Englishfriendlyjapan.com reached out to us and made a really cool video for us! I hope you enjoy the great variety of our houses.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/DNWwu6AP_5A
Visit them to browse other English-friendly businesses!
「rambling」カテゴリーアーカイブ
English Friendly Japan’s Oakhouse video
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Cookin’!
The other day, we had an impromptu party at our Omotesando Garden ladies-only house.
It was a lot of fun, with lots of different finger foods laid out. There was some great cheese, bread, and wine…
…and then the cool things came!
Here are some scallops! They were huge! You grill them, and as they open, you put a tab of butter and some soy sauce in. They were huge and delicious.
Next there were three lobsters to prepare:
It was my first time cutting up a live lobster, and it’s interesting how when we cook meat we often don’t realize it’s had to be killed and cut up before we can enjoy it. Having to do it yourself really opens your eyes, even if just a little, to what has to go into us getting the food we need.
This is definitely the concept behind how Japanese people say itadakimasu, in thanks and recognition of the effort and life that goes into continuing the lives of our own.
That’s not to say I’m not going to hope that others don’t prepare it for me next time I decide to have some seafood! 😛
Japan Times: Former detective talks about curbing gangs
Here’s a great interview with an ex-cop in Tokyo who enacted several procedural changes in how to deal with growing gang activity.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111106x1.html
I think a lot of us foreigners in Japan have it easy when it comes to our safety in Japan. Some of us live out in what Americans like to affectionately call the “boonies”, living in a calm, quiet countryside environment. Many more live in the metropolises. We’re accustomed now to carrying around large amounts of cash as we walk around, usually at night (though often in large numbers). We tend to be lax about how we lock up our bicycles (despite the fact that bicycle theft is still an issue here). My fiance often comes home from work very late and walks around by herself just fine.
And that’s great. But it’s not to say that Japan has always been this safe, as this article points out. Many manga in the 70s and 80s were very much about youth delinquents and gangs, and they were heavily romanticized. By extrapolation, you could even go so far as to say that this just encouraged young people more.
Often, I wish that Japanese police, especially Tokyo police, were a bit more active in chasing down real crime (most foreigners have a “stopped on my bike and asked for my gaijin card” story, though I do not as of yet), but it’s interesting to realize that the bulk of their action goes on where we can’t see it.
It’s also interesting how he says that they spend so much more time documenting and investigating instead of arresting suspects at the first opportunity, and I’m wondering how long this takes compared to police units in other countries. If it raises the probability of not only catching the right guy but also convicting him, then I don’t mind occasionally muttering at the TV that the cops seem to be so sloooow regarding any given reported crime of the week.
I like stories like this because these are people issues, and not simply Japanese issues, and I think Japan deserves a little bit of humanization on the Internet.
Music videos
As you may be aware, sometimes I appear in music videos or on stage.
Recently, I filmed two more music videos with Tommy Heavenly6 (bringing my total up to nine!) and here are the sample clips:
First is the main A-side single, Monochrome Rainbow:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/nyYuiO-Rx7g
I play both guitar and drums in this; I’m the brown-haired guy in the top hat.
Next is the B-side, I’m Your Devil:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/MEtIKfgLuCY
I’m in the blond wig!
I hope the full versions come out soon. 🙂
New Alien Registration system for 2012
If you’re a foreigner in Japan (as is probably likely since you are reading particular this website, and this particular post in English, you know about the headaches associated with registering as a foreign resident.
All foreign nationals staying in Japan on a visa longer than 3 months must register as an alien resident. You go to your city hall/ward office, register, and get issued a card, which has your picture, address, work information, etc on it. It’s hard to explain exactly why it’s a pain; it just is, I guess. Still, starting in July of next year 2012, they’re making things easier.
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html
Best of all, the period of stay will be extended to a max of 5 years initially. This is surely intended just to reduce the workload of the immigration staff, but of course this is great for residents too who find it a pain to have to renew yearly, like I would have to do if I wasn’t getting married.
The best is the part about re-entry permission, though, I think. Currently, you have to go buy a special re-entry permit stamp. You can either buy a one-time re-entry for 3,000 yen, or multiple (i.e. infinite for as long as your visa is valid) for 6,000.
“Foreign nationals in possession of a valid passport and residence card
who will be re-entering Japan within 1 year of their departure* will, in
principle, not be required to apply for a re-entry permit.”
How great is that? So much easier now.
Also, check point 4 for how the current alien registration system will be totally abolished! Nice. Can’t wait! If you really want to come to Japan long-term, starting next year will probably be the most hassle-free.
Houses!
So I’ve been looking for a new apartment, and it’s made me realize just how easy it was to live in a guesthouse!
Renting in Tokyo is SO expensive. That’s not the main problem… the problem is that initial costs are so high!
Usually when you rent an apartment, there’s just a deposit to pay, but in Japan, there are like two or three types of deposits you have to make, and they’re often several months of rent. So you can end up paying up to 6 months of rent before you get the key.
Some of this deposit — the “Shikikin” deposit– you’ll get back when you move out, but key money– “reikin” — is just a “gift” you’ll never see again! Truly tragic.
Luckily we were able to get away with only paying one month of each.
Oh I almost forgot! You’ll also usually need a guarantor, i.e. somebody rich enough to co-sign for you. It usually has to be a relative, so foreigners are almost totally out of luck unless their company sponsors them. Luckily, there are guarantor companies to which you can pay a small fee and they’ll cover for you.
That’s what was so great about Oakhouse– you could move in quick, simple, and cheap. Seriously, just look around at the home page! Poke around!
I’ll be sure to post pics when we finally move in. 🙂
Guam pictures!
In the wake of the events of March 11th, I had done all the worrying and help I thought prudent and came to the conclusion that maybe now was the time for the vacation I had kept putting off.
Money being a bit of an issue, I ruled out Hawaii–I have other plans for Hawaii later on in life–and Taiwan and Korea, as I’d been there before. America was also out, as I’d just been back.
So we decided on Guam, as my friend had found a really good deal.
Guam is a popular tourist destination for many Japanese, as it’s really close, only an hour time difference, and definitely caters to a Japanese tourist market. You can pay for almost everything in yen, everyone seems to speak Japanese, and information on everything is available in Japanese.
That said, though, sometimes Guam is seen as a “discount” destination, and Hawaii et al are held up as the pinnacle of island vacations.
Now, I’ve never been to Hawaii, but my friend said that the ocean was way more gorgeous. Yeah, no surfing or anything, but it was perfect! Super still, shallow waters out almost to the horizon. Warm without being hot. Plus, once you go out the hotel, the pools are RIGHT THERE, and then you get out of the pool(s!) and the beach is RIGHT THERE.
The food was great. We ate Mexican food, which is my #1 weakness, and then just anything we could stuff our faces with.
Here are some pictures; I’ll try to provide some commentary. We were only there for 3 nights which was really just the right amount of time, given the amount of stuff to do.
That’s the view right outside of our room. Ridiculously gorgeous.
There were cages with lots of parrots in them by the pools. They were loud but who cares, that was awesome.
Look at these little lovebirds! <3 :3
I love aquariums, so of course I wanted to go to the aquarium. Giant turtles are boss.
Moray eels are NOT boss D:
Seahorses ARE boss, though. Also the dads are the ones that carry the babies in their bellies, making them the nicest daddies of the animal kingdom.
I’ll see if I can find any pictures of the food we ate, haha.
So yeah, Guam is definitely a cool trip you can make on a 3- or 4- day weekend. Any longer than that and you might get bored, but I don’t like to be on vacation for TOO long anyway, so it was just perfect! We had a blast.
Guam Preview
If you’re looking to take a trip outside of Japan any time, Guam is only a few hours away and is much more fun than you might think. Some people within Japan seem to think of Guam as a second-rate Hawaii, but my expectations were totally shattered and it was a really great trip.
I have tons of photos and I will be uploading them… once I figure out how to get them off of my phone! Stay tuned. 🙂
America
Back in Japan!
I should have mentioned I was leaving, but there was a lot of stuff going on at the end of the year. I was trying to get various things lined up and in order, such as visa paperwork, leaving my band, etc.
It was so great to be home. I definitely gained weight, though! Not only was it due to larger American portions, but because I was trying to eat as much American stuff as possible in the short time I had!
Now, I’ve been in Japan for several years now, and as such I am no longer very sensitive to the differences between cultures, i.e. I am not too hung up on the differences. This is Japan so I do things in a mostly Japanese way, when in America, I try to revert to American-ness. It can be hard, though, especially when I realized that people seem to talk more to each other in America. I liked this, especially when a random woman came up to me when I was shopping and said, “you are dressed very nice!”, but sometimes I thought the employees at some stores were too friendly. I am not your ‘bro’! Haha.
All in all, it was fantastic to see family, have great conversations, and play with my little 2-year-old niece and nephew!!
Here are some pictures:
This is the waterfront of Napa, California. I was born there and lived there until 4th grade.
Pizza and beer! Absolutely phenomenal pizza. Pizza and Mexican food are definitely the two things I miss most about the States, because I am a fat American.
Napa is famous for wine, as many of you might know. Of course I had to show you some of the vineyards.
Most religious families attend a Christmas Eve service at their local church… which must be hard on little children, who just want to get to sleep as soon as possible in anticipation of Santa!!
Christmas morning in Clovis, California. My parents, brother, sister, and grandmother are all in this photo. To the right is the piano on which I tempered my musical genius! (*few would ever call it ‘genius’)
The mountains as seen from Rancho Cucamonga, California. We have family down there, as well as in Claremont. And, as the family grows, also Riverside and Apple Valley!
In & Out, a mandatory culinary experience for all who come through California.
This is my house in Clovis. Growing up we were pretty modest, and many of our close friends lived in relatively larger/nicer places, so while obviously grateful for a roof over my head I took it for granted until moving to Japan.
My parents bought the place during a really opportune time for housing prices. We lived on the very edge of what had been being developed up to that point, and my dad is good at finding deals like this. The housing bubble bursting a couple years back has certainly had an effect on the area, but all in all timing was very good when we moved in years and years ago.
On the left is my grandpa’s old truck, a stick shift. I will never understand stick and I sincerely hope it goes away. Can any of you drive a stick shift? If you can, let me just tell you that secretly I am very jealous.
And finally, me and my grandma, who is the coolest lady. Multi-instrumentalist, award-winning painter, and a Girl Scout alumnus. I hope your grandma is as cool as mine.
I’ll try to take more pictures of my daily life in the weeks coming up. Glad to be back!
We moved!
We used to be located in Ikebukuro, but we moved to Akihabara. Check out the front page for map, details, contact information, etc. And come visit us! We’re still a bit lonely out here in our spacious new digs. 😛
We’re on the non-otaku side of Akihabara, which is actually… really nice for me!
The window is huge and warm and bright, which is great right now in the winter cold (where did autumn go, anyway?!). I hope it won’t be too bad in the summer!
