Living Guide « GaijinPot Blog Network: Japan’s best blogs

Living Guide

More on Immigration Guideline No. 8: October 7th, 2009By freechoice; In April 2010, the Immigration Bureau will begin requesting foreigners to show their social health insurance cards as a prerequisite for visa renewal. Why is this a bad idea? The guideline was intended to compel employers to observe the law by enrolling their employees in social insurance. However, it puts foreigners between a rock and a hard » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

Japan’s Service Sector ranks the world’s top, but at what price?: September 15th, 2009By Ashley Roushom; In July I had an opportunity to make a short trip back to Europe after several years of not traveling anywhere outside Japan. After a long and exhausting flight we arrived at the hotel and the first thing that came to my mind was shower. After I couldn’t find any shampoo » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

You Swine!: September 15th, 2009By Joe Kurosu M.D.; The Swine Flu. Novel H1N1. S-OIV. 2009 H1N1 Influenza. Whatever you want to call it, it’s out there and wreaking havoc. Out of season and out of control, swine flu appears determined to stay, at least for a while. No need to panic, however, as most of us, swine or not, will survive. Here is » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

The Price of Soda: August 31st, 2009By Nakata; Sometimes the things I discuss in this forum I’ve provided myself are grand sweeping ideas whose larger implications have bearing on the lives of millions. Sometimes what I say offends as many people and that cannot be helped. An opinion coated in the proverbial sugar of polite discourse often loses its » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

Five Things to Bring to Japan If You Are Teaching Children: August 31st, 2009By Lieske Leynen; These are just somethings I have learned to pack when moving abroad. Some small things that have made my life a little easier. 1. Coloring-Activity Books Bring one or two of the cheap coloring books you find in discount stores. The books are usually between two and four dollars depending on their size and where » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

Why are Japanese interest rates so low?: August 26th, 2009By drifter; Recently, during a lesson of mine, a Japanese student proudly informed the class that she has found a long-term savings plan at her bank that gave her over 1% interest! She was so happy at her apparent cleverness in beating the usually ridiculously low rates (typically somewhere in the neighborhood of about 0.5%). » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

The Great Japanese Adventure: August 26th, 2009By Nakata; Forgive me friends. For those of you who like reading these updates on my life in Japan, I know I have made you wait longer than usual. It is not that Tokyo, Japan, or even the Japanese have stopped amazing me on a daily basis, it is that life has a » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

Parasols, dating and other mysteries: August 22nd, 2009By Nakata; Why it is that some Japanese women venture from their domiciles bearing parasols on Tokyo’s finest days is beyond me. Japanese people in general tan very well, and look even more healthy and youthful when kissed by the warmth of our sun. Nevertheless it never fails, should even a single beam » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

The modern art of Japanese communication: August 22nd, 2009By Ashley Roushom; Embarrassing or not, the very first time I realized that Japan was a real country, was in the later years of middle school. Prior to that, everything surrounding this tiny region of the world seemed distant to the point that it was unreal. I didn’t know anything “true” about Japan and its culture until the moment my family » Continue Reading; CommentsComments

The Music of Tokyo: August 17th, 2009By Nakata; Who is that there making this sweet music and dancing its slow waltz? Is it an orchestra on a grand stage? Is it the world-renowned Bolshoi ballet company? Nay! ’tis but a lowly janitor and his floor polishing machine dancing, their labor of love trampled by the million-masses behind them. Each » Continue Reading; CommentsComments