Rezz

Hmmmm, I think enthusiastic hand gestures are offensive to some Japanese, as is a too strong personality. Not being flexible and wanting thing done 'the western way' is also a major piss off... especially with our Japanese staff! Theres heaps but thats about all that spring to mind now.

Scared... me? lolI basically found all my private students by word of mouth. I never got business cards and handed them out... I always felt that was a bit dodgy. Needless to say at any one time I only had about 6 -7 privates a week, so I had to choose whether to continue with the privates or just give up and join a school... I joined a school (I've met *so* many more people and had so many more offers since I joined the school I work at now).

I haven't had any 1st hand experience with Yakuza... but I've been told many a story about them. In fact, Kobe (where I used to live) is home to the biggest Yakuza clan in Japan - the Yamaguchi-Gumi. They literally 'run' things in Kobe from top level business dealings to low level intimidation.

But as for the general population, getting caught hardly even registers. You just *be careful*, don't go being stupid with it. DaiOni I'm quite suprised you know of English teachers that have been caught... could you tell us what happened? Or how?

Not going against what IG and 'Oni said, but fear of being caught by the authorities just doesn't really bother any of the (Dj's, club owners) guys that I know who regularly smoke. Yes the penalties are harsh, but the chances of getting caught are pretty slim... well unless the club you're at gets randomly raided (which is rare - but happened to 'The Underlounge' here in Osaka just 2 months ago, multiple arrests for possesion) or you're noticebly smoking weed outside or in public view. I'm not saying "it's ok!!!", but just saying that more people talk about the dangers of getting caught with weed than people actually getting caught... or maybe my mates are just really clever about it?

I can... I can pretty much do whatever , whenever on that salary.

Ok I get A$45,000 after tax.

I did a 6 month course in basic Japanese grammar before I came, and a further 3 months doing private classes with a really cool divorced 50 year old lady... she was tops, she bought ME lunch after she taught me! Before I came to Japan I was probably Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 4, now I could probably study for Level 2. I think Japanese is quite hard to learn, but anything can be learn with the right positive frame of mind. You don't need a degree to teach (been covered many times before in the Japan forum), but it would definately make things easier especially if you were after a proper work visa. As for working as a hired hand in Japan... I have no idea. 'topi' on these forums did work experience with 'JUN Auto Mechanic', so he might be able to point you in the right direction? Btw, don't believe what people say about ganja being scarce in Japan... it's who you know not what you know... I can sort anyone out with some green if they want it.

Does anyone else want to answer that question?

They say Spring 2005 (northern hemisphere) which could be anytime until May... and I seached all over Sonys Japanese site for any mention of GT4 on PSP with no luck. I know how Sony put back release dates like it's going out of fashion... hell even with the PS2 release of GT4 they put back the release date 1 month at the 11th hour. But yeah, the only mention of PSP GT4 right now is on the hardcore gamers sites... when I said there was no mention of it I meant 'official release date'... your right though it's definately on the cards.

No, I haven't personally worked for *any* of the 'corporate' schools BUT my boss has, as have 4 of our current teachers (plus many more who are either friends, aquaintences or past employees). I wouldn't really want to work for the big corporates anyway... I get more salary than them, I can take (paid) holidays, I can nominate the time of my holidays, heck I can even negotiate my working schedule within reason on a weekly basis... but then again I'm equal 2nd in command (with another guy) at our small chain of schools, so I guess I have a better than average working situation. The guys that are or have worked for Nova, GEOS, Berlitz etc have basically said it's not what it's cracked up to be... they all seem to complain about what they could or couldn't do in class ie: they had to act a certain way, and they couldn't talk to the students outside of class. Berlitz even videotapes classes for 'performance evaluation' (not sure if they still do that). All this came about a while back when teachers took it upon themselves to pick up students from the schools directly, as in getting their email addy's or phone numbers in class. It was such a problem that the 'corporate' schools had to do something or the whole English Teaching industry in Japan would forever be branded as a foreigners pick up service... or so the tale goes. Having said that, we just last year sacked a teacher because he *cough* *COUGH!* unbelievable KISSED a girl in class (he was a French guy - haha say no 'a-more'! hahaha). That guy TRULY though he was Gods gift to Japanese women... what a tosser... he brought a bad name to that particular school (we have 5 schools in total). So the issue is very real, and theres nothing some horny little guys won't try in order to score. I could go on for aaaaaaages with stories like this...

Racing games for PSP only include 'Ridge Racer' at the moment. 'NFSU Rivals' is due out in mid-Feb. No mention of GT4 being released on PSP in Japan.

Hehehe... they were probably taking bets to see who would have enough guts to go up to you and try out their English skills. Because thats all it is really, practicing English. I hate it how some guys who come here thing they are 'Gods gift to J-girls' ... of course there are 1,000's of girls here who *direly* want a foreign guy but thats only 0.04% of the whole population... and some of those are quite neurotic. Most of them either want to learn more English (for whatever purpose: higher TOEIC score, become a flight attendant, get a promotion etc) or just meet someone more interesting (in their eyes) than the average Japanese... classed as 'foreigners'. I've been teaching 100's of J-girls a week in their 20's and 30's for 4.5 years... and this is the impression I get.

Hmmmmm... :confused: Route K's

Lol How many of you internet geeks read that???

Lol, I thought it was too hardcore 'Motor Magazine' might have some useful info in it if you want more of a 'credible' mag to look at... but at 780 yen I don't think they have anymore upcoming development articles than say 'Xa Car' or 'Best Car' do at 300-odd yen.

Funky: All of 'em mate I think they all have their 'credible' information AND their outright speculative articles. Thats coming from me who actually reads and translates most articles of interest. Alot of so called 'Japan experts' can't even speak the language, let along read it... and they pass judgement and say "oh those Jap magazines are just full of crap"... little do they know that all the articles are quite honest about the crdeibility of their info. Poida: One word: Kinko's ) trust me it ain't cool... I moved to Japan in June 2000. I really wanted to see JGTC cars in the flesh at Suzuka circuit... thats all really... I didn't really like J-girls (although they grew on me - or I 'grew' on them hehe ). I had a working holiday visa so I had enough money to support myself without work for 6 months, so in the beginning I took it easy. It wsn't so hard to 'find my feet', I met some pretty cool people when I first got here (which was really easy... everybody likes Aussies... well except Kiwis) so I had a helping hand. My first job was landed 4 months after I arrived, and was really easy to negotiate... BUT, I had to relocate to country Mie. That was difficult at times (lonely) but I can owe my confidence and mental fortitude to that experience alone. Other jobs were equally easy to get, but as has been told to me numerous times, being 'not exactly ugly' is the #1 reason for that. Yes, I can see myself staying for at least another 2 years. As time wears on and my Japanese gets better, I could probably stay for another 10 years... it all depends on timing. If it's time to go, it's time to go. If I could do it all over again, I would've come here in the mid-90's (just from the money making aspect). But other than that, I think I've had the time of my life really. I've always loved Japan and I couldn't see myself living anywhere else other than my fathers native Germany. About the only regeret I have about coming to Japan is not studying the language more before I came. I think I've missed out on 2 or 3 awesome opportunities (one with a very rich young lady) because I couldn't speak enough Japanese... oh well.

Alright... Back to Q+A guys. Sorry Akihiro.

あきひと、「ごめんね、お名前の漢字をしらない」あなたのＳＡＵのメンバーの口座が変わったことがわかった。なぜ変わった？

Yeah, it's in Romaji... Japanese postal workers can read Romanized Japanese place names no worries. In fact the address could probably written backwards and it wouldn't make any difference.

Good questions Poida... I was wondering when somebody would ask about this. Firstly, the address above WILL get to your house, but you could make it easier for the postman by writing/typing: Tokyo-to Taito-ku (Negishi-chou) 2-17-1-404 JAPAN 110-0003 ** 'Negishi' sounds very local, you may not need to put this in the address but please verify with a Japanese aquaintance. Secondly, the postman usually has access to the back of where all the mailboxes are (you may not be aware of it), so if the package can fit in the mailbox he'll leave it there, if not, he'll put a receipt in there which you can then take to your local post office and retrieve the package (you'll need ID for this - last time I got asked to produce my Gaikokujin Tourokusho or Foreigners registration card). I guess it's pretty obvious that packages aren't left at the front door.

Hahahaha!!! You like bronze women Akihito? I like Ganguro!!!

Wel... there it is. PROOF that Aussies copy the Yanks, no matter how sh*t... no matter how stupid it is...

Who's Bronz?

Akihito! Do you have a question about foreigners??? Hahaha