Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What are things to do in Osaka,Kyoto and Nara?

Question:

im going to Osaka in may and im wondering what are fun things to do in Osaka,Kyoto and Nara?ill be there for about 7 days and my hotel is in Osaka.Thank you very much

Answer:

Osaka castle if you are interested in castles. It's really beautiful if you ask me. I like the Osaka castle grounds and gardens around it. Make sure you have a camera for picture fest. The Umeda Sky Building which has an observatory if you want to see Osaka's view from the top. It has a really cool elevator. Shinsaibashi is a district in Chuo-ku which has many stores if you want to shop. Dotonbori in Namba is where you go for FOOD TRIPS. It's better to go at night but very crowded. Amerika-mura (america town) is also fun and cool to visit.

Kyoto has many shrines & temples like Kinkaku-ji. Be sure to have a booklet or guide because there are so many of them. There are also Imperial Palaces in Kyoto. There's also a MATSURI in the Imperial Palace around second or third week of May. Anyway for walking tours, see this site:
http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/h-s-l… One of my favorite places in Kyoto is the Fushimi Inari Taisha where it has so many Torii that you can walk through. In Kyoto, you should atleast EAT their SUSHI and SASHIMI. They serve really delicious sushi.

Nara is similar to Kyoto. My suggestion is to visit Horyuji. It is the biggest and oldest Buddhist temples in Japan. There are tea houses and restaurants outside the area which you should try.

So, enjoy your travel. Here's a music for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chwADnoFD…

Fluent Japanese speakers trans.?

Question:

なんとなく乗せてみた!!

誰かって??

んーとね

秘密だぜｗｗ

Answer:

乗せる here, could possibly mean 1. "give someone a ride" or 2. "口説く = seduce"

なんとなく here, has almost no meaning, just an "intro"-like thing to say something (like "actually")

I took meaning 2:
"Guess what? I wan her heart!!"
"Who!??"
"um.."
"Don't tell anybody. w w"

The Gazette: Have you ever been in to one of their concerts in Japan? 10 points?

Question:

I have a friend who is from spain and he will go to Japan to see the gazette in concert
but he wants to be at first row
what he can do to be at first row?
First row tickets are expensive?
Someone who can give information of how these things work in japan (about buying tickets)
thank you

Answer:

All concert tickets in Japan are expensive in comparison to other countries. This is mainly due to 2 things: Japanese have limited concert halls and Japanese concert goers are willing to pay more

Getting a seat in the first row is kind of impossible to get. They usually are reserved for the band or the promoters (who use them as gifts or to promote the show) and if by chance a few of those seats are available for sale you would need to be the very first in line to grab them

Do consider though that going from Spain to Japan to watch a concert will be VERY expensive. Ticket ($) + Tokyo transportation + hotel + meals + concert tickets + + + could easily add up to more than $2500 (or 2000 Euro).

I also checked http://eventful.com/performers/the-gazet… and they list no events for them in 2011

More details about their concerts and record releases (taken from wikipedia):

Right after the release of Shiver, the band announced the final stop of the Tour 10 Nameless Liberty Six Bullets would be held at Tokyo Dome, and two new singles Red and Pledge would be released.

On March 2011, the band embarked on an fanclub only tour named Live Tour 11 (Two Concept Eight Nights -ABYSS/LUCY-) and 9th Birth (Day 9 -NINE-) at Zepp Tokyo in March 10. On March 23, The Gazette released a compilation album titled Traces Best of 2005-2009 and a live concert DVD named The Nameless Liberty at 10.12.26 Tokyo Dome.

The Gazette has postponed the releases of their best-of album Traces Best of 2005-2009 and live DVD The Nameless Liberty at 10.12.26 Tokyo Dome which contains footage of their final concert at Tokyo Dome due to the catastrophe in Japan. Both will be released on April 6th.

On April 6th, 2011, they announced another single Vortex which would be released on May 25, 2011

Is anyone else angry with the japanese for fukushima?

Question:

why isn't anybody enraged over the japanese and their stupid nuclear plants near fault lines?????

Answer:

Not so much with Japan as with the establishment who forced nuclear power plants down our throats, world wide. Whoever supports nuclear power plants should have its head examined. They are ALL unsafe and 'accidents waiting to happen'.

The problem is that when a tornado hits, or a plane goes down, the damage is done. Case closed.

Not so with nuclear power. Radioactivity cannot be stopped, or washed away, it goes on for ever.

Civilization is declaring war on itself by building unsafe nuclear plants. It only takes loss of coolant to set one of these off, and this can happen in many different ways.

We were told this could not happen. That is because THEY did not want to admit it could not be done, safely.

They are wrong and cannot see past their own arrogance. It is all eventually going to blow up in their faces. And then, what? Who are you going to call? Your local senator telling him to fix that mess?. He probably will be on his way to a safe place on the planet, if there are any left.

.

.

I am hosting a Japanese Exchange student and...?

Question:

I discovered that (after forms were sent and things were final) that on the saturday I have a full day excursion. They are here for 8 days (2 of which are weekend) and I don't know whether I should A: have my parents look after her and take her on a bush walk, B: ask if someone else is able to look after her for a day C: Not attend the excursion even though it is a rare opportunity. I feel terribly bad that I can't be there. I am trying to make it up the next day by taking her dolphin watching, but will saturday be too awkward for her(she is 14)?

Answer:

Depends on when the excursion is. If you introduce her to your parents before the day, and explain that they'll be taking her around that day, it should be OK.

But seriously, for your student, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you can attend the excursion another year, it might be best to forgo the opportunity.

If you decide to go, make the most out of the other seven days, and do what you can to make they day you are gone memorable. Also, try and get someone to explain what's happening if her English isn't the best (and I'm assuming you aren't fluent in Japanese . . . forgive me if that's not the case).

How long has Japan been a Country?

Question:

Answer:

Before the advent of the Yama Taikoku in the 3rd century, the history of Japan as a country is not clear. According to multiple Chinese documents, a regional nation (probably in Kyushu) called "Wa" had close contacts with China long before the Yama Taikoku. However, it was not a country by today's definition.

Some Japanese 'documents' (I hesitate to call them so, because they are no more than a fabricated prehistorical mythology written in as late as 8th century) describe the origin of Japan from the first Emperor Jinmu. But, there is no historical authenticity until the 10th Emperor Sujin. Japanese mythology is a fascinating story for us Japanese, but, its historical authenticity is very dubious.

So, I would say the country of Japan with a political structure was created in the 3rd century.

Is wanting to be a mangaka a hopeless dream in the USA or Japan?

Question:

Lol I bet you've heard this question a million times! But I don't think it would hurt just once more right? ;) Okay so I, like many other kids my age (13) want to be a part of the anime/manga community, but that's not my dream I just want to one day be a good illustrator like online or something not a full blown published comic after school college..etc. A lot of kids want to be mangaka right of the bat at my school and I don't really think it can happen considering MOST american manga doesn't sell well like seven sea's publshing. I wanted to too but then that dream sort of died down. There are people like Mark Crilley who make it work though, but to my understanding he has japanese family so it should be a bit easier as far as customs/translations. And doesn't Japan not like foreigners? I don't mean like hate but there's certain restricition in jobs/housing, So it would be difficult to become a mangaka considering there's tons of other people who want the same job who are native speakers. So what do you think? Is it impossible to be a genuine mangaka? Even though manga is just comics in japanese. And isn't the pay not as good unless your kishimoto or kubo lol?

Answer:

Nope, it's not hopeless but rather a complicated and difficult one. You can be a manga-ka but it requires you to be x10 hardworking & x10 patient. The manga industry is very demanding, very competitive and most of all very cruel. Publishers can reject you right away in just under a minute. And if you are very naive you might face many copyright issues. So it's important to be very knowledgeable not only in drawing but in the business itself.

so ANYWAY.
your best hope right now or the next coming years would be attend manga or comic conventions. These conventions give opportunities to aspiring manga-ka. some could even have manga writing contest. So research if there'll be such convention happening in your city or big cities near you.

I went to skin care clinic in Japan last summer but I hate the way I look now will the treatments wear off?

Question:

They put all these chemicals to get rid of my acne but I am not happy with the way I look now.

Answer:

What exactly did they do and how does it relate to how you look now?

Unless they did something that damaged your skin - in which case you should make a formal complaint to them - I*m not sure how a skin treatment nearly a year ago has a whole lot to do with how it is now.

What's the difference between a yukata and a kimono?

Question:

just wondering....

Answer:

Yukata:
A yukata is made of thin texture with sweat absorbency simply because you usually wear it in summer, hence, it is also called as "Japanese summer kimono", "light cotton kimono" or "Japanese bathrobe". The texture is so smooth and light that it thereby makes you comfortable. The best point may be to easily wear it without complicated instructions or someone's assistance. You normaly wear a yukata after taking a bath (hot-spring) as pajamas at Japanese style inn or when you go out for firework festivals, bon dance festivals and other summer events. There are a variety of qualities and prices out, but simply put, it would averagely cost you much much much cheaper than kimonos.

Kimono:
Contrary to the yukata, a kimono is made of thick textures and hard to put on it by yourself because it is layered and you have to follow lots of decent procedures, and therefore, definitely need help of those proficient in kimono. Besides, you may have to specially arrange your hair to be matched kimono at a beauty shop as well. The kimono is so extremely expensive that normally people today rent it in stead of buying. The kimono had first been appeared as a formal garment in the Edo period, and now it is only worn in special occasions such as wedding party or important ceremonies that are highly ritualized.

Hope this helps :D

I am wondering how duty fees apply to purchases from the U.S. to Japan.?

Question:

I am a U.S. citizen, living and working in Japan and have 3 months left. My computer crashed, so I purchased a U.S. computer, which a friend is going to ship to me. Do duty fees apply to me and how do I determine the cost? Please explain how this works.

Answer:

if the computer appears to be "new", you may be charged customs duty as the officer may tag it as being an import to Japan (and thus duty may need to be levied)

Ask your friend to open the computer box, remove the plastic cover and replace it with a plastic bag (grocery or otherwise. Unwrap any shrink wrapped manuals, CDs, etc and you should be good to go

How would I say the following in Japanese?

Question:

So.. it seems my grammar is really bad and I can't understand why. Could you please help me and translate into Japanese the following?

"I went home to talk about a project."

"Would it be alright if we talked about food?"

"I rode my bike to the store to buy candy."

Thank you for your help!

Answer:

Hi, the followings are the translations.
Because I'm not sure the context, I translated literally.

"I went home to talk about a project."
プロジェクトについて話し合うため家に帰りました。
project ni tsuite hanashiau tame, ie ni kaeri mashita.

"Would it be alright if we talked about food?"
食べ物について話し合っても良いですか？
tabemono ni tsuite hanashi attemo, yoidesuka?

"I rode my bike to the store to buy candy."
キャンディーを買うために自転車で店へ行きました。
candy wo kautame ni, jitensya de mise e ikimashita.

By Native Japanese Speaker

What are preschools in Japan like? Difference between preschools in Japan and preschools in USA?

Question:

Answer:

Most wear uniforms. They take off their street shoes in the "lobby" of sorts. They're told to do the best they can so they can get into a better school at the next level.

10 pts. Halloween "STYLE" music?

Question:

Answer:

Rin & Len - Trick and Treat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu7ZtNnL1…

Rin and Len - Black cats of the eve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2o4v8iuN…

Miku - Mr Alice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhpodq-e1…

Miku, Len, Rin, Kaito, Gakupo, Meiko and Luka - Dream Meltic Halloween: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDwK-X8A4…

Rin and Len - Trich, Trach, Trick Parade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WbV_tUMn…

Miku, Len, Rin, Kaito and Meiko - Halloween Monster Party: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zktTN9hut…

Miku, Kaito, Meiko Rin and Len - Alice Human Sacrifice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svEXAeYO5…

These are the ones I remembered. By the way, "Trick and Treat" and "Alice Human Sacrifice" have a lot of diferents PVs.

Hope I help ^^
bye

Help with short composition for my Japanese class.?

Question:

hello every one i had to write a composition for my japanese class and i wrote about nara park and the deer there. could u please look over it and correct any silly mistakes or bad grammar? it is not very long thanks you for you help:

奈良公園は入る時に初めに鹿がたくさんいることに気がつきました。
約１２００鹿がいます。これらの鹿は国の天然記念物に指定されていました。
これらの鹿の面白い事は、ビスケットをあげたら、頭を下げておじぎしました。
とってもびっくりしました。これらの鹿が人馴れのに,　とってもおなかがすいてい…
だから食べ物を持ってくる行けません。
鹿さんは食べ物を持ってくる人を邪魔しています。

What I'm trying to say:
When i entered Nara park, the first thing you notice is that there are alot of deer. There are about 1200 deer. these deer have been designated a nation monument. the interesting thing about these deer is, when i gave them a biscuit, they lowered their heads and bowed. i was very surprised. Although these deer are used to people, they are very hungry. Therefore, it is not okay to bring food. The deer will bother the people with food.

Answer:

I like your first 2 sentences.

- これらの鹿の面白い事は、ビスケットをあげたら、頭を下げておじぎしました。
I would write;
面白いと思ったのは、ビスケットをあげると鹿は頭を下げるので
まるでおじぎをしているように見えたことです。(as I feed deer sometimes I know what you mean. but to be precise they ”look like bowing”.., right? )

- これらの鹿が人馴れのに,　とってもおなかがすいてい…
だから食べ物を持ってくる行けません。
The original English sentence might need a small correction.. "although these deer are fed enough, .."
ここにいる鹿は人からたくさんビスケットをもらっているのに、
いつもおなかを空かせているようです。

- 鹿さんは食べ物を持ってくる人を邪魔しています。
You'd better use the same expression as before 鹿 (鹿さん sounds a bit childish)
食べ物を持っていると、鹿がすぐ寄ってくるので大変です。sounds more natural to me.

(in Japanese "annoy 邪魔する" is usually used as the passive "annoyed 邪魔される" or for adjective use "annoying " うるさい”　if not，it sounds like "in the way")

You did a good job. Keep it up!

How does Japan being located within the Pacific Ring of Fire impact Japan?

Question:

I wonder....
:)

Answer:

Not only Japan, but all the regions in the Ring of Fire are prone to earthquake, tsunami and volcanic activities.
The tectonic plates around Japan seem to be less stable than other regions.
So, Japan may be more prone to earthquake.

I want to do a 3 day fast to raise money for japan how do i start?

Question:

I'd basicly just like to do a liquid fast for japan. I would go around in my neborhood and ask for donations and tell them I am doing a fast for japan. Anyone have any ideas of how to do this and what to say. and once I get all the money who do i give it to or what oranization? Please help.

Do you also know any good fasts for me to do

Answer:

"Good fasts"? A fast means only one thing: not eating. You get to drink water. That's it. Anything else is NOT a fast.

Hiroshima hotel question?

Question:

My friends (17) and I (17), want to go to Japan but would the hotel allow us to stay? We would be there for a week but we are under 18.

Answer:

If you're American, I don't think you can leave the country without signed parental consent.

Is Japan still in a state of catastrophe?

Question:

Just answering the main question is good enough.
How is is going over there?
How is the damage?
How is the repair?
I didn't know if they were still pretty messed up and in dire attention still. Is Red Cross still helping?
I was going to buy one of those Pray For Japan bracelets Lady Gaga designed and is selling, where all money goes to Red Cross.
Should I do that?
:)

Answer:

state of catastrophe is a very vague concept. Well, my answer is, some regions are still in a state of catastrophe. But most places are not.

If you want to know detail of damage, better to check Wikipedia or something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8…

>I was going to buy one of those Pray For Japan bracelets Lady Gaga designed and is selling, where all money goes to Red Cross.
Should I do that?

Sure, it's a good thing. Thank you for your kindness.

Soon to visit Tokyo, if I wanted to purchase a sword over there as a gift, what is the current policy in UK?

Question:

I am visiting Tokyo at the end of May and was thinking about buying a sword as a gift as one of the stops on the visit will be a sword shop in Tokyo. I was wondering what the policy of that would be with regards to getting it back to the UK?
Also what is the current policy on the keeping of the sword/possession of the sword, would it need to be registered in some way or stored in a particular way?

Answer:

These swords have been illegal in the UK since April 2008. If you attempt to take one into the UK, or post it, it will be confiscated, you will have to pay the cost of having it destroyed and at the very least you will get a rather scary letter from HMCR advising you on your folly. A worst case scenario will have you prosecuted, fined and a obtaining criminal record.

What songs/artists are big in Japan right now?

Question:

If I went to Japan what would everyone be listening to? especially on Harajuku st. Does anyone know?

Answer:

I would say AKB48 and ARASHI. I guess virtually everyone know, or have heard of, some of their songs, whether or not they like. Top10 hit songs in 2010 were literally occupied by songs of these two groups.

Is 50,000 Yen a lot for an apartment in Japan as an English teacher?

Question:

I would really like to live in Japan as an English teacher and was wondering if 50,000 Yen a month is a lot for an apartment in Chiba earning 250,000 - 300,000 Yen a month. If you could, include other costs of living so I know how much I would have spare. It would also be great if you told me if you live there currently for more verification. Thanks!

Answer:

5 man is reasonable for an apartment in Chiba. Lots of people earn 25 man a month and come out ahead every month. Other people earn the same and are always broke. If you watch your spending you will be fine. When I went to school in Japan I lived on about 10 man a month. I paid the family I lived with room and board and then had some walking around money. Then when I got a job and an apartment I went to lunch at a nice place a couple days a week, stopped at an Izakaya on the way home just about every night with my buddies, bought new suits, etc. So it is about your own self discipline/lifestyle. If people couldn't live on 25 man, then there would be millions and millions of Japanese who couldn't live either.

Travel During Obon Festival?

Question:

Hi everyone.

I am studying abroad in Korea starting August 18th, but wanted to fly into Narita August 15th and spend a few days (3) wandering about Tokyo beforehand.

My plans do not include travel to any other major cities, but I was considering taking a day to visit either Tobu Zoo amusement park just north of the city, or Fuji-Q highlands further out.

From what I can gather, the Obon festival seems to cause airport travel and travel outside of Tokyo to be super duper crowded-which I can deal with. But is it true that in Tokyo (all the main sights and areas) will actually be less crowded than should be expected for high-summer?

More importantly, since Fuji-Q is noted as one of the most crowded theme parks in the world, should I just go ahead and forget trying to go there now? Do the Japanese tend to visit resorts during this time or the opposite?

Answer:

>But is it true that in Tokyo (all the main sights and areas) will actually be less crowded than should be expected for high-summer?

Yes. During Obon, many people in Tokyo just go back to their homes in rural Japan. So it's less crowded within Tokyo.

>More importantly, since Fuji-Q is noted as one of the most crowded theme parks in the world, should I just go ahead and forget trying to go there now? Do the Japanese tend to visit resorts during this time or the opposite?

Well, I'm not sure specifically on Fuji-Q. But you have to note that travel is MUCH less likely for Japanese and foreign tourists now as there is radiation fear.

So some data of last year and before does not help in any way. I think Fuji-Q must be much less crowded than usual this summer. But it might recover somehow as August is 4 months away.

10 pts. Halloween "STYLE" music?

Question:

Answer:

Check out the band I Am Ghost and maybe the band Helloween.

Are there still parts of Japan that are undamaged?

Question:

I was planning on going to Japan in about 3 or 4 years but after all of the disaster there I don't know if it's still going to happen. Are there any parts that are still in tact and would be good to visit, or should be better by 2014?

Answer:

Most of Japan is relatively undamaged after the quake. Tokyo and Yokohama are already back to normal and everything south (Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Shikoku, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Okinawa, etc.) are completely untouched. Hokaido as well is pretty well back to normal with very little damage. Only the coastal cities in Fukushima, Iwate, Miyazaki, Ibaraki and Aomori have the major damage but even the inland or western areas of the north are fine.

May I have this short tweet translated to japanese kanji(It's called Kanji, right)?

Question:

For the tiny hopes of a mangka replying? I've seen her reply to other's(Even to a fan from the USA) so I believe there is a 1 in a million chance for her to reply somehow.

@biscohatori In VOL 18, Haruhi is said to be ''expecting a baby'' by Mei. Can you tell us what the baby's gender is? -Your fan from the USA-

Thank you very very much. It's just maybe she will see people are asking and answer it somehow. X__X

Thank you so very much.

Answer:

ハルヒが''期待して赤ちゃん'' by Meをされると言われています。あなたが赤ちゃんの性別が何であるかを教えてもらえま… - アメリカからあなたのファン

Can I get a job with Japan Airlines?

Question:

I live in California and am currently working towards my BA in Aerospace Engineering. I am also a part of the Air Force Reserve working as a loadmaster until I get my degree which hopefully will lead to a pilot slot later on down the road. If everything works according to plan and I get the pilot slot and rack up a certain amount of hours is it possible for me to get a job as a First Officer with Japan Airlines? I want to live in Japan so relocating wouldn't be a problem. And Im aware of the situation there now I'm just hoping it will be cleared up by the time all this opportunity would actually become available. Also does anyone know a good program for me to learn Japanese? I don't know any native speakers and I've been told the Rosetta Stone for it is garbage.

Answer:

If a Japanese can do the job, they will always be hired first. That's life in Japan.
Learning to read, write and speak Japanese to a native level will take years.
All I know about the Rosetta Stone is it runs some $500 !

Are There Any Programs For Teenagers To Volunteer In Japan?

Question:

Next July I will be in Fukuoka learning Japanese. I wanted to stay a bit longer and volunteer somewhere in Japan, the trouble is I can't seem to find a program where they'd take minors. Are there any programs for volunteering in Japan?

Yes I am aware that they had a Tsunami happen not too long ago, but it gives them more reason to have volunteer programs, even something simple like working on a farm or helping out at an orphanage.

Answer:

Sometimes you can find something in the Japan Times or Daily Yomiuri asking for volunteers. YMCAs sometimes have summer camps where they ask for English speaking volunteers for helping Japanese students learn English. I know that 2nd Harvest in Tokyo takes kids over 13 as volunteers for feeding homeless and preparing meals on Saturdays. Some churches may also take volunteers. The Tsunami effected areas it is difficult to find volunteer work unless you are on hand and have a means of supporting yourself while you are there. Most of the help they need is more for specialy trained people who can opporate equipment, remove dead bodies, provide medical care, build buildings to code, etc.

Need japanese safety information urgently?

Question:

son has a class trip scheduled to go to japan this summer. i need reliable information from ANYONE BESIDES..the japanese authorities...or those sites that are tied to that country's tourism...
ive checked AP and Reuters for any links but have had no luck...

Answer:

The UK FCO is pretty good, facts and not too much rubbish/politics:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-livi…

Help with short composition for my Japanese class.?

Question:

hello every one i had to write a composition for my japanese class and i wrote about nara park and the deer there. could u please look over it and correct any silly mistakes or bad grammar? it is not very long thanks you for you help:

奈良公園は入る時に初めに鹿がたくさんいることに気がつきました。約１２００鹿が… 鹿の面白い事は、ビスケットをあげたら、頭を下げておじぎしました。とってもびっくり…

What I'm trying to say:
When i entered Nara park, the first thing you notice is that there are alot of deer. There are about 1200 deer. these deer have been designated a nation monument. the interesting thing about these deer is, when i gave them a biscuit, they lowered their heads and bowed. i was very surprised. Although these deer are used to people, they are very hungry. Therefore, it is not okay to bring food. The deer will bother the people with food.

Answer:

I can only see part of the japanese writing. you need to break them up for them to be shown in the page.

My Japanese friend has just had a baby boy, how should I properly congratulate her?

Question:

My Japanese friend has just had a baby boy. I will bring her onigiri from my country when I visit next week, but are there other Japanese customs in this instance I should follow?

Thank you!

Answer:

Usually, Japanese people give money (10,000 yen or so in general) in this kind of envelop.
http://letter123.livedoor.biz/archives/5…

This is Japanese custom. But since you are not Japanese, there is nothing like you "should" follow this custom.

Should I buy a Japan Rail Pass for a visit to Tokyo?

Question:

I am going to be visiting Tokyo for two weeks and I'm trying to find the best option to get around. I will probably be traveling to my hotel in Ikebukuro from Narita or Haneda airport then doing lots of sight seeing everyday with perhaps a trip to Yokohama. Would it be more cost effective (and easier!) for me to get a JR Pass? Will it work on all the trains, buses and subways in Tokyo?

Thank you!

Answer:

I strongly recommend you to buy "Suica" as explained in the link below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica
It's not at all cost effective but it surely saves you from all the troubles and hassles of locating ticket machines, buying correct amount of tickets, paying over ride charges at the destination.
With this prepaid card, you can take almost any buses, subways, trains of JR or other private lines.

How to say "we don't have that" in Japanese?

Question:

Like if you don't have something, at a restaurant someone asks "Do you have __?" "We don't have that." How do you say that in Japanese?

Answer:

It depends on each situation. If you say at a restaurant, you would say

そちらはご用意しておりません。
sochira wa goyoui shite orimasen

Do products shipped from Japan contain radiation?

Question:

My son bought a Pikmin toy online and it is being shipped from Japan. Do I have to worry about radiation contamination. The toy is wooden.

Answer:

You have nothing to worry about. The only people who have been hurt by radiation are the men who work inside the nuke plants...

I want to live in Japan. but what do i need in oder to live there?

Question:

I don't want to live in the cities of Japan but close by. In an cheap apartment. Not having to teach or job like that a simple job will do, that will help me live there. I just want to know how a normal Japanese lives in Japan.

How much money will i have to have, rent, entertainment, food, and ect. Do i need permission from there government to live there?

Answer:

Which country are you a citizen of? Getting a visa is the biggest problem. The Japanese government are quite unwilling to give working visas to people who are doing jobs that could be just as easily filled by Japanese people. That is part of the reason why teaching English is so popular, it is something that the government is willing to grant a working visa for. Do you have a university degree? That is another requirement for most visas.

If you want to work outside of a city, in a non-teaching job, you will need to speak Japanese already or learn it pretty darn quickly. People in cities in Japan tend to not speak much English and even less speak it outside of cities. You may find work laboring or something along those lines, but to do that you will need a visa as mentioned.

If you come from Australia, Canada or the UK you might be in with luck. All of these countries have reciprocal working holiday visa arrangements where you can live and work in Japan for up to a year in any job you like, even without a degree. This is the best bet if you are lucky enough to be from one of these countries. If you are from the USA then you are unable to obtain this visa.

In terms of money you should aim to earn around 40,000 to 50,000 yen a week. Keep in mind that pay is done monthly in almost every job there. Rent varies depending on where you live but expect to pay around 100,000 a month minimum (this was the case when I was living there). Luckily, food and entertainment in Japan is pretty cheap if you are happy to go where the locals go.

Hope that helps.

Please translate this message to Japanese?

Question:

I am really very sorry to hear about the earthquake and the tsunami which has struck your beautiful country :( My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you and your family... I am so sorry to hear about your friend :( May he rest in peace...
There is always life after death and things will get better with time. ^^ Nobody has left forever and I hope that you will be able to fulfill all your dreams and be happy. ^^

Answer:

今回、美しい日本を襲った地震、そして津波のことは本当に残念でなりません。
（私の心はあなたやご家族のことを祈る気持ちで一杯です。　ご友人のことは
大変悲しいことです。　ご冥福をお祈りいたします。）
悲しみ（死）の後には時を経て状況が好転する、というのも世の常です。
永遠の別れなどはないのですから、これからのあなたは、どうぞご自分の夢や
希望を叶えて、幸せでいて下さいね。

What is the best university in Tokyo?

Question:

like Yonsei University in Seoul. I want to study abroad in Tokyo in 2015 so I can meet japanese friends and hang out with them. I love the trends in Shibuya 109 and other districts in tokyo.

Answer:

Tokyo Daigakku (Tokyo University) and Waseda are pretty good but you have to not only have way above average Japanese language skills for a foreigner but impeccable grades as well.

A smarter choice might be a school like Sophia University in Tokyo. It has a pretty good reputation but is also very international student friendly. Be warned however that it is a Catholic school run by Jesuits, so if you are sensitive about that kind of thing it might not be for you.

I had a friend from the UK who did his undergraduate degree at Keio University, but it is worth mentioning that his mother was a professor of Japanese language in Scotland. He'd been learning Japanese since he was a little kid.

Japanese word for restaurant hopping?

Question:

I watched a documentary once where they talked about "restaurant hopping" in Japan, where you basically get small dishes from different restaurants throughout a day/night. Is there a Japanese word for this?

Answer:

食べ歩き
tabearuki

Is the PSN working in Japan?

Question:

Answer:

no!

Why are so many Japanese people not happy?

Question:

In most surveys, polls and studies they reveal that Japanese people actually score quite low in terms of how happy or satisfied they are. Even compared to many poor countries Japanese people show a lot higher rates of depression, unhappiness, etc.

Why is this? What has created so many Japanese people to be so unhappy with their lives?

Are there things like lack of social interaction that contributes to this? Or a bad welfare system? Or is the only thing people care about just working at their job or studying?

Answer:

Imagine;
- you're raised to control/suppress your feelings
- the society focuses on "precision" "punctuality"
- there're a lot of competitions, (e.g. entering university)
- you live in lots of ties of (unnecessary) obligation

Welfare system is quite functional in Japan.
Japanese people basically don't like refusing/complaining things --> overwork/ suppress --> exhausted

What should I get for my Japanese neighbours?

Question:

I'm moving to Tokyo very soon for a job, and it was mentioned in the company's welcome pack that it is a good idea to get little gifts for new neighbours, since this is a Japanese custom.

Has anyone done this themselves? Any idea what constitutes an appropriate gift? How many nieghbours - just for next door? The whole floor? The whole block (I hope not)?

Thanks!

Answer:

How about indoor slippers? You can just give the nearest apartments to you (3-4). Or food.. People love food. Because you might give something they already have that they won't be able to use.

Anyway, I think that's a new custom made usually by foreigners (?) not really sure. Because we had a new neighbor, who moved from the Kansai, years years ago (2003, I think) and they never gave us gifts lol. Their house is nearly in front of ours.

Speech on disaster in japan are causes of environmental imbalance?

Question:

Answer:

We have to wait for years or even decades to see its real outcome.

What is happening in Japan at the moment????????

Question:

I swear that the news people just don't care anymore about the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis. Do they think that it is old news and that no one cares anymore? Give us some information!

Answer:

Currently, my mom and dad are singing karaoke while drinking beer. I know it's embarrassing, I hope one of our neighbors call and complain about the dying dog's noise. That's why I decided to lock myself here in my room.

Is it possible for a vegetarian to find good food in Japan?

Question:

Vegetarian means a vegan who consumes milk and milk products, but NO egg, meat poultryor any form of a dead animal.

Answer:

That's a lacto-vegetarian. There's a ovo-vegetarian, they eat EGGS but not milk products. Your definition is wrong.

ANYWAY.

Yes there are many vegetarian food here. There are tofu-based meals (tofu as replacement to meats), Miso soup, noodles (vegetable noodles), vegetable tempuras, Onigiri (rice balls) and many more.
You just have to find restaurants that specialize in vegetarian meals.

Here's a website where you can find restaurants in cities in Japan that serve vegetarian food.
http://www.happycow.net/asia/japan/

Samurai soul, JAPANESE help, please?

Question:

okay.. so my japanese friend doesn't really speak english.. i don't speak well too haha..we're very close now, but sometimes its hard for me to understand him.. i really like him but i think its too early to call it love. anyways.
he said to me:

I really love you
It is a samurai soul
I want to make you happy

does anyone know what he mean by 'It is a samurai soul'??

thanks :)

x

Answer:

Samurai spirit (Code of Samurai) is very deep.
To make it very short, "stressed courage and loyalty and self-discipline and simple living"
Anyways, I think your friend tried to impress you that he was a deep Japanese man by referring to "samurai soul" But yes, you should take his words serious and real ones...

1st line: his honest feeling
2nd : what his identity's deeply related to
3nd : his wish

How do you write the name Marina in Japanese?

Question:

Answer:

マリーナ

This is it.

Which is more worth? An Austrian nationality (passport) or a Japanese nationality (passport)?

Question:

Currently I have the Japanese nationality (passport), but I am considering obtaining the Austrian nationality, so I have a EU passport. However, if I do, I will lose the Japanese nationality...

I live in Europe, that's why I am considering this, but I am torn! Should I lose my Japanese passport (all my relatives are Japanese)...???

Answer:

I had the same dilemma. I am from a small and insignificant European country which allows only 1 citizenship. I have lived in UK, so I have a permanent residency card still, however I am married with an Indian and live in India right now. I wanted to get an Indian citizenship because I wanted to have the same citizenship as my husband but if I do, then I will have to get a visa to visit Europe, including my own country. So the decision was quite easy, to keep a EU passport and live in India on a spouse visa (my daughter too has a European passport).

Just weigh the preferences and it will be easy to work it out. Maybe you could wait until Japan law allows multiple citizenship and then you could get an Australian one too.