http://www.city-cost.comSun, 17 May 2026 05:32:48 +0900European living the Japanese dream in KansaienCopyright © 2015 - 2026 City-Cost All Rights Reserved.webmaster@city-cost.com (CC Team)http://img.city-cost.com/static/blog_campaign_icon.pnghttp://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MdoPK-living_money_howtoThere is a voice in my head that usually gets louder and louder around this time of year. It is a simple voice with a simple message.It says, and I quote “HOW CAN PEOPLE LIVE IN THIS HEAT?!?” end quote. For the first twenty five years of my life, I lived on a small, cold, desert-like island in the North Atlantic, and the voice was pretty quiet most of the time. Despite the fact that nothing grows in my country except the hardiest of plants (and the occasional fiery mountain), the voice was content. This was all it knew. The air should always be significantly colder than the skin it’s blowing on. Rain should always fall sideways. Trampolines fly from the sky. This is fine.So when I landed in Japan in September, and was greeted with the warm, humid winds of the Pacific, something broke inside me. And the voice immediately started screaming.So I did what I thought should be the simplest solution. Air Conditioner on full blast, ice cream on a conveyor belt right into my mouth, and just wait it out. Until I saw the electricity bill that is… Then another, similarly loud voice started.SO, Here’s what I do in the summer to escape the heat! (or get heatstroke trying).1. Use someone else’s electricity!Did you know that some hotels let you use their lounge area all day for a small fee? I pay maybe 1000 yen and get to stay in a well air conditioned lounge with an all-you-can-soft-drink! I get a bunch of work done in peace and don’t have to feel guilty about using my aircon on full blast because they are doing that anyway. And with the amount of orange juice and coffee that I drink during the day, I think I come out in profit.2. Early bird specialDid you know that some hotels have an all-you-can-eat buffet in the mornings? You probably have if you’ve ever stayed at any hotel. But did you know that some hotels offer the same buffet to non guests?!? For a small fee of usually 1500, you can stuff yourself senseless and probably not have to eat for the rest of the day! Just get there very early in the morning to avoid the heat and hotel guests. 3. AEON mallingDid you…. Yeah you probably know that going to the mall is a good way to escape the heat. But did you know that if your AEON has a Namco arcade, you can download their app and get points and play games for free? That’s how I got my Hunter X Hunter branded coasters. Also I am a very good dinosaur hunter in the Jurassic Park shooting game. All for free! (if you consider installing an app, logging in every day and letting it track your location “free”). So yeah. To escape the burning laser of the giant celestial body, try to get under someone else’s roof. They won’t mind!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MdoPK-living_money_howtoMon, 31 Jul 2023 14:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MdoPK-living_money_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wmPOv-living_money_workI finally changed jobs! I am not an English teacher anymore. Not that I disliked being an ALT. Not at all. The freedom and lack of responsibility were great. I managed to get a lot of unrelated work done in the years that I was working. I learned programming, game development, released my first game on Steam. All while supposedly working. Desk warming at its finest!But I had to say goodbye to all that. I got an opportunity that I simply could not refuse. I started work in IT. Albeit for a school, so I am not completely free from the educational system. But it is a whole new experience!So I had to quit my job. And that was an experience and a half. Since the guy I was replacing was moving pretty soon, I had to move quickly. So I asked the teachers at my school for advice. And they told me that the way to quit was to go from the bottom up. I.E, talk to the teachers, then the vice principal, the principal and then the board of education. So I did that. BIG MISTAKE. Since I was a lowly ALT, I was apparently supposed to talk to the BOE first and have them spread the news throughout the schools without me saying anything.I don't know about you guys, but that sounds a bit like betrayal to the nice teachers I have been working with for years and years. So the BOE was not happy. And I was in a pretty unhappy position myself having to have to break the news that I was quitting to three separate schools. But it had to be done. So I had a meeting with the big boss. And I could see his frown, as he was pretty mad that I was quitting suddenly and had the audacity to break form and inform my schools before him.But we had a nice, slow, calm conversation and I was pretty honest with them about why I was quitting. And the frown slowly faded into a resignated smile. Luckily I had a bit more than a month of paid leave, so the 30 day quitting period was not an issue. Plus, as I reminded myself again and again, the BOE would not think twice about letting me go if it proved to be mildly beneficial to them. So I had no ethical dilemma. Just feeling a bit sad leaving a place I had called my workplace for five years.And a world of computers and problem solving awaits!So remember everyone, if the opportunity arises, jump on it in the most haphazardly way possible. Whatever happens, you will look back at this experience and laugh… probably.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wmPOv-living_money_workThu, 27 Jul 2023 11:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wmPOv-living_money_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GO3mx-medical_health_kyoto_shi_kyotoSo. I have a mental health problem. I don’t know what it is. I don’t like labelling myself as one thing or another. But I do have a mental health problem.The sequence of events was, I went to a headache doctor because I was getting really bad migraine and possibly I would need an MRI to check if the insides of my head were all in there. When we got there, the doctor’s office had this really big and beautiful fish tank. Now, I brought my partner for help translating, but I usually try to do the talking about my own health myself. However, at this time, I did not focus AT ALL. The fish were just way too distracting. And my partner mentioned that this happens all the time. ..so the doctor advised us to go upstairs and see another type of doctor…And we went. And I talked. And I talked. And talked. And filled out a survey. And talked some more. And had a panic attack. And talked some more. And now, a few months later, it turns out that I am on the AD spectrum of the ADHD thingy and somewhere else entirely on the ASD autism gooby. This little journey of self discovery has been taking over my life in best way possible. Suddenly there are things in my life that made sense. Why have I been feeling this way and not this other “normal” way. Why do I react this way and not that way in this situation. I just thought I was scatterbrained and tended to “zone out” and that it was just my personality and there is nothing to do about it. Turns out there is PLENTY to do about it.And the point for me is this: I got very lucky. This mental health doctor only speaks Japanese, but I have a loving partner to translate for me when I cannot. I always thought that it would cost an arm and a leg to see one of these guys, but it turns out that he takes my insurance card gladly! Each session only costs me around 1800 yen and I go to him every two weeks now. I still haven’t gotten to trying ADHD medicine, as it needs a process and a half to do, but I am still on this ongoing journey, and I will see it to the end. I got some SSRI stuff, which has improved my mood by 80% so far!So, yeah. If nothing else, it is always, always, ALWAYS worth it to talk to someone about your mental health. You might discover something about you that you may never know otherwise. As for myself, I am feeling a lot better so far. And I have just begun. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GO3mx-medical_health_kyoto_shi_kyotoWed, 19 Jul 2023 16:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GO3mx-medical_health_kyoto_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MYnJL-shopping_transportation_kyoto_shi_kyotoI am here to convince you to do the impossible. I know you´ll scoff at the very mention of the idea, but hear me out. What is the worst thing about going flower viewing in modern times? Is it the crushing realization that our life is but one flower, fluttering in the wind on a tree, just waiting for the inevitable fall? No. Is it the reproductive system of nature clogging up the sinuses and making life miserable like we’re living in some off-brand Mark Wahlberg movie? No.Could it be that most of the problems in the world can be boiled down to the fact that we live in an overcrowded, purposefully run-down and often downright sinister world designed to keep us chugging away at the machine of production? N ....YES!In any case, I know where the best place to do any sort of flower viewing. It’s in Kyoto, where the Kamo river meets the Takano river. The triangle of destiny, if you will. But the problem is that it’s too popular. Too many people gather there. Forget about going there on the weekends, as it will be filled to the brim with *shudder* students…So here is my drastic solution. Go as early as you can! The pictures here are taken at 6:30 in the morning! Go in the cold morning and watch the sun rise. I pass this place every morning and let me tell you, it’s beautiful! And best of all, it’s all yours! There may be a few joggers, or dog walkers but they don’t matter. What matters is your tranquility. Your sense of ownership over the river. Your feelings of finally being the master/mistress of your domain. Granted, this kind of thing would require some preparation. Want to eat something? Gotta prepare that (or go to the conbini). Pack a few (hundred) heat pads on your shirt, get the down-feather coat you just put in the closet, thinking (falsely) that summer was finally coming, and get out there. Sit down on the grass, admire Mt Hiei in all its glory being bathed in the once-in-a-year pink, and revel in the fact that no one is as bad of a dude as you are!Get there from the Keihan Line, Demachiyanagi. There are plenty of unique stores around for shopping AFTER you have gotten your fill of the view. Like the legendary Demachi Futaba. And the best part? You get to the stores AS THEY OPEN, so there are hardly any lines. It’s a win win.…just make sure you can wake up at 4 AM…To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MYnJL-shopping_transportation_kyoto_shi_kyotoWed, 29 Mar 2023 16:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MYnJL-shopping_transportation_kyoto_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXm34-living_shopping_howto_osaka_shi_osakaAs we get into yet another wave of uncertainty for the umpteenth time, to stave off the feeling of helplessness and fear, new strategies in our daily lives, whether they work or not, are in order. Think about it. You are going through the motions of every day life. But there are pitfalls everywhere. And if you really think about it, without becoming excessively paranoid, the foils to our plans for the last two years has been other people. Not on purpose, I suppose, but because we are mostly fighting blindly, there are certain unknowns that need to be addressed somehow. And then it hit me. The quote from the definitely-not-outdated-in-the-modern-world sitcom Seinfeld, the fountain of good ideas that is George Costanza. Do you remember the episode where he felt like everything decision he made was the wrong one? And then when he started doing the opposite, things turned out great for him? Well, I decided to take that idea and apply it to my own life.“If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite, would have to be right.”You see, because we are dealing with human beings who are on the whole social creatures, we can start to understand the common behaviors. The way people move. The way people act. And THEN do as George Costanza did… and do the opposite!What I mean by that is, in my daily work life, I try to adjust what I do ever so slightly to scope out and try to improve my situation. But if I start thinking like the average human, with average wants and needs, I’ll inevitably get drawn into crowds, lines at the grocery store, crowded trains and worse.For this end, my tools are twofold.First I use the congestion radar from Yahoo. Using this as a guide, I can make sure that I don’t get into horrible crowds. https://map.yahoo.co.jp/congestionYou see those blue dots on the screen? Those are probably malls or shopping centers that people go to every day.But this is Japan! Land of conveniences. We are not forced to go to one place. With a little bit of planning and some luck, you can find a shop that sells exactly what you need in a place that definitely has less people. Needless to say, I will not be going to Takashimaya for Valentines chocolates. But maybe I can find some in a convenience store a bit out of the way, an hour walk away from my house.Secondly, when riding the train, there are certain seats (granted we haven’t fallen into the trap of entering a full train during peak commute time) is to choose the most uncomfortable seat. Right now, in winter, that seat is without a doubt the one next to the open window for ‘ventilation’. It’s cold, windy and perfect for airflow and lack of people… as long as you dress appropriately well.There are many more ways of getting what we need and want without going through the hassle of getting stuck in crowds. My suggestion is to take on the Costanza way of life and do the opposite for some of them. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a job at the New York Yankees.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXm34-living_shopping_howto_osaka_shi_osakaWed, 12 Jan 2022 12:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXm34-living_shopping_howto_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpORQ-livingIt's time again to start the everlasting discussion on how to decorate for this holiday season. Now, since Japan has the amazing superpower of being able to find the capitalistic advantage of any foreign holiday and maximize the profits to be had, you can bet there is not a shortage of ideas when it comes to decorating your living space. But as some of you might have noticed, apartments in Japan (especially in the cities) tend to be on the smaller side. So deciding on the type of decorations can result in discussions that are best started in late June at the latest to reach a firm conclusion before December 24th. Now it is said that limitations breeds inspiration, and this is also true for decorating for the holidays. I for one, have pretty bad dust allergies. Wiping shelves and counters always leaves me a sneezing mess. As a result of that, I tend to purchase decorations that are simple, have sleek surfaces that are easy to clean and don’t have any crevasses where dust and other undesirables may set up camp. (Un)luckily for me, Christmas decorations are full of complicated shapes like the famous pine tree, frilly, shiny strings of glitter, things made of felt (why?) and myriads of tiny objects, blinking lights and knickknacks. The amount of options will be the end of me.So, after years of development, hard work and dedication (and giving up) we decided this year to try wall stickers instead.You can get these at 100 yen stores such as Daiso or Seria (or whichever store you choose) and they are incredibly easy to use. Now, I have only lived in apartments with wallpaper that has that soft, white texture, so I don’t know much about other types of wall. Please stick responsibly. Much like ancient civilizations painting on cave walls, each piece of wall in our apartment has become a canvass on which we paint (read: stick) a different story.On some walls, we have a simple Christmas tree, and one of the tiny Santas on top trying to attach the star. Will he fall? Won’t he? That’s up to your imagination.On another wall, near the entrance for everyone to see, I have recreated the Last Supper, with Santa in the middle and reindeer acting as the twelve disciples. The variety of emotions in the characters that come with these stickers really allows for the creative juices to flow.Or if you are looking for something simpler, just a small village setting, the houses are different sizes, so you can simulate distance, like a 2D video game.The good thing about all this, aside from being hilarious, is how easy it is to stick to the wall, and after you are done, you can just peel it off again. If you are careful, it won’t leave any mark at all. Also, since it's smooth, it is very easy to wipe for cleaning and it won’t damage the wall either. And so what if you forget to take off the stickers for months and months. It's not like they are in the way or anything. You could even mix and match holidays if you please, get a bit of that Easter spice into the mix. The choice is yours. So, yeah. Stickers, man. Get them while they're …. sticky.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpORQ-livingWed, 25 Nov 2020 10:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpORQ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MnxZV-living_healthFeeling cooped up in your house? Getting that panic-y feeling? Walls closing in on you? Don’t know what to do next? Have you ever considered going out for a walk? For fun?So here’s the thing. We are living in a world that thrives on us being busy. Like all the time. If you are not doing something, you are wasting your time. And time is precious. They keep mentioning that over and over again. Time comes and goes and does not come again. It will never return. Your glory days are past and there is nothingness in your future, since you cannot see it. So we keep ourselves busy. Whenever we go outside, we always have a plan. Go here, do that, buy this, meet him, drink that etc. It’s a never ending cycle of plans, meetings and time scheduling. And then when we get home, we realize that we did not even enjoy ourselves as much as we expected. Sure, the things got done, but for what purpose other than doing them.Bearing all this in mind, I have started an experiment with myself to unravel the mental health issue that is plaguing humanity (read: me). I have started to go outside with no plan at all, except for walking. Just walking. I suppose you could argue that walking is a plan on its own, but shush!We are living in one of the most beautiful places in the world. People from all over come to Japan and marvel in its beauty. And I am not just talking about going for a hike in the mountains or spending a night in a 1000 year old onsen either. The city and the neighborhoods around your house are beautiful on their own. It’s safe to walk the streets, and you find some interesting side streets and nooks and crannies all over. … But you can only find them if you stop looking. Because if you are only thinking of getting from point A to point B, you will miss it. You will miss the cute little side street with the cozy looking house. You’ll miss the cat sitting on that wall over there, just minding its own business. You’ll miss the silence. Oh the silence that you only get if you go deep enough. Even in the big cities, there are still spots that are audibly different from the rest, even though you cannot explain it. So, try it out. Go out for a walk. With no goal in mind. Take a left where you always take a right. Walk through that path you don’t know the end to. I guarantee the walls that were creeping in on you before will shrink right before your eyes. And don’t bother taking pictures either. This is just for your mind. Leave only footprints.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MnxZV-living_healthTue, 03 Nov 2020 19:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MnxZV-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxLRZ-living_food_teaTeleworking means that I stay home most of the week. So to calm the nerves after a hard day’s work, I relax in the kitchen of all places and have created a sort of ritual for making tea for myself. You see, the guide to taking back control in your life is to make a list of things to do in order to create something that you like. For me, that is tea. And for the most part, before the chaos of the world sets down again, I find a sliver of peace which I intend to hold on for dear life!With that in mind, I have gotten to the habit of drinking some Kunitaro tea from Shizuoka. I got this one in Life Supermarket, but I am sure you can find it wherever.I have gotten the taste buds for the strong stuff so I look for the green package with the red label that says 味が濃い on it. I feel that the stronger the tea is, the better the aroma comes up, which is half of what I am looking for when I drink tea in the first place. And Kunitaro does not disappoint there. I start by measuring about a tablespoon of the stuff into the little green tea pot that I found in the cupboard. I am not sure if I am allowed to use it or if it’s appropriate to use in this situation, but I will not be stopped. It has a strainer on the inside, meaning that it’s the best vessel I have in my kitchen for this particular job. Next, I heat the water to about boiling. It depends how I do it, but since recently my electric kettle has burned out or something and I am afraid of using it and should probably throw it out, I am using a pot on the stove like some farmer. Which honestly is not that bad. I just means I have a harder time pouring into the tea pot. I use chopsticks to guide the water into the container. I have had more than one disastrous pours in my life. But that does not stop me from trying!After letting it stew for maybe two or three minutes, depending on how adventurous I am feeling, I pour myself the first cup of tea. And here comes the point of contention -- how often do you put the water back into the tea for a second or third (or more?) brew? I don’t mind reusing the same leaves for a few times. Sure, it starts to taste a bit tart or bitter, but that outweighs the laziness I feel every time I should make another pot.For taste, if you are not in for the fainter teas, this one is pretty good. And if you enjoy the simple aroma of green teas, you will have a hard time finding a better one. Or maybe I just have associated it with calm feelings. Regardless, it comes with high praise. This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxLRZ-living_food_teaFri, 30 Oct 2020 13:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxLRZ-living_food_teahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gbkdo-living_education_workSo with a lot of changes going on in society, it’s time for looking at oneself and deciding what the next steps you want to take in your work life. At least, that is what I have been doing while being bored out of my gourd. The extra time has given me a chance to reflect on things that I feel might be important in the future and how I may improve myself and my situation. I have taken to finding things that I can improve, cut them down to small pieces and having goals for each ones that I can easily finish in a given day or week. That way, I get the endorphins rolling in my brain and it motivates me to keep going. I work in education. I am an ALT. And as such, I enjoy a freedom that not many people in education have. Sure I don’t make as much money, but I can explore different tactics and teaching methods without having to do lots of the prep work that normal teachers have to do. Teachers come to me, saying things like “hey, we want to practice present continuous next week. Can you prepare something like that” and anything I prepare is okay. So I have been learning how to make educational tools and games on the PC for my school. Programming has not been my strong suit but now, with more free time and everything changing, I have been looking at tutorials and getting over my fear of starting a thing. As a result, I have now made three pretty cool mini-projects that I can easily test with my students. And let me tell you the reactions have been great. It’s almost like I have reinvented the wheel. All because of a few lines of C# code and a bunch of online Youtube videos. I highly recommend that if you work in education that you look into making your own games or programs to help with your classes. It’s a lot of work at first, but you will look like a wizard in the long run. Another thing that I have been doing recently, since I work with children from 1st to 9th grade, is that I have been practicing Japanese sign language. I have never taught anyone with hearing problems, and I have no idea if I will ever use it, but knowing how to form simple words like “are you okay” and “thank you” with my hands is both interesting and MAY (or may not) impress someone in the future. If I can impress just one person or connect with just one student, it’ll all be worth it! Who knows. Also, it's really fun and rewarding to learn. I think everyone should try it out.I am on a hunt for tiny self-improvements. These two examples are but the beginning. They are a light investment for my job, but the possible return makes it all worth it.What about you? What small things have you started doing that may or may not make your work life better?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gbkdo-living_education_workWed, 30 Sep 2020 18:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gbkdo-living_education_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/M96Q8-living_healthSo 2020 is doing a number on the world at the moment. People are unsure about anything and keeping the news on 24/7 has become the norm. This is terrible for mental health.Then I realized I don’t actually have to completely stay home and slowly go insane with cabin fever. I decided to use my time to increase my overall happiness and body health. After all, if my body and mind aren’t healthy, then my immune system suffers and that is the main thing we are trying to protect, right?First and foremost, staying away from other people is a given. Even though I have seen almost no difference in the overall number of people around, despite the drop in tourists. People are outside, doing activities, especially children who have nothing to do since schools closed. So that is a no-no for me. You know what I realized though? During rainy days, the city becomes a ghost town. Absolutely no one goes outside unless they absolutely have to. Which means, it’s the perfect time for me to go out and have a quiet walk in the rain. No people, the calming sound of rain hitting my umbrella, the fresh air. After an hour walk, I felt like a new person! I highly recommend it. Next rainy day, grab the chance!The second thing I have been doing to help my mental health is doing cleaning. I already have a bunch of stuff ready to go to the second hand stores for selling. I am getting rid of all my suitcases (they take up so much space!) and I made a conscious effort to get rid of most of the leftover receipts and other paperwork I have no use for. I even bought a shredder a few months ago, and it has been worth the money! I feel so much better after an hour or two of cleaning the apartment. And once I am out and about again, I will fill it up with lots of new stuff.The third thing I have started doing when I am cooped up at home is cook more. I have been experimenting with cooking simple meals that don’t require three hundred pots and pans to be cleaned every time. My favorite so far is my partner’s spaghetti carbonara she made in the microwave. It is amazing. So what you can take from this is try to learn new things, make new brain connections and maybe your overall happiness will increase.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/M96Q8-living_healthMon, 28 Sep 2020 16:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/M96Q8-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7R7Q-food_autumnfood2020Alright. It’s autumn, whether we like it or not. Personally, autumn doesn’t come until the average temperature goes down to about 12 degrees Celsius. But that’s just me.Japan, as some of you have noticed, prides itself on having four distinct seasons. Each having characteristics that are completely unique and completely ignore the fact that it’s a spectrum that changes from day to day and really depends on where you are in the country. You could argue that a country that has so many trees and mountains has an automatic seasonal changing mechanism in the leaves (not to mention the different seasonal allergies that come with it), but I am here to suggest that even before the leaves change, there is another, more distinct way of knowing that autumn has finally arrived. Smoked food!You see, just as Led Zeppelin famously yelled; I come from the land of the ice and snow. And as such, winters are especially harsh. And in history, when you have all summer to make food, autumn comes in where you need to prepare for said wintery bleakness. Now, in the modern world, Japan included, products using smoking, not as a way of preservation, but as a flavor component, means that I don´t get that special melancholic feeling when the days get shorter and shorter.Pretz is good enough to satisfy my autumnal smoky craving. I don’t know about you purists out there, but I will take what I can get. If I can’t get a decently priced piece of bacon somewhere close by, I’ll settle with a so-so flavored bacon snack. And I love it! Or at least the part of my brain that cares about bacon and bacon accessories does. And to top it all off, the package has a little hole that you can make so that you can keep the bag in an upright position while you gorge yourself in salty, bacony goodness. Then there is of course, smoked cheese. As a preservation method, cheese has gone a full circle from gone-off milk and somehow reached the other end, having a longer lasting shelf life altogether. We all know this, but then comes genius of adding the smokey flavors to cheese which elevates the entire circle to a level only dreamed of my humanity past.These cheese bits (individually wrapped, whether you like it or not) from Natori, are smoked with apple infused wood to give a heavenly flavor. And the smallness of each individual cheese pebble, makes it easy to fashion into something you can serve at parties, like putting a toothpick through it and a grape or something. Personally, I like removing like five or ten of them from the plastic and going to town on these bad boys. Oh yeah!So if you are wondering why, when the summer heat dissipates and the leaves change from that lively green to all those spectrums that people write poems about, that you feel a hole in your heart and nothing makes you happy, try filling that hole with smoked snacks like I do. It may not work, but hey, when have you ever said no to bacon?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7R7Q-food_autumnfood2020Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7R7Q-food_autumnfood2020https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MvjO9-living_healthWe’re still stuck with this recent lifestyle. And it is not going away for a while. Health has been on everybody’s mind for a while now and is only going to get more intense. Thinking on how to increase our own health and decreasing the amount of dirt, bacteria and of course viruses in the air and on the things we touch every day is a challenge and a half.In my household, we have set up a pretty solid routine (I say solid, but the entire proof we have is that we haven’t gotten sick yet ((knock on wood))). It is time consuming and often leads to clashes, but we’d rather deal with that than the fallout of the alternative. The first rule: Everything needs to be sprayed. We have a veritable smorgasbord of sprays, ranging from normal alcohol spray to Febreeze in many colors and aromas. Clothes get sprayed with the Febreeze while all packages and any non-absorbent items get the alcohol. Then everything that can be wiped down, gets wiped down. This happens either in the genkan entrance or in the hallway on the outside of our apartment. The second rule states that the washing machine has been promoted (or demoted) to inside clothes only. This means underwear, towels and room wear gets cleaned inside the apartment. Sweaters, pants and other “outside” clothes are put through the coin laundry, since we don’t have a working dryer, it feels like it takes better care of killing whatever things get stuck on our clothes.Third and probably not final rule: Wear masks inside and outside of the home. Change masks whenever we go inside. This can mean changing masks three or four times a day. Luckily the mask famine of 2020 is almost over and we can freely buy masks without having to fight the local old lady. It feels like we are keeping one foot in the entrance of Crazytown, but there are benefits to be found in the mountain of negativity that is This Year. And we must find it. Here’s one from me. At least the allergies of the people in my apartment have severely decreased. Since wearing masks has become the norm, the amount of small particles that are entering through our faces are much less. Resulting in less sneezing and less feeling like our own bodies are attacking us. As much as I am hoping things could go back to normal, I have decided to embrace the new change and go fully into this hypochondriac lifestyle. Who knows, maybe I will never get sick again.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MvjO9-living_healthMon, 14 Sep 2020 11:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MvjO9-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2l6n-living_transportation_workWith the recent virus scare going around the world, the workplace atmosphere has changed I feel. I mean, I work in a school, so the amount of people walking around makes for a pretty unsanitary environment if you ask me. I might be horribly wrong, but next to hospitals and other medical institutions, being in a school (student, teacher etc.) gives you one of the highest chances of catching some sort of illness. I mean there’s people shaking hands, pushing each other, sharing pens, kancho, eating together. It’s a mess.Also, with the news and other background sounds, it’s hard not to hear many tips and tricks of how to avoid getting sick. Some are debatable while others are pretty self-explanatory. Here are some of the ways I have changed my routine and the reactions I have gotten at work.Masks: I started wearing masks every day now. I can’t escape it. I have a big face, so that requires a big mask. Now that masks are starting to re-enter the market, I don’t have to feel bad about using three or four masks a day. Not that I am always able to buy the best ones to fit my big face, but it’s better than nothing, right? At least my coworkers are happy?Hand wash after every class: Even though I didn’t give anyone any high fives. Just as a general rule. I might be overdoing it, but at least I feel clean. And of course some non-scented hand cream to go afterwards so my hands don’t dry out completely from the soap. I’ve been going to work a little bit earlier than usual. Maybe half an hour or so. And let me tell you the difference is amazing. There are about 40-50% less people on the train compared to my normal time. And less people equals less chance of getting sick. Prepare my own bento: So for the past year or so, I have been eating breakfast at Sukiya or Yoshinoya before going to work. They offer pretty good breakfast deals with soup, rice and some potato salad or something. For 250 yen (for Sukiya) I cannot resist. Except recently I was witness to something horrible. The worker, who was not even wearing a mask, had a sneeze attack right while she was making the salads in the kitchen. I saw it, she saw me see it, and did nothing! … yeah, I am not going back there again soon.It’s a bit hard to believe that this is going to be the new normal. I am seriously considering getting a job where I can telework every day, just to avoid all this unnecessary stress. But until then, these rules are here to stay.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2l6n-living_transportation_workTue, 01 Sep 2020 09:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2l6n-living_transportation_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MPPVV-living_osaki_shi_miyagiIt’s a brave new world out there. I need not explain what has changed, but the world has felt a big shift in what is considered normal in the past few months. Changes in how we see others, how we look at ourselves and how our behavior changes from day to day. Maybe someone out there has only had to do minimal changes to how they go about their lives, but not me. Everything has changed. Including me. Here are some examples on the new rules and regulations that my partner and I have come up for ourselves to minimize any and all risks that have risen up, be they reasonable or not. Firstly, getting things online if we can. Going to the store ( going outside in the first place) and being in close proximity with other people is not a priority right now. For us, we try to avoid any unnecessary closeness with other humans. Luckily we live in the digital age where at the press of a button we can get most things we need for the house delivered to our doorstep! Some food, toiletries, Strong Zero, the list goes on! Even so, before the items enter the apartment, some protocol must be followed. Firstly, the boxes need to be sprayed with alcohol and wiped with disposable wipes. Then they can enter the “genkan” for opening. After that, every single item is cleaned and wiped, and after all that they may be given entrance to the kitchen where they will be consumed at a later date (or hour). The second one, having become common everywhere, but still deserves a mention is wearing a mask everywhere! Even inside the house. (I dare not infect the people I live with.) And there are so many masks to choose from. Especially since the mask shortage of early 2020 happened, I have been using any mask that I can get my hands on. This includes those masks with the wet pad in them that you should microwave for some reason. This has relaxed as the months go on and normal masks have become available recently. Which is good, because I am not going to stop wearing masks for a few months still. This might become the new normal for me. Who knows. Even though they fog up my glasses, my face gets moist and gross, I think I am willing to sacrifice some comfort for a chance to not get sick.Lastly, my work has been altered. We received those face shields in my schools to wear in front of the children. This in addition to the masks I mentioned earlier makes working a nightmare to say the least. Summer is upon us, and with the heat, the masks and now a giant clear plastic right in front of your face while you walk around and try to explain action verbs is just too much to handle. This one I really hope will go away soon, but that depends on the government and the boards of education I guess.I know I will look back at this in five or ten years and laugh that I may have overreacted a bit. I may or may not be laughing right now. But the point still stands that I would rather do something that might seem silly than possibly maybe get sick or even worse make someone else sick.Let’s try our best to work through this.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MPPVV-living_osaki_shi_miyagiThu, 18 Jun 2020 10:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MPPVV-living_osaki_shi_miyagihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MAqK9-living_kyoto_shi_kyotoIt’s finally happening. The earth is moving again (albeit more carefully) and life as we knew it is going back to a semi- normal state.Suffering has been had by all. Some more than others. I have been lucky to have not contracted any strange viruses or bacteria during this strange time, despite having commuted between two prefectures on a fairly busy commuter path. I did get the teleworking option for about a month and am very grateful for the time I got to spend with my partner and every time I went out after that, I just felt dirty to breathe the outside air. It’s a strange feeling that hopefully will go away soon.There is plenty to look forward to in the future, as we slowly return to the daily slog of pre- 2020 and here are some of the things I am mostly reclaiming with my normal life.First and foremost is there relaxation of rules in my own house. Yes, I am a bit of a clean freak. So is my partner. Together we form a super team of different neurosis that rival even the worst hypochondriac! And with the virus and everything going on, we have set up strict rules on how to enter the house. Specifically if you buy something, it must be wiped with alcohol towels. Every single thing! And of course "shuushuu" your hands and if possible change clothes right in the hallway and go straight to the shower. Now, this is definitely overkill, but when has that stopped anyone! And the fallacy that it means we are not sick is very clear to me (and if we did get sick, that would just mean we didn’t do enough!).Secondly I am looking forward to be able to walk the streets and take walks around the neighborhood at a reasonable hour. We have committed ourselves to get out every once in a while, and while that’s great, we try to go when other people are not around. And that means leaving the house at sunrise around 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning. It is lovely, I highly recommend it. It’s quiet, a bit chilly since the sun has not been up in a while, the bugs are asleep and you have the whole park to yourself (save from a couple of people just as crazy as yourself). Although, I am going to miss the tranquility of being alone outside, it will be nice to be able to sleep past 6:00.Lastly but not least importantly, going to restaurants. We have not eaten outside since February. That means no fast food, no bowls of meat, and no sushi. My body is ready to receive the majesty that is 100 yen sushi in Kurashushi. All those little dishes flying past you, enticing and making your mouth water. I did not realize how much I missed it until recently when I saw a commercial on TV. I had to shut the TV off so that I wouldn’t get tempted to go right at that instant.Of course, now things are slowing down, and people are coming back from their caves, the streets are filling up again, so we are likely to do all the good things we did when the virus didn’t exist. Whatever you decide to do, be careful. It’s a changed world out there and we all need to take care of each other. Enjoy.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MAqK9-living_kyoto_shi_kyotoTue, 16 Jun 2020 10:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MAqK9-living_kyoto_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GR1R8-living_food_shopping_tea_osaka_shi_osakaIt's hard to keep entertained when cooped up in the house. You start thinking of strange new connections and make up games to keep yourself occupied. And as I am fast on my way to become the tea connoisseur of Japan, I have decided to compare two Shizuoka teas, even though they are not remotely similar. Of course I am ordering online instead of going to the store in person and risking life and limb getting products and doing my own research. And with being safely inside my own house, there comes a risk of making mistakes that (probably ) would not happen otherwise.What happened is I ordered the wrong tea, focusing on the Shizuoka part and not the fact that it clearly says Oolong tea on the box! Oh well, Oolong is pretty good for calming stomachs when having eaten too much fatty foods (not that we’ve been going to restaurants recently or anything…). So I thought to myself. All tea is essentially the same, right? (wrong!) So what if I actually do a taste comparison? Would that help the day go faster? Probably not, but at least I get to consume something delicious on the way. So I started with the Oolong tea because it was the closest to my hand at the moment. In retrospect I should have read the bag before buying because it clearly says Oolong tea in big letters. But I digress…The instructions on the back of the bag were pretty straightforward. Put the teabag in a teapot, put hot water, wait for one and a half to two minutes, and then serve in a cup. Easy peasy.I have no tea pot. I prefer doing things the way of the lazy person. Put thing in container. Heat container. Consume. And so, throwing caution to the wind, I put the tea bag straight into the cup and heated the water in the microwave. I know, I know. Blasphemy in action.It tasted pretty good actually. Fresh taste and it gave me a good boost. A perfect combination with my morning toast and eggs. After that, during lunch, I decided to heat up the green tea I finally got after carefully looking over the internet for the correct one. This one had better instructions. More to my liking. Just put the tea bag in the cup and let it seep for a few moments. No teapots, no expectation that I have to share my tea!It was very aromatic (if that makes sense) and I had some chocolate with it to balance the slight bitterness that came with it. Very delicious. I will definitely get this one again.Regardless, I should probably invest some time in preparing both teas in the way they were supposed to be made. And I will, as soon as I dare step outside my house. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my giant Mickey Mouse mug full of deliciousness. This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GR1R8-living_food_shopping_tea_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 11 Jun 2020 18:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GR1R8-living_food_shopping_tea_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXQq4-living_food_osaka_shi_osakaSo I like food. I doubly like Japanese food. It just speaks to me on a spiritual level. But I feel good food is always better when someone else makes it. It might be because I have been lazy to learn even the simplest cooking skill, but who knows. And here comes the genius that is Daiso. They do make the best stuff, don´t they? I mean, all the little, simple things that are made easier with a little 100 yen tool are too many to count. And this is exactly what has happened with the recent don’t-go-outside-unless-you-need-to mentality that has grasped (all other nations except) Japan. And so I decided to lazily upgrade my cooking repertoire a bit.I love “chawamushi”. The egg-pudding-soup-thing that you see in restaurants. It is somewhat of a comfort food for me, especially in the coldness of winter. But I thought that making it would be a chore and a half. I was wrong! It´s ridiculously easy thanks to this thing I bought for (you guessed it) 100 yen.It´s a little cup with a strainer and a lid. Nothing too fancy. And the basic recipe is even simpler. I couldn’t believe it. Egg (1)Water (100ml)Dashi powder (1tsp)And that’s it. Now the making-it part. Even simpler. Just take a bowl, put the egg in, the dashi and water. Mix with a fork or some chopsticks.*Warning. My very Japanese partner warned me that using chopsticks of different lengths may or may not be somewhat connected to funerals in a similar way that sticking chopsticks into your rice is rude. So don’t be like me and find equal length chopsticks, please.Anyway, just mix the ingredients (I like to mix until the surface is bubbly) and try to cut the egg white because it likes to clump. Then slowly pour the mixture into the container through the strainer. Of course some of the white will stay in the strainer, so (when no one is looking, and after thoroughly washing my hands ) I push the whites through with my finger. Then in the microwave it goes. I start with 490w for 2 minutes. I let that cool a bit and put it one more time for another 2 minutes. Of course the consistency is all up to the individual, I like mine a bit fluffy and soft. And those 4 minutes do that for me.Of course you can add some other stuff to this, like shrimp or mushrooms. But I am a purist. I like my veggies on the side. Bone Apple Tea!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXQq4-living_food_osaka_shi_osakaWed, 25 Mar 2020 19:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXQq4-living_food_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wrV8e-livingWhat to do at home when you are half-quarantined and are trying not to go outside as much as possible. Let´s try not to go outside. Let’s stay inside and enjoy being with people who share your germs every day. Family.Events are cancelled and unnecessary travel is not advised. Let’s enjoy that safe space you have carved yourself and filled with stuff you like. Here’s what I have been doing to make sure I don´t get cabin fever during the times I stay home. Backlog of games:You know what I enjoy doing when I go out? Going to BookOff and other second hand stores and find some cheap games or consoles. Then I have no time to actually play them because life happens. Well, life just got put on hold. I have the old Wii, WiiU, Playstation 3 all ready with a nice catalogue of games that I haven’t even taken out of the plastic yet. I think I will start with Mario Galaxy and some co-op games with my partner. Get some family time in! …I am smart enough to stay away from Mario Kart though. I think our relationship still hasn’t recovered from the last time…Spring cleaning:With all the extra laundry that we are doing, I might as well start putting in some of my summer clothes, just to get ahead of the weather. When I stop feeling the air on my skin is the time when I get to wear something short sleeved. Other than that, I have some boxes that need to be recycled and way too many old suitcases that I could try to get rid of in a recycle store (right after the world starts moving again). The feeling of accomplishment you share with your partner (after the hours of miscommunication and irritation) will be worth it!Watching Japanese TV:Did you know that Amazon Prime Video has a lot of Doraemon and Kamen Rider in their library? I did not. Turns out when you actually start having conversations with your life partner, you can find out their recommendations on things. Apparently she is a fan of Kamen Rider. I did not know anything about the Masked Rider before, except in the background noise of Japan’s zeitgeist. So when we put on one movie from the 70s, I was expecting some low-budget, cheesy movie with bad acting and worse writing. And it was. But it was the BEST movie I have seen in a long time. Somehow, they managed to tap into my eight-year-old-self and do all the things that would happen when making up your own story. The tiger monster with scissor hands. The turtle monster with a bomb inside who will destroy Tokyo. A heroic sacrifice! All those things and more. Just that one movie made me a Kamen Rider fan forever!So I guess this pandemic is actually making families a bit closer. For better or worse.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wrV8e-livingSat, 21 Mar 2020 11:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wrV8e-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GO9P8-living_education_work_osaka_shi_osakaThe world is in a unique position. No one is sure what to do with themselves and it’s driving people insane. At least it is for me. We have people being forced to take time off work. Others have one of those strange bosses who actually think ahead and allow for work at home. Which means I could technically use the train seats as a bed!Then we have the poor English teachers, whose positions vary from basic slavery to the top of the tower. And for people who stay somewhere in the lower middle, like I foolishly believe I reside, we somehow slipped through the cracks in the system and life keeps on going … sans classes. So this is the story all about how I got two weeks of coming to work on full pay, hanging in the teacher’s office and no one knowing or caring what I do. Story of my life really. .I remember a few years ago, when the schools closed due to a typhoon and we were sent to the Board of Education’s office for a few days. I spent whole days playing Stardew Valley. What glorious days those were. However, no productivity happened (excluding the beautiful farm I made). And soon guilt seeped in. And I had to promise myself I wouldn’t do that again.So this time, I have made myself a rigorous schedule which I have been following and feeling good about myself. Luckily I have very limited internet connection in the teacher's office, so I don't get distracted.Learn Japanese: Obviously learn the language. That's like… the least you can do. Do some kanji practices or listening. You can even practice your speaking by having some conversations with your (definitely bored) coworkers. I bought some kanji drill books in Daiso a few months ago and have been plowing through them. It’s a little bit embarrassing, since they are actually marketed towards first graders, but you gotta start somewhere, right?Make new teaching plans:Let’s be honest. Planning is boring. That’s a problem for future KasaJizo. However, those few times when I am bored enough to actually plan some of my classes in advance, it makes the future me so incredibly happy. I think I have gotten a semester of extra class material ready on my SD card for those times when everything fails and I just don’t feel like teaching the textbook. Learn a new skill:You want to get out of teaching? You got to have skillz, yo! Something marketable. Something useful. Something impressive! Or you can do like me and choose programming. I have no idea what I am going to do with this skill, but I am slowly learning C# for making programs and games and it is actually pretty fun. Plus, since I started, my partner has said I have been a lot more logical in my thinking and problem solving around the house. I don’t know how to feel about that, but I take it as a win. It's important to use the time you have for important stuff. For some it's relaxing, and for others it's self-improvement. Whatever you choose, remember I still recommend Stardew Valley.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GO9P8-living_education_work_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 10 Mar 2020 15:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GO9P8-living_education_work_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zVqp2-living_food_healthI am finally gaining weight!And the reason I’m writing this now? My partner (out of the blue) said I look beautiful. Oh yeah! I am riding this high for the rest of the week!So, here’s the deal. I am one of those perpetually skinny people. I can eat as much as the next person, but I just haven’t gained weight for some reason.Of course, I don’t really exercise either or make any effort in cultivating mass. I just have always been around 70kg and assumed I would always have that half-malnourished look for the rest of my life. I also work in the Japanese school system. Mainly elementary and junior high schools. So my days are filled with activities and walking around. I don’t sit around for more than a few hours a day. I think that counts as exercise?My lunch times have consisted of sandwiches and the occasional onigiri. I like to have the illusion of choice even though I always choose the same three things I find on the shelf. But one day, I was eating my lunch in peace when I noticed one of the main school teachers just going to town on his school lunch. I mean he was scarfing it down like a maniac. I asked him if it was good, and he, (barely lifting his face from the meal) nodded in agreement. After some sleuthing, I discovered that he is one of those people who do “intermediate fasting” where they don’t eat much for a few days of the week, but when they get to eat, they eat a lot? (this is as foreign a concept to me as the Japanese language).I saw the portion he was eating and it was a lot! Do teachers really eat this much?? Apparently. And it cost him only around 300yen? Oh man, I should get into this deal!And the very next day, I was at work again, about to go to the convenience store for my dear ham sandwich when I got stopped by that same teacher. Apparently, another teacher called in sick and they had an extra lunch that no one wanted. He was on a “fasting” day so he wouldn’t eat it. So would I take it? Of course! It’s curry day! And that’s how they get you. The first one is always free! And they always gave me an extra serving of rice and whatever was for lunch that day. And as an extra bonus, the showcase in the hallway (so the students know how the food looks like I guess?) is usually split between me and the tall teacher and the wide teacher. But back to me. It’s only been like two months and I have gained a few more kg past my high score. And I actually feel a bit more energetic than before. But that might be a placebo effect. So here’s the trick. The main point. Work in a school that thinks you should eat twice or three times the amount that “normal” people eat. And only pay 300 yen for each meal. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zVqp2-living_food_healthThu, 20 Feb 2020 10:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zVqp2-living_food_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z8rAa-food_tea_osaka_shi_osakaSo I went to a hotel recently. A fairly newly built hotel in the heart of Umeda, here in Osaka, called The Respire Hotel just on the side of Yodobashi Camera. It was a great experience. The room was clean and the view was excellent.Now, I have heard that people in Osaka are a certain kind of hotel goer, the kind that appreciates, not only the hotel room itself, the views and facilities, but also the amenities (i.e. the stuff you get for free!). I myself am not an Osaka native but when I see #freestuff I tend to jump at the chance to grab as much as I can.And so the hunt began, or so I thought. This hotel is fairly new, and surprisingly cheap (I got a simple twin-bed room on the 32nd floor with a breakfast buffet for only 15,000 yen). But the amenities were few, only the simple stuff like a small bottle of shampoo, conditioner and body soap, toothbrushes and shavers etc. What bothered me the most was the room only came with two bottles of water which were non-renewable. That is , they did not bring any more. I asked…But one more surprise waited in the sidelines to strike the unsuspected! The capsule coffee maker in the corner. The temptation of a caffeine addiction is strong with this one. I am a recovering two-cups-a-day kind of guy, so seeing a beautiful (and did I mention ..new?) coffee maker right in front of me was almost too tempting to ignore. That is, until I saw the other option. Green tea from Shizuoka. In a capsule. That's a first for me. So I popped one of those bad-boys in the machine and it went cracking up one majorly delicious Shizuoka-style tea. And let me tell ya. Sitting on the windowsill on the 32nd floor in the middle of Umeda, seeing the tiny people going about their tiny lives, and me, drinking my tea in peace, really makes me grateful that I am not walking outside in that horrible cold wind. The Shizuoka tea was one of the best ones I have had so far. It was mild and not too bitter at all. I think it had something to do with the fact that it came in a capsule that made it good. I tend to over-brew my teas, so I welcome the automation. Plus the capsule itself was made out of paper, so I didn't feel bad about throwing it in the burnable trash.Anyway, that's how I stopped drinking coffee.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z8rAa-food_tea_osaka_shi_osakaWed, 12 Feb 2020 10:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z8rAa-food_tea_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Mx1gy-living_food_hirakata_shi_osakaThe cooling weather and changing of leaves does something to people. There is a change in the air. And this change sparks self-reflection and being expats that means homesickness. We all get homesick every once in a while. It’s natural when living far away from ones country to yearn for the old pastures, regardless of grass quality.For some of us, going home is easy. We just hop on the nearest convenient transportation, take a few hour ride and we’re there.Others, myself included, have it a bit harder. I come from a country which prides itself on quality over quantity. Especially when it comes to airports. And it shows that by only having a single international airport. Just one… This, you may have guessed, makes it a bit more difficult to get back home. Not impossible. But juuuust tedious enough for me to look elsewhere to scratch that itch. That little piece of home that refuses to be quiet and eat natto. Now, I have scoured the country for all sorts of things that remind me of home. Scenery that looks like it came straight from Game of Thrones, foods that have been questionably fermented and liquorice by the ton.For all those things, at most I have gotten around 50-60 percent success. The view from the mountains are a little bit too green for my tastes, the IKEA meatballs just a little bit too round or the meat just not salty enough. I think I have found it. Something that’s been happening every year since days immemorial. I have ignored it, it has not appealed to me at all. But today I finally tried it out and was pleasantly surprised.I speak, of course, of Oktoberfest in Hirakata! What's more autumnal than Oktoberfest!Being from a Germanic country, while not actually German, this may sound like aselbstverständlich thing. I mean, of course you’ll find similar foods in this place!Two things that have always made me think twice about going there. First, price. This thing’s expensive! I mean sure, there are good pieces of food around there, but for the same price I could feed three or four people with some low-quality cuts from the supermarket. Second, the infrequency of the event. The fact that Oktoberfest (even though it ‘s September right now, guys!) only happens once a year, makes me think if I got hooked on the stuff, I would be in serious trouble for the rest of the year. It could bring back some childhood memories and I would be forced to go back home the next day just to get my salty pork fix!I exaggerate of course, but these irrational thoughts are in the back of my mind. Except the price. Expensive stuff is expensive.But something about today made me. I had a need. A need for salted meat. Maybe the advertisements in the train finally got through to me. Who knows. So I came to Hirakata-shi station and went straight to the German flag I spotted next to the T-site building. You can’t miss it. There were booths selling lots and lots of delicious Germanic foods and beer. All at an exorbitant price. Seriously, you don’t need to spend 1400 yen on a single glass of beer. Anyway, before I went there, I had my heart set on Eisbein, some salted ham hock. It tasted pretty good. Of course not exactly like home, but close enough. One thing of note, when I got there, looking like the tourist I am, I was approached by a guy with a lazy eye. We spoke of many things in Japanese and English, mostly the Olympics and who I am going to root for since I am living in Japan and so on.Now, he did not have his own food, so I assumed he had eaten already. We kept talking while I ordered and the lady in the booth gave me two forks, since we were talking. I felt a bit obligated to share my food with him, since we were talking. So I did. Now, the portion of food that I received, combined with my skinny self, meant that I actually felt okay sharing my food. It wasn’t like I was giving away my last donut or anything, and honestly, I felt I wouldn’t have been able to finish it by myself. And since we were having a pleasant conversation, it felt natural to eat together.However, I can’t help but think this guy is poaching unsuspecting people, either for food (which, again, is way expensive, if delicious) or beer. When I had said goodbye to him, I turned a corner, and he was in deep conversation with someone else like five seconds later. Despite having had a much-needed conversation with another living human, I still felt a bit used…So if you go there and get approached by a guy with a lazy eye, just … be careful. If, like me, you have no qualms about sharing, then go right ahead. But don’t feel pushed to do something you don’t want.All in all, despite being a small place, the food was solid, I felt satisfied and that’s all that matters. Now to wait for next autumn. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Mx1gy-living_food_hirakata_shi_osakaTue, 17 Sep 2019 10:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Mx1gy-living_food_hirakata_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2oYV-food_tea_osaka_shi_osakaI have a bone to pick with city planners in Osaka. I am sure these problems exist in other cities, but I find this notable enough to rant about.Now I am slowly becoming a tea person. It all started when I was incentivized to write about tea, despite having absolutely no experience with the substance or its consumption.What I like most about tea in Japan is that it offers up an excuse to relax. And I’m not talking about the physical act of … not doing anything physical.I mean the combination of mental and physical attributes that intermingle when you sit down in a quiet room with a cup of relaxing hot (or cold) beverage and let your mind explore its own nooks and crannies. This is an act that many of us (myself included) often neglect when we go about our daily lives. Just sitting down for five minutes, without looking at Reddit or Youtube, and just …be.So when I found out that there is a Shizuoka Tea shop in my vicinity, I got excited. I took off after work, Google Maps in hand and went on an adventure.And that’s where my beef with Osaka City planners came to be.The shop in question is called Koshun-en and is located on National Road 1, one of the busiest streets in Japan (I assume from the name) in between Sekime and Gamo 4 stations.In between stations, on a busy street.It’s a long and boring walk with only gray and dull buildings coupled with enjoying the Doppler Effect of passing ambulances. It’s the perfect soup of uncomfortable sounds and sights that would put me off my tea (The nerve of some people!)Anyway, I got myself there eventually, the place pretty easy to spot with its friendly signs and store window being a clear contrast to the gray and gloomy outside. The front was filled with the usual decorations for the season as well as the stereotypical overweight Ebisu statue (I love that guy! He’s so content with life). The menu looked very appealing with prices somewhat reasonable and a number of cakes and sweets to go with your tea. Definitely a good start.I went in there with the intention of sitting down and having a cup of tea. Unfortunately, the small size of the store meant that there were no seats available for me at the time (and I had no patience to wait. Shame on me). So instead I had a look around the shop. The friendly staff showed me some nice tea brands from Shizuoka as well as give me a sample to drink. All in all, it was a great experience. I bought a small bag of the nicest tasting tea and went on my way.Despite its location, the store managed to charm me and I fully intend to go there again.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2oYV-food_tea_osaka_shi_osakaMon, 17 Jun 2019 10:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2oYV-food_tea_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2X2n-living_transportation_badexperiences_osakaI am now officially a victim of abuse. It may not be big abuse. It may not matter in the long run. Compared to other levels of abuse around the world, this one probably ranks a 1 or 2 on the “scale”, depending on how squeamish you are. But it's still abuse. And should be taken somewhat seriously. (I apologize to anyone who takes offence from the wording of this article)I got …futuristically flashed…. on the train.A bit of etymology: a d*ck pic (or Phallus-photography) occurs when a member of society (usually male) records on a device an image of their genitals and sends them to an unsuspecting recipient. The motivation for this action is unclear at this moment. A feeling of power, since the person receiving said image has no control over whether or not to see it, giving the sender a strategic advantage. It is also possible to view this action as a sort of “prank” and the reaction of the recipient (usually a mixture of disgust and surprise) is seen in the eyes of the sender as success. The famous Japanese train pervert image comes to mind. The groping and flashing and whatnot. People taking advantage of the cramped conditions in the average Japanese subway car.Whatever the reason for sending may be, it is clear that there are two people involved. The sender, who willingly and purposefully sends the image, and the recipient who unwillingly receives the image. An abuser and an abusee.I was riding the subway in South Osaka on a normal Tuesday afternoon. It was the Yotsubashi line in broad daylight (at least outside). I had about three stops left until I had to get out of the train, so I was conflicted whether or not I should take a seat or not. I decided to stand. This, as it turns out, was a good idea. I was browsing a website on my phone when suddenly it appeared. In all its “glory”. It filled up my screen, the image and two buttons on the bottom, asking me to accept or decline. That's it. That's what happened. This was an Airdrop! From someone on the train! Someone nearby did this.(That’s just a thumbs up!)I want to believe my face looked unphased throughout this entire ordeal, but I've been told by many people that I have an extremely obvious face. I only had a few seconds to react. I quickly pressed the “decline” button and was brought back to my chosen “reality” on my phone. I closed everything, went into the settings page on my phone and found that my airdrop settings were set on “accept from anyone”. I disabled it so fast I think I saw smoke coming out of my screen.I remember seeing a news article about this sort of thing a few months ago, but didn't believe it was that common. In fact, I refused to believe it could ever happen to me. But it did. And I am stuck with the image branded in my head forever. The thing I took from this experience is how vulnerable I felt afterwards. Some person took the time to do this act. For whatever reason, they take pleasure of sending people these pictures. The infamous “chikan” have come into the digital age and are abusing men and women equally!Now, I am an adult. I can cope. But think of how many people have phones. How many young people are allowed to have iPhones. Children even!Who checks their airdrop settings? I didn't And I paid for it with my innocence. We all have to share our personal space on the train in Japan. It's cramped, often smelly and bumpy. Out of the hundred million people here, there are all kinds of personalities. Some of whom don't have your best interests in mind. We often don't know who they are until it's too late.This is certainly not just a “Japan thing”, but since many of us spend an absurd amount of time on trains in Japan, the risk of these things happening go up substantially.So do yourself a favor. Check out your phone settings. Disable your airdrop. You should be safe until those “chikan” find another way of exposing themselves.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2X2n-living_transportation_badexperiences_osakaThu, 07 Mar 2019 10:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2X2n-living_transportation_badexperiences_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zVRQJ-living_kyoto_shi_kyoto_osaka_shi_osaka2018 was a bust. I didn’t win the lottery, my copy of “How to Adult” is still in the mail and my bank account still hasn't grow despite multiple waterings.It wasn’t all bad though. I moved to a new, lovely apartment in a much quieter place (no more horrible bridge noises). Although I didn’t get a new job, at least I didn’t get fired from my current one. Lastly, I started a new hobby which is helping me read Japanese much faster. Now, as they say, a new year brings about new opportunities. Opportunities to better yourself, bring about the change you want in yourself and somehow improve your life. Let’s forget the fact that any day of the year is good to change your life and waiting until the new year is just one of those excuses you tell yourself so you can play just one more hour of Super Smash Bros…So I decided to write down the main things that I am planning to do in the last remaining months of Heisei. If I finish at least some of these, surely luck and fortune will smile upon me and I will be a happier person.Be more adventurousEvery chance I get, I take pictures of Mt Hiei in Kyoto but I never go there. I have been there once in my life, during a school outing, but since then I have stared longingly at this history-filled mountain. This year I am planning to just up and go, take the cable car or even just a bus up there and spend the day walking around. Especially when it starts to snow. I am sure the view from up there will be spectacular. Waste less timeI have a relatively long commute to work in the mornings. I have used that time to catch up on sleep usually, although the quality of said sleep is up for debate.Instead of wasting that time, I can use it for something productive. I can listen to informative podcasts, watch educational documentaries or maybe even write something. My main problem however is that I get motion sickness very easily. Reading in moving vehicles makes my stomach want to empty itself all over the interior and anyone unfortunate enough to sit next to me.Write moreThis platform is amazing. It allows me to vent and write about things that interest me. I want to get more involved and to do that, I need to write more stuff. So for 2019, I will make it a point to write more articles, get more information and somehow improve my writing. Writing is therapeutic, so everybody wins.Get more sleepThe biggest change with an increased commute is the distinct lack of sleep I am getting. Having to have to do four connections to get to my destination on Fridays really takes a toll on you.In Japan, they say “hayane hayaoki” which probably translates to “early to bed, early to rise”. I honestly think this is the most farfetched and unrealistic promise of the new year. Every day there are more and more things to do. Chores, work, hobbies etc. But the time doesn’t change at all.Despite that, I suppose all I can do is try. Sleep is surprisingly important for your health, and a key to happiness is getting more than the 5 hours I usually allocate myself.Explore more about JapanI am a fan of japanology. The culture differences, how they came to be, the unique (and same) ways people think and feel. And how all of those things mixed together to give us this country of thin fish slices and electric rats. 2019 is going to be tough. But with discipline and determination, I think it will be doable. As long as Japan keeps churning out good food and entertaining media, I’ll be able to trudge on somehow.Happy 2019 y’allTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zVRQJ-living_kyoto_shi_kyoto_osaka_shi_osakaFri, 01 Feb 2019 15:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zVRQJ-living_kyoto_shi_kyoto_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z88xa-living_food_shopping_money_osaka_shi_osakaSo every year after the holiday craze has gone down a bit, people fill the streets once again in search of a bargain. I am unfortunate enough to be one of those people. Some things about it I hate, but others I really enjoy.Historically for me, Lucky bags represent the biggest display of complacency I have ever seen. Most every person I see searching for these “Lucky” bags are on the hunt for maybe one or two specific items, but buy these bags filled with four or five items and get left with a lot of things they don’t really need or plan to own. Case in point, I now have a head massager for the shower room and a flossing machine that shoots mouthwash between your teeth to clean them we got in Yodobashi Camera last year. I abhor massages and my teeth are aligned in such a way that I need piano wire to get between them. Nothing less than a power washer is going to get the job done.…and yet, in this household, this is seen as a good deal…THIS year we got smart (ok not really) but we limited ourselves with things we absolutely need. This frugal decision led to the purchase of three Mister Donut lucky things, one bag from Shimamura and some cakes from the AEON shopping mall.I highly recommend the donut lucky bag from Mister Donut. It gives you a gift card (10 for 1000yen, 20 for 2000yen or 30 for 3000yen) but the price of each donut can go up to 175yen, meaning, if you choose the most expensive option every time, you win! Plus the stuff you get in the box is very nice. Last years it has been Snoopy, but this year, they teamed up with Pokemon. I do love Pokemon.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z88xa-living_food_shopping_money_osaka_shi_osakaWed, 23 Jan 2019 17:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z88xa-living_food_shopping_money_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7vJ0-living_kyoto_shi_kyotoYou know what really puts me in the Christmas spirit? Semiconductors. The way they glisten in the night, making beautiful beeps and boops in tune to jingle bells and that one Rudolph song…Alright, actually this one company called ROHM decorated their entire company campus in Kyoto with beautiful Christmas lights and has invited us, the public to walk around and enjoy the scenery completely free. How could I refuse?This company is known, as the name suggests, for making semiconductors. Their products are so varied, since they make the insides of electronics, that it’s hard to be specific. Let’s just say there are a lot of incredibly smart people, who for whatever reason, decided instead of spending their time developing more advanced computer technological wonders, went to the drawing board and created a tiny winter wonderland around their office. I can just imagine some tired engineer coming out of the office at 8 in the evening and getting to walk to his car in a world full of lights instead of the depressing darkness that follows each winter (don’t worry, winter solstice is only a few weeks away).I started my walk in Gojo from the AEON mall nearby after doing some Christmas shopping. It’s really hard to miss, especially since it’s gotten darker earlier recently. In fact you can see it from the bus if you take that route. The first part of the tour, you are greeted with two large spheres of lights which change colors in places to form a beautiful Christmas tree. Once inside this makeshift gate, the road has trees on each side completely covered with yellow lights. The surprising thing about these decorations is that it’s not just the normal “strapping cheap lights on trees and call it a night” deal. The lights on the trees are the same colors, but the light bulbs themselves are different sizes and some of them blink while others don’t. This gives a wonderful feeling of being somewhere special. Like a different world. The pictures in this article don’t do it justice. You’ll just have to come and see it for yourselves. After walking for a while, you turn a corner where a nice little park has been set up. Normally I suppose this park is just like any normal park with swings and slides and a place to sit down. But this time, lights have been strung up from branch to branch on the trees, in completely different kinds of lights than before. There are hanging spheres, stars in different colors and in the middle there is a small round place with a roof made out of branches of some trees. I suppose in the summer, this whole place is just blooming with flowers, as you can sit down on benches and relax. Here, instead of flowers blooming above you (because it’s winter), they put a ton of blue lights, so the whole place is just like your own personal blue garden house. It’s incredibly soothing to sit there and enjoy the atmosphere, especially when the air is cool.And finally, just to show off, ROHM has put up a display next to the park. This is basically a display made of lights which show different winter themed sceneries. In front of it there are tubes of light which simulate falling snow in a very gorgeous way. And since this whole tour only takes like 20 minutes or so, and you don’t have anywhere else to go, you can just walk back the way you came and experience the whole thing again, and trust me, you won’t be bored the second time around.If you are looking for a simple, fun illumination event for free while in Kyoto, I highly recommend coming to the ROHM offices in Gojo. It’s free and in a walking distance to AEON which is perfect for some Christmas shopping. Happy holidays.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7vJ0-living_kyoto_shi_kyotoWed, 12 Dec 2018 11:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7vJ0-living_kyoto_shi_kyotohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpV9L-food_osakaBeing from a tiny insignificant country has its benefits. Everybody assumes you are from another, more popular place, so you are free to make a fool of yourself without ruining the reputation of your fellow kinsmen.The cons are that no one knows exactly what your culture entails nor its intricacies -- those tiny, but significant details that make life worth living. Try telling Americans to “just have chicken instead of turkey for Thanksgiving. They are both birds anyway.” And see how far they can toss you.I have talked before about the dangers of homesickness and how to avoid falling into the “honeymoon period” trap, and I believe a significant part of that is getting a small dose of home every now and then. Not too much though, or you will be back home wondering where it all went wrong.And since we are living in a country of such variety, sometimes it’s hard to find the exact variety that’ll scratch the itch. So you scour through every foreign food store in your prefecture to find cream with the perfect fat percentage, or potatoes grown in soil with exactly the same ph. level as Great Grammy did back in East Bumbletown.This feeling, nay, yearning increases tenfold around the holidays, since the market seems to capitalize on your suffering. Couple that with being thousands of miles away from home and family, and it means getting out of our comfort zone and going on an adventure to find and recreate the true meaning of Christmas right here in Japan.Magic is happeningStarting with the easy ones. Have you ever heard of browned potatoes? No? Well you should, because they are delicious and should be a staple in every household from here to somewhere equally far.I’m pretty sure they come from Denmark or something, and we all know how resourceful and wonderful the Nordic countries are when it comes to being warm and cozy in winter.Browned potatoes are basically potatoes fried on a pan with some sugar and butter until caramel-browned to deliciousness. But there is a catch. I have lived in Japan for a number of years, and never have I managed to recreate the perfect brown potato. There is always something wrong. One year I forgot the butter. Another, the potatoes were all mealy and fell apart in the pan, becoming a gooey mess.This year however, I believe I have the answer. The epiphany came when I was wondering how my dear ol’ mum managed year after year to cook the perfect browned potato goodness. These are no goodIt’s not about quality. (Believe me, I tried getting ridiculously expensive Daimaru potatoes to no effect). It’s all about consistency. That’s what happens when you need to raise a family of five with mostly boys at the dinner table. (Thanks mom).And so I decided, after lots of soul searching, not to use potatoes at all. Instead, I got frozen satoimo from the supermarket, Life.The reason is simple. They are cut into a uniform shape and they are very similar to potatoes (honestly I thought they were potatoes until I googled them, and I’ve been eating them for a number of years now). They are also very delicious and fit into any dish you want to make. Seriously they are a lifesaver.So, another thing I inherited from dear mum, was my ability to wing the recipe when making whatever. But for the sake of fairness, here’s an estimation of how I cooked it.One bag of satoimo, Three-ish tablespoons of sugarTwo-ish tablespoons of butterAnd a dash of water while cooking so the sugar doesn’t stick to the pan.Just boil the satoimo. While they are boiling, melt the sugar and butter on the pan. Then put the satoimo on the pan and roll around until they are caramel brown and delicious looking. This dish forms a part of what I consider a homesickness-cure during the holidays. Now I just have to import the weather, lack of people and sarcasm and we’re good.Happy holidays.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpV9L-food_osakaTue, 11 Dec 2018 10:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpV9L-food_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zK9V3-living_food_shopping_osaka_hirakata_shi_osakaSo, I’ve been thinking about tea. Specifically tea from Shizuoka. As the prefecture is famous for its lovely tea, I decided yet again to go hunting for some and see what I could find.Last time I went looking, I only went to one shop in my neighborhood. And the selection in that place (the supermarket called Life) was laughable to be honest. There were maybe two kinds of tea from Shizuoka.To be fair, living in Kansai really skews the scales a lot to the direction of tea from Uji. I mean, it’s right there! Of course, people are going to sell only their local teas. It only makes sense.But that just makes the hunt more exciting. Who wants to go hunt cows in a field when you can go hunt the most dangerous game of all! …. Tea.So I went to some supermarkets along the Keihan line for this one. I can’t remember the shop names, but it was in a city called Hirakata and the supermarkets were right near the station. This probably explains why my haul was better than before, because train stations means travelers, means souvenirs, means tea (from a different prefecture?). So the first one I picked up is simply called 静岡茶, or just Shizuoka tea. This is from a company called Kunitaro. I picked up two kinds of tea from them and the first one had what I can only describe as a warning label. In a red banner, it reads (味が濃い) which in English could mean it tastes rich, thick, deep or strong. Whatever it means, I was in for a good time.And true to its warning, it was a bit strong for my taste. Not ridiculously strong, but something for more advanced tea-drinkers. On a level that I have not reached yet. But still pretty drinkable, and I will finish the pack I bought ( I have been known to pass on any food items I dislike, but this is not one of them).The second one was also from Kunitaro and was called 掛川茶 or Kakegawa-cha, presumably from Kakegawa City in Shizuoka. This one sported a label indicating that it has 95.4mg of catechin, an antioxidant that may or may not be helpful to reduce cholesterol and improve blood pressure. (Is this a real thing or is this one of those labels that are technically correct but don’t amount to much, like saying a piece of wood is MSG free? Genuinely asking here..)After drinking this one, comparing the two from Kunitaro, I would say this one is the better of the two. The flavor was just right, and maybe all those catechins helped reduce my blood pressure to a nice round number. Who knows.All in all, I think Kunitaro makes a pretty delicious brand of tea. Now that I know about them, I shall be more inclined to compare them to other companies. It’s like choosing a soccer team. I have a tea(m) to root for now.Life is good.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zK9V3-living_food_shopping_osaka_hirakata_shi_osakaWed, 07 Nov 2018 10:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zK9V3-living_food_shopping_osaka_hirakata_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MY7A2-living_money_badexperiences_osakaGambling is illegal in Japan. There are no casinos and everybody is working hard and not wasting their precious money on things like blackjack and poker.Except it isn’t really. And it’s this ambiguity that causes a bit of grief for people like me who …don’t always have the best self-control. Let’s get the basics out of the way. Did you know that hanafuda, the pretty little cards that children play every year came about when normal playing cards with numbers were banned in the 16-hundreds because of gambling?So some smart person decided to make cards with only pictures (this is a gross oversimplification of historical events that happened over many many years) and a company called “Nintendo” started producing a very popular card product and yada-yada-yada now we have Waluigi. I have heard many things about Japan. How it’s safe and innocent and everything is kawaii etc. But I think Japan is also very good at sweeping things under the rug. Live here for over a year and you start to see the stains. You look behind the curtain and notice some inconsistencies. The emperor may be wearing clothes, but he’s also hiding his fox ears.PachinkoThe sensory overload of lights and sounds and the deafening rattle of metal balls all around makes for a lousy experience. I mean it’s great for a while. Getting lost in your own little world filled with flashing lights and mayhem is intoxicating. And then your wallet is empty, it’s dark outside and your date has run off with the takoyaki guy across the street.But don’t worry. It’s not illegal. They only give out prizes and receipts for the balls you win. (Although there is a completely unrelated store right next to the parlor which is very interested in buying your receipt for actual money… complete coincidence!)Arcades with medals And yes, since you cannot bring your children into the pachinko parlors, there must be something for them to do. And here come the medal games in the arcades. Buy a bucket of medals and play various games, ranging from rock-paper-scissors to some roulette style games. There is also a very enticing fishing game. The thing about these games, just like pachinko balls, is that you get medals back. So that you can put them back into the machine. And play some more. And instead of wasting fifteen minutes on a single game, you are there for maybe two hours or even longer! I honestly don’t see the difference between this and pachinko.Summoner Wars and other apps.And at the same time, applications and games that have a chance based economy are banned. There is a game I used to play called Summoner Wars. In it, you summon creatures and train them by fighting. Pretty normal stuff. But then they made an update where you could fuse certain creatures to make a super creature. But because the summons were random, it could take a long time to get the right creatures. Pretty normal stuff. But Japan decided to ban this feature, because it’s a chance based economy.And although I agree with this decision, it gives me a strange taste of hypocrisy considering the above.I am not saying this is only happening in Japan. And I am NOT saying there needs to be a reform of how Japan thinks of itself. But the casino in Osaka debate shouldn’t be that big of a debate. It won’t destroy the society. It’s definitely not how I would design my city, regardless of its promised economic benefits, but it’s not the end times if it does get built.I have to remind myself that even though the “kuji” in Seven Eleven promises prizes, it’s still gambling. There are many pitfalls for people like me. It may be just a small amount of money for some, but it adds up. Oh how it adds up. (yes, I got the last one and now I have an awesome Black Triforce alarm clock. But was it worth it?)I just want to say it’s a hypocrisy. I enjoy Japan and all its bells and whistles, but I sometimes take a step back and have to laugh. I am not well with ambiguity and saying something is illegal and then have a gigantic exception attached to it makes me uncomfortable. Like I’m being lied to. And that is not what I want from a place which prides itself on its innocence and safety. *Please forgive the gross oversimplification of Japan, gambling and society in general.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MY7A2-living_money_badexperiences_osakaSat, 03 Nov 2018 09:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MY7A2-living_money_badexperiences_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/M9m03-living_badexperiences_osakaLet’s talk about a problem that's dear to my heart. Something that the veteran expats hear a lot and sometimes even contribute to.I speak, of course of the „the teller in the supermarket switched to English when I clearly spoke to them in Japanese “conundrum. Now, we have both sides of the story to consider here. You get into your local supermarket, the teller mumbles something unintelligible, you ask them to repeat themselves in exquisitely perfect Japanese, and the teller looks up with panic in their eyes and says, “You want bag?”And depending on your mood that day, you either brush it off, slightly annoyed or you start seeing red and have to fight the urge to yell at the teller (again, in your perfect Japanese) that you have been living in this country probably for longer than they’ve been alive. That your struggles in this country rival that of the average rice farmer during the Great Tenmei famine. That you have not been living in this country for decades just so that this “child” could look down on you like you just stepped off the plane looking for the nearest rickshaw to Akihabara. It’s enough to doubt your sanity.We can chalk this up to many things. Ignorance, lack of communication, fear of the unknown, etc. And sure, this is true for most countries where foreigners look distinctly different than the locals (for the most part), so assumptions that you are a tourist aren’t completely unfounded. There’s this term that keeps cropping up. Omotenashi. The idea of treating your guests with a great sense of hospitality. That you should treat them with the utmost respect and make them feel like they are the most important person in the room. Or something like that. And the teller might feel the need to “come down to your level” and speak to you in English, the de facto language of the world.Here is where the assumptions often break down. When it comes to people who have lived here for many, many years, they don’t appreciate being treated like perpetual guests.But then you get the actual tourists who are, by definition, guests who expect (nay, demand) being treated like kings and queens, not only by Japan’s standards, but also in their own language as well.I’ve been listening to Hank Green (link) a lot recently and his idea of giving strangers a “thumbs up” while jogging made me think about omotenashi. It struck me as a kind of primitive communication method that we can use to ward off this moldy feeling of disgust every time someone assumes we don’t speak the language or don’t understand something we have done a million times before. I don’t want to fight it anymore. I want to turn omotenashi on its head and give a “thumbs up” of my own. I’ll start by actively giving the toothless old guy I met in the train station my best personality when he says “Welcome to Japan” at the train station (EVEN when I’m trying to listen to my music). I am going to feign pleasant surprise next time some kid tries to ask me where I am from (despite the disappointment when they hear I’m not from America). And most importantly, I am going to stop being so damn sarcastic all the time when these nice, normal people show interest in me (there are limits of course). My goal is to cultivate my own omotenashi. Become the host of my own little world where I treat these people like the lucky 10.000, with international communication.This is a social problem in Japan because we are also part of Japan (despite what the government says). We are shaping the community every day, every year whether we know it or not. Sure, it’s a drop in the ocean, but the ocean is made of billions of drops.I say I hate this kind of interaction with the fury of a thousand suns, but in honesty, it’s only on the days when I am already deflated from work or other duties. And maybe that means I shouldn’t be working overtime as much or fill my schedule to the brim with activities that don’t actually make me happier. If I can’t cultivate my own omotenashi, then how am I to survive here?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/M9m03-living_badexperiences_osakaSat, 20 Oct 2018 13:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/M9m03-living_badexperiences_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2Xke-living_shopping_sustainablelife_osaka_shi_osakaSo I have been living in Japan for a while now and have come to the conclusion that there are just too many solutions to problems I didn't know I had before. And that is the trick to marketing in a nutshell. Create a problem and be the solution. Then you can sell your solution for many, many yens and become rich and spend your well-earned cash on your own problems.This isn't so much a reflection on Japan's lack of eco-friendliness, but more a look into the self and seeing what we as individuals can do to resist the urge to buy our solution and think before we waste.So when I want to become more eco-friendly I start thinking about simplifying my life. Having the same solution to multiple problems. The point is, when I look into my kitchen, I find I often have to dig through my things to find what I need. I have chopsticks in various sizes as well as disposable ones. I have a toaster that I never use because I use the gas stove for all my toasting experiences. I have ten coffee mugs despite being the only person in this household of two who actually drinks coffee!As Alton Brown, the famous TV chef put it bluntly, “The only uni-tasker in the kitchen should be the fire extinguisher”. And he's absolutely correct (although I don't have one). Why have all these chopsticks when a pair or two would do? Why not have just one or two cups for my coffee consumption? (We don't really get visitors, so keeping a stock doesn't really make sense).The source of my problems comes from Daiso. Lovely Daiso with its affordable selection of goods that look ever-so convenient and only for about 100 yen. I recently went to Daiso in OPA because I got a 500 yen discount for becoming their LINE friend (I only use LINE for coupons) if I spent 3000 yen there. So off I went and got about 28 items, got home and realized I have no space (or need) for most of them. They just looked convenient.So here's my challenge for a sustainable, clutter-free lifestyle in Japan. Find an item from a 100 yen shop. Figure out as many unique uses for them as possible. Better yet if you can replace other items in your home with just this one item. Get rid of all the other items that have now become obsolete. Rinse and repeat until you are left with a clean and clutter-free kitchen. At least this is the dream. And dreams start with baby steps.Step one. I am going to choose these kitchen shears. I have used them for months now to do all of my meat cutting. In fact, I haven't used my meat knife (that I also got in Daiso) in around the same amount of time. And you know what that means. In the recycling the meat-knife goes. (Dispose properly you guys!).But these shears aren't just for cutting meat. I also use them to cut the plastic wrappers that accumulate in my sink so that they dry faster and are more easily manageable to throw away. I know this act does not really replace an item, but it does level the shears up in usefulness, which on its own is an achievement.Other things to throw away include the many different spoons I have (who needs a specific ice-cream spoon anyway?!?) and my fourth frying pan. It's a small step, but I plan to have my kitchen in working order by the 2020 Olympics. What kind of multitaskers do you have in your home? Can you do better?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2Xke-living_shopping_sustainablelife_osaka_shi_osakaSat, 13 Oct 2018 17:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/w2Xke-living_shopping_sustainablelife_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wmVba-living_badexperiences_osaka_shi_osakaThere are numerous articles, business and cultural alike, that talk about Japan and how Japanese people are not willing to take risks. Japanese companies are not as eager to make deals with companies around the world, often requiring more planning or more information that others are willing to provide, causing a break in communication and tons of lost opportunities. Of course, one could argue that certain business catastrophes have also been avoided and we don't hear about them because, well, they didn't end up happening. (*puts on aluminum foil hat)The following examples are a collection of instances from many people over the course of the few years I have been living in Japan. Although they may be personal in retrospect, I believe they have an underlying cultural source that is the result of Japan's attitude towards themselves and the world around them. Typhoons and general fear of the weather.There are people who listen to the weather forecast. There are people who look out the window and decide for themselves whether to go outside. There are others who look at both, and despite it being clear and zero wind, decide to stay home and wait for the typhoon to go to Hokkaido, even though they live in Kansai. And here I am talking about the city, which (as I have mentioned before) mostly has a flat surface, a distinct lack of trees and is often shielded from the wind by numerous high-rise buildings. I have had people not come to work when a typhoon has just passed for fear of landslides and flood, despite not living close to either a river or a mountain. Just in case (just in case what?!?) and people just nod understandingly while I rage inside.Personal information (Buy a shredder. Or hoard. Your choice)Other people I have known don't throw away any receipts or mail with their name on it. You know, because of all the personal information on there. Instead they hoard the papers in their apartments until it gets spilled over and gets put in storage (or on the occasional cleaning spree, gets all thrown away which negates the whole thing).You know, you don't want to risk your precious information being sifted through the trash.When people gasp at your overloaded wallet filled to the brim with receipts and someone asks why you don't throw it away, apparently you can use the magic word “koujinjyouhou” (個人情報) and they will nod in understanding. I say chuck it all in the trash (except the important ones of course)! If the FBI are monitoring me, there isn't much I can do anyway.Hypochondria in JapanPeople are afraid of germs. Of course you don't want to get sick. There is alcohol spray in virtually every entrance to every store. And in my first months in Japan (trying to do as the Romans do), my hands were getting rashes from the amount of alcohol I was spraying on them. Going into a store, leaving, entering a new one, leaving etc.People also seem to go to the doctor way more often than I am used to from the old country. If you have a small cold, a fever or just any symptom, the “responsible thing to do” is to go to the doctor. And more often than not, they will prescribe you with antibiotics or other generic medicine with different names and before you know it, you'll have a collection of old medicine you can't bring yourself to throw away.I often have to stop myself from getting into this kind of thinking. I prefer waiting and seeing because more often than not, I get better (except that one time when I didn't) and don't need to spend money, energy and time to go to a germ-filled doctor's waiting room. And yes. I understand the thinking. It's better to be safe than sorry. I get that. But if you are limiting your own life to be extra safe, you are probably wasting valuable time and resources. In other words, my biggest grievances in Japan come from wanting to take action, but being shot down and called careless or irresponsible. On the other hand, I haven't gotten into any major accidents since coming to Japan, so maybe they're on to something…Regardless! Japan! Please. Let's take some risks. I promise I'll wear a helmet.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wmVba-living_badexperiences_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 27 Sep 2018 11:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wmVba-living_badexperiences_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z88OW-living_money_sustainablelife_osaka_shi_osakaI honestly don't know how to become more eco-friendly while living here in Japan. I am separating my trash and putting it out on the correct days. The garbage companies have made it too inconvenient for me to buy things made of glass, like those bottles of instant coffee or even medicine bottles, because of how hard it is to get rid of (I can never remember the rare days when they actually pick up glass). And really, when thinking socially, I think this tactic is actually the best option for people like me. Sure you can put up your environmental awareness posters around me. I may or may not read them. There could be hundreds of commercials on TV about the importance of recycling or the Five Rs (can YOU name them all?) and it would probably not be cost effective. BUT, put down simple rules to follow, like not picking up garbage except on certain days, and people (I) will listen. Recently I got rid of an old refrigerator. Normally, when you go buy a new one, you can exchange your old one for a low price or even get a discount on the new one. This is a great system that prevents people like me from dumping our old equipment on the side of the road in the mountains somewhere (I have never done that, but have seen piles upon piles of old TVs, fridges and any big furniture, just lying there, being useless). Unfortunately for me, I wasn't looking for a new fridge. We had two fridges around and this one had been in the house, broken, acting as a slightly complicated table for the microwave (perfect height though). This fridge was made by a company called NEC (yeah, haven't heard of it either) and as such, did not fall into the same categories as other, more well-known brands like Panasonic and Hitachi. When you bring those brands in, it's quite a painless process and probably will only cost you about 3000 yen. This NEC brand fridge, however cost us around 7500 yen to get rid of. And we even rented a truck to bring it to the store! The nerve of some places!Unfortunately I don't think that there is much I can do personally to increase my eco friendliness without a major overhaul of my lifestyle. I do things like bring my own “my bag” to the grocery store, so that I don't have to spend 2 yen on their bags. But then I run into the problem of not having trash bags to line my bins, resulting in me buying bags separately. Is that eco? I don't know.I also bring my own thermos to work, so that I don't have to use paper cups or disposable things. This, again is just to be cost effective and has nothing to do with being “green”.I guess the old saying counts when making the masses conform to the standards of the new age. “Hit them where it counts. Their wallets”.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z88OW-living_money_sustainablelife_osaka_shi_osakaSat, 22 Sep 2018 09:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z88OW-living_money_sustainablelife_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GLb28-living_familylife_osaka_shi_osakaFamily is important in Japan. Like super important. Some might say it's one of the most important aspects of Japanese culture and lies at the core of the foundation of which the entire country stands upon!! Or something like that…This was explained to me in school when our teacher described the importance of working together (pronounced “walking together” which caused a great deal of confusion and embarrassment for me later) so that the delicate rice agriculture could be maintained. And so the strong sense of family still resonates to this day, even though most modern families don't even step a foot into a rice field more than a handful of times (maybe on a school trip or something).With Obon coming soon, it is the time of year when people start thinking about their extended families. And by extended, I mean those who have passed away. It is this aspect of close family, combined with the “religious-but-not-so-much-religious-but-still-somewhat-religious” that lead me to have a peek into the working minds of the people around me. I of course am talking about the “butsudan” and the “haka”.I don't have much experience with this at all, so I try to be as careful as possible when it comes to things like death and spirituality, because every person is different and I don't want to offend anybody, especially my Japanese family-in-law. (I even feel a bit weird writing this, but oh well)What I try to do most of the time, is be the second person to greet the family when we visit. That way I can imitate that person and maybe get some of the moves right. Kneel in front. Light the incense, extinguish the candle using your hand (create a strong wind) and not blow at it with your mouth. Ring the bell once. Put your hands together and pray. In your mind, say “Namu Amida Butsu”. Greet the family. Apologize for any misgivings. Give thanks for them looking over you. Bow and scoot away. Of course, putting items of food in the “butsudan” that the deceased person enjoyed in life is a nice gesture (snacks, beer, chocolate etc), but if you don't have it on hand, a cup of water is also acceptable. I am of course not a native. I am aware that I am probably doing things completely wrong and in the wrong order. In this case, two wrongs don't make a right...But, I am trying. I am participating in family traditions with the family that comes packaged with the woman I love.The family seems to appreciate my efforts. They haven`t given up on me so far.I see this as an excellent way of reflecting on the past. Giving respect and thanks to the people who made sure we got where we are today makes me feel like the world is an alright place, even when it isn`t.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GLb28-living_familylife_osaka_shi_osakaMon, 03 Sep 2018 09:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GLb28-living_familylife_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/za590-living_transportation_galleries_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiA few years ago, we went to Nagasaki. We planned the trip with JTB or one of those big travel companies. Basically there was a person, in an office, surrounded by similar travel offices and we chose a random one. It was right outside a university cafeteria too.On the day, we rode the Shinkansen most of the way. The ride was very smooth, as is to be expected by Shinkansen. After that, we rode a normal train with very nice leather seats. I remember the view was stunning. I love the countryside and I always wish I could casually buy a summer house somewhere in the mountains (and have the financial security to have that not be a big deal). The trees, mountains and the nice mixture of bright green and bright blue really resonates with me on a deep level. Consequently, I am the person glued to the window on every train ride. It's too bad the Shinkansen runs too fast to properly enjoy the view, though. I bet the view is amazing. But then again, I also really enjoy sleeping on trains. The gentle movement knocks me right to sleep. One day I will ride Japan from end to end using only the local trains. Some day…We got to Huis Ten Bosch the same day. There were not that many people in the park on the day because it wasn't the correct season yet. Apparently tulips bloom in the spring or something and we decided to go in late autumn. Perfect timing for us though, because we aren't really people people. If we wanted people, we could have gone to Disneyland or something. The Dutch theme was really nice; a welcome change from Japan's Japan-ness. The windmill was also nice, as well as the viewing tower, where we could see most of the park and surrounding landscape. The park also had a nice light show in the evening and we could tandem-bike ride around the park. Very romantic.Then we finally went to Nagasaki. To be honest, I could have ended the trip right now and it would have been worth it. The rest was like the extra chocolate dipping sauce on the already delicious ice cream sundae.Nagasaki is a lovely place. We ate out, had a nice ocean view and went to see Meganebashi, the bridge that looks like glasses when reflected on the water. After that, we went on a small trip to Hashima, otherwise known as Battleship Island. It was a great place, although a little bit disappointing as we weren't allowed even near the crumbling buildings. For “safety” reasons they say, but I think they just want to have the cool, scary buildings all to themselves. Then we went home and stopped in Hiroshima just to get some Hiroshimayaki, which is just okonomiyaki with noodles. It is okay. Too bad I lost my book on the Shinkansen train. I guess they don't really care about the small stuff that gets lost. Oh well. Someone will find it and enjoy reading American Psycho, I guess.I give this trip a 9 out of 10.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/za590-living_transportation_galleries_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiFri, 31 Aug 2018 20:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/za590-living_transportation_galleries_nagasaki_shi_nagasakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wj8Rv-living_health_osaka_shi_osakaLack of sleep is becoming the new “smoking is bad for you” fad. And with good reason. Millions of people suffer from lack of sleep; going to sleep late, having to wake up super early or a mixture of both. Be it from a strenuous job or too much partying, not getting enough sleep is horrible for your body. Getting a full night's sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Physically AND mentally!You probably already are an expert on the immediate symptoms, if you are like me and average around five to six hours every night (while the recommended hours are closer to eight). Drowsiness, lack of attention, irritability, dependence on coffee and other stimulants are just a few examples. Who knows what the long term effects are!Japan is no exception to this. The loud, cramped streets with blinking lights offer no relief to the tired masses, instead dragging them on into whatever the next interesting thing is happening around the corner.Believe it or not, I have managed to get a few nights of full rest here in Japan. Those days, I added a few extra steps which helped me get the amount of sleep my body deserves. Here are a few things you can do in the morning to improve your sleep. (You know, aside from the obvious ones like darkness in the room, no electronics in bed and drinking alcohol before bed).Rajio taiso. Yes. The famous exercise routine on TV every morning. (If you oversleep, you can find it on YouTube too!) Get your body into gear first thing and you won't be disappointed with the results. Those times when I get my butt up and going, I choose this. My body fills up with energy which stays with me throughout the day. And come night, I will have spent most of the energy my body has, and then some, and I sleep like a baby. (It also helps to put my brain into Japanese mode).Drink Aojiru. That's right. The green, disgusting thing that looks more like the ooze from the Ninja Turtles than anything. This drink has so many good vitamins/minerals/things for your body (especially after that exercise routine you just did) your body won't know what to do with it all. Just get a box of powder and mix it with milk, water or anything liquid I guess. It will give you some balance that your body desperately needs.Also, things that help in the summer include ice packs, summer themed pyjamas (the loose, breathing type) and, of course, a circulator fan aimed directly at my face.What are some things you do to improve your sleep?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wj8Rv-living_health_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 30 Aug 2018 17:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wj8Rv-living_health_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wj8Qm-living_osaka_shi_osakaPeople, when experiencing new cultures, tend to focus their energies on the things they want to do. The things that excites, thrills and generally fulfills their desires. This can be something simple like saying “I really want to go to Disneyland” or something complicated like making a bucket list (a list of things to do before you “kick the bucket”). Then, eventually, you either forget the list or finish the list and never speak of it again.When you have lived in a place long enough and you have seen the sights and done the attractions, you start to think in terms of “things you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO DO”. These are called anti-bucket lists. Here are the three things on my anti-bucket list when living in Japan.1. Seeing one of those Giant Asian Hornets in person.To be honest, I don`t see this happening any time soon, since I don`t go hiking and don`t enjoy the outdoors that much anyway. But I have the internet and I have heard stories of these giant monstrosities and my curiosity is completely zero. I hear they have a dangerous sting too.2. Getting a job near a busy station.Having to commute every morning is a chore. Getting up, going outside, eating breakfast is difficult enough without having to have to deal with other, similar minded zombies on the train and in the station. If I ever got a job located in or near Osaka, Ueno, Shinagawa or any of those horribly busy stations, I would have to think really hard before accepting. The money would have to be really good!3. Being a shrine-holder in one of those festivals in the summer.Festivals, to me are fun. I get to eat and drink as much as I like, I wander around, the colors are pretty and everybody seems to be in good spirits. However, there are the festival parades with those big shrines that people carry and chant. Sure, they seem to be having fun, but to me those things are just heavy burdens and obligations written all over it. Sure, everybody should help each other and it`s good luck and all that, but I think I will let other people handle it. I`ll be in the corner eating my squid in peace.There are plenty of other things that you couldn`t pay me to do. Let`s take a moment to think about all those things and be grateful we have the options to say no. (most of the time.)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wj8Qm-living_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 18:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wj8Qm-living_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GQmYm-living_shopping_osaka_shi_osakaI tend to go to the 100 yen store a lot. Not only is it ridiculously cheap most of the time, but the stuff you can get there blows my mind every time. Anything from living room cushions to emergency lighting and a mold to shape a boiled egg into the face of Doraemon. I need not sing its praises, but I think it’s one of the coolest stores ever.However, with great convenience comes great … possible inconvenience (depending on how observant you are and not a complete fool like some people)So I went to a shopping center and noticed they had a promotion through LINE where if you befriend said shopping center, you would get a 500 yen coupon if you bought more than 3000 yen worth of stuff. Great deal I thought. Me and my SO got one ticket each, so we decided to get some important stuff we need for our home. OFF we went to BookOFF and got 3000 yen worth of games for the PlayStation and Wii. One ticket down, one to go.We passed a Daiso on the way and decided to get 30 items (or 29, because of taxes I guess). A good way to get rid of the guilt. Often big stores do not honor coupons given by shopping centers, so we checked with the clerk, and yes, they accept it. Great!So we gathered the items and got some really good stuff of varying usefulness. When it became time to pay, our mistake surfaced. We forgot to check for payment options. You see, it really depends on which 100 yen store, how you can pay. Some are very open to credit cards, electric money such as Edy or T-points. Others, like this Daiso, only accepted cash (and WAON for some reason). And here we were, cashless and hopeless.So we did our best apology bow and left the stuff at the register. I let this be a lesson in always checking for payment options BEFORE spending an hour collecting and carrying all the things! Even if one store takes credit cards, does not mean another one does. Lesson learned I guess.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GQmYm-living_shopping_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GQmYm-living_shopping_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpVJ7-living_osaka_shi_osakaMost people, when I ask them what surprises them most about living in Japan, the conversation always goes to the smaller apartments. The living spaces, compared to some other countries like European ones, are absolutely tiny. And for good reason too. Japan doesn`t have all the land space to spare, so they make do with what they have. And they do it in the only way they know how. Compact everything. Well, except for having the toilet and the bath in separate rooms. That`s one “waste of space” I fully support.But one big problem that comes with suddenly living in a smaller space is not realizing all the stuff you buy accumulates in your apartment. And now, because you live in the European equivalent of a walk-in-closet, you are suddenly having to deal with a clutter of things you bought on a whim. I recently went through a big cleanup. It took a few weekends to finally feel like I made a dent in the stuff I had, but seeing the piles of garbage bags felt good.I threw away papers, books, magazines, old toys, omiyage that I never gave away, old soap bottles that are too fancy for everyday use, but too old for fancy use etc. It was a nightmare for the ol` heart to see all the possibilities go away, all the “dreams” I had, all the good ideas that never made it past buying the starter kit (models of Japanese castles, anyone?).The next biggest hurdle I faced was the fact that the garbage truck only comes once a week for the un-recyclable items. Now I have a bunch of stuff in my entrance waiting to be cleared out. And if I miss the opening, it`s all staying for an extra week. This has been an eye-opener. I promise I will not buy as much stuff so that my apartment doesn`t fill up as much… unless it`s on sale.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpVJ7-living_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MpVJ7-living_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7vkp-food_osaka_shi_osakaThere`s this place that has my favorite kind of coffee. Free coffee!I am not a morning person. I will crawl up from my bed on autopilot, somehow find appropriate clothing and occasionally consume a fruit or a piece of toast before leaving the house. It isn`t until an hour later or so that my brain cells decide to catch up and crawl up from their own little brain cell beds.This whole process is made much more painful in the summer months when the sun and the humidity make walking outside like getting punched in the face with a hairdryer. The short walk to the train station feels like an eternity. Passing shops on the way is agony because it seems everybody can eat McDonalds for breakfast. How unfair the life is.Well, until this week when I found out they were giving out free ice coffee. I overheard a conversation between coworkers who went there and got the coffee. It seems McDonalds does this sort of campaign every so often and I have just been too ignorant to realize it. Anyway, this small cup of delight and wonder gives life new meaning. The walk to work, instead of being like an Ent walking, now becomes a skip in the magical forest.Depending on the place and time, there may be a small line. Luckily my McDonalds is located in a fairly slow place, so the wait is usually minimal. The deal is on from 7 am to 11 am, so you have plenty of time to get your fix.If you want to find out about those kinds of deals in the future, I highly recommend you download the McDonalds app. They often have a good deal on fries and they will tell you when they start offering their free coffee again. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7vkp-food_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7vkp-food_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MnagR-living_osaka_shi_osakaI love silence. There is nothing I enjoy more after coming home from a ‘hard’ day`s work than entering a completely silent apartment and doing my chores in complete silence. It`s hard enough to find a place outside that has the luxury of complete silence, except in the forest during winter when the snow dampens the sound of nature down to a minimum. And I thought when summer hit, I would be able to get some small amount of silence, even in my own house. I was terribly wrong.It`s not the traffic. It`s not loud neighbors (even though they have obnoxious kids screaming at all hours throughout the day and night). It`s the cicadas!This is one of the many things that I dislike about the cities. In the sticks, where there are plenty of trees to go around, the cicadas can spread themselves around and make as much sound as they please without bothering anyone. Everybody wins.But in the city, where there are maybe 20 trees per square kilometer (I am making this number up by the way), the cicada group up into one tree and make this ungodly sound that pierces your ears and probably leaves long term damage to your hearing. It`s a game theory thing for urban developers ( or so I want to think). Would I build a neighborhood in the city with plenty of trees, thereby attracting those loud creatures and making my neighborhood a natural heavy metal concert for a few weeks in the year. Or do I not have any trees and leave the nature up to other neighborhoods. If everybody planted trees in the city, the problem wouldn`t be a problem.Maybe I am overthinking this. But the point stands. They are loud and a bother. But then nostalgia kicks in and I would miss summers without that sound.…I can never be happy…To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MnagR-living_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MnagR-living_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wr3e0-living_osaka_shi_osakaI finally moved away from the city… into a different city. (Anything with a population over 100.000 people I consider a city). But the main difference between the two is still a mystery to me in a way. My old dwelling was pretty center in Osaka city. Not quite inside the fabled loop-line circle, but still within the easily accessible area of Osaka station. There were cars driving, lots of high rises being built all around. My only mountain view was blocked after a 15 story apartment building was built across the street from me after the realtor had assured me that there were NO PLANS TO BUILD ANYTHING THERE! … I am not bitter. Just disappointed. So when I moved to the new city, and summer finally came, I started to realize the place I had been living in might not have been the cleanest.Sure, the streets are clear of trash from pedestrians and the streets are swept regularly, but what about the things that we don`t really see? What about air quality? What about the people quality? What about the sounds?The most obvious change, except for the glorious mountain view that I have every morning, is the spiders. Now, I hate bugs of all shapes and sizes. They tend to flock towards me, bump my head like it`s a damn lightbulb made of candy. BUT, after being disgusted with them for a few weeks, I realized I did not see a single spider outside or inside in my old place. And another epiphany revealed that the reason for that is that they can`t survive because there are no flies. Because the flies don`t survive the air pollution (note: I am not a scientist and have no proof for any of this).So now I have a small bit of happiness knowing that I am in a relatively cleaner place, although I have to share it with a smorgasbord of tiny critters.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wr3e0-living_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wr3e0-living_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G6ZX9-shopping_osaka_shi_osakaHey! Did you know Pokemon is still cool? People who play Pokemon are still cool, hip and ‘with it’ as we say.Ok, I kid, but recently I have been looking into the Pokemon Center stores around Japan and it has started to become more and more appealing. And I don`t mean that from just a nostalgia perspective (although I do admit that the original 151 Pokemon are the best and if you think differently we`ll have a Pokemon battle right there and then to settle it!) but it`s just so … very… positive somehow. And it`s so varied as well. I mean, take your classic fan of any genre of media (read: nerd/otaku/geek etc) and you can find a subgenre of Pokemon to fit most of those things.For the anime fan, there is (you guessed it) the Pokemon anime. There are hundreds of episodes to watch, lots of movies that are still coming out with different styles of animation, ranging from cool 3d battles to the simple drawing style that is recently surfacing.For the cuteness fan there is a wide variety of soft, cuddly plush animals to purchase and most items for everyday life can be Pokemon themed at some point. Chopsticks, table ware, candies, food, pillows etc. And every so often they update their range of products to feature other Pokemon (if you are not into Pikachu or Eevee).For the gamer there are the Pokemon games. They are right now releasing so many Pokemon games it`s hard to keep up with all of them (my wallet can only take so much punishment). And lastly, we have the Pokemon trading cards, for the collectors. Remember when everyone had Pokemon cards and no one knew how to play? I`m pretty sure my old cards would be pretty valuable now (if my parents hadn`t thrown them away). Right now there are tournaments for people who like to create their own decks and play. It`s very open and you can win pretty valuable stuff. (One tournament I saw had a card as a prize, valued about 200.000yen!)If you can get back into the world of Pokemon, you can definitely find something to satisfy your obsessions. I know I did. My Rattata is in the top percentage of Rattata!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G6ZX9-shopping_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G6ZX9-shopping_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXka5-food_osaka_shi_osakaThere is this udon place I walk past almost every week. It is in Daimaru in Osaka and probably plenty of other places and it is one of the best udon places I have ever had the pleasure of eating.If you find yourself in Osaka station and not knowing what to eat, I highly recommend this place, if you can stand waiting in line a little bit. It is located in an extremely crowded place and you will have to wait patiently outside, all the while looking at people enjoying their enormous bowls of all kinds of udon. I say udon, but the consistency is much more like ramen. I don`t know enough about noodles to distinguish between ramen and udon except for its thickness, so I keep making the mistake of calling it ramen. It is a little bit expensive, as udon goes, each bowl is around 1000 yen, but what you get is more than enough to satisfy your stomach. I was full all the way until dinnertime, and one has to be pretty active to survive the hustle and bustle of Osaka station for an entire day. I got the hot chicken udon in white sauce, while my partner got some fried chicken (karaage) with some more Japanese style soup. I of course liked mine best, being that I care more about thickness of the soup, but the other one was also delicious. Many of the dishes are served chilled rather than hot (because of the weather today), so it can cool you down as well as fill you up.I on the other hand am having none of this chilled nonsense. I want my noodles hot as the day is long. And you know what? Since most places in Osaka are airconditioned anyway, it doesn`t bother me at all.If you want to go shopping in Osaka, make sure you can get plenty of cool air around you. I recommend Osaka station for all its underground passages and accessibility. Do that and you won`t have to change your diet from hot to cool. Be like me. Resist the change!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXka5-food_osaka_shi_osakaTue, 31 Jul 2018 00:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXka5-food_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wem3e-living_tea_osakaI like drinking tea. I am a coffee person at heart; when I need to do anything during the day, like move or breathe, coffee is the way to do it. But there are times during the day when everything comes crashing down and you just need to sit back on the futon, turn off the lights and have a cup of tea. These moments are easy to forget, but are extremely important. Relaxing is a must and tea is the solution.In the old country, tea is anything but a culture. If you admit that you are a tea drinker in any sense you'll be laughed out of town! Tea is mostly for high-class snobs who have nothing better to do with the day than drink tea and make silly financial decisions. After coming to Japan, my tea drinking habits were considered beginner level at best. I was (and still am) a casual drinker compared to some of the natives here who drink tea in lieu of, well, anything. Even water!My favorite types of tea are the local variety. The teas that are advertised as being from a special place somewhere inside Japan. I have tried teas from Uji, Mie, Kumamoto and many other places, and I have collected a veritable smorgasbord of teas in my kitchen. And since I have just moved and have most of my belongings (including my tea collection) deep inside boxes, I think today is a perfect time to search for Shizuoka tea in my kitchen.Will I find tea from the most popular tea producer in Japan? Have I drank it all and n left the remnants as slim pickings? Let's find out!When I first open the box, I am greeted at once by one of my favorite teas from Shizuoka, 一番摘み. I know it's from Life, not one of your fancy packaging, but I like it. It tastes really nice and I have it at least twice a week.The other one I was actually given by someone a long time ago. It's a 緑香 which I have had for a long time, but never actually tried. I will eventually. After we properly move in.I only have a small part of the teas from Shizuoka in my collection. I am planning to get more and compare them later. It's one of the mini-adventures that happen in Japan, a country that has so many products and so many opportunities for trying new things. I cannot wait for the next one.This post is supported by Shizuoka Green Tea Guide, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wem3e-living_tea_osakaMon, 04 Jun 2018 10:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wem3e-living_tea_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MJ9yJ-shopping_osakaLike before, I bought a sealed thing with two PS3 games for 200 yen in TSUTAYA Book Garage. Last time, I got a baseball game and a Yakuza game, so I believe it was a fifty-fifty win for me.The thing about these that is important to remember, is that they promise games worth 1000 yen. But who decides what is worth what? Surely not market forces or Ebay. I am sure they just choose games willy-nilly that they don`t sell, and say “this one is worth X amount of yen” and call it a day. And the baseball game from the previous set? I wouldn`t even buy it for 100 yen. It was not good. (The Yakuza game was pretty good though!)Let`s see if luck is with me this time.Aaaaaand another baseball game. I feel like I am visiting the word はずれ again and again with these games. I have seen people play this game on their iphones in the train. I can`t imagine the enjoyment, but I will give it a chance.The other one? Hatsume Miku game… Oh dear….I think this game will stay in the box. Who knows, maybe I can find someone willing to pay 1000 yen for it. It`s worth at least that much!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MJ9yJ-shopping_osakaSun, 20 May 2018 14:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MJ9yJ-shopping_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gb2jJ-shopping_osakaI can`t resist a good mystery. Be it in dramas or in real life. I am a sucker for chance, even if I know I am getting scammed in some way. I may have a problem…Anyway, I went to this place called TSUTAYA Book Garage recently, and it`s pretty neat. It has a pretty big selection of books and manga for 100 yen and a video game selection as well. What caught my eye though was this wrapped up box near the entrance that said used PS3 games. You can`t see what games are in there, and each box costs 200 yen. But they promise games worth 1000 yen. I just had to have it. Who knows, maybe they have some games I wouldn`t consider playing myself unless I have them. I judge games by their cover. And it`s only 200 yen, so not so much of a dent in my wallet.The suspension is killing me….A baseball game… Wooo…I guess I could learn baseball by playing this…?And the other one…. A Yakuza game. Actually this one looks pretty interesting. I am definitely going to play this one.All in all, I think it was worth the 200 yen. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gb2jJ-shopping_osakaSat, 19 May 2018 14:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gb2jJ-shopping_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wjpZy-food_kyoto_shi_kyoto_osaka_shi_osakaThe boom is over. Minions are a thing of the past and we can get back to our mundane lives without those obnoxious, yellow creatures popping up everywhere. It`s over...OR IS IT?!?Did you ever try ordering delivery from AEON? I did this Golden Week. Instead of fighting traffic and/or hundreds of families going about town, I decided to stay home as much as possible and catch up on anime I have been neglecting up until now. (There`s this little-known anime called One Piece I`ve been binge-watching. I recommend it)And while enjoying not leaving the house, I ordered food and did only the minimum amount of moving. This is where the minion tart came in.I saw it on the website and it looked at me. With eyes. And I had to have it. Of course, I am a sucker for banana and chocolate flavors and any mixing of the two. And the picture looked really nice (not to mention the price was appealing at around 200 yen), so I decided to get it.What I got can only be described as slightly depressing. The eyes I saw on the website were part of the packaging, and not coloring of the tart itself. Remove the plastic and what you have left is a normal banana and chocolate tart. Nothing Minion about it. And no King Bob to console you while you eat it.Aesthetics aside, what can be said about the taste? Well, it`s banana and chocolate mixed. Of course it`s delicious! It`s creamy, chocolate-y and has a soft-ish tart that when eaten together makes you want just one-more-bite.You can get this in any AEON supermarket, probably as long as the Minion franchise lasts, which will be a long time, since the next Minion movie is scheduled to be released in 2020. Woo...Enjoy.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wjpZy-food_kyoto_shi_kyoto_osaka_shi_osakaSun, 13 May 2018 18:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wjpZy-food_kyoto_shi_kyoto_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z3lL9-food_osaka_shi_osakaI am a simple man. I like my beef red, my chicken spicy and my Pokemon yellow. There are set things in this universe that we don`t go against. One such thing is pizza and what goes on pizza.In the countries I`ve been to, you can get only the “normal” toppings. That is cheese, sausage, mushrooms, ham and if you are feeling completely sacrilegious, pineapple. Those are the things that most countries in the UN have accepted and are set in law. Or so I thought! When I came to Japan, I was greeted with the strangest pizza experiences. There were toppings like shrimp, corn, mayonnaise and tuna. And I resisted. Oh how I resisted. I practically declared war on the pizza chains in Japan. I refused to deal with such nonsense as pizza split into four separate worlds, with different toppings in each “corner”This all changed suddenly when I was introduced to dessert pizza. My SO brought this pizza from Napori no Kama. We had just eaten a nice meal of fried chicken and potato salad, so I wasn`t prepared for any surprises. On my first bite, my whole world shattered into uncertainness and deliciousness.The first pizza was strawberry flavored with a soft bread that was also kind of sweet. They completely complemented each other. And adding cream to the pizza raised it to levels beyond my imagining.The second one was banana and chocolate. Although a bit drippy, it was completely worth it.This is the top. After this there was no going back. Once I ate this, I could not with any self-respect say I`ve eaten pizza for dessert without surrendering all my prejudice about the aforementioned pizza toppings. It`s over. I love Big Brother!The point of being in Japan (at least for me) is to experience new things. That means shedding my previous prejudices and being open to new things. This is not easy, but every time I am glad I do. Just try it and see what I mean.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z3lL9-food_osaka_shi_osakaSat, 05 May 2018 08:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z3lL9-food_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxXxo-education_work_osaka_shi_osakaChanging your job is hard. New environments, new people, new tasks to deal with. Any one of these things will are difficult enough on their own. Combine them and you may have some great difficulties dealing with life. It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by the end of the first week. When I started working as an ALT, I had no idea what was expected of me. The training I received was mainly about how to teach the children, and even that was minimal as well. My first days were spent in front of a desk, mostly left alone and scared, getting randomly greeted by teachers who I would not see for the rest of the year (if ever).Aside from the things you obviously should do, like get to know the textbooks, grammar, vocabulary and everything else you`ll be using in the classroom, there are other, just as important things to consider. Find and learn the printer/ copier: You know the saying “The printer only works when you don`t need it”. There is all the truth to it. In fact, I have never had a printer break down on me when I`m not in a hurry. It just doesn`t happen. But, say you have five minutes until your next class. You suddenly realize you have to print 120 copies of that worksheet you made yesterday. You go to the printer and BAM it`s ….something. You don`t know what, because you didn`t study the inner workings of the printer. Does it need a new Master? Is there a jam? New toner? Who knows? I once took most of the loose things out of a printer to find a tiny sliver of paper that was stuck and “jamming” the entire thing. (All the while, the vice principle sat behind his desk and pretended to be busy). You can`t fight the natural order of things. The printer WILL break. You WILL be stressed out. But if you get to know the basics of the printer, then at least you might be able to be calm while you stress.Along with getting to know the printer, you can also get to know the whiteboard/ blackboard behind the vice principals desk. Most of the things there don`t matter to you in the slightest. BUT there is a chance. Once in a blue moon there will be something written there, special time schedule, some event that you have to attend etc. Treat it as kanji practice. Every morning, scan through the board, write down what you don`t know, put it in a flashcard, memorize, rinse and repeat. Or be like me and wear a black suit on Clean-The-Teachers-Room-Day…To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxXxo-education_work_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 03 May 2018 20:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxXxo-education_work_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wm5AO-living_medical_health_osaka_shi_osakaLet's talk about The Dreaded Bridge.I live in the city here in Japan. Pretty center if you ask me, although that is debatable. And naturally there are trains around us. And where there are trains there are train lines. And when there are train lines running across a big city, there are bound to be bridges.Now, I love trains. I really do. There is something about them that makes a core part of me giggle with excitement. My home country has a total number of 0 trains, so when I rode one for the first time I was already in my 20s.Around where I live there is a supermarket called "Life." It is a very convenient distance from my house, so it is not too close as to attract unsavory teenagers, but it is not too far away either to become a chore to go there every day.Except for one thing. The Dreaded Bridge!The bridge has a very popular train line running on top of it. That means trains are running over it at intervals of about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. All day, every day.Whenever I walk underneath it, there is a giant scream of sounds. Metal rubbing against metal, clicks and clacks of screws and bolts, the heavy train trudging over the bridge at high speeds.This sound makes the air ripple and the earth rumble. This vibration travels not only outside, but also inside your body. Your hearing becomes nonexistent and any conversation you were having must wait until the train says you can continue. If you were in the middle of a joke, pray you were not at the punchline (which of course you will have, lets be honest), otherwise your story will fall flat.There is a term, “infrasound,” which has been hypothesized to be the cause of many bad feelings in the body. The sound cannot be heard, hence the name. But the sound creates a feeling of dread and despair to anyone who is near it. When I heard about this term for the first time, I was certain it was pure bologna. I have never experienced this, so why should it exist! Well, I am a believer now.When I walk under this bridge with my groceries (bonus points for not being able to cover my ears, although due to the vibrations, this might be moot), I get a sudden anxious feeling followed by wanting to run away. The fight or flight mode suddenly kicks in and I want to throw my groceries at the nearest person and run to the hills. Being the civilized person that I am, I manage to contain those feelings rather quickly and pass under the bridge without alerting anyone.It took me a few months to figure this out. It was quite the revelation. I had been dreading to go to the supermarket without knowing why. It was not the supermarket itself that was giving me anxiety. It was the walk over there.Unfortunately this is Japan, so space is a luxury. This train line cuts right across the city so it is not as if I can find a way around it. It is there to stay. This bridge is one of my main reasons for believing that the countryside is better for your body and soul. There are hidden dangers everywhere. And I do believe this bridge is dangerous. I do not call it The Dreaded Bridge for nothing. I honestly believe that a feeling of dread and anxiety every day will compound into something that will cause serious health issues later in life. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day I will succumb.Wherever we live, there are unseen, unheard possible dangers around. Being aware and taking proper measures to avoid them is important for your mental health. I for one have started to go around to the train station and through there so I don´t have to deal with the sound of a full-speed train racing through.What sneaky things have you noticed have affected your health over the years?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wm5AO-living_medical_health_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 15 Feb 2018 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wm5AO-living_medical_health_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXqDv-living_howto_osaka_shi_osakaUsing those two spindly things coming out of your body to propel yourself forward has been an ability most of us learned even before speaking. It is one of the major ways of travel, second only to the newfangled horseless carriage. And yet. And YET, the same problems occur time and time again when walking around the city.The main problem is always ....other people and their oafish ways. So let's talk about the daily chore which is walking around the big city here in Japan and how to recognize the dangers involved.First and foremost is timing. Are you walking on the weekend or during the week? Because let me tell you there are major differences between the two. During the weekdays, your main opponent is the black-suited business man, usually accompanied with a matching briefcase. These are the professionals, not only in their field but also on the street. They march in tune with a rhythm that is not heard by most people. They are efficient and to the point with their walking speed and where they belong on the busy walkways. It is almost as if they all got the update downloaded into their brain and they are just following the simple code to get from point A to point B. There is no stopping them either. We are but one small speck of dust in the ever-blowing tornado of the Japanese business day. So the only real option is to join them. Come early to the station (whichever station you prefer, although the busier, the better) and take a step back from the flow. Study the current, the trends and the mistakes other, less experienced people make. Take notes, especially when you see tourists trying to cut through from the wrong end of the line. It is as educational as it is hilarious. Then when you have learned the ropes, try to get into the rhythm yourself. It will take a few weeks for the natural muscle memory to kick in, but if you succeed, you will be able to waltz through the busiest stations without even looking up from your phone (expert lvl).Be careful though. The weekdays are all well and good, but come the weekend and it's pandemonium! Never mind your new black suited friends. They are all in bars and restaurants patting themselves on the back and congratulating each other for a hard working week. Meanwhile, the mothers, the children and the elderly burst out of the woodwork and make their way to the malls, department stores and clothes shops. These people come in all shapes and sizes and woe unto you if you even attempt to learn the pattern here. The suitcases and baby carriages apparently double in size and speed and your shins are the target.All is not lost though. You can still enjoy your weekend outing with your family and friends without getting trampled by Grampa Joe and his posse of five-year olds. Take the outing further out to the countryside. Take that extra two hours of commute and go to the neighboring prefecture with less people than your neighborhood. AEON is everywhere. You'll be happier and your shins will thank you.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXqDv-living_howto_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 08 Feb 2018 10:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wXqDv-living_howto_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7jp0-living_howto_osaka_shi_osakaOne of the biggest cultural clashes you can get while living in another country semi-permanently is the mundane stuff. Stuff you don’t really think is going to be a problem until it does. Now, this includes things such as food preference (I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy in a country dominated by rice. Sue me!), getting used to pushy salarymen on the train every morning, and of course garbage collection.Many countries, my own included, deal with their garbage like they deal with their problems. Just sweep it under the rug and let someone else worry about it. And when you move to a country like Japan, you get an embarrassing culture shock. People actually care where their garbage goes?!I once dismantled an entire sofa with a box cutter and threw it out with the household garbage because I was too lazy to drive the whole thing to the dump! And now I’m supposed to know about burnables and non-burnables? (Given enough heat, anything is burnable).Depending on where you live in Japan, garbage is handled quite differently. Case in point: I currently live in the city. My apartment building has a little room on the first floor where I can throw any garbage any time of day. Although the city probably has some rules regarding what garbage is okay or not, and Amaterasu knows I separated my garbage professionally for many months after I started living here, it seems no one cares enough to notice. And so, I have devolved into separating my trash into two vague categories. Plastic-looking stuff in one bag and ...the rest... in another.Well, there is a third category. Paper and cardboard. A lot of supermarkets around Japan have these containers where you can drop off your paper-based items in exchange for points. Usually this is one point for one kg of things. Each point equals one yen in said supermarket.This was not a problem when I was living in the countryside and had a car. Every now and then I would load up the car with all our cardboard and drive it to the local supermarket and probably get around 10 to 20 yen worth of points. Including gasoline cost I probably netted around -10 yen in profit, but it felt right (or so I told myself).Now that I live in the city and sold the car off, surely I’m off the hook, right? Wrong! I have been coerced by the powers that be to haul boxes upon boxes to the local supermarket, which is probably around a kilometer away. Well, at least I am not paying for gasoline anymore, so guess it has some monetary value. Plus I suddenly have all this upper body strength I have no idea what to do with…After hauling about 100kg of paper over the course of a year, and collecting points enough for one bottle of coke, I was informed that I need to collect over 200 points to be eligible to use the points! I’ll be eagerly waiting for those two bottles next summer.Living in the countryside has its benefits. The clean air, the peace and quiet, and of course all the space. For people who can survive the terrible loneliness of not having a convenience store one every block, living in the countryside or even the suburbs seems like a wonderful idea. That is until you need to take out the garbage…This is where society breaks apart. You start wondering if you accidentally got sent to a dictatorship with rules that don’t make any sense on purpose. Questions like: ‘What do you mean I today is PET bottle day?’ ‘I’m only allowed to use bags provided by the city?’ and ‘What if I have a plastic wrap with paper glued to it? Where does it go then?’ will become normal pieces of conversation as talking about the weather.In the countryside, the rules are enforced by elderly ladies who are up at the crack of dawn, monitoring the garbage pile for anyone who isn’t following the rules 100%. Failure to comply might result in being shunned by the community. Or worse. Finding your garbage kindly returned to your doorstep.Different days serve different garbage too. Tuesdays might be burnable garbage, while Wednesdays may be plastic. And if tomorrow is burnable day, don’t think for a second that you can drop off your bags the night before. That might attract pests such as crows or cockroaches. You can sometimes see their carnage while walking down the streets. There will be half open bags and garbage lying everywhere. You will know it was crows or tanuikis or raccoons. On another note, the reason people put yellow nets over the bags is because crows have a hard time seeing through a certain shade of yellow. If they cannot see it, they will not try to eat it.It depends on the city schedule. You can find all that information either at the city website or by taking a trip to the city hall. Someone somewhere will be able to point you to the correct pamphlet.Some people, in case they miss the correct day for garbage disposal, will put their raw garbage in the freezer. This reduces the smell and keeps the garbage from attracting unwanted visitors.Whether you live in the city or the countryside, learning the ebbs and flows of daily life as soon as possible can mean the difference between living peacefully in your neighborhood and starting a war with the neighborhood watch. We may not be able to completely fix the social stigma against foreigners that exist in every country, but at least we can try to reduce the rubbish we create. Unless you like being woken up at 5 A.M. by a crow spreading your garbage all over your front door. I know I do. It`s like a horrible, horrible alarm clock.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7jp0-living_howto_osaka_shi_osakaThu, 12 Oct 2017 11:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G7jp0-living_howto_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Mn5Po-living_transportation_howto_osaka_shi_osakaSurviving in Japan is often tough. Sometimes it`s the workplace. Often it`s the home life that drains your soul. But many forget the place in between places that can reduce the hardest salaryman to a quivering hulk. The land of the commute!It is crowded. You are getting on the train. You spot a seat. So do twenty other people. Who should get it? Here comes the magical point system where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter. Take into account everything. The weather, your desperation, fatigue, how the other passenger looks etc. You calculate your points, weigh and measure and ultimately decide that yes, you deserve the seat. You wait the polite 5 seconds and nonchalantly claim your throne.The thing is, if someone doesn’t follow the rules (the totally fair ones you made up in your head) and ‘steals’ your seat, it can easily ruin your day. How dare they not know I had a heavy breakfast and therefore need to sit down? Do they to know how far my house is from the station? And the old classic “I saw it first”.Going early means arriving way early. Going on time means barely making it. Difference? More people to mess up your plans. Elevator waiting time, waiting in line, navigating through crowds etc all compound. This doesn’t happen if you leave early, but you will feel like you wasted your time because that extra half hour you suddenly have could have been used for more sleep.Unclaimed seats are another thing that you’ll see on your journey. People rush into the train. Some will climb over twenty people to get a seat, but once every blue moon, there will be an empty seat or two totally unguarded, like they are invisible. The group mentality tells you that you shouldn’t take the seat. There must be something wrong with it if no one is sitting down. There’s an odd standstill in the train where everybody actively and purposefully ignores the seat. It is the elephant in the room. It is screaming for attention, yet no one dares put their behinds on that soft surface, lest something terrible happens. It becomes a test of will. A game where if you sit down, you lose.The problem with that is on the next stop, a new game starts. New players enter the field and they don’t know the rules. They haven’t suffered the way you have. They haven’t lived the Great Seat Fiasco of 5 minutes ago. Therefore, they will take the seat without any regard to anyone but themselves and the game comes to an end.The clump of people near the doors vs the middle of the car is somehow a proof that we are nothing but sardines to the people in charge. No regard to anything but the most immediate surroundings. You come in, find an empty spot to stand and you stay there until you get out. No brainpower, no overthinking, simple like life should be.And the train is packed too. There are station staff pushing people on the train so the doors close. It is a terrible mess and you are glad you made it in. Backsides pushing against front sides pushing against backpacks and your body becomes part of the oneness. Singularity has occurred and it is in the form of twenty sweaty salarymen.When you finally get to your station and push out of the madness, you take one remorseful look back as the doors close. You had become intimate with these people. You were them and they were you. You look as the train starts moving again and you glance at the middle of the card where, actually there was plenty of space! The area around the door creates a sort of constipation, where people gather but are unable to move further inside the cart, because there’s this one other guy blocking the way. Then another person comes and another and another until we get into the aforementioned cornucopia of love.Keep these points in mind when riding the train and you too will be ready for the daily madness that is the Japanese commute lifestyle.Most of the problems with crowded trains and their stations comes from logistics. People need to be more coordinated, more in line with each other. Japan is lucky to have such an amazing social system where most people follow the manner rules of properly forming a line, not talking etc. But there is always room for improvement.Once we get those futuristic smart glasses, I foresee applications where you can anticipate people`s movements. People will be assigned places on the trains in order of how far they are going and how beneficial it will be for everybody (see above magical points system).It’s still better than driving.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Mn5Po-living_transportation_howto_osaka_shi_osakaFri, 06 Oct 2017 10:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Mn5Po-living_transportation_howto_osaka_shi_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wepOG-living_money_transportation_kyoto_osakaIf you do not plan on staying under a bridge when you come to Japan, you are going to need a roof over your head. Preferably with four or more walls to hold up that roof.The housing market in Japan is extremely varied; you can find buildings ready to fall apart at the slightest breeze up for hundreds of thousands of yen just because they are a convenient walk away from a main station. On the other hand some new buildings, literally built yesterday can go for very cheap because of a slightly dark neighborhood or a mild inconvenience.So, it is very important to look carefully when choosing your future home. In many countries moving in an apartment is a breeze. Your realtor finds the site, you sign a few contracts and suddenly you are standing in the empty living room, surrounded by boxes and holding a lonely spatula.In Japan, the process can be horribly daunting. There are bumps and traps around every corner and one misstep can cause your favorite apartment to go to the Jones's who just coincidentally were looking at exactly the same apartments as you were. You must not let them win!There are a few things to know when looking at apartments in Japan and we are going to look over them right now. Mind you I am no expert; all my experiences come from getting help from very skilled negotiators and people more adept at life than I can ever be. Back in the old country the act of procuring an apartment for rent is ridiculously easy. Like mentioned above, it is basically signing a few papers, bing bang boom. No problem. Imagine my surprise when the same level of trust wasn’t being offered when I, a bright eyed ALT landed in Narita. Looking at the apartmentNaturally, before you sign ANYTHING, you need to look at the place you are planning on getting. But it does not stop there. You need to really really look. Because around any good looking view, any beautifully feng sui creation lies a ton of cheap options and cut corners. Why do you think you are getting this apartment so cheaply anyway. You cannot expect them to gold plate your walls and not make you pay for them. Which is why you need to know about all the little things that make your perfect apartment not-so-perfect. For example, flooring. Is it scratch proof (or at least do inevitable scratches show easily), is it even or does it bulge somewhere? What about creaking? Are you going to be waking up everyone in the household every time you go to the bathroom at 4 in the morning? Walls are another thing too. Is the wallpaper going to fall apart after the first year? Where can I hang my Matisse painting? What kind of curtains can I hang (not IKEA?), How is the kitchen fan? Does the stove come with a CO2 detector? Also, where is the fire extinguisher located? Also, how is the traffic outside? Am I going to be listening to the sweet symphony of twenty motorcycles touring the neighborhood every Sunday? I actually had a big scare on my first day of moving in. We opened the balcony door and a high-pitched noise coming from the neighboring metal working company filled the apartment. My blood pressure dropped when I realized I would have to live with this noise every day for years to come. Luckily the noise never came again, and the neighborhood has been relatively quiet since, but MAN did I feel utterly helpless for a few days afterwards.These are but a few questions that come up with every single apartment visit. And they are important questions too. Try going online and printing out a list of things to check out. You will be surprised at the things you forgot to mention.Choosing a good realtorThis one is a bit harder in practice. The realtor is a creature that thrives on making you feel secure and friendly, but underneath that mask may be a ruthless salesperson who does not care about your well being as long as he or she gets a sale. I am not a good judge of character, but as luck would have it, my SO is as cunning as a Wall Street stock broker. So if you are not one yourself, find a friend or relative (or even your kind boss) with the ability to make any office worker sweat with fear as they might lose a sale. Someone who does not get emotionally attached and is ready to haggle for the smallest of things. It is nerve wracking to be sure, and I am not able to do it, but it is immensely entertaining to watch from the sidelines.Which brings me to the next thing, negotiation. Having a strong Japanese speaker on your negotiation table can and will be a huge help in getting that perfect apartment five minutes away from your favorite train station. It can mean the difference between settling on a 15 year old house with holes in the ceiling (for ventilation?) and a choice between any apartment in the building that was literally built yesterday. (By the way, it is a wonderful and totally not a horror-film terrifying feeling, knowing that you are the only people officially living in a 9 floor apartment building. And then hearing knocking on the walls…)Negotiation Of course you are supposed to pay for living in the apartment of your choice, but how much are you willing to pay and how low is the house owner willing to go before giving up on you entirely. It is all liquid and can really depend on which realtor company you talk to. For example, on the first apartment I rented in Japan, the realtor initially said there would absolutely no problem with me signing up for the contracts. Two days later they called and said I had been declined. My trusty army of negotiators came by the office and sat at the big table discussing and discussing before a decision had been made. The name on all the renting would be on my SO’s father’s name, and it would be officially his ‘summer house’, even though he never even stepped foot in the prefecture the time we were there. But more importantly, we (I say we, but let’s be honest here) managed to get a nice discount on the first few months of rent for the apartment. Partially because the company got all awkward about having said yes in the beginning.For our second apartment, we got a really good realtor who seemed to want to do everything for us. He was kind, gentle, had all our interests in mind. Imagine his face when we informed him that his rivaling company had offered us a discount on the commission fee for the exact same apartment. I’d like to think his heart shrank a few sizes as he saw his salary decrease by a few ‘man’ just because of one phone call.These are just a few things to think about when looking for apartments. Other things include:Having a Japanese speakerGetting a guarantorRemember: there is always room for a discountLocation is everythingHave fun apartment-hunting!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wepOG-living_money_transportation_kyoto_osakaWed, 03 May 2017 07:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/wepOG-living_money_transportation_kyoto_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z4ApG-living_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shiIt is time to talk about the differences between living in the city and living in the countryside. There are merits and demerits to both places and it takes a certain mindset to live in each one. I have had the pleasure of living in both the countryside and the city and somewhere in between as well, so I have plenty of conflicting opinions that some might agree with and some might think are completely out of this world.Now, I am not one to talk negatively about anything for too long. Everything has a balance of plusses and minuses, so while we complain about everything, let us at least find a silver lining and try to think positively for a while. The Countryside1.You need a carLet’s face it. If you live in the countryside proper, you most likely need a car to survive. The distances between places is just too great and the only thing in between your apartment and the nearest mall is rows and rows of rice paddies. There is barely even a Lawson in walking distance. Driving in Japan can be really ‘mendokusai’ for us foreigners, especially because many of us need to take a driving exam to be eligible to drive here. EVEN if you already have a license in your home country. And it is pretty strict too! Although if your home country is part of the list of exempt countries, you may skip 90% of the exam. I was extremely lucky to be from one of the countries on the list. I can honestly say I have no idea why, but I am very grateful.HOWEVER, the positive spin to all this madness is right around the corner. For example, when you need to transport something big and heavy, there is always a car available. I remember being able to transport my 40 inch TV in my small kei-car from the AEON mall located in the city next to mine. I also made a 6 hour trip to the neighboring prefecture to get a washing machine someone was getting rid of for 100 yen. The gasoline cost was about 3000 yen, so it worked out pretty well.2.Lack of supportGet sick? Need to go to the clinic? How are you going to do that when the nearest doctor is tens of kilometers away? 3.The bugs!If Japan is famous for anything, it is the bugs! The summer heat brings all the bugs to the yard! My first apartment was built across the street to a farm. Beautiful in a way, albeit extremely dusty. Come summer, apparently no one bothered to tell the ladybugs that a house had been built on top of their homes. So they clung to the walls of the apartment building like the scarab beetles from The Mummy. Wonderful.The City1.The bridge of death and other noisesThe city has a lot of sights and sounds. Mostly sounds though. And not all of them pleasant to be perfectly honest. Hearing the crunching sounds of rubber tires on paved roads bec1.omes as normal as cicadas in the summer. Some of the sounds you hear every day you can kind of tune out. People talking, the ding-dong of the train announcements and even the ‘ikakadesuka’ from tellers becomes white noise after a while. However, there are sounds that are almost impossible to ignore. For example trains going over a bridge you have to walk under. It truly is the sound of the deepest parts of hell and a topic for a whole other article.2.All the people! Oh yes. One of the densest countries in the world has a lot of people. Big surprise.Good thing about living in the city includes convenience. And what better way to display that convenience than by doing Amazon Prime Now. I think most of us have ordered a DVD or book from the internet sometime in our lives, so I will spare the details. Depending on where you live, the delivery can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Where I grew up, deliveries always took forever to arrive, if they arrived at all. Some countries just don’t qualify for receiving the Back to the Future Box Set until someone invents instant teleportation. And even then, my country will probably be the last on the list to get the technology. Sigh.Anyway, this new service from amazon, called Prime Now is very simple. You can order a number of products, from food, alcohol, electronics and many other and get it delivered to your house in a few hours. Yes, a few HOURS. You can even see the delivery person’s location on the app via GPS and some magic. Since the warehouses need to be in a certain close proximity from you, the area that qualifies for these Now deliveries are mostly in the larger cities. And the pure glee I get from ordering the stuff and getting it a few hours later never gets old. This alone almost makes living in the city bearable. Another good thing about the city is the variety of places you can go. This is nowhere near as obvious as when you need to find a doctor. Let’s say you live in the countryside. You go to the local doctor and he is completely unacceptable for some reason or another (there are plenty of reasons to reject a doctor by the way), so where else can you go? If you want someone else to see you, you need to search for a long time to find one suitable and probably they live in another prefecture or something.In the city, however, chances are that another doctor shows up the next day. There are clinics for every possible illness around every corner in the big cities and if you find someone you don’t like, you can just go next door (a bit of an exaggeration, but sometimes this is the truth). This applies to almost any service in Japan by the way. Not just doctors. Massage place, yoga place, gym, coffee shop, you name it. There are at least twenty other places in walking distance to where you are sitting right now.That is the main good thing about being a city person. The convenience in the number of people. Of course it will get a little overwhelming. Especially if you are in a hurry or something happens. During that time, all those people who make your life convenient suddenly seem to have the sole mission to get in your way and make you late. Whether you prefer the city or the countryside or whatever gray area exists in between, be assured that Japan has plenty of it. You may have to sacrifice some comfort to get your dream home, but it should be worth it in the end. What do you think? Are you a city person or a country lover?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z4ApG-living_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shiMon, 01 May 2017 12:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z4ApG-living_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GRZpG-living_food_kyoto_osakaThink about your most favorite food. The food that makes your mouth water at the thought of it, even though you already ate a full meal. The kind of food that is readily available, is fairly easy to make and does not cost an arm and a leg. That is the kind of food I want to talk about today. We are not talking about food like foix gras or kobe beef at a fancy restaurant here. Have you ever been at a fancy restaurant, eating kobe beef, foix gras, salad grown in the Emperor’s private garden all the while drinking (most expensive wine in the world) and all you can think is “oh, I could really go for some takoyaki right now”? If you think about food that makes the brain spring to life and explode with delight and excitement, more often than not it is B-kyu gurume.The term “B-kyu gurume” itself is pretty vague. From what I can gather, the term centers around food that is “common”, “not luxurious” and “cheap”. If a food can check off all these, then it can be classified as B-kyu gurume. And let me tell you, there is a LOT of food that goes into this category. Cheap, delicious ramen? B-kyu. Takoyaki at a festival booth? Definitely B-kyu. Mom’s home cooked omuraisu? Oh yes! Burritos from a converted WV van in an alleyway somewhere deep within Demachiyanagi in Kyoto? That one is a definite yes. In fact, I would be eternally grateful if someone could find this place for me again, I went there five years ago and I had the best burritos I have ever tasted, but I the place disappeared after that like some sort of magical destiny burrito place. What can be said about B-kyu gurume anyway. We have entire magazines and TV shows that pride themselves on making the most luxurious, fancy and, let’s be honest, ridiculous looking dishes, only to be yelled at by Gordon Ramsay by not using the right kind of garnish for this specific plate. So I love the term B-kyu gurume, since it is a kind of a stubborn challenge to the luxurious food that gets all the praise. Sure, it IS delicious most of the time, hence the price, but the term A-kyu gurume does not really exist, except when contrasting the B-kyu variety. (Am I making sense here?)Anyway, here are my top three B-kyu gurume dishes in Japan that deserve all my praises.1.OmuraisuThis dish has a special place in my heart. You cook some carrots, onions and whatever vegetables you like on a pan. Once those are thoroughly cooked, you dump a bunch of freshly cooked rice on top. Slather as much ketchup on the whole mess until you can’t take it anymore. Pile it on a plate. Then take some eggs, mix a little cream, stir and put it on a pan for a few seconds. When the bottom seems cooked, but the top is still a bit runny, gather up the pancake and dump it on top of the rice mountain like a little blanket. Draw some creepy eyes with the rest of the ketchup (mandatory) and serve. Or if you don’t feel like cooking, you can go to POM (Restaurant link)2.TakoyakiIn Osaka, I hear that a family will be violently evicted from their house, never to set foot again in the city if they fail to purchase a takoyaki cooking machine within 2 months of their arrival. ...Ok, maybe not, but it IS a staple for a family in Osaka nonetheless. Or so I’ve heard anyway. And it is not surprising. Takoyaki is delicious. Take some cut octopus, put it in dough, cook it in one of those half-ball shaped hot plates and you are good to go. Slather some sauce on top and maybe some green seaweed dust if you are feeling adventurous and you are good to go!3.Sara-UdonThis one surprised me when I first saw it, but DAMN if it isn’t one of my favorite dishes ever. Mostly because it is so easy to make, even I can do it. Just cut some chicken, fry whatever vegetables you have laying around the fridge, mix the sauce and pour the whole stew on top of dry noodles (I think they are fried, but who knows). The resulting goop has to be illegal, it is so delicious. And I feel good for getting a week’s worth of vegetable into my body in one go.Of course we are aware of the food called B-kyu gurume. We consume it almost every day, since we are stingy bastards who don’t go to fancy restaurants every day. But the fact that there’s a specific term for it, and not just “cheap food” or something, makes me want to appreciate B-kyu gurume for what it is. And whatever you do, don’t google it on an empty stomach.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GRZpG-living_food_kyoto_osakaMon, 03 Apr 2017 10:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/GRZpG-living_food_kyoto_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MYZxz-living_food_osakaSummer is coming! You can feel it in the air. The cold wind is mixed with long strands of hot air dancing, stroking your face and making you feel oddly violated.Coats get put in the closet along with wool sweaters, scarves and those gloves that you can use smartphones with. It is a wonderful time of the year, until it´s not.Now, I come from a fairly cold country. Our summers consist of slightly less outpouring from the sky and maybe the wind takes a small rest. I personally never put my coat in the closet, since you never know when it is going to start raining again. (And don´t get me started on umbrellas).So it is not surprising that a person, who grew up in a country whose data centers are cooled by opening the window, is not very knowledgeable about anything above 25 degrees Celsius. And when said person moves to a country, like Japan, where (NUMBER OF PEOPLE) die every year from heatstroke, things get interesting.This may sound like common sense to most people. These are things you learn in the first grade and you do them without thinking about them. To those people I say this: Try digging your car out of the driveway through a meter of snow at 10 in the morning before the sun is up and then drive on slippery ice for two hours because the roads don’t get salted only to find out your classes were cancelled not because of the snow, but because the teacher is sick. And to those who DO know both: Well, aren’t you clever.So here are a few tips and tricks to keep yourself cool during the summer, courtesy of a few years living in Japan and mostly thanks to a very patient SO.1.Cake blocks.You know when you buy cakes in Daimaru or whatever cake shop and they pack it with a bag of frozen gel to keep it fresh? Wrap a few of those bad boys in a towel and put it around your neck for instant cooling comfort.2.Cooling beddingGet yourself bedding with cooling properties. Pillow covers, blankets and things made out of poly-whatever materials that are cool to the touch. I never used to use them until they were forced on me, and now I cannot live without them.3.Water sprayWhen you are in USJ or somewhere where there are a lot of people, sometimes you can find one of these places that spray water in a fine mist over everything. This is surprisingly cooling, especially if you are walking through crowds looking for the shortest way to the Spiderman ride. I saw one of these in my school once, and after basking in the cooling mist for a while, I realized that it was there to water the plants…4.Avoid the top floorThis one came from my realtor when we were apartment hunting. He informed me that getting an apartment on the top floor would result in hotter summers and colder winters. Something to do with the sunlight hitting the roof and the heat going directly to your apartment. I didn’t listen at the time (when do I ever) and I have no frame of reference, but he was probably right. Top floor was totally worth it though!5.Keep hydrated. Really hydrated!This is a big one. Back in the old country, you are never more than a few meters away from a clean water source. Not that you need it that much, since the temperature doesn’t really go over the legal limit. HOWEVER, in Japan, I have been known to keep two or three water bottles with me AT ALL TIMES. I have been experiencing symptoms of mild dehydration and heatstroke without even knowing about it. Talk about dangerous! Take my advice. Drink when you can. Not when you are thirsty. If you are thirsty, it is already too late. (**I am not, nor have I ever been a doctor**)Although the sheer amount of vending macines in Japan provides a certain peace of mind that you can at least get something to drink at any given time. Provided you have 100 yen on you.6.Fans and circulators vs air conditioners.My fan runs at a maximum 35W. My air conditioner runs max 2000W. Any questions?7.When freezing water in a bottle ,freeze it only half full and on its side (making sure the ice does not block the mouth of the bottle). Then when it is frozen, put water in so that it fills the bottle up. The water will cool and you will be happy.8.GAMANThe word Gaman in my language actually means “fun”. Although there is nothing fun about being a sweating mess laying on the sofa trying to muster up the energy to change the channel, but every movement provides friction in the air particles which increases the temperature by a few nano-centigrades.You know the old saying (atsui neeeeeeeeee). What people are doing there is not try to be annoying. They are sharing their suffering. Misery loves company and all that. When you hear people saying that, why not just join in? When you can’t beat them, say “atsui nee” until winter comes.So in a few months, when you’ll be able to cook an egg on the sidewalk at night, just remember these few tips. I know this information is fairly useless for many of you, but for those few who, like me, are discovering the wheel in more aspects than one in life, I hope this will help.And if it doesn’t help, try to Gaman.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MYZxz-living_food_osakaFri, 31 Mar 2017 17:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MYZxz-living_food_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zKZRM-living_kyoto_osakaLet’s talk flowers. Flowers represent beauty in many if not all cultures around the world. Imagine living in the 1500s. What colors do you think would be around you? I always imagine brown, brown and even more brown with a small serving of brown. You know, wood houses, muddy roads, people wearing old linen or hemp. So where and when would people see colors? In spring when the flowers bloom of course. The harsh winters have made people so miserable that any new color is a blessing. So, suddenly, overnight, the weather starts improving. The bees are waking up and the trees lose their depressing, bare looks and then, without warning, the world explodes in yellows, reds and greens. This, I imagine, applied to Japan too, only a little bit more magical. The blooming cherry blossom`s pink color is a wonderful change from the normal background colors. Becoming popular in the Heian period, flower viewing was the inspiration for many haikus, wakas and many other forms of art, which the time period is known for.Just like most things to do with Japan, the basic principles are very simple but the depth of it is overwhelming. I mean, it is just a picnic under a tree, right? Well, yes and no. It depends on how deeply you are willing to get into the meaning of the whole thing.My favorite allegory to do with flower viewing and the sakura trees especially is that life is extremely fragile and temporary. Just like the sakura themselves, life comes and goes and we really do not have any sort of control over it. So we should just sit down and enjoy it while it lasts. Know that it will go away soon, so you appreciate it now before it goes away…… or something like that. The modern version of flower viewing are pretty similar to the old style, I guess. Go under the tree with food and alcohol and have a mini-party until it gets too cold or uncle Taku gets too drunk, whichever comes first.I love the fact that the news stations have a blooming-forecast, starting in Okinawa (where it is warm) going up to Hokkaido. It always reminds me of some sort of terrible event that is sweeping the nation. Who will be next?!?…anywayBest places to “flower view” in KansaiI have two favorite places in Osaka and one in Kyoto which I would say are the perfect places to “view” the flowers in a nice environment. First one, as always, is Osaka Castle Park. It is really big, so you do not have to worry about being crowded that much. It also has a beautiful view of the castle itself from many different angles.The park, like most places in Japan is very clean and I would say very safe considering its size. There are always some runners around, even at night, so… you know… safety in numbers and all that.The second place I would recommend is Sakuranomiya. See! It even has Sakura in the name. You can access it one station away from Kyobashi station on the JR Osaka loop line. Nothing compares to a large river with pink sakura trees going all along the riverside lit up at night. That is Sakuranomiya. The third entry on this list is the classical tourist destination. The Kamo River in Kyoto. It may not have “sakura” in its name, like Sakuranomiya, but its friendly atmosphere and the wide, shallow river makes it one of my favorite places to visit in all of Japan. I do not know what it is about Kyoto, but the atmosphere there is just so much different than any other city in Japan I have ever been in. Actually, I am pretty sure I know why. The lack of high-rise buildings and the forest-covered mountains on every side gives a certain natural aura that calms the heart in a very special way. Every time I go there, I can feel my blood pressure dropping down to pre-anxiety levels. It feels good.If you have not been there before, do yourself a favor and make the trip. You will not be disappointed.If this year will be your first flower viewing experience, please remember to take it slow, drink responsibly, eat healthily and for Pete`s sake, enjoy the flowers! To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zKZRM-living_kyoto_osakaFri, 31 Mar 2017 10:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/zKZRM-living_kyoto_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G6KWw-living_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shiSo you`ve decided to move to Japan. Great stuff! Japan has a lot to offer and is full of rich culture, be it historical or anime in nature.But beware. There are many traps and pitfalls everywhere you go. You might be lulled into a false sense of security and before you know it, disaster strikes like an angry Charizard.Surely all of us who have lived and loved in another county have gotten into some hard times. This is a normal part of the experience and should be embraced rather than ignored or feared. What does not kill us makes us stronger and all that. I am by no means a master expat; I have only lived in Japan for about 4 years in total and I am constantly being challenged by the cultural and sociological differences that are inevitable when living over 8000km away from your own homeland. The advice I give here is merely based on what little information I have gathered (I majored in Japanese culture in university, albeit a “C student”), mixed in with a lot of predetermined ideas and a lot of help from a very patient Japanese significant other. If that is a recipe you can get behind, by all means read on.You might not think this information is relevant right now, when you are just entering the country for the first time, but it is better to be prepared. The Honeymoon period“Yes, this is Japan! I am finally here. Everything is perfect. I love everything. Even the bad things are good. The food is amazing. The people so friendly and polite. I could stay here forever.”Sound familiar? This is exactly my line of thinking when I first came to Japan. There`s a thing called “the honeymoon period", which describes the feeling above. Total euphoria and a complete disregard to any negative thing for the country. It varies from person to person, but can last from a few months to a few years. It happens to most of us and is pretty nice on its own. The problem comes when the period ends. When all the little negativities and problems arise and your perfect country doesn`t seem so perfect anymore. Although it`s really hard to give advice on how to deal with the inevitable collapse of this utopian idea in our heads, I just wish more people were aware of this so they could mentally prepare themselves. Which brings me to my second thing:Take it slowSometimes, being reluctant can be beneficial. I understand the idea of wanting to try everything at once and loving it so much that you want more and more and more. Especially if you are her for a limited amount of time. However, just like with cake, which can be the most delicious thing you have ever tasted in your life, too much too fast can lead to some major misfortunes. Just.. I don`t know.. Try to see the whole picture before rushing into things you might regret. Try not to join the local Judo Dojo, only to be surprised they make you clean up everything and barely allow you to practice. (Uneducated anecdote)Heinlein's RazorSo the guy in the train was pushing you. The group of girls in the coffee shop were staring and probably gossiping about you. Everyone is giving you the cold shoulder. Everyone seems to be against you; seem to despise you with their eyes. And it`s probably because you are a foreigner and different, right? Wrong! (probably).Let us look at it from another perspective. How many people do you look at on the train and think “hey, this guy is different” or “why is he wearing that?”. Is there any malice in those thoughts? Probably not. But you`ve been looking at them and judging them with your eyes, probably giving them the creeps. And then they forget about the whole incident in the next five minutes. Because that`s what happens. The guy on the train? Super late to an important meeting with the Big Boss. The group of girls? Wondering where to go during Golden Week. The cold shoulder people? Been doing unpaid overtime for the past thirty years and just want to get this document faxed as soon as possible. Everyone is simple, busy, neutral individuals who in 90% of instances are thinking about themselves. Realizing that, we can just ignore their unmannerly stares and continue on with our own lives. It`s a country with 127 million people. You`re going to get all kinds a number of times.Micro aggression. This is a big one (even though it has “micro” right in the title.). The waiter at the restaurant brings you an English menu, even though you speak perfect Japanese and the menu has like 1/3 of the information the Japanese version has. People at the supermarket get flustered when you arrive, forget you said “no” when they asked you if you need a plastic bag, try to speak what little English they can, even though you just spoke to them in your “pera-pera” Kansai dialect. The umpteenth time someone compliments you on your chopstick skills, asks if you can eat wasabi, asks if your country has four seasons, asks if you can read the simplest kanji, tells you your nose is long, tells you you are soooo tall ad nauseam. In short, it is the little annoyances in the day that later combine into a giant Katamari of aggression that takes you down a dark path. We don`t want that.The solution? Develop the memory of a goldfish and just let the little things slide. I know it is not as easy as it sounds, but let us be perfectly honest. There are 127 million people here. I am not going to prove to them all that, yes, other countries also have 4 seasons (although mine only has 2 as far as I remember). There are a bazillion other tips I can give to you. Here are a few runner-ups:Go to a Batting center and release the built up stress by pretending the ball is your boss.Go to an onsen or sento and let your worries melt away.Find the good parts of Japan and embrace them. I try to find at least one thing I am grateful to have in Japan. It`s not hard. (Today I am grateful for the half price deep-fried stuff in the supermarket after 10 P.M.)Learn the language. I am only conversational level and it helps me tremendously. I just wish I had learned more in school.You are going to make mistakes. It happens and you can learn from it. Do not sulk.Don`t believe the internet. Not even me. The internet is full of angry individuals with poo-brains. Watch Doraemon. He is fun, educational and I feel he clearly represents the sociological status of Japanese society at the given time. (Last week, Nobita created a country in his living room and had border patrols and when his mom tried to enter illegally, the guards shot her. Then his friend became a fugitive in the new country to escape his mother`s wrath). In any case, just remember to be aware of your mental state and keep an open mind about everything. Keep yourself safe and try to have fun. Good luck and Welcome to Japan!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G6KWw-living_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shiSat, 04 Mar 2017 14:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/G6KWw-living_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z8pYz-living_food_osaka_osaka-shiRomance is important to the continuation of the species. (For more information, write to your local congressman). Western countries are no strangers to Valentine’s Day. With the flower giving and the red color and the awkwardness. But Japan took it a step further (where have I heard that before?) and made White Day as well.White day seems to have come from a confectionery company, originally marketing marshmallows and later white chocolate, as a way to increase Valentine’s Day sales. And man, did it work!I treat White Day as a sort of “Take-Two” for romance. I am prone to making mistakes, and it`s good to be able to re-do gestures without the faux pas that are inevitable in an international relationship. Japan has literally everything to offer if you look closely enough, so there is no shortage on things to do eat and talk about. So here are three ideas that pop up in my head when I think about Osaka and Valentine`s Day. (This applies to White Day as well.) 1.Osaka StationOsaka Station is a world of possibilities. It`s got everything under the sun for you to do. There is a plethora of restaurants to choose from in any level of romance you are looking for. The price goes up as well, I guess. Maybe making a home cooked meal is the way to go instead…You can meet your beloved in a romantic waiting spot outside Daimaru, in a place called “Toki no hiroba”. It`s the perfect place for a dramatic meeting, just like in the movies.2.NakanoshimaIf you are in Osaka anyway, take a stroll through the Dochika underground and come up on the end, you might be tempted to walk a bit further down and to the left to Nakanoshima. About five minutes from either Yodoyabashi station or Kitahama station (Keihan line) is the Nakanoshima Rose Garden. It is a lovely place to just walk around on a cold February afternoon………. Actually it is better to go in May when the roses are actually in bloom, but who can deny a good walk through a garden anyway, regardless of color. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway, and you are supposed to be focusing on your date!It`s a simple idea and best of all, it`s free!3.Make cake in the rice cookerBack in my home country, the oven, used for baking, cooking giant roasts and the like, is a staple in every building. It was actually built into the wall of my kitchen. In Japan, this is not so. You may have to shell out some tens of “man” to get a decent oven for something more than just heating toast. Instead of a cool oven, I have a very cool rice cooker. (I got it instead of a PS4 during last New Year`s Aeon gift card bonanza). The recipe I found on the internet explains a very simple way to make a chocolate cake. Well, things did not go as planned. The recipe said to use the normal rice cooker settings, but I guess I have to look at the manual a bit more closely. Oh well, lesson learned.I will be making this cake again on the 14th (and possibly next month too) and I really hope I don`t burn the house to the ground.4.Flower languageI am not afraid to say it. I would love to receive flowers some time in my life. I don`t think it has happened so far, as my memory fades with each year. I think everyone, even the most tough, hardy sailors would be at least a bit happy receiving flowers. In the olden times, people used flowers to communicate, just as we do these days with emojis. If you send someone a text saying “I am so looking forward to meeting your parents” and put a smiley face on the end, the message would be read as the truth. But if you put an eye-rolling yellow guy, a beer glass or even a sarcastic thumbs-up, guess what, you will be sleeping on the sofa for the rest of the week. It`s a mistake we all must face some day. During some ancient period, people sent flowers. The way it goes is you write a message to your long distance lover. This message is as vague as possible. But the real key is the flower that comes with the message. If the flower is, for example a violet, it represents “honesty”, but if the flower is an orange lily, it would mean “revenge!”. And of course if you send a cactus flower, you are looking for something more than a cuddle and a kiss on the cheek. Wink wink.The saying goes “you can`t go wrong with flowers”. Let me tell you, you can go completely wrong with flowers!So, a friend of mine (I must make it perfectly clear that it was not me**) brings his girlfriend a bouquet of flowers, selected because they are pretty, rather than what they mean. Yellow chrysanthemums look nice, right? WELL, it turns out, this genius gave his girl some funeral flowers!That was a nice conversation to have (not that I was there, of course).Whatever you decide to do during Valentine's and White day, remember to have fun. Make your lovey-dovey intentions clear and you will not be disappointed with the results. But what do I know. I`m still learning which flower is which.**I lied. It was meTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z8pYz-living_food_osaka_osaka-shiMon, 13 Feb 2017 09:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/z8pYz-living_food_osaka_osaka-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxnoG-food_kyoto_osakaA country`s food culture is like a window into the heart of the people who live there. You can tell a lot about people from what they eat. Italians like to have longwinded conversations, much like the spaghetti they eat, Russians have heavy personalities, like stroganoff, and Americans are like tater tots. You can`t just have one. And if it wasn`t obvious before, I just made all that up.I am a simple man. I come from a small country with a rather limited food culture (amongst other scarcities). So my knowledge is limited in the culinary aspects. If someone tells me a food comes from some country, I will believe that with all my might. I will take that information to my grave. So imagine a 20-something man in his first ever ALT teaching job in an Elementary school. Bright eyed, full of hope and wonder, wanting to make a difference in the world of children. “Let`s do self-introductions” the homeroom teacher shouts and everybody thinks that is a great idea! The kids want to know what strange and weird and possibly horrifying likes and dislikes this Non-native, but still somehow innocent looking enough English teacher has. “What Japanese food do you like?” They shout in unison (because I made them to) and I answer with full confidence “I like Ramen!”.…Silence in the classroom. The longest three seconds in this new teacher`s life. Oh-emm-gee, have I said something to offend? Have I possibly struck a sensitive cord that will inevitably result in my expulsion? Has the Japan dream died before it started?…no. Of course not. But I did get a room full of 10 year olds explaining to me that Ramen is in fact not Japanese, but Chinese instead. So I learned a valuable lesson that day. Until I went on Wikipedia and read that ramen is a Japanese cultural icon! Now I don`t know what to think anymore.So here I want to explore some staple food of Japan, find out its origins and whether it can be considered Japanese food (Read: What I can and cannot say in front of 10 year olds)1.Ramen (Definitely Japanese)As I said before, it most definitely is Japanese food, gosh darn it. Whatever the kids these days say. It IS true, however that the noodles themselves come from China. The word Ramen even comes from the Chinese word “lamian”. Now I don`t think I need to sing its praises or anything; I`m sure we all have a small, emergency ramen stash (or in my case, an entire full cabinet) but that`s just the instant stuff.The thing about Japan however, is whenever they get something new, they do not mess around with it. It is either fully in or out. So they took ramen, put it through its paces and created local varieties with flavors complementing the area. Don`t think you need to visit every small inaka town in Japan to be able to taste the variety however. (Well, you can, and if you do, please write an article in City Cost for each one). For example, on the 10th floor in Kyoto station, you can find a Ramen street, a collection of ramen shops from different areas of Japan. I recommend “Ramen Todai” since I love everything to do with pork. (The vending machines also have English language support).2.Tempura (possibly Japanese)Before the Portuguese came to Nagasaki in the 16th century, the Japanese “tempura” was just deep fried food, without any eggs or even flour (sometimes rice flour). I don`t know about you, but the batter made from flour and eggs are what makes tempura the irresistible delicacy that it is. Never mind what is inside the batter. If the crunchy, oily stuff on the outside isn`t there, I wouldn`t touch it with a ten foot chopstick.3.Curry (absolutely Japanese *terms and conditions apply)So I come to my Junior High School one day and half the school is missing. I ask the remaining teachers and they inform me that there`s a school trip. Kasajizo: Where did they go? Teacher:To the countryside. Kasajizo: Why did they go there? Teacher:To make curry. Kasajizo: Why curry? *teacher shrugs and walks away.Need I say more? (I also have a stash of curry roux in my other cabinet)Never mind the fact that the Japanese curry we know today was not available in supermarkets until the 60s. Today I think a household in Japan without at least one packet of curry roux is extremely rare. In short, Japan can call any food they want Japanese if they want. There is a certain separation from “Traditional” Japanese food, called Washoku and the western one called Yoshoku, but how far you have to look back for a food to become “traditional” requires a level of research that is beyond me. Post script: For the sake of weirdness, here is a picture of the strangest drink I have ever bought. Orange juice with rare cheese flavor. And yes, it tasted just as you would expect. Disgusting.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxnoG-food_kyoto_osakaMon, 06 Feb 2017 09:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MxnoG-food_kyoto_osakahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MAYQM-living_food_osaka_osaka-shiThe end of the year is apparently the biggest holiday of the year in Japan. People compare it to the western Christmas, as people go and visit their families and friends, drink, have fun and sing “ashita ga aru”. I have had some varied experiences when it comes to New Years in Japan.My first time in Japan, I was in university, I was in a strange country and ready for anything. So naturally I decided to go clubbing.I am not now, nor have I ever been the clubbing type of person, and I have no idea why I decided to go. The alcohol was expensive, the music was loud and I was an hour away from anywhere called home. Despite everything seemingly working against me, I actually had a pretty good time. I got mildly drunk, danced until I got self-conscious and had some deep, meaningless conversations with friends I don`t talk to when I am sober. All in all quite a successful night. I guess one of my biggest culture shocks happened that night too. After the countdown (big screen in the dance-hall and everybody dancing), we went outside to get a bit of fresh air. Right next door, there was another bar or club, but they had this big, wooden bowl and a cartoon-sized hammer just whacking a blob of mochi in the middle of the corridor. I was gaping in awe of this sight. I had never seen anything like this before in my life. So these mochi-people, seeing this foreigner wide-eyed stare, offered the hammer to me and for the first time in my life, I whacked mochi with all my might. And let me tell you, it was wonderful. I have GOT to get me one of these bowls!2015-2016 was pretty interesting too. There I was with my partner in Osaka. We decided to go to Osaka Castle to witness the countdown light show. We went walking to the park and I thanked multiple deities that someone invented “Kairo”, the self-heating bags that you can keep in your pocket or glue to your clothes to keep warm. It was freezing cold, and it did not help that we had to stand outside, waiting for the countdown to begin. So we wait and wait and wait. Finally people start to count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Yay! Nothing… The normal lights of the castle turn on and life continues as if nothing had happened. No light show, no nothing. It. Was. Cancelled.Oh well, we went to the shrine next to the castle and did the whole “first visit to a shrine of the year” thing. There were people playing drums there and another group of people were giving out free hot soup. You know the feeling when you are really thirsty and finally get to drink a glass of water and it tastes like honey from the heavens? That is exactly what the soup tasted like. We were freezing by that time, so a hot cup of tonkatsu soup was just the right thing to kick start the body back from hibernation and get our good feeling back. We thought about waiting to see the first sunrise of the year. We thought about it for exactly one second before running inside to warm up. This New Year`s eve was a little different.One major difference is that, due to some … family matters … we cannot really celebrate.In Japanese tradition, when a family member passes, you are encouraged not to celebrate anything for a few months afterwards (even up to a year). That means, no shrines, temples, weddings, and no major celebrations. In light of these new circumstances, and looking back at our failures in the last seconds of 2015 what with Osaka Castle not lighting up and all, we did not make the same mistakes again. We refused to be fooled by cancellations and promises of lights when there are none. This time, we acted like the middle-aged couple we aren`t and stayed home. No going out in the freezing cold. No standing in line for 45 minutes to pray for luck and wealth to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and a definite no to all crowded areas. It was bliss! We stayed home all night watching endless comedy shows on TV and ate cakes. (That doesn`t count as celebrations, right?) Doing that, we managed to relax, save money (since we didn`t take any expensive trips) AND hopefully we gained some holiday weight.Who knows what next year will bring. There are plenty of events and shows in between Christmas and New Year`s eve. Light shows, concerts, dinners with distant family members whose name you conveniently fail to mention because you have no idea what it is. The possibilities are endless. Whatever will happen, one thing will be guaranteed. It will be interesting. It wouldn`t be Japan without a little bit of surprise.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MAYQM-living_food_osaka_osaka-shiTue, 10 Jan 2017 19:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MAYQM-living_food_osaka_osaka-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gyr6w-living_shopping_transportation_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shiThis year has been a remarkable one. With celebrities dropping like flies and America`s political biosphere on fire, it is good to look back and reflect on all the good and bad things these past 365 days have brought. Of course, living in Japan is a whole other story. When you stay here for long enough, the outside world starts to look like some distant memory; nothing can touch you. For some, this means the stress of war, turmoil and new presidents (not necessarily talking about Trump here. Iceland also got a new president this year, albeit one with less fabulous hair). Some people come to Japan to run away from their problems. The problem is that this country is not free from its own problems. Troubleshooting in a completely different environment is not for the faint of heart, and many well-meaning individuals buckle under the pressure and leave within a few months.There is a term I often refer to when discussing the expat experience: The Honeymoon Period.For those not familiar with the term, The Honeymoon Period is the time period in the beginning of your stay somewhere unfamiliar, where everything seems perfect. The flowers smell fresher, the air is cleaner, the people more polite, trains on time and the food. Oh my Glob, the food! Like an explosion of feel-good senses burst from your brain and permeates everything you see. Even the homeless people seem to be smiling.Now, as we hopefully know by now, all good things come to an end. It is sad but true. You wake up one morning and you find an uncooked rice in your bowl of gyudon. You drop your change from the conbini because the teller put the coins on top of the receipt again. Some kid yelled “Why Japanese people!” at you for the three-thousandth time and something inside you. Just. Snaps.This is when the honeymoon period ends. The time it takes differs between people. For some it takes only a few months. For others, a few years. The most common timeframe I`ve heard is two years. It seems that the second or third year for expats is the hardest one. I guess it has something to do with starting to see patterns in life. You`ve experienced the same things before, the veil of freshness drops and your brain starts getting bored. And when it gets bored, it starts focusing on the negative parts in life. And that`s when you`re in trouble.For myself, I have no idea where I am on the “honeymoon-period-curve”. I am on my third consecutive year in Japan, but my fourth in total. I have experienced some hardship and annoyances during that time, but never have I gotten close to saying “well, it has been fun. I`m leaving. See ya never!”. So for the difficulties of 2016, I would only count the minor grievances as a collective, rather than one big event. And even then, these annoyances don`t add up to me wanting to pack my bags.So, without further ado, I present the top 5 gripes of 2016 in no particular order.1.The amount of people (hito-gomi).There are so many people in Japan. There are so many people in the cities. There are so many people in my train station. Why can I not get a seat on the train at 7:30 on a Wednesday in the most populated station in West Japan? Why is everybody pushing me? Why is that person running? What does he know that I don`t? Don`t you dare steal that seat. I saw it first! What`s that smell? Why is a school baseball team taking the train now? Despite all that, I actually really like riding trains.2.Polite versions of already polite enough wordsThere`s the plain form, there`s the polite form, there`s the super polite form and probably twenty more forms. I barely mastered using the desu-masu forms, and the teller in the Disney store just asked me something I couldn`t understand. I say “eh?” and the teller replies “puresento?” like I`m a damn fool. Even now, I cannot recall what she actually said, but I know it was not a “masu” form of any word I know. Or maybe it is. Now, the real reason I don`t understand is because I haven`t bothered to learn as much as I should have. That doesn`t make me feel any better, you know!3.The lack of sleepJapan has such variety. There are so many things to do here. Everything is available almost any time of the day. 24/7 entertainment. Why would you want to leave? Why would you want to sleep? So what if you have to wake up at 6:30 to dance in front of hundreds of 6 year olds. You can survive on 3 hours of sleep and coffee. There is no escape. Sleep or boundless entertainment. Choose one and regret the other.4.The varietyWhy buy this when you can buy that? This place has a discount, but this place uses point cards. If you sign up now, this place offers a free takoyaki machine with your purchase. Options, options, options!Sometimes I wish for a world that has just ONE STATE APPROVED TOILET PAPER TYPE.And then I remember that I actually like takoyaki. Oh well.5.The weatherIt`s too sunny. It`s too cloudy. It`s too rainy. It never snows! It`s too cold! Why can`t it be summer in wintertime and winter in summertime? Why is the weather not like it used to be back home? What? It`s because I`m not home? What`s this nonsense?Now, as you may have noticed, these are extremely minor annoyances. Barely worth mentioning. And all of them can be summed up to my own personal view of the world. My own failures as a person, my own inexperience and my own irrational, egotistical ways. And that is the way of the world. We all get upset sometimes that the world doesn`t revolve around us. And that`s quite alright. As long as we recognize and deal with our feelings in a productive, safe manner (Batting center!), it`s alright to feel the way we feel.If you start feeling overwhelmed and alone, just remember that there are options (options, options, options!). We all get into a slump every once in a while. As Doctor Seuss said, there are plenty of ways to “unslump” yourself.2016 is coming to an end. The next year will promise another four seasons and a whole lot of reasons to leave the country. It also gives us just as many reasons to stay.So let`s rejoice and count our lucky stars we`re not celebrities.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gyr6w-living_shopping_transportation_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shiThu, 29 Dec 2016 03:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/Gyr6w-living_shopping_transportation_kyoto_kyoto-shi_osaka_osaka-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MP5gz-living_food_shopping_transportation_tokyo_osakaChristmas back home is always special. The entire extended family gets together, has a massive dinner with ham, turkey, goose, browned potatoes and an endless flow of gravy. Presents and pleasantries are exchanged, everyone is happy.This will be my fourth Christmas in Japan, and honestly, although it doesn`t have the same `homey` feel to it, I enjoy it so far. Different countries have different ways of expressing themselves. My first Christmas in Japan I honestly can`t remember. I was in university and was living in a dorm. Although New Year’s eve was memorable, with all its drinking and dancing and attempting to count down from 10, Christmas passed quietly by without so much as a peep.A few years later, after I properly moved to Japan, I had my second Christmas here. I was living in Kanto, with great access to Tokyo without the hustle of having to actually have to live there. So, naturally I went to Disneyland. On Dec 24th. Now, I know what you might be thinking. Is he insane? Nobody goes to Disneyland on Dec 24th! There`s too many people! Well, I was pleasantly surprised. I don`t know if it`s the park layout or the wonderful people who work there or some sort of Disney magic, but it didn`t seem as crowded as it should have. We even managed to go on a few rides and see Santa in the parade (yes, he waved at us!). I highly recommend going to Disneyland and Disney Sea (on separate days of course) during the Christmas season. You won`t regret it.The third Christmas was after my partner and I finally moved to Kansai. Naturally, there`s no substitute for Disney, but we made do with Universal Studios. Now, tickets to USJ are considerably cheaper than tickets to Disneyland, especially yearly passes, so we couldn`t …pass on that deal! (haha)I have to say, when you only have one chance to go to Disneyland, the pressure to have fun makes the experience a little bit frightful. So, when we have yearly passes to USJ, we go there, ride the Harry Potter rollercoaster, decide that we`re tired, leave and come back the following day. Or not. It`s our choice. And I think that`s one of the great draws of having a yearly pass.If you`re on the fence whether or not to buy the yearly pass, keep this in mind. If you`re pressured to have fun, you won`t have fun at all.This year is my fourth Christmas in Japan. What will we do this year? Well, there are a few options to consider. 1.For the traditionalist in meDecorating Christmas trees is a wonderful tradition that brightens up the house and brings out the hidden interior designer in us all. I usually try to spot the moment 100 yen shops start selling Christmas products (usually right before Halloween ends). My partner and I usually end up buying way too many decorations and have no idea where to put them. But being creative is just part of the fun. Now, right after Christmas is the perfect time to buy discounted decorations. You can find products for up to 90% discount in some stores. This is the time to buy in bulk. I buy a lot, put them straight in a box and put the box on a high shelf not to be opened until in November the next year. It`s a little present from me to me.2. For the food lover in meThere`s no shortage of good food in Japan. Getting all sorts of foods from other countries is a breeze compared to just a few decades ago. Although getting ham from Europe seems pretty difficult. But anyway, the old story about how Japanese people simply cannot celebrate Christmas without KFC chicken seems a bit off to me. The people I work with are more inclined to eat chicken from Mos Burger. This year, my partner and I decided to go all out. We pre-ordered Christmas cheesecake and chicken from our local Life Supermarket. I am very looking forward to seeing the results.In the years past, we simply went to the supermarket on the very last minute, so that we could feast on the discounts, rather than the food. I really recommend doing this if your wallet is lighter than a helium balloon.But the options are as many as there are people (and there are a lot of people here).3. For the commuter in meThe bigger train stations usually have something for everyone. There`s illuminations everywhere, the shops are decorated, the classic Christmas songs are blasted through every speaker possible and not to mention all the great Christmas bargains. I personally recommend either Kyoto station or Osaka station. They usually have some events that make going there worth it. Unfortunately, I always forget one important thing about Christmas in Japan. You see, back in Iceland, Christmas starts on December 24th. The entire thing is filled to the brim with celebrations and special days. Christmas officially ends on January 6th, the 13th day of Christmas. This is when you are allowed to take down your Christmas decorations. This is not the case in Japan. In Japan, Christmas begins when the stores decide to put up the decorations and it ends on December 25th. After that, they have to get ready for New years, which is more important to the native Japanese.What I`m trying to say here is, if you`re like me and wait until the last minute to do everything, please remember that the last minute is a lot sooner than you think.Whatever you decide to do this Christmas, just remember one thing. That last box of Christmas lights in IKEA is mine!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MP5gz-living_food_shopping_transportation_tokyo_osakaMon, 12 Dec 2016 09:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/Kasajizo/MP5gz-living_food_shopping_transportation_tokyo_osaka