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!

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’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.

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. 🙂

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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.