Japanese? Japan?

Any Japanese on here?  Or anyone living in Japan?  I'm Japanese and spent half of my childhood in Kobe (the other half in the States), did undergrad in Tokyo (lived in Kitchen-George...吉祥寺), and now in the States.

japizzzzle here

Does wishing you were in Japan count? lol

Does being in Japan last month count?  lol.  Been 3 times, 2 weeks each.  Possibly going back in May, but def. some time next year.  Wife is 100% born and raised, our son has dual citizenship.  Her parents should never have let her come to the USA to go to school.... hehehe

Wow grant, that citizenship application came through quickly!! ;-)

shit, i wish
id love to retire here....in 16 years...

kinda off topic...but is it expensive to live in Japan?

no no more than cali

oh really? like how much are living expenses?

Like exactly the same as living in L.A. near the coast.

2 trips ago, we went to a condo open house, and they were beautiful.  About the same money as the condo I have in the South Bay, ~350k, and much nicer (in suburban Tokyo).  Food, clothes, cars, all that stuff is about the same as here.  Gas is more expensive, but that's quickly balancing out as we get close to $4 a gallon.

never been, but really really really want to go!

I'm not Japanese or do I live in Japan. I've been to Japan like twice and stayed there for like 2 hours each.
 
 
They were connecting flights from Osaka to Manila. :sad: I would like to go for a vacation once I understand the language.

wooooah!!!

Crazy...but if I a chance, I would try it out!

[QUOTE=Benji;110814]I'm not Japanese or do I live in Japan. I've been to Japan like twice and stayed there for like 2 hours each.
 
 
They were connecting flights from Osaka to Manila. :sad: I would like to go for a vacation once I understand the language.[/QUOTE]


haha...me too benji!! I was stuck there actually so I stayed overnight! yoohoo!

But that was like 7 years or so!  I saw some STI and civic type r...it was fun!

Oh, forgot to mention... Did 1yr youth exchange there, and been back twice on holiday since then...
 
May be going back in the next 6 months for a bit more of an extended stay ;)

[quote=F.L.S.;110050]Does being in Japan last month count?  lol.  Been 3 times, 2 weeks each.  Possibly going back in May, but def. some time next year.  Wife is 100% born and raised, our son has dual citizenship.  Her parents should never have let her come to the USA to go to school.... hehehe[/quote]
dual citizenship from Japan and the States?  Keep that on the DL...b/c I'm pretty sure Japan doesn't allow that (at least once your 18+). 

[quote=hondaboi;110690]kinda off topic...but is it expensive to live in Japan?[/quote]
like someone said, probably about as much as LA, but everything's smaller.  Mickey D's literally a kid's meal and to top it off NO REFILLS.  Starbucks has a "short/tall/grande" and the short is the price of a tall here.  If you live out of of the 23wards it's not too bad but housing will still be small.

[QUOTE=coco-puffs;113878]dual citizenship from Japan and the States?  Keep that on the DL...b/c I'm pretty sure Japan doesn't allow that (at least once your 18+). [/QUOTE]
What he said...

I lived there for several years and have been back almost every year at least once, most times twice and for about a month each trip.  I'll be there again for TAS this coming year, but only for about a week.

As far as price..if you know how to shop and where and what to eat it's no more expensive than LA and in some cases less expensive than Honolulu.  The wife and I have been thinking about moving back.

He has to choose one by the time he's 21 (pretty sure it's 21 and not 18), but I think some people kinda try and "forget" lol.  It will be interesting to see which he chooses.  By that time, I will be almost 60 years old!!  Wow, that's kinda weird to think about.....

I lived in Japan while in the military. I am now studying Japanese in college.

i live in northern japan -NON-Military

military brat, born and raised in tokyo. father ran sanno hotel back in late 60's to 70's. been to malyasia, saipan, and guam also. mother is japanese, born in osaka. father is welch (wales). 

i lived there for 16yrs then moved to paradise, ca then slipped down to L.A. and been stateside for 30yrs.
i will be visiting one of my brother and his fam this fall in tokyo. my kids want to know where their roots are.

[QUOTE=-//NegativeCamber\\-;119211]i live in northern japan -NON-Military[/QUOTE]


What prefecture?

6 years....probably never go back

[QUOTE=onajinohito;115136]I lived in Japan while in the military. I am now studying Japanese in college.[/QUOTE]

Where do you study Japanese?  I hope to get 8 college courses out of it by the time I leave Okinawa.  

Oh...Okinawa, Japan here since Feb 2007 until at least May 2010.

Aomori in the House................:eek4wtf:

i was born in Niigata, Japan.
i still have citizenship there and in the U.S

[QUOTE=NisAznMonk;121704]Where do you study Japanese?  I hope to get 8 college courses out of it by the time I leave Okinawa.  

Oh...Okinawa, Japan here since Feb 2007 until at least May 2010.[/QUOTE]


Sorry... I'm late.
I study now in America. Gainesville, FL to be exact. I got alot of classes out of the way in Aomori when I was there but I found a teacher I liked and followed her here to FL.

Im Japanese living in AZ since 1995. 
 
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99 LS
06 xb

Im leavin to Japan on wend, any suggestions?

[QUOTE=RaCinStylez;255480]Im leavin to Japan on wend, any suggestions?[/QUOTE]
 
Wow that's great!,  what part of Japan you are going?
 
Don't forget to take passport with you and Just enjoy!  Have a great time!  
if you have any question, let me know.

[QUOTE=J4649;255495]Wow that's great!,  what part of Japan you are going?
 
Don't forget to take passport with you and Just enjoy!  Have a great time!  
if you have any question, let me know.[/QUOTE]

going to Tokyo...will be staying in shinjuku..  

Things on my list
-go see huge gundam
-sony factory
-vip meets
-holla at the azn chicas
-junk yards
-vending machines


anything that you would recommend to go see while there?

[QUOTE=RaCinStylez;255496]going to Tokyo...will be staying in shinjuku.. 
 
Things on my list
-go see huge gundam
-sony factory
-vip meets   
-holla at the azn chicas >>>> Go yoshiwara (profesionals) $$
-junk yards 
-vending machines >>>>> everywhere
 
 
anything that you would recommend to go see while there?[/QUOTE]
 
Im not familiar with Shinjuku area, i have been there but long time ago.. sorry Im originally from Kyoto. but I know there are so many place to see, eat, party, girls etc.... are you going to Japan with someone speak Japanese? if not, ask local guy who can speak English. Im sure there are so many English speakers around there. Enjoy and safe Trip! =)

Unless you've got a Japanese speaking guide, a car and a bunch of luck, i would scratch vip meets and junkyards out of that list. Vip meets are never close to trainstations, and usually way out in the middle of nowhere.
 
Go to Akihabara and hang out with all the geeks (specially at the westerner geeks)
Go to Super Autobacs which is right near Shinonome station on the Rinkai line
Then catch a train back to see the Toyota Megaweb in Odaiba & Book  yourself a drive in a Century/Crown/Alphard or whatever Toyota tickles your fancy. While waiting, check out the Toyota museum
Then on Saturday night if you are a clubbing type go to Ageha in Shin-kiba and party from midnight till 7am. If you are a bar-hopper go to Roppongi and try not to catch any STDs
 
When i get home i can try to see if there are any vip events on while you are there. But unless Grant or someone drive's you there i wouldnt recommend it. I did it a few times but each time its like 5km walking there and back from the station.

[QUOTE=Dominik;255524]Unless you've got a Japanese speaking guide, a car and a bunch of luck, i would scratch vip meets and junkyards out of that list. Vip meets are never close to trainstations, and usually way out in the middle of nowhere.
 
Go to Akihabara and hang out with all the geeks (specially at the westerner geeks)
Go to Super Autobacs which is right near Shinonome station on the Rinkai line
Then catch a train back to see the Toyota Megaweb in Odaiba & Book  yourself a drive in a Century/Crown/Alphard or whatever Toyota tickles your fancy. While waiting, check out the Toyota museum
Then on Saturday night if you are a clubbing type go to Ageha in Shin-kiba and party from midnight till 7am. If you are a bar-hopper go to Roppongi and try not to catch any STDs
 
When i get home i can try to see if there are any vip events on while you are there. But unless Grant or someone drive's you there i wouldnt recommend it. I did it a few times but each time its like 5km walking there and back from the station.[/QUOTE]

thanks dom

to test drive the cars do you have to get a special license?  I heard about roppongi,..lol.

never been to japan, but was thinking of getting stationed there for the navy. we'll see how that goes.

Lived in japan for 13 years... 3 on okinawa and 10 in Yokosuka.... going back for my 20th highschool reunion in 2011...... wow that shows my age!

Just came back from Tokyo,  now in socal went to high and college here, I'm Taiwanese and Hawaiian, but live in Tokyo for several years when I was a kid, sister is still there getting her PHD in Tokyo university....Japan is real nice..

[QUOTE=RaCinStylez;255480]Im leavin to Japan on wend, any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

have fun, and bring couple credit cards :)

[QUOTE=RaCinStylez;255530]
to test drive the cars do you have to get a special license?  I heard about roppongi,..lol.[/QUOTE]

car dealers don't normally let people test drive cars unless you are serious about buying, come to think about it I never asked to drive my car before I bought it so I am not sure... LOL But you don't need a special license to drive here. I have been using a international license I picked up at AAA in America for the last 2 months, been too lazy to get a Japanese license.  The international license is good for a year and only takes 30 minutes to make! 

BTW, how long are you going to be in Japan? There is a pretty big car meet in northern Japan where I live on the 26th of July. -  [url]http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~sink/event.html[/url]

Yeah just an international license. At Toyota Megaweb you can test drive any car in the Toyota lineup on their purpose built course without any intention to buy. Its like a themepark ride; Just pay 300yen to cover insurance and fuel etc.
 
You get a CB radio that they talk to you with and you can only go max 40km/h. But you are on your own and all they do is tell you to slow down on the radio. I dont suggest you treat it like a race track (might get arrested lol), but nothing stopping you seeing what the car accelerates like up to 80km/h. The guy in front of me (Japanese) was hammering the car (all i saw was puffs of black smoke out the exhaust), and all we heard was "please slow down" in Japanese.
 
They recommend that you go there earlyish to book the cars you want cos the Crowns/Majestas/Centuries usually get booked out most days. Just book and then they will tell you what time to come back.

Well for the US, AAA can get you setup on a Intl License. Really easy and costs like 20 bucks.

wrd, looks like i gotta go to aaa


is it hard to get around.  I dont speak any Japanese at all

nah its not hard at all. i can do it :)
 
if you get in toruble call me
08037553434 i can help you if i can

lived there 6 years, going back to okinawa this year  for the beginning stages of building a house - maybe I will be so lucky to run into grant if he gets stationed there

[QUOTE=RaCinStylez;255667]wrd, looks like i gotta go to aaa


is it hard to get around.  I dont speak any Japanese at all[/QUOTE]

you'll have english signs everywhere in the public transport system, but the multitude of lines does get confusing. but just take your time looking at the signs before you buy your subway tickets and you'll be fine. enjoy! i know i did (especially the convenience store food. weird)

[QUOTE=Dominik;255623]Yeah just an international license. At Toyota Megaweb you can test drive any car in the Toyota lineup on their purpose built course without any intention to buy. Its like a themepark ride; Just pay 300yen to cover insurance and fuel etc.
 
You get a CB radio that they talk to you with and you can only go max 40km/h. But you are on your own and all they do is tell you to slow down on the radio. I dont suggest you treat it like a race track (might get arrested lol), but nothing stopping you seeing what the car accelerates like up to 80km/h. The guy in front of me (Japanese) was hammering the car (all i saw was puffs of black smoke out the exhaust), and all we heard was "please slow down" in Japanese.
 
They recommend that you go there earlyish to book the cars you want cos the Crowns/Majestas/Centuries usually get booked out most days. Just book and then they will tell you what time to come back.[/QUOTE]
 
i saw them doing these test drives at Carest.  i'd say Carest is better than super autobacs... idk but i always went to Carest when i needed something.  i went to high school on Camp Zama, and lived in the Zama/Atsugi area for 9 years.  i was basically raised there, being 22. and damn i can say, that living in the states is wayyyyyyyy different! still got to get used to this haha.

Yamanote line for the win. Pretty much takes you to all the major stations in Tokyo and most transfer from that same line.

You'll be surprised at the random people that will speak English. You should be ok. 

HA, Just realized it's already Thurs. he should be There already.

yeah, my majesty battery took a shit on me yesterday, so i was pushing it looking for someone with jumper cables. well i stop behind this m5, some mid 20ish guy gets out. i asked if he had jumper cables in japanese, and i get back...."Uh, no man, sorry".  i shit you not. dude spoke perfect english lol.
he did help me find a gas station, then i went to ueno and bought a battery lol

You do get some surprises at times. I find that the ones who will stop to talk to you are usually the ones who know at least some english.

Just got to Tokyo!! WOW!  The girl to guy ratio is insane...too many azn hotties with an odd sense of style.  I just might be in heaven. =)

Grant,  

we cant get a sim card here but ill try and hit ya up tomorrow.  Will you be free?

Haha, some of them seem to WANT to practice their English any chance they get.

yeah it's all good until they open their mouth and you see their teeth! haha

holy crap, i haven't logged on for over a year but VSC grew!!!!

[QUOTE=KDotV;257833]yeah it's all good until they open their mouth and you see their teeth! haha[/QUOTE]

I can live with that.

Next person flying to Japan, do you mind bringing something with you?

Fairly large suitcase, weighs about 140lbs....

If you hear weird noises that's just me playing my Gameboy in there.

dude is the last post on this thread seriously august 09... 3 years ago wow!!

i just moved back to okinawa in june of 2012 and am starting my crown vip build now.  was hoping to meet up with someone,, i know your out there somewhere.  PM me.

Im in Atsugi Kanawanga outside Tokyo, just got a RA8 Odyssey