Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with japan

Help me cultivate a genuine interest in Japan!

ThomThomThomThom — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:16:12 -0800

What makes Japan so great? So I've come across the opportunity to apply for a grant to teach English in Japan for a year or two after university... the problem, though, is that I don't really know anything about Japan in terms of language or culture... So I ask you, dear Metafilter, what makes Japan so great? Have you ever been? What struck you most, coming from a Western (or non-western! Let's not make assumptions!) culture? This is a big, meaty question, I know, but if anyone could regale me with anecdotes or point me in the direction of some interesting resources I would appreciate it! At the moment, all that comes to mind are crazy gameshows and Rule 34...

Exchanging £s Sterling to Yen / Getting cash out in Japan

mairuzu — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:12:17 -0800

I'm going to Japan (from the UK) and want to arrange my cash for out there - I don't want to go down the traditional credit card route as they seem to sting you for allsorts of fees nowadays. 2 parts to this question: 1. Where would I get the better deal / exchange rate for changing my Sterling to Yen? In the UK before I go, or in Japan once I'm there? 2. (This one is very specific to a UK Bank) Does anyone know if a Nationwide Flex / current account Visa card will work in many cash machines in Japan? Any help gratefully received.

How should I spend my summer in Japan?

borkingchikapa — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:11:48 -0800

Ok, quick - I have a month free in Japan, no responsibilities, some money but not a lot. What's the craziest, most outlandish thing I can do? Currently, my plan is to hitchhike from here (Kyoto) to Kagoshima in the south (I've taken short trips before), then try to hitchhike on small boats to Okinawa. I've been completely unable to get any information on that second part, but I'll try. Failing that, hitchhike from Kagoshima all the way up to the top of Hokkaido, camping most of the way.

Any ideas that won't get me arrested? I can speak Japanese, but due to financial concerns I'm afraid suggestions such as "skydiving!" or "hang out in tokyo for more than five minutes!" are unhelpful. I'm looking for things more along the lines of "live with homeless people for a month!" Actually, that's not a bad idea...

Can I change the flight of entry into Japan, after obtaining the visa?

Masi — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:22:03 -0800

Does anyone here know what documents, besides your passport and visa, are needed at the border entry into Japan? I will go to Japan this September. I have recently obtained my visa, after a process which included submitting to the Japanese embassy a dossier of files, which included my scheduled itinerary in Japan, my hotel reservation, my flight reservation, proof of money etc.

My question is: are these documents checked upon entry in Japan? I know that the visa is not a guarantee of being allowed entrance into the country.

The reason I ask is that I have just found that if I fly through Nagoya instead of Tokyo, the cost of the flight is halved. But my dossier says that I'm arriving through Tokyo, via a certain airline.

Could I change my flight, or would that cause me trouble at the border and would probably make me go back home?

What is your experience at the Japanese border?

Thanks!

Business outfits for Tokyo's summer

clearlydemon — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:57:34 -0800

I'll visit Tokyo in late August to attend a training course. Business attire is recommended. Help! We'll visit some Japanese companies and I must dress appropriately, but I'm not used to business clothes. Also, I'm told the weather will be very hot and humid. What kind of clothes should I wear to make a good impression and not melt in the heat? Extra points for shoes and handbag tips.

Google says not to wear revealing clothes, and to be very formal. Would it be ok to wear a short sleeved fitted blouse?

I don't live in the US, so store recommendations are not helpful.

About me: I'm 28 years old (but look younger) and thin. I'm a graphic designer, and I usually wear casual clothes to work. I like to wear skirts and dresses, but I'm not a fan of high heels.

Early Reservations on Japan Rail

brett — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:34:59 -0800

I'm taking a trip to Japan from August 13 to 26, right in the midst of the Obon travel season. I already have an exchange order for a Japan Rail Pass. Can I make reservations for specific trains before I get there? One Japanese colleague has already told me that the trains will be "crowded," which I take to mean "ridonkulous." So it'd give me some peace of mind if I could reserve seats (very) early, so I don't have to worry about whether or not I'll be able to make my hotel check-in time in the next city.

Is there a way I can do this? If not, what's the best way to prepare? If you want the real nitty-gritty, my schedule has me going from NRT to Tokyo on the 14th, then to Koyasan on the 17th, Hiroshima on the 19th, Kyoto on the 21st, and back to Tokyo on the 24th. I have a friend coming with me, too.

If I should be worrying less, feel free to say that too. :) Thanks in advance.

I love my new sister in law!

hollygoheavy — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:49:44 -0800

My brother is getting married (YAY!) Now what to give to my sister in law? My brother is marrying a fantastic girl and we couldn't be more excited. She's Japanese and they're having a civil ceremony at the courthouse in her city in September, followed by a western style wedding in Hawaii next year. Since none of my family can attend, I'd like to send something to Asami to say "welcome to the family-I'm so glad you're marrying my brother". Is there something traditionally given in Japan to a sister or daughter in law to welcome a new woman to the family? I'll be sending a box to my brother and he'll be taking things with him when he goes next month.

Rising sun rock and roll?

soma lkzx — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:56:43 -0800

Tokyo Damage Report's list of shows and venues has sold me on going to see bands play while I'm in Japan, are there any resources like this for cities besides Tokyo? Turns out that going to a show alone isn't so bad when you're in a foreign country and your cultural/language skills are that of a 2 year old - I just need to know where to go! My musical taste in this case is just guitars and energy; I'll take anything from hardcore to twee to psychobilly. I think my guidebook has things like jazz pretty well covered, but feel free to bring suggestions from that end of the spectrum as well.

I'm going to be hanging around in indeterminate cities between Tokyo and Nagasaki for the next ten days, so the net is pretty wide. Show lists, venue lists, or even venue names would all be really helpful.

(And while I'm at it, if you have any amazing suggestions on less rock-n-rolly things to do or festivals in the next week, you can drop that in, too!)

Are there any good English-language sources on dissent in World War II era Japan?

Kattullus — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:10:33 -0800

Are there any good English-language sources on dissent in World War II era Japan? I recently met a Japanese woman who grew up in a dissenting household during World War II. I also learned that some Buddhist leaders were jailed for dissent by the Tojo government. Now, if I had thought about it I'm sure I would've realized that dissent was just as widespread in Japan as it was in Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia. However, I never thought about it because I don't remember ever seeing it mentioned before. Can anyone point me towards good English-language books, articles or websites about dissent in WWII-era Japan? Or, in a pinch, summarize non-English sources?

Gift ideas for someone moving to Japan

SallyHitMeOntheHead — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:17:25 -0800

My niece is going to teach English in Japan for a couple of years. What's a good going-away present I can give her? I would rather not just give cash although that's my last resort. She's from the Midwest, speaks some Japanese, about 25 years old.

What is a Hariky GK-3?

lekvar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:00:23 -0800

Tell-me-what-this-thing-is-Filter: What is a Hariky GK-3? I found this most intriguing object at a local goodwill store. I noticed that it has what appears to be an earphone jack, so I bought it in the hopes that it might be some kind of wonderful noise maker that Google could shed some light on. Google failed me, though.

Pics and descriptions:
Right Side: There's a jack here, and a standard male 1/8" audio plug fits in here, though I'm not 100% sure that's what the jack is there for. When powered speakers are plugged in it does produce noise though.

Front: With speakers plugged in to the jack on the right side, the unit will produce clicks which coincide with the red light in the upper-right corner flashing if the upper switch is set to TREAT. The OUTPUT knob changes the volume and the PULSE know changes the speed of the clicks, but neither affect the output to any great degree.

If the upper switch is set to SEARCH the unit produced a tone which is unaffected by the position of the PULSE knob, but varies by about a whole tone when the OUTPUT knob is turned.

The +/- switch (next to the OUTPUT knob) doesn't seem to do anything.

Left side: what appears to be a DC power jack with an unusual symbol, and jack that looks like a standard 1/8" audio plug but is actually a little to small to plug in to. It too has an unusual symbol, which looks to me like a pic of the old-style "earbuds" from the 60's and 70's.

Back: I'm guessing the characters are Japanese (here's a pic that's hopefully a little clearer), but I'm no expert. It also says:
HARIKY GK-3
KANARAY CO, LTD
MADE IN JAPAN

This... thing cost me $2.50 and I've already gotten my money's worth just playing around with the noise it produces but now I want to know more.

So, MetaFilter, what is this thing?

Is Japan allowed to catch any whales for food use?

mairuzu — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:27:48 -0800

I have just read an article in the New Scientist about the Chile Whaling Conference. The article describes how Japan is allowed to catch 1000 whales each year for scientific purposes, yet has been accused of allowing some of the meat to make it's way to the dinner table. I lived in Japan a couple of years ago, and every supermarket seemed to sell small quantities of whale meat, and it wasn't a particularly rare sight in many restaurants. Would this meat be part of this, presumeably illegal, "for scientific purposes only", catch? Or do they have a separate quota for food use?

What happens (legally) when an American and a Japanese person marry?

Vorteks — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:00:53 -0800

International Marriage filter: When a US Citizen marries a foreigner, what process is involved in bringing the new spouse to the US and getting permanent resident status? I'd like to know how difficult it is for a US Citizen to marry a foreigner (specifically, a Japanese person), and bring them here to the US to stay. What are the legal procedures? How long does it take? What, if any, is the chance of "failure"?

I know a lot of people are going to tell me to talk to an immigration lawyer. Believe me, I will... if/when the situation comes up. You see, right now I'm not yet dating. I'm just considering a potential relationship, and if I decide to pursue it I'd like to know up front what I'm getting into. So YANAL, or at least YANML, I understand. But what can you tell me about the process? I'd like to get a "birds eye view" at least.

Bonus points: What would be involved in a US Citizen marrying a Japanese person and getting permanent residence in JAPAN? This seems less likely in my case. But hey, it could happen.

Thank you MeFites!

The Westering Sun

Cucurbit — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:28:48 -0800

Where can I find (in a book or online) an image of Okada Saburosuke's painting "The Westering Sun"? I haven't been able to locate so much as a reference to it since seeing it in the Tokyo National Museum. Is there a more common English rendering of the title?

Where can I find Japanese monster movie samples?

awfurby — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:50:03 -0800

Where can I find a good source of audio samples from Japanese monster movies? My band has recorded a song about being abducted by a giant electric flying insect and we need a couple of voiceovers to drop in to the song - something along the lines of "It's coming this way!!" or "No-one can escape Mothra/Godzilla/other monster's raging fury", or something similar. The samples can be in English, but Japanese is preferable. Does anyone know of an online resource that has something like what we're looking for?

Where to apply to become a tour guide in Japan?

DoctorFedora — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:10:02 -0800

Getting a job as a tour guide in Japan? For reasons not worth going into here, I'm looking for information (i.e. companies to contact, for example) on becoming a tour guide in Japan for English-speaking groups. Preferably in Kansai or Chubu regions, though I'm mostly just looking for a step in the right direction and then hopefully working from there.

Assume for the purposes of this question that a work visa is a nonissue, although places that could be applied for from within the United States would probably be preferable. Japanese language skill is sufficient for this sort of thing.

UK Visa Application Advice - UK & Japanese citizens

mairuzu — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:24:52 -0800

I am a British citizen, my fiance is Japanese. We are getting married in Japan in August. Immediately after the wedding, we are planning on going to the UK Visa Application Centre in Osaka to apply for a spouse visa to allow my (by then) wife to re-enter the UK and work. I will then return to the UK towards the end of August and she plans to return in September (once the visa has been approved). Can anyone who has been through or knows about this process offer any advice, experiences or opinions? Specifically, we want to know:

- How realistic are the time-scales for processing (they estimate between 1 & 3 months - is it more likely to be 1 month or 3?)
- How easy is it to book an appointment at the Visa Centre?
- How busy does the centre get? (Can we just turn up without an appointment?)
- What sort of documentation is it best to take? (evidence of genuineness of relationship etc.?)

Many thanks in advance

Japan Filter

Knigel — Sat, 31 May 2008 07:23:29 -0800

I will be staying in Japan for a week before I go to S.Korea and would like some recommendations of things to do and places to stay. I will be landing in Narita; however, it seems better to go to Tokyo once I land. I am a student and can't afford too much; therefore, I am looking for some cheaper places that I can sleep and store my bags while I wander around. Also, I will be there August 19th until August 26th -- are there any events happening? Is there anything to be careful of? Anyone know of any good websites or forums that I could check out before I go? I really want to make the best of this trip, yet it's quite intimidating.

I need a translation of this small Japanese document

lungtaworld — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:28:31 -0800

I cannot find a free translation of this small Japanese document, found in some inherited articles of my mother's. I hope someone can help me.

What restrictions are there on mailing over-the-counter medicine from the United States to Japan?

aws — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:15:55 -0800

I have relatives in Japan who want me to mail them some over-the-counter medicines--specifically, extra-strength Tylenol and Sudafed (the new kind, without pseudoephedrine.) Both are legal in Japan and would be for their personal use only. So how do I find out how much of each I can mail them at once?

Japanese makeup/fashion in NYC?

zgg105 — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:57:30 -0800

What's a good place to buy Japanese cosmetics and/or fashion magazines (such as ViVi) in NYC? Or online?

The Missing Youtube Video

j1950 — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:13:45 -0800

YouTube video got deleted...can you help me find it? Several weeks ago, I asked a question about a skit from the Japanese TV show "Black Mayonnaise" that I was in. Now, the video has been deleted from YouTube before I had a chance to save it/disseminate it properly.

This is the original link. Can you help me find the video again...my Japanese isn't good enough to search.

Thanks!

Advice on preparing for an internship in Japan

F Mackenzie — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:10:50 -0800

How should a college freshman prepare for an internship to Japan in two years? What options are available? My son is a current college freshman who started a self-study program in the Japanese language last summer. He is interested in studying abroad for a semester, perhaps during his junior year. However, his current school has no history of work-study/internships in Japan.

If anyone has experience in this area, can you give advice on what preparations he should be making now, and what future organizations he can approach to obtain his goal? (His major is in computer science, although he has an eclectic background and could land in a variety of fields.)

Place to stay in Kyoto and must see sights?

mhaw — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:29:24 -0800

Planning a trip to Tokyo/Kyoto towards the end of May and I'm looking for suggestions for great places to stay for two nights in Kyoto (inexpensive to moderately priced) as well as don't miss sights/restaurants in Tokyo and Kyoto. We will be there for about two weeks.

Modernist building in The Yakuza?

stevil — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:05:37 -0800

What is that amazing modernist building in The Yakuza? In the 1974 film The Yakuza, when Kilmer (Robert Mitchum) goes to meet with Ken's brother for the first time, he's at some amazing United Nations-esque complex. What is the name of that building and where is it?