nonetheless.

Low-cost carrier Peach Aviation announces 5 new routes (Japan Today) - Really only helpful for Kansai, Kyushu, Okinawa folks at the moment, but it seems they plan to expand.

Call of the powder: sublime snow in Japan (Japan Times) - For all you powder-loving folks (I prefer the rain, thanks), various places around Japan to hit the slopes.

Hit The Slopes in Hakuba (Tokyo Weekender) - More snow fun.

Tech

5 Trends In Japan’s Web And Mobile Worlds In 2011 (Asiajin) - Facebook on the heels of Mixi, March 11 and the importance of social media, among others.

A good DS game for advanced Japanese study (Just Another Day in Japan)

Mushroom Cultivation Kit App Hits 1 Million Downloads (Asiajin) - If Angry Birds is popular, why not mushrooms? Suppose it makes sense given the success of Farmville...

Wasabi Odor Fire Alarm Wins Ig Nobel Prize (Japan for Sustainability) - As ridiculous as it sounds (mmm, the smell of wasabi in the morning!), this is a great idea for folks who may have difficulty hearing or who can't hear at all.

Web Service Helps You Avoid Nasal Embarrassment (Japan Trends) - I'm just trying to envision how someone might react upon receiving an email like this... If they encourage you to only send them to people you know, wouldn't they sort of "guess" that it could be you?

Food

B-grade cuisine: Japan's bizarre foodie fad (Japan Today) - These are considered to be "strange" combinations, although some of them seem rather normal to me. Have you tried any of them?

Kansai eateries offer new flavors for 2012 (Japan Times)

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis/Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami-related

6,757 aftershocks felt in Japan from March 11 until Dec 31 (Japan Today) - A crazy number. Someone on Twitter informed me that New Zealand had even more.

Fukushima to test breast milk from 10,000 mothers (Japan Times) - Let's hope they continue to test.

Co-op checking meals for cesium (Japan Times)

Mothers first to shed food-safety complacency (Japan Times) - As a mother now, I completely understand the reasons behind this and am also constantly careful. Better to be safe with the little ones than sorry.

Families overcome hardships for babies born on March 11 (Japan Times) - Reading their stories was heartbreaking and inspiring. Giving birth is hard enough, but I can't imagine doing it in the middle of a crisis.

Did I miss any of your favorite news stories from the past couple weeks?

What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan - Part 1

2012-01-14T01:16:00.000+09:00

Editor's Note: I'd like to introduce my husband, David, again for today's guest post. He's writing this topic as a three-part series, so there's more to look forward to in the coming weeks! -Ashley

Congratulations! You’ve joined the ranks of expats who have gone through the often arduous process of trying to get your driver’s license in Japan (at least for Americans... or those who came to Japan without a driver's license). No matter how many times it took you to pass the practical driving test (if you had to take it), you can be proud and enjoy driving along the narrow streets of Japan. However, before you get in your car, have you thought about what you would do if you were involved in an accident? Do you already have the required paperwork to show the police?

I recently had the misfortune of going through this without having thought about it all before it happened. So, let me tell you how things went, and offer a few tips on what you can do to be prepared.

If you don’t speak Japanese: After talking with our local police department, it seems as though the police departments have on-call translators but they may not be available to come to the scene right away. This means you would have to wait even longer (the process took almost two hours for me without having to wait for a translator...)

Words to know

Car accidents can be split into two main categories:

物損事故　ぶっそんじこ bussonjiko property damage
人身事故じんしんじこ jinshinjiko an accident resulting in injury or death

What the police will ask you for:

1. Driver’s License
自動車免許書
じどうしゃめんきょ
jisousha menkyosho

2. Alien Registration Card
外国人登録証明書　
がいこくじんとうりょくしょうめいしょ
gaikokujin touryoku shoumeisho

3. Form showing shaken is up to date
自動車検査証
じどうしゃけんさしょう
jidou shakensa shou

4. Form showing you have the mandatory car insurance
自動車損害賠償責任保険証明書　
じどうしゃそんがいばいしょうせきにんほけんしょうめいしょ
jidousha songai baisyou sekinin hoken shoumeisho

The jidousha songai baisyou sekinin hoken shoumeisho (form showing you have the mandatory car insurance)

So, you’ve gotten into a car accident. What do you do first?

Call the police, of course. However, unless you can explain to the police in Japanese where you are, it might be better to let the other person call the police and report the accident.

I let the other person call the police and while he was talking on the phone, I was trying to keep the sun off of Airi, who was sleeping peacefully in the back of the car. It then occurred to me that I should probably be doing something as well. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I called a Japanese neighbor of ours and asked. They said to call the insurance company, which is the next thing you should do.

The man I rear-ended came over while I was talking to my neighbor and handed me his phone saying his insurance company wanted to talk to me. So I got on the phone and the insurance company asked for my insurance information (in Japanese).

On your car insurance form mentioned above (自動車損害賠償責任保険証明書), there should be a phone number to call. You need to call and file a report. (If you don’t speak Japanese, it might be good to call before something like this happens and see if your insurance company has people that can speak English).

I called my insurance company and tried to file a report only to be given the phone number for the branch office in our town, which I had to then call and file the report (all in Japanese). They asked for my name and ID number (found at the top of your insurance form) and then asked what happened and where. I couldn’t give a precise location for the accident but they said it was fine since they could get it from the other person’s insurance company. Then they asked to speak to the person, so I handed him my phone and he gave them his insurance information.

About 30 minutes after calling the police, a police officer finally arrived. The first thing he asked was if anyone was injured and since everybody involved said no, he asked what happened and then started taking down our information to file a 物損事故 (property damage) report.

He asked for the four forms I mentioned above and was writing down this information when the passenger in the other car started getting woozy and not feeling good. Some of their colleagues arrived and decided to take the man to the hospital to get looked at. This then made the accident a 人身事故 (an accident resulting in injury or death) and he had to call in other officers who handled that.

So after another 30 minutes or so, those officers arrive and start going through the same process the first officer went through. They took our statements and checked and recorded our forms and IDs. Then they had us walk them through what happened and where, as the officer chalked up the street so they could write a more detailed report about the accident.

When they finally let me leave, after they had checked that my turn signals still worked, it was two hours later.

Later that night I got a call from the insurance company saying that they had talked with the other insurance company. Since the accident was completely my fault, the insurance company said they would take care of payments for repairing the other car and medical bills for the injured passenger as covered by our policy.

Since the insurance company said they would handle everything from here on, I thought everything was dealt with. That is until I got something in the mail from the police...

To be continued...

You can read Part 2 of "What to do if You're in a Car Accident in Japan" here.

For those of you out there who have experienced this, how was it? What did you find the most difficult or challenging? What things would you have liked to know beforehand?

***

David Thompson is currently in his fifth and final year on the JET Program, teaching English at a technical high school. When he's not busy trying to convince teenage boys to pay attention in class, he helps coach baseball at the school (officially), helps Ashley with research and checking Japanese for accuracy, and takes care of baby Ai-chan. He's currently looking for a full-time job in Japan starting in August/September, particularly if it involves working with youth and/or non-profit organizations. You can check out his credentials on LinkedIn.

HOW TO: Sign up for a Veggie Box in Japanese (Oisix)

2012-01-10T00:22:00.001+09:00

For those of you who read Where to Get Veggie Box, Food Delivery Service in Japan and want to sign up for one, the following is a basic tutorial of how to sign up for Oisix. Note that, if you run into any issues, you'll have to communicate these in Japanese (or have a friend help you). Also note that, for Oisix anyway, if you want to change your box, you must do so by a certain day (typically a few days before) and if you want to cancel, also beforehand (around 2 days, depending).

How to sign up for the Oisix Veggie Box

Step 1: Go to Oisix.com and click the large yellow button on the left that says さっそく使ってみる, as indicated below.

Step 2: You'll arrive at the page below. Proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Scroll down on the above page until you get to a long, red button, as indicated in the image below. There are several of them on the page.

Step 4: First, choose the "course" you want. The first (yellow) is the "mini course" (ミニコース) for 1-2 people. The second (red) is the "light course" (お手軽, おてがる) for 2-3 people. The final option (green) is the "family course" (ファミリーコース) for 3+ people.

After choosing your desired "course," scroll down and check the box to agree to terms, and then click 次へ (next).

Step 5: If you have a Yahoo Japan ID, feel free to login using that, but if you don't, click on the gray box that says 初めての方はこちら.

Step 6: Fill in the following form with your information such as name, address, email address, password, birthdate, etc. (Click on the image to enlarge)

When finished, click 次のステップへ.

Step 7: In the top box with the red left column, you'll choose your delivery day and time (such as, Sundays, or Sundays between 6 and 8pm, etc.) (Click image to enlarge)

In the second box with the red left column, choose how often you want to receive the box: every week (毎週配達) or every other week (隔週配達).

In the third box with the red left column they ask if you would like them to substitute an item you've ordered that is out of stock. If you do want them to do this, leave the box checked. If you don't, un-check it.

In the fourth box with the red left column, choose your payment method. Your options are:

自動引き落とし auto-withdrawal

クレジットカード credit card

楽天銀行決済 Rakuten bank payment

ジャパンネット銀行決済 Japan Net Bank payment

Edy決済 Edy payment

Regarding auto-withdrawal, it says you can only pay at a convenience store for the first 3 weeks, but we've been getting a box for a while and paying at the convenience store once a month and haven't been sent any bank auto-withdrawal paperwork yet. So we just keep paying at the convenience store.

After completing the above, click 次へ.

Step 8: The next page is the confirmation page. Read over everything to make sure it's correct, and then click おいしっくすくらぶ　に申し込む to complete your registration.

That's it! Enjoy those veggies.

Where to Get Veggie Box, Food Delivery Service in Japan

2012-01-08T00:08:00.000+09:00

During my first year in Japan, I tried to find a vegetable box service. I had wanted to start one while I was still living in the States, but for a few different reasons it didn't happen. So, along with my search for a farmer's market in Japan, I looked for a place I could order a veggie box from, though this proved to be difficult.

I used Warabe Mura (mentioned below) for a while, as they had a way to order in English, and I liked their service, although there were always a few things in the box I couldn't eat (such as tomatoes - I'm allergic), so it would have been nice to customize the box.

We had been meaning to start getting a veggie box again but didn't get around to it until after 3/11 when we became concerned about harmful radiation levels in the food we were buying (as I was pregnant at the time). We live in Shizuoka, but most of the produce here, aside from locally-grown stuff, usually comes from Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. We buy local as much as possible anyway, but I was also just wanting the convenience of a weekly box, especially with a baby on the way. After some research, we decided to go with Oisix (more about why below).

So, if you're pregnant or have a little one at home, or maybe you're sick or injured and can't get to the store easily or at all, you might want to try a vegetable box or food delivery service.

Costs and Specifics

The details for each of these varies to some extent. Some require a registration and/or membership fee; some offer a free or discounted trial for one or more weeks; some offer pay-on-delivery, others bill each month and you pay at a convenience store or bank, some take credit cards, and some will do automatic withdrawal from your bank account. Some companies and organizations offer free and/or discounted delivery to pregnant women and mothers with young infants. Most of these also require signing up (i.e. filling out a form on their site).

Price per box depends on how many items are included in each box. A small box for a single person with only a 3-6 items or so may, for example, cost around 1500 yen, or a large box with 10-12 items (including eggs) may cost 3500-4000 yen or more. We pay on average around 3500-4500 yen for our weekly box (maybe 10 items or so) from Oisix, which includes things like butter and yogurt on top of fruit and vegetables. The standard box from Oisix is around 6000 yen, but we change everything out for stuff from the "baby and kids" section (more on that below). We've found that this has actually helped us cut down on grocery expenses in general, even though we still go to the store for other things throughout the week.

Considering that many delivery companies offer organic produce and free-range meats, chicken, eggs, etc., the price can be higher for these items than what you might typically find at the store (although you can certainly find these items in many local stores or at nearby farmer's markets as well). I think the convenience and health factor outweigh the price, although it really depends on your personal preference.

Shipping costs vary depending on your location (of course), but it's pretty cheap, and many offer free delivery over a certain amount or for certain items.

Online Food Delivery and Vegetable Box Companies in Japan

All links are Japanese unless noted otherwise.

Oisix (おいしっくす) - Carries (organic) produce, dry goods, meats, eggs, fish/seafood, dairy and more. Has a "baby and kids" section for radiation-free items. Can sign up for weekly vegetable box (size customizable) and can also modify contents (as long as you do it by the deadline each week). Oisix is one of the most popular food delivery services in Japan. Delivers all over Japan.

Radish Boya (らでぃっしゅぼーや) - They deliver a weekly set vegetable box with options for fruit and eggs, offered in different sizes depending on how many people you are buying for, and a catalog of various other items to add if desired. Delivers all over Japan, and certain areas are delivered via their own courier service.

Radish Lawson Supermarket - I just discovered this site today: a combined online store of Radish Boya and Lawson selling the same stuff as Radish Boya and even more dry goods and personal care products, courtesy of Lawson. AND, you can shop entirely in English (although the English is a little strange at times; "naughty carrots" anyone?). Link is English.

Warabe Mura - English site (well, catalog). They offer a set vegetable box in addition to other health food items, similar to Tengu Natural Foods.

Daichi wo Mamoru kai (大地を守る会) - Sell (organic) produce, dry goods, meats, eggs, fish/seafood, dairy, among other things. Has a radiation-free kids' vegetable box (and regular boxes as well). Delivers all over Japan.

Pal System Co-op (パルシステム) - After signing up, each week you choose items from a catalog (organic produce, meats, fish, dairy, some dry goods, and meals) and they deliver. Can place order online as well. Only for the Kanto region and Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Fukushima.

Co-op Net (コープネット) - Related to the store of a similar name in the Kanto region and Shizuoka and Yamanashi. Produce, meat, fish, dairy, dry goods, meals, among other items. Shop for what you want online and a box is delivered once a week. Ouchi Co-op, for Kanagawa, Shizuoka and Yamanashi, can be found here. Co-op deli, for the rest of Kanto, can be found here.

Co-op Kobe (コープこうべ ) - For those of you in the Kansai area, another co-op that offers weekly delivery of produce, meats, meals, fish/seafood, dairy, etc. They deliver to all of Hyogo, Osaka and Kyoto cities and a few other cities in the general area.

For a few more food home delivery services in addition to the ones above, check out this link (Japanese).

Do you use a home food delivery service or get a weekly veggie box? What company or organization do you use? Have any other suggestions you think should be on this list?

For those of you wanting to sign up for a veggie box delivery with a Japanese site, check out this tutorial for how to sign up for a veggie box with Oisix.

A Toast to You [Happy New Year!]

2011-12-31T23:59:00.001+09:00

2011 has been a crazy year. A good one, a busy one, but also a year of tragedy, hope, and new life (literally, for my husband and I). I feel immeasurably blessed, and writing Surviving in Japan has brought about so many great opportunities and allowed me to connect with people I wouldn't have otherwise connected with. I'm a rather shy, introverted person in general, even if it doesn't seem that way, so the many connections I've made with you this year (and last year) mean a lot to me. I'm humbled.

Your comments, emails, messages, tweets, and notes all encourage me to keep going when I have down days or doubts, or when I feel discouraged. I can admit that, right? I truly enjoy being able to help people out in some way, and it's amazing how willing people are to help in return. I've learned more and more that this blog isn't just a blog I write, and not even a comprehensive resource for living in Japan (though I'm sure you'd agree it is that too), but this has become more about community. The expat community in Japan of course, but also Japanese and foreigners alike.

I hope to continue this sense of community in the coming year, and hopefully integrate it further.

Surviving in Japan has also grown a lot between 2010 and 2011; some stats from this year:

75,475 Unique Visitors (out of 118,223 visits)
294,177 Pageviews
63.10% New Visits
4,185 Twitter Followers
900+ Facebook Fans

Not that numbers say everything, but these are all HUGE jumps from last year and I'm still amazed. Thanks everyone. :)

To the guest bloggers on SiJ...
You have really helped me out this year (especially after I had given birth), so I'd like to thank you all and recommend the rest of you to check out their sites!

Erica of Expatria, Baby (one of the most amusing blogs I follow)
Caroline of C. Life in Japan (love her style, inside and out!)
Amanda of Whoa I'm in Japan (insightful views of life in Japan and she always tells it like it is)
Sara of Japan Healthcare Info (a very helpful and recommended resource)
Ali of Haikugirl's Japan (lots and lots of info about Japan - working, living and playing!)
Paul of Just Another Day in Japan (another good source of info about living and working in Japan)
David of Japan Dave (amazing HDR photos from around Japan)
Nadia of Ethical Nippon (info on ethical living in Japan)

To those who've interviewed me...

I'd like to extend a special thanks to you for the opportunity to be interviewed (and more recommendations for the rest of you to check out).

Bad Communication Podcast - I had a lot of fun with these guys, and if you like podcasts and Japan, their show is a lot of fun, and definitely interesting.

Time Out Tokyo - They are the go-to source of information in Tokyo, I think, particularly for events and such.

AJET - If you're a JET (or even if you're not but curious), they cover a wide range of topics about the JET Programme, about JETs and JET alums, among other Japan-related topics.

Jet Settlers - For expats on any continent (or for anyone interested in a mobile lifestyle), this newer site covers a wide range of topics (and also looking for submissions).

Tokyo Podcast (Coming soon) - Another fun podcast, focused on Tokyo, but still with good info and interviewees relevant to anyone in Japan.

To other blog hosts...

Many thanks to the following sites for being gracious hosts this year:

Budget Trouble - They hosted Show Me Japan several times, and though I wasn't able to participate every week, it was great of them to host for everyone.

Japingu - They host the monthly J-Festa (another I haven't been able to join as much as I'd like), and also have a list of Japan-related blogs and sites.

Kaley in Japan - She gathered a whole bunch of suggestions from everyone this summer about places to check out in Japan, "What Bloggers Have to Say About Japan."

If you've ever commented on Surviving in Japan...

I truly value your input, ideas and suggestions. I've honestly learned a lot from you this year. I appreciate the comments some of you have left praising the work I'm doing and thanking me. Those comments always come at the right time, usually when I'm feeling discouraged or down, so they mean a lot. I also appreciate any constructive criticism or corrections. Honestly, if you've taken the time to leave a comment, I know how valuable your time is, so I appreciate it.

If you've tweeted or retweeted any SiJ posts or anything I tweet from @survivingnjapan...

Some of you are such huge supporters and friends, sharing regularly and/or offering your own thoughts to questions I've asked, and I'm happy to be a part of your Twitter circles. I enjoy the conversations and hearing more about your lives and work. I also appreciate all the support after 3/11 - I think I ran myself ragged tweeting constantly for 2 weeks straight, but it was a dire time and like probably many of you, I felt like it was one way I could help at that point in time. Thank you for answering others' questions I've retweeted, and thank you for offering feedback to my questions for research, etc. And thank you, for the tweets thanking me for SiJ and sharing info on Twitter, because they always make me smile and brighten my day.

If you've liked Surviving in Japan on Facebook, shared, liked or commented on SiJ content on Facebook...

I feel as if I'm just starting to really get to know you Facebook folks, and it's great! Thanks so much for your advice and comments that have been so very helpful to me and to others. I'm looking forward to more good conversation with you in 2012!

If you've shared any SiJ content on any platform, ever...

I'd love to thank you all individually, but I usually only know of shares on certain platforms, so unfortunately I can't. I'm glad you've found the content here helpful, and I appreciate that you spread the word. Many thanks to you!

If you've ever sent me a personal email or message...

I absolutely love hearing your stories and hearing more about your lives and because I'm rather introverted, I appreciate the connections we've made. I don't currently live in Tokyo or another major city, so I'm not always able to connect with a lot of other expats very easily, so I do appreciate it. Thanks also, for your patience when my responses are delayed (sometimes I get more email than I can handle in a week, and I stress over replying within a reasonable time frame). I'd really like to meet those of you who've offered to show me around your part of Japan or meet up for coffee, etc., so I'm hoping that will be able to happen sooner than later!

If you've linked to Surviving in Japan or mentioned it on your site or blog...

I'm honored! Many thanks to you. I'd love to list everyone who has mentioned it, although that may take a while. :) Definitely let me know if I haven't already left a comment and/or shared it on my social networks though.

If you subscribe to SiJ and read these posts...

I'm glad you're here. Thank you for reading and following. My hope is that you will always find something helpful or useful here. You're the reason I write and research this blog, and also because I know how difficult it can be at times to navigate things here in Japan!

Finally, a huge thank you to my husband, David, for all his support since I started Surviving in Japan. Honestly, without him, I wouldn't have gotten very far. He encourages me, comforts me and celebrates with me as things go along. He watches the little one when he gets home so I have time to work and cooks dinner too. He doesn't complain when a post takes longer than normal and I'm up far later than I originally planned to finish it.

He also helps check the Japanese when I need help, does research when I need help, reads over many of my posts before I publish them, and always gives useful feedback.

Seriously, if anyone deserves a "husband of the year" award, it's him. Thanks love.

David and little baby Ai-chan

I think that about covers it, but if I've missed anyone, do let me know.

Best wishes to you all for the new year and I look forward to seeing you on the other side: 2012!

-Ashley

Best of Surviving in Japan 2011

2011-12-29T23:51:00.001+09:00

2011 is winding down and we're preparing for 2012, the year of the dragon. A few things stand out in my mind from the year, most notably the horrific March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, and consequent nuclear disaster. Much like 9/11, those images don't really fade.

That, and on a lighter note, the birth of our daughter in August this year will also be something I won't forget. Well, I hope I can forget the birth experience itself, but our little smiley girl has been a blessing.

As we reflect and also look forward, I'd like to share with you a few things about Surviving in Japan from this past year.

Top 10 Most Popular Posts

1. Moving to Japan? Read this First
A rundown of what to bring, what not to bring, and what you could bring.

2. Packing for Japan Q&A
An extensive Q&A to answer all of your packing for Japan questions.

3. HOW TO: Do a furikomi (bank transfer)
Not all ATMs have an English function for this.

4. Japan Goggles translates kanji from images
An iPhone app to help you decipher what those characters mean.

5. A guide to tampons in Japan
Yes, there are tampons in Japan, and no, they aren't strangely different. This is everything you need to know about tampons here in Japan.

6. A Survival Guide to Mosquito Repellent in Japan
The mosquitoes are a huge pain here, so here's everything you need to know about keeping them at bay.

7. Make Life Easy - 8 Tools for Surviving Japan
A few tech ideas to make life a bit easier in Japan.

8. 5 Ways to Not Stand Out in Japan
Tired of the stares? What can you do to blend in?

9. HOW TO: Find (Good) Deodorant in Japan
It IS possible to get good deodorant in Japan.

10. HOW TO: Find anti-itch, insect bite medicine in Japan
When the mosquitoes bite, you may want to read this post.

10 Most Social Posts

These are the posts this year that were most socially engaging via shares and comments.

1. A Survival Guide to Mosquito Repellent in Japan

2. Japan Goggles translates kanji from images

3. Packing for Japan Q&A

4. 40+5 More Ways to Survive the Rainy Season
The rainy season: humid, muggy, sticky, sweaty and, a bit wet. Check out the post for ways to deal.

5. Japanese Deodorant: What's in it, What best, and What you think
Taking a deeper look at Japanese deodorant.

6. HOW TO: Prevent and Kill Cockroaches
How to keep these ugly, giant pests away, and what to do if they show up.

7. HOW TO: Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning (cool air fan)
A possible aircon alternative.

8. HOW TO: Look up Japanese medicine
Wondering about a prescription you got? Curious about certain types of medicine? Here's how to look them up.

9. 6 Ways to Find English-language Books in Japan
Miss reading in English? Here are a few places to find those sometimes elusive English-language books.

10. Pregnant in Japan: How to find a doctor, hospital or midwife
Finding a doctor or midwife shouldn't be stressful or impossible; I would know...

5 Interesting Keyword Searches

These are what I thought were interesting/unexpected search terms readers used via Google to arrive at Surviving in Japan (and yes, all were used more than 10 times).

1. is aojiru as healthy as fresh kale?

2. uniqlo ethics

3. how long was the earthquake in japan

4. hanabi reserve spot with tarp

5. what's on in japan

Thanks to everyone for reading, sharing and commenting on the posts I research and write. I appreciate your support and truly enjoy hearing your stories and comments. More helpful posts to come in 2012!

What is your favorite SiJ post, or what post do you think has been the most helpful?

24 Ways to Stay Warm in Japan This Winter

2011-12-24T00:03:00.000+09:00

So you've prepared your home in Japan as best you can for winter and you've got a heater or two, or a kotatsu, to keep you warm. What else can you do to survive the winter in Japan, especially with the continued emphasis on energy conservation?

Note: Amazon links below are affiliate links. Non-Amazon links are not.

1. Carry "kairo" (カイロ). Small body (typically hand) warmers. The disposable kind are the ones you open and shake up and typically last a few hours. Some can be placed in your shoes, around your ankles, around your waist or even around your wrists. Here are a few examples.

I've also noticed a trend of "eco-kairo" (エコカイロ) this year. The eco-kind vary, but some are filled with gel and you heat them in the microwave. Some are battery-powered (I'm not sure exactly how that is very "eco" though).

Some examples of "eco kairo" with cute covers (found at Loft):

And an eco-kairo that lasts about 4 hours:

2. Use a lap blanket. Whether at work or home, these smaller blankets are good to have on hand. Look for ひざかけ (膝掛け).

3. Or a space blanket. They aren't just the shiny, futuristic looking sheets anymore (though you can get those too). These kind are fabric-covered. Look for スペースケット.

space blanket

4. Or an electric blanket. Look for 電気毛布 (でんきもうふ, denkimoufu).

5. Use a hot water bottle (湯たんぽ, ゆたんぽ). Especially good for cold feet.

6. Eat hot dishes. Like Nabe. Curry. Ramen. Or any other hot meal. What's your favorite?

7. Drink lots of hot tea, especially if your workplace provides it for free.

8. Hot drinks. Remember that many vending machines and conveniences stores have a section for "hot drinks" (usually have a red label underneath and say あったかい or "hot drink" while the cold ones have a blue label, and yes, the vending machines that offer them do change over from summer).

When I first arrived in Japan I had no idea you could buy a hot beverage from a vending machine, and when I chose (cold) tea, thinking I was just choosing regular tea from a vending machine, the person I was with looked at me in complete shock.

"Don't you want a hot drink?" she asked.

"What? There's hot drinks?"

"Yes." She points to the red label, "These are hot." The look accompanying this was more or less, "how did you miss that..."

Not sure if it's just me, but I never really came across a vending machine in the US with hot drinks aside the dispenser types at some schools or hospitals, etc. Who needs a vending machine with a coffee shop on every street corner? I am from Seattle after all.

9. Heat Tech from Uniqlo. What you would call long underwear. If not from Uniqlo, wool or silk are also great materials (and yes, you can get non-itchy, lightweight wool base layers - merino wool is one of those). If you're prone to being cold like I am, you'll be extra thankful for that base layer!

10. Layer. Outer layer. While you're shopping for long underwear, do yourself a favor and get a warm winter coat. I recommend anything with down. Uniqlo and Muji have them, but here's a secret, Sierra Trading Post often has crazy discounts on down jackets. (No, they didn't pay me to say that - I wish). Be careful if you want anything with fur trim though, as customs might get you when you have it shipped here directly.

11. Don't forget earmuffs, hat, gloves, scarves. I really like the earmuffs at Muji. Oh, and scarves are ストール or マフラー in Japanese.

12. Have a smartphone or iPad? You may want to try these gloves that allow you to use your touchscreen and still keep your fingers warm (I've seen these at Loft and Tokyu Hands as well).

13. Visit your nearest sento (銭湯, せんとう) or onsen (温泉, おんせん). This is a must in winter. Must.

14. Use a kind of kairo on your skin, such as a "温熱シート" (like a heating pad) or "こしカイロ" (back warmer). Or "ゆたぽん" which are gel-filled packs you microwave and can use around your shoulders, at your feet, etc., to keep you warm. Check here for various ideas, or head to your local home or daily goods store (or Loft, Tokyu Hands, etc.).

15. Get on a train. They're usually over-heated. You'll warm right up.

16. Get moving. Bike, walk, run, swim. Join a gym. Even just doing chores around the house will keep you a bit warmer than sitting (as will carrying a baby all day...)

17. If you have a futon, how about a futon dryer? My good friend Sally says a futon dryer works well for warming up futons before bed. Look for ふとん乾燥機 (ふとんかんそうき, futon kansouki).

18. Try a "hanten" (はんてん), explained by Andrea:

19. Or just cut a hole out of a blanket:

20. Candles might add some heat (or trick your mind at least):

21. A hot carpet might help, especially if you sit on the floor:

22. Ladies, if you're brave, you can get a "heated pad" that resembles a sanitary napkin. I kid you not. Not to be confused with sanitary napkins despite their appearance (they shouldn't be used while menstruating or for more than 2-3 hours at a time), these are like kairo for your nether regions, (loosely) based on an ancient Korean ritual. It seems from reviews on cosme.net that these are viewed pretty positively, but warn against sitting too long so you don't burn yourself. Check them out here.

23. A furry companion may be a good option:

24. A recent Japan Pulse post mentioned an under-desk kotatsu, a humanoid sleeping bag and window glass film that attaches to the frame rather than the glass (although, we tape our bubble wrap all over the frame anyway).

25. [Insert your idea here]

Your turn. What other creative ideas do you have to stay warm in Japan during winter?