Heading to Japan, TOMORROW...

[save the frogs]

19 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Concerning who is the best poster on TV, I must say that he is from Scotland, and a devotee of bike riding.

Which poster from Scotland are you referring to?

Realistically, you're not even in the Top 10 posters on here.

And keep in mind that many posters are not regular posters. If they posted regularly, you would easily drop to below the Top 20.

And also keep in mind that competition on Japan expat forums is even more fierce. 

Good luck!

 

[Lacessit]

Sayonara.

[sometimewoodworker]

5 hours ago, Guderian said:

Speaking of which, how's the ganja situation in Tokyo these days?

It hasn’t changed. You need to be 100% sure of your connection as you can find that a doggie one is now a police informant.

 

5 hours ago, Guderian said:

I seem to remember it carried the death penalty a while back,

That must have been last century if it ever existed for other than dealers in kilogram quantities, or you are thinking of Thailand. it certainly was not the case in the last 30 years. For other drugs it is possible that it may have happened but nothing was printed in the English language papers.

Edited October 28, 2023 by sometimewoodworker

[Hanaguma]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

healthcare in japan must be very expensive?

you factored that in? 

 

As someone who lives in Japan now, and has lived here for more than 20 years, I am enjoying this discussion immensely. The level of inaccuracy and drek is making me smile.

About health care, if you are on the national plan (called "kokumin kenko hoken") it is very cheap.  A hospital visit, blood test work, and prescription cost me all of 400 baht (about 1600 yen). But the premiums for the plan can be a bit high. I pay about 160,000 baht a year for two people.  

 

Cost of living depends on a lot, especially location.  I pay 21,000 baht a month to rent a 4 bedroom house, about 45 minutes from the downtown of a major city (not Tokyo). Gas for my car is about 36 baht a litre.  You can eat out for cheap if you are smart, eat in for even less if you shop the sales. Highway tolls are insanely expensive, same for bullet train tickets. Sometimes cheaper to fly domestically. 

 

Beer at 7/11 is around 50-55 baht, wine and whisky are reasonably priced. Good beef can be pricy, same with fresh fruit and veggies. If you live near a Costco, it helps. 

 

Just done FA here, or you will FO.  See the saga of Johnny Somali for details. Currently in detention facing 3 years for trespassing. 

[save the frogs]

2 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

As someone who lives in Japan now, and has lived here for more than 20 years,

What kind of visa allows you to stay for 20 years, if you don't mind me asking?

I thought Japan was very frugal with handing out stays to foreigners.

I guess you need to get married to a local to stay long-term? 

 

 

[Hanaguma]

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

What kind of visa allows you to stay for 20 years, if you don't mind me asking?

I thought Japan was very frugal with handing out stays to foreigners.

I guess you need to get married to a local to stay long-term? 

 

 

No problem, happy to tell ya!

 

Been married for 30, I've had permanent residency for about 20 years.  Raised a family, now easing towards retirement. Looking at a 50/50 split between here and somewhere tropical.  If you work, it is not too hard to get a working visa, which even single people can parlay into permanent residence after about 10 years. 

[Yellowtail]

See ya! 

[StreetCowboy]

17 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Also, I would like to ask. 

 

Why cannot I become a minimalist? 

 

I am not a pathological hoarder. 

 

But, last time I moved from China to Thailand, I was charged an arm and a leg for many boxes and crates. 

 

And then, many of my boxes and crates became totally crushed and destroyed in transit after the Chinese guys stuffed everything into one 40 foot container. 

 

Maybe I should become more like Gandhi...? 

 

Just a wheel to spin cotton, and no more. 

 

Plus a few young virgins to lay with me. 

 

But only with a snuggle board between. 

 

 

If you fly Economy you can reduce the amount of rubbish that you take.  Anything useful - dump it, and buy better in the new country. Anything of sentimental value - bin it, and remember it.  The rest - just bin, with the exception of your passport, birth certificate, and if you are still working, educational and professional certificates, badges and stickers.  Maybe take your phone book, if you have more than a few friends or come from a large family.

[StreetCowboy]

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Which poster from Scotland are you referring to?

Realistically, you're not even in the Top 10 posters on here.

And keep in mind that many posters are not regular posters. If they posted regularly, you would easily drop to below the Top 20.

And also keep in mind that competition on Japan expat forums is even more fierce. 

Good luck!

 

I don’t really see posting as a competition.  I’ve occasionally wondered about whether I should be more competitive.

My mate tries hard not to be competitive - if you read David Coulthard’s memoirs you might understand how that might be difficult; I am lucky that for me it comes easily.

[Chris Daley]

Scramble crossing and a maid cafe and you're done.  f all to see or do.

[save the frogs]

30 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

I don’t really see posting as a competition.  

Gamma does. He's highly competitive. And he will need to step up his game on Japan expat forums. 

 

Gamma, you a cat person? 

 

[StreetCowboy]

13 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

Scramble crossing and a maid cafe and you're done.  f all to see or do.

I had my strangest night out in Japan.  Me and a young lad had gone with a senior consultant who knew the territory; he took us out for noodles and then buggered off.  Me and the youngster wandered round a bit.  We were clearly in a red light district but I didn't want to go in somewhere and pay whateverthousandyen for a bit of a karaokesingsong.  Needless to say I was developing a bit of a thirst.  Eventually we came a "LondonPub" - down a few stairs, through a heavey door, along a corridor, into a bar "Beer!" "no have" "Beer ->"pointing at the bar, which, to be fair, had no beer taps on it "No have".  Disheartened, but never thwarted, we headed back to the suburbs and bought cans out the dispensing machine near the station.  Japan seemed like a foreign country to me.  It was not the same as what I was used to...  

[save the frogs]

Gamma, I found a Japan Expat Forum for you

https://www.expatforum.com/forums/japan-expat-forum-for-expats-living-in-japan.34/

 

[JensenZ]

He's not going to Japan, he's just trolling.

[HappyExpat57]

19 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

He's not going to Japan, he's just trolling.

I'm just WAITING to see a post from him to the tune of "Kidding!"

 

Yes, I'm just that bored. Schools starts back up tomorrow and I go back to enjoying teaching again.

[phetphet]

On 10/28/2023 at 12:21 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

I would write more, but I have already disconnected my internet connection, and I am typing using 3G on my NOTE4. 

 

Once you land in japan, you should be able to buy yourself a 5G SIM card.

 

A Mensa candidate Japanese girl, means she has the intellect to be even more devious than a dumb one. Enjoy your search.

 

[fondue zoo]

12 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

As someone who lives in Japan now, and has lived here for more than 20 years, I am enjoying this discussion immensely. The level of inaccuracy and drek is making me smile.

About health care, if you are on the national plan (called "kokumin kenko hoken") it is very cheap.  A hospital visit, blood test work, and prescription cost me all of 400 baht (about 1600 yen). But the premiums for the plan can be a bit high. I pay about 160,000 baht a year for two people.  

 

Cost of living depends on a lot, especially location.  I pay 21,000 baht a month to rent a 4 bedroom house, about 45 minutes from the downtown of a major city (not Tokyo). Gas for my car is about 36 baht a litre.  You can eat out for cheap if you are smart, eat in for even less if you shop the sales. Highway tolls are insanely expensive, same for bullet train tickets. Sometimes cheaper to fly domestically. 

 

Beer at 7/11 is around 50-55 baht, wine and whisky are reasonably priced. Good beef can be pricy, same with fresh fruit and veggies. If you live near a Costco, it helps. 

 

Just done FA here, or you will FO.  See the saga of Johnny Somali for details. Currently in detention facing 3 years for trespassing. 

 

 

Excellent, I just want to find the master in Midnight Diner and have him cook me some nikogori

 

 

[keysersoze276]

On 10/28/2023 at 12:21 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Japan is just so much better

Have you ever spent time in Japan?  I have. Orhave you just been watching too much JAV?  It’s expensive, boring (but different, decent place to visit for a new experience, but I would never live there. One and done.  It is a hard working economy. People rush everywhere and work all day. Not laid back at all. A small bottle of water costs as much as a large bottle of beer here. Foreigners are not very welcomed, and relations between anJapanese woman and a western man are frowned upon and she wil be shamed for the rest of her days. Same in Korea.  There are very few KTVs you are allowed into. Most even post on the door that foreigners aren’t welcome. That was my experience.  I am curious what your attraction is to live in Japan?  Where are you going there?  Live in the remote mountains?  Give us some details and enlighten us, please. 

[Hanaguma]

4 minutes ago, keysersoze276 said:

Have you ever spent time in Japan?  I have. Orhave you just been watching too much JAV?  It’s expensive, boring (but different, decent place to visit for a new experience, but I would never live there. One and done.  It is a hard working economy. People rush everywhere and work all day. Not laid back at all. A small bottle of water costs as much as a large bottle of beer here. Foreigners are not very welcomed, and relations between anJapanese woman and a western man are frowned upon and she wil be shamed for the rest of her days. Same in Korea.  There are very few KTVs you are allowed into. Most even post on the door that foreigners aren’t welcome. That was my experience.  I am curious what your attraction is to live in Japan?  Where are you going there?  Live in the remote mountains?  Give us some details and enlighten us, please. 

Not sure where you were staying, but that doesnt sound like my Japan...

 

People rush around? That part is true. But driving manners tend to be pretty good, with the exception of not stopping at pedestrian crossings.

 

Small bottle of water is 100-120 yen in a vending machine, 25-30 baht.  A case of 35 bottles is about 1000 yen at Costco, so less than 10 baht each. Where do you buy your water?!?

 

Foreigners excluded and unwelcome? Very rare, and generally in places you dont want to go anyway- cabaret/hostess bars (expensive and dull), red light district, etc. Never happened in normal izakaya (Japanese style pubs) or restaurants.

 

Woman shamed for the rest of her days for dating a foreign man? Only in your fevered dreams.  Nobody bats an eye at this. Where are you getting your information?

 

Not a perfect place (nowhere is) but from where I sit, looking outside at the fall colours slowly turning, it is a pretty good base to explore the rest of Asia. Of course as a tourist or a resident things can be different. 

[Hanaguma]

10 hours ago, Chris Daley said:

Scramble crossing and a maid cafe and you're done.  f all to see or do.

That's right.

 

Except for the TWENTY FIVE world heritage sites. And the stunning mountains. And the outdoor natural hotsprings. And the distinct urban vibes of Tokyo and Osaka. And  the impressive train system. And the fresh, tasty, seafood. And the variety of scenery from tropical beaches to oceanside cliffs to majestic forests. And the ....

 

Yeah. F all to see or do.  

[Walker88]

 

3 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

Not sure where you were staying, but that doesnt sound like my Japan...

 

People rush around? That part is true. But driving manners tend to be pretty good, with the exception of not stopping at pedestrian crossings.

 

Foreigners excluded and unwelcome? Very rare, and generally in places you dont want to go anyway- cabaret/hostess bars (expensive and dull), red light district, etc. Never happened in normal izakaya (Japanese style pubs) or restaurants.

 

Woman shamed for the rest of her days for dating a foreign man? Only in your fevered dreams.  Nobody bats an eye at this. Where are you getting your information?

 

Not a perfect place (nowhere is) but from where I sit, looking outside at the fall colours slowly turning, it is a pretty good base to explore the rest of Asia. Of course as a tourist or a resident things can be different. 

 

Lived in downtown Roppongi for 10 years. Aparto was about 350,000 baht/month equivalent, but company paid. I remember buying a single cantaloupe for $80. Came in a lovely box. The yen fluctuated a lot over that time, but yen prices barely budged. Had a favorite ramen shop where I learned to slurp just like a local.

 

Yes there were/are places where gaijin are not welcome, but as you said, they're dull as all get out, so you don't miss anything. Once one gets accustomed to the culture and style of life, it's an easy place to live. Everything is quite structured and repetitive. There are rules for every situation.

 

One of the oddities gaijin learn early on is that what happens outside of the office stays outside of the office. In the office there is a pecking order, but go out as a team and after the first sip of alcohol, anybody can say anything to anybody. It is all forgotten (not really) the next day in the office. You don't talk about 'last night'.

 

Cherry blossom time was my favorite. Little work is done, companies go out together to sit under the blossoms and get drunk. Newly hired employees first task is to find a suitable place and camp there for days, if necessary, to secure it for the company.

 

I used to really enjoy flying myself around different parts of Japan. Because commo is in English, but many ATC folks are shy about their language ability when speaking with an obvious gaijin, I learned to affect a great Japanese accent in my English, so that that ATC folks wouldn't get nervous and give me bad instruction while in their airspace.

 

As for Japanese women and gaijin, it's wide open.

[newnative]

3 hours ago, keysersoze276 said:

Have you ever spent time in Japan?  I have. Orhave you just been watching too much JAV?  It’s expensive, boring (but different, decent place to visit for a new experience, but I would never live there. One and done.  It is a hard working economy. People rush everywhere and work all day. Not laid back at all. A small bottle of water costs as much as a large bottle of beer here. Foreigners are not very welcomed, and relations between anJapanese woman and a western man are frowned upon and she wil be shamed for the rest of her days. Same in Korea.  There are very few KTVs you are allowed into. Most even post on the door that foreigners aren’t welcome. That was my experience.  I am curious what your attraction is to live in Japan?  Where are you going there?  Live in the remote mountains?  Give us some details and enlighten us, please. 

     My spouse and I are going to Japan for a week, we leave on Tuesday.  I lived in Japan as a child in the early 60s for a couple of years but my last visit was a quick stop-over in Tokyo for a couple of days with my spouse on our way back from the US in 2016.  We found the Japanese to be very friendly and everyone we ran into could not have been nicer or more helpful--starting with assisting on helping us find our hotel the first day.  

    The next morning we were also trying to locate a particular tourist site and a very nice Japanese gentleman, clearly on his way to work, insisted on not just telling us where to go but walking with us part of the way to make sure we did not get lost.  So nice of him to do that, even though it was not in the direction he was originally going.  

     This visit, we hope to not be such dunces.  During our 2016 visit, we went out for dinner and looked around for a restaurant, and found one that looked like it was popular with the locals.  Went in, found a table, and patiently waited for the wait staff to come over and take our order.  And, waited.  Finally, someone took pity on us and explained that we needed to place our order at an automated restaurant screen outside that we hadn't noticed on our way in.  Smiles all around.  Well, in our defense, we are spoiled brats, living in Thailand with practically everything done for us.  Wonder what will be new for us this trip--both looking forward to it.

[Bundooman]

Bye.

See you here when it all falls apart for you.

But good luck though.

[brianthainess]

On 10/28/2023 at 12:21 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

All the ads cover up the text that I'm trying to write, and so whatever I post becomes guesswork. 

Download SHIELD ad blocker free. 

[sipi]

On 10/28/2023 at 7:38 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

Gorgeous. 

 

 

Did you play the video.

[Hanaguma]

7 hours ago, Walker88 said:

 

 

Lived in downtown Roppongi for 10 years. Aparto was about 350,000 baht/month equivalent, but company paid. I remember buying a single cantaloupe for $80. Came in a lovely box. The yen fluctuated a lot over that time, but yen prices barely budged. Had a favorite ramen shop where I learned to slurp just like a local.

 

Yes there were/are places where gaijin are not welcome, but as you said, they're dull as all get out, so you don't miss anything. Once one gets accustomed to the culture and style of life, it's an easy place to live. Everything is quite structured and repetitive. There are rules for every situation.

 

One of the oddities gaijin learn early on is that what happens outside of the office stays outside of the office. In the office there is a pecking order, but go out as a team and after the first sip of alcohol, anybody can say anything to anybody. It is all forgotten (not really) the next day in the office. You don't talk about 'last night'.

 

Cherry blossom time was my favorite. Little work is done, companies go out together to sit under the blossoms and get drunk. Newly hired employees first task is to find a suitable place and camp there for days, if necessary, to secure it for the company.

 

I used to really enjoy flying myself around different parts of Japan. Because commo is in English, but many ATC folks are shy about their language ability when speaking with an obvious gaijin, I learned to affect a great Japanese accent in my English, so that that ATC folks wouldn't get nervous and give me bad instruction while in their airspace.

 

As for Japanese women and gaijin, it's wide open.

Sounds like you were on a pretty sweet expat package to get the Roppongi special. Staying at one of the serviced apartments like Asahi Homes perhaps?  My only forays to that area are to hit Tony Roma's for some ribs when I was in town for a conference.  Never lived in Tokyo myself, it is a bit far from the better half's hometown. Out in the countryside the rest of the time...

 

Flying over Japan must have been a dream. The variety of scenery in such a small area would have been non-stop breathtaking.  

 

Yeah, the fancy fruit in a box is still a big deal here, especially around New Year's. Even better/worse is the auction for the first bluefin tuna of the year at Tsukiji fish market. This year went for 36 million yen (what, about 9 million baht) for a 212 kilo fish.  When I first came here, back in the days before the internet, I was seriously paranoid about the prices from what I read in the papers back home. Twenty five dollar coffee etc.  Happily things were a bit different in reality. 

[swissie]

Still not sure what the OP is hoping to find in Japan that he didn't find in Thailand.

[couchpotato]

8 minutes ago, swissie said:

Still not sure what the OP is hoping to find in Japan that he didn't find in Thailand.

Some one to actually read his posts🤔

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/28/2023 at 1:10 PM, observer90210 said:

Is it not in Japan where they sell officially those so-called used girlie panties-knickers, openly, legally and freely ?

The fortunate Japanese have the most demented/ kinky sex life, according to Japanese porn, but the <deleted> that thought imposing the use of a mosaic was a good idea should be hung up by the mosaics.

 

I have to wonder if the Otaku are fortunate in having such as Maid Cafes and AKB48, or unfortunate in that it's strictly look but don't touch.

 

Anyway, fare well Gamma, and say hi to the girls in the Ginza for me- I'm a huge fan of everything Japanese female related.

 

I'll miss your ramblings, but wonder if you'll be back on soon enough- they do have internet in Japan!

 

[FruitPudding]

On 10/29/2023 at 9:47 AM, Hanaguma said:

 

People rush around? That part is true. But driving manners tend to be pretty good, with the exception of not stopping at pedestrian crossings

 

Is there any Asian people that respect pedestrian crossings? Lol