If you are interested in living in Japan

[LaMedicine]

lol Given North American portion sizes, they'd just plunk the whole fish on the plate and say "be careful around the liver!"lol

lol lol lol Better puff it up first.

 

[Speedway]

Fedora Lounge members in Japan...

Are there a lot of us? I just joined... よろしくお願いします。

 

[nyx]

lol Given North American portion sizes, they'd just plunk the whole fish on the plate and say "be careful around the liver!"lol

lol lol lol When I was younger, I worked at a Japanese restaurant that was solely in business for the Toyota plant nearby. Therefore the customer base was almost entirely Japanese workers, here for a couple years that wanted real Japanese food to eat for lunch and dinner. The cuisine was very authentic and both our kitchen and sushi staff were Japanese. After dinner shift, we (the wait staff), would often get to eat leftovers. Sagano-san, the head sushi chef, gave us all a taste of expensive fish one night along with our meals. After we all ate it, he began laughing hysterically and saying (verbatim): "Puffer fish! Ha ha! Kill you!" And being an expert, he actually had nicked the poison gland to provide a tingling sensation in the lips that we all felt afterwards in a raging panic. Love that Japanese sense of humor! :rage:

He was a known alcoholic too, so sometimes, even to this day, I wonder if the "nick" was really because he was expert...or drunk. [huh]

 

[French]

middle aged and still getting stung

During my wild youth, I studied Kyokushinkai karate, a style
founded by Matsutatsu Oyama, a legendary fighter and former
Shotokan exponent, whose Tokyo dojo headquarters was a magnet
for all American karateka. Another dojo for Shotokan stylists
was dubbed "the hornet's nest" because blood flowed freely and
one was frequently "stung." I had planned to stay in Japan for one
full year, however, GI Bill college realities kept me home.
Now, ensconced in middle age, whenever I think of Japan,
I am more intrigued by cherry blossom trees in Kyoto, silk screen art,
and kubuki theater..., all things I'm sure I would have missed in
my twenties....

Hi Harp,

I'm 37 and currently studying Kyokushin Kai, here in the US, being taught by one of Mas Oyama's students. Suffice to say, I have never been as banged up as I am now (including during military field exercises or after 24hr Mountain Bike races). I would love to go to Japan and experience the culture, the maki-e art, and the karate. Hopefully the karate wouldn't make me so sore as to not be able to enjoy the rest of the experience.

french

 

[Ben]

I have some friends who are there now on the JET program and seem to like it quite a bit. They are in Gifu.

My wife and I are leaving next Thursday to visit Japan and them. We'll go to Gifu, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Any recommendations on places to go and things to do would be great.

If someone wants to try to arrange a meeting, we'd be up for that too.

 

[BellyTank]

Are there a lot of us? I just joined... よろしくお願いします。

Well- I was in Narita overnite in early March.

Welcome, Speedway!

B
T

 

[LaMedicine]

Speedway,ようこそ　お出でなさいました、 こちらこそ　よろしくお願いいたします。
Where are you in Japan?

Ben, I am in Tokyo, when and for how long will you be visiting? If we can match our schedules, I am up for a meet.
Gifu has colorful history and has a lot of historic places.
Kyoto and Nara are historic cities that go back more than a thousand years, and both have buildings that go back that far, and are still in good condtion, so there will be lots to see.
For further suggestions, what you and your wife are intereted in, will have to be taken into consideration.
We're a jumbled up mixture of the old and new, that can be confusing to newcomers, it can be confusing to us natives, too.lol lol lol

Hmm, if you are intersted, I wrote some introductory stuff on Japan for a friend a few years ago. It's a Word document, so if you would like to read it in preparation for your visit, will you PM me your email address so I can send it to you?
Speedway, if you are interested, I will send it to you, too, but I see you are a Newbie which means you will have to chuck up 15 posts, I think it was, before you can PM.

Anywho. Wherever you are, to those of you who are already here, or planning to come, hope you are enjoying/will enjoy this country, and I hope to get to meet some of you, if not all.

 

[Josephine]

I lived on Atsugi-kichi in the late 70's when I was in 5th-7th grade (went to Zama Army base for school too). My father was a Navy pilot. We visited Kyoto where we stayed at the Three Sisters Inn. We also went to Tokyo on the Bullet Train, often went to Yokohama, and visited the Buddha at Kamakura amongst other places. I have one of those special accordion style books that you would get the special shrine stamps in. I attempted to climb Mt Fuji with my father and my brother's Boy Scout troop, but I didn't make it to the top. My Girl Scout troop made friends with a Japanese Girl Scout troop and my mom still corresponds with Midori-san. I still have a number of kimonos and yukata that unfortunately I, with my curvy Western body shape, don't fit in anymore. The summer I was 15 I went back to Atsugi-kichi for a few weeks and went to Hiroshima. I loved living there. One "strange" association I have with Japan is the smell of cherry Chapstick will trigger olfactory memories of exhaust fumes and Tokyo, as it was winter when we visited and I used the Chapstick quite often.

 

[Harp]

Hi Harp,

I'm 37 and currently studying Kyokushin Kai, here in the US, being taught by one of Mas Oyama's students. Suffice to say, I have never been as banged up as I am now (including during military field exercises or after 24hr Mountain Bike races). I would love to go to Japan and experience the culture, the maki-e art, and the karate. Hopefully the karate wouldn't make me so sore as to not be able to enjoy the rest of the experience.

french

Konichiwa French,

How far along are you in Kyokushin? I was fond of full contact kumite,
and went around to other dojo: Hapkido, Kenpo, Goju, and a few eclectic
styles that seem to appear and then disappear. Bruce Lee's Jeet kune do
has made an appearance in the Chicago area, judo is dying out, but Akkido,
Shorin, and Shotokan still thrive. Haven't fought in a long time, but I'd like
to get back in the dojo. Keep postponing for one reason or another.
Who is your Sensei? Kyokushin had only ten or eleven dojo in the country at one
time, and I cannot imagine that more have opened, but I hope that the
style flourishes.

 

[Diamondback]

Domo arigato, LaMedicine. Someday, I'd like to see your country--both as a history student, and as one of philosophy.

 

[LaMedicine]

Since you've been in Japan for more than 7 years, I'm sure you'll do well wherever you choose to live, so here are some ideas if you are looking into the Kanto area.

Yokohama is an extension of Tokyo in a way, although the oldest parts have a distinct atmosphere that is appealing, as there are areas where 19thC-early 20C buildings are preserved, retaining the atmosphere of the port city that was the earliest city in Japan that was westernized after Japan opened her doors after over 250 year of isolation from the world with the exception of ships from Portugal, China and Korea. It's either big city, or pretty much suburban *bed town*. Kamakura, Zushi, the Shonan area is more rural, but it's probably still pretty much city for your taste. If you are looking for a slow country life close to the city, then Chiba-ken might be a better choice. Places between Narita and Tokyo. Housing is cheaper in that area, too. Yokohama-Shonan area is expensive compared to Chiba, almost the same, or even more than some parts of Tokyo.

Another choice for slow country life near the city might be actually Tokyo. The western end of Tokyo along the JR Chuo line still retain the rural atmosphere, and have some favorite camping and outdoor sites for Tokyoites.

 

[LaMedicine]

Met Ben tonight

I have some friends who are there now on the JET program and seem to like it quite a bit. They are in Gifu.

My wife and I are leaving next Thursday to visit Japan and them. We'll go to Gifu, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Any recommendations on places to go and things to do would be great.

If someone wants to try to arrange a meeting, we'd be up for that too.

Ben, his wife and I met this evening for a tempura dinner. This is the first time I met a Lounger, and we had a wonderful time. The conversation flowed, and it was as if we had been friends for a long time, instead of just met a few minutes ago.
The wonders of the internet.

 

[Harp]

The wonders of the internet.

LaMedicine, I expect to visit Japan sometime next year; hopefully we can meet for lunch or dinner.

 

[Blondie]

Thank you for the JET info,
i will pass it on to my daughter, she is on a 1 year scholarship at
a University in Kichijoji Tokyo , she speaks & writes Japanese !
This is a programme i know she will be interested in.

 

[LaMedicine]

LaMedicine, I expect to visit Japan sometime next year; hopefully we can meet for lunch or dinner.

Let me know when you get it scheduled. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you.

i will pass it on to my daughter, she is on a 1 year scholarship at a University in Kichijoji Tokyo , she speaks & writes Japanese !

I live very close to Kichijoji, as a matter of fact, only 3 train stations, or a 30 minute walk.
Which U is she attending? Seikei U or TWCU (Tokyo Women's Christian U)? My nephew is a second year student at Sekei U.

 

[Goldfish]

is the jet program only for people of U.S.?

 

[pigeon toe]

I would love to go to Japan someday. My boyfriend and I always talk about how it's going to be our honeymoon spot if we ever get married. My father has been there on business a few times and loves it, and my old roommate and her boyfriend went there this summer. I'm very jealous!

I'm currently taking a Japanese Art History class and it's really fascinating. It's such a nice change from taking European art history classes, the style of painting is so interesting and new to me. I'd love to be able to see some of the work I'm studying in person someday.

 

[LaMedicine]

is the jet program only for people of U.S.?

It is for native English speakers, wherever you are from. The people who come to Japan through the JET Programme work as English teachers in Japanese public schools, assisting Japanese English teachers in teaching pronunciation, conversation and hearing.

I think some foreign language schools have programs bringing foreigners to Japan to teach their native languages, but you will have to check out with the individual schools. You might check with Berliz, since it offers courses in multiple languages as well as English, such as French, German and Spanish.

pigeon toe, let me know when you get a trip over here scheduled.

 

[Ben]

Ben, his wife and I met this evening for a tempura dinner. This is the first time I met a Lounger, and we had a wonderful time. The conversation flowed, and it was as if we had been friends for a long time, instead of just met a few minutes ago.
The wonders of the internet.

It was a great time. I plan to post some pictures on the whole Japanese adventure soon. But suffice it to say, I have now met three Loungers in real life and they have all been great. It is a great crowd here.

Thanks LaMedicine for showing some hospitality to visitors.

 

[LaMedicine]

It was a pleasure meeting you and your wife, Ben.

By the way, I'm sorry you had a couple of days of bad weather while in Tokyo.
Especially the typhoon. You may have been surprised how easy going the locals were about having one hit us.lol
At least, it was well out of the way by the time you flew out of Narita, and I can see you got home safe and sound.
(My friends and I were joking whether our plane would fly on schedule Saturday morning, and expected some turbulence, but nary a bump, thank goodness.)