http://www.city-cost.comSat, 18 Jul 2026 02:25:55 +0900Hitting the books once again as a Ph.D. student in Niigata Prefecture. Although I've lived in Japan many years, life as a student in this country is a first. Blessed Dad. Lucky Husband. Happy Gaijin (most of the time).enCopyright © 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/genkidesuka/GogxZ-living_transportation_tokyo_niigataThey don't make cars like they used to. Once upon a time, I had a 2003 Nissan El Grand, which was back when Japanese car manufacturers actually made vans that were van-sized.Here was my beauty:The car had seats in the back that could be flipped around to face backwards or front. It could seat seven with ease. The rearmost seats could fold flat or be lifted up and out of the way entirely. There were automatic privacy curtains.You'd think that something this big was tough to drive, but it was perfectly engineered to fit into every parking spot I ever needed to use in Japan.As with all good things, it came to an end, and I have not been able to find a similar model among any of the newer inventories. Am I destined to be without another car like this?If you know of anything that can match the size or comfort as this masterpiece, please let me know!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GogxZ-living_transportation_tokyo_niigataMon, 02 Feb 2026 17:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GogxZ-living_transportation_tokyo_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z42dk-living_medicalFor some time I had been concerned about the logistics of COVID and emergency evacuations. As we all know, being prepared for natural disasters is part of living in Japan. There's an underlying level of stress each time we have an earthquake that shakes the house for those few moments too long, or when typhoon warnings have rain forecast for days on end.For many down in Kyushu right now, those feelings of stress are no doubt amplified as a result of the torrential rains and floodwaters that are currently hammering the region. The Japan Times noted back in May that local governments had already been considering how to "socially distance" evacuation centers,with ideas like cardboard partitions and certain amounts of space being used to separate individuals. There was also the suggestion by government officials that natural disaster evacuees would bring their own masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer to evacuation venues. This is a nice idea in theory, but there are always going to be people who don't have disaster preparedness kits at the ready.Another concern for evacuation centers is that a number of scientists are mounting evidence to suggest that coronavirus is airborne. The virus is still so new to humanity that doctors, scientists, and specialists are learning as they go. How do the symptoms manifest in people? How do some individuals show no symptoms, and for others it's deadly? We all have to remember that when the virus came to light originally, the World Health Organization first thought human-to-human transmission wasn't possible. We all know now that was a fallacy, and that airborne spread could be entirely possible.The photo you see below is from an evacuation shelter after the 1995 Hanshin Earthquake that struck Kobe. It's these kinds of images that concern me. If a disaster of this size and scale was to hit Japan, the logistics of socially distancing the affected population would be hard enough. There's also the emotional component that would play into it. Being unable to debrief with others in the same circumstances, and forced to ultimately process tragedy and destruction in a cardboard partition sounds like a recipe for disaster.A disaster center after the 1995 Hanshin Earthquake provides some context as to how hard social distancing could be. Credit - WikipediaI feel for all of the people in Kyushu being faced with disaster at their doorstep. Dealing with the effects of these circumstances would be stressful even with nothing else going on, but amid a pandemic makes it almost unthinkable.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z42dk-living_medicalTue, 07 Jul 2020 16:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z42dk-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBqdj-livingBeing an international student in a foreign country is an interesting yet challenging experience in many ways, but the coronavirus has seen that become even more of a true statement. At my university, we've had to adapt to a new normal courtesy of COVID which has been hard on the student body and faculty members alike.One of my peers who graduated this month shared this photo with me. No family or friends allowed to attend, social distanced seating, and masks at the ready.No "outsiders" are allowed on campus My university took a stance when the COVID crisis appeared to be exploding, and set limits on who was able to visit the campus. During regular times the campus is open to anyone who wants to stop by, and many people in the local area take up this offer. The cafeteria is especially popular with the local community as it serves up a variety of international dishes at very low prices. This has been suspended indefinitely, with campus grounds and amenities strictly for students and faculty. The creation of a university bubble is an interesting concept, but as a number of students live off campus (myself included), the real question might be how effective the bubble really is.International Festival CanceledOne of the most enriching things about studying at an international university is the diversity. My peers come from all corners of the globe, and each year the university hosts an international festival where our different cultures are celebrated through song, dance, and a sharing of traditions. There are also booths set up where students prepare and serve food specialties from their home countries to festival attendees. Out of an abundance of caution the festival was canceled for 2020 and since it's an event that the entire community looks forward to, it was demoralizing for many of us. With the numbers of COVID cases increasing across Japan once again, it's possible that more community events and festivals will be canceled. On a campus that is already geographically isolated, these cancelations make international student life even harder.A new look to the usual graduation ceremonyThe Class of 2020 had a graduation ceremony that they will undoubtedly remember, and possibly for all the wrong reasons. Graduating is normally a celebratory experience, something which you take pride in sharing with your friends and loved ones who helped to get you through the tough times.The 2020 ceremony was a rather anticlimactic affair. Those who were graduating this year weren't allowed to invite friends or family, so the auditorium was comprised of students only. If that didn't make the event feel lonely enough as it was, social distancing was required by the graduates, with a seat width of distance sitting between each of them. The University President, Deans, and other faculty members were masked up on stage. The precautions were what most of us would deem responsible, but a number of my peers graduating this year felt cheated by the curse of COVID.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBqdj-livingWed, 01 Jul 2020 16:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBqdj-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXrL5-living_saitama_shi_saitamaSo I’m just minding my own business, taking the Shinkansen down to Tokyo from Niigata, and this gold object catches my eye from the window.We’re about to pull into Omiya station, and as many times as I’ve been here, I have never noticed this before.I inspected it closer, and then I saw what it was:It’s a building shaped like a rocket!Crazy...Now I have the rest of my train ride to contemplate what the heck that building is all about. Who designed it? Why did s/he design it that way? Is it an office building or an apartment building? How long has it been there?Can anyone out there tell me why there’s a rocket shaped building near Omiya station???To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXrL5-living_saitama_shi_saitamaThu, 18 Jul 2019 16:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXrL5-living_saitama_shi_saitamahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8rEL-living_medical_healthAfter living in Japan for many years, I sometimes forget how difficult it was first starting out here. It's easy to take for granted some of the things that have now become routine, but it wasn't always that way for me.Since it was tough for me the first time around, I thought I'd share a few tips on taking care of your dog here in country. I'll start with two things that are annual traditions now: Rabies shots and Heartworm medication.Rabies shotsIf you have a dog in Japan, the rabies vaccination is required annually and must be registered with the city office. You'll need to travel to your local vet and fill out a slip of paper with the following items:- Your Name- Address- Signature- Dog's Name- Dog's Breed- Dog's Birthday- Dog's SexFor about 3000-6000 yen (depending on your vet), your dog will get the rabies vaccine, and you'll get something that should look like this:The envelope will contain your receipt and/or signed proof of vaccination, and the tags are meant to go on your dog's collar (though I've never seen that enforced). Just be sure you have these tucked away somewhere safe for record-keeping.Again, you'll need to do this every year to ensure that your dog's records are up-to-date.Heartworm medicationAnother annual medical task for your dog is getting heartworm medication. Heartworm is a serious issue in Japan given the high population of mosquitoes, especially this time of year during rainy season.In order to prescribe your dog heartworm medication, your vet will first need to do a quick blood test to ensure s/he does not have heartworm already (hopefully that's not the case!)After the test, you'll be able to choose from a variety of different heartworm medications. There is an annual shot, a liquid variety, and a dog-treat variety. Some options include protections beyond heartworm such as other types of insect-borne illnesses. My dog doesn't spend a lot of time outside (he's a Shih Tzu--not really bred for the great outdoors), but if you have an outdoor dog, you will probably want to go for the options with added protection.Me, I opted for the treat kind solely for Heartworm, and this is what I brought home:There is a slip showing that my dog does not currently have heartworm, and you can see the meds right next to it.To note, in Japan, it is not really necessary to have heartworm medication year-round because of mosquito life-cycles here. The most important period for heartworm medication is summer time, especially immediately following the rainy season.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8rEL-living_medical_healthWed, 26 Jun 2019 15:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8rEL-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRqRW-living_food_galleries_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFor a relatively small city tucked away in the Japanese Alps, Minamiuonuma offers a wide variety of activities. For me, one thing I really enjoy doing is touring breweries and factories. It is a unique way of getting insight into regional products, the industries driving local economies, and briefly immersing myself into the livelihood of the area.Minamiuonuma offers more than a few wonderful experiences to that end, with a variety of artisanal shops and traditional craft factories, but I recently took a tour to two that focused on production popular beverages: amazake and wine. Amazake:Uonuma Koji SalonUonuma Koji Salon represented the traditional side of Niigata industry, as Amazake is a rice-based, low alcohol or non-alcoholic drink that is a quintessential part of regional culture. Since Niigata is best known for its rice and pure water (the two main ingredients for amazake), it is only natural that Japan's newest amazake factory took root in an area where rice is being cultivated right next door.The Salon offers five key elements. The first is a cafe where you can enjoy various types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic amazake as well as amazake gelato and soft cream. The second is a workshop, where you can have a hands-on experience with the special rice and other ingredients used to produce koji and then amazake. The third is a curated library where you can browse (or purchase) books focused on regional culture and traditional Japanese drinks like amazake. Fourth is a shop offering a variety of local products including treats, crafts, and (of course) amazake.The final element is a factory tour. The tour lasts from 30-45 minutes, taking you through this brand new facility where you can see the different stages necessary for producing amazake. Best of all, the tour is free.If you drive, Uonuma Koji Salon is about 15 minutes from the Koide interchange (Kan-etsu expressway). For those taking public transport, it is about a 5 minute taxi ride from Urasa station, which is accessible via the Joetsu Shinkansen.Wine: Agricore Echigo WineryWhile Niigata is known for its sake products, the region is fertile and produces surprisingly delicious grapes. Unlike many wine grapes, the ones grown in this region spring from bushes rather than vines, producing wines with a typically sweeter finish than traditional varieties. The winery itself is similar to Uonuma Koji Salon in that it has several key elements to it. The first is the main showroom/shop, where you can sample different varieties of wine while selecting your bottles for purchase. The shop also offers a range of locally produced goods and crafts. There is also a gelato cafe, where you can try a variety of unique flavors inspired by the region. Of course, there is a wine-flavored gelato always available to taste. Located beneath the showroom is the wine cellar, where you can see where the wines ferment and age. In uniquely Niigata-fashion, the wine cellar employs snow collected during the winter to keep the wine climate controlled during the warm summers.Echigo winery also has a fantastic restaurant on site. The food is Italian-inspired and all of the wine is produced in-house. Accompanying the fine meal is the stunning mountain vista from the large windows of the main dining room.Echigo Winery is only about a three minute drive from Uonuma Koji Salon, and a three minute drive from Urasa Station.The two make for a wonderfully complementary experience. All in all, if you're looking for a wonderful way to spend a few hours and get connected with the local industry along with some fine dining, the Uonuma Koji Salon and Echigo Winery offer the perfect one-two punch.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRqRW-living_food_galleries_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 22 Jun 2019 14:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRqRW-living_food_galleries_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7EvP-living_badexperiencesI like community service. I think it is an enriching experience both for the community and for the people who partake in it. So, when my university asked me to participate in their annual international festival, I said, “Of course.” The task seemed simple enough: make onigiri for all of the festival guests. Who can’t make a few rice balls, right?Little did I know what would be coming next.After agreeing to partake in the onigiri-making, I got a mass email stating that all onigiri-making students needed to show up to a conference area for a briefing.Okay, so we need to get the lowdown on what’s going on for the event, I thought. No problem.I arrive at the briefing with about fifteen of my classmates, and spirits are high—we’re all excited to support our school and the local community.The briefer starts going through the timeline of events for the next couple of months until the festival. Then she mutters something I didn’t quite understand. Before I have a chance to ask what she just said, the briefer does this dramatic board flip, switching the side of her white board that had nice, friendly flyers about the festival, to this:“Time to explain kenben,” she said.I’m not that great at Pictionary, and I’d never heard the term kenben before, but that white board said more than enough.I think for some of the students, it was such a shock that they didn’t even react to it. Me, I was...ummm…how do I put this...rather upset.Look, I’m all for food safety. I am. I’m also not scared of medical tests. I used to be in the military where I’ve been poked and prodded and inoculated and cut on. Yet, at no point in my 34 years on this planet has anybody ever said, “Hey, Mister, I need your poop. Just get this little hook thing, scoop a bit out, and Bob’s your uncle!” Okay, getting past my initial revulsion of the test, I began to notice major flaws in the logic surrounding it. The “sample” needed to be submitted over a month before the festival. A month! As if it isn’t possible to get E.Coli or some other communicable disease in less than 35 days. C’mon, man. The other thing is that the ingredients are not being prepared in an tested facility. It’s just some random equipment that people are using for the festival!I didn’t say anything at the time, but after the briefing session was over, I talked to the school representative and the rep from the city office. I questioned the necessity of the test. They responded that it was Japanese law that required all food handlers to complete a “kenben,” even if only for festivals.I explained that I’ve been in Japan most of my life, and I’ve been to plenty of festivals with some oyaji chain-smoking and hacking up a lung while frying up his yakisoba. There was no way they could convince me that that same guy submitted a stool sample to the city office before he went to the festival.They said, “No, of course EVERYONE does the kenben.” Then I brought up the issue of the month in between the sample and the festival. Their response: “Well, I guess someone could get sick in between, but I’m not a medical expert.”NOT A MEDICAL EXPERT.We went back-and-forth a little more, but what it came down to was a choice between supporting the school and doing the kenben, or not participating. The teamplayer in me sucked it up, but I wasn’t too happy about it. And it’s not really about the test--I’m not happy about the lack of common sense that goes into these decisions and the bureaucratic inflexibility.The fact is, the kenben measure was put in place after a massive outbreak of e.coli happened around a decade ago. People are supposed to submit a kenben once a year to prove they won’t transmit the disease, but of course that amounts to a random test, not a real measure to prevent communication of disease at specific events. Such a “measure to prevent recurrence” is completely on brand for Japan, where it has no real impact on the root cause problem but gives the government the ability to say, “Look, we did something.” Meanwhile, poor saps like me and my school compadres have the joy of having to go through this asinine process with NO ALTERNATIVES. No throat swab. No blood test. Nothing. That rigidity is another on brand feature of Japan.I wish I could say there was some fix for this. I don’t see one. The only thing I’ll say is that we ought to question it whenever we see it. I get that “the nail that sticks up gets hammered down” concept is a big deal in Japan, but as expats, I feel like it’s our duty to question things that others won’t. Yes, 99.9% of the time, we’ll be ignored, but hey, 0.1% counts for something, right?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7EvP-living_badexperiencesThu, 18 Apr 2019 10:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7EvP-living_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6YZ3-livingI’m in full internal debate mode right now, in part because I came across this poster:One of the local shrines is holding a fire walk festival soon, and I’m torn over whether I should go. I mean, part of me is like, “C’mon, how many other chances are you going to get? It’s not like you’re gonna burn your feet off.” Then the other part of me is like, “Just think about how you react when you step on your kid’s LEGOs—do you really want to do that in front of hundreds of strangers?”Has anyone out there done fire walking before? Is it worth it?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6YZ3-livingSun, 07 Apr 2019 18:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6YZ3-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8rQv-livingThere’s a musical festival coming up in our town here, and I had to take a photo because of the bands that are performing.Check out those band names...Scary Scream is pretty good, but the top three are definitely these:Kid IraqPlastic Koba BandRocket Joe & MafiaJapan has always had some pretty interesting band names, including mainstream performers and groups like Kiss My Foot, Mr. Children, and Sekai no Owari (End of the World). I find them entertaining, but less because of the seeming randomness of the name selection and more so because the names give you absolutely no context for what kind of group or music to expect. I mean, Kid Iraq sounds like it could be a punk or metal band, but it very well could be some folky group or a single performer on stage.Guess I’ll have to go to the festival to find out!Do you like Japanese band names? Any other good ones to add? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8rQv-livingSun, 07 Apr 2019 18:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8rQv-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5j9-food_teaI have a real love/hate relationship with Japan’s love of seasonal varieties. For those of us living in Japan, we are well-acquainted with Japan’s propensity to offer limited edition products with some seasonal ingredient included. In some cases, the seasonal option is a definite plus—for example, I love the addition of chestnuts in sweets and pastries in autumn. Sometimes, it can get excessive (I don’t need sweet potatoes put in everything just because they happen to be in season at the moment!).When I received a gift from my wife, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I’ve written about my wariness towards flavored teas on this site before, so I wasn’t sure what to make of this little gift here:Mikan green tea???Don’t get me wrong, I love mikan and I love green tea. I just wasn’t so sure the mash-up of the tea would be good. To me, citrus and green tea doesn’t sound the most appealing—maybe it’s the traditionalist in me.But this wasn’t just any flavored tea—it had two things going for it. First, it comes from Shizuoka, and Shizuoka green tea is always phenomenal. Second, It comes from Oguri farms. I’ve had their Sakura Green tea before, and that was delicious, so those things gave me hope.The first thing I did was open the package and BAM, the scent of mikan hit me. It was a pleasant aroma, but boy, was it strong. If you look on the photo below, you can even see the mikan zest all over the inside of the package. It made me wonder what if the tea would taste like green tea at all.So then I put the tea bag in the cup, and as I poured the hot water in, the mikan smell became more muted as the green tea aroma began to emerge. Pretty soon, there wasn’t an overpowering citrus scent, but just a hint.The flavor of the tea was much the same as the aroma indicated. It was delicious green tea with just a subtle hint of mikan flavor in there. Really, it was way more pleasant than I had anticipated. Instead of the normal bitterness you get from green tea, the citrus left my mouth feeling cleansed, which was really a nice way to enjoy a cup of green tea. I ended up going through the entire package of tea bags way quicker than I expected. Luckily, this edition of tea is still available. If you want to try the Oguri Farms Mikan tea, you can find it on Amazon.co.jp or at their online shop at Oguri-farm.com!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/genkidesuka/za5j9-food_teaWed, 20 Feb 2019 15:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5j9-food_teahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAnRQ-living_food_shoppingValentine’s is a day for romance—for young love to blossom and long-time couples to rekindle the flames of passion in their relationships...right?In Japan, not exactly. Kind of like KFC manufactured the “fried chicken for Christmas dinner” tradition, during the consumer boom in the sixties through eighties, Japanese chocolate companies sought new ways to spark demand by exploiting western holidays. Valentine’s Day happened to be the perfect target. Instead of being a day of romance, chocolate companies naturally focused on manufacturing a day solely dedicated to the act of giving chocolate as gifts, and ironically, the onus fell on women—not men—to be the conveyors of confectionary.At first, the tradition was fairly harmless: women would get chocolate for the men in their life—brothers, fathers, coworkers, etc. But soon, the year-after-year gesture of kindness mutated into this obligatory act where people came to expect the chocolate, especially in the workplace. Suddenly, if women failed to produce chocolate on Valentine’s day, it was cause for concern. Was Keiko mad at the boss? Why would Sayuri choose to be different from all the other OLs (office ladies)?After time, the concept of “Giri-choco” emerged: giri, for obligation, as in “obligatory chocolate.” For years OLs begrudgingly spent hard-earned cash on chocolate gifts for their coworkers, but instead of avoiding a potential negative connotation for Valentine’s Day in Japan, chocolate companies actually embraced it. A few years back, the popular Pocky brand started rebranding special valentine’s edition pocky as “giricky,” and as my local supermarket shows, it can be a marketing tool:The sign says, “From ‘heartfelt’ chocolate to ‘Obligatory chocolate’, we have it all!”Here’s the type of chocolate gifts they had inside meant for the “heartfelt” family gifts:If you feel obligated to pick up some “giri-choco” for your coworkers, you can find smaller packages at cheaper prices at your local supermarkets, department stores, or convenience stores. Here’s the selection at our local 7-11:For giri-choco, the trick is to get equal sizes and amounts for everyone, so as not to show favor. For those who work in big offices, it’s always good to shoot for the 300-600 yen packages.What do you think of the “giri-choco” tradition? Are you going to get giri-choco for your coworkers? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAnRQ-living_food_shoppingTue, 12 Feb 2019 11:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAnRQ-living_food_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2X5Y-living2019 is going to be a landmark year for Japan. We have the Imperial Abdication and Ascension in late April/early May. There are two big elections with the tōitsu chihōsen (unified municipal and prefectural elections) in April and House of Councillors election in the summer. Japan will host its first-ever G20 summit in Osaka in June, and then will be home to the Rugby World Cup in autumn. Still, the event that those of us living in Japan are more interested in has to be the planned consumption tax hike set for October 2019 and the impacts it may have.The planRight now, the consumption tax is scheduled to be raised from eight percent to ten percent. This was supposed to happen in 2015, but the administration opted to push it off, largely due to political reasons (Prime Minister Abe called a snap election shortly after the decision to delay the tax hike). Impacts?A two percent consumption tax hike isn’t as much as the previous three percent hike that happened in April 2014, but household consumption still hasn’t fully recovered from the rise to eight percent. There are a lot of legitimate concerns that while at the macro level Japan has benefitted from the tax hike, there hasn’t been a corresponding increase in wages or overall household income. As a result, an additional tax would just be additional cost to Japanese residents with no immediate benefit to households.The ruling LDP-Komeito coalition has sought measures to minimize the impact by building a list of exempted items from the tax hike. Things like staple foods (milk, eggs, etc.) would not be eligible for ten percent tax. Of course, measures such as these won’t do much to allay the fears of residents or defray the impacts on households. As such, the consumption tax hike remains a policy question whose answer is not yet set in stone.Will it or won’t it happen?Up to this point, the Abe administration has been adamant that the consumption tax hike will take place in October. I remain skeptical, however, for two reasons: the April unified elections and House of Councillors election.One of the cardinal sins in an election year in Japan is talking about a tax hike. In the past, parties have lost seats for even talking about tax hikes, let alone actually orchestrating one that will happen the same year as an election. In this case, there are two major elections set to take place, and I just don’t think the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition is willing to take two consecutive hits to see through a tax hike that is likely to cause short-term pain for constituents despite the perceived long-term necessities.My prediction is that the LDP-Komeito coalition will test the waters in the April unified elections. If they do well enough at the municipal and prefectural elections, they’ll stay the course and we’ll see the consumption tax hike in October. If the elections go poorly, the coalition will see a need to staunch the bleeding and will use a delay in the consumption tax hike as a means to curry favor before the House of Councillors election. So when might the tax hike happen if not in October 2019?I could see them delaying it for six months to “continue to study the impacts” until right before the Olympics. If they do that, they can get the major boost in consumption tax revenue from the business that will invariably come with the influx of tourism, staff, and sponsors for the Olympics, which will obscure the negative short-term economic impact on domestic consumerism that invariably comes with tax hikes.So, in short, April will be the key month to see whether or not we need to tighten the purse strings later in the year.Are you worried about the tax hike? Do you think it will happen? What are you doing to prepare for it? Feel free to use the comments section below![Tokyo Olympics photo courtesy of wikimedia commons]To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2X5Y-livingSat, 02 Feb 2019 13:23:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2X5Y-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna74-living_badexperiencesWhile living and/or working here in Japan, have you ever had something blamed on you simply because you were the foreigner? I have. In those cases, it was much easier for my Japanese counterpart organization to tell others that it was the foreigner who failed to submit the records on time, or that didn’t pick up the phone (even if the call never came through), or that didn’t respond to an email (even though the email was purposely sent right at close-of-business on a Friday).Sure, those things are bad, but allow me to offer the pinnacle of foreigner-blaming that I witnessed in my time here:To do that, let’s go back a few years to the October 2013 Tokyo International Film Festival…The TIFF is an annual film festival held at cinemas throughout Tokyo, but the main events take place at Roppongi Hills. My wife and I managed to score tickets to the Opening Show for the 2013 TIFF: a screening of the Tom Hanks film, Captain Phillips. For the screening, Tom Hanks and the director Paul Greengrass attended. Both gentlemen were scheduled to walk the red carpet and take the stage at the theater for some remarks about the film. The thing is, everything started late--about 25 minutes late--which is unusual by Japanese standards. We wondered what was up.Then Tom Hanks and Paul Greengrass arrived, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following shortly thereafter, and the program started. When it came time for Hanks and Greengrass to take the stage, the festival MC introduced them, speaking English (with follow-on translation). She explained, “We are so happy that Mr. Hanks and Mr. Greengrass were able to make it tonight, although they were a little bit late because of weather flying here from Taiwan. Thank you for coming!”Here was Tom Hanks’s response: “Yes, thank you for having us. I’m happy to be back in Tokyo, but as for starting late, there was actually a certain Prime Minister who was running behind…”So there it was: the Prime Minister was late, but instead of merely saying, “Sorry we are starting late, ladies and gentlemen--there were state affairs that required attending,” the festival staff were more comfortable blaming the GUESTS OF HONOR right before they came onto stage.How can anyone think that’s a good idea?The fact is, it’s the easy way out for a lot of Japanese. I won’t get into the cultural concepts of uchi and soto (inside and outside), but the bottom lines is that those folks don’t expect foreigners to push back, and even if they did, to whom would they complain? In the case of Tom Hanks and the TIFF, the festival organizers were more comfortable bagging out Hanks and Greengrass because they neither wanted to allow the festival to appear disorganized, nor did they want to embarrass the Prime Minister when the government patronizes the event. Meanwhile, they might never have to deal with Tom Hanks ever again. In that case, blame Tom Hanks, right?Don’t get me wrong, there’s always a solution to these situations. In Tom Hanks’s case, he simply corrected it on the spot. After all, to whom is the film festival staff going to complain about him, one of the world’s most popular people?But what if you’re many million dollars poorer and not nearly as recognizable as Tom Hanks? What should you do if you are unduly blamed for something simply because you are the “outsider?” Usually the best way to take care of it is to stop dealing with the person blaming you for things--just jump the ladder a few rungs to someone who is higher in the organization, especially if you already have a personal connection with that person. That higher ranking individual won’t ever give you a “sorry” or a direct recognition that you’ve been wronged; rather, you’ll typically receive messages like, “I’ll look into it, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem anymore,” or “Let me talk to ___-san to clear up the confusion.” Don’t expect much follow-up, either. The problem will be dealt with in a manner that makes it appear there was never a problem in the first place.Dissatisfying? Maybe. But it will make life easier for you in the long run even if the near-term solution is less than ideal. That said, here are a few ground rules for this “blaming” situations:First: never to put up with it. You are the foreigner, which means you don’t need to take these lumps without a fight.Second: address it early. Set the standard so that you don’t continue to get walked over. Third: act with grace and composure. Losing your cool won’t get you anywhere. Be firm, but be in control. Take strong action, but make sure it’s calculated.Do you have a situation in which you were unduly blamed for something just because you were the foreigner? How did you handle it? Feel free to use the comments section below!*Author’s note: the Photo in the article is from wikimedia commons--the pics taken on my cell phone camera back in 2013 don’t exactly do the story justice!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna74-living_badexperiencesSun, 30 Dec 2018 17:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna74-living_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmVoO-living_jal_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiAfter 17 years in Japan, I finally got a chance to visit someplace I’d always wanted to go: the city of Nagasaki. It’s always been somewhat hard to get to—after all, the city is nestled amongst the hills and tucked away on the southwest corner of Kyūshū. Overnight buses would take way too long. The Shinkansen could get us to Fukuoka, but then we’d have to catch other trains the rest of the way. It just isn’t the easiest place to visit, not when other options were still available that we needed to tick off our list. Finally, we just said, “That’s it, we’re flying.” We grabbed our bags... ...hopped on a JAL flight, and made it to Nagasaki Airport.Boy, was I glad we made the trip.I love Japanese port cities because they were the first to become cosmopolitan. I’d visited Yokohama, Hakodate, Kobe, and Shimoda, but here I was now, in the granddaddy of them all: Nagasaki.For those who aren’t aware, when Japan was shut off from the rest of the world in a self-imposed state of isolation (the sakoku policy from 1603 to 1854), Nagasaki was the only port on Japan’s main islands to remain open to foreign vessels. It was Japan’s keyhole to the rest of the world, and conversely, the rest of the world’s keyhole to Japan.As a result, Nagasaki is a placed infused with Chinese, Dutch, British, and other cultures, and you can see it all throughout its cuisine, its landmarks, and the traditions. Keep in mind that there were many, many more sites to see, foods, and activities that were make Nagasaki a worthwhile travel destination, but allow me to offer a few highlights from our trip:Oura ChurchHave you seen the movie Silence yet? Perhaps read the book “The Bells of Nagasaki?” Maybe not, but what each reveals is the deep connection between Nagasaki and the Christian faith. Included amongst the traders that ventured to Japan were Catholic missionaries, the first of which was Saint Francis Xavier in the 1500s. Before Japan was unified under the Toyotomi Hideyoshi regime, the missionaries were successful in converting thousands of Japanese to the Christian faith. When Hideyoshi unified most of Japan, however, he saw the religion as a threat to his reign and sought to root out all vestiges of the foreign religion, persecuting any who attempted to hold on to their faith.Nagasaki, the birthplace of Japanese Christianity, was the site of much of the persecution, as well as the Japanese who held onto their faith, hidden from plain sight. When Christianity was no longer outlawed, churches sprang up all throughout the city, and there is perhaps no single place in the city of Nagasaki more representative of the long relationship between Japan’s southwestern prefecture and Christianity than Oura Church. Part church, part museum, part memorial, Oura Church is a must see for those interested in religion, history, or culture. There is an entry fee (1000 yen per adult), but that gives you access to the Church, the area memorializing the persecuted and hidden Christians of Japan, and the on-site museum that offers insight into the history of Christianity in Japan.DejimaIt’s hard to believe now, but much of Nagasaki city did not exist several hundred years ago, since a great deal of the metropolis sits on reclaimed land (landfill). Back in the day, the bay took up much more area, and “Dejima” was a stand-alone island created so foreigners could reside and trade so they wouldn’t technically “enter” Japan. The actual Dejima was lost a combination of the nuclear bomb and postwar reconstruction, but the city made efforts to restore the island to its original shape and reconstruct historically accurate buildings based on salvaged documents and forensic examination of the ruins.What is left is a history-lover’s dream. I was like a kid in a candy shop, enjoying the place that was now restored and full of historical exhibits. There was a modest entry fee but plenty worth it for people interested in history or anthropology. For those who aren’t there is at least this......a big Miffy sign donated by the Dutch government as a symbol of the long friendship with the people of Nagasaki!Nagasaki KunchiThe Nagasaki kunchi is the city’s annual, multi day festival. There is a strong mix of Japanese and Chinese traditions that can be seen in the dances, the outfits, and the floats. Formally, the festival is attached to the Suwa Shrine atop a hill overlooking most of Nagasaki bay, but smaller processions occur all over the city.In fact, we were awoken at 4:30 in the morning by music being played and people shouting outside of our hotel. We thought that they were only practicing, but when I went out to take a look, this is what I saw:Incredible that folks were up and at it that early! Even harder to believe that this is a three day festival with events happening across the city.The Nagasaki Kunchi occurs every October from the 7th to 9th. The main events are at Suwa Shrine, but you can look for smaller processions all over Nagasaki city.As I mentioned before, there is much more to see. Check out the gallery below for some other highlights from our trip!This post is supported by Japan Airlines (JAL), 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/genkidesuka/wmVoO-living_jal_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiWed, 26 Dec 2018 15:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmVoO-living_jal_nagasaki_shi_nagasakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2XA3-livingAmericans are no strangers to end-of-year greeting cards. After all, Christmas cards are sometimes the only correspondence you may receive during the year from certain relatives, friends, or work acquaintances. Because of this, Christmas cards are an important way to show that you are thinking of someone -- even if they happen to be far away or if life happened to keep you apart for whatever reason.In Japan, there is an equivalent: the nengajō, or New Year’s card. Like Christmas cards in the U.S., nengajō are a person’s way of maintaining and nurturing relationships, especially those that are relatively dormant throughout the rest of the year. For folks working in Japan, it is an important tradition to pick up, so I’ll offer a few tips and tricks on how to approach this part of New Year’s culture.What are nengajō?There is no set standard for nengajō, but generally speaking, it is just a postcard. The postcard typically has some little artistic representation of the coming year’s zodiac animal, so all of this year’s nengajō have boars (inoshishi) on them. While the postcard format is popular, it’s not unusual for folks to opt for full cards or a slip of paper/letter sent in an envelope.Where can you get nengajō?If you are thinking of starting the nengajō tradition in your household, you can visit your local Japan Post, supermarket, Aeon, or even Daiso (or other 100 yen store) to find nengajō on sale. The cost of run-of-the-mill nengajō is pretty cheap—after all, the stores expect you to buy a lot of them, so economy of scale works in your favor.There are now online options for nengajō, but I’m hesitant to comment on the quality or price of that method since I have never used those services.What are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to nengajō?There are three things you should keep in mind when it comes to nengajō: cast a wide net to include Japanese family, friends, and work network; make sure they go out in a timely fashion; and don’t sweat the format. Some additional details on each of those things...RecipientsKeep in mind that nengajō aren’t absolutely necessary for folks with whom you have routine contact, especially around the New Year’s time. A good rule of thumb: if you’re going to be able to see someone close enough to New Year’s to say the proper New Year’s greeting (“Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu”), then you don’t have to send a nengajō. The proper recipients include extended family, friends, and your work network. From a career standpoint, the work network is probably the most important in Japan, since the nengajō is a way to keep relationships healthy despite infrequent contact.TimelinessThe key for nengajō is that they should arrive sometime in the first week of January, but it looks better the closer to the 1st that it is received. This was something new to me, since I grew up where Christmas cards were good to receive anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and New Year’s cards were good any time in January. Oh boy, let me tell you though: one year (the year my first child was born right around New Year’s) I took my time sending my nengajō out, and people weren’t afraid to tell me I’d messed up. They would laugh and say, “Oh [genkidesuka]-san, you were slow on your New Year’s greetings this year!”Japan post has a special service that will allow you to schedule delivery for all of your nengajō, but the time is fast approaching if you want to try to use that service.3) Don’t sweat the formatI have said it on city-cost before, but I’ll say it again: don’t try to out-Japanese the Japanese. Nobody expects us expats to have the system down pat, so don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole if it’s not your thing. You don’t have to send out standard nengajō cards. One year, I ordered customized New Year’s cards that had pictures of my family from the year that just passed.Or, you can do what I’ve taken to doing, and that’s sending electronic nengajō. I create my own nengajō e-card and then send a message to every key contact I have, wishing them a Happy New Year and giving them a brief update on my work and my family. Sure, a paper card is more meaningful, but if you have a broad network, this method can get the job done.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2XA3-livingSun, 23 Dec 2018 22:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2XA3-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME590-foodThe holiday season tends to bring special food traditions, especially for us Americans; Christmas cookies, Turkey, ham, pies—the list goes on and on. But I honestly can’t think of anything that brings the risk of fatality (unless you count exploding turkeys in deep fryers, which is definitely dangerous but makes for some crazy YouTube videos). The same can’t be said about Japan though.When it’s time to ring in the new year, there are three traditional foods here in Japan that ought to come with warning labels. One is obvious, one that is quite surprising, and one that is not necessarily exclusive to Japan but has some unique features here.Without further ado, your New Year’s Delicacy list that comes with a caution:1) FuguFugu, or pufferfish, is probably the most well-known deadly food in Japan that is still commonly consumed. If not prepared correctly, the poison (detrotodoxin) from the fish attacks the nervous system with high mortality rates. So how did this get so popular?The thing is, Fugu is quite similar to taste and texture to Tai, or red snapper. Because of its association with the word omedetai (meaning “special” or “auspicious”), Tai is popular for special occasions like New Year’s Eve where you want to usher in an auspicious new year. Since demand is so high during periods with special occasions, it can make Tai platters extremely hard to come by (or very expensive), so a lot of folks have taken to substituting Fugu, both for its uniqueness and its suitability as an alternative for Tai fish.Fortunately for consumers, Fugu preparers are strictly regulated so the danger is actually very low. Most deaths associated with Fugu come as the result of amateurs trying to prepare the fish themselves. Instead, if you want to try the fish, go online or search the catalogs at your local supermarkets to order a platter of the special fish to ring in the New Year.2) KirimochiThe next one one the list was quite surprising for me. Kirimochi is a type of glutinous rice cake, often grilled over a stove or charcoal or added to soup. The mochi comes out VERY chewy, which is what causes problems.Every year, New Year’s Eve is invariably followed by reports of a notable number of people hospitalized and/or killed by kirimochi that has become lodged in their throats. The most common victims are small children and elderly adults. If deciding to try kirimochi, be aware of the risks. I don’t recommend bringing it out to eat if you and your companions have been drinking heavily, and if you offer it to older folks or small children, make sure the pieces are small and that they chew them well.3) Sake (Nihonshu)The risk of alcohol abuse is universal, but I put this particular type of spirit on the list for a few reasons. First, most Japanese New Year’s celebrations come with large bottles of sake (or nihonshu, as it is called here). Similar to the reason why Tai is popular at the end of the year, nihonshu is often the drink of choice for auspicious occasions. Second, if you’re not used to drinking Sake, it is different from consuming other types of alcohol. It has about the same alcohol content as wine, but is often drunk from small cups. While it’s relatively easy to keep track of the number of glasses of wine you’ve consumed, it’s quite a bit harder with the shot glass-sized cups typically used for drinking sake.As such, be sure to plan ahead. The trains will have different schedules for New Year’s eve, so check those and make sure that you have public transportation ready to go. If you’ve had even a small amount of alcohol, don’t drive! Dangers of drunk driving aside, the cops out in force to catch folks who’ve been drinking and the blood-alcohol limit is low enough as to where you can exceed it by having just one drink an hour.Do you know of any crazy/dangerous New Year’s traditional foods here in Japan? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME590-foodFri, 21 Dec 2018 17:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME590-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4ZW-livingWhen you think about New Year’s Eve in Japan, probably the first thing to come to mind is the throngs of people out at shrines, literally ringing in the new year on giant bells.When I think of New Year’s Eve here, something else entirely different comes to mind that might be even more cherished for Japanese families than shuffling out in the cold to the wintry places of worship: a singing show.Sound crazy? Well, maybe if it were just any old singing show, but I’m referring to…Kōhaku Uta GassenWhat is Kōhaku?The show is quite literally and aptly titled the Red/White Song Battle. In the special (known just as Kōhaku for short), two teams—one red, and one white—compete against each other in musical performances. The red team is comprised of female artists or groups with female lead vocalists, while the white team is all male (or with male lead vocalists).It may not sound all that special, but it is one of those programs that a large percentage of Japanese households either actively watches or at least has on in the background on New Year’s Eve.How did it become a tradition in Japan?The show started as a NHK radio broadcast during the occupation-era, and made it to the small screen in 1953. The concept was simple enough: invite the year’s most popular musical acts to perform in a New Year’s special, with the added fun of an audience-determined “winner” between the male and female teams. There is no restriction on the genre of music, so J-pop singers perform alongside rock bands and even enka (a kind of Japanese “country” music). The pic below shows some idol group from last year’s Kōhaku (I have no idea who they are!):It makes for an odd hodgepodge of performances, but it also means that there is usually something for everyone in the family, young and old. In Japan, New Year’s is a time for families to gather in their traditional homes, and when you get a large assortment of folks, Kōhaku made for something the entire family could enjoy on a cold New Year’s evening before shuffling out to the shrines at midnight.The show started off as a one hour special but has since stretched to four hours given its popularity. At its peak, it was the most watched New Year’s special, and it is still among the top programs even as other programs have started to chip away at its dominant lead.Given the show’s popularity, being selected to perform in Kōhaku became a major honor for Japanese bands and performers. For many, it was a sign that they had “made it.” As such, the special generally attracts the best and most popular acts of the year. They even have specials where they announce the year’s Kōhaku contestants. Here’s a shot of Da Pump’s lead singer (the group that sings the “Come on baby, America” song) learning that they would be performing:In a way, having a recap of all the year’s hits serves as a nice wrap-up heading into a new year with new memories.Kōhaku as a New Year’s TraditionI have my own childhood memories of watching Kōhaku. I think it’s probably where my affinity for Enka music came from, since my Japanese grandmother would always get excited when her favorite enka singers would appear on the show. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized just how popular Kōhaku was or how much it became a New Year’s tradition. In fact, when I asked my Japanese friend the other day about her favorite end-of-year tradition, she said it was watching Kōhaku with her entire extended family. Each person would get a copy of the set lists and grade each of the performances to come up with their own decisions on who should win the competition. They would also use the set list to decide the order in which people got to bathe. Since there was such a big family with only one ofuro, they would go based on who their least and most favorite performers were appearing.While you might not feel compelled to go as far out as my friend’s family, if you haven’t taken the chance to sit down and down watch the Kōhaku Uta gassen, I recommend it. Not only has it become a part of Postwar Japanese culture, it’s a good way to introduce yourself to the most popular music of the past year if you’ve missed out. If nothing else, it’s a good way to while away the hours before the New Year’s countdown!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4ZW-livingTue, 18 Dec 2018 10:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4ZW-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md89J-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataEvery morning, I drop my daughter off at her yochien, dutifully removing my shoes before escorting her to her classroom. I wouldn’t say I leave the shoes in a messy fashion going inside, but they aren’t set up neatly—efficiency over aesthetics when it comes to wrangling kids, right?Still, when I come back, they often look like this:Those green shoes turned toward the door and placed neatly together are mine. I’ll point out that mine are the only ones that are like that. I still haven’t seen who is doing it, either. I suspect it’s one of the grandmothers who drops the kids off in the morning, since it seems like a very traditional thing to do to straighten up a person’s shoes.Does this happen to anyone else? Should I take it as a sign to stop being the messy gaijin???To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md89J-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 15 Dec 2018 13:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md89J-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbKd2-medical_healthI took my son to his city-directed group health check last week. For those who haven’t yet had the joy of going through this, in Japan, instead of doing personal appointments for infant/toddler wellness checks, the city organizes group sessions with a bunch of kids based on birth month. You walk into a big room, get handed a number and a bunch of forms, get lectured for a bit, and then go through a station-to-station health and aptitude test.With two young children at home and being the principal Japanese speaker, I am now a veteran of these painful exercises. But this time proved a little different.As I was filling out the forms, I really thought about two things. First, I realizedjust how different expectations are in Japan and back home in the United States. Second, I thought about how challenging living as an expat can be on the mental health of parents.First, I’ll start with few key differences I noticed at the health check.1) The forms are not gender neutral. There is an inherent expectation that the individual bringing the child to these health checks is the mother, so all the questions are asked from a mother’s perspective.2) There is implicit concern over paternal involvement. Some of the questions directly asked how much support the father gives to child rearing—made more ironic since I was the one filling out the form.3) There is an assumption that the grandparents are intimately involved. I don’t know if it’s different in the cities, but out here in the country, the forms presume that at least one grandparent offers regular care to the child.I have Japanese relatives, and I’ve been in Japan long enough to know that the “traditional” situation is for the father to work all the time, the family to live with one or more grandparent who helps with the children, and for the mother to be a stay-at-home mom, but that’s certainly not the norm in the United States and it hasn’t been the norm for many Japanese families in a while.It made me wonder when the Japanese medical bureaucracy would catch up to present day circumstances, but how long does it take any bureaucracy to catch up? The point is that it takes some getting used to. Just be prepared at health checks for these inherent assumptions, and be ready to explain your own unique circumstances if they do not apply.The mental health issue came to mind when I got to this form (I actually had to stop after answering the first question so I could take a picture):Allow me to walk you through the questions:1) Did you hope for a life with children? yes, no, can’t say either way2) Do you think your child is cute? Yes, no, can’t say either way3) Where do you get information on child rearing? Parents/Siblings; friends; books; television, etc.; Internet; Other4) In a day, do you get time to yourself? yes; a little bit; none5) Do you ever feel stressed raising a child? No; sometimes; yes6) Do you have someone to discuss child rearing with? Spouse; Parents/Sibling; Friends/Acquaintances; no7) Is there someone who helps you raise the child?8) Do you interact with friends?I understand the purpose of the form. I really do. Parenting is hard. For some people, it is not what they expected it to be, and for others still, it may not be what they wanted at all. Mental health for parents is something that cannot and should not be ignored.But here’s my issue: this was a form they handed out for us to fill out while minding our children in a room with thirty other people plus medical staff. Who would be honest on that form? A form that is asking for some serious introspection and exposure in a setting that is not at all conducive to it. So what should you do if you’re an expat and need help? If you’re capable of putting yourself out there via a form, then by all means, use the city-directed health check as an opportunity to seek assistance. If that is too difficult, it is possible to submit the form discreetly to the city office’s health section. They can assist you in finding professional assistance, whether it is childcare or mental health assistance.I have found that my local pre-school/daycare is very supportive for families, as well. They have a government subsidized daily payment option if day-to-day child care is needed (it’s 1,200 yen for the whole day, with meals/snacks included), and the staff are very willing to offer recommendations on how best to support your child’s needs if you ask.The last recommendation is to recognize that if you are struggling, you aren’t the only one. Being a parent is hard enough. Being a parent in a foreign country with limited support base and having to learn an entirely new system on top of figuring out child rearing is incredibly challenging. Use City-cost. Use other outlets. Engage with other parents, ask questions, vent. Take those steps to make sure that you know that you aren’t alone, because you aren’t. All of us who post on this site do so because we’re in the same boat. We’re trying to help others and get help ourselves.So, in sum, I would say, try to manage expectations working through Japanese processes. It can be frustrating, but hopefully this post and others like it will help prepare you for it. Second, remember that your mental health as a parent is as important as your child’s health—they go hand-in-hand, really. These city-directed health checkups aren’t really the best way for addressing these issues, but it’s one option. And remember that while all of us expats on this site aren’t face-to-face, we’re all in this whole thing together! Gambatte!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbKd2-medical_healthMon, 10 Dec 2018 18:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbKd2-medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Zve-living_workMy wife was hired on for a great opportunity at a Japanese company about six months ago, and watching her get used to dealing with Japanese bureaucracy has been interesting.I am well-versed in it—in fact, in my previous work, part of my job was to serve as the bridge between my U.S. and Japanese counterparts. Still, I’m seeing it from a new angle now, and I’m grateful that my wife asks me for advice when it comes to dealing with some of the nuances of working in Japan.I realized that some of the advice I’ve given her might be valuable for some of you expats out there, so allow me to offer a few tidbits that my wife found useful:1) If you have a proposal, always provide a presentation with handouts. The Japanese call it kamishibai, or a picture story show, and it is important for two reasons. First, if you don’t speak fluent Japanese, the handouts help make your points more clear. Second, and most importantly, you will rarely, if ever, be presenting to a decision maker. You will present to a middle-manager who will have to turn around and present the proposal to the decision maker. Giving clear handouts is essential in ensuring that the middleman is able to reconvey the message.2) Don’t be afraid to be the foreigner. If you’re a foreigner working for a Japanese company, there is a reason you are there and it’s not because they expect you to be like all the Japanese. No, you were brought in BECAUSE you’re a foreigner, so be different. Be bold. Be assertive. Of course, you should be respectful and deferential, but don’t be afraid to make suggestions, offer your perspective, and encourage change. If they didn’t want any of those things, they would have hired a local.3) Be patient. Nothing in this country ever moves as quickly as you want it to. Doctor’s appointments take twice as long. Lines are a way of life. And the bureaucracy? Well, it’s in a league of its own. That’s in part due to the necessity of consensus building (or as I see it, sufficient coverage for blame sharing so no single person can take the fall). This recommendation may seem counterintuitive given my previous recommendation of being bold, but in reality that just means that you must be prepared for your efforts to take time. A suggestion that you make may take days or weeks—even months—before it is implemented, and it’s not because people are sitting on it; it just takes time to get all the stakeholders on board. Being patient also means getting the markers out there early so there is sufficient time for coordination. If you have something you want done six months from now, be sure to start now. You can always pause an effort if you’re ahead of schedule, but catching up is immensely difficult to do.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Zve-living_workThu, 06 Dec 2018 16:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Zve-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY731-food_teaNiigata is known for a great many crops, and while its rice is the best in the country, the same could hardly be said for its tea. That can be problematic seeing as we’re a tea-drinking household, and trying to find reasonably priced, quality tea at local supermarkets can be a bit challenging. Most of the cheaper options are just blended teas made from leaves harvested from all over Japan, which is good enough if we’re in a pinch, but we prefer tea from places like Shizuoka. Up to today, we’ve had to splurge a bit and order online if we wanted Shizuoka green tea......but lo and behold, I discovered today that Aeon markets offer Shizuoka tea under its “TopValu” label! Specifically, the stores sell sencha (loose leaf green tea), genmai-cha (brown rice tea), and hōji-cha (roasted green tea) from Shizuoka.I decided to grab a box of the sencha (my favorite) to give it a shot, although admittedly, I wasn’t holding out high hopes seeing as it was a store-brand, fairly cheaply priced product.In hindsight, I guess I shouldn’t have underestimated Shizuoka green tea, because it really was delicious. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to taste the difference between the Aeon brand and a green tea brewed from a specialty store in Shizuoka. Just to be sure, I had my wife the tea expert to taste it, and it got her seal of approval too! The taste, in case you’re wondering, is robust without being bitter, though I definitely think with the stronger flavor that it is better for an afternoon or early evening drink instead of an after-dinner tea.Here are some other things to love about Aeon’s Shizuoka tea offering:The Price: A box of tea costs only 198 yen for 20 servings. That is a fraction of the cost of ordering Shizuoka tea online or buying it bottled. Teabags: Purists would probably scoff at my preference for tea bags, but I’ve got kids, and I have enough dishes to worry about without having to add teapots to the mix. The teabags are well constructed and good for a few uses if you want more than one cup in a sitting.Availability: the fact that this tea is offered under the TopValu label means that it’s available anywhere in the country where there’s an Aeon supermarket or stores that sell the TopValu brand (like Welcia drug stores). That means whether I’m Niigata or traveling to another prefecture, I am almost guaranteed to be able to enjoy a cup of Shizuoka green tea.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/genkidesuka/MY731-food_teaTue, 04 Dec 2018 10:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY731-food_teahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jpq-foodI am not a heavy coca-cola drinker, but I opted to try one today thanks to this little feature:In the top right corner of the label, it tells you that the label actually becomes a ribbon.You simply peel the label from that corner......then go to the opposite end of the label to find a little white tab......pull the tab all the way out...... voila! You have a ribbon. Well, you’re supposed to, though I don’t know if mine turned out that great haha.Still, it was kind of a neat feature for the Christmas season at no extra cost. They had it for both Coke and Coke Zero bottles, so maybe you’ll want to check it out!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jpq-foodSun, 02 Dec 2018 14:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jpq-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88ax-living_food_howtoAre you aware of the KFC Christmas tradition here in Japan? If you’ve been in Japan long enough, this is something that you know well--heck, you might have even indulged on a KFC Christmas dinner or two.If you aren’t aware, KFC had the greatest marketing scheme of all time, basically convincing an entire nation of people that it was an American Christmas tradition to eat KFC-style chicken for Christmas dinner. They capitalized on the notion of a family sitting around a table to feast on some form of fowl, and in doing so made a new tradition that is wholly unique to Japan.How widespread is this tradition? So much so that you can no longer just rock up to a KFC on or around Christmas day and expect to order a Christmas dinner’s worth of food without waiting for hours in line. Instead, KFC has implemented a reservation system, and I decided to take a few moments to share with you readers out there the way to order.It is possible to order online, but I recommend scoping out the KFC beforehand and ordering in person. I say that because you don’t accidentally want to order at a KFC store that ends up being a little too out of the way. Also, it’s easier to see how much availability remains at the store so you can time your pick-up correctly.The process at the store is simple:Step 1: Decide on your orderThere a number of different Xmas sets available. My favorite is the party barrel, which comes in either the standard or variety set. Each comes with a cake, a salad, and eight pieces of chicken, with standard offering all KFC original chicken and the variety offering four pieces of KFC original and four chicken tenders (better for young kids). Of course, you can add sides to any order or step up to larger size sets if you have a bigger family.Step 2: Check Availability/Pick your Date & Time for pickupThere are a limited number of pre-orders each KFC can service each hour. Each KFC should have a bulletin board like this…...where you can see how many orders have already been placed and whether those pick-up times are still available. As you can see, we’re still a month and a half out, and dinner-time on Xmas Eve is already filling up!Step 3: OrderWhen you order, they’ll ask you for the things you decided upon in steps 1 and 2, as well as your name and phone number. The receipt they give you will be important to hold onto, since that will serve as your ticket for picking up your order--don’t lost that!It’s important to note that you have an important choice when ordering, and that is whether to pay upfront or pay at pickup. If pay upfront, it has to be in cash. If you pay at pickup, you can use credit card. Still, I will ALWAYS recommend that you pay in cash upfront, the main reason being that pickup days are almost always insane at KFC. If you’ve already paid, you can bypass lines and just go pickup your food. Otherwise, you’re stuck behind every johnny come-lately who doesn’t have a reservation and is trying to sneak in some KFC last minute, which can take FOREVER. I made that mistake once, and will never do it again.So there you have it: how to order your very own KFC Xmas Dinner. Yeah, it’s a gimmicky tradition, but it’s does make for a fun and memorable (and minimal clean-up necessary) Xmas dinner.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88ax-living_food_howtoFri, 30 Nov 2018 11:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88ax-living_food_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZNxl-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI was long overdue for a haircut, so I stopped into my favorite local barber to get my locks trimmed. We enjoyed some conversation, and he gave me a perfect cut, as always, but as I was leaving, he did something else.He stopped me and asked if I liked “nabe”—earthenware hot pot meals. I had no idea where he was going with it, but I said, “Of course, it’s delicious.”He told me to wait a moment, and then he returned with a plastic bag with two freshly picked Yuzu lemons in it (these little gems below):He said, “My parents picked these from their house in Yamanashi this past weekend. Just get a grater and use the Yuzu in your nabe--it will make it taste even better!” My first thought was of pure gratitude. How thoughtful and generous of him to do that. I thanked him profusely and left with a big smile on my face. Nothing like a great haircut and even better hospitality, right?My second thought as I was walking to my car was, “Wait, his parents are over eighty years old, still picking Yuzu lemons from trees, and hauling entire boxes of them to the post office...” Man, I wish I had that kind of energy NOW, let alone in my eighties...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZNxl-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 27 Nov 2018 10:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZNxl-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6dY-foodIt’s that time again: Japan Beer tasting!Up tonight was Abashiri White Ale.I haven’t made it all the way up to Abashiri, but my wife has, and she encouraged me to try it. I’m always game for a good White Ale, and seeing as Hokkaido is known for its German recipes and brewing techniques, I figured this had to be pretty good.It was what you would want from a White Ale. Refreshing with some citrus tones but a decent alcohol content. I probably wouldn’t have it as an after-dinner beer, but if you need a good drink to pair with a meal, this is a solid choice. You can pick it up at your local supermarket for somewhere between 250-300 yen a can.As a note, Abashiri was great and I’d get it again, though I would probably go for a different tag line than the one they chose: “Enjoy the smooth feeling on your throat...”To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6dY-foodTue, 20 Nov 2018 19:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6dY-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZXX-living_yahiko_mura_niigataIt can be difficult for a man to put himself in a woman’s shoes to understand the inherent gender bias and challenges that women go through in daily life. Having a daughter though—teaching her things, listening to her thoughts, and answering her questions—has helped me see the world much differently, and a recent trip to a shrine reminded me of that.My family and I traveled to Yahiko shrine in Niigata, and there, the shrine boasts a sumo dohyō (ring). My daughter enjoys watching sumo, and when we saw the dohyō, she got excited. She told me that she wanted to go into the ring. It was roped off and something that normal visitors were supposed to enter anyway, but I couldn’t help be think about the fact that traditionalists believe that women shouldn’t be allowed to enter the “sacred” dohyō. It made me downright angry to think that somebody would prevent my daughter from entering the ring simply because she was a girl. There are a lot of charming things about Japan, but this sort of blatant sexism elicits quite the opposite sentiments.I’m not saying that I will ever completely understand the challenges that women face, but I can say that being a father has opened my eyes a lot, especially here in Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZXX-living_yahiko_mura_niigataSun, 18 Nov 2018 18:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZXX-living_yahiko_mura_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md8dO-foodA while ago, I wrote a quick post on here about Asahi Dry Black, and today I got a chance to try Kirin’s version of Black Lager. I am typically not a Kirin kind of guy, but I recently went to Nagasaki and had a chance to learn a little more about the origins of the brewery (but that’s a story for a different day...on to the beer).My critique of most Japanese black lagers is that they are heavy on the lager and light on the things that make a black beer good. Kirin’s Black Lager didn’t fall into that same trap. It has the robust flavor more similar to that of a stout or porter, but the lightness and finish of a lager. In that, I can say I really enjoyed it. For about two hundred yen a can, it’s about the same price as any normal Asahi/Sapporo/Kirin variety. If you’re looking for a nice compromise between a lager and a stout, I’d say the Kirin Black Lager is a pretty safe bet.I’ve seen these sold at all of my local supermarkets, so they shouldn’t be hard to find if you’re interested in trying one for yourself!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md8dO-foodSun, 18 Nov 2018 12:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md8dO-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glpdb-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataYou ever had one of those days where you just need some simple indulgence to take the edge off the day? I had one of those days and thankfully, my local supermarket carries dondurma (ドンドゥルマ), or Turkish ice cream. I’ve written about this before, but today’s post is less about this awesome ice cream than it is about the reason that made me want to get it.As a parent and expat in Japan, I find that there are quite a few of those days, and it came down to dealing with a bully at my daughter’s school.My daughter is young—still in yōchien—so I wasn’t really expecting to have her tell me about a bully in her class, but sure enough, there’s a kid who is just too rough and intimidating to the other children. I’m proud of my daughter for being tough enough to stand up to this little boy, but there are a lot of other children getting hurt. My daughter tries to stick up for them too, which makes me even prouder, but at her age, she really shouldn’t have to be dealing with this.So, I went to the school to address the issue and what did I encounter? A whole lot of Japanese bureaucracy. Needless to say, this problem ain’t getting resolved on its own anytime soon.Maybe I’ll write more about this later, but for now, dondurma time...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glpdb-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFri, 16 Nov 2018 18:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glpdb-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD0a9-living_niigata_shi_niigataSo there I was, at Niigata airport looking for a place to eat with my kid. We weren’t looking for anywhere special, just a place with a simple kids set for a quick meal.We headed for the first cafe we could find: a decent sized place right in the middle of the departure lobby on the main floor (about as heavy a trafficked area as there could be in this airport). As we approached, I caught the biggest whiff of cigarette smoke. Sure enough, there was a table of smokers sitting in the middle of the cafe, literally smoking and joking. There wasn’t even a pretense of sectioning off folks.Keep in mind, this is at 11:30 in the morning (hence the scant clientele), in the middle of an international airport, smack dab in the middle of the departure lobby.My first thought was, “how rude!” My second thought was, “What year are we in?”It’s absurd to me that there are places in Japan, let alone an international airport, that has so antiquated a smoking policy.So for that, I say, “C’mon, Japan!”To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD0a9-living_niigata_shi_niigataFri, 16 Nov 2018 18:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD0a9-living_niigata_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8be-living_familylife_niigata_shi_niigataHaving small children in Japan can be difficult, especially when searching for places to take them. Most amusement parks are better for elementary and junior high school aged children. There’s not much point taking small kids to a mall--they don’t want to shop, too hard to sit through movies, and children’s play centers are often very expensive while only being good for an hour or two, tops. Finally, most of your traditional sightseeing spots in Japan were built many years ago without family amenities in mind.Fortunately, my wife and I discovered the perfect place for us and our small children in Niigata City: the MarinePia Niigata City Aquarium. There were three reasons why this place is great and why we will go again with our children in the near future:1) The aquarium was clearly designed with kids in mind All of the exhibits were built in a way that is functional and appealing to children. No glass was above eye level for a toddler, the corridors were wide, and there were many interactive exhibits. The whole theme of the aquarium seemed to be educating the next generation about marine life. There wasn’t a single exhibit that my kids didn’t enjoy, because everyone of them was able to capture their imaginations and attention.2) The aquarium had family friendly staff and amenities Two of the greatest fears of a parent going out are that you’re going to be somewhere where your kids are disruptive and you can’t get out of it, or the place is so un-family friendly that it compounds or creates parent crises. For example, people without children don’t know just how important it is to have bathrooms that have diaper changing stations or children’s seats. Until you’ve had to change a diaper sitting on a toilet in a public bathroom with a squirming one year old, you’ll never really understand. The MarinePia aquarium had every family amenity that you could think of, but also had staff who encouraged kids and made us feel welcome. We never once felt like we were a nuisance, even when the kids were getting overly excited about all the sea life they were seeing, when they had a little bit of a tantrum in the lunch cafe, or when we had to step out from a show early because they were restless to see other exhibits.3) The aquarium is legit.Oftentimes when you choose a family friendly place, you have to sacrifice in other areas. You go to a family friendly restaurant, the food might not be as good. Go to a family friendly attraction, maybe the exhibits are lackluster or boring. That wasn’t the case here. I’ve been to some of the best aquariums in the world, including Churaumi in Okinawa and Monterey Bay in California, but I was still impressed by both the marine life that MarinePia had on display and how they had designed the aquarium itself.There were dolphin shows, penguin feedings, tide pools for the kids to interact with marine life, an "ocean tunnel" viewing tank, and a broad range of creatures. All in all, this is definitely a great place for families, and one that we will happily patronize again in the near future. Feel free to checkout the aquarium's website here if you want details for your own trip!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8be-living_familylife_niigata_shi_niigataFri, 16 Nov 2018 14:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8be-living_familylife_niigata_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9mQn-living_education_familylifeIt’s that time of year in Japan: preschool applications are due. I’ve done it a few times now and realize that while it’s old hat for me now, it can be a little daunting for folks who are new to the process—I know it was for me that first time. So, allow me to walk you through the process with a few tips. Keep in mind that every city and school does it a bit differently, but I’ll try to keep it as general as possible.First, a few notes:1) Pre-school (yōchien) 幼稚園 vs. daycare (hoikuen) 保育園 vs. Mix (kodomoen) こども園In Japan, there are generally three types of facilities for children aged 1-5, each with different features and requirements for enrollment. In the past, yōchien were the most common, since the government did not prioritize subsidization of daycare facilities and it was assumed that a parent or grandparent would be around to look after young children. Yōchien are for kids aged 3-5, and are similar to any standard pre-school in the U.S. or other western countries. Hoikuen have become more prevalent since the government realized that lack of daycare facilities are impacting population growth and the economy. Those daycare facilities will take children from 6 months to 5 years. Since subsidization for daycare facilities is increasing and number of children is decreasing, more and more yōchien are becoming mixed pre-school/daycare facilities commonly known as kodomoen. Those facilities accept children 6 months to 5 years and offer both types of services.2) Public school vs. private schoolI can’t speak to private schools in Japan except to say that they are expensive and exclusive. If you are seeking to send your child to a private yōchien, be sure to dress smartly, visit the school early, and research the requirements thoroughly.3) Requisite working hoursStandard hours for yōchien are generally between 8:30 and 2:30. If you need your child to be at school longer, you need to prove that both you and your spouse are unable to provide care for extended periods due to school or work. For daycare from 8:30-2:30, my city requires both parents to be working at least 64 hours a month. For 6:30 to 5:30 care, the city requires 120 hours a month.4) Tuition/Fees paymentEven public schools cost money here, which is paid through the city office. Tuition varies based on income, which will be determined by your previous year’s tax returns. If you did not have an income in Japan the previous year, you’ll have to work it out with the school and/or city office based on your current financial circumstances.Process:Step 1: Get the application formsThis is straightforward in most cases—get the forms from a school or the city office. Still, for some popular schools, they’ll require you to attend Information Sessions (説明会) in order to get school specific forms and instructions.Step 2: Gather the required documentsAt the very least, you’ll need the school application forms and a job certificate (or student certificate, if you’re attending school here). The certificates should be obtained from your place of employment or education, and make sure there is a hanko stamped on there otherwise the city office can’t accept it!Step 3: Create a list of preferences for the local schoolsJust because a school is closest doesn’t mean your child will get to go there. You’ll need to scope out the different schools in the area and rack and stack them. You’ll put that priority list on the form and the city office will decide which school/daycare your child will attend based on availability, proximity, and preference.Step 4: Fill in the paperworkStep 5: Submit the paperworkThe paperwork will generally be submitted at the school of choice. If not, you will have to submit it directly to the city office.If you have any additional questions, feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9mQn-living_education_familylifeFri, 16 Nov 2018 10:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9mQn-living_education_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5Xg-living_badexperiencesI’ve lived in Japan long enough to be fluent in Japanese. I use it professionally and in my everyday life. Still, I encounter circumstances surrounding my language usage that remain incredibly frustrating; the main one being when I’m speaking Japanese to someone and they insist on speaking English back to me--even though they are incapable of having a conversation in English, and I’m more than capable of having one in Japanese. Sometimes it makes me wonder if it’s just that their brains can’t compute that someone who looks like me can speak the Japanese language. Whatever the reason may be, if the person can speak English well enough, I usually just go along with it to make the situation easier, but in certain circumstances that option just isn’t available because they don’t have the capability of doing it. It can be extremely prohibitive trying to get things done when people can’t recognize that the conversation can and should happen in Japanese.Allow me to offer an example of this:I had purchased some paint for the house, and I ended up having more than was necessary. So, I called the store where I got the paint and asked them if it would be possible for me to return it, since they don’t normally have a returns policy. The store manager said it was no problem. [Note: all of this was done in Japanese]When I went to return the paint, things didn’t go quite so smoothly. I took it to the customer service desk as was requested, presented the paint and the receipt, and asked to return it. The individual looked at me as if I was speaking ancient Egyptian. He then proceeded to pick up the phone, and ask if there was someone in the back who could come to the customer service desk and speak English because there was an American customer there.As he was talking, I said to him (in Japanese) “we are having this conversation in Japanese! You don’t need somebody who can speak English.”All he did was nervously nod and ask me to wait.The problem is, in this particular store, there weren’t any staff members who could speak English. So here I am, in a Mexican standoff with a customer service clerk who can’t comprehend that I’m speaking to him in Japanese, and who was simply waiting for someone who could speak English to rescue him from the situation.Thank goodness one of the cashiers overhead what was going on and came over. She apologized and said that she would help out. I’m not quite sure what we would have done if that wasn’t the case.Of course, this is only one example. I’ve faced similar issues at doctor's appointments where the doctors try to explain complex issues in broken English rather than fluent Japanese, or when I’m conducting business meetings with Japanese counterparts who would rather use less-than-stellar interpreters than to just hold the meeting in their native tongue. I know the limits of my Japanese, and I understand that I speak accented Japanese. But it’s very difficult as an expat here when you do speak the language, can pass the language exams, and 90% of your interactions in Japanese are just fine, to have 10% be marred simply because you don’t look like somebody who should be speaking that language. I don’t know how one goes about fixing that, but I think that in a country where homogeneity and uniformity are prized, I’m not sure that it can change for everybody in the near term. In the meantime, here are some tips that I have:- Be patient. There's no point in getting heated--it will only make the situation more difficult.- Ask for another representative. Whether it is a doctor or a customer service rep, sometimes the best thing to do is bring a different person into the conversation.Have you ever encountered a situation like this? How did you handle it? Any extra tips? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5Xg-living_badexperiencesThu, 15 Nov 2018 10:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5Xg-living_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkpdm-living_foodI saw this in the supermarket yesterday and became unexpectedly excited:Don’t get me wrong, CupNoodle can be exciting if you’re hungry and in need of a quick heat and eat meal, but it was cool to see the young Naomi Osaka on the side.It took me a minute to think about why I took such pleasure in seeing that, but then I realized it’s the part of me that is also mixed-race glad to see Japan championing someone who isn’t full Japanese.I get that Japan has a long way to go, and there are many criticisms that acceptance of mixed ethnicity is relegated to the sporting world, but I’m not concerned with the current generation—they’re too stuck in their ways to change a great deal anyway. I’m more interested in Japanese youth (who consume a helluva lot of CupNoodles and who tend to idolize athletes more than adults) seeing a person of mixed race on such a big name product. It will affect their worldview for the better.Besides, Naomi Osaka seems like a sweet, genuine, and dedicated person, and I wish her the best success. In the meantime, check out the gallery for the other versions of Naomi Osaka CupNoodle!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkpdm-living_foodWed, 14 Nov 2018 10:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkpdm-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GW6bO-foodAs I get older, I find that my alcohol consumption has decreased—the result of a slowing metabolism, fewer social drinking occasions, and depleted energy from wrangling kids all day. As a result, when I do have a drink, I usually reserve it for old favorites or trying new craft beer.Yesterday proved such an occasion, and I opted to try a local microbrew that I’ve been itching to try for a while: Echigo Beer. The company labels itself the oldest microbrew in Japan, and while I can’t vouch for that, I will say that Niigata has a strong tradition for brewing alcohol (sake more than beer, though).The Echigo Pilsner is the most common brew, but since it’s autumn, I reached for the red ale. I have to admit I was somewhat drawn to it for the cranes on the label that are such common sights out here in snow country.The ale itself was delicious. Not as bitter as some red ales, but it still had that hoppy taste you’d want from an ale. This was a perfect autumn brew, and I highly recommend it.Echigo beer is fairly ubiquitous in Niigata, but you can find it at many craft beer locations throughout Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GW6bO-foodWed, 14 Nov 2018 10:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GW6bO-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna1q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI was walking my dog the other day and saw this shed:I’ve walked past it a hundred times the past six months, but there’s a reason why looking right now makes me sad. No, it’s not because it could use a clean up, and no, it’s not because it’s probably full of mice and other rodents. It’s because in just a little over a month, that shed will be gone—covered entirely by snow. The owner of the shed doesn’t even try to clear the shed away—it just becomes lost to the heaps and heaps of snowfall this area accumulates. But why does that make me sad? The snowfall doesn’t both me so much. It’s the fact that we won’t see that shed again until April. That’s right...five months of heavy snow.Alas, that’s why they call this area Yukiguni (snow country), I suppose.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna1q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 12 Nov 2018 15:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna1q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3Rr-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataAnyone who has lived in Japan for an extended period knows that Mont Blanc モンブラン pastries are ubiquitous in Japan. You can find them in convenience stores, pastry shops, and restaurants. I’ve had my fair share in the past, but the best I’ve ever had comes from my local cake shop, Huckleberry.Unlike most Mont Blanc, Huckleberry’s version doesn’t have the normal squiggly lines of frosting on top, but opts for a sleeker-looking set of layered frosting.Inside, there is a nicer balance between pastry and frosting than is typical for Mont Blanc. There are strong chestnut, coffee, and vanilla flavors throughout, making this my favorite Mont Blanc in Japan, and one of my favorite cakes. Simply delicious!Huckleberry is located about a 15 minute walk from Urasa station, but you can purchase Huckleberry cakes at the Family Dining Kodamaya restaurant right across the street from the train station.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3Rr-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 12 Nov 2018 15:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3Rr-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4aE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI feel like rural Japan maintains a sense of community that no longer exists in most places in the United States. In all of my adult life, I lived in places in the U.S. never knowing my neighbors beyond the odd wave and “hello” said in passing, and not by any lack of effort on my part. I’m pretty sure I was “that guy” who people thought was weird for knocking on the door to ask for something (sugar, matches, etc.), offering to help move in, and generally making an effort to know everybody I lived near.Now I’m out here and realize that I’m nowhere near the level of community involvement that is normal here. Case in point:Sure, it looks like nothing more than a picture of a tree, but yesterday, that tree’s branches was reaching all the way up to the power line, just as all the trees that lined the street. This was the next neighborhood over, so I wasn’t expected to participate, but I did witness every able-bodied male from that neighborhood out in the streets working to trim the trees. They did this because the snows here are so bad that any tree left untrimmed ran the risk of knocking out a powerline and shutting off power to the whole neighborhood. So, everyone pitches in. It was something refreshing to see, and I definitely feel more at home out here where community engagement is the norm rather than the exception.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4aE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 12 Nov 2018 13:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4aE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5Pg-transportation_jalMy wife and I have been to 44 prefectures in Japan now, and we’ve experimented with all different modes of transport to get there: road trip, bullet train, local train (yeah...that was rough), overnight bus (that was tougher), and ferry (not so rough on me, but tougher on my seasick wife!). Each has its pros and cons, but while the allure of the bullet train or the cost effectiveness of an overnight bus are hard to resist, our recent trip to Kyūshū offers a great example of why flying still remains the best option for long distance travel in Japan.Our goal was to do a multi-prefecture visit in Kyūshū, hitting Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi (yes, on Honshū, but a stone’s throw from Kitakyūshū City), and Oita. That was a pretty ambitious tour, and we were on a limited budget. How could we manage all of the logistics?When considering how to get to Kyūshū, we looked at flights, trains, and overnight buses. Bus was of course the cheapest option, but we didn’t want to drain ourselves just to get to our destination. Also, we were still going to have to find alternate transportation (either rail, local bus, or rental vehicle) once we got to Kyūshū which was going to eat into our budget anyway. The next option, trains, seemed like it would be economical, but the bullet train can get as expensive as flights once you extend beyond Sendai in the north or Osaka in the south (when traveling from the Kanto region). When the bullet train starts reaching 25,000 yen per person one way, the cost-benefit balance starts to swing towards the option we finally went with: flying. Flying JAL to/from Kyūshū revealed five benefits that will ensure we opt for flying over taking other modes of transport in Japan.Reason 1: AccessThere are simply some places that are worth seeing in Japan that don’t have ready access to Shinkansen stations or aren’t connected via roadway. You would be doing yourself a disservice to miss out on those spots simply because you can’t get there by road or rail. Here are a few examples of those must-see places where JAL operates: - Anywhere in Okinawa- Kochi City, Kochi Pref.- Akita City, Akita Pref.- Asahikawa, Hokkaido Pref.- Izumo, Shimane Pref.The other great thing about airports with JAL flights is that there are ALWAYS rental car locations and bus stops, and oftentimes there will be train stations nearby.For us, it wasn't just about access to hard-to-reach areas, it was also about the number of airports JAL operates. In Kyūshū alone, there were 10 choices for airports. Needless to say, there was no trouble finding a place to enter and exit our vacation destination, which made it easy to see awesome places like this:Reason 2: CostAt first glance, domestic flights aren’t cheap. It’s hard to compete if staying relatively local or if you don’t stray far from bullet train stations. However, if your vacation destination is off-the-beaten path, you have to factor in not just the Shinkansen ticket, but whatever limited express or local tickets you need to get from there. Those all start to add up, especially if you’re looking to do a multi-prefecture vacation with multiple travelers.In our trip, we found that flights combined with rental vehicle had the greatest upfront cost, but ended up saving us money, especially since we were traveling with two or more people.Reason 3: TimeVacation time is limited, so why waste it on transit? Bullet trains are fast, but they aren’t “airplane” fast (not yet, anyway). A trip from Tokyo Station to Hiroshima takes six hours by rail. By air? Just a shade over an hour. Folks may argue that it takes more time to have to process through the airport, but anyone who’s ever flown JAL knows that in a pinch, arriving 30 minutes before your flight is still plenty of time to be able to check-in and make it through security (the JAL staff are very helpful in those cases).Reason 4: Flexible airport selectionJapanese domestic airlines like JAL make it very easy to have flexibility in your itinerary because each leg of the flight is treated as independent fares. For us, this meant that it doesn’t matter that we flew into Nagasaki and flew out of Oita—the cost was the same. Since we were shooting for a multi-prefecture vacation, it was a huge benefit not to have to waste time circling back to a particular airport. It also allowed us to time our flights according to our itinerary.Reason 5: ComfortBecause we could choose our airports flexibly, we also had the option to pick the airports that were most comfortable in terms of location and use. If you’re like me and hate crowds and hustle/bustle, going to a busy airport like Osaka or Fukuoka can be an unpleasant experience. Thus, at the tail end of our vacation, we opted to fly out of Oita airport, and what a treat that was. Not only was the airport peaceful and the staff friendly, it had one of the coolest sky decks I have ever seen (and I have been in airports all over the world); enjoying some Oita meibutsu(regional specialities), watching flights, and seeing three of Japan's four main islands was the best way to finish up our Kyūshū tour!This post is supported by Japan Airlines (JAL), 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/genkidesuka/za5Pg-transportation_jalWed, 07 Nov 2018 11:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5Pg-transportation_jalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME5XW-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI’ve been meaning to post this for a while, because I found it so interesting being out here in Niigata where rice is the premier crop. I grew up eating rice at every meal, and it has long been my favorite food, but I never really knew how it was grown and harvested. I mean, I‘ve seen the traditional method where people walk in rows breaking their backs as the plant eat individual stalk and then use ox-drawn cart to thresh the rice stalks once they’re ready for harvest, but we’re well past that era now.Now, we have these bad boys:The channels on the front cut cut and pull the rice stalks up. After that, they all all turned so the rice grains are on the inside of the machine and pulled by conveyor belt towards the back of the machine. The rice grains get stripped and dumped into an internal reservoir while the chaff is ejected out the back.When the machine is full, the operator uses the long arm you see at the top of the machine to extend over a truck, at which point all of the rice grains are pumped to the truck bed.I haven’t exactly sat timing them do this, but I've seen them complete an entire rice paddy (about half the size of a football field) in the time it takes me to go on a long walk with my dog. That’s crazy efficient when you think about how long it used to take. Thank goodness for innovation and technology, right?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME5XW-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 01 Nov 2018 18:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME5XW-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GORAO-living_medical_healthSo I checked into a Japanese hospital with my daughter last night. I wasn’t planning on staying overnight—my main concern was just getting her to the ER. Don’t worry, she’s fine now, but the doc ordered her to stay overnight for observation and medication. That’s when the “oh shoot, I didn’t pack anything” moment kicked in.I don’t have a lot of experience in American hospitals, so I can’t offer a comparison, but I took stock of what I needed here at a Japanese hospital under National Health Insurance And made a list. Here’s what I ended up bringing:- Health records (Boshi teccho): even though my daughter goes to this hospital regularly, the system is notoriously stove-piped and doesn’t access records from other sections. Thus, when they asked me what vaccinations my daughter has had, the Boshi teccho came in handy.- Pen. There are a lot of forms to fill out and nobody seems to have pens handy. Just good to have on hand.- Food: they’ll offer food for your child and there is usually a conbini or a restaurant in the hospital, but as I discovered yesterday, the hospital conbini runs out of stock quickly. Also, you can’t just leave a young child alone for 40 minutes to go eat in a restaurant. I wouldn’t anyway, but policy prohibits long absences without a parent or guardian present with young children. Make sure whatever you get doesn’t need to be refrigerated, because it’ll be hit or miss whether you’ll have access to one. Also, get snacks for your children. The hospital gives meals, but no snacks in between.- Toiletries: don’t count on there being any available to you, whether from the hospital staff or the sundry shop/conbini.- Cash: you’ll need small change and/or small bills for vending machines.- Entertainment: the only means for entertaining my daughter available in the hospital room was a pay-per-view TV. I’m not against paying for Japanese television, but I figured I would bring a tablet with some movies, a few books, and other small items to keep us entertained while we’re here. [Note: don’t expect your hospital to have WiFi available. Mine does not]- Chargers: the hospital does not have any chargers available for electronic devices, though there should be plenty of outlets for your chargers.- Sandals: the hospital doesn’t provide zori or slippers, but you’ll want something easy to slip on an off while staying.- Toys: obviously you don’t want to bust out a 1000 piece LEGO set on a hospital bed, but one or two toys that can keep your child company are good to have handy.- Changes of clothes: if your child gets admitted into a Japanese hospital, they’ll try to keep them at least a few nights. It’s good to have a fresh clothes handy.Bottom line: plan for a long haul and don’t expect the hospital to provide anything for your child except food, hospital gowns, pay-per-view entertainment, and medicinal care. The rest will be up to you!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GORAO-living_medical_healthWed, 31 Oct 2018 18:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GORAO-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z885b-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI’ve been a fight fan for as long as I can remember, and while I tend to enjoy boxing more than mixed martial arts, I grew up watching UFC bouts. I’m also aware that MMA (UFC included) is quite popular in Japan, so the flyer board at my local supermarket caught my eye:You can see the big “UFC” on the middle left flyer. For a second, I thought, Oh, maybe they’re having an amateur MMA night or an exhibition of Japanese UFC fighters around here somewhere. Cool.Then I took a closer look......Uonuma Folk Club.Those things aren’t at all alike, unless each song ends with an epic fight in a caged octagon. Actually, that’s something that I would be game to watch. Sounds like I need to write in a suggestion to the club...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z885b-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 30 Oct 2018 08:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z885b-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK9a3-food_shimonoseki_shi_yamaguchiI was in Shimonoseki (Yamaguchi Prefecture) last week, and it’s a place known for its Fugu (pufferfish). Most people know about less for its culinary characteristics than its deadly poison, which still claims upwards of 50 people a year in spite of the clear warnings and strict government regulations.I first learned about Fugu as a child watching The Simpsons, in an episode where Homer eats Fugu prepared by a junior chef and everyone wonders if he’ll make it through the night. That didn’t really instill a desire to try it myself.Still, as the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” so I figured I might as well do as the Shimonosekians...Shimonosekis...Shimono...thepeople of Shimonoseki do and try Fugu.My wife and I headed to Karato Ichiba, the Tsukiji of Shimonoseki. Right off the bat you can tell that Fugu is the specialty there, seeing as there’s a giant Fugu statue in the middle of the loading bay (it’s a wholesale market, so there’s quite a bit of hustle and bustle).We headed over to the Fugu senmonten (speciality shops) and started talking to one of the fishmongers who had Fugu sashimi for sale. Again, keep in mind that I’m still a bit wary of Fugu given the whole “eat this and you could die” possibility, so I tried to strike up a conversation with the bloke to gain confidence in his Fugu filleting skills.I asked how long he’s been doing it.”Since before the market opened.”How long had the market been open, I asked.”I don’t know. A few decades, maybe.”Have you always specialized in a Fugu?”Yes.”By now, I guess you can tell that he was quite the talkative fellow. In a way, his terse nature was reassuring—he was all business, and I guess I could appreciate that with someone who cut up poisonous fish for a living, no frills focus was a good thing.So I took the leap. 1000 yen bought me this plate:It was Fugu sashimi along with chopped up Fugu skin.I said farewell to my wife and took my first piece...In many ways, it reminded me of Tai sashimi—very light, slightly chewy, with mild flavor. That is to say, I enjoyed it.Next was the skin...This was not as good. Honestly, it reminded me of octopus or mirugai (clam foot), neither of which thrill me much.Overall, I’m really glad I tried it—check that off the bucket list. Would I have it again? Maybe if I’m back down in Shimonoseki hanging with the Shimonosekites (man, Japanese makes it so much easier just to call them 市民).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK9a3-food_shimonoseki_shi_yamaguchiMon, 29 Oct 2018 17:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK9a3-food_shimonoseki_shi_yamaguchihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3O8-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWith the exception of Okinawa, Japan is one of those places where all four seasons are pronounced. Each has its own pros and cons, though the one that has the most pros and fewest cons has to be Autumn.Delicious fruit and vegetable harvests. Fun and interesting traditions (Tsukimi, etc.). No snow. No kafunsho (allergens). And this:I’ve posted a few more Autumn pics in the gallery, and those should give you a glimpse of Yukiguni in its autumn glory.Which season in Japan do you like best? Are you a fan of autumn, like me? Do you prefer the cherry blossoms over the changing leaves? Don’t tell me you like sweating during the humid summers! Feel free to share in the comments below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3O8-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 29 Oct 2018 08:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3O8-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GORQn-foodI needed a pick-me-up to get me ready for the Halloween party yesterday. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy spending time with the kids, but I also know that child wrangling doesn’t really afford the most time for sitting and eating.So what do I do when I need a quick and easy food fix? What most people in Japan do, I suppose—I hit up a conbini. In this case, 7-11 was my choice, and I opted for the one hundred yen wonder:I grew up eating “Choco fashion” donuts from Mister Donuts, so imagine my joy when 7-11 decided to start selling their own version of the chocolate-dipped cake donut a few years ago.Keep in mind that at 496 calories, this isn’t the healthiest snack option, but when you need something to help you power through a few hours of kid craziness, it will do you a treat at just a hundred yen!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GORQn-foodMon, 29 Oct 2018 08:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GORQn-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/we87k-food_yurihonjo_shi_akitaA friend of mine from Akita recently sent me a gift: Yurihonjo’s meibutsu (specialty) fruit.What, might you ask, is the meibutsu fruit for Akita? Don’t be surprised if you have no idea—I didn’t either, and I’ve been there before! Akita is known mostly for its rice crop, and give its location, it’s kind of an in-between spot for grapes and cherries (Yamagata’s meibutsu fruit) and apples (Aomori’s specialty).Come to find out, it’s this:FIGS!Apparently Yurihonjo is the furthest north you can go where figs (ichijiku) still grow, and they’ve really taken pride in that fact. While figs are not a staple in Japanese cuisine, many Honjo products use it, and my friend wanted to share these with me.A little tart, a little sweet, and just slightly bitter—they were perfect on toast and biscuits with some tea. Not bad, Yurihonjo!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/we87k-food_yurihonjo_shi_akitaSat, 27 Oct 2018 18:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/we87k-food_yurihonjo_shi_akitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4rnr-living_niigataI feel kinda like a cheat using “Winter is coming” as a title for this post seeing as I’ve never watched an episode of Game of Thrones [I guess the saying is supposed to be about the “snow walkers” or “white walkers” or something?]In any case, I use the phrase here because I just saw the first sign that winter is imminent here in Yukiguni:People have started to put posts and planks around their trees and plants.That’s always step one, because once the first snow falls, it’s too late.Step two is when the mountaintops get completely white.Step three is when everyone swaps tires for snow tires.Step four is when...well, there is no step four, since by that time we’re all just covered in snow.Oh well—such is life in Yukiguni.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4rnr-living_niigataSat, 27 Oct 2018 17:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4rnr-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6Jk-living_yamaguchiI lost count of the number of times my wife and I have discussed Japanese tunnel engineering while on road trips. Look, we’ve driven through the 10 kilometer long Joetsu tunnel umpteen times now, and it never gets less impressive.We’ve often wondered how they make the tunnels, and during our most recent road trip, we got to see it first hand.We were snaking through the mountains of Yamaguchi prefecture, remarking to ourselves, “Man, this would be much easier if there were just a tunnel,” when we saw this:They had built the road right up to the edge of the mountain, cleared the foliage, and poured concrete down the face of the cleared space. From there, they marked the area necessary to remove from the tunnel, and put in guides for the tunnel boring machine. All in all, a pretty neat sight to stop for along our windy mountain drive.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6Jk-living_yamaguchiSun, 21 Oct 2018 15:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6Jk-living_yamaguchihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BOv-livingOne thing I noticed living in Japan is that in most big-name stores (whether department stores, conbini, or supermarkets), there always seems to be a jar for disaster relief funds next to the cash register.Donation jars next to the register are nothing new, but two things strike me about how they are used in Japan: (1) they are frequently updated; and (2) they are not just for Japanese disasters.Take this example from Aeon:This is a disaster relief donation box for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The campaign runs until today, and then they’ll switch it to another emergency relief fund.In the past, I’ve seen collections for the Kumamoto earthquake, the Kathmandu earthquake, the “Guerilla Rains” in western Japan this past summer, and the earthquake/landslides in Hokkaido just a couple months ago.All of those are worthy causes, and I am always glad to see these charity options available—every little bit counts!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BOv-livingSun, 21 Oct 2018 15:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BOv-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go46j-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataNobody likes to be stuck in a hospital. After all, it means that you or someone you care about is sick or injured, and you are surrounded by other people who are sick and injured. Not the cheeriest of situations in which to find yourself, right?Well, as I sit here in the hospital and look out the window, I think to myself, “Dang, this has to be the best-ever view from a hospital window.” Check this out:Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather be out in the world and get to see this while strolling or driving freely and healthily, but it’s at least a small consolation when dealing with something otherwise unfortunate. Thank you, yukiguni, for the beauty.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go46j-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 21 Oct 2018 14:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go46j-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3gX-foodJapan has no shortage of canned coffees. Boss, Tully’s, Emerald...the list of brands goes on and on, and there are all different types of coffees under each brand.My favorite of the bunch is Tully’s Barista Black. Hot or cold, it’s always tasty and never bitter.Well, I normally don’t examine the cans as I drink the coffee, but it just so happened that the can was sitting at a table that was eye level and I noticed something for the first time:Tully’s Barista Black has 10% Mocha in it! Well, that explains why it’s smoother than other black coffees. Also interesting that they mix African and South American roasts in there, too. So I guess the secret to a good black coffee is a varied mix with a bit of mocha in it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3gX-foodSun, 21 Oct 2018 08:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3gX-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBga8-living_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiI’m a history buff, so of course when we were down in Nagasaki we had to stop by Dejima. For me, it did not disappoint (although I don’t know that I can say the same for my three travel companions that day!).Dejima is a reconstructed heritage site modeled after an artificial island created to house foreign traders. Since the Shogun’s policy of sakoku (isolation) prohibited foreigners from entering Japan, they were housed on this island that was designated as out of Japan (hence the name, “Dejima” 出島).The most prominent residents at Dejima were Dutch, which leads me to the unexpected resident I encountered:That’s right: MIFFY! I guess the Dutch Embassy got into the newly restored Dejima and gifted this giant Miffy display as a means to bridge the old Dutch-Japanese relations with the modern era. Okay, so maybe Miffy seemed a little out of place on Dejima, but at least it gave my bored travel companions something to enjoy!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBga8-living_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiFri, 19 Oct 2018 19:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBga8-living_nagasaki_shi_nagasakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVRd5-food_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiIf you’re getting ready to go to Nagasaki, people will always tell you, “Get the Castella cake,” or “You have to try the Nagasaki Champon,” since both of those are local meibutsu, or specialties. I tell you what though, we discovered another one that blows those out of the water:Kakuni manjuOur first night in town, we were strolling through Nagasaki’s diminutive Chinatown district (which was small but well appointed), and a merchant offered us a piece of kakuni manju, which is simply braised pork belly in a steamed bun sandwich. Known as Gua Bao in Chinese cuisine, the Japanese variant is largely the same but uses Japanese marinades for the pork belly. I love nikuman, pizzaman, and basically anything in a steamed bun, so when I discovered these little steamed bun pork belly sandwiches, I was pretty sure I’d died and gone to heaven. Our second night, we ate nothing but kakuni manju at that same place that offered us a sample (Iwasaki Honpo 岩崎本舗). I ate seven and I thought I did pretty good for myself, though I was told the record was twenty in one sitting. (Next time, Nagasaki. I’m coming for that record!)That said, if you head down to Nagasaki, do yourself a favor and go for the Kakuni Manju!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVRd5-food_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiFri, 19 Oct 2018 18:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVRd5-food_nagasaki_shi_nagasakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP8aE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI’m not sure how other Yochien are across Japan, but ours here in the inaka is full of animals. The ever-present residents are rabbits, though we have seasonal tenants like kabuto-mushi and baby Koi (which are later donated elsewhere). The school even brings in ayu (sweetfish) for the kids to catch and eat (yup, they gut the fish right in front of the children, too—something I never could see happening at a pre-school back in the states!)Well, today after I dropped my daughter off, I saw some brand new residents:Four little uzura. For the scientifically-inclined out there, those areCoturnix Japonica, or—if you’re a layperson like me—Japanese quail. I’d never seen quail chicks up close before, but I’ll be doggoned if they’re not adorable little creatures. I just hope the school isn’t raising them to go the way of the ayu...If I had to venture a guess, one of the teachers found the birds and decided to use the school as a nursery, which I think is great since it teaches the children responsibility and appreciation for nature.Not to mention, now I get the pleasure of seeing the little quails grow up!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP8aE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFri, 19 Oct 2018 18:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP8aE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9mg0-living_arita_cho_sagaI’m an above-average sized guy, so the thought of crawling into a Mini Cooper everyday just to get around is not very appealing. Sure, some people argue, “Hey, it doesn’t feel that small when you’re actually inside of it,” but if I feel as if I could be swallowed whole by a Nissan El Grand, it’s a tiny car.So I’ve never really been a Mini Cooper guy until I saw this little gem in Arita, Saga Prefecture:Arita is famous for its porcelain, and this Mini Cooper was styled to match the town’s special pottery.Here’s another angle:This wasn’t just one of the coolest Mini Coopers I’ve ever seen, but probably the most uniquely styled car I’ve ever come across in person. It was enough to make me want to squeeze myself inside and call myself a Mini Cooper owner.This car belongs to Gallery Arita, a cafe and shop located about a fifteen-minute walk from Arita station.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9mg0-living_arita_cho_sagaThu, 18 Oct 2018 08:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9mg0-living_arita_cho_sagahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jQe-living_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaSo the other day I was strolling through Fukuoka (in the Hakata area) and I stumbled upon the shrine with one of the longest names I’ve ever seen:Chikuzen-kuni Ichinomiya Sumiyoshi Shrine (fun fact: a colleague informed me that “XX-kuni” indicates location and “X-nomiya” denotes rank). The shrine itself was fairly standard fare, but then I chanced upon this statue here:It was a recently installed statue (just a few years ago), and it depicts a sumo deity. After all, Fukuoka is one of the premier locations for Grand Sumo tournaments and Kyūshū prides itself on producing quality sumo wrestlers.Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the person who designed the statue was a fan of Tekken. I mean, I’ve never seen a sumo wrestler with an eight pack and a man bun, let alone a big ol’ beard. To me, he looks way more like Heihachi Mishima than Kisenosato, but hey, who am I to judge? I’m sure the artist grew up a gamer like me, saw his/her opportunity to create a sumo avatar and just went for it. You do you, shrine statue maker. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jQe-living_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaThu, 18 Oct 2018 07:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jQe-living_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MpVmx-living_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiLike most people, I enjoy a good Japanese festival. What’s not to love? Jovial atmosphere, good food, beautiful costumes, catchy tunes, camaraderie—it’s great, right?Well, that’s what I thought until my wife and I traveled to Nagasaki during the Nagasaki Kunchi festival. This is a three-day affair that ran from Sunday until Tuesday. I figured, “Okay, they’ll start Sunday afternoon or evening and have a few things on each day.”Boy, was I wrong.At 4:30 in the morning we were awoken by the sound of drums, flutes, and shouts. We looked at each other in disbelief. Who the heck decides that practicing at 4:30 in the morning is a good idea?Well, since I was up, I strolled over to the closest conbini to grab us some coffee and a bite to eat, and when I left the hotel, I heard the drums, flutes, and shouts again. I decided to go see what the folks were practicing.Only they weren’t practicing......they were full on marching in the parade. Everyone was either in an elaborate costume or formal attire, and the procession was marching all through the streets.I couldn’t believe my eyes. The only people I’m used to seeing on the streets that early are folks getting done with yo-jikai (after-after-after parties) and waiting until the trains start running again. Incredible.In one way, I admire the dedication in getting up so early for a formal festival procession. In another way though, I say, C’mon Japan, you couldn’t wait just a few more hours???To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MpVmx-living_nagasaki_shi_nagasakiWed, 17 Oct 2018 18:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MpVmx-living_nagasaki_shi_nagasakihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna3V-living_arita_cho_sagaI’ve been to 44 prefectures over 16 years here in Japan, but I saw the coolest Torii arch just last week in Saga prefecture. Allow me to explain...To me, the best shrines and temples are those that take on the features of the surrounding community. For example, our Bishamondo temple here in Minamiuonuma has a giant gate meant for withstanding the massive amounts of snowfall and the temple grounds have a large courtyard for the community to gather.Well, Arita City is known for Arita-yaki, its porcelain, and at the Tozan shrine, this is the Torii arch:This Torii arch was erected in the early Meiji period (late 1800s) and is made of the area’s signature Arita-yaki. As a bonus, even the Komainu (stone dog guardians) are made of Arita-yaki:Pretty neat, right? Tozan shrine is about a 5 minute drive from Arita station in Saga Prefecture.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna3V-living_arita_cho_sagaWed, 17 Oct 2018 15:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna3V-living_arita_cho_sagahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmVYQ-living_beppu_shi_oitaI love Rugby, and I’m super pumped for the Rugby World Cup that Japan is hosting next year. Lots of folks in Japan are excited for it, and, to my surprise, it seems the entire city of Beppu is getting behind it.Just check out this display at Beppu Station:Yup, that’s Beppu’s iconic statue of Aburaya Kumahachi decked out in Brave Blossoms gear.And that wasn’t the only example—all throughout the town there were banners and posters with the saying, 4年に一度じゃない。一生に一度だ (“Not once every four years. Once a lifetime.”)I suppose there’s some merit to that motto. Who’d have thought that Beppu, a town known more for its hot springs than anything else, would be hosting games for the Rugby World Cup. Pretty incredible, really.I’m glad that the organizers decided to send some of the matches to stadiums throughout Japan, and believe you me, if I could be anywhere for a Rugby World Cup match, it would be in Beppu, where the RWC fever is at hot as its onsen!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmVYQ-living_beppu_shi_oitaWed, 17 Oct 2018 12:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmVYQ-living_beppu_shi_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4Ve-transportation_oitaThere are a surprisingly large number of airports in Kyushu despite the relatively small size of the island: in fact, every prefecture has one (Nagasaki has four!). That said, we had a lot of choices on where to fly in/out during our last Kyūshū trip, but we settled on Oita airport.Oita airport is small, but it may be one of the most relaxing airports I’ve ever visited. It’s clean, the staff are friendly, and there’s a nice restaurant terrace, one place that even has places to sit and watch the flightline while you enjoy Oita speciality dishes (like Chicken Tempura).But one thing I really thought was the fact that it is the only airport in Japan where you can see three of Japan’s main islands:From the observation deck, you can see Kyūshū (obviously, since you’re on it), Shikoku (Ehime Prefecture), and Honshū (Yamaguchi Prefecture).That was a neat little going-away treat for us, courtesy of Oita airport!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4Ve-transportation_oitaWed, 17 Oct 2018 11:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4Ve-transportation_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY7j2-living_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaWhen my wife and I visited Fukuoka, we headed over to the Canal City shopping center. It was a very interestingly designed place, but not exactly the most navigable shopping area I’ve visited. Throw in a huge number of foreign tourists (okay, so we were part of that figure, but still), and Canal City was looking to be a bust.That is until I discovered that they have a light and water show featuring Godzilla. I used to live in Vegas, so I’ve been exposed to some of the biggest and most gimmicky light/water shows out there, but I was intrigued since Godzilla was involved in this one.Here’s the best part though: it’s interactive! They project a Godzilla show onto the wall and the audience gets to use their smart phones to “launch missiles” at the giant beast.In true Japanese video game fashion, they didn’t make it easy, and this was the result:I was pretty disappointed with that. But I realized that you could join in the fun from wherever you were in the world (it was accessible via website), so I decided to see what would happen if I timed it right while sitting on my couch at home.Boom Baby! Down goes Godzilla! Not that I got to see what happened...The Godzilla show is on twice a day at Canal City: 18:30 and 20:00. Check it out if you’re in Fukuoka!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY7j2-living_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokaWed, 17 Oct 2018 09:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY7j2-living_hakata_ku_fukuoka_shi_fukuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BZj-living_sustainablelifeAnybody who has lived in Japan is well aware of the strict rules on trash sorting. Each house has a minimum of three bins, but that’s on the conservative end of things.It’s actually a little more relaxed out here in the countryside, since we only have four types of trash instead of the five-to-seven that I’m used to in the big cities. Out here, we have burnable, non-burnable, plastics, and glass/metal. Still, as broad as those categories are, there is a long list of items that may not be thrown away in the normal garbage. They include:- Fire Extinguishers- TVs- Air Conditioners- Personal Computers- Tires- Oil- Propane Tanks / Gas Bombs (the small gas canisters used for space heaters, hot plates, etc.)- Farming equipment (okay, so this one is a little more unique to our neighborhood!)- Spare parts for bikes and automobiles- Safes- Concrete objects...and the list goes on. Having spent a year accumulating non-perishable waste (not farm equipment, but other stuff) because I wasn’t sure where to dispose of it, I finally decided to do some research to close the gap.For this post, I figured I would share what I found out to save you the trouble. So here we go...Check Your City’s WebsiteEach city in Japan has its own trash ordinances. That complicates things, but fortunately, most Japanese cities also maintain a website that contains information about when, where, and how to dispose of trash. My first recommendation is to start there. Under the 暮らし・手続き (Living/Procedures) section, there should be information about ごみ・リサイクル (trash/recycling). From there, you can look for the 家庭 (household trash) to find the corresponding instructions for your respective townships.But aside from that, here are some common items that typically have special disposal requirements and where to do it:Appliances, Bicycles, other big itemsIf you’ve purchased any big items in Japan and then need to dispose of it, the first place to start is the store where you bought it. For example, if you purchased a fridge from K's Denki, you can usually return there for recycling/disposal. If that doesn't work, find a local recycle shop. Recycle shops here would probably be better billed as Refurb/Upcycle shops, since they tend to repair and resell any items that are junked by others. If you're lucky, the recycle shops may come periodically to your neighborhood. You'll hear them announce over loudspeakers that they are interested in taking any of your old appliances, futons, etc.Printer cartridgesThis one is pretty simple: head to your local Daiso store! Near the entrance or bagging areas, there should be a little green box with yellow opening where you can just toss in your used printer cartridges.Batteries, Personal Computers, Smartphones, etc.Japan has a few big electronics stores that are scattered throughout the country: Yamada Denki, K's Denki, Bic Camera, Kojima, etc. They will have tall cardboard containers where you can place your personal electronics. If you have something too big for the box, just see an attendant and they can help you out.Miscellaneous RecyclablesAeon Malls and Department Stores are a great place to go for other recyclables like cardboard. In fact, if you have a chipped WAON card, you can gain WAON points for recycling!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BZj-living_sustainablelifeMon, 15 Oct 2018 15:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BZj-living_sustainablelifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME5yg-food_tokyoI love Turkish food. It’s one of the things I miss the most living out in Niigata. Well, I’m flying out of Haneda airport this morning, and lo and behold, I stumbled upon Mrs. Istanbul, a Turkish diner in Terminal 2.Like any place in an airport, the food isn’t necessarily cheap, but it offers authentic doner kebab and dondurma, two of my favorite foods on the planet.It also helps that the staff is super friendly and there is a fairly varied menu if you or your travel companions aren’t familiar with Turkish cuisine. The diner is open from 7:00 to 21:00, which covers just about the entire domestic flying window for travelers here at Haneda. I highly recommend it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME5yg-food_tokyoFri, 05 Oct 2018 07:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/ME5yg-food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp98-living_shoppingDid anyone else here grow up playing “the Game of Life?” You know the one with the spinner wheel and the little car that you stick plastic family members as you progress? I used to love that game, but it never changed for the 18 years that I was growing up.So imagine my surprise with I saw this in the Aeon department store today:“The Game of Life: Time Slip”It’s a Life game that has different eras ranging from 1968-2068. The box also had a lot more pieces than I ever remember.I looked around and saw a bunch of other expansion packs for the games, too, and I noticed that the game was such as you could add boards to it to make it longer and more dynamic. Crazy!Has anyone played these versions of the game yet? Are they worth the purchase?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp98-living_shoppingSat, 22 Sep 2018 16:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp98-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3VP-living_badexperiencesI have lived in Japan for nearly twenty years now. I speak the language. I know the customs. I am respectful. I've never committed a crime. But I know that for most Japanese, I'm still part of the soto--an outsider. I'm okay with that. I'm not Japanese, and I have no intention of renouncing my American citizenship to become Japanese. It's only natural that I'm not considered Japanese.I would be lying if I said that being an outsider didn't have its perks from time-to-time. The Gaijin Passis real, and occasionally gets me kinder treatment when I make a mistake at the city office or need extra explanation at certain establishments. That's a decent perk.But gaijin discriminationis also real. I have two instances which really stand out for me.1) The Bike incidentI used to live in downtown Tokyo about a 10 minute bike ride from my parents' place. That made it nice because I could just cruise over for a bit from time to time--maybe to watch a movie or to have a beer with my pops.Well, one night, it was late because I had just finished watching a flick with my Dad, and I was stopped by a police officer while riding my bike home. In Japanese, I asked him what was wrong, and it was like I wasn't speaking the language at all. (That happens from time-to-time--it's like the brain can't reconcile the disparity between what one is hearing and seeing). He ignored my question and looked for the bike registration information. In English, he said, "Your name?" I answered. Then he said, "Wait here," and made a phone call. He was calling to confirm that my bike was actually mine.I get it--bikes get stolen. But this wasn't a shabby part of town. I wasn't doing anything suspicious. I got stopped and was essentially guilty until proven innocent.In the grand scheme of things, this was a minor incident. I also know that other people in the world deal with this as a part of daily life with much more severe treatment and consequences. At the end of the day, I had a five minute delay in my bike ride home.The second incident, however, cost me...2) The Parking TicketIf anyone has ever driven in Japan, you know that a totally common behavior is for drivers to treat the side of the road like a parking lot. Essentially, Japanese drivers can "park" anywhere as long as their blinkers are on. On major thoroughfares, there needs to be at least one occupant in the vehicle to prevent getting a parking ticket, but in smaller towns and shopping areas, it's routine to see folks get out, leave the blinkers on, go into a shop or a bank for a few minutes, and then come out without recourse.One day, I needed to do that same thing. I only had a short break from work, and I needed to do a bank transfer to pay a fee. The bank had no parking lot, but it had a side shoulder from a quiet street near the train station where folks routinely parked their cars to jump in and make transactions. I had seen it a hundred times before, so I thought, "When in Rome."I parked the car, made my bank transfer real quick, and then came out five minutes later to see a parking ticket on my car. I looked around. There were four other cars without occupants in them, all which had been parked there longer than mine. No tickets. Boy, did my blood start boiling. I took pictures of all of the other cars, grabbed my ticket, and went to the police station.I went to the window to deal with the ticket, and I immediately started questioning the officer-on-duty about the ticket. I asked him why my car was the only one ticketed. He said, "Surely your car wasn't the only one. The other cars must have been ticketed, too." Deflecting. I showed him a picture of one of the cars. "Maybe that has a special permit." I showed him two others. At that point, he knew I wasn't buying any of what he was selling, so he leveled with me. "Look, the people who give tickets are from a different department, so I can't do anything about the ticket. But your car has a Y plate, so that's why you got the ticket and no-one else did. You have to be careful because they like to ticket Y-plate cars." [I used to be here as a member of the U.S. forces, so we all had special license plates. Instead of the standard hiragana character for normal Japanese cars or the 外 for diplomatic plates, people here under the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement get "Y" plates]I had to appreciate his honesty, but I was flabbergasted at the blatant discrimination. I get it, I broke the law, but when the law is only being enforced on one segment of the population, that does not sit well with me. Never has and never will.Epilogue to this story: I have a hiragana plate vehicle now and blend in with the crowd now, so "When in Rome..."To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3VP-living_badexperiencesThu, 13 Sep 2018 11:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3VP-living_badexperienceshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQmNq-living_galleries_kanazawa_shi_ishikawaWhen asked, "What's the cultural hub of Japan," most people will answer, "Kyoto." Certainly, Japan's traditional capital is home to some of Japan's most iconic shrines, castles, and museums, but it's also one of the most crowded destinations for travelers in Japan. The influx of foreign tourists have made many places in Kyoto less involved, so while you can snap a few fantastic photos, it is something to enjoy as a bystander more than a visitor.Instead, I prefer Kanazawa, which emerged as a second cultural hub during the Edo period (1603-1868). When the Tokugawa clan emerged victorious out of the Period of Warring States, the clan set about dismantling and undermining any clans that opposed them. The Maeda clan from the Kaga region (modern-day Ishikawa prefecture) feared the wrath of the new Shogun and opted to trade weapons for crafts. As such, the Edo period became a renaissance for the region, and the crafts of old reemerged along with new techniques and traditions.The result is that Kanazawa offers much of the same cultural elements as Kyoto, but the fact that it is far less crowded allows the city to offer significantly more in-depth and hands-on experiences. You can spend an hour or an entire day at the museums. You can take a look at beautiful pottery and try your hand at painting some. You can visit a garden and stroll the grounds in peace. All of this makes for a wonderful and unforgettable trip.For those who do not know much about Kanazawa, I've included a list of my favorite places to visit and things to see.Places to Visit:Kenrokuen (Pic 1): One of Japan's most iconic gardens. There is a modest fee for entry, but the garden is beautiful any time of the year (especially in the winter and spring).Motenashi Dome / Kanazawa station (Pic 2): The Motenashi Dome at the entrance is magnificent, and it offers a centralized location for all of Kanazawa's best crafts and souvenirs. It's also how you'll enter the city if you opt to take the new Hokuriku shinkansen.D.T. Suzuki Museum (Pic 3): Suzuki Daisetz is one of Japan's leading figures in introducing Zen Buddhism to the world. This small museum is surprisingly moving, in part because of its architectural design.21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (Pic 4): This museum is one of my favorites in all of Japan. I am not usually a fan of modern art, but the exhibitions at this museum are always tasteful and engaging.Higashi Chaya District (Pic 7): The most picturesqueof Kanazawa's traditional tea house / geisha districts. This is a great site for enjoying green tea, traditional craftsmanship, and souvenir shopping.Oyama Shrine (Pic 10): I stumbled upon this shrine and was glad I did. The architecture is an interesting mix of traditional and early modern styles, and it's a nice break from the hustle and bustle immediately around it.Ono Yamato Soy Sauce Factory (Pic 11):This Soy Sauce maker prides itself on being the producer for the shoyu used in the Imperial household. This is a cool place to visit to see how soy sauce is made, and you can even try some Soy Sauce Soft Cream (better than you might think).Chirihama Beach (Pic 12): If you've got a car, this is a must visit. Chirihama beach is one of the few in the world suitable for vehicle traffic, and if you time your trip right, you can be among the few actually driving down the road during sunset.Things to DoShopping (Pic 5): Kanazawa is home to some of Japan's most beautiful crafts and souvenirs. The kutani porcelain (pictured) comes in all shapes and sizes, but Kanazawa is also known for its gold leaf and tapestry.Kutani Painting (Pic 6): Kutani is the traditional porcelain of the Kaga region, and Kanazawa is home to many Kutani-ware makers. Some of those places offer hands-on experiences. At Kutani Kosen Pottery Kiln, you use the traditional stencil paint and the master craftsmen fill in colors later and mail you the finished product.Tea Ceremony / Wagashi Tasting (Pic 7): There are a number of places to enjoy matcha and wagashi, but this particular picture is from a place in the Higashi Chaya district.Pottery Making (Pic 8): Kanazawa has many pottery kilns that make products other than the famous kutani porcelain, and some of those establishments give you the chance to try your hand. I tried making a rice bowl (pictured), not realizing how much the clay actually shrinks in the firing process. But I ended up with a really nice sake cup!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQmNq-living_galleries_kanazawa_shi_ishikawaTue, 11 Sep 2018 15:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQmNq-living_galleries_kanazawa_shi_ishikawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBgYD-living_sustainablelifeThinking about building a house in Japan? We are. It’s not a bad idea nowadays, especially out in rural areas where population is declining, land is valued at a fraction of what it was during the bubble economy years, and construction companies are still plentiful and under-contracted. Still, the big question mark is the design of the house, especially when it comes to sustainability.In traditional Japan, there were two types of homes built: those which were meant to last centuries, and those which were expected to be destroyed at least once a generation. It’s true: between earthquakes, typhoons, and manmade disasters, many homes were built based on efficiency rather than quality. Believe it or not, when there was a fire in the past, firefighters didn’t rely primarily on water to put out the fire, they used axes and picks to destroy surrounding homes to isolate the fire until it went out mostly on its own.In many ways, homes in modern Japan are similar, but for different reasons. The houses built in the bubble period prioritized cost efficiency, but did so at the expense of things that make a home more sustainable like sturdy building materials, proper insulation, and durable wiring/plumbing. It meant that many homes could built cheaply and quickly, but if you’ve ever lived in one of those era’s houses, you notice how energy bills go through the roof in cold winters and hot summers, you (or your landlord) spends a lot of money on maintenance and repairs, and the overall condition of the house deteriorates pretty rapidly after about 20-30 years. Not to mention the fact that you find workarounds for managing those drafty houses (like our classy “insulation” solution pictured below).What my wife and I have been looking at is a relatively new concept in Japan: the Passivhaus (Passive House). Originally a German conception, the Passivhaus is meant to rely on sustainable architectural design to make it as “passive” a presence on the environment as possible. By using good insulation, wise design to maximize air flow, and taking into account the unique climate of the area and position of the home (direction of sunlight, amount of wind, etc.), Passivhaus designs are meant to keep your home at a pleasant temperature, regulate the amount of moisture, and maximize energy efficiency. In principle, the Passivhaus is meant to have zero energy footprint, but in many cases, the homes can have positive energy output, meaning they produce more energy than they consume.If you’re wondering whether the homes sacrifice charm for efficiency, just check out the Passive House Japan website(screenshot below). These homes are beautiful, and the fact that they are designed so smartly makes them more comfortable and unique.Of course, there are a few downsides to Passive Houses. First, they cost about 10-15 percent more than standard homes. Second, you tend to lose a little square footage based on the thickness of the walls. Still, the costs savings from energy bills and the fact that you have more usable floor space in the winters and summers when other homes have to close off rooms that are not climate controlled makes up for those downsides.We’ll be looking for architects and builders through Passive House Japan. If you’re thinking about building a home here, I recommend doing the same!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBgYD-living_sustainablelifeMon, 03 Sep 2018 10:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBgYD-living_sustainablelifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ542-living_food_tea_shizuokaEarlier, I wrote about why folks should consider a “tea-cation” in Shizuoka, but if you’ve been in Japan recently or have been tracking the weather at all, you’ll know that it has been H-O-T. It’s hard to justify sitting in an un-air-conditioned tea house drinking hot tea when the heat index exceeds 40 degrees Celsius.Still, you shouldn’t be deterred by the heat. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Shizuoka’s green tea here during the dog days of summer. Allow me to share a few with you:Green Tea Ice CreamMany folks have had green tea ice cream before, but Shizuoka, being known for its tea production, has some of the best green tea ice cream options out there. The best I know is Nanaya.Nanaya offers green tea ice cream in varying intensities, on a rating scale from 1 to 7. The level 7 green tea ice cream is said to be the strongest green tea ice cream in the world.Nanaya has stores in Fujieda (the original).......and Shizuoka City.However, if you’re outside of Shizuoka, Nanaya has a shop in Shibuya (Tokyo's famous district) that may be easier to get to.Matcha KakigoriIf you’re looking for a cold treat that has a traditional feel to it, you can’t get a more quintessential “Japanese summer treat” than kakigori (shaved ice). The traditional shaved ice dishes are served with some sort of syrup, but they’ve gotten quite creative over the years. One of my favorite options is the 和風 Japanese-style kakigori, using ingredients like mochi balls, azuki red beans, and, of course, matcha powder. You can actually make this at home pretty easily by filling a bowl with store-bought azuki beans, then shaved ice and mochi balls, and dusting your own Shizuoka matcha powder on top. Still, if you are in Shizuoka and looking for a great option, I recommend Shinchaen in Fujieda. There, you can get this delicious matcha kakigori:At a shade over 800 yen, it's best as a shared treat to beat the heat.Iced Tea on-the-goNo matter where you are in Japan, you can find Shizuoka Green Tea in convenience stores. If you are looking for this or similar types of tea from a convenience store, just look for the kanji for “Shizuoka”: 静岡.The 7-11 brand is called, 一緑茶 (Hajime Green Tea), and it's only about 100 yen a bottle.The other major convenience stores will each have their own versions of Shizuoka Green Tea--you just have to check the refrigerator section for it!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/genkidesuka/MJ542-living_food_tea_shizuokaFri, 10 Aug 2018 07:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ542-living_food_tea_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9ma6-living_tokamachi_shi_niigataSo I made it out to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale today, and if you ever needed an excuse to come out to Niigata, make it this.This event occurs every three years, and cumulatively, there are now 400 works spread across the city of Tōkamachi—you just need to grab a map & passport (3600 yen) and your art adventure begins.We still have about 300 works to go see, but here some of the highlights from our day yesterday (in order as they appear in the gallery):Title: Kamaboko FaceArtist: Yoshiaki KaihatsuThis quirky artist (he also dresses as a mole & broadcasts from an underground booth) gave expression to the “hog-backed” storage sheds that are popular here in Yukiguni.We saw these spread out on our drive into Tōkamachi.Title: Karamushi’s Room Project 2018Artists: DoobuThe artists converted a centuries-old abandoned rice storehouse into a work of art, installing a reflecting pool, windows (for air flow and light), and hanging salvaged Tōkamachi tapestry.Title: Kiss & Goodbye/Mailbox of MemoryArtist: Jimmy LiaoBuilt next to the smallest train station I’ve seen (three chair platform), this shelter uses art to tell the story of a orphaned boy who finds courage as he travels with his dog by train to visit his grandfather.Title: Transfiguration HouseArtist: Xiang YangImagine if you took all your antique tansu (chest of drawers) & wardrobes and repurposed them into a tiny hut—you might end up with this. Wonderful use of space and contrasting colors.Title: Guardian Bird’s SocietyArtist: Masayoshi KoyamaUsing the form of a hawk (the region’s symbolic bird of prey), the artist created a traditional irori (fire pit) room, but the jizaikagi (pothook) connected to a pulley system that could make the roof “flap” like wings.Title: Greenroom Project 2018Artist: Koichi SakaoBuilt on an abandoned ski resort, this work transformed an old lodge into a 3-story artistic rendering of the contrast between summer and winter here in Yukiguni. Each leaf was drawn by a citizen of Tōkamachi.Title: Ghost SatellitesArtists: Gerda Steiner & Jörg LenzlingerThese “Satellites” were crafted using items found in abandoned homes in Tōkamachi.I loved the use of the old school pachinko machine. Gave me that 懐かしい feeling.Title: Palimpsest, Pond of SkyArtist: Leandro ErlichThis was the highlight. Erlich has several famous works throughout Japan (one other in Tōkamachi) that seek to change your perception of the world around you. The image in the pool isn’t a reflection, but a massive mural.Like I said, there are literally hundreds more works to see. If you get a chance to get out to Niigata to see this, it’s an incredible experience.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9ma6-living_tokamachi_shi_niigataTue, 31 Jul 2018 06:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9ma6-living_tokamachi_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jql-living_shoppingSo I went to the Welcia (the drug store) yesterday to pick up a few necessities. Among them was some feminine products I was stocking up for my wife. I'm not one of those guys who gets embarrassed by picking those up in the shop--I mean, it's a normal thing that half the population of the world have to consider for most of their lives. Besides, who the heck would give you a hard time for shopping for those things anyway? I don't even know how you could begin to insult somebody for that.But that leads me to my thought for this blog, because take a look at these bags from the store:You'll notice that one is blacked out. That's the one that had the feminine products placed in it. And I've seen stores use those types of bags for a number of different types of products (including the likes of pregnancy tests, from my wife's experience), though I am curious as to what the full list of "black bag items" would include (anybody out there know?).So here's the thing I was thinking about this: the black bags actually draw attention. If the store had simply placed the feminine products in a clear plastic bag, it's not like anyone would have been able to read the label through the translucent plastic anyway. They basically would have had to get up close and stare.But with the black bags, it invites curiosity. People could see it and say, "Ooo...there goes Genkidesuka, I wonder what he bought that had to be put in a BLACK bag..."But I suppose the black bags arrive at the intersection of two aspects of Japanese society: discretion and omotenashi. The stores want to be discreet, so they offer something to that prevents people from seeing what you purchased. But they also want to show that they are being discreet, so they offer something that's completely on the nose. Those two things don't really go together though. You can't be overly hospitable with your discretion, because then you're not being discreet anyway.I don't know, maybe I'm reading too much into it. But what about you all?What do you think of the black bags? Necessary? Inviting curiosity? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jql-living_shoppingTue, 31 Jul 2018 06:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jql-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8Vm-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI didn't grow up on a farm back in the States, but I did spend time with relatives who were farmers. I'm pretty familiar with the types of tools they use back stateside, but I've seen things over here in Japan that I never saw growing up.Here are three in particular that caught my eye:1) The Hawk KiteFarmers out here don't like to use pesticides or other chemicals on their crops. Instead, they use the natural ecosystem to promote healthy crop growth. Still, sometimes that ecosystem needs some taming, and that's where scarecrows and these hawk kites come in. Hawks are fairly common out here, but it's not like they patrol specific fields, so farmers use these kites to scare off would be crop poachers.2) Rolling SeatI used to marvel at how my neighbor, who isn't a spring chicken anymore, was able to hold a squat and duck walk for so long in her field, but then I noticed that she had a little assistance. These little rolling seats enable folks to keep low to the ground without having to kill their backs or knees. They are also narrow enough to be able to pass through the narrow rows in the fields without damaging crops.3) Bamboo broomThese are not unique to farms in Japan, though I was surprised to see how often they are used for farming purposes. If you've never used one of these before, they are hands down the best brooms you could possibly use. They don't get dirty, they sweep really well, and, as you can see from the picture, they are dirt cheap. For all those reasons, the farmers actually use them in the fields to clear chaff and brush, just as well as they can use them to sweep their driveways.Have you seen any other unique tools or instruments out here in Japan? Maybe not necessarily for farming but for something else? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8Vm-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 28 Jul 2018 07:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8Vm-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mqegk-livingHaving grown up over here, there are a lot of religious traditions that don't seem out of the ordinary to me, but are always new and unusual to folks who haven't seen them before. One of the things I love about life here with my wife is that she's always opening my eyes to these things and giving me newfound appreciation for them.I'm thinking about this because when we were out walking last night we passed by this on a plot of land where a house was about to be built:The post is part of a Shinto practice to purify and bless the land before the house is built upon it.The thing is, Japanese people aren't particularly religious. Shintoism isn't like Islam or Christianity or Judaism--it's a tradition-based religion more than a faith-based one. As such, those traditions have just become ingrained in society to the point where folks don't even think about it, they just do it as a matter of course. To be honest, there are a few of those traditions that I even partake in that I didn't think about until my wife brought them up.Here are two, in particular:Omamori for protectionOmamori are small, colorful pouches that contain written prayers for good luck and protection. I've carried one around with me ever since I was a kid, and I've always had one for my car. Again, there's not some deep faith assigned to those objects, but it's just the done thing (I will say that my wife has started doing it, too, so it can't be that absurd, can it?)Anyone can get an omamori. They are sold at shrines, and you can request to have them personalized. Just keep in mind that they are supposed to be renewed annually, with the old ones ritually disposed of at shrines (for a small fee).Salt to purify objectsIf you've ever watched sumo, you've seen the rikishi(wrestlers) toss salt onto the ring before entering. They do that to purify it. Well, the tradition also applies to daily life. Again, I didn't think anything of it until after we moved and my wife asked me, "Why are you dumping salt on the floors and the furniture?" For me, it's just what I've done my whole life whenever I've moved into a new house (and we moved often growing up). In fact, to this day whenever I move, my dad (who's half-Japanese) still calls and ask me, "Hey, did you make sure to put some salt in all the rooms?"Have you noticed any other common religious traditions in Japan that are a part of ordinary life? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mqegk-livingSat, 28 Jul 2018 07:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mqegk-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbK4P-foodSo my wife and I were having a debate today, and we would settle it with the city-cost community: what is the best kind of katsu?For anyone who’s lived here for a while, you know that katsu is way more than just breaded pork. Sure, tonkatsu was the original, but it’s been several hundred years since the first katsu cutlet was fried up in Japan. Over the years, different variations have become popular, with restaurants and cooks branching out to fusion cuisines and using the same breading and frying methods on a wide variety of proteins.Still, we did limit the scope of the debate to determine the best type of katsu.The only stipulation is that the term “katsu” has to be in the name. So from our estimation, that includes tonkatsu, hirekatsu, chicken katsu, ham katsu, menchi (mince)-katsu, and gyu-katsu (did we forget any?)My wife is partial to chicken katsu. I can understand that—it’s a great way to enjoy white meat chicken, and it’s a versatile protein. Chicken katsu is great for sandwiches, over rice, even on a salad. You can use it for katsudon katsu curry—the list goes on. I can’t argue that it’s a decent choice.Me, though? I have to go with gyu-katsu. I mean, look at this:Tell me that doesn’t look incredible. I do have to admit that the counter arguments are pretty strong. First is the cost. Gyu-katsu is typically made with high quality wagyu beef, meaning that it is REALLY pricey. Second, it’s not necessarily a versatile option. It’s not something that gets used in a variety of dishes like chicken katsu or tonkatsu. Still, I go back to the fact that gyu-katsu is just so dang delicious.So what about you, expat community? What do you reckon is the best? Were there any types of katsu that I forgot to mention? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbK4P-foodFri, 27 Jul 2018 13:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbK4P-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9m56-living_food_yokohama_shi_kanagawaFor the most part, hotels in Japan are great. Still, there are certain hotels that just have that extra something that separates it from all the rest.In Yokohama, that hotel is the Hotel New Grand.I look at Hotel New Grand less as a place to stay than a historical landmark, though it is a worthwhile destination for either reason. The Hotel is located a stone’s throw away from Yokohama’s Chinatown and Minato-Mirai areas, though the building survived far longer than most around it.In the midst of World War II, Yokohama was a major target for allied bombings since it was a vital port city for the Imperial Japanese military. My grandfather, who was among the first to arrive in Yokohama after the end of the war once wrote to me, “There was nothing left but rubble and chimneys for as far as the eye could see.” A notable exception to this being Hotel New Grand.The hotel was spared from allied bombing so that it could serve as a place for U.S. military occupiers to stay when arriving in Japan, and in part because of Douglas MacArthur’s personal preference.General MacArthur was the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers-Pacific and had a special connection to the hotel. Prior to the war, MacArthur made a few trips to Japan and had twice sojourned at the Hotel New Grand—once when he was accompanying his father, General Arthur MacArthur, and once for his honeymoon. Thus, MacArthur helped spare the hotel from allied bombing and chose to stay there the first night he arrived back in Japan in August 1945. As the story goes, the hotel manager greeted the General with a bow, saying, “Welcome back, General.”Nowadays, the Hotel New Grand has an entire separate tower with updated hotel rooms, but the original building is still intact—as is the MacArthur suite.With its beautiful accommodations and convenient location, the Hotel New Grand is a wonderful place to stay, though it’s worth a visit even if you decide not to book a room. You can stroll through the facilities and take in the history…...you can stop by one of the cafes for high tea…...or you can eat at one of the famous restaurants.No matter what you decide to do there, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9m56-living_food_yokohama_shi_kanagawaFri, 27 Jul 2018 12:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9m56-living_food_yokohama_shi_kanagawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jml-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWhen I was dropping my daughter off at her school today, I noticed something pretty awesome:It’s a plate full of veggies that the children had grown (with the teachers’ help, of course) in the large plot of land adjacent to the school.I suppose one of the perks of living out here in the inaka is that the school is able to offer children the chance to farm their own produce. From a practical perspective, this is great way to be able to provide fresh fruit and veggies for school snacks and lunches. It also teaches useful skills to the children and gets them outdoors for activity.Another thing that the school does that I find very interesting is that they ask each of the children what type of veggie they like to eat. For example, a child may answer, “Potatoes.” In that case, the child is put “in charge” of the potato plants. Of course, all the kids help each other out, but selecting their own crop to tend to not only gives the children a sense of responsibility, but it guarantees that they’ll be able to produce a fruit or vegetable that they’ll enjoy eating once it’s ready for harvest.Pretty neat, right?To me, taking the kids out to farm fruits and vegetables and using these methods teaches some priceless lessons—things like how hard work can bear fruit (and veggies, in this case); why you should appreciate food and not waste it; and pride in your effort (since they and the others will eat what they produce).I love my daughter’s school, and it seems like every day I find out new reasons why it’s the perfect learning environment for children.Does your local yochien have special activities that you find unique and worthwhile? Feel free to share them in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jml-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFri, 27 Jul 2018 12:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5jml-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Z89-livingWe’ve all been complaining about the heat lately. As so we should, with the record breaking temperatures, the alarming number of deaths, and the tens of thousands of hospitalizations. It’s natural to focus on the effect on humans, but us dogowners must also think about our furry pals. Few dogs common here in Japan are used to this kind of heat (Short haired chihuahuas being one of the key exceptions), so allow me to offer a few recommendations for taking care of your little best friends.The サマーカット “Summer Cut”Normally I let my dog get a little more of what I like to call “the muppet look” (since he looks like Animal when he gets shaggier), but whenever I go to the groomers during this season, I just ask for the “summer cut.” Anywhere between 2 and 4 mm is a decent length, though I tend to err on the short side. In fact, he’s due for another cut soon!Timed walksWhen the heat index is above 40 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the pavement can exceed 60 degrees Celsius. Going for walks when it is that hot is like torture for your dog and can cause pretty severe damage if you’re not careful.Time your walks to go in the early morning and late evening, and if you absolutely have to take your pup out, carry him/her to a shaded or grassy area. Shoes are okay, too, if your dog can handle it. Still be aware that even if you have protection from the pavement, the duration out in that heat can take its toll as well.HydrationMy dog goes through an extra bowl of water a day in the summertime, and he’s a shih tzu—not the most active animal around. Be sure to keep an eye on the water dish this time of year.Climate controlJust remember that however hot it feels for you in your house, you need to add a few degrees for your pet who’s wearing a fur coat. Be sure that you keep the air flowing, especially when you leave the house and your pet alone at home. It’s a bummer for the electric bill, but your pet will be grateful for the reprieve from the heat.Do you have any other tips for keeping your dog happy and healthy in this oppressive summer heat? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Z89-livingThu, 26 Jul 2018 18:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Z89-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXke5-living_foodJapan gets a lot of love for its instant foods like Cup Noodle, and rightfully so—those foods did revolutionize food consumption throughout the world while serving as the primary source of calories for college kids throughout the world.But Japan doesn’t just excel at those types of dried instant food—it also has the world’s best frozen meal options. It’s funny because in the states, frozen meals kind of have a stigma to them. For me, I think of those unhealthy TV dinners that come in the foil packs. But Japan? In this country, you can get just about any great cuisine frozen and microwave ready in minutes.Now, I’d like to say that I have everything together as a husband and father—that I can juggle my studies with helping raise the kids and tackle the chores, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t rely on frozen meals to supplement my diet. Sometimes it can’t be helped—you just need that quick fix.When I used to go that route back in the states, I didn’t really have a lot of decent options. Corn dogs. Burritos. Hot Pockets. Breakfast sandwiches. Frozen pizza. You know, that kind of stuff. In Japan though, you can find just about anything. Do you want Ippudo Gyoza? There’s a frozen food for that!Chicken wings? You can find those too!Still, here are my go-to frozen meals:7-11 Meat Sauce spaghettiI used to go for the refrigerated spaghetti until one day the meat sauce spaghetti in the freezer caught my eye. Did you know that the frozen spaghetti is 200 yen cheaper? Pop that bad boy in the microwave for 7 minutes and I promise you that you can’t tell the difference between the refrigerated version and the freezer version!Nanban Chicken KatsuThis is a go-to for me. It’s a chicken curry with sauce that you can just microwave over a bed of rice with veggies, and you have fantastic meal ready for you.KaraageWe don’t have a fryer—it’s just one of those things that is not the best thing for us with confined spaces (smell), young kids (safety), and the additional chore (disposing of the oil). Still, our daughter loves karaage, so we were glad to find frozen karaage that microwaves well and makes up for the fact that we can’t make some ourselves at home!Do you have any favorite frozen meals in Japan? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXke5-living_foodThu, 26 Jul 2018 15:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXke5-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88XA-living_foodI love my local farmer’s market. At least I did until I see that they have started pushing this stuff:GOYASo I get that this might turn into one of my most controversial blog posts, but only because Goya happens to be one of those things that people often passionately love or passionately hate. As something found throughout Southeast Asia, Goya is not unique to Japan—but it is unique to a single prefecture in Japan. Although nowadays Goya is grown in greenhouses throughout the country, its traditional roots (no pun intended) are in Okinawa.If you’ve never been to Okinawa before or eaten at an Okinawan restaurant, you should know that when you finally make the trip, you won’t be able to turn a menu page without seeing Goya on there. Goya is used as a garnish, a side, or even as the star ingredient of a main dish. Probably the most famous Goya-based dish in Okinawa is Goya Chanpuru (ゴーヤチャンプル). If you ask ten Okinawans to list the representative dishes of Okinawan cuisine, this Chanpuru would be on all ten of them. It’s a stir-fry dish with some of Okinawa’s most famous ingredients, like Goya, tofu, and locally sourced protein (often pork). It’s one of those dishes that you have to try if you are ever in Okinawa because it is so representative of local flavors.But how about the taste of Goya? Is it worth giving it a shot and/oradding it to your routine diet?Goya happens to be one of those foods that is super healthy for you. Everybody can jump on that bandwagon, right? Well, it also happens to have a very unique taste. To me, the texture is like a cross between a cucumber and celery, and the flavor is pungent and bitter. Since I’ve been to Okinawa a few times, I’ve of course tried Goya Chanpuru. I’ve also tried Goya in a variety of appetizers, and in all cases, I just can’t get over the bitter, overpowering flavor. I feel like it takes away from the rest of the dish. Put another way, using Goya in dishes is kind of like rubbing Natto all over a meal—sure, it’s healthy, but all you’ll end up tasting is the natto!Now I’m not alone in this belief, but there are certainly plenty of people who will think I’m crazy for feeling this way. So how about you all?Do you like Goya? How would you describe the flavor to fellow City-Cost readers? Any other Goya-based dishes you’d recommend? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88XA-living_foodThu, 26 Jul 2018 15:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88XA-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOR0Q-living_food_galleries_uonuma_shi_niigataI love nihonshu, or, as most people know it, Japanese sake. It's probably one of the reasons why I love living in Niigata so much, since the combination of pure water and delicious rice make for Japan's best sake. Still, whenever I travel around Japan, I enjoy stopping by local sake breweries and tasting their products, since every place has a different take on this traditional rice wine. More than just the difference between class of sake (ginjo, daiginjo, junmai, etc.) or flavor (karakuchivs. amakuchi), the subtle differences often represent the tastes and culture of the surrounding area. After all, a place that tends to have more flavorful food will pair a different type of sake with it than a place that offers more subtlety in its dishes. Also, the type of water and variety of rice used from those different regions affects the finished products.So, I've been to many breweries across the country, and I've settled on one small one as my absolute favorite: Tamagawa Brewery in Uonuma City.I've been there many times now, (although never in the dead of winter since I'm not sure my car would make it up there!), and I'm never disappointed. I wanted to take the opportunity to share some photos from the brewery in case anyone is heading up this way. The brewery is certainly worth a side trip, though if you can't make it, maybe you'll be able to live vicariously through me and my pics.Now Tamagawa is not the biggest sake brewery in the area. Hakkaisan brewery is king over here, and if you visit any of the Hakkaisan facilities, you'll see large warehouses and storehouses that reflect its massive manufacturing processes. After all, Hakkaisan sake is served in restaurants all over the country and has started shipping abroad as well.Tamagawa has the opposite feeling to it. Although its products are excellent (better than Hakkaisan, I think) and it produces fairly large quantities for distribution, the facility is relatively small and the staff all treat guests with great omotenashi (hospitality).The brewery offers free tours of the facilities (usually lasting around 30 minutes) as well as the best tasting I have ever enjoyed, with 15-20 varieties of liquor available to try (for free, no less). It's not just nihonshueither, as there are varieties of wines and bourbons on the menu as well.The highlight of the brewery is its "Yukikura," or storage facility that uses the massive Niigata snowfall to keep the sake stored at just the right temperature. Even in summer, the mound of snow is still visible, and you can take a trip inside to check out the store room.Tamagawa brewery is open everyday from 9:00 - 16:00 (except New Year's Day). It is located at 1643 Suhara, Uonuma, Niigata Prefecture, and the number is 025-797-2017. They do not have an English language website, but the Japanese website is here.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOR0Q-living_food_galleries_uonuma_shi_niigataThu, 26 Jul 2018 14:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOR0Q-living_food_galleries_uonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZKk-livingIn an earlier blog I mentioned the challenge of countering Japan’s demographic issues. I explained that the mass movement of people to the urban areas contributes to the erosion of the family unit here in Japan. The combination of high cost of living, small homes, absence of work-life balance, difficulty of raising children in cities, and lack of support network all work against efforts to promote increase in family size.However, life in the inaka offers great conditions for promoting family life. The trick is getting folks to move out here though.So let me offer my master plan…There are only two government subsidies necessary to start this process: Shinkansen commuter tickets and housing subsidies. I’ll use my own town as an example. It’s a fantastic place for families. There is plenty of land, great schooling, lots of things to do, rich culture, friendly community, and enough shops/amenities to keep everyone happy. The only thing is that there are not enough jobs out here. But there is a Shinkansen station. Did you know that it takes less time to get to Tokyo station from here by bullet train than it does to get to Tokyo from most stations in Saitama, Chiba, or Ibaraki? If you catch the straight shot, it’s an hour and a half. But unlike those trains heading in from outlying Kanto-based prefectures, you’re pretty much guaranteed a seat and a work table, meaning you can get work done if you want to, or you can simply rest up before or after a long work day.The commuter tickets aren’t cheap, but they would guarantee better utilization of trains that rarely operate at max capacity, and they would give people an incentive to live out here and just commute into Tokyo the same they might from Ibaraki or Chiba. Heck, if I had a choice of sitting and working (on the government’s dime, no less) or being stuffed on a 200% capacity rush hour train, I know what I would choose.The second subsidy would be for houses. And I don't mean to imply that the government needs to provide houses for people, but it could do its part to promote the zoning and construction of new housing developments. In my town, the local government is already doing so anyway, but it doesn’t really help to have those relatively cheap housing developments if there are no jobs to entice folks to move out here. So the campaign to get folks out here is simple: Keep your job in Tokyo. Have the same commute time but be able to sit and relax and/or get work done. Give your family a beautiful environment in which to grow.Then I would throw in a few pictures like this to seal the deal:Now I just to convince somebody in government that this is a good idea...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZKk-livingWed, 25 Jul 2018 09:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZKk-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wNxqA-living_niigataSo I was chatting with a friend from Akita last night, and she asked how my kids were enjoying festival season. I explained how they loved it, but then I talked about the festival games where kids can catch fish with paper nets. I told her, “My daughter loved the koi sukui game, but then I had a few fish that I wasn’t expecting to have to take care of.” Her response was, “Wait, don’t you mean kingyō sukui?” Then it struck me that when I was a kid, it was always goldfish that we would catch, not koi fish.She then added, “Oh wait, that’s right—Niigata is known for its koi.”Once again, the light bulb came on in my brain. I’ve driven past this huge Nishikigoi (colored koi) farms a thousand times:It turns out that most towns around here have at least one koi breeder, and that the muddy paddies that are used to grow Niigata’s prized rice are also the perfect nurseries for Japan’s treasured koi fish. The tiny koi fish are harvested from the rice paddies and then taken to the farms to be grown under strict care and controlled conditions.While most of these businesses don’t appreciate looky-lous dropping in to check out the fish with no intention of buying them, some keep large indoor and outdoor ponds open for public viewing. Ojiya’s Nishikigoi Village is a great example, and it’s just about a 40 minute jaunt from where I live here in Minamiuonuma.Is it a lucrative business? Well, would you believe that most koi sell for at least a couple of hundred dollars per fish? However, those are just your run of the mill koi. For koi with especially unique patterns or coloring, they can sell for anywhere from a few thousand dollars to a tens of thousands of dollars! Can you imagine paying $40,000 for a fish??? There goes the down payment on the house.So I have a new plan for next year: at my daughter’s school festival, I will be catching ALL the koi from the festival game and raising them. It seems like a lucrative business opportunity!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wNxqA-living_niigataWed, 25 Jul 2018 09:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wNxqA-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOR4d-livingI was strolling along town and came across this poster here:It’s an advertisement for a lecture on how to help people break free from the hikikomori lifestyle. I thought it is a worthwhile cause, and I’d like to take a second here to explain why.Have you heard about hikikomori before? The term refers to shut-ins—folks who close themselves from the outside world and never leave their homes. The thing is, hikikomori aren’t agoraphobes (meaning they have extreme social anxiety), and they’re don’t necessarily have a history of abnormal antisocial behavior.Rather, it’s a sad consequence of the structure of modern Japanese society. The fact that people are raised to believe that their whole life’s success is predicated on how well they test, the college they get into, and/or the company they are hired into creates a situation where some folks believe that if they do poorly on those tests, fail to get into the right school, or miss out on employment in their desired companies believe their life is essentially over—that there is no place for them in society. So they shut themselves away.Now when I first saw the poster, I wondered, “Who is the seminar for if the shut-ins won’t leave the house to attend?” Well, the vast majority of hikikomori have somebody subsidizing their lifestyle—typically parents. The seminar is really for those folks, to give them tools and knowledge necessary for helping their loved ones break free of the hikikomori cycle.I admire folks who help others, especially those who use their own trials and tribulations to assist folks going through similar troubles. I wish Okamoto-san all the best in his endeavors.Do you know any hikikomori? Maybe a relative of a neighbor, friend, or acquaintance? My experience is somewhat limited, but the best thing you can do is offer friendly, consistent invitations to get out and do something together. Watch a movie. Get a coffee. Those types of things. With hikikomori, it’s about baby steps and acceptance from others in society, and funny enough, I’ve found as a gaijin you’re sometimes able to make inroads easier (perhaps because we’re “outsiders” in our own ways, too).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOR4d-livingWed, 25 Jul 2018 07:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOR4d-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlpvQ-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataIn what has become a rare occurrence these days owing to work, school, and parenting obligations, my wife and I went on a lunch date today (still with the little one in tow, but he behaved, so we’ll take it).We went to our favorite little restaurant in town. It’s actual name is “Family Dining Kodamaya,” but I often call it the “Cheesecake Factory of Urasa”—not because it has a bunch of desserts, but because its menu seems to go on and on and on.The best parts of this restaurant’s menu are the seasonal options, and one caught my eye that I had never seen before and had to try:Hiyashi TantanmenHave you ever had hiyashi chuka before? If not, it’s basically a dish that puts cooked ramen noodles over ice and covers them with sliced cucumber, ham, and other toppings. It’s a great meal on a hot summer’s day.What about Tantanmen? Simply put, this is a spicy ramen that uses a sesame chili soup with ground beef topping.Okay, so put those two things together and you get this:Presentation gets an A, right?How about taste?So all of the best things that I love about hiyashi chuka and Tantanmen were there. The noodles were cold and springy. The veggies were chopped fine and were refreshing. I much prefer ground beef or pork over sliced ham, so that was also a plus.And the Tantanmen flavor? I don’t know what it is about this region of Japan, but the Tantanmen here is out-of-this world. I’ve had it at several different places now, and nothing in Tokyo holds a candle. In any case, Kodamaya makes its own Tantanmen soup (no easy task), and then cooled it down for the hiyashi Tantanmen. The fact that it was chilled didn’t detract at all from the flavor. In fact, the spice provided a nice contrast to all of the cold ingredients. As a little garnish, they threw fried wonton skins in to give it a little crunch.Boy, was it delicious. And even when I finished the noodles, I went by the restaurant recommendation and used the soup as a dipping sauce for my rice! Bonus!Have you ever seen hiyashi Tantanmen before? Did you try it? What’d you think? To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlpvQ-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 24 Jul 2018 19:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlpvQ-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GLbpy-livingSo I came across this flyer posted outside the local supermarket today:Have you seen anything like this in your neck of the woods? I’ve blacked out the personal details from it, but it’s a missing person flyer.Back in the States, I regret to say I’m used to seeing these for missing children, but in this case, it’s for a missing old person. The individual, aged 80, hasn’t been seen and folks are trying to track him down.The tragic reality is that this situation is likely to increase in Japan, especially in rural communities. Allow me to explain why.Aging PopulationThe greying of Japanese society is well documented. With a birthrate of 1.4 and aversion to immigration, Japan is facing a situation where elderly people will become the majority, and the country is not prepared for that. A few reasons why are highlighted below.Movement to the citiesThis issue is especially relevant to rural areas like my home here in Niigata. The standard used to be that at least one child would take over the family home and provide care for the parents until they passed. However, the combination of folks having fewer kids and those kids moving to the cities leaves many elderly alone in their homes. With no one to watch out for them, situations where folks become lost, disoriented, or worse due to lack of caretaking is only going to increase over time.Expense & shortage of nursing homesOne solution to an absence of family caretakers is to place elderly folks into nursing homes—at least it would be if there were enough to do so and they weren’t so expensive. Most nursing homes here have untenably long waiting lists, and for most Japanese, the costs are prohibitive. That means the government is likely going to have to step in, but it does not have the budget or manpower to succeed in producing enough nursing homes to care for the number of elderly that will soon need it.So what’s the solution? From my vantage point, there are two.First is immigration for medical staff to fill nursing homes. This is a stop gap measure though, because the government can only subsidize so many nurses and doctors.Second is getting folks out of the big cities. Japan’s tendency to put all of its eggs in a few baskets is dangerous, not just because a disaster in the wrong place could cripple the country, but because city living has eroded family life in Japan.Japan needs to encourage folks to move back to the furusato, and it wouldn’t be so difficult. I’ll explain my master plan in a future blog post when I have the time!Until then, I encourage you all the support the elderly folks in your neighborhoods. Give them some care and consideration—you never know the difference you can make!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GLbpy-livingTue, 24 Jul 2018 07:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GLbpy-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5YN-living_transportationHello fellow Expats, have you seen this kind of car zooming around the streets?Okay, at first glance, there’s nothing special about it, but let’s zoom in:It’s a Toyota ISIS—probably the most unfortunately named car in history. Why is that? Well, it’s not just because ISIS became a globally known terrorist organization—it’s because it’s a globally known terrorist organization that also happens to be known for its preference for using Toyota vehicles.Interest piqued at all? If so, why don’t you jump aboard my train of thought for a while so I can provide a little backstory here. Maybe you’ll be mildly entertained. At the very least, you’ll have something to point out next time you have visitors in town. So here we go...leaving the station...For Toyota, the ISIS connection is purely coincidence, of course. The popular automaker was simply a victim of circumstance—not once, but twice.The Toyota ISIS debuted in 2004 and was a subcontracted design from Kanto Auto Works. Nothing special about the name—just sounded cool. The car is only available in Japan, and it is hardly the type of vehicle that would be ideal for terrorist activity in a southwest Asian country. Meanwhile, ISIS, the subnational militant group formally known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), didn’t emerge until after the U.S. military withdrew its combat forces from Iraq in 2012. Of all the names that the militants picked, it just so happened to be the same as one of Toyota’s mid-sized family vehicles.Then there’s the issue of ISIS using Toyotas. Again, it’s simply a matter of circumstance. When I was over in that part of the world, almost every civilian vehicle I drove or rode in was a Toyota—they’re simply what is available in the market. What happens is that most of the cars sold in many regions there are second- or third-hand from other countries, sent in bulk to be sold again to another buyer there. The most popular Toyota over there is the Hilux (or its companion model, the Hilux Surf), which are mid-sized pickups/SUVs that are reliable and useful for many of the roads and much of the terrain in that part of world. As a result, the Hiluxes just so happen to be great for running ISIS operations, so they became the vehicle of choice for militants there.Fortunately, Toyota saw fit to discontinue the ISIS last year, so in a few years the car will largely be off the streets of Japan.I do wonder if in about 5-10 years whether those cars will end up over in Iraq. One can only hope that the other ISIS will be gone by then. After all, if the world has to have one type of ISIS, I’ll take the boring minivan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5YN-living_transportationMon, 23 Jul 2018 18:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/za5YN-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQmjl-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI’ve eaten at quite a few university cafeterias in my time in Japan, and for the most part, they are far better than what I experienced back in the States. But two places stand out as the best and worst.Worst: National Defense Academy (NDA)Maybe it’s gotten better in the past 12 years since I last ate there, but long ago in my undergrad days, I stayed over at the NDA for a week-long conference, eating every meal in the mess hall. Don’t get me wrong: military messes anywhere are not known for delicious food, but this was particularly memorable in its shortcomings. The biggest problem was lack of choice: you got meat or fish over rice. Every meal. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And the portion sizes are T-I-N-Y. Granted, back in my undergrad days, I needed a lot more calories than I do now, but it wasn’t a case where you could go back and get seconds—your only options for extra food was rice and soup. I love rice, but when you’re using it for every meal to bulk up, it can get a little monotonous, and try filling up soup when you have to go sit in hour long presentations...Best: International University of JapanYou want something that is about as opposite as can be from the NDA cafeteria--IUJ is it. Granted, it doesn’t have as many choices as bigger universities likeTodai or Keio or ICUJ, but what it does have, it does REALLY well.First of all, the cafeteria uses local ingredients, so everything is really fresh. The yogurt is homemade using Niigata dairy products. The veggies are all locally sourced (except in winter time when veggie stocks are low). The rice is local koshihikari, the best in all of Japan. It makes for awesome meals every time.Second, the IUJ shokudo always offers very different types of dishes. Because IUJ has such a diverse campus (60 nations represented), you’ll typically have a few Japanese/Northeast Asian options, a Southeast Asian option, a South Asian option, and a Western option (with much of the food prepared to Halal standards).Finally, the price is right. You can get a full, restaurant-quality meal (and I mean, you’ll be stuffed) for under 700 yen. If you’re not like me and eat like an average human being, one coin (500 yen) will usually be more than enough to eat your fill.Even now, writing about IUJ's cafeteria, all I can think is this: is it lunchtime yet?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQmjl-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 23 Jul 2018 10:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQmjl-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MpVWZ-living_moneyHey expats, do you like your Japanese bank? Better than your banks back home?I’ve lived here a few years now and have banked with three different places—more out of necessity and location than anything. We’ve used Japan Post bank, a big national non-JP bank, and a regional bank, and there are pros and cons to each. As an expat, chief among considerations are transaction fees and access to ATMs. For example, there are no SMBC banks in the local area, meaning that if I have any transactions to do, I've got to use the 7-11 ATMs, which offer limited services and high fees. If I use my local bank, however, I can get free transactions at both the banks and the convenience store ATMs.In any case, overall, I’d say that Japanese banking is okay. It gets the job done, though I've got a real love/hate relationship with certain aspects of it:Things I love:Japanese ATMs: As long as you can read Japanese (I’ll explain more about this below), Japanese ATMs are great. They allow you to do perform a wide range of banking options and are relatively user friendly. It also means that you can make transactions outside of normal business hours or without having to wait in line for a bank teller.Furikomi (bank transfer): So for those of you who aren’t aware, banks in Japan allow you to transfer money using an ATM. As long as you have the destination account information handy, you can transfer a pretty significant amount of cash. I’ve used it to pay rent, order gifts, etc. Bank transfer is a great way to handle transactions where you want instantaneous deposit and receipt.Passbooks: Many countries use passbooks—America is not one of them (at least with any of the banks that I’ve used). I like having access to account information digitally, but there is something nice about having a paper passbook handy for tracking your account activities. The fact that you can use it in lieu of a debit card is great, as well.Things I hate:Japanese credit cards: I won’t ever use a Japanese credit card. The whole system of credit and payments is foreign to me. Have you noticed that whenever you make a big purchase with a credit card the cashier always asks you how many times you want to charge your card? Someone once tried to explain why someone would use multiple charges for a single purchase, and it didn’t make sense to me why Japan would do it that way. I get it, Japan has been principally a cash society, but it’s got a long way to go before catching up in the world of credit. Lack of online banking services: none of the banks that I have used in Japan have online banking services (or if they do, it's not foreigner friendly). They really need to move into the 21st century because having to go to a brick-and-mortar bank to do basic transactions is silly in this day-and-age.Lack of English options on ATMs: It really irks me that Japanese banks don’t have multiple language options and that even when they do, they often limit the options available. For example, one of the big national banks reduces the English language banking options to deposits, withdrawals, and passbook update, meaning that if I want to do a bank transfer, I have to use all the Japanese steps. That’s fine for me, but what about folks with limited Japanese capability?How about you all? Yea or Nay for Japanese banks? I’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MpVWZ-living_moneyMon, 23 Jul 2018 10:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MpVWZ-living_moneyhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4Ok-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI wrote a blog post earlier about the individuality of Japanese homes, but I wanted to share a few cool things about homes here in Yukiguni (snow country). Although homes like mine built a few decades ago aren’t particularly unique, the newer houses have really focused on employing designs best suited for the climate and conditions inherent to the region.Here’s a pic of some model homes that are representative of what I’m talking about:Right off the bat, you’ll notice the steep, slanted roofs. With the amount of snow we get here, it’s dangerous to let it build up on the roof. Older homes simply added ladders so folks could climb to the roof and shovel it off, though that’s not exactly the safest or easiest option. The next step was for homeowners to install sprinkler systems that use flowing water to keep snow from accumulating. Then came the newer homes with these designs. They sometimes have sprinklers, too, but if not, the snow just slides off once enough builds up. While it leaves a big pile next to the house, it’s designed to go into designated areas based on the slope of the roof.Another feature is the unique choice for siding. The siding choices are very practical, opting for vertical patterns to minimize snow/ice accumulation and usually using aluminum or similar material because of the weather extremes common to the area. Since aluminum is not the most aesthetically pleasing material, it usually comes in dark colors to mute the metallic look with wood accents throughout. Personally, I like the mix of modern and rustic.Finally (and not represented in the model homes pictured above), is the use of an unfinished ground level. A lot of homes around here have a ground level made simply with unfinished concrete. These ground levels are used for storage or garages, and then the “real” house begins 6-10 feet up. This is a function of how high the snow builds up, which means the snow just hangs out against concrete instead of against doors, windows, and siding.All-in-all, I appreciate architects designing homes that are best-suited for the local climate—now if they could just incorporate better insulation and central air/heat!Does your are have any architecture specific to the area’s climate/surroundings? Let me know in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4Ok-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 22 Jul 2018 10:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4Ok-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY72o-livingI don’t have a lot of time to watch TV these days, but I still like to have options available other than your standard Japanese channels. One of the good things about being in Japan is that fast internet connection is significantly cheaper than it is in the States, meaning that online streaming services can supplement your channel options. Still, your favorite streaming services may have some big restrictions based on region, so allow me to explain a bit about my top three streaming services for life here in Japan.Netflix: Your Netflix account will automatically change your viewing options based on your IP address, so that means you’ll get certain programming in Japan that you wouldn’t get in the States/elsewhere and vice versa. I’ve found that here in Japan, you can get a lot more Netflix original content for longer (for example, all seasons and episodes of the TV show “The Good Place” are available on Netflix Japan, while it is currently restricted on Netflix US). The other challenge is that you lose a lot of subtitles options that might otherwise be available, especially for Japanese content. Still, Netflix is a go-to choice, especially for its quality original movies and TV shows.Amazon Instant Video:I have both an American and Japanese Amazon account, but I choose to use my American account for Instant Video. The good news is that I still have unfettered access to all of the content I’ve purchased over the years even here in Japan. The bad news is that I don’t have any access to Amazon Prime video. If I were to swap to my Amazon JP account, I would get Prime, but I couldn’t watch all of my purchased content from Amazon US. So I decided to cancel my US Prime account and stick with Japan Prime. If I really wanted to, I could swap between the accounts whenever I wanted to watch my purchased content or Prime Content.NHK World:Don’t expect any quality fictional programming here, but NHK does produce some grear content for those looking for easy, often educational viewing. NHK Newsline is an hourly news broadcast that gives the headlines and some brief commentary—just enough to keep you abreast of events in Japan and across the globe. Grand Sumo Highlights is great for folks like me who enjoy sumo but don’t want to sit through the hours-long live broadcasts. There are also shows that get you more acquainted with Japan, teaching you about travel destinations, Japanese crafts, and the country’s history. Like I said, this isn’t the streaming service for riveting drama or riotous comedy, but it’s a go-to for consistent, informative, and family-friendly programming.A note on Hulu: if you have an American Hulu account, you won’t be able to watch hardly anything. You’ll need to get a Japanese Hulu account, and I can’t vouch for the type of content that will be available to you there.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY72o-livingSun, 22 Jul 2018 07:52:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY72o-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK90V-livingYou’ve seen the news. If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you’ve read about it. If you live here, you’ve felt it. This summer has been sweltering. I mean, we didn’t even get a decent rainy season (shortest in decades, if memory serves) before entering the scorching hot and humid period.In this kind of summer, you have to take every step possible to try to beat the heat. That’s not exactly easy when you live in a place like ours, which is pretty standard for a Japanese home built in the 80s. No central air (I’ve yet to come across a place that doeshave central air in this country), only wall-mounted a/c units in the tatami room and master bedroom. The insulation is also somehow magical in the sense that it always lets out all the heat in winter, but somehow traps it all inside in the summer.Lots of folks have tips and tricks for keeping your house cooler in the hot climate, but allow me to offer my top three:Dehumidifiers: you gotta try to tackle the humidity somehow. We keep dehumidifiers in the most heavily trafficked rooms that do not have a/c units. First of all, it helps prevent mold/mildew from growing, and second, it keeps the room a bit cooler by eliminating some of that sticky humidity. The one thing to keep in mind is that many dehumidifiers (like ours) produce a small amount of hot air as exhaust, so you have to try to counteract that with air flow.Air flow: since the insulation in the house traps the heat, it’s best to keep the air flowing. We keep vent fans on (like over the stove and in the bathrooms), and ensure that at least two windows are open in the middle of the day to allow for proper air flow. Also, it’s good to get a few cheap, small fans to place in rooms to assist with keeping the air moving (with the fans, less fancy, more energy efficient is better!)Cooking early:My kids like to wake up with the sun, no matter how blacked out their rooms may be (they’re like little pioneers with their body clocks). Since we get up at the crack of dawn anyway, I try to knock out a few chores before the heat sets in. That means doing some cooking early. I can’t necessarily prepare a full day’s worth of meals, but I can get a decent amount cooked and into plastic containers before the kids are done with breakfast. You’d be surprised how hot cooking midday can make your house (I learned the hard way when I tried to roast pumpkin in the middle of the afternoon and almost gave my family heat exhaustion), so I find that knocking out the dishes that require high, sustained heat early in the morning is the best way to go.Do you have any other tips for keeping your house cool? I’m always looking for ways to be the heat—feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK90V-livingSun, 22 Jul 2018 06:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK90V-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVR22-livingHave you even been to a Japanese festival? One of the best things about going to festivals in Japan are the myriad vendors that are always present, ready to take your money in exchange for delicious food or for a chance at winning prizes in games. It's not unlike carnivals or fairs back in the States, but there is definitely something fishy going on in Japanese festival games.No, I mean literally, fish are a part of some Japanese festival games.Ever since I can remember, there was always some game that challenged patrons to try to catch a fish with a paper net. I can see how this would have been a popular game a couple of hundred years ago when it was a lot easier to come by tiny fish than other prizes, but understandably, over the years the prizes have changed from live creatures to plastic toys.At least in most cases, it had changed. Not in my town. My town says, "Phooey, we're going all in on tradition" and had wooden framed pools full of tiny fish for folks to catch.The game itself is called koi sukui, or "Save the Koi fish." [Okay, so let me just deal with that name first, because it made me laugh out loud last night when I saw it again for the first time since my childhood.]Save the Koi fish? Really? What are are saving them from, because I'm pretty sure I saw every single kid who caught some fish running around and bouncing the plastic bag around like a yo-yo. It made me think of that creepy little girl from Finding Nemo. Also, the game itself is somewhat sadistic. It sounds like something a Bond villain would come up with: capture a bunch of defenseless fish and then charge somebody money to try to save them from being dumped down a drain later on when they don't find a home.[Okay, rant about the name done. One more rant left...]Then there's the question about what you do with the fish when your kid catches them. I ended up carrying around a little bag filled with three fish for about an hour last night trying to keep up with my daughter, driving home holding the bag in the air (couldn't set it down or the water would spill out everywhere), and now I have three fish chilling in a pyrex bowl wondering what I'm going to do with them (it's not like I had an aquarium handy on the off chance that I somehow won some fish in a festival game).Here are the fish (pre-transfer):Fortunately, we have some flooded fields that channel out to the river and make great nurseries for small fish, so these little guys will go back to the wild, but let's just say I got more than I bargained for when my daughter played a simple festival game.Have you ever come home with fish from a Japanese festival? Did you keep them? Set them free?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVR22-livingSat, 21 Jul 2018 14:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVR22-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4rVv-livingThere’s something I think about quite often here in Japan, simply because there are so many cases where the thought applies: Japan just doesn’t have the same liability concerns as we do back in the States.Trust me, I believe people in the U.S. are way too sue-happy, but growing up in that environment conditioned me to look at things from a different perspective. Here’s a recent example.Last night, as we were departing from my school’s summer festival, the teachers handed us this:Hanabi, or fireworks.Now keep in mind that this is Yochien/Hoikuen (pre-school/daycare) facility, meaning that all of the students range from 1 to 6 years old. That’s right, they gifted every family with at least one child six or younger fireworks. Okay, so I should explain that hanabi aren’t like the exploding M-80s or firecrackers or other powder-type fireworks common back in the States; rather, they are more like sparklers.Still, for you Americans out there, can you imagine how long a school could go handing out sparklers before finding themselves in court because some kid burned his/her hand or put out an eye?Here, the concept of liability is different. Nobody could take a case to court and win saying that the school was responsible for a children injuring themselves using hanabi at home. At home, the kids are the responsibility of the parents. End of story.The same goes for other things, like skiing out-of-bounds or hiking off-trail or taking any other risky behavior that isn’t formally sanctioned by a company or government organization. The bottom line is that liability in all those cases rests with the individual, not someone else.I have to say that I agree with that mindset. My daughter is too young to use hanabi by herself. When we light those things up, I’ll be right there with her to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. If I’m not paying attention or she’s goofing off and hurts herself, there’s no way I’d try to blame someone else for it. Just like I wouldn’t expect someone to come rescue me if I decide to go trailblazing or partake in any other behaviors that I know to be risky.What about you all? Do you agree with Japan’s mindset towards liability? Do you have any stories about how the system worked or didn’t work? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4rVv-livingSat, 21 Jul 2018 14:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4rVv-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP84y-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataHello, fellow expats and other readers! Allow me to sing the praises of Japan once again by telling you about the natsu matsuri that was held at my daughter’s school.Summer is the season for festivals (since nothing answers the question of, “What should we do when it’s so dang hot and humid outside” quite like going out for hours in a throng of people, carrying large objects (mikoshi) and dancing). Granted, there is a big difference between the middle of the day festivals where the sun is beating down on you and the later festivals when you can enjoy a cooler summer evening. It’s especially great when you have good food, fun games, and enjoyable company.That’s what my daughter’s school offered last night at its natsu matsuri (summer festival). As if spending time with our wild children all day wasn’t enough, the school staff invited everyone back last night for an hour-and-a-half long festival (masochists, I tell you, masochists!). Here was what it looked like:There was traditional music played over loud speakers (with some Anpanman theme songs mixed in to keep the kids interested), lanterns strung all around the play yard, and plenty of food and game stalls. The school offered some traditional festival food options for dinner--yakisoba, karaage, inari zushi, etc.--and for dessert they of course had kakigōri (shave ice) machines set up.They didn't have too many festival games available, but they have koi sukui (catching fish with a paper net) andthat other game where you try to hook a water balloon with a paper hook.Of course, there were tarps and tables set up for eating and conversing with friends and acquaintances, and the kids had plenty of room to run around and play.Sure, there weren't any fireworks or other bombastic displays in this festival, but I for one and deeply appreciative of the school staff who went above and beyond to provide a family-friendly festival atmosphere for all of us on a Friday night!Does your child's school do a summer festival? Was it fun? More work than fun? I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP84y-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 21 Jul 2018 13:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP84y-living_education_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7v1e-living_foodHey again, Expat community--have you seen this craziness?I was walking through the local 7-11 and *BAM* this caught my eye.I mean, they ain't pulling any punches: the company wants you to know that this pack of instant yakisoba noodles is 2142 calories. Just for reference, that's more than the recommended daily caloric intake for most humans on this planet who aren't professional athletes (or teenagers).Here are a few things that I love about these noodles and the accompanying advertisement:- They cost less than 400 yen. This means that if you have a "one coin" (500 yen) in your pocket, you can get a meal to cover all of your daily calories plus a water on the side.- The ad actually CHALLENGES people to eat the whole thing by themselves. No, really--it says so in that little ad square next to the noodles.- These were 7-11's "Recommendation of the Week." Can you imagine a place in America or Australia recommending a 2000+ calorie instant noodle as it's "choice of the week?" Man, there would be some backlash from that!- The fine print under the "2142 kcal" explains that nobody should eat more than one of those in a day. That means there is some concern that someone might just chow down on a few of these things.- To make these noodles, you need a full 1.3 Liters of water (that's almost half of my whole hot water pot!)- Looking on the bright side, these noodles only takes 3 minutes to cook...less than some of your normal instant noodles.- These would actually make great additions to survival kits. No, really, high calories in relatively compact packaging...not a bad option.- These special versions are heavy in calories, but it ain't like the normal size version are much better. The normal variety still weighs in at over 1000 calories! (see below)So I have to ask: has anyone out there tried this bad mama jama? If it was 10 years ago, I would've given a shot in a heart beat, but I don't think my stomach could take such a beating these days.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7v1e-living_foodFri, 20 Jul 2018 10:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7v1e-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna4j-livingI have mentioned a few times on here that I grew up in Japan. I spent 12 of my 18 formative years in different places in the Kanto plains area, and I have Japanese relatives with whom I shared many holidays and important life experiences. As such, there are certain things that don't seem out of place to me that are quite foreign to others. For example, getting naked in onsen is no big deal to me. I make sure to cover my stomach when I sleep so I don't get sick. I like to eat unagi on hot summer days to give me energy.But sometimes my wife (who loves Japan but wasn't raised here) asks why certain things are the way they are, and I just don't have a good answer.Here's a recent example: Japan's obsession with beetles.So we were walking through the local Aeon department store, and we chanced upon this bad boy:It's a kabuto mushi, or Rhinoceros beetle, and they were selling for just under 500 yen (along with a bunch of other types of beetles).Having grown up here, I just know that kids in Japan love playing with beetles. They raise them, breed them, show them off in school, and even fight them like little poke-masters against other kids' beetles.Why beetles though? I mean, there are thousands of other bugs and tiny animals that kids could catch and raise, but beetles seem to be the go-to choice.To that, I didn't have a good answer. They're cool looking? They're easy to raise? Nobody weeps over a dead beetle? They look like tiny Kaiju?I really don't know. I even pored through my knowledge of Japanese folk tales and children's songs to see if there was a connection, and the traditional animals included are things like frogs, foxes, rabbits, tanuki, sparrows, cranes...but no beetles...Can someone out there enlighten me, please? Is there a reason other than "Well, that's just the way it's always been" why beetles are so popular???To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna4j-livingFri, 20 Jul 2018 09:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna4j-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3ng-living_foodHappy Unagi Day (Part I), everyone!Okay, so it's not really called "Unagi Day," and there's a bit of a story behind "Part I." In actuality, today is the first 土用の丑の日, Doyō no Ushi no Hi. Literally, the kanji translation comes out to "The Day of the Ox who uses the earth," but the accepted translation is"Midsummer Day of the Ox." Every year, there are two Midsummer Days of the Ox, and this year, they fall on 20 July and 8 August (hence the necessity to say Part I).When I first heard of this odd quasi-holiday, I had so many questions:Why does doyō translate to "midsummer?" Why is it called the day of the ox but everyone eats Unagi? I decided to investigate some years back, and here's what I found out:Why "用 Doyō" means "Midsummer"In the past, the Japanese recognized five elements--wood 木, fire 火, earth 土, metal 金, and water 水--and attached each of those elements to a season:Wood = SpringFire = Summer (hence all the summer fire festivals)Metal = AutumnWater = WinterAnd earth? Well, folks decided that earth was actually the foundation for everything, so technically every season has its own "earth" days (typically the 18th or 19th in the middle month of the season). Therefore, when you see "土用," the literal translation refers to the earth element, but it really means mid-season.Why unagi?The Japanese believe that unagi, which is high in calories and rich in oil and fat content, provide energy and stamina to help people make it through the hot and humid days. (Given how much I struggle in Japanese summers, I don't blame them--I need all the help I can get!) I don't know how much credence should be given to the notion that unagi does a lot to help, but it was certainly a heckuva marketing campaign that happened to stick. I mean, the "KFC on Christmas" campaign was good, but come talk to me in a couple hundred years to see if people are still eating fried chicken to celebrate the birth of Christ.Why day of the ox?This one is simple: a few hundred years ago, the first time they celebrated this day with unagi dishes in restaurants was in the year of the ox! Don't ask me why they didn't decide to cycle along the zodiac calendar to the other animals, but if I had to venture a guess, I don't think anyone wanted to tie an eating holiday to the "Midsummer Day of the Rat."So now you know why the Midsummer Day of the Ox is called what it is and why unagi is the meal of choice for this foodie holiday!So who's getting unagi today???To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3ng-living_foodFri, 20 Jul 2018 09:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3ng-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6ZoQ-livingMy wife (@Genkidesu) and I were just chatting yesterday about how much we appreciate the City-Cost community. You know, it can be tough living out in the sticks without a strong support network in your immediate vicinity. For folks out here, everything is normal and routine, but for us, most things are anything but. Little chores like paying road tax seem daunting because we’ve never done it before and it’s not like there’s some easy-to-follow guide book. Sometimes, you just want to vent your frustrations about the way they do things around here (like I did about the group check ups, or the ridiculous price of wrapping paper). Sometimes you want to sing the praises of living here and share insight on fun things to do or delicious foods to eat. City-Cost provides that venue for doing so.Of course, City-Cost is not the only place like this. There’s Gaijin Pot and other similar sites, so what makes City-Cost different?We thought about it, and it comes down to the community on the site. We’re all just regular folks trying to make the most of life in “real” Japan, not the insulated lifestyles that many expats have. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not disparaging anyone for having an insulated experience here, because I did for all of my years in Japan until I moved out to Niigata. Because I used to work for the U.S. government, I didn’t have to worry about going to the City Office, or using National Health Insurance, or living in a neighborhood where the members of my family were the only English speakers. Still, life’s joys and challenges are just different when you don’t have a company or government handling the government, medical, or legal bureaucracy for you.And of course, there’s also the wonderful folks who blog and interact on City-Cost. I look forward to reading what folks are writing about, and even though I’m not big on social media sites like Facebook, I enjoy the exchanges I have with everyone here (special shout outs to @Edthethe, @Candiajia1, @ReishiiTravels, @Saitama, @HelloAlissa, and @Tomuu!) It’s a highlight of my day, and I feel as if I have the support network I need, even if you all aren’t right around the corner in my neighborhood.Thank you, City-Cost, and thank you to everyone else on here for making this a great community.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6ZoQ-livingFri, 20 Jul 2018 07:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6ZoQ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88ya-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI am big fan of Okinawa. The people are great, the beaches are fantastic, the music hits you in your soul, and the food...oh man, the food is great. Basically I love most everything about Okinawa except for the heat and the Awamori (don't get me wrong, Awamori is good, but boy, does it knock me off my feet the day after!)The only problem is that I now find myself in yukiguni (snow country), which is about as different from Okinawa as you can get in Japan in terms of weather and cuisine. Especially up in the mountains, it's impossible to find an Okinawan restaurant--basically I have to make the trek back into Tokyo to get mysoki soba fix.Thankfully, 7-11 has come to the rescue (albeit for a limited time). For the next couple of weeks, 7-11 stores are offering Okinawa-inspired products as part of its "Okinawa Fair," a campaign that runs from July 17th to the 30th.During the campaign, 7-11s throughout the country (including in yukiguni), will offer a variety of limited edition food options, including the following:Taco RiceSpam Musubiand other Okinawan favorites like Blue Seal Ice Cream,Goya Champuru,to name a few.The stores will also offer Okinawa-inspired variations of classic options, such as Okinawan brown sugar melonpan and cake donuts, like the one below:I tried the cake donut with my kids as an after school snack, and wow, it was good. It might sound cheesy, but it reminded me of being back down in Okinawa, largely because as soon as I opened the package, the smell of the distinct brown sugar hit my nose--and you know how smells have that way of transporting back to a particular place in your memories.Taste wise, it was a bit too sweet to eat too much of it, but hey, more for the kids. Now I just have to worry about them pinging off the walls for a few hours.In any case, thank you 7-11 for bringing a taste of Okinawa to my little snow country home. I'll be enjoying more of it over the coming weeks!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88ya-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 19 Jul 2018 15:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z88ya-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6N9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWe got a pamphlet in the mail yesterday, and at first I had no idea what it was all about. I mean, I can read Japanese, but it was for something I had never heard of before: シルバー人材センター Silver Jinzai Center. I had to take a look inside to figure it out. Then I saw this page and everything became clear:Okay, so now it made sense. "Silver" for older people and "Jinzai" for human resources. The Silver Jinzai Center pools retirees and other elder members of the community to serve as a human resource center for hiring opportunities. Here's a list of the type of work they offer:- Help with household chores: 870 yen per hour- Shoji repair (a must for anyone with kids): 880 yen per 3x6 panel- Glass cleaning: 910 yen per hour- House cleaning: 870 yen per hour- Addressing envelopes: 30 yen per postcard (40 yen per letter)- Gardening: 1,040 yen per hourand here's one that I would feel really guilty about here in yukiguni:- Snow shoveling: 1,855 yen per hourI don't know about you all, but I think this is fantastic. I don't know if the Silver Jinzai Centers are exploitative in any way (I would certainly object if the center's staff and owners were unfairly using the elder employees to turn a big profit), but at first glance, it seems like a great way to keep folks engaged. Take it from a guy who has seen the big difference that activity and work can make in preventing dementia and keeping folks healthy for longer, this type of work is really important. It will only increase in importance with Japan's aging population.I also think it's a great program to help young families that don't necessarily have extended family close by. The prices are reasonable, and sometimes when you are juggling work and raising young children, you need a helping hand.I don't have any odd jobs that need servicing at the moment, but I'll definitely be holding onto this brochure for the future!What do you think of Silver Jinzai Centers? Have you ever used their services before? I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6N9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 19 Jul 2018 12:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6N9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna4o-living_medicalHello expat community, I need to vent a little bit here, and maybe you can commiserate in the comments section below.Allow me to preface this rant by saying that I appreciate Japan's National Health Insurance and the level of health care we receive here. The fact that we can receive world class medical support at the low costs we have to pay is wonderful. So none of the following is meant to disparage the wonderful hospital staff in Japan or to suggest an overall dissatisfaction with the system--it is simply a dissatisfaction with one particular aspect of that system...I hate to take my child to a group dental check-up. Have you been to one of these before? I mean, they call it a group dental check-up, but I prefer the term: collective torture session.Instead of doing individual appointments for children, they gather a group of 30-40 one year-olds together in a medium sized room without much space to move around for the following schedule:1. Registration2. Brushing3. Dental Examination4. Fluoride ApplicationHow long does it take to get 40 kids through those four steps? AT LEAST TWO HOURS. Yes, that's right. Two hours with a one-year old in a relatively cramped space, and at any given time, there are at least three kids screaming bloody murder since they are getting poked and prodded by dentists and nurses.The registration portion is pretty straightforward. They take your medical records (the ever-important boshi-teccho--mother-child book) and hand you a number to stick on your kid's back (ah, nothing like that personal touch):Then comes the brushing...the staff has you apply a red dye to the teeth (they couldn't choose another color that doesn't look like blood?) and then they ask you to brush it off. Straightforward, except they have a particular way that they would like you to brush your kid's teeth that involve pinning their arms under your legs and holding their lips open with your fingers. If ever you wanted to give your child a complex towards brushing teeth, this is a good way to start.At a certain point, they stop everyone so they can do a group demonstration where one poor child was selected at random to come up to the front so the dental assistant could demonstrate. So now I feel like a terrible person huddled around a poor screaming baby with at least 80 other kids and parents as a stranger brushes this kid's teeth.Once that was over and I could begin reconciling the event with my conscience, they started calling children over to see the dentist. One-by-one we went into a little examination room so this dentist could do a quick check up.Finally, those parents who wanted fluoride application went back to those brushing dental assistants to get the flouride. Here's the thing, the assistant INSISTED that I try the fluoride first. I told her, No, I'm just fine, but apparently she wanted me to be sure it wasn't poisoned, or something like that. (Okay, so in reality she just wanted me to know that it was a good flavor. I mean, it wasn't, since apple-flavored fluoride still tastes like fluoride). In any case, we get the fluoride applied and then we were free to go.Did I mention that this whole process took over two hours? With a bunch of screaming kids?Have you had to go through group check-ups with your kids before? Do you have similar feelings about them? What do you think? Use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna4o-living_medicalThu, 19 Jul 2018 07:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mna4o-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmV82-living_food_shopping_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataIs it just me, or are Japanese bakeries the best in the world? I’m sure there’s a Frenchman out there cursing my name right now, but I just love Japanese breads. And how could you not with selections like this?There are savory breads, dessert breads, plain breads—a bread for everyone, really. And Japanese bakeries always sell fresh products—not like the Safeway bread or other supermarket varieties you find back in the States.Even when there is a bakery in a department store or supermarket, you can see the bakers in the back hard at work to make the products and put them out fresh. At the particular bakery seen in the picture, they even ring a bell whenever the freshest bread is coming out for purchase!Of course, I have a sweet tooth, so what attracts me to Japanese bakeries the most tends to be the dessert products, of which there are many. For example, check out these ones they had on the shelf today:Hokkaido Milk BreadMacadamia and Hazelnut briochesCrunchy Chocolate BarAnd those are just a few of the many from which they had to choose. There always seasonal varieties, and for me, the best part is that they are not overly sweet, making them a decent enough pick me up without giving you a sugar rush.Call me old fashioned, but my personal favorite at most bakeries is koshianpan (sweet bun filled with smooth bean paste—not to be confused with tsubuanpan, which are filled withchunky bean paste).I consider myself lucky out here in Minamiuonuma because we have a fantastic bakery just down the street from us, but it’s not like we’d be wont for choice even if we didn’t. I imagine most of you readers who live in Japan are in the same wonderful predicament.Do you have a favorite Japanese bakery product? What is it? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmV82-living_food_shopping_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWed, 18 Jul 2018 20:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wmV82-living_food_shopping_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4oW-living_shoppingSummers in Japan can be downright oppressive. I saw in the news today that 12 people perished and over 2,000 were hospitalized due to heat-related illness recently, and we’re not even out of July yet…It’s even tougher when you have little kids who just want to be outside playing all day, because if you’re like me, you want to encourage that. I mean, there will invariably be a time when most kids want to stay inside and play video games or mess around on tablets or smartphones, so I want to foster a love for the outdoors while I still can. Of course, that means trying to think of ways to keep the children cool while I’m at it.There are a lot of different things you can find to help your children beat the heat, but a staple in my household is jinbei. These outfits inspired by traditional attire feature a tie-up top and a matching pair of shorts. They are light, dry easily, and often have mesh or openings for ventilation. I also like them because they provide better coverage over the neck, chest, arms, and legs than other summer attire like tank tops and shorts.Another nice thing about jinbei is that they are generally reasonably priced and feature some of Japan’s most popular characters like Dragonball,Or Doraemon.Jinbei also make great gifts for family and friends back home. My friends get a kick out of them because the gifts are both practical while evoking a sense of “Japaneseness.”You can find jinbei at almost any Japanese department store (Aeon, Seiyu, Ito Yokado), or Nishimatsu-ya (the Bunny Shop). There are jinbei for all ages and sizes (and the department stores will even have adult sizes if you’re so inclined). The children’s jinbei usually cost between 800 to 2500 yen.Best of all, there’s always plenty of variety, so if you’re like us, you can fill your kids’ summer wardrobe pretty easily!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4oW-living_shoppingWed, 18 Jul 2018 20:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4oW-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAn34-foodI’ve mentioned on city-cost my love of ice cream once or twice, and it seems that the apple doesn’t far from the tree. My daughter also loves the cold treat and asks for it anytime we go to the convenience store. I wish I could say that I had the willpower that my wife does in encouraging our daughter to choose veggie sticks over ice cream, but I would be a liar if I did.Still, there are certain considerations when getting ice cream for a kid, especially in summer time. Have you ever tried eating a popsicle in this heat? It lasts all of 20 seconds before it’s a puddle in your hand and on the ground. Not only does that leave a mess, it leaves your child with no ice cream to eat, which usually results in tears.Ice cream in a cup is better, but not without it’s challenges. If you get it from a convenience store, you usually get handed a tiny spoon that is more like a flat piece of plastic that turns into a nice catapult when you’re trying to get ice cream onto it. Take it from a guy who holds the world record in ice cream launching (or at least I would if anybody cared enough to record those things, which they shouldn’t), your better bet is to find another option, like this:Enter Coolish. Now here is a solution for young children! The ice cream is kept in a little resealable pouch, and the ice cream can be drunk like a milkshake. The pouch itself is insulated to keep the ice cream cooler longer (and not freeze your child’s hands while holding it), and I have literally never had a mess made as a result of Coolish consumption. The price is decent as well, coming in at just under 100 yen! The standard flavor is vanilla, though I’ve seen many seasonal varieties on sale as well. You can find them in any convenience store or supermarket.Do you have any ice cream recommendations for children? Any other great summer grab-and-go treats? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAn34-foodTue, 17 Jul 2018 13:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAn34-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvvLK-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFor those of you who have been in Japan a while, you know that it may take a while to get construction projects started, but when they get going, they’re done quickly. That’s what happened in our town recently, and it prompted me to ponder an important debate. Here’s the project:A gigantic factory is under construction, and the behemoth significantly obscures the landscape from my neighborhood. While the cranes will be gone in a few short weeks, the massive structure will remain, and I’m of two minds about the project.Certainly, I recognize that building another factory out here not only creates construction jobs in a town with more construction firms than anything else (though they do farm in between projects to supplement income), it will eventually provide employments opportunities for factory workers. The town is shrinking and would like to attract younger employees out here, and I can see that ready-to-hire jobs would help to that end. Also, more residents means more customers for other local businesses, more people looking to rent and buy homes, more families to fill up the schools, etc. On paper, it sounds like a good deal.Still, I do wonder if it’s all worth it. For one, it is a pretty big blight on an otherwise beautiful landscape. Is the eyesore worth it to stimulate the local economy? Let’s look at the other potential negatives. I’m not sure what kind of factory it will be, but one hopes that it won’t have a significantly negative environmental impact. Still, factories being what they are, tend to be a net negative for the environment. Also, who knows how well they’ll be able to fill the factory with workers. The town is shrinking, but unemployment is not increasing, meaning that there isn’t really a large local labor market. That means the firm operating the factory is going to have to import labor from elsewhere, and while I love Niigata and Minamiuonuma, I don’t know how many other people are going to be chomping at the bit to live in Yukiguni (“snow country”). Exacerbating that is the fact that Japan is already looking at a labor shortage, so if someone doesn’t want to move to Niigata, they have choices elsewhere. What happens if the factory can’t get enough laborers? I am all for immigration, but is that what the city is anticipating? I’m not sure that it is. So I guess in the end, I’m against the factory idea. This area is great and has industries that will need labor to continue it. There are plenty of fields that need young farmers; sake breweries that need young brewers; builders that need young builders. There’s also a major university out here that could be a hub for scholarship and policy. The city needs to find a way to sell those jobs to prospective residents, rather than degrade one of the best qualities this area has to offer: the environment.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvvLK-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 17 Jul 2018 09:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvvLK-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4XW-living_foodOne thing I love about Japan is its plethora of tasty desserts. Whether it’s wafū (Japanese style) or yōfū (European style), it’s hard to come by a bad dessert. That’s pretty incredible considering the vast number of options in bakeries, restaurants, and even convenience stores. Then you have seasonal varieties added on top of your standard options. All of this makes for a dream situation for someone with a sweet tooth.Still, occasionally you’ll have guests or family members who are less adventurous with their dessert choices (whether for dietary or preferential reasons), and it’s nice to know exactly what’s inside all of those special treats. Granted, anpan is almost always just anko inside of bread and shū (chou) cream is generally always a puff pastry with custard, but when throw in specialty and seasonal options, it’s a bit of challenge when someone asks you, “Hey, what’s in this?”That’s why I appreciate 7-11 desserts so much. They make it so you don’t have to shrug your shoulders in response to that question. As long as you can read some basic Japanese, you can give a quick answer to your guest.Just check out the label on this:It’s a special type of Zenzai with whipped cream and kinako topping on top of shirotama and warabi, which are all on top of another layer of whipped cream and anko.Or this:A pastry made simple of airy cream sandwiches between soufflé pastry.Or this:A shū cream that has both a layer of whipped cream and another of custard inside.I think you get my point. When you encounter a new dessert, 7-11 doesn’t make you fly blind into a taste test—the packaging tells you exactly what’s in the dessert.So if you’re ever in a situation where you’re hosting someone who has dietary restrictions and you want to treat them to a tasty dessert, I recommend heading over to 7-11. It’s saved me in a few situations (especially when I’ve had to escort people for work), and it might just do the same for you!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4XW-living_foodMon, 16 Jul 2018 12:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4XW-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6kj-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataA couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog expressing my excitement over the return of watermelons, especially since the local Yairo watermelons are the best I have ever tasted. Well, today I took my daughter to the local farmers market to pick up a few fruits and veggies and chanced upon this little sampler:Have you ever seen orange watermelon before? I hadn’t, so naturally, I was intrigued. The vendor was calling them サマーオレンジ or “Summer Orange.” I grabbed a small piece and gave it a shot.There were some key differences between the summer orange and other watermelons. First, it was not as juicy. You can’t eat a regular Yairo watermelon without spilling at least a bit of watermelon juice, but the summer orange was much more manageable (which is a plus if you have young children or are hosting guests). Second, the flavor was sweeter, with almost a honey-like flavor to it. I wouldn’t say that the flavor was better or worse than Yairo watermelon, because they were different enough not to be able to compare. Instead, I would say it just comes down to preference.Another thing I noticed was that there were fewer seeds in this variety of watermelon than the standard Yairo watermelon. That is something else that makes the summer orange watermelons appealing for kids or guests.As for what was similar between the two varieties of watermelon, the texture was the principal commonality. It’s interesting because it looks and feels like a regular watermelon (see the pic below) but the flavor is vastly different.So would I recommend the “Summer Orange” watermelon? If you are looking for a cleaner option to serve (whether for kids, guests, or anyone else), this is probably a better option than your standard watermelon. However, if I had to choose based on taste and satisfaction alone, I still have to go with my favorite: Yairo watermelon!Have you had summer orange watermelons? What do you think? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6kj-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 16 Jul 2018 11:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy6kj-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G09BV-living_tokamachi_shi_niigataFor many of you who have lived in Japan for a while, you've probably seen a Tsurushi-hina, or hanging dolls. I grew up with them and have even picked some up for my daughter so we could hang them in her room.If you don’t know what Tsurushi-hina are, think of a mobile, but instead of the western-favored ornaments like airplanes or celestial objects, the Japanese version uses tiny, traditional stuffed dolls. They look something like this:Your standard tsurushi-hina runs anywhere from 20-80 centimeters long, and there will be anywhere between 6 and 20 hina dolls hanging from them (give or take a few). Well, yesterday, I saw a NON-stadard tsurushi-hina--a record-setting one, in fact.My family went out to Tokamachi, and there, we stopped by the local Michi-no-eki. Called “Cross 10 Omiyage-kan,” this place offered food, clothing, accessories, liquors, and other locally produced goods for visitors to take home as souvenirs or gifts from their trip to Niigata’s famous mountain town. Right off the bat, I could tell that Cross 10 was different from your standard Michi-no-eki--the building was HUGE. Although I would later learn that the building also houses a community center with various conference spaces, there was something else that demanded the extra space I immediately noticed upon walking in:WHOA, I thought, that is the biggest tsurushi-hina I’ve ever seen.Turns out that it wasn’t just the biggest tsurushi-hina I’ve ever seen, it’s the biggest I could ever see in the world. That’s right, this bad boy holds the Guiness world record for biggest Tsurushi-hina. The circular frame at the top is 2.8 meters in diameter, and the hanging strands are a whopping 10 meters long. Attached to those strands are a staggering 12,088 hina dolls!If you’re interested in seeing it for yourself, I encourage you to head out to Tokamachi and make a full trip of it, since the town is really wonderful. Cross 10 is located at〒948-0003 Niigata, Tōkamachi-shi, Honchō, 6-1 and is open most days from 9:00-18:00.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G09BV-living_tokamachi_shi_niigataMon, 16 Jul 2018 07:28:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G09BV-living_tokamachi_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glpo1-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI’m sure a lot of you had fireworks on display in your local cities and towns this weekend for summer festivals, and although I knew our little town would have some, too, I had written them off for a few reasons. First, I have small children, one of whom likes to sleep before most fireworks shows are finished. Second, I have a dog that, like most other pets, believes that fireworks are actually signals for the end of days. Well, we lucked out in a way because the fireworks were tonight, and we could actually see them from our home. We heard the *BOOM* and immediately looked out the second story window in the direction of the sound. Sure enough, this is what we saw:Certainly, the next door neighbor’s house obstructed some of the view, but we were able to see most of it. I beckoned my daughter over to sit with me to watch, and she was excited...for a bit…You see, I’m an American, and we’re impatient with our fireworks. I think the longest fireworks show I’d ever seen was 30 minutes, and there was generally no more than a few second gap between fireworks, if that.In my town’s fireworks show, however, pacing was a problem. Many fireworks would blow at least a full 10 seconds after the previous one, with some coming up to 20 to 30 seconds later. But here’s the other thing: the show lasted an hour and twenty minutes!An hour and twenty minutes? That’s the same length as Pixar’s Toy Story, meaning that feasibly, in the same time it took to shoot over a few dozen fireworks, I could have viewed the full character arc of Woody the cowboy reconciling his selfish need to be Andy’s favorite with the importance of friendship and the true purpose of toys to make his/her child happy.Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful that my town had a fireworks show, but I think it could have learned the lesson that less is more, or at least that blowing up lots of fireworks in 20 minutes is way cooler than a Kurosawa-paced display of each firework in its individual glory over the course of 80 minutes.Thank goodness we were at home: my daughter got tired and went to sleep (booms still coming at 20 second intervals). My dog, however, may still be a bit shell-shocked (nothing that a few treats can’t fix).Is my town the only one with dragged out fireworks? Can anyone top an 80 minute fireworks show?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glpo1-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 15 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glpo1-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP8yW-living_tokamachi_shi_niigataAs I mentioned in a previous blog, my family and I headed out to Tokamachi to visit the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, and on the way from Muikamachi, we enjoyed the rich nature that separates Tokamachi from our city of Minamiuonuma. There is greenery as far as the eye can see, rice fields, unique flora and fauna (I am partial to the many hawks that fly around here), and other sights that just make you say, "Daaaaaang, it's so pretty out here!"Then, as we were driving, we saw this:One of the sheds had a funny face painted on it. Of course we had to stop and take a photo (it helped that there were hardly any cars around!)We thought, What a funny family to paint a face on their shed.How cute.Then we drove a little further and saw this:There was another face on a shed. Hmm, we thought, that's interesting. I wonder if it's a thing that people do around here...Sure enough, this was right across the street:And then this was just a little further down the road:We accepted it as a bunch of quirky farmers having a little fun with their sheds...until we discovered something awesome about Tokamachi related to that museum of contemporary art where we were headed: all of those sheds were done by a single artist for the purposes of the "Echigo-Tsumari Art Field."Entitled Kamaboko Face, those sheds were all the product of Yoshiaki Kaihatsu, an eclectic young artist who actually dons a mole costume and broadcasts a radio show daily out of an underground radio shelter. Don't believe me? Check out the page here.The Kamaboko Faced-shelters were only one of dozens of art exhibits scattered throughout Tokamachi, meaning that you can find artwork in some of the most random spots throughout town. Of course, you can grab a map and head to art display directly, but I did find something really charming about chancing upon it on our way to the museum!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP8yW-living_tokamachi_shi_niigataSun, 15 Jul 2018 13:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP8yW-living_tokamachi_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAny4-living_transportation_tokamachi_shi_niigataDo you drive in Japan? I do, and I love it. I've driven in almost 40 prefectures now, and it's a fantastic way to see all the sights at your own pace. Besides, there are certain places that are only accessible by bus or car, and if I have to choose between being behind the wheel or packed like sardines into a giant can on wheels, I'll take the wheel every time.That said, driving in Japan can get a bit hairy from time-to-time. I wrote a blog on here about the different types of bad drivers you'll encounter on the road, but there are also infrastructure challenges.Sometimes the roads are really narrow. Sometimes they zig zag with no rhyme or reason. Sometimes they have no guard rails even with a dangerous drop off right next to it. Sometimes it's all of the above:That's what I encountered today while driving up to the Ajisai Park in Tokamachi. We hadn't planned on going there, but when we saw a sign for it, we decided to make the trek up the mountain to check it out, since both my wife and I enjoy ajisai (especially when they are beset by the rich greenery that Niigata offers).What started as a nicely paved, wide road continued to narrow, and what was a gradual incline and relatively straight turned steep and windy. I didn't stop to take any photos on the way up because I was white-knucklin' it not knowing what kind of Sunday Driver might come barreling down a blind curve.Fortunately, I discovered that my wife and I are probably the only people under 70 who would choose to detour to go see an Ajisai park, so there wasn't much traffic at all (none, to be precise).Thus, on the way back down, I figured I would snap that shot above to show you just how little clearance there was, with not a guard rail in sight!Drive safely out there!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAny4-living_transportation_tokamachi_shi_niigataSun, 15 Jul 2018 13:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAny4-living_transportation_tokamachi_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8Po-food_tokamachi_shi_niigataMy family went out to Tokamachi today to visit one of my favorite museums, the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Artbut had some time to kill before the museum opened at 10:00. We headed next door to the "Cross 10 Omiyage-kan," a big center full of Tokamachi souvenirs.Naturally, as soon as my daughter saw that there was a vendor selling ice cream, she wanted some, which was just fine since all of us were ready for a snack after the relatively long drive from Minamiuonuma. It was as I was purchasing the ice cream for her that this caught my eye:Soba InariNow I love inari zushi, which is a ball of rice wrapped up in flat, fried tofu that's been marinated in vinegar. It is a fantastic pick-me-up type of snack since the rice and tofu fill you up while the vinegar cleanses your palate and replenishes some of your lost electrolytes (if it sounds like I'm trying to sell you all on inari zushi, I'm really not--it's just one of my favorite snacks!)Since I love inari zushi, I thought that I just had to try the soba inari. At 300 yen, it was a bit pricey, but I was promised that it was Tokamachi's premium soba used in the inari. So I gave in and got one of these:The first major difference between regular inari zushi and soba inari is the size. Soba inari is at least twice as big, but not very dense. When you bite into it, it looks something like this:The soba noodles were very good with a rich buckwheat taste. I was worried that they would be dry (since most soba is served with tsuyu broth, either in a bowl or a dipping cup), but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they soaked up the excess vinegar.Final verdict? Look, I'm a rice guy, so I think I'm biased towards traditional inari zushi, but this was certainly a refreshing and enjoyable treat, especially in the humid summer. It still gets my thumbs up!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8Po-food_tokamachi_shi_niigataSun, 15 Jul 2018 12:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wj8Po-food_tokamachi_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6ZlE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI'm sure that every town does its natsu matsuri ("summer festival") a bit differently, but I figured I would share how my town does it, since there's bound to be enough overlap to give you at least a general understanding of how these things work. I certainly didn't have it today, which made for some interesting circumstances.I'm focusing on the mikoshi-carrying part of the festival, since that's the one that will be bound to come across your door at some point if you live in a small town like we do.So for our town, the summer festival is split into two days: the less formal Saturday festival, and the more formal Sunday festival. Saturday is the day for children and various committees to go out and carry mikoshi around neighborhoods. For our town, the chant is "Wasshoi *Pi Pi*" (with the *pi* sound being made with whistles and drum beats). For the children's mikoshi, anyone can join to hold the rope that's attached to the mikoshi, but only certain people can hold the wooden handles.It looks something like this:Everyone congregates at a certain area and then when folks are set, the mikoshi is lifted, and with a loud, "Wasshoi!"everyone starts the march. The Mikoshi is carried around the neighborhood, only stopping when someone comes out to make a donation in an envelope. One person at the front of the procession carries a donation box, and when the donation is made, he/she stops the march, announces the name of the individual providing the donation, and then everyone lifts the mikoshi in unison several times while shouting, "Wasshoi! Wasshoi! Wasshoi!"When that's done, the procession starts once again, and the process is repeated with each new donation.For our festival, the first Mikoshi to come through was the children's procession, followed by the town's young men's club. I was told that we should expect more into the evening.Tomorrow is when the formal mikoshi from the local shrine will be carried through with local priests. I wrote an earlier blog about the restrictions incumbent with that particular mikoshi, so it will likely be a much less boisterous event than what we were able to enjoy today.Does your local town do a natsu matsuri? How different are the traditions there from what I just described above? I'd love to hear how different places do things--feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6ZlE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 14 Jul 2018 14:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6ZlE-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXkmL-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataDo you remember those old “Real Men of Genius” Budweiser commercials they used to have on TV and the radio? They were hilarious, but just in case you don’t remember them or if you have never heard of it before, here’s what I'm talking about:If you're not able to view the video, it’s basically an announcer with musical backup that ironically praises individuals such as the following:Mr. Really Bad Toupee WearerMr. Taco Salad InventorMr. Too-much Cologne WearerI encountered my own "Real Man of Genius" at the festival, so I'm going to resurrect this long-forgotten ad with my own addition from the Japanese countryside.Here goes...[Cue Music]Announcer: Budweiser presents Real Men of Genius...Vocals: *Real men of Genius*Today we salute you, Mr. Giant Fan at the Festival Guy...*Mr. Giant Fan at the Festival Guy*It’s 100 degrees outside with a feels like temperature of 120. Most people are carrying normal sized fans to cool themselves down, but you say, "No way."*No, I don't want a little fan*Your fan weighs 150 pounds and is made of the tallest tree from the forest primeval...*How do you even pick it up?*You selflessly haul around that hunk of wood that weighs as much as you do, all to keep everyone else cool...*You can't even fan yourself!*Producing as much force as a small typhoon, you swing that fan with all your might, sending small children flying in the process...*What happened to little Kenta-kun?*You may do more harm than good, but boy do you make people say, "At least I'm not that guy"...*Sucks to be that guy*So crack open a nice cold Budweiser, Mr. Beast of the Breeze...after you regain feeling in your arms.*It might not beeeeeee for a week*Cause if was not for you, people might make the wise choice to stay inside.*Mr. Giant Fan at the Festival Guy* To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXkmL-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 14 Jul 2018 14:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXkmL-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go4KW-living_niigataSo I saw this tweet today that I just have to share here on city-cost:I read the article and apparently the summary is pretty accurate: a bear wandered into an apple orchard in Aomori and a man knocked it in the face to scare it off.I’ll admit that the first thing I thought of was Kintarō, Japan’s legendary folk hero who bested a bear hand-to-hand when he was only a small boy.My next thought was to a similar story that I saw on the news when I first moved out here to Niigata, except in this case, the person involved in the bear incident was a 80-year old woman. She took the news reporters up to her field in Tōkamachi the next day and explained, “Here is the field where I was working, and the bear just snuck up behind me. I tried to shoo him away but then he grabbed my shirt with his teeth and dragged me across the field a bit. *points to a little gully in the field* I just laid in that spot there until he got bored and left.” Lots of things surprised me about this lady. First, even though she showed a few scratches from where the bear’s teeth had gotten her shoulder, she was otherwise unscathed by a BEAR attack. Second, she tried to shoo the bear away as if it was a crow or a tanuki...a BEAR. Talk about gumption. Third, she told the story as if it was a funny anecdote about going down to the store. But you know what surprised me the most at the time? It was the fact that she was hoofing it all over this field to tell the story without missing a beat and the reporter (who was probably 50 years her junior) was huffing and puffing trying to keep up. Talk about a hardy lady—gets in a fight with the bear and then shows up the young whipper snapper on regional TV the next day.My last thought about these bear stories is that either Japanese bears are wimps or Japanese farmers are the toughest people around. After living here in Niigata for a year, I reckon it’s the latter.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go4KW-living_niigataFri, 13 Jul 2018 12:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go4KW-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3Qy-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI love ice cream. I always have and always will. I'm the guy that you'll see walking around in a blizzard eating a soft cream. Ice cream is an any-time-of-the-day snack. One of the worst nightmares I've ever had was waking up lactose intolerant.I think you get the picture.As you can imagine, being in Japan is a dream for me. Ice cream is everywhere. Any conbini you go to will have a freezer full of the stuff. Rest areas, tourist spots--heck, even museums (history and ice cream--that's a double win for me!).Well, I recently discovered a new type of ice cream sold here in our local supermarket, and I have to admit, I'm a convert.If you're an ice cream connoisseur like me, you'll know that ice cream is just one variety of frozen dairy treat. The categorization comes down to type of dairy product, amount of air used in making it, and the other types of ingredients included. There's frozen custard, frozen yogurt, gelato, ice milk, soft-serve ice cream, and normal ice cream, to name a few. I recently discovered that my local supermarket sells one other type: Dondurma, or Turkish ice cream.Some folks know about Turkish ice cream as a popular street vendor snack served using long poles (often with fun and fanfare). The use of salep and mastic(starchy, gummy plant-based ingredients) give the ice cream an springy, stretchy texture that is unique from any other ice cream in the world. I've only had it once (in Kobe), but I really enjoyed it and have been on the lookout for other places ever since. And then lo and behold, there it was all along, tucked away in the side of the ice cream freezer:Right off the bat, I had to get some. Here's the package up close:[Note: for those searching for Halal ice creams, this is an option for you!]And here's how the ice cream looked:You can see how the texture is different from other ice creams, and I think that's one of its best features. It doesn't hurt that it isn't overly sweet and that an entire serving is just a shade over 100 calories (for you health conscious folks out there).A single serve tub costs 250 yen, and while I haven't seen this anywhere else in Japan, I'm sure you can find it in most international supermarkets in Japan.Do you like Turkish Ice Cream? Do you have any favorite Turkish ice creams in Japan?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3Qy-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFri, 13 Jul 2018 09:35:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr3Qy-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Zll-livingSo one of the things I love about my daughter’s school is that they take pictures of the kids and fill up photo albums over the course of the year. Periodically, they send those albums home for parents to be able to look at and write in. Yesterday was one of those days where the album came home with our daughter, and we were able to enjoy snapshots of what she’d been up to lately.While we were looking at the photos, my wife asked me a question: “Why don’t they wipe any of the kids noses?” You see, it’s been cold season around here lately, and in every picture there was at least one child with hanamizu (or snot, for lack of a better English term) running down his/her face. I didn’t have a good answer for my wife, except to say it wasn’t due to neglect, but to the fact that hanamizu is just treated differently here. I grew up in Japan, and I don’t ever remember adults wiping their kids' noses. Shoot, just look at your standard anime and manga, and hanamizuis a common comedic device whether the subject is a child or an adult.I’ve never really understood it, especially when tissue packets are such a big thing over here. You can’t walk through a department store or train station without being offered one. Not to mention, tissues are pretty cheap at your local supermarkets.This isn't cultural sensitivity either--I mean, it's basic hygiene, right? It's not wonder diseases get communicated so easily through the schools here considering you've got hanamizu just hanging out constantly.The only thing I can think of when it comes to an aversion to wiping noses is that I'm well aware that folks in Japan don't like carrying used tissues or handkerchiefs since they are unsanitary. Still, I think I'd rather have a soiled tissue in my pocket than hanamizu running down my kid's face. But maybe I'm just missing something here.Am we the only ones out here that don't understand the comfort with hanamizu around here? Feel free to vent with me in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Zll-livingFri, 13 Jul 2018 09:17:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6Zll-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08rE-living_tea_shizuokaI like tea, but I'm not some tea connoisseur. That's my wife. She knows tea. She seeks out good tea. I'm more of a passenger when it comes to the tea adventures in our household. But something struck me about tea that caused to me to reconsider the value of "tea-cations" or tea-themed travel, if you will.You see, I'm a history/culture/experience-focused traveler, but that's what makes tea such an interesting theme for a trip, because in certain places, tea IS its history and culture, and you can have a great experience with it.While there are many places in Japan where that could be true, none stands out to me quite like Shizuoka. After all, what started as a cash crop for prefectural residents in the 1200s now accounts for 40% of the country's tea production. With so much tea produced there for so long, it's part of their past, present, and future.But maybe its things like this that really drew me to the prefecture and its tea heritage:That's taken on a tea farm in Shizuoka prefecture. The view is incredible, but it represents the nature-side of travel there. Of course, there's also the history and culture-centered activities, as well.Here's a short list to get you started in case you decide to become a convert to the tea-cation like me:Pick tea at the Grinpia Tea FieldsIf you’d like to experience tea right from the source, the Grinpia Tea Fields offer a hands on tea picking experience. Their tea picking season generally runs from April to October, and if you want to get into the spirit fully, you’re able to rent traditional tea picking attire to wear. The tea picking experience at Grinpia is 820 yen for adults and 720 yen for elementary aged children. The rental of traditional clothing is an additional 880 yen and reservations for that are required in advance.Grinpia also run group sessions about how to prepare sencha if you’d like to know how best to brew your Shizuoka tea. If you can’t get away for a trip to Shizuoka in the immediate future, they have an online shop where you can purchase a variety of locally grown teas at http://www.grinpia.net/. Learn more about Green Tea at the World Tea MuseumThe Fujinokuni Tea Museum was reopened in March this year after being renovated, and allows you to learn about many different kinds of tea. There is information on Shizuoka based green tea variants, other domestically produced teas, and even internationally grown tea blends. The museum offers some unique hands on tea experiences, including grinding your own matcha with a mortar and pestle (which you get to take home with you) or enjoying a tea ceremony. There is a restaurant and cafe on site, where you’re able to enjoy Shizuoka Green Tea as well as a variety of dishes prepared with local ingredients, and a gift shop that sells a range of teas among other goods. There are often samples of the teas so that you can try before you buy.General adult admission to the museum is 300 yen, but for university students, high school students, junior high school students and younger, as well as seniors age 70 or older, admission is free.Website is here: https://tea-museum.jp/index_en.htmlEnjoy a Japanese teahouse experience at ShouinteiThe Shouintei Teahouse is located within the grounds of the Hamamatsu Castle Park, which is worth a visit if you’re in the area. There’s Hamamatsu Castle itself, the Hamamatsu Municipal Museum of Art, and many traditional styled gardens to enjoy as well.The teahouse looks over the gardens, and prides itself on being a place where everyone can enjoy the beverage. You have the option of sitting on tatami or regular chairs, and there’s no dress code required. Shouintei mixes things up by offering sencha one day, and matcha the next with their tea, and is very reasonably priced. A set with tea and a traditional Japanese sweet is only 400 yen.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/genkidesuka/G08rE-living_tea_shizuokaThu, 12 Jul 2018 10:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08rE-living_tea_shizuokahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glp5q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWhat do Tokyo (pop. 9.2M), Osaka (2.7M), Nagoya (2.3M), Kobe (1.5M), and Minamiuonuma (58K) all have in common? They all have Shinkansen stations within the city limits.Yes, Minamiuonuma, which only has 0.6% the total population of Tokyo, has its own Shinkansen station. But hey, I’m not complaining. One of the great things about living in Minamiuonuma is that we have the Joetsu Shinkansen here that gives us ready access to travel anywhere in Japan.An interesting feature of having a Shinkansen station in such a small city is that it is probably the quietest Bullet train stop in all of Japan.Here’s the foyer...and the stairs leading to the ticket area…And the ticket area…And this was during morning “rush hour.”Okay, so this begs the question: why? Why would such a sleepy town have a Shinkansen stop? Well, you’ve probably heard of the term: “bridge to nowhere”—well, some might call this a Shinkansen to nowhere.The thing is, this is Niigata, so if you want to know why there are some of Japan’s best roads, tunnels, trains, and other infrastructure, you need to look to one man: former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.The king of Pork. Japan’s most notoriously corrupt and yet strangely beloved politician in the postwar period. This is a guy who once said, “I never stole money, but it was I who spent it!”Tanaka championed infrastructure projects as a means of connecting rural and urban Japan, and naturally, he prioritized his home prefecture of Niigata. This led to the construction of major expressways, and eventually, the Joetsu Shinkansen line.Is it excessive? Tanaka argued it wasn’t, because it opened up a prefecture that was locked away by mountains and snow. After all, he would ask, why should any prefecture in Japan be isolated? So yes, it may seem a bit excessive, but not to me, and not to the other residents around here who use that Shinkansen as a lifeline to Niigata city, Tokyo and other major urban centers.To us, our quiet Shinkansen is a blessing, which is probably why there is a statue of Kakuei Tanaka right in front of it:To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glp5q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 12 Jul 2018 07:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glp5q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1Bmn-livingHello webverse. Yesterday I wrote about a common complaint from expats in Japan, which is the heavy build-up around rivers and mountains, imposing manmade structures across the landscape. Here’s another one common one......above ground power lines. This one is not just a debate among expats though, as many Japanese also question why power can’t be buried. In fact, in the October 2017 House of Representatives election, the issue was part of the policy platform for the ill-fated “Party of Hope,” which pledged, “No more utility poles.” But does it really matter? How realistic would it be to bury all the power lines throughout Japan, anyway?I recently read that there are over 35 million utility poles in Japan, so you can imagine just how colossal a task it would be to bury all of those power lines. Complicating the issue is the level of coordination and cost-sharing required. As it stands, every town in Japan has three types of roads: national, prefectural, and municipal. Any decisions or costs regarding each of those respective roads lies at different levels of government. Then there is the coordination required with power companies. Trying to get four independent entities aligned to produce consensus on a way ahead is, at best, time consuming, and, at worst, near impossible.Also, out here in Yukiguni, I don’t know how wise it would be to bury power lines. With as much snow as we get out here, if there were ever an issue with utility lines in the winter, workers would have to get through a few meters of snow first just to troubleshoot a problem.So what’s the solution? Frankly, I think the only way to fix the problem is opportunistically. Certain areas are better suited for buried utility lines, so whenever there’s a new housing development or major renovation in those places, go ahead and install buried power lines. Eventually, over time the number of utility poles will decrease, even if it does take a while.In the meantime, the only thing to do is to get used to it. I think I have. I certainly don’t notice the power lines a lot more when I first moved back to Japan. How about all of you?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1Bmn-livingWed, 11 Jul 2018 07:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1Bmn-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G09Vn-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo the other day I was out walking my dog and we passed by the local kōban. I took a look at the message board and saw these two flyers.They are both related to the North Korean abductee issue. The top poster details the individuals who were confirmed to have been abducted by North Korean agents, specifically highlighting Hitomi Soga and Megumi Yokota who were taken from Niigata prefecture in the 70s. The bottom flyer calls for assistance in locating the North Korean agents who are suspected to have been involved in the abductions. Forty years after the incidents, and the local police maintain those postings.The abductee issue has been in the news more than normal recently given North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s diplomatic efforts, leading to some pointed questions by outside observers. North Korea claims the issue is resolved, but the Abe administration maintains resolution of the abduction issue as a prerequisite to other negotiations. This posture has prompted some pundits to criticize the Abe administration’s focus on abductees as obstructive and overly political, but living here in Niigata and seeing those posters, I have a very different impression of the issue.Put yourself in the shoes of a Niigata resident, knowing that multiple members of your community were stolen away to North Korea for a life of captivity and servitude. One of those abductees (Megumi Yokota) was only 13 when she was taken. On top of that, even though North Korea only admitted 17 abductions, there are literally hundreds of other missing persons cases from the sixties and seventies where North Korean foul play is suspected. For residents here (and other places where abductions occurred) this issue is unresolved and there is justifiably a deep mistrust of a Kim regime that is willing to perpetrate the crimes and then refuse to resolve them.That mistrust is echoed at the political level. I understand why the Japanese government intends to resolve the abduction issue first. ‪If North Korea can’t even be forthright about abductions (which have no impact on its national security), then how could the Kim regime be forthright about relinquishing anything else (such its nuclear and missile programs)?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G09Vn-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 10 Jul 2018 15:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G09Vn-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4ryk-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataIf you go to just about any river in Japan, you’ll see levees or concrete walls similar to this:Likewise, a lot of mountainsides (especially along roads) are covered in concrete and/or nets to combat rock- and landslides. I’ve heard a lot of expats complain about how built up Japan is. In fact, if you're interested in those arguments, Alex Kerr's book Dogs and Demonsedicates many pages to the political construction machine that led to Japanese attempts to tame nature at the expense of wildlife and aesthetics.Certainly, I understand the argument that over-construction can be harmful to flora and fauna and that it can mar the landscape. Japan is such a naturally beautiful country, and massive build up takes away from that.Still, nature reminds us of the harm she can do. All you have to do is look at the havoc wreaked by the torrential rains throughout the country this past week. But imagine how much worse it might have been without the extensive network of levees, causeways, and other disaster mitigation structures.I, for one, am grateful for the government’s work in building around rivers, especially since my home is about 300 meters from a major waterway. We have had some torrential storms since I moved here, but not once have I been worried about flooding because of the extensive disaster planning and construction that has been done to mitigate those hazards. Does the Japanese government go overboard with construction projects? Absolutely. But so does every government that engages in pork barrel politics. I would not put the construction directed towards protecting local populations from natural disasters in the same bucket as those pork barrel projects though. So I would say, Yes, it's worth the construction.Note: As a side benefit, the causeways that run along rivers make for the best, most peaceful walking paths:What do you think about Japan’s attempts to tame nature? Worth the money, effort, and sacrifice to natural beauty and wildlife homes? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4ryk-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 10 Jul 2018 06:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4ryk-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP87J-living_minato_ku_tokyoMy dad sent me this photo today of the Olympic Stadium under construction in Gaienmae:It’s been a few months since my last trip to the area, and it’s incredible to see just how far they have progressed in building the stadium, especially considering the mismanagement of the original contracting process.Just a quick recap on the original stadium misfire: the Japanese government opened up the design for the Olympic stadium and narrowed it down to about seven options. From there, they decided to go with a design by the late Zaha Hadid. While unique, the design was mocked as the "bicycle helmet," and the massive spars needed to construct it was going to push costs well beyond the original budget. For a Japanese government with over 200% of GDP in national debt, the prospect of cost overruns was unacceptable. The government even tried narrowing the scope of the design, but costs were still prohibitive.So the government scrapped that design and reopened the design for bids. They ended up going with a Japanese architect this time, but the cost and construction schedule limitations based on the original comedy of errors limited the uniqueness of the design. Yes, the stadium will be new and beautiful, but I think the Japanese government missed a fantastic opportunity.Of all the original designs to reach the final cut for bids, this was my favorite:It's brilliant. A Japanese architect conceptualized a stadium under a park that would add green to the city while capitalizing on the benefits of nature. A partially underground design would enhance structural resiliency in earthquakes. A "buried" design would allow for natural cooling (which would have been critical for an Olympics taking place in July/August!) And Olympic goers could spend time in the "park" while waiting for their ticketed event to take place.I'm not sure why they didn't go with this design. I suppose if you compare it to the original Hadid design, it doesn't have the same architectural flair, but I really can't think of anything more traditionally Japanese than a marrying of nature and man-made structures.Oh well, nothing to be done now. Let's just hope the architect that came up with that original park/stadium design gets hired to do some other big projects in the near future!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP87J-living_minato_ku_tokyoTue, 10 Jul 2018 05:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MP87J-living_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp4B-living_foodI’m not a great cook. I mean, I’m not terrible, but I have some awful habits in the kitchen and I am a terrible multitasker. The combination of those things can make for some terrible cooking experiences. But that’s putting it mildly, I reckon. To put it another way: if I was on Masterchef, I’d be on the receiving end of an epic F-bomb laden rant about how I should never set foot in a kitchen again.But Gordon Ramsay doesn’t live with me—a family with two children and a wife that works do. As such, I try to do my fair share around the house and kitchen, especially since student life is not the most taxing.Fortunately, Japan has my back and has saved my behind on more than a few occasions by giving me quick and easy meal packet options. Lately I’ve been all about the “Cook-Do” packets, seeing as most of the veggies that the recipes call for happen to be in season at the moment.My two favorites are here:Mābo chuzu and Hoikōrō (Szechuan Twice Cooked Pork—really, it’s basically a black bean sauce)The process couldn’t be easier: get the ingredients listed on the back of the packet (or sub in different types of meat and veggies as you wish), cook the veggies, then set those aside and cook the meat.Add the sauce and then put the veggies back in.After that, just throw the finished product over a bed of rice and BAM—quick and tasty meal!Best of all, since you only have to use one pan, there’s minimal clean-up required.You can find Cook Do packets at just about any supermarket in Japan, or you can order them online at major internet marketplaces like Amazon or Rakuten. A single pack will run you between 100-200 yen (depending on whether there are sales prices). There are a lot of other flavor options, but Cook Do offers mostly Japanese/Chinese-inspired stir fry flavors.Do you have any recommendations for other quick and easy cooking packets? I’m always on the lookout for something new, especially since I can only feed my family so much mabo and black bean sauce dishes! Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp4B-living_foodMon, 09 Jul 2018 15:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp4B-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ5od-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo I wrote a review almost a year ago here about our town's little Gelato shop, simply (and appropriately) named Gelato Yummy. Folks come from literally miles away to come enjoy this specialty creamery, and for good reason: the gelato is the best I've ever had, and they come with unique flavors.Now, I'm not here to rehash the review, since you can find it on this website anyway, but after a year, I discovered two new things about Gelato Yummy that I just had to share.First of all, they sell the Gelato at the local farmer's market. All this time, I thought I could only enjoy the gelato when the shop was open, which is limited by the shop's operating days and hours, of course. But now, I realize that I can get prepackaged Gelato Yummy any day of the week (and twice on Sunday, if I'm so inclined). That is, of course, great news (well, not so much for my waistline).Second, they offer even more seasonal varieties in the prepackaged containers. The shop always has great seasonal options, but I suppose they only keep a limited quantity in the store at any given time. Not so much for the prepackaged options! Here are a few of the interesting options they had available:Plum SherbertBanana Mille FeuilleBlueberry CheesecakeShiokoji Azukiand one that I'll definitely have to try because it sounds so out there and unique:Uonuma Soba Cha (tea)I have no idea how that last one will taste, but I guess I'll have to come back here and report.Of course, they had other great (and more traditional) flavors like mocha, cookies and cream, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but I'm a sucker for limited edition varieties, especially when they are this unique.If you're in town and want to pick up some Gelato Yummy, you can go to the shop at 5138-2 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture 949-7302-OR-You can pick some up at the local farmer's market down the street at 5147-1 Urasa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata-ken 949-7302To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ5od-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ5od-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mg6XY-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo the prep in my town has begun for one of the biggest festivals of the year—simply called the 夏祭り natsu matsuri, or Summer Festival.The townsfolk are stringing up lanterns, and we’ve already been receiving notices in the mail about proper attire, events, food pre-ordering (that’s a big thing here to ensure the event organizers prepare the right amount of food), and rules regarding the mikoshi.Yup, you read that right: they handed out flyers to every household explaining the rules regarding the mikoshi.For those who don’t know, mikoshi are the portable shrines that festival participants carry on their shoulders, usually with much flair and fanfare. Of course, given that it's usually just a bunch of dudes in Yukata shouting and walking around, I didn't really think too much about specific rules until I got that piece of paper in the mailbox.So what are the rules?Since the mikoshi is traveling down residential streets, the city demands that folks refrain from hanging clothes from second or third story windows. Along those same lines, they insist that folks only observe the mikoshi from the ground level. Since the mikoshi is considered sacred, it is untoward to look down upon the mikoshi (whether it’s a person doing it or his/her clothing, it seems).Another rule: only folks who have registered may carry the mikoshi, so no subbing in along the route. Granted, that one makes sense from an injury/insurance perspective, considering I have seen a drunk gaijin sub in and end up with a giant mikoshi being set down on his foot (and breaking it) because he didn’t know what the different commands meant (and no, I was not that gaijin, in case you were wondering, though it was someone in my group...).Finally, folks are encouraged to come out and observe the mikoshi as it passes. It is considered a time-honored tradition here, and they make an effort to pass down every residential street in town with the mikoshi (the whole trek lasts most of the day!)Beyond that, we expect to have the same sort of festival fun as others, though I certainly will be looking out for the mikoshithis Saturday (from the ground level, of course!)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mg6XY-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 09 Jul 2018 14:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mg6XY-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbK39-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataBack when I was a kid, I used to love fishing. It is such a peaceful and relaxing pastime, and it’s a good way to earn yourself some lunch or dinner. Given my affinity for it, I’ve often wondered about fishing around here in Niigata. I’ve seen plenty of folks out wading with their fishing poles in the local Uono-gawa, but I’m not savvy on local fishing licensing requirements or even what kind of fish the river has to catch...until this morning’s walk, that is!Fortunately, I chanced upon this sign board that recently went up that answered (almost) all my questions. The sign was helpful for clearing up a few key things, such as...Type of fishSince we’re so high up in the mountains and the river is relatively shallow, we don’t have huge fish up here, but it turns out that what we do have is pretty great. Ayu (sweetfish) These are among the most popular freshwater fish in Japan, and you can find them at many Ryokan and festivals served whole, salted, and roasted.Nijimasu (rainbow trout) I grew up eating rainbow trout, and Japanese trout is even better than its American counterparts. Just throw some lemon and salt and put it in the fish grill and you have a delicious meal!Yamame (landlocked masu salmon) This was a surprise, because I was unaware that we’d have such a delicious fish swimming through our river here. Masu salmon is great when roasted and put inside Niigata koshihikari onigiri!The other fish are not too appetizing, but those three above would make the trip worth it!So the sign also explains the cost for pulling those fish out of the river, and it is pretty pricey: over 2000 yen for licenses for those fish for the day. I guess if you got a good enough haul, you wouldn’t be complaining though.So the only thing I have left to find out is where to pay for the licenses, then it’s game on to get the hook on!Oh, and in case you’re wondering about how the fish might taste coming out of the river up here, just check out this clear water. Can't get much purer than this:Just one of the many perks of living in yukiguni!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbK39-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 09 Jul 2018 13:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GbK39-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXkrQ-food_matsue_shi_shimaneI’ve loved castella cake ever since I first had it. Funny enough, I never tried it as a kid growing up in Japan, but I had my first cake from a Japanese expat who ran a bakery in Hawaii when I was living there. Ever since then, I was hooked, so when I came back to Japan, Castella cake became a routine shopping item for the family.At this point, I’ve had castella cake from almost 40 prefectures, and I had to agree with most Japanese who said that Nagasaki castella was the best. After all, Nagasaki is the home of castella cake, and it’s where the famous Fukusa-ya castella cake is made. And yes, Fukusa-ya castella is delicious, but then my wife brought me home a gift from Shimane prefecture.Not a lot people live in Shimane or travel there (it’s the second least populous prefecture in Japan after Tottori), but my family learned that being the smallest (and often most forgotten) prefecture didn’t stop the residents from mastering their respective crafts.My wife got to see that first hand, and I learned it through the gift she brought for me:Gold Castella Cake from Saneido Bakery in Matsue CityI have to admit that I was a bit skeptical--I figured it would be just like all the other castella cakes you can get throughout the country, but as soon as I sliced a few pieces, I knew it would be different.First of all, it didn’t have excess sugar crystallized on the outside. Some people like that, but I find those castella cakes to be overly sweet.Second, Gold castella was moist but still fluffy. Lots of castella cakes either end up dry and flaky or overly dense. Not this one.Then I tasted it--so good! I couldn’t believe that some small bakery from Shimane would manage it, but it was definitely the best castella cake I’ve ever tasted.If you’re interested in trying it, you’ll have to head down to Shimane. Fortunately, you don’t need to go directly to the Saneido bakery in Matsue, as the cake is sold in gift shops throughout the prefecture. You can pick up a sing cake for 1500 yen, or a half portion for 750 yen.Do you have a favorite castella cake? I'm always looking for great options, so feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXkrQ-food_matsue_shi_shimaneSun, 08 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXkrQ-food_matsue_shi_shimanehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY75L-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataOut here in the inaka, there are plenty of bugs and wildlife. I mean, I can open my door and look out on rice fields teeming with all manners of creatures. Some animals out here are better off staying away from my home, like those Niigata bats (I don’t think I could ever get my wife back inside the house if one managed to fly in here!). Others, however, are what I consider a tenant's best friends out here. My top three?FrogsSwallowsSpidersThey’re all great for one major reason: keeping the mosquito and other pest population down. I figured when I moved out here with all of the soggy rice fields all around that my family and I would be eaten alive by mosquitoes and warding off roaches and other bugs every day. After all, we couldn’t go ten feet outdoors in our old home in Tokyo without getting bitten by at least one mosquito, and the battle against the bugs was a constant fight.Our first summer here, however, we were surprised to find that getting a mosquito bite was a rare occurrence, only happening when we were in more densely populated parts of town. We also haven't seen a single roach [knock on wood] since we've been here. We came to find out it was because of our friends around the house.Swallows, frogs, and spiders each come with their own sets of nuisances (nobody likes having to clean up bird droppings or accidentally walking into a spider’s web), but they all like to snack on those pesky bugs that everyone dislikes. Considering mosquitoes are carriers for diseases like Japanese encephalitis, I say, bring on the birds, frogs, and spiders. The more the merrier. Besides, spiders aside, I find the frogs and sparrows quite charming. Of course, I grew up on Japanese mukashi banashi(folk tales), and both of those animals play prominent roles in many of those stories.What do you think? Pests or friends? Do you have any local creatures that you consider to be blessings? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY75L-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 08 Jul 2018 05:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY75L-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK99k-living_niigataI am not one for pampering. Hair cuts were always best when it came to the cheapest and quickest option, and I hate the idea of paying someone to do something that I am more than capable of doing myself.But you know what I hate more? Shaving. And you know what my wife hates? That I refuse to pamper myself from time-to-time. Something about “you deserve it, and besides, if you don’t take care of yourself you’re going to lose your mind.” In any case, she was sweet enough to gift me a shave at my local barber. Normally, I would have been pretty skeptical—there are not many barbers back in the states that I would trust putting a straight razor to my neck—but I have had many conversations with my barber about the rigorous training requirements for Japanese stylists. He even explained to me that barbers (理髪師) are classified under the same master class kanji (師) as teachers (教師) and doctors (医師). In order to get certification, barbers have to apprentice for a certain amount of time and pass a thorough test that includes shaving with a straight razor.So I went to the barber shop confident in my local rihatsu-shi, and he did not disappoint. He started by asking me how much I wanted to shave, including around my eyebrows! I explained that up to the cheeks was fine, and he was meticulous in his prep and execution. I can honestly say that I have never had a better shave, and there are few things as relaxing as having a professional shave done. My wife asked if I fell asleep, and it wasn’t sleep more than this peaceful, meditative state that I seemed to fall into for the majority of the shave. And you know how much it cost? 1600 yen! That’s it.So that’s why I recommend that every man who shaves go get a professional shave here in Japan at least once in his life. And when you decide to go (or ladies, if you’re booking in for your partner), keep two other things in mind:1) Don’t overpay by going somewhere fancy. As I mentioned, every licensed barber in Japan has to be qualified in the shave. Besides, the local barber who has been shaving ojisan for 20 years is probably more proficient than the fancy young bloke running a high end salon.2) Give yourself plenty of time. Mine took over an hour!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK99k-living_niigataSun, 08 Jul 2018 05:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK99k-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy66Y-living_food_shopping_medicalMy daughter managed to bring home every illness that has popped up at her local school lately, which has knocked our household out of commission off and on for the last month. The worst was when we had some sort of viral stomach issue (the docs didn’t diagnose it, but I’m pretty sure it was something like norovirus), which left us all nauseous and feverish. As many of you readers out there know, just about the worst thing you can do if you’ve been vomiting is to try to chug water to replenish your fluids. Instead, the recommendation is to chew on ice chips. Two issues for us in that department: (1) we don’t have a decent space for making ice chips (we certainly don’t have an automatic crushed ice dispenser); and (2) how are you gonna get a toddler to chew on crushed ice?It was after I had finished taking my daughter to the hospital that I discovered the best solution to those two issues:That’s right, Kakigori shaved ice machines. After all, kids love shaved ice. They can even help shave it themselves to get into it, and when they start consuming it, it’s not “chewing ice chips to rehydrate,” it’s “having a fun dessert.” Of course I don’t recommend putting any syrup or other toppings on the shaved ice, but a little fruit juice works well to give a little bit of flavoring without upsetting little tummies.And while we purchased the machine to ensure the kids were staying hydrated, my wife and I both enjoyed the Kakigori when we were fighting the same stomach bug. Although the virus was awful, I am convinced that our ability to stay hydrated thanks to that kakigori machine helped speed our recovery.It really was a lucky find to help us all get through that rough period of illness, but now we get to enjoy the added benefit of having our own Kakigori machine so we can enjoy shaved ice during the hot summer!If you’re thinking of getting a Kakigori machine, our 1300 yen penguin machine works like a charm, so don’t feel like you have to go all out. I do recommend purchasing special ice containers for loading the machine, since the larger ice blocks are easier to shave and produce a better bowl of shaved ice than your standard ice cubes.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy66Y-living_food_shopping_medicalSun, 08 Jul 2018 05:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy66Y-living_food_shopping_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go44Z-livingMy daughter was feeling ill tonight (we’ve all been battling the colds and other viruses being passed around the schools lately), so when I was out at the store this evening I wanted to find her a small treat to lift her spirits. It’s hard to know what to get a sick kid though—you don’t want to fill a sick tummy with sugar, and you also don’t want to go all out with toy shopping every time your child is ill.Fortunately, I found the perfect choice: natsukashii toys. Natsukashiimeans “nostalgic,” and certain toys were all mainstays in Japan when I was growing up. I remember spending hours playing with them. Now, this particular store only had a handful of them, but the types of toys I’m talking about are things like koma (spinning tops), kunekune hebi (snake toys), and then these two that were actually available in the store:KendamaKami fusen (paper balloon)My daughter is three, so a kendama would be more likely to end up as a bludgeoning instrument than a fun toy, so the kami fusen seemed the logical choice. Besides, I spent hours on end playing with those when I was a child, and I wanted to share that fun experience with her. (On top of that, kami fusen are not some extravagant purchase—the perfect small toy to let your kids know that you were thinking about them without going overboard).When I arrived home, my daughter perked right up from the couch and was excited for the gift, so I showed her how to blow it up and play with it.Her mom joined us for some fun kami fusen juggling to close out the evening. You know, it doesn’t always happen that you do the right thing as a parent, so for me, tonight felt pretty good. I was also reminded of a valuable lesson: there’s something worthwhile about sharing the things you loved as a child with your own children. It’s more than just a gift at that point, I reckon, since you’re really giving them your memories and building shared experiences.It took some natsukashii toys to remind me of that fact, and so I’m glad I came across them tonight!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go44Z-livingSat, 07 Jul 2018 21:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go44Z-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z888x-livingAs an expat in Japan, one of the big debates was whether or not to invest in a hanko. For those of you who don't know, a hankois a personalized seal, and if you do any official paperwork ANYWHERE in Japan, you'll be asked to provide your little red stamp over a circle and symbol that looks like this: 印. Hanko come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the user and the purpose. For example, official government seals are typically square and fairly large (none more-so than the official imperial seal). Still, your standard family hanko looks something like this:They're made of plastic, soapstone, or another type of stone, and hanko are supposed to be completely unique in design since it is your personal "signature." The hanko must be registered at the local city office under your family register, and there is typically one official hanko per household. Certainly, more can be registered and added for individual family members, but that's typically not the case.You might also see small hanko on sale even at 100 yen stores. If your name is Seki, Tanaka, Suzuki, or any of the other ubiquitous Japanese names, those cheap hanko are easy to come by and sufficient for "signing" for things like packages. They, however, are not a substitute for the registered hanko for more formal transactions.So the big question for expats is whether to get a hanko. Several years back, they were absolutely a necessity--you wouldn't be able to sign a lease or buy a car on your own without a registered hanko. Nowadays, many places will just have you register a signature and use your signature over the 印 symbol, making those formal transactions much simpler.Me? I have a personalized hanko (it was a going away gift from my old office), but I have not registered it yet. If I ever do decide to purchase a home here and opt for some more permanence in the country, I will certainly take this next step, but I'm not quite there yet.Do you have a hanko? Any good stories behind getting the hanko, registering it, or using it? Feel free to use the comments sections below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z888x-livingSat, 07 Jul 2018 14:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z888x-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy66a-foodWhat's the oddest special edition ice cream that you've encountered in Japan? As someone who absolutely loves ice cream, I've met my fair share of odd seasonal and crossover varieties.Hands down the worst I've ever had was Shirasu soft cream in Shizuoka. Shirasu, if you don't know, are tiny fish used as toppings on rice bowls and other dishes. At the time, I didn't know what shirasu was, but I asked for the local specialty and that's what I got. When I tasted it, the soft cream was basically just a regular vanilla soft cream full of this little stringy fish. Certainly not something I would recommend to others.But you don't have to go full crazy with fish ice cream to encounter some err, interestingvarieties out there--even at your local convenience stores.For example, another blogger on city-cost recently wrote about a recent crossover edition ice cream that has fried ramen on top of a bed of ice cream. (Check out the article here).Me, I recently found another interesting crossover at my local convenience store. Here it is:Kaki no Tane Choco BarDo you like sweet and spicy flavors? Well, this might be right up your alley then. Kaki no Tane are spicy crackers shaped like persimmon seeds, and they've been around for as long as I can remember. I've eaten my entire life, but I've always associated them more as savory snacks to eat with tea (and later, beer). I mean, kaki no tane and peanuts are basically bar snacks.That said, I was quick shocked to see someone come up with the idea of crushing them up and using them in a chocolate shell for an ice cream bar. I guess if you like sweet and spicy foods, it might be good, but I have trouble imagining those little crackers mixed with ice cream. I guess it can't be worse than little fish, right?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy66a-foodSat, 07 Jul 2018 09:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gy66a-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BB6-living_shopping_niigataEver since I was a young kid here in Japan, 100 yen stores have been mainstays for daily life. Unlike dollar stores in the states, the 100 yen stores here tend to have quality home goods that will go the distance for you. Sure, there are plenty of trinkets and things that won't last long, but I've stocked up on great dishware, cleaning supplies, garden supplies, storage containers, and things like that.Probably Japan's most famous 100 yen store is Daiso, with locations all over the country (including in tourist hot spots like Takeshita-dori in Harajuku). It's got all of the great stuff I mentioned above, but there are two reasons I think Daiso is great that has nothing to do with its products:1) Photos are encouragedIt is really odd to me just how many stores in Japan prohibit photography. Either they'll post signs or staff will scold you for taking photos. I never really understood it, since I've always just thought of it as free advertising. I mean, I guess folks could post pics to troll places, but anybody with that purpose in mind is likely just to ignore the "no-photo" rule anyway. Well, thankfully, Daiso tosses the rules aside and encourages picture taking. Why not? After all, it's got great products and it allows folks to share it on the web. I like that Daiso has embraced the social media culture--now it's time for the rest of Japan to do the same!2) Special parking spaces for elderly customersIt's no secret that Japan has a demographic problem. The greying of the population is bad and only getting worse. Unfortunately, the country is not ready for it. However, it is nice to see certain places begin to address the issue in their own way. Small efforts can make a difference, and at our local Daiso, they have specially designated parking spaces for elderly patrons. For a store that can fill up quite quickly, having a designated space not only guarantees that elderly patrons can find a space, it means that they do not have to haul their purchases across an entire lot to their vehicles in the summer heat or winter snow.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BB6-living_shopping_niigataSat, 07 Jul 2018 08:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1BB6-living_shopping_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go44l-living_niigataI was reading the other day that Japan has one of the highest numbers of registered architects per capita in the world, and my morning walk made me think about that a little more.I took a look at the row of homes across the fields from us, and even though they’re part of a new housing development, no two homes are alike. See for yourself:Certainly, some appear to be designed by the same architect and builder, but each is tailor-made for its occupants.That’s a far cry from what I’m used to back in the states, where track housing and standardization under homeowners associations have become the norm. It’s interesting, because you would think that Japanese society, so generally pegged as being centrally focused on the community over the individual, has such uniqueness in each home, while the U.S. that champions the individual demands compliance over things as silly as how many trees should be in a yard.Of course, there’s downsides to the Japanese way of doing things. Poor zoning laws means that folks can build multi-story apartments in an area primary full of single family homes. It also means that you could end up with a wacky assortment of house shapes, colors, and landscaping.While the interspersing of apartment buildings among individual houses is something I’m not a huge fan of, I do like the charm of a neighborhood with all different architectural designs. With it, each home becomes a representation of its occupants, and there’s something endearing about that.I’ve often thought about buying a home here in Japan, and while it seems like an overwhelming prospect to have to do all of the negotiations and coordination with banks and builders in a foreign language, I enjoy the idea of having a home designed specifically for my own family and best suited for local climate—in my case, the harsh winters and hot summer’s characteristic of my Niigata home.I’ll probably be back here on city-cost to ask for specific advice on buying a home in Japan, but in the meantime, I welcome your thoughts on houses here in Japan in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go44l-living_niigataSat, 07 Jul 2018 07:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go44l-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZZX-living_educationSo there I was, doing language practice with my daughter when I encountered a unique feature of Japanese. Take a look at this page and see if there’s anything that might be confusing from the eyes of a 3-year old:How about this: “Why doesGo-ri-rasound like Gorilla but bear is ku-ma?” That same issue applies to a few other animals on that page. Fortunately, I happened to know the answer thanks to some prior research on the etymology of Japanese words. Allow me to share.Certainly, Japan had exposure to plenty of wildlife in the thousands of years of its existence prior to its period of industrialization in the latter half of the 1800s. The Japanese people came up with their own names for each of those animals, ranging from monkeys (saru) to sharks (same) to chickens (niwatori). But of course, more animals were introduced to Japan over time. There was a cutoff for the use of Japanese names for newly introduced animals, however, and that was the start of the Meiji period (1868-1912).Immediately prior to and after the Meiji restoration in 1868, the Japanese government sought to catch up with the western world in technology, government, economy, and other aspects of life. Although some features of western culture had already been introduced well before (tempura and tonkatsu were both adapted from Portuguese cooking techniques), the period between 1868 and 1912 saw an influx of all things western from dress to machinery to words.Among those words introduced were animal names. The Japanese government made a decision that any new animals introduced to Japan following the Meiji Restoration would simply use a Japanized version of the occidental name, so a Gorilla would just be a Go-ri-ra and a Koala is just a Ko-a-ra. But if you look again at that photo above, there’s already one exception to that rule: Giraffe is kirin. So the Japanese did maintain a few outliers based on whether the language already had a word suitable for describing the animal. For example, a zebra is a shima-uma, or a striped horse. A polar bear is a shiro-kuma, or a white bear. Those make sense, but what about that giraffe? Well, have you ever seen the logo for Kirin beer? Kirin is a Chinese dragon that has a long-held place in Japanese art and culture, and when a few Japanese first saw giraffe, the look of the creature reminded them of kirin. So the name stuck and giraffes are just described as an evolved form of Chinese dragons, in a way.Pretty interesting, right? Language is certainly fascinating, and sometimes it takes sitting down with a 3-year old to pique the questions that help you dig further into the how’s and why’s of a particular language!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZZX-living_educationSat, 07 Jul 2018 07:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3ZZX-living_educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GW66O-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataHello again, expats in Japan. Do you like your local city office? I can tell you with all sincerity that going to the city office in my old town in Tokyo prefecture was among my most dreaded chores. Here, however, I love it. What a great place full of helpful folks. There is almost never a line, and any issue I bring usually gets resolved in 15 minutes or less. Now, I’m sure that more than a few of you are looking at your computer screens with jealous rage at how lucky I am to have such a friendly and expeditious local bureaucracy, so I’m almost reluctant to tell you why we here are doubly lucky.Back in the early 2000s, the Japanese government sought to eliminate waste in governance. A major source of that waste came in the form of excess cities, towns, and villages. Folks who have been here for a long time know, but Japan used to have way more municipalities than it does now--literally hundreds--and each one of them had their own elected assemblies (a requirement under the constitution). So take all those extra hundreds of politicians who were getting paid anywhere between 35,000 to 80,000 dollars a year for about 6 weeks of formal work (plus pension and other benefits), and that’s a lot of money being spent with little to no return on investment.So the Japanese government consolidated a lot of small municipalities--mine included. My town of "Yamato-machi" joined two other small cities and many villages to form one big city (Minamiuonuma-shi). [Here’s where the “doubly lucky” part comes in] When they consolidated the cities, they of course eliminated most of the political positions, but each municipality had to decide whether to downsize the number of city offices. In Minamiuonuma, the forces that be opted to keep each of the existing city offices open, with one “main” office and multiple satellite offices. That means that we are able to accomplish about 90% of our bureaucratic requirements at a location just 5 minutes from home, with only a handful of tasks needing to be done at the main city office 30 minutes away. Like I said, doubly lucky!How about all of you other expats out there? I’d love to hear about your city offices. Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GW66O-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFri, 06 Jul 2018 09:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GW66O-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ55o-living_shoppingI love traveling, but one of the toughest obligations during trips is trying to purchase omiyage (gifts) for all of your friends and family. On the one hand, Japan tries to make this easy for you with tons of prepacked, prewrapped gift options in stores and rest areas. But ever wonder what to get for young relatives or children of family friends when you’re traveling? You see, grownups are easy: a meibutsu (local specialty) food or drink is always a safe bet. But kids are tougher. Oftentimes there’s just too much stuff for kids—toys, keychains, snacks, clothes, stuffed animals...the list goes on. So what’s a good, safe bet?As a parent here in Japan, I have discovered the best gift for small children: hand towels (手拭き,tefuki).I know there’s some skeptical readers out there thinking, “Are you kidding me? Hand towels? How lame!” Trust me, they wouldn’t have been my first guess, either (or even third or fourth), but allow me to explain.A kid only needs so many toys or stuffed animals, and it’s not as if most Japanese homes have room to store too many playthings. Besides, the nicer stuff usually runs more than a few thousand yen, so you run the risk of breaking the bank to get enough stuff for all those nieces, nephews, and friends’ children. Further, it’s not like the kids can take those things to school or excursions with them. The one thing that kids here almost always need is a hand towel. At my daughter’s school, they are mandatory--children must have a hand towel on them at all times either in their pockets or pouches. When you go out in Japan, towels and napkins are exceedingly tough to come by, so bringing your own helps you stay dry/clean on-the-go. Finally, in summer time, having a hand towel helps you manage your kid’s perspiration to keep them cool. Thus, hand towels are extremely useful and necessary parts of daily life here in Japan.The neat thing about getting these as souvenirs is that you can get cute towels with Yuru-kyara (regional, prefectural, or municipal mascots) printed on them, or any number of cool traditional designs. The children who receive them will have something different from the other kids to take to school or other trips, and parents will be glad to have something that is both thoughtful and handy. You see? Win-win!So next time you’re out on a trip and wondering what omiyageto get children, skip the trinkets and go straight for the things that are both fun and appreciated--hand towels!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ55o-living_shoppingFri, 06 Jul 2018 09:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ55o-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4vE-livingHello again, webverse. Have you seen something like this in your neighborhood?What I mean are those little Japan Post shops that look like they are run out of someone’s home. They seem a little odd, considering Japan Post is one of Japan’s largest postal and financial institutions and indeed one of the largest in the world. Why, then, would there need to be little mom and pop Japan Posts throughout the country instead of brick and mortar JP buildings?The answer is quite fascinating, actually, as it begins back in the Meiji period and continues through the early 2000s under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Back in the Meiji period (1868-1912), Japan was undergoing rapid industrialization to catch up after hundreds of years of Self-imposed isolation. One of the objectives under the modernization was connecting the country through postal services. The Meiji government designated particular families (usually those of higher rank and affluence) to serve as “special postmasters.” They were responsible for handling mail before the country established more formal postal organizations and services.The thing is, those special postmasters retained their responsibilities even after those formal organizations and services were established. In the process, they also grew to comprise a special interest group with a surprising amount of political pull.Enter Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who in the early 2000s was seeking to privatize Japan Post. The postal and financial giant was managed under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications but the relationship between JP and the government had become mutually costly, meaning the government was not capable of managing the gigantic organization and JP was unnecessarily draining government resources. The Special Postmasters opposed the privatization, however; after all, if JP became a private organization, they would lose their political protections. So what did they do? They used their political sway to negotiate terms that even after privatization, they would retain their status as Special Postmasters.While their functions have been reduced, there still retain basic postal service responsibilities even today. So that’s why there are still little mom and pop JP stores all over the country![Just a note: if you decide to use them, just keep in mind that they have limited services available (basically only domestic parcel and letter distribution)]To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4vE-livingThu, 05 Jul 2018 16:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GR4vE-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wNx9k-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataToday is a great day. Our friendly vegetable lady (one of these days we'll actually tell each other our names) came by to visit. She started with her usual hard sell where she hands me a box of something that has way more produce than any family could consume (who needs 25 tomatoes???). We did the usual kabuki dance where I thanked her for the offer but that I don't really need 25 of any one type of vegetable as she kept lowering her price.Me: "Oh wow, these look great, but we already have tomatoes."Her: "Okay, you can have the box for 1000 yen."Me: "Thank you, but I'm okay, really."Her: "750 yen?"Me: "Still good, thank you."Her: "Here, you can have the tomatoes and this box of cucumbers for 1000 yen." [Hands me a box of 25 cucumbers]Me [now with arms full of tomatoes and cucumbers]: "Oh, no thank you, really."After we finished that little tango I followed her out to her van to see what else she had and there it was:Her first Yairo Watermelon of the season. And when I say "first," I mean literally the first she's produced this year. Sure, it's a bit on the small side, but for just 600 yen, it was a steal. As we were bidding farewell, I told her to keep the watermelons coming. (And yes, I realized after the fact that I will probably end up with a barrel of 25 watermelons on my porch in a few weeks...Although I might be able to handle that.)So what's so good about Yairo watermelon? Well, like all the crops out here, the watermelon benefits from the rich Niigata soil and the pure snow melt water that flows from the mountains. The result is a juicier watermelon that ends up with a higher sugar content than your run-of-the-mill watermelons. It's the perfect summer treat to combat the heat and humidity, and they work well even when frozen and blended into watermelon smoothies.Although we're lucky to have some more mild weather, my family and I will have the best summer dessert to enjoy later.Like I said: Today is a great day!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wNx9k-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 05 Jul 2018 11:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wNx9k-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md8JO-foodIt's getting to that time of year in Japan for corn. Although I grew up with corn more as an autumn food, here in Japan it's a preferred snack during the heat of the summer. I don't know about eating a hot corn-on-the-cob when the "feels like" temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, but I do know that Japanese corn is the best I've tasted (which may be tantamount to blasphemy coming from an American...)But what do you do if you are like me and only have a little gas range for cooking? Are you destined only to enjoy fresh corn at festivals and farmers markets?Fret not, because making delicious corn is as easy as pushing a button--literally. All you need is a microwave and some un-shucked corn (available in most supermarkets and farmers markets).So start with this:If there seems to be an excess of chaff, peel some of it off. The key is just to make sure corn cob is still fully encased in the husk.Next, toss it into the microwave:Microwave at 700W for about 3 minutes. The husk from the corn keeps the cob from drying out and allows for a nice even steaming. And don't worry--it's all completely microwave safe.When the microwaving is done, be sure to let it cool for about a minute, because the cob will be piping hot.Once it's cooled, take it out of the microwave and shuck the corn by peeling the husk from the tip that has some chaff on it to the stalk at the bottom of the cob.If you like the corn cut from the cob, I recommend keeping the husk on and grabbing that so you can hold the cob upright over a plate and shave off the kernels of the corn with a knife. Otherwise, your corn-on-the-cob is ready to go! No fuss, no muss, and delicious corn right there in the convenience of your own home using nothing more than a microwave!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md8JO-foodThu, 05 Jul 2018 09:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Md8JO-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp7m-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo just about every day my wife and I talk about how beautiful it is out here in Minamiuonuma. After all, our little Niigata home is tucked away in the Japan alps, flanked by beautiful mountains and full of rice fields and gorgeous flora and fauna. However, there is one point of contention to which we cannot agree:Is this an eyesore or a thing of beauty?By "this," I mean the big ol’ hunk of concrete and metal that is a Shinkansen track. Running on it is the Joetsushinkansen, which, although it is not the prettiest bullet train around, connects a place that would otherwise be near unreachable in the heavy snowfall characteristic of this area.So the debate is whether or not that track and the trains that run along it are blights upon the scenery or things that adds to the aesthetic appeal of the landscape.My wife is firmly in the "eyesore" camp. Her solid position is that the drab (often dirty) grey concrete is out of place among the rich nature that surrounds it.Me? I am all for it. I love nature, but the shinkansen is a feat of engineering. It is an example of the human ability to overcome obstacles in life. Nature is beautiful, but the shinkansen is also beautiful. Thus, put them together and you only enhance the beauty. It's like a double rainbow where one is natural and the other is man-made. How about that? Who doesn't like a double rainbow?In any case, there are plenty of other places in Japan where the juxtaposition of man-made structures and nature are interspersed throughout the landscape. Do any of you expats out there have any good examples? What say you--eyesore or thing of beauty? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp7m-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWed, 04 Jul 2018 09:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wkp7m-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ59o-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataIt feels like just yesterday I was writing about my daughter's yochienout here in the Japanese inaka (countryside) to rave about the wide range of activities they offer children. Well, today, I found another reason to rave about it: the school'sTanabata festival.For those of you who don't know, Tanabata festival is a Japanese tradition that occurs sometime during the summer. Every place does it a little bit differently and at different times, though most tend to shoot for July 7th, or 7/7. Tanabata is celebration of star-crossed lovers separated by the milky way who get to reunite once a year in the summer. Tanabata represents love and wishes, and so one of the associated traditions is writing a wish on a colorful streamer and tying it to a tree (almost always bamboo). This, I learned, is one way my daughter's Yochiencelebrates Tanabata.The teacher's sent home this little note (nice of them to write it in English for me):So we sat down one evening and wrote out my daughter's wish (she said she wished she could speak Japanese really well) and pasted some origami on the streamer. She was excited to bring it to school in preparation for decorating the tree later in the week.Well, today's the big day, where the kids get to tie their wishes to the trees. I don't know what I was expecting from the school's Tanabata trees--maybe something potted in each of the classrooms, but I sure as heck wasn't expecting what I saw this morning:WHOA.That truck had about 15 giant bamboo plants, each about 25 feet tall! WHAT!? But you see, this is what I love about that school--they could take the easy road, but they don't spare effort for the kids. Easy road in this case would have been 4 foot tall bamboo shoot for each class, but nope, they said, Go big or go home.I can't wait to see how they set these things up!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ59o-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWed, 04 Jul 2018 09:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ59o-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go4Xb-livingI get it, I’m not getting any younger, but my pride took a hit the other day when I received a package from my father (who lives Tokyo). It was this:At first I wasn’t sure what it was, so I had to look harder to see that it’s a type of shampoo. (Hey, in my defense, it had Gundam on it, and “hair product” isn’t where my head first goes when I think of an anime centered on giant robots fighting in space. Maybe if it were Dragonball—those Saiyans have some voluminous hair...but I digress).I still had shampoo, so I socked it away in the cabinet until the next time my dad called, “Hey, son, did you get that shampoo I sent you?”Me: “Yeah. Did you get it because it had Gundam on it?”Dad: “No—well, the Gundam was cool—but I got it because it’s supposed to be good for thinning hair.”Me:Okay, so I gave it a shot.I read Japanese, but I’m not an expert on the kanji associated with hair products, so instead of actually learning what the shampoo does to promote regrowth, I’m just basing this off of how this stuff is different from what I’m used to back home.First of all, the nozzle is made so you apply the shampoo directly to your scalp. I’m guessing that’s to hit your hair and roots at the follicle for MAXIMUM IMPACT (I assume maybe it means something more if I write it in all caps).The next thing I noticed is that my scalp gets all tingly. I mean, that same tingly sensation also happens to occur when rinsing the shampoo out, which, although it feels nice on my scalp, doesn’t feel as nice on my eyeballs. But again, I digress.The last thing I noticed is that my hair does feel more voluminous. I have no idea if it’s actually promoting regrowth, but hey, my hair is fluffier these days so I guess I’ll fake it til I make it.That--as the shampoo is named--is what I call, “SUCCESS!”To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go4Xb-livingTue, 03 Jul 2018 14:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Go4Xb-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3j8-living_food_niigataHello again Japan expats, another quick question for you all: does your local conbini cater to customers by substituting local products into standard food choices? For example:The label says, “Uses Niigata rice.” I got a kick out of that, because I’ve often heard that Niigata folk are “rice snobs,” meaning that nothing will really do but the local goods. While I would never ever categorize any of the people out here in Niigata as "snobs" (I've never lived in a place with such warm or hospitable people), I can see why they wouldn’t want anything but locally grown koshihikari--the rice here is legitimately better than anywhere else I’ve ever lived. Still, it’s interesting to me to see how these huge fast food chains take the time and effort to (1) use the local ingredients in even the most basic products (like the inari zushi pictured above), and (2) that they are sure to add specific labels indicating it as such.It makes me wonder if folks out here would simply not buy it if there was any doubt as to whether Niigata rice was used. It also makes me wonder if there are any other prefectures out there that have the same practice. Do croquettes コロッケ in Kagoshima have to use locally grown potatoes? Do all dairy products in Hokkaido have to use Hokkaido milk? Now that I think about it, I know for sure that one prefecture uses mostly locally sourced ingredients, but I figure that’s owing to the tyranny of distance. When I was in Okinawa, there were plenty of options that called out locally used products, and a LOT of products that you’ll only find in Okinawa conbini (which is too bad, too, since they are all pretty fantastic).Anyone else out there have some good examples of this conbini phenomenon? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3j8-living_food_niigataTue, 03 Jul 2018 12:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mx3j8-living_food_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOROn-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo this morning I dropped off my daughter at her yochien, and I was reminded as to why I’m so grateful that she’s getting the opportunity to go to school out here in the inaka.As soon as I brought her into the school, it was time to get her dressed for swimming. The school set up four shallow pools in the play yard for the children to enjoy on these HOT and HUMID summer days. Of course, not every kid is in a condition to play in the pools, but there were so many other options for the children. There were play centers set up inside. There were teachers who were offering story time in large classrooms. Still other teachers were taking kids out to the fields to tend to the gardens (like in the first photo above).I don’t know about you all out there, but back in the States, you’d be hard pressed to find a preschool that one, doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, and two, doesn’t want the legal liability of doing anything but classroom activities with the children. Here though, primary school education is subsidized and reasonably priced, and out here in the inaka, they are really keen to make sure the children are engaged in a number of different ways.Naturally, my daughter is having the chance to learn Japanese out here, but she’s also gained greater independence, confidence in large groups, and a good deal of friends along the way. Not to mention, the school reinforces all of the manners and behavior that we try to teach her at home. Maybe some of you out there have had poor experiences with your local yochien, but as for us out here in the inaka, we’re truly blessed. Almost makes me wish I was a kid again. Almost.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOROn-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 03 Jul 2018 12:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOROn-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wk7Nr-living_foodHello Japan expat webverse, me again. Have you seen this in your local conbini? I chanced upon it today while I was out, and, though it goes without saying, I was flabbergasted. What is it,you may wonder. It’s a bottle of non-alcoholic beer-flavored clear beverage. Yes, you just read that correctly—it’s the blue collar La Croix. It’s the working man’s Perrier. It’s a...well, you get the point. The craziest thing about this drink isn’t that it exists, but how they’re marketing it. On the bottle itself, it says, “At lunch. In a meeting. After sports.” They are clearly advocating this as a drink for those everyday situations where beer normally would not be a socially acceptable drink.Maybe there’s a market here for this, but it’s quite unfathomable to me. Take the gift from on high that is beer, strip away all of the best parts of the flavor, cut out the alcohol that helps you unwind after a long day/week/year, and then make it so you have to drink it sneakily in social situations that otherwise may make people question your judgment.Just imagine this situation: you've purchased your Suntory All-Time Beer Flavored beverage, and your boss notices you drinking it. "What are you drinking there? I've never seen that before.""Oh, nothing special--just a beer-flavored drink.""Wait, you're drinking beer at work?""Of course not, it just tastes like beer. Look, it's even clear.""So there's no alcohol in it?""No.""It just tastes like beer?""Yup.""You couldn't wait until after work to have a real beer?""Uh...no, I guess I couldn't.""So let me get this straight: you crave the taste of beer so much that you bring in imitation alcohol to the office. Uhhh huh. We might need to have a longer chat."Granted, I know that a normal conversation in a Japanese office wouldn't go down like that. First of all, I hardly ever see people consuming anything at work (which was always so strange to me as I'm sitting there chugging at least a bottle of water an hour in those "cool biz" offices). Besides, I assume the concept is to pour the "All-Time" beer-flavored beverage into another vessel, like a coffee cup or a thermos. But still, that's even shadier. You're having to hide the fact that you're drinking a beer-flavored drink so that you don't find yourself in an awkward position where your boss or anyone else thinks you have a drinking problem.Then again, I think I now realize the appeal...they're marketing to that niche crowd that wants to stick it to the man without actually doing anything overtly to stick it to the man. "Yeah boss, I'm drinking a BEER-flavored drink at work, and you have noooo idea." Salaryman level: EXPERT.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wk7Nr-living_foodMon, 02 Jul 2018 20:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wk7Nr-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pA1-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI live in Minamiuonuma City, and while it is a country town in the middle of Niigata, it doesn't feel all that "country." Sure, there are fields everywhere and the flora and fauna are a sight to see, but it still just doesn't feel like the American countryside to which I'm well accustomed.Then again, there days where I encounter something that reminds me, Yes, you are indeed smack dab in the middle of the inaka. Today was one of those days.I was out at the home goods store with my family today (not unlike Tokyu Hands) to pick up some stationery when I chanced upon this bad boy:Maybe the picture of the hanging bat is a dead giveaway, but it is bat repellent, complete with its special "Super Komori ["bat"] Jet!"So I've been a lot of places before in my life, some of which are pretty far in the sticks, but I have never seen bat spray before. I had to take a closer look. After all, in my head, I'm wondering, Is this like bug repellent? Do you spray it around your house? Do you take direct aim at the bats in some epic bat battle? What's the deal?Here's how the can showed to use it:Ah, that makes sense. You use it in the attic and in nooks and crannies around your house to prevent bat invasions in your house and shed.But then that got me thinking a few things:1) There is enough of a bat problem in this town to warrant stocking not just a few, but MANY cans of bat spray. So now I've got an extra phobia to worry about.2) Enough people managed to get bat infestations in their attics and other places in their homes to warrant a company designing and mass producing BAT SPRAY. How big of a problem are bats in this country???3) Why did they have to use such a terrifying image of a bat on the spray can? I mean, look at this thing:The bats they have around here are little insect eaters, not vampire bats...In any case, if anyone out there has a bat problem, do I have a solution for you!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pA1-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 02 Jul 2018 19:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pA1-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPXa-living_shopping_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataHave you ever been to a Japanese shopping center on a Sunday? Scratch that—have you ever been anywhere in Japan on a Sunday? IT. IS. CROWDED.I mean, justifiably so, since it is the one day a week when non-service industry workers and students get to take a collective break. Personally, I hate crowds, but this is where the whole “love/hate relationship” bit comes in, since there are really good reasons to go out on a Sunday, especially to malls and department stores.Take my local shopping center, for example. My wife and I wanted to get the family out for a bit today, so we cruised on down to the local Aeon to while away a few hours. (LOVE that we have a place to escape to with the kids on a weekend)We showed up relatively early—maybe 10:00, and it was already hopping and the parking lot was filling up with Sunday drivers. (HATE Sunday drivers)As we approached the store, the staff were setting up floats for special events and all of the clerks cheerfully invited us inside.(LOVE Japanese Omotenashi)We immediately were caught in the melee to grab carts and baskets with a throng of other people.(HATE crowds)We managed to escape up to the second floor where we again we greeted by a friendly staff member who invited us to a Janken-taikai (rock, paper, scissors contest). He "battled" with ourchildren, and even when they lost, he gave them presents, along with a coupon for 10 medallions at the Game Center and an invitation to find the four other janken taikai “masters” throughout the store for more prizes.(Again, LOVE Japanese omotenashi)(LOVE Janken taikai)(LOVE free stuff)(LOVE when folks are kind to our kids)Okay, so as you can see, the LOVE outweighed the HATE with the department store today, but I have to say that it’s the same way every Sunday we head out. Does that mean I won't dread certain aspects of next week's outing? Of course, but hey, it's worth the trip.Until next Sunday!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPXa-living_shopping_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 01 Jul 2018 20:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPXa-living_shopping_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MdJAm-livingHello webverse, have you seen this?Apparently, Japan Post is now selling little envelopes for “Obon-dama.” Can this really be a thing? I’ve only ever known “Otoshi-dama…”For those who don’t know, Otoshi-dama is a long held tradition (at least several decades, anyway) where relatives and close family friends give children money in small envelopes. The exchange happens at New Years, which (before Christmas gift exchange started to take greater root here) proved to be the way children received gifts from relatives when returning with parents to the family home for the holiday season.As a kid who received otoshi-dama from Japanese relatives growing up (and who has since started giving it to their children and grandchildren), it’s a cherished tradition. I remember receiving the money, and then all of us kids would go out for a day at the Game Center or a local shopping center to have fun together. Now, I enjoy seeing the excitement on my little relatives’ faces as they receive their envelopes, knowing that they’ll be able to spend it on something for themselves.But I’m not sold on “Obon-dama.” I get that the concept is basically the same—Obon, like New Years, is a time when relatives gather, so it stands to reason that a similar gift giving tradition could go along with that. Still, that wasn’t the way it was when I was growing up, and it just makes me wonder a few things: - How long has Obon-dama been a thing?- Was it always a thing and my relatives just didn’t go along with it?- Is this just Japan Post’s way of circulating more money through the Japanese economy? (I mean, Japan Post is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, after all).But maybe I’m putting too much thought into it. Who knows, maybe someone will enlighten me in the comments section below. In the meantime, I have to start saving up in case I run into any Japanese relatives this coming Obon season...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MdJAm-livingSun, 01 Jul 2018 20:44:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MdJAm-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlkP2-food_niigataNiigata is famous for its onigiri--which makes sense owing to the world-class koshihikaririce that is grown here. Unsurprisingly, you can find this onigiri in the Michi no Ekiroadside shopping centers, rest areas, and specialty stores throughout the prefecture, but surprisingly, they are also available in local convenience stores. (I guess the locals protested the use of non-Niigata rice, and I don't blame them!)This came in handy when I needed a quick meal en route to a meeting. I jumped into the local Lawson's and came across this beauty:Grilled Salmon Onigiri made with Niigata koshihikari.Now when you typically get a salmon onigiri, they skimp on the fish and it's just a half-step up from a canned tuna option. But check this out:There was no kidding a grilled salmon fillet in the onigiri!For 200 yen, this large-size onigiri was hands down the best convenience store onigiri I had ever eaten.Fortunately for you, if you happen to come to Niigata, these are standard in all Lawsons and most other convenience store. Word of caution, however: these are EXTREMELY popular around meal times, so they fly off the shelves quickly, so be sure to hit the stores before 9:00, 11:30, and 5:30 if you want to make sure you get one!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlkP2-food_niigataSun, 24 Jun 2018 14:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlkP2-food_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBOoR-food_galleries_hakodate_shi_hokkaido_tokyo_yokohama_shi_kanagawa_minamiuonuma_shi_niigata_fujikawaguchiko_machi_yamanashi_tottori_shi_tottoriYou know those foods you eat that just stick out in your mind as amazing? I'm referring to those meals or treats that leave you sitting there, maybe even years later thinking, "Man, I wish I had that right about now." Japan is full of those types of foodBest Ramen (Special): Aji no Ichiban,Hakodate, HokkaidoDescription: There are a lot of different types of ramen out there, so the two I included in this list include the most traditional in Japan (shoyu, or soy sauce based), and "special," which includes the various unique options out there.Hands down, Aji no Ichibanin Hakodate's morning market wins this one, seeing as the chef walks to the shop next door to purchase the crab that ends up resting on top of your ramen bowl! This ramen also has scallops, shrimp, and some delicious ramen, to boot.Address: 〒040-0063 Hokkaidō, Hakodate-shi, Wakamatsuchō, 11−13Best Rice: Koshihikari, Uonumasanchi no Osusowake,Minamiuonuma, NiigataDescription: The Uonuma area of Niigata is known for growing Japan's best rice, and it really is a stand out dish on its own. If you want to try some, I suggest getting a bowl in Shiozawa, where they serve up a number of Niigata meibutsu(regional delicacies) along with your bowl.Address: 〒949-6408 Niigata-ken, Minamiuonuma-shi, Shiozawa, 229Best Ramen (Shoyu): Kaotan Ramen, TokyoDescription: It's hard for me to crave any sort of ramen, but Kaotan is the place that I dream about when I want a good bowl of ramen. It is simple in its presentation, but full of flavor. The atmosphere of the restaurant is also memorable--it feels as if you've stepped back in time to a bygone era in Tokyo.Address: 〒107-0062 Tōkyō-to, Minato-ku, 港区Minamiaoyama, 2 Chome−34−30Best Fast Food Dish: Una-gyu, Sukiya (all over Japan)Description: Okay, so Sukiya is not exactly gourmet, but every year I get excited for the return of the una-gyu, or a unagi-beef cross-over dish that checks all the boxes for me. At a reasonable price, this is the best fast food dish in all of Japan!Best Donburi: Shiroyama, Minamiuonuma, NiigataDescription: What do you get when you mix the best chashu pork in the entire world (I'm talking melt in your mouth perfection) with the best rice in the entire world? Obviously, you get the best donburiin the entire world. Shiroyama has a number of fantastic ramen dishes, too, but I don't know that I'll ever get anything but the Chashu donanymore!Address:〒949-7141 Niigata-ken, Minamiuonuma-shi, Aoki Shinden, 南魚沼市青木新田55-1Best Sandwich: Cafe Habana, TokyoDescription: Unless you're looking for a nice egg salad or ham sandwich, Japan is not known for its sandwich cuisine. However, this shop based on the classic New York restaurant maximizes the potential of two of Japan's best offerings: delicious pork and freshly baked bread. Although you have to add your own mustard (available on the side) to make it more like the traditional Cubanos back home, it was a sandwich worth a few return trips (or a few dozen).Address:〒150-0033 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Sarugakuchō, 2−11 氷川ビルBest Italian: La Bisboccia, TokyoDescription: Designated an "authentic" Italian restaurant by the Italian embassy, La Bisboccia offers both delicious cuisine and fantastic ambiance. By far the best Italian food I've had in all of Japan!Address: 〒150-0013 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu, 2 Chome−36−13Best Kaiseki: Ryokan Konanso, Fujikawaguchiko, YamanashiDescription: I'm not the biggest fan of Kaiseki since there are often courses that are focus more on aesthetics than taste, but my sojourn at Konanso taught me that not everyplace makes that sacrifice. The kaiseki at Konanso offers a great balance between seafood and meat while sticking more to traditional Japanese offerings than the French-fusion that a lot of kaiseki chefs have moved towards.Address: 〒401-0301 Yamanashi Prefecture, Minamitsuru District, Fujikawaguchiko, Funatsu, 4020−2Best Katsu: Romanjaya, Yokohama, KanagawaDescription: I know that katsu is traditionally made with pork or chicken, but I had always wanted to try gyu-katsu, or katsu made with beef. Romanjaya offers gyu katsu made with wagyu, or Japanese beef, and it is one of the tastiest things I have ever eaten.Address:〒231-0013 神奈川県横浜市中区Naka-ku, Sumiyoshichō, 4 Chome, 住吉町４丁目４５−１ 関内トーセイビルB1FBest Curry: Cafe Picolo, Tottori City, TottoriDescription: Every region of Japan has its own unique take on curry, but Tottori's is my favorite. Using chicken legs instead of the traditional pork or beef and boasting more of a tomato base in the curry, Cafe Picolo next to the Warabekan (Toy Museum) offers the best representation of the prefecture's famous curry.Address:〒680-0022 Tottori-ken, Tottori-shi, Nishimachi, 4 Chome−101Best Dessert: Dominc Ansel Bakery, TokyoDescription: While this is not of Japanese origins, the shop does offer Japan-limited options. I recommend heading over there fifteen-to-thirty minutes before closing time so you can avoid the crowds and enjoy your delicious, unbelievably charming desserts!Address:〒150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingūmae, 5 Chome−7−14Best Soft Cream: Melting in the Mouth, TokyoDescription: There is no shortage of soft cream in Japan, but few that really stand out. The soft cream at Melting in the Mouth (weird name, I know) does, however. With its balance between creaminess and sweetness, it really is the perfect soft cream.Address:〒150-0012 Tokyo, Shibuya, Hiroo, 5 Chome−17−10To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBOoR-food_galleries_hakodate_shi_hokkaido_tokyo_yokohama_shi_kanagawa_minamiuonuma_shi_niigata_fujikawaguchiko_machi_yamanashi_tottori_shi_tottoriFri, 08 Jun 2018 18:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBOoR-food_galleries_hakodate_shi_hokkaido_tokyo_yokohama_shi_kanagawa_minamiuonuma_shi_niigata_fujikawaguchiko_machi_yamanashi_tottori_shi_tottorihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3lAO-living_familylife_tokyoThe other day, I was met with a conundrum: take the kids to Disneyland or take them to Legoland Discovery Center in Odaiba. For some people, that's a no-brainer: Disney all the way. After all, it is the happiest place on earth, right?Not necessarily--especially if you have children under five who don't deal well with crowds and long days. My young, country-raised kids definitely fall under that category, so Legoland it was, and I'm here to report that it was the right choice.Here's a few reasons why Legoland is great for children under five:1) It is highly interactiveFrom the moment you first step into line to buy tickets, there are blocks available for children to build along the walls. That theme carries through the entire facility, as just about every exhibit and attraction has a measure of interaction with patrons.2) The prices are more reasonableThe standard ticket for Disney is over 7,000 yen for adults, and while children under three enter for free, kids 4-11 all fall under the child rate (4,800 yen per day). At Legoland Discovery Center, there is a "Parent and Toddler" option for just 3,200 yen total. Full ticket prices are here.3) There is a variety of activitiesIf your children are anything like mine, they each have their unique hobbies and interests. Fortunately, Legoland offers myriad activities for children who like to build, climb, sing, dance, watch movies, or all of the above. My favorite thing was they have a free karaoke machine and stage where my daughter was able to try karaoke for the first time (albeit with her dad singing "Let it Go" along with her!)4) There are no linesHave you ever tried to wait for anything with a child under five? It's tough when you have to do it for ten minutes, let alone ninety minutes. Fortunately, the only attraction with lines is a merry-go-round type ride known as Merlin's Apprentice Ride and the Lego 4D Cinema (which is just a wait until the next showtime).5) It's educationalCertainly, the act of building and creating is educational in its own right, but Legoland also includes attractions that showcase how Legos are built, different historical sites around Tokyo, and other learning opportunities.6) Legoland is a reasonable sizeOne of the things great about Legoland is that it is not too big. It is just the right size to spend a few hours there. No need to string your kids along until there is no gas left in the tank--just enough to have fun and leave everyone in a happy instead of exhausted state.7) There are many things to do around LegolandProbably the best part of Legoland is that once you are done there, you'll be right in the heart of Odaiba, where there are hundreds of shops and other attractions to enjoy!Legoland Discovery Center is located in Deck's Mall in Odaiba and is open on weekdays from 10am – 8pm and weekends & holidays from 10am- 9pm.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3lAO-living_familylife_tokyoTue, 05 Jun 2018 14:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z3lAO-living_familylife_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQb65-livingHard to believe that it already feels like summer in the middle of May, but dang, it was sweltering this year. It certainly doesn’t portend an easy summer. Still, there is a chance for reprieve from the notoriously muggy Japanese summers, and that is atop many of Japan’s beautiful mountains.In fact, I’m not alone in my belief that these majestic features offer your best getaway in the dog days of summer. “Mountain Day” is Japan’s newest public holiday, having first been celebrated on August 11, 2016, so there is a clear recognition that one, Japan's mountains are worth being celebrated, and two, the best time to do it is when it is sweltering elsewhere in Japan!So where are some good mountains to visit in the summer time? The thing is, there is no shortage. Japan presents a naturally mountainous terrain, so just about every prefecture offers its own worthwhile option. And of course there is Mt. Fuji, which is only available to hike in the summer months.But allow me to introduce you to my two favorite options in Honshu:1. Mt. TakaoThe best option closest to Tokyo is Mt. Takao. Located only about 50 minutes from Shinjuku station by train, it is the most popular hiking destination within Tokyo prefecture. It is open year-round, and offers beautiful views of the surrounding metropolitan area as well as neat attractions at the summit like an interesting temple and a monkey park.Hike: The hike up Takao is 1-2 hours depending on your fitness level and hiking companions. The trails are all paved, so it's manageable for any age.Other Means of Ascent: Mt. Takao also has a cable car that runs continuously if you are not interested in hiking the whole way up, though it will only take you about 3/4 of the way up. From there you’ll still need to hoof it a bit to get to the summit, though the last climb is much gentler than the initial ascent.How to get there:Mt. Takao is accessible via the JR Chuo line to Takao Station. Transfer to the Keio Takao Line to Takaoguchi Station. From there, the trailhead and cable cars are about a 5 minute walk.2. HakkaisanHakkaisan is my favorite mountain in all of Japan. I suppose I'm biased because it is the representative mountain of my home away from home here in yukiguni, but there are just so many other great reasons to enjoy it. Hakkaisan is home to some excellent sake breweries (Hakkaisan sake is one of Japan's most cherished), there are great cycling and mountain biking routes, it is a favorite among hikers, and there are multiple ways to ascend the mountain.Hike: It is possible to summit Hakkaisan starting from the base of the mountain, but most hikers take the cable car up to the 4th station. From there, it is a 2-5 hour round-trip hike to Hakkaisan's multi-peaked summit, depending on the trail conditions and your group's hiking ability. In the middle of summer, the trails will be clear, but before June/July, expect there to be snow still covering many of the paths.Other Means of Ascent: Unfortunately, the only way to summit Hakkaisan is by hiking, but the cable car will get you pretty close to the top in terms of elevation. There are also bike paths that will take you up to the cable car stop at the top, at which point you'll have to go the rest of the way on foot.How to get there: Hakkaisan is accessible via the Joetsu Shinkansen to Urasa station. From there, you can catch a bus (300 yen) or taxi (about 1500 yen) to the Hakkaisan Ski Resort Stop.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQb65-livingSat, 26 May 2018 21:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQb65-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63JD-food_nagaoka_shi_niigataI had the fortunate opportunity to head out to Echigo Hillside Park with my daughter as part of a school excursion today, and if you've never been, it is quite the destination for families. There are endless flower gardens, tons of playground equipment, open fields, and even a fountain show set to popular movie music (my favorite was Castle in the Sky!)But something else at the park caught my eye: Rose-flavored soft cream. I mentioned the endless flower gardens, and Roses just happen to be in season at the moment. The cafe near the entrance to the park was offering a limited edition flavor, so naturally I wanted to try it (and my daughter will ALWAYS eat ice cream). So we grabbed a cone to share (and by share, I mean that she let me eat the smallest bite!)There's a pic of the "Red Rose Soft Cream," which certainly had among the most unique hues of any soft cream I've ever seen.How was the flavor?Well, my daughter loved it. She plowed through the whole thing. I wasn't as sold, however, simply because the rose flavor was quite strong. If you've ever tasted rose water, imagine the water being replaced with vanilla soft cream, and that's the flavor you get. It wasn't bad, just...pungent.In any case, the cafe apparently does all sorts of seasonally flavored soft creams based on flowers, so I'll report back if they have anything else good next time I go!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63JD-food_nagaoka_shi_niigataThu, 24 May 2018 21:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63JD-food_nagaoka_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqbo-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI love living in the Japanese countryside. Not to say that there are not friendly neighbors in Tokyo or Japan's other metropolitan areas, but the sense of community out here is stronger than anywhere else I've ever lived (and that includes military bases!)The other day, I found out my neighbor was leaving town for a few weeks to take care of her son's family while her daughter-in-law recovered from hospitalization. I brought her a few boxes of American chocolates we had in the house to take, since sometimes what you need to cheer up a tough situation is a little sugary goodness. How did she respond? By insisting that I come in the house so she could send me home with some of the food she was cooking up for her son--his favorites: kurumi miso and takenoko. She said, "Take these home. Eat the miso over rice. Dip the takenoko in your favorite dressing."How was it? To die for.The kurumi miso was made with walnuts they had gathered and dried. With some added goma and peanuts, this made the perfect topping over Niigata koshihikari rice. (In fact, I'm dreaming of it right now).The takenoko was freshly harvested from the mountains. It was my first time ever have takenoko (though I've eaten the Takenoko no Yamachocolates more times than I can count). It was very good. Prepared the way my neighbor did it, the takenoko tasted an awful lot like artichoke, which is something I used to eat all the time back home.All in all, the thoughtful meal was delicious, but the best part was the reminder of why I love living in the Japanese countryside so much--the sense of community that came with it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqbo-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 24 May 2018 21:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqbo-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPJV-living_niigataSo I visited my local 7-11 today and came across this interesting promotional poster for Niigata's female pro soccer team, Albirex Niigata.A poster promoting a local sports team is nothing unusual, but the player's pictures caught my eye:You gotta love the fact that one, the players have a good enough sense of humor to take those kinds of photos, and two, that the team was happy to use them for the posters!Of course, the Albirex squad (both men's and women's teams) have an extremely loyal fan base out here (our local gas station is decked out from floor to ceiling with Albirex gear), and the team routinely performs well, so no harm in having a little fun with the media team, I suppose!In case you're interested, the Albirex Niigata women's squad plays in the top level "Nadeshiko" league. You can find out more about the league and its teams at the website here.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPJV-living_niigataTue, 22 May 2018 21:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPJV-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7KR-living_transportation_howtoIf you clicked this link because you’re new to the country and apprehensive about those basic tasks that seem all the more challenging in a foreign land with a completely different language, don’t worry, that’s completely normal. The thing is, one of the toughest challenges of adjusting to a new country is realizing that basic tasks are no longer basic when you throw in different ways of doing things and a foreign language, so allow me to walk you through this weekly or monthly chore.Common Japanese Gas StationsYou'll see a variety of Gas Stations, but if you're trying to find it on a smart phone map, search for any of the following:- Eneos- Esso- Shell- JA SS (Japan Agriculture)OverviewMost Japanese gas stations are full service. You can find self-service pumps at some places, but that is not the norm. If you chance upon a self-service pump, the instructions are pretty straightforward—insert card or cash, select type of gas, fill up, return nozzle, done.If you go to a full service station, here’s what you should expect:1) The attendant will usher you in. An attendant should be waiting to direct you to the appropriate pump (which are overhead in most Japanese gas stations).2) The attendant will come to your window and ask what kind of gas and how much you want. Simply tell him/her “regular,” “premium,” or “diesel” depending on your vehicle type and preference. State the amount you want put in (usually in 1000 yen increments), or say “Man-tan” (pronounced “Mahn-tahn”) if you want a full tank. Be sure to say whether you intend to pay in cash (gen-kin, pronounced “Gen-keen”) or card (kādo, pronounced kah-do). If paying card, you typically hand over the card right at the beginning.3) The attendant will usually ask for your trash. Hand him/her whatever trash you may have accumulated. If you have a bag, that's best, but don't worry about separating plastics from burnables, etc.4) The attendant will hand you a cloth. That cloth is meant for you to wipe down your dashboard and steering wheel, or any dirty passengers (okay, so not the passengers).5) The attendant(s) will wipe down your car. Expect that the attendant will wipe your windshield, all the windows, and your sideview mirrors.6) Pay the cash or receive your card and a receipt for signature. Make sure to hand back the cleaning cloth while you’re at it.7) Head on out. The attendant will direct you off the premises, and if in a contested area, will actually step out to direct traffic for you.Do you have any questions about gas stations in Japan? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7KR-living_transportation_howtoTue, 22 May 2018 15:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7KR-living_transportation_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVO58-foodI had family visiting recently that happened to be vegans, so my wife and I did our best to accommodate their diet. My wife knew about a vegan restaurant in Tokyo, T's Tantan, that also distributes vegan Cup Noodles for home consumption, so she ordered a case of 12 from Amazon. Our family guests weren't here long enough to consume all of them, so since we had some leftovers, I reckoned I would give them a shot.I'm about as far opposite as you can get from a Vegan, but I have to say that these noodles were actually really good! They are also slightly healthier than your standard cup noodle because the noodles are not fried, and the vegan ingredients ensure that there are no sneaky pork or beef ingredients that might run counter to religious as well as dietary restrictions.In short, I recommend these for both vegans and non-vegans alike!T's Tantan has store fronts and an online shop. Check out the website here for more info!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVO58-foodTue, 22 May 2018 06:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVO58-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GypE7-living_food_teaDo you like flavored tea? I am most decidedly someone who dislikes it...or at least I thought I was until I encountered a unique option that my wife (our household’s tea expert) recommended.She is well aware of my aversion to flavored teas, but she discovered a Japanese tea farm that has been around since 1916 and specializes in variations on popular Asian teas: Oguri Tea. The company is one of the many tea farms in the beautiful prefecture of Shizuoka, but whereas other places earn their fame from traditional sencha (leaf green tea) and matcha (powdered green tea), Oguri Tea branches out. The most popular product is the Pu’er Tea (プーアル茶), a type of tea that originated from the Yunnan Province of China. Of course, being based in Japan means that green tea is still a staple for the company, but Oguri chooses to incorporate myriad flavored options. It was one of those flavored options that caught my eye:Sakura green teaCall me sentimental, but I love seeing the cherry blossoms signal the true end of winter and beginning of spring. I’m also a sucker for Sakura and green tea flavored seasonal offerings. Knowing this, my wife clued me into Oguri Tea’s second most popular product (after the Pu’er Tea), the Sakura Green Tea, so I took the plunge and decided to purchase some. So how was it?PresentationInstead of individually packing tea bags or using larger and heavier tea boxes, Oguri Tea chooses to vacuum seal all of its tea in resealable plastic bags to maximize freshness and reduce shipping costs.AromaWhile the presentation was relatively pedestrian, the aroma was incredible. There was more than a hint of the Sakura essence that offered a nice contrast to the earthy aroma of the green tea.FlavorThe Sakura was aromatic, but the flavor was much more subtle. The subtlety was welcome, however, as it did not detract from the flavor of the green tea. Instead, it muted the natural bitterness of sencha. In that way, it was not so much that it was a contrasting palate, but a supplementary flavor that brought out the best in the green tea while eliminating the worst.Overall assessmentI don’t think I’ll be busting open pineapple mango tea anytime soon, but I am certainly sold on Sakura green tea. It is the perfect drink for winding down a spring evening, and I will be keeping this one in the regular rotation.Cost: 540 yen per package (10 tea bags)How to orderOguri Tea is available online, either at the Oguri Tea online shop or through internet distribution giants like Rakuten and Amazon.If you order from the Oguri Tea website, you can also ship the products overseas, so it can make a wonderful gift for family and friends who are abroad!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/genkidesuka/GypE7-living_food_teaMon, 21 May 2018 11:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GypE7-living_food_teahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MxXEP-living_chiyoda_ku_tokyoSeen in Harajuku yesterday:If you’re a Marvel fan like me, you’ll know that Deadpool 2 is coming out soon. What you may not know is that Deadpool is hugely popular here in Japan--somewhat unexpectedly so. The thing is, Deadpool's raunchy humor rife with pop culture references doesn't translate immediately well to Japanese, and there was not a huge Deadpool comic following in the country before the first movie was released. That didn't stop the first Deadpool from taking the country by storm, however, and if this giant ad in Harajuku is any indication, then Deadpool 2 is likely to have the same success.But in case you're wondering, Deadpool is not the only American film icon that falls into this category of unexpectedly popular raunchy heroes. Ted, the profane bear and brainchild of Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is another one that won over Japanese hearts. Perhaps there's something to irreverent, off-color American heroes that resonates well here...hopefully that sentiment stays relegated to the movie theaters, though!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MxXEP-living_chiyoda_ku_tokyoMon, 14 May 2018 19:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MxXEP-living_chiyoda_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAW6Q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWe’ve now experienced all four seasons here in Yukiguni, and part of the challenge in acclimating to our new home was learning just how crazy the fluctuation in utilities costs prove to be out here. It actually proved to be quite the budgeting challenge for us, so I want to share some lessons from our experience here.Just a few notes for context: my wife and I have two small children and live in a stand-alone house. The house was built in the eighties and has all of the trappings of a home built in that era--poor insulation, no central heating, wall-mounted AC units, etc. Half the rooms are Japanese style with tatami, and half are Western Style with laminate flooring. There are no carpets in the house.Summer:ElectricityElectricity costs were relatively high in the summer months on account of the need for air conditioning. While we could have survived keeping it a little warmer, we were more concerned with keeping our clothes and linens free of mildew. You'll also need to use electricity for de-humidifiers and fans.Gas (Propane and Kerosene)Gas was not even a consideration for us in the first few months of living here. It was only a couple thousand yen a month.Tips: Take advantage of the snow-melt sourced cold water that flows through the city. The water stays ice cold, making it good for rinsing off, a cool drink, or even placing certain foods for quick and effective storage (watermelon is one example).Autumn:ElectricityAutumn was a fantastic season for the electric bill. Our total utilities costs decreased by about 25%-50% from the summer.GasGas was constant from the summer season, so no worries...yet. Little did we know what winter would bring...Winter:ElectricityWe expected the electricity bill to increase in Winter, but double what it cost in summer was quite a shock. We used the electricity for things like space heaters, heated carpets, and humidifiers.GasThe biggest shock this past year was the price of kerosene and just how expensive it would be to heat the house. Granted, it was still cheaper and more effective than electricity, so we weren't complaining, but a 1500% increase in gas bill is flabbergasting, right? Still, it's necessary out here in Yukiguni to stave off the bitter cold.Tips: Try to cover your windows in plastic to increase the insulation. Also, do lots of cooking with your propane stove--propane is far cheaper than kerosene and the heat from the stove will help warm your kitchen and living areas.Spring:ElectricitySpring was not quite a friendly to our electric bill as Autumn, since the nights and mornings were still chilly enough . Still, a 50% drop-off from the winter rates is significant. There wasn't quite the sustained decline as the gas bill since as the days got warmer, the air conditioning and fans started to become necessary.GasThe warming days meant less of a requirement to use the heavy-duty kerosene heaters. Our gas bill went down by 50% in the first month of Spring after those huge winter bills, and steadily declined thereafter.A note on trash:Fortunately, we did not experience a wide change in our garbage production on account of the winter, I will note that you have to be very careful about food waste in the summer. Winters in Yukiguni just mean that your entire kitchen turns into a refrigerators, but while the cold helps preserve your food, the heat of the summers does the opposite. Just be aware that the hot and humid summers will force you to make food storage and purchase considerations that you simply don't have to worry about in the winter months.A note on water:Our water bill was the one constant across the entire year. My wife and I were worried that the water pumped for the snow removal system on the house would cause our water bill to sky rocket, but that water is a service provided by the city. Phew!Any questions on utilities costs out in yukiguni? Any extra tips for readers out there? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAW6Q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWed, 09 May 2018 10:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MAW6Q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GLdW8-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataAs a relatively nomadic lot in terms of life and leisure, my wife and I love checking out the local delicacies wherever we travel, and we especially try to immerse ourselves in the cuisine common to our present home away from home. As we now find ourselves in Niigata, that means lots of koshihikari rice and sake, which is just about a dream come true for me since those happen to be my favorites for food and alcoholic drink. Still, even the best rice in the world can get a little bland when you eat it on its own all the time, but Niigata had us covered.My wife and I visited a restaurant/museum that focuses on meibutsu(local specialities), including hegi soba and koshihikari rice. The menu was pretty straightforward: hegi soba, tempura, miso soup, and rice. But then my rice came out with this on top:I tasted it and immediately thought three things: wow, that actually has a bit of a (spicy) kick to it; what is this stuff; and where do I get some?So what was it? It was, of course...NANBAN MISO"Nanban" is a common term in Japan, which literally means "Southern Barbarian" but was traditionally used to describe imported things, and when it comes to food, it usually means "spicy" and/or "full of flavor." Miso is a mixture of fermented soy beans, koji, and rice or barley (which was of course rice, in Niigata's case). Put those two things together and you get a chili-infused, spicy, and full of flavor miso topping.How to eat Nanban MisoMany types of miso are used to make soups, but I've never seen nanban miso used in that way (perhaps because it would make for a really spicy and pungent soup). Instead, nanban miso is traditionally eaten as a topping for rice-based dishes.It pairs well with many traditional Japanese foods, especially those that focus more on texture over flavor. Personally, I think it is best with red meats like steak and yakiniku, but I've used it with a variety of western style dishes. For example, it was a great addition to scrambled eggs (believe it or not).Where to find Nanban Miso in Minamiuonuma:Easiest place to buy it: Urasa StationAt the gift shop in the train station, you'll find a number of Minamiuonuma's meibutsuproducts, including Nanban Miso. This offers an easy option for those looking for the product since Urasa is where the bullet train stops in the city.Best place to buy it:Uonuma Sanchi no OsusowakeAddress: 229 Shiozawa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata-ken 949-6408The restaurant/museum I mentioned at the beginning of the article is one part eatery and one part gallery. Like most museums and galleries, there is a gift shop, and in that gift shop you'll find the treasured nanban miso.You can also find Nanban Miso on Amazon.co.jp. There, the Niigata variety will be a little difficult to find since there are nanban misos available from other snowy prefectures in Honshu like Yamagata, Aomori, and Akita, but it could offer you a chance to try this fantastic miso even if you cannot make the long trek out to yukiguni.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GLdW8-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 08 May 2018 10:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GLdW8-food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpgv-living_howtoSpring time is here, and in my opinion, it could not have come sooner. Of course, part of the reason for that is I live in yukiguni, so winter means meters of snow and a lack of sunlight for about 5 months.With spring comes Spring Cleaning, however, so my wife and I set out to tackle some cleaning projects. Along the way, I opened theshojiin one of my rooms to some pretty nasty stuff.Yep, that's black mold, and while ours came as a product of the long winter, condensation buildup, lack of sunlight, and lack of ventilation (and probably years of neglect from previous tenants, to be honest), mold is something that most residents in Japan will eventually have to deal with thanks to the hot and humid summers.While prevention is always the best practice when it comes to mold, sometimes it can't be helped. If it does come about, here's how to tackle it.First, a list of things you'll need:BleachThere are a lot of different mold/mildew cleaners in the stores, but don't waste your time or money--stick with the good old fashioned bleach. The characters for it are 漂白剤, but if you are looking for a brand, "Haita" worked just fine for me.Rubber GlovesThese are important just so you don't get your hands covered in mold or bleach solution.BucketYou'll want to have a bucket to place used cleaning implements. I use a basic plastic car wash bucket that has become my go-to for any household chores.Spray Bottle (optional)I have large window sills, so I wanted to use a spray bottle for speedier application. Spray bottles can be risky with bleach solution because they can spray somewhere that bleach could be a problem. Just use your best judgment given your space and equipment available.Respirator or Mask (not pictured)These are easy to find in Japan, but a mask or respirator is key to ensuring you don't breath in any bleach fumes or agitated mold.Sponge or Brush (not pictured)If you have lots of mold on the sill, you'll need to use something to remove it. If the windowsill is finished material, I recommend using a non-abrasive sponge. If it is unfinished, you'll need something capable of a bit of abrasion to ensure you get in all of the little nooks and crannies.Next, here's how to get rid of that mold:Step 1: Clear the area around the windows and ensure proper ventilationYou don't want any nice tapestry, furniture, clothes, etc. to end up with bleach on it.Step 2: Mix the Bleach SolutionThe industry recommendation is 2700 ppm available chlorine solution, but for ease of use, you're safe if you go about 1:20 bleach to water mix. Some people recommend a higher bleach content, but I think it's overkill.Step 3: Apply the Bleach SolutionIf you're using a spray bottle, just be careful not to get the bleach solution anywhere but on the windowsill. I recommend using liberal amounts and to go all around, even if you don't see any visible mold (this is to ensure you kill any mold spores that are not visible to the naked eye).Step 4: Remove visible moldUse your sponge or brush to remove any mold that is visible on the surface.Step 5: Spray againStep 6: Air DryStep 7: Repeat (as necessary)It may take a few go's to complete the job. For example, this was my window sill after the first cycle:Still, it only took one more go for that one to be cleaned up!Have any questions about removing mold? Any other recommendations for readers? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpgv-living_howtoMon, 07 May 2018 10:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpgv-living_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MqrN8-living_shopping_uonuma_shi_niigataMy family went out to a small festival a few towns over in a place called Horinouchi. The festival was full of pleasant folks selling home-grown veggies, secondhand goods, and homemade foods. There were some great things there, but none as cool as this:A homemade wooden Gachapon machineGachapon (also referred to as Gashapon) is making a comeback in Japan, in large part thanks to the advertising towards foreigners. The last time I was in an airport, I saw a huge sign above a bunch of Gachapon machines saying something to the effect, “Use the rest of your Japanese coins here!” They were mainstays in department stores when I was growing up, but now you can find them all over the place.In any case, I don’t know how long the guy had been using his homemade Gachapon machine at local festivals (should have asked!), but it was really a clever contraption. Seeing the rest of the bloke’s wooden toys, I’m not surprised he was handy enough to create something that operated just like a real Gachapon machine but with wooden parts, and my daughter was more than happy to give it a whirl.The absolute best part of the machine? For just 200 yen, my daughter got a handmade miniature wooden giraffe instead of some machine made hunk of plastic. All in all, a pretty cool find for a Sunday morning in the inaka.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MqrN8-living_shopping_uonuma_shi_niigataSun, 06 May 2018 19:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MqrN8-living_shopping_uonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPZE-foodAs I was driving to a festival with my family today, I spotted one of the most beautiful sights that can be seen in the Japanese springtime: the return of the Unagyū bowl at Sukiya!For the uninitiated, Unagyū is the standard beef bowl that replaces half of the meat with a slice or two of unagi (eel) depending on how much you want to pay. It's my favorite fast food option in Japan, and it is only available from the middle of Spring until the middle of Autumn.I’ll be honest in saying that I was a Yoshinoya guy for the better part of my life until I walked in one summer day and requested an unagyū ōmori only to be told they don’t sell them. Apparently Sukiya is the only beef bowl fast food joint in Japan that realized it would be best to combine unagi and beef in the same bowl.Perhaps you’re wondering why eel and beef go so well together. In reality, they don’t. I wouldn’t recommend eating a hunk of meat and eel in the same bite, but the real brilliance of the unagyū lies in two key factors: one, it allows you to enjoy two awesome types of lunches without having to pick one or the other; two, unagi—even the imported unagi used at fast food restaurants—is not cheap, but by supplementing with beef, you can still eat a full meal without breaking the bank.I’ll be visiting Sukiya soon to grab my year's first Unagyū—I recommend you try it, too!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPZE-foodSun, 06 May 2018 13:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPZE-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaN60-foodI love unagi. But what’s in the pic is not unagi, it’s an imitation product that Japanese producers are trying to make a regular rotation in homes throughout the country. Allow me to share my experience with this unique Japanese food.Unagi is probably my favorite protein (I say “protein” because I’m not sure how else to categorize freshwater eel), but any readers out there who have ever had eel know that it doesn’t come cheap. The price is on account of the fact that unagi numbers are dwindling.The decreasing populations of unagi are a cause for concern from consumers, producers, and environmentalists alike, so some intrepid scientists sought to create an imitation version of freshwater eel that could be sold for home consumption. I remember seeing an entire Japanese wide show dedicated to the process of inventing this substitute, and since, I have wanted to try it. What is it, exactly? It’s kamaboko—fish cakes. The scientists testing thousands of recipes for kamaboko that could produce the right texture and consistency for unagi, even working on developing a thin layer that could replicate the popular unagi skin. Not sold on it? I wasn’t either, but I still wanted to try it for myself. Finding it wasn’t easy since it’s not quite ubiquitous yet, but I managed to get my hands on one from our co-op deli food delivery service. It cost about 315 yen for two fillets.To prepare it, I used the same method that I would real unagi: on a piece of foil in my fish broiler.The first difference I noticed was how the imitation unagi responded to the broiler. Because the kamaboko does not have the fat content of unagi, it didn’t crisp up; rather it started to dry out and burn instead. Fortunately, I was watching it closely, so I pulled it out of the broiler before it burned.Here was the finished product......and the first bite.So how was it? To me, it was like eating a veggie burger when you’re craving a hamburger; it really can't measure up to the real deal, but it's not bad. Ultimately, I wouldn’t pay full price to get it, but if it’s on sale, imitation unagi does satisfy a craving without breaking the bank.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaN60-foodFri, 04 May 2018 19:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaN60-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6348-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataOne of the most important events for any family is a birthday. Whether young or old, it’s a celebration of life past, present, and future. Certainly, gift giving is a part of the tradition, but one can never forget about the birthday cake. Now if you live in Tokyo or one of Japan’s other major cities, there is no shortage of options. I remember one year, my wife and I were looking for a particular bear-shaped cake, and when one La Chateraise didn’t have it, we simply drove ten minutes to the next one down the road.It's not so easy out here in Minamiuonuma, so let me share three of our favorite options.Patisserie and Cafe Ikeda-yaAddress: 463-2 Arakane, Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture 949-7235Phone number: 025-779-3026Description:If you are looking for the fanciest cakes Minamiuonuma has to offer, Ikeda-ya provides the widest range of designs and customization. Personally, I think it comes at the sacrifice of flavor, but if aesthetics are your principal consideration, this shop has you covered. They'll do Pokemon and Little Mermaid and everything in between.There is no website, so you'll have to go into the cafe to make a selection. Be sure to place your order at least a week in advance for a custom cake, and at least 3 days in advance for a standard full-size cakes. Prices vary depending on cake size and customization options, but the range runs from about 1500-5000 yen.HuckleberryAddress: 4372-4 Urasa, Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture 949-7302Phone Number: 025-777-4326Description:For the best tasting cakes at the lowest prices, Huckleberry is your best bet. Like Ikeda-ya, the cakes are beautiful, though Huckleberry doesn’t have child-friendly designs or customization options. Still, it offers a wide variety of standard and seasonal options. It's hard to say no to Strawberry Shortcake (old faithful), but for my son's birthday, we got an assortment of cake slices that included a sakura and matcha-infused vanilla and an (red bean paste) cake and a sweet potato cake.If you want a custom cake, just keep in mind that Seki-san needs at least 3 days to fulfill the customized order. Cakes will generally run you between 1500-3000 yen depending on size.Ginza Cozy CornerAddress: 3100 Yokawa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata-ken 949-6600Phone Number:025-770-1100Description:If you don’t mind spending a little extra for convenience, Ginza Cozy Corner at the Muikamachi Aeon is your best bet. The cakes are about an extra 1000-2000 yen more expensive than the other options above, but you can order online, call-in an order, or pick an option at the store. They have a wide range of cakes and will add a customized birthday greeting on a small chocolate slate.The Ginza Cozy Corner options are also especially good if your child has specific allergies (like peanut allergies), because the specific allergens are listed for each cake option.Do you have any questions about buying cakes out here in yukiguni? Perhaps some additional recommendations for readers out there? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6348-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 03 May 2018 20:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6348-living_food_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqo4-living_medical_healthI hate spring in Japan. Let me rephrase that: I love most things about spring in Japan, but my hatred for kafunshoknows no bounds. Kafunsho, for those of you who do not know, is the Japanese term for cedar pollen allergy. Sugi, or Japanese cedar, is a very useful tree when it comes to the lumber and construction industries. The trees grow straight, they grow quickly, and the wood is strong, making them great for planting, harvesting, and using. They were so great in fact, that Japanese public and private interests planted them all over the country. But like many things there are second and third order consequences. In this case, the Japanese public discovered that sugi happens to produce some of the most irritating pollen out there. Generations of Japanese have suffered from escalating pollen counts and the resultingkafunsho, as have I. What is even more disconcerting though is that I have passed on my weak immunity to pollen to my children who are now also suffering from the shortsighted decision to plant cedar trees all over Japan. So what do I give them to help alleviate runny noses and sore throats stemming from cedar pollen allergy? If I was in the states, it would be benadryl, but out here, finding something appropriate is a bit tougherHere is my recommendation for all of you out there who might have young children suffering from allergies:The Muhi brand offers a wide range of medicines for smaller children (from 3 months old to 7 years), but this one targets head congestion including that caused by allergies. You can find it at almost any drug store in Japan, including Welcia, which is our local drug store. It will be in the children medication section of the store, and if you don't read Japanese, just match up the Kanji to make sure you're grabbing the correct bottle off the shelves since there are many different types.Using the medication is straightforward. The directions are pictured below:For those of you who have trouble with Japanese, allow me to translate the dosages:3-7 years old: 10 mL1-3 years old: 7.5 mL6 months - 1 year: 6 mL3 - 6 months: 5 mLUnder 3 months: Do not useAdminister after each meal (or as required). Wait at least four hours between doses, and do not exceed six doses in one day.Do you have any questions? Any other recommended allergy medications for children? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqo4-living_medical_healthThu, 03 May 2018 10:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqo4-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5k8-living_workWinter is well and truly behind us here in Japan. We’ve had the privilege of enjoying hanami all over the country, and the early morning sunshine and longer days just seem to motivate you to make the most of your days.There are downsides, of course, and few as dreadful as the ushering in of Japan’s infamous mushi-atsusa—humid heat. While it can be an annoyance on days off, the heat can seem downright intolerable in the work environment, especially with the Japanese government’s push to conserve electricity through its “Cool Biz” Program. The baseline principle is that office buildings should not be cooled lower than 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), but that doesn’t mean that your little corner may not be even hotter than that. So how can you survive the heat in a Japanese office? Here are three tools:Cool Biz attireIn defense of “cool biz” policy, the government and private companies worked hard to make sure people felt comfortable ditching the heavier weight traditional office wear for something more bearable in the hotter buildings. For males, ditch the jacket and the tie. Short sleeve button ups are acceptable, but I usually just wear my normal long sleeve shirts with the sleeves rolled up. For women, lighter material blouses, dresses, etc. are encouraged. For better or worse, shorts are still NOT acceptable for either men or women in the Cool Biz scheme.Sensu—the folding fanI get that using folding fans may seem absurdly traditional for an expat or overly effeminate for you guys out there, but nobody bats an eye out here at the use of sensu, whether young, old, male, female, whatever. I’ve used them on trains, in the office, and at outdoor coffee shops and never once felt out of place doing so. They are especially handy in work situations for two reasons: one, using them is silent, so you won’t disturb anyone; and two, they are so easily transportable.The traditional folding fan is wood and paper, but I recommend getting a cloth and plastic sensu (like the one pictured above) because it is more durable for daily use.Handkerchief/hand towelNo matter how much you try to dress lightly or cool yourself with a fan, you’ll invariably find yourself sweating thanks to the hike into the office, the packed trains, or just the overly hot ambient temperature in the building. While I always recommend carrying a handkerchief or hand towel anyway since there are rarely towels available for drying your hands in Japan’s public bathrooms, these tools now become necessary for drying your forehead or your neck as you head into a meeting. Nobody wants to sit at a conference table looking like they were just doing wind sprints outside. Fortunately, Japan offers many aesthetically pleasing options that can still give you a semblance of professionalism as you clean yourself up.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5k8-living_workWed, 02 May 2018 14:07:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5k8-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8Qod-educationGangsters or humanitarians? Businessmen or racketeers? Principled or vile? In reality, any of these terms could be used to describe those intriguing and controversial figures in Japanese society: Yakuza.Pop culture has both idolized and vilified these figures. After all, Yakuza have victimized countless people through strong-arming and extortion, but they were also the first on the scene to respond to major crises including the Hanshin earthquake (Kobe city, 1995). They are truly a shady and colorful bunch, and many of you readers out there may be interested in learning more as part of your education on Japanese society.I do not profess to be an expert, but I do believe I have a relatively well-rounded knowledge base. While there are countless Japanese language resources, three English language books in particular do a good job in lending understanding of this other side of Japanese society. These three books represent my recommendations for anybody seeking to learn about Yakuza, Japan’s own combination of Robin Hood and Al Capone.Confessions of a Yakuzaby Junichi SagaWritten by a doctor with a most interesting patient: a one time Yakuza boss with a critical illness, nothing to lose, and a story to tell. Confessions of a Yakuza offers a memoir-style tale of Yakuza life and history. If you are just entering your education on the subject, I recommend starting with this. This book offers a colorful and interesting view told from the perspective of a single member of this Janus-faced cohort. It also spans decades, so you get a good picture of the evolution of the Yakuza story, including the former Yakuza's description of Yakuza traditions, practices, and history that spans back to the Edo period (1603-1868).Tokyo Viceby Jake AdelsteinJake Adelstein's seminal work covers his own story following the Yakuza as a foreign reporter for one of Japan’s leading newspapers. It’s a tale of greed, sex, money, and intrigue, with no holds barred. This book offers the most exciting take on contemporary yakuza in Japan. Adelstein is currently a freelance journalist here in Japan still covering the yakuza beat from time to time for the Japan Times and Daily Beast. If you're interested in the subject, do look him up!Yakuza: Japan’s Criminal Underworldby David Kaplan & Alex DubroFor the most academic English language option, I recommend Kaplan and Dubro’s book on Yakuza. Unlike the other three recommendations, however, this book tends to be a dry read a better left for those who are more interested in taking a deeper look at Japan’s famous gangsters. It spans from the emergence of the modern Yakuza in the postwar period to modern day.Do you have any other recommended reading on Yakuza? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8Qod-educationTue, 01 May 2018 12:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8Qod-educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GypZ6-living_medicalHaven't received new billing notification for your National Health Insurance yet? Me neither. So I went to the city office to investigate a bit. I just wanted to offer other newbies to the system some insight I gained.Let me back up a little bit: I was a little nervous when I saw that there was no National Health Insurance (NHI) payment this month. I was used to seeing money go to the City Office monthly to cover NHI for me and my family, but I did not see anything deposit for the month of May, and I have yet to receive a new letter with payment information (similar to the extremely blurred picture above--hey, I don't want to be offering all of my PII to the outside world, I've got Equifax to do that for me). I was a little concerned that I had missed a renewal step or that the system deleted me and my family from the next fiscal year's NHI accounts.I took my previous year's letter to the city office and asked them what the deal was. Here's the answer I received:- NHI rates are calculated based on the previous year's tax information. - The city office will not start billing you until they determine those rates.- After the rates are determined (usually by June), you'll receive a letter in the mail with your current Fiscal Year rates, as well as a break down for payments until the end of the Fiscal Year.- Your medical coverage is fine during the calculation period, so no worries there.And that was it. Simple, concise answer, right? Hopefully that helps out others who may have been wondering the same thing.If you have any other questions about NHI, I'm no expert, but I'm happy to share the little bit of insight I've gained. Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GypZ6-living_medicalTue, 01 May 2018 10:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GypZ6-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPyq-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataYesterday I blogged about my joy that winter was finally over in Yukiguni, and today, I learned just how lucky I am to be living here in this day and age.I took my children to visit the "Mukashi-ya," a replica of an old-fashioned house in yukiguni that's full of interactive tools, toys, and exhibits. It's not a big place, but we enjoyed ourselves for quite a while there.Some of the things on display are clothing, tools, and instruments used to survive the harsh winters of yukiguni from a bygone era, and let me tell you, it gave me a deep appreciation for all of the things we have today.For example, I have a nice down jacket with fur-lined hood, warm gloves, thick rubber boots, and plenty of long johns to keep me warm on those winter days. Here is what people in the past used to wear:Here are the snow shoes and a drawing of what it looks like put together:I guess in a place where large animal furs are not readily available (hard to see them stringing together a bunch of tanuki and monkey furs...), straw is the way to go. The logic behind it was simple enough: wear heavy fabrics and use the straw to keep the snow off of the clothes; that way, the fabric wouldn't get wet and actually provides a sort of insulating effect. I guess I can buy that, but would I want to test it out myself? Not really...And if you think to yourself, Well, things had to have been better after the industrialized era, here's a picture of life in yukiguni from 1945:Like I said before, I certainly have a newfound appreciation of all of the modern amenities we enjoy today!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPyq-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 30 Apr 2018 13:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPyq-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlkWE-living_niigata_shi_niigataSo my family and I made a trip out to Niigata city recently where we decided to take a stroll to see the iconic Bandai bridge. As we were walking up to it, something else caught our eye......the entire sidewalk and bridge were lined with potted tulips. What a nice touch, I thought. Who would have put all these out here? The city? When I went for closer inspection, I saw this:The label reads: Bandai Bridge Tulip FestivalHakusan Elementary SchoolThese tulips were grown in Niigata CityI love how the preschools and elementary schools here foster a love for nature and encourage the children to work with their hands. It’s one of the reasons why I am so glad that my young children get a chance to go to school here, and for that, I say, Well Done, Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlkWE-living_niigata_shi_niigataSun, 29 Apr 2018 13:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GlkWE-living_niigata_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD67x-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI took the kids out to the park today, and I saw one of the most beautiful sights I’ve seen in my time in Yukiguni.What a beautiful sight to see, indeed. Okay, so some of you may not think much of the photo, but anyone who has endured long winter covered in snow might understand why it’s such a sight for sore eyes. It’s not the cherry blossom signalling the end of winter and beginning of spring, but that machine behind it is a 消雪 shōsetsu vehicle used to clear footpaths of heavy snow buildup...and there it is cordoned off for the next 6 months. Thank goodness the long winter is finally over!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD67x-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 29 Apr 2018 13:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD67x-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wempb-foodMy wife and I aren't heavy drinkers but we do enjoy something to wind down the day with. Lately, we've been enjoying Chu hai, since it is a smooth and tasty option for the evening. Further, the Horoyoi brand is always offering some new limited edition flavor to keep it interesting. I'll keep you all posted on what new flavors we try out, but this week, it's Fruit Punch.The art on the can definitely evokes something more tropical than what we have out here in yukiguni, but the question is if they would try for something tropical in the flavor like passion fruit or something else that would liven it up. The answer is "Meh, not really." It lived up to the name, fruit punch, but the chu hai tasted like something you would get from a bowl at a prom or a high school reunion.Take it or leave it? Leave itWe'll see if Horoyoi can redeem itself with the next limited edition flavor.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wempb-foodSat, 28 Apr 2018 21:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wempb-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPOqn-living_niigata_shi_niigataJapan has it's flaws, especially when it comes to the disabled. I don't want to get into all of that though, because I'm writing to showcase an example of where Japan got it right in the most Japanese way possible:wheelchair-accessible phone booths.Sure, phone-booths may be nearly obsolete thanks to smartphones.Sure, there's wi-fi available at that very spot. Sure, it's not even an international payphone and the phone booth is at the airport.But hey, progress is progress. I've never seen a wheelchair accessible phone booth in all my travels across the globe. Have you? Sure, it may not be the most dire necessity, but if there is a disabled patron who needs to access a phone, he/she now has the same services available as others--and equality is something I will never scoff at. Instead, I say, Well done, Japan.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPOqn-living_niigata_shi_niigataSat, 28 Apr 2018 16:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPOqn-living_niigata_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQbA3-livingNobody wants to think about death, but it is inevitable. If you live in Japan long enough, it is also inevitable that you will need to attend a Japanese wake or memorial service whether it's for relatives, coworkers, friends, or neighbors. While some customs are similar to what you would encounter in the States or one of the Commonwealth countries, there are some important customs and traditions I'd like to share with you in order to avoid any awkwardness in an already somber and emotional event.Funeral, Wake, Memorial Service?In Japan, there are different ceremonies for commemorating the departed. Unless it is an immediate family member that's passed, however, the ceremony you will likely be invited to will be more reminiscent of a memorial service or wake than an actual funeral ceremony. The information here does not deal with the specific traditions associated with funeral processions, but rather, the types of ceremonies that most expats will eventually (and unfortunately) have to attend.The Set-up: If the family residence is large enough, the event will be held at their home. The largest room will be set up with places for guests to sit (traditionally in a U shape) with a memorial altar and photo placed at the front of the room. The altar will have a small incense pot. Sometimes the seating will include food settings for attendees.Attire: Like most western cultures, conservative black attire is appropriate for these events.Condolence gift: When attending these events in Japan, it is customary to bring akōden (condolence gift). The gift is always some cash denomination. Unlike weddings and happy events where custom dictates presenting crisp, unused bills, it is appropriate to offer worn bills as a sign of life and death. The amount varies depending on your relationship to the departed; i.e. the closer you were the more you should offer.You should pick up a traditional envelope for the kōden. While you may want to splurge for something of higher quality that's more personalized, you can find the envelopes at any of the leading convenience stores (Lawson, 7-11, Famima) in the stationery aisle.The easiest way to distinguish these from the other envelopes is that they will always be black and white, while the ones for weddings and congratulations will be ornate and colorful. If you want to be sure though, look for the label that says, "弔事用."Procedures:When you attend the ceremony, a member of the family or a family friend should be present to greet you at the door (or entrance, if at a venue outside the home). You should present the kōden upon arrival.At that point, you should go to the main room with the seating, and if not directed to a seat, just file in and sit down.In most situations, attendees will be asked to approach the alter to pay respects. When it's your turn, stop on the way up as you pass the family members where they are sitting, face them, and bow your head. Then proceed to the alter and the incense pot.Unlike other traditional ceremonies, the incense in memorial services will typically be powder incense, not stick incense. Take a small pinch of incense in between your forefinger and thumb. Bring it up to your forehead while bowing. Then sprinkle it on the pile of burning/smoldering incense (there won't be a flame). Repeat twice more for a total of three times. Finally, bring your hands together as in prayer and bow your head (no clapping).Once you've done that, just return to your seat. At that point, protocol is done. Just be sure to read the air to get a feel for how to behave from that point, because every family is different in how they wish to memorialize the departed. Some love to let the sake flow while reminiscing about the past, while others prefer to sit in quiet reflection.Do you have any questions about attending Japanese wakes/memorial services? Any other recommendations? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQbA3-livingThu, 26 Apr 2018 16:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQbA3-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRvjY-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo there I was exiting my local 7-11 out here in yukiguni and what should I find but a piece of cardboard covered in excrement.If I was in a city back in the states, I wouldn’t have thought twice about walking past bird droppings on a walkway, but in my otherwise pristine and well-groomed home away from home, I immediately thought to myself that this was quite the aberration.Then I looked up and all became clear:A bird had built a nest on the scaffolding the store uses for promotional banners. Now, in some parts of the world, the shop staff would probably just knock down the nest (especially since it would prevent the store from putting up promotional materals). Or maybe they would just leave it be and not do anything to keep the resulting mess under control. Nope, out here in the country, the shop does its best to preserve the nest AND keep the walkway fecal matter condition under control.Call me a sucker, but I appreciate it when folks look out for the little guy, and in a place where nature is so much a part of the daily life and culture, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to have seen this sight today.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRvjY-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 24 Apr 2018 20:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRvjY-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY41m-living_foodSo the other day my family was returning home from a hike and we heard a familiar and welcome song: "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaakiiiiimo, ishi yaaaaaaaaakiiimo." For those of you who have lived in Japan long enough, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about: Yaki-imo trucks that drive around the neighborhood selling stone-roasted sweet potatoes.It's funny when you think about it: the U.S. has ice cream trucks; Japan has sweet potato trucks (kind of symbolizes a lot, actually). But I digress.The sweet potatoes were delicious (as they almost always are coming from yaki-imo trucks), but I have to say that I continue to be disappointed in the current generation of yaki-imo purveyors.Is it just me, or does anyone else ever wonder where all of the singers have gone? You see, when I was growing up, no self-respecting yaki-imo vendor would use a recording for the yaki-imo song. In some cases, it was a guy who would sing it himself over a loudspeaker on his truck, and in certain extreme cases, it was a guy pulling a food cart just belting it out as far as his lungs could carry the tune.I understand that singing the same song over and over again for hours on end could get a little tedious, but there was something charming about hearing a personalized yaki-imo song, even if it was a little off-pitch or downright tone-deaf. Yaki-imo trucks just ain't been the same ever since the singing stopped. Am I right?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY41m-living_foodTue, 24 Apr 2018 19:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY41m-living_foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5KoX-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataLife in Niigata has plenty of perks over life in the big city. Sure, the snow is not so pleasant when you’ve got places to be and things to do, but boy, does the spring time make up for it. That is especially true for cherry blossom season, and I recently discovered an amazing cherry blossom festival at Muikamachi Zenibuchi Park here in Minamiuonuma. Here are 5 Reasons why this has become my favorite cherry blossom event in Japan:1) Fewer crowdsYou see the one person in that photo? Yeah, barely, right? Compare this to Shinjuku Gyoen, Inokashira, or the canals of Nakameguro and it's almost unbelievable how stark the contrast is. This makes for better photos as well as a more pleasant atmosphere overall. Also, if you want to have a true hanami picnic, you won't have to show up at 4 am or fight somebody off to secure a spot. That's extremely helpful for folks who just want to have a good time with their kids.2) Better Festival Food:Traditional festival food includes things like yakisoba, okonomiyaki, dango, and takoyaki. Don't get me wrong, I love all those things and the Muikamachi Zenibuchi park still delivered all those old favorites. But they also had food trucks with a modern twist. There was a rotisserie food truck offering pork, chicken and other roasted meats, an Apple Pie van (that definitely appealed to me as an American), and the piece de resistance, a limited edition Sakura Sundae, complete with matcha powder, castella cake, and azuki beans.3) Beautiful nature other than the cherry blossomsUnlike Tokyo or the other big cities where the cherry blossoms are surrounded by towering sky scrapers, the parks and trees out here are simply beset by more nature. The mountains, flora, and fauna all make the experience so much more memorable. Fans of ornithology will be especially pleased with the assortment of swallows, hawks, cranes, ducks, and finches out here.4) Everyone chips inLike most festivals around here, this was truly a community event where people came together to make the most of it. In the best example of this, the local electric company brought out two cherry pickers to offer rides to kids and adults alike to provide a bird's eye view of the park in all of its sakura glory. This was all free of charge, and in fact, they handed out toys for the kids and ziploc bags for the parents as gifts (you single people out there may not appreciate that, but parents know that there are never too many ziploc bags).5) Can enjoy 2x the hanamiThe blossoms bloom a little later here—about 2-3 weeks after what you would expect in Tokyo. In theory, this means one could go enjoy the blossoms in Tokyo and then come back to Niigata and get to enjoy them again (which is exactly how it turned out for me this year). The point is, you don't have to miss out on the big cherry blossom festivals in the big city to come enjoy this one, so maybe keep a trip out to yukiguni in mind for next year's hanami season!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5KoX-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 19 Apr 2018 10:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5KoX-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63nQ-educationMy work and my studies have kept me involved with Japanese politics and government for a while now, but even before I had a formal reason for staying up on those subjects, I was interested in it. Frankly, they are engrossing topics full of intrigue, fascinating characters, and almost unbelievable twists and turns. If you don't believe me, just go read up on former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka--worthy of a Hollywood picture.For those interested in building a knowledge base on politics and governance here, I recommend started with the following books:1) Koizumi Diplomacy, Tomohito ShinodaYou will not find a Japanese academic who can so clearly and thoroughly explain the institutions and operations of Japanese government in English as Tomohito Shinoda. Although he has an extensive body of work (each publication with its own merits), Koizumi Diplomacy takes the traditional understanding of postwar Japanese politics and governance and sets a foundation for the new millennium. This book offers insights into the institutional power of Japan's Prime Minister, as well as the foreign policy and security apparatus that surrounds the Kantei(Japan's equivalent to the White House or 10 Downing Street).2) Contemporary Japanese Politics,Tomohito ShinodaIn Contemporary Japanese Politics, Shinoda broadens the scope of Koizumi Diplomacybeyond the Prime Minister's office to the main political parties and their interactions in the Diet (the parliament) and with the government interagency. It offers excellent insights into the conditions that led to the shift in government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party of Japan, as well as the long-term implications that such a power shift had on Japanese politics. When paired with Koizumi Diplomacy, these books give a solid primer on Japanese government that will enable you to understand almost all of the present events unfolding in Japan's political circles.3) Shadow Shoguns, Jacob SchlesingerShadow Shogunsoffers a readable and insightful explanation of Japan's postwar political machine that fueled the success of shadow-broker politicians like Kakuei Tanaka and Ichiro Ozawa. Those sorts of politicians orchestrated rises in power and falls from grace, while also driving a political machine that shaped Japan's postwar political institutions and practices. While Shinoda's books cover the transparent aspects of Japanese government, Schelsinger's Shadow Shogunsdetails the machinations that were opaque at the time.4) MITI and the Japanese Miracle, Chalmers JohnsonChalmers Johnson's seminal work is a great starting point for those interested in Japan's postwar economic miracle, but I especially enjoyed it for its insight into Japan's powerful bureaucracy and the power relationships throughout the interagency. Of course, things have evolved since then, but it is a great starting point for understanding how power dynamics have shifted from bureaucrat-led policy to elected officials over time.5) The Japanese, Edwin ReischauerNo doubt, this book is dated. However, there are few foreigners who will ever have the level of knowledge of Japan, its government, and its people than Edwin O. Reischauer. The Japaneserepresents his seminal work on Japanese culture and governance, and while it is out-of-date now, it provides a solid foundation for all of the themes and ideas that exist and evolve in the other books I list above.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63nQ-educationWed, 18 Apr 2018 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63nQ-educationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6318-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo I went out with my family to a park in Minamiuonuma recently (the Muikamachi Zenibuchi Park) to see the cherry blossoms and we chanced upon an interesting statue. To me it seemed like some of others I’ve seen in similar parks throughout Japan that celebrate the famous daimyo or samurai from the region, but as I approached it, I saw this on the plaque:“2009年NHK大河ドラマ「天地人」放映記念”“In commemoration of the broadcast of the 2009 NHK Taiga drama Tenchi-jin”If you haven’t heard of Taiga, it is an anthology series on NHK. NHK produces one historical drama a year telling stories ranging from the samurai era to postwar period. It’s a cultural mainstay in Japan, and many famous Japanese actors got their big break in Taiga, such as Ken Watanabe, who played the iconic Date Masamune back in 1987 (he reprised the role again in the nineties).Still, I was surprised to find a statue in the park there with such a direct reference to Taiga dramas. To NHK’s credit, the producers try to film as much as possible on location where the historical figures would have lived, so I imagine that Muikamachi was the site of some of the filming for Tenchi-jin. The statue was pretty neat, too, considering the drama’s hero, Naoe Kanetsugu, is the local icon--so even though it was commemorating a TV program, at least it had the history tied to it, too.Has anyone else seen Taiga Drama memorial statues in your neck of the woods? Would love to hear about them in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6318-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 17 Apr 2018 11:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6318-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqxx-shoppingLooking for a wristwatch in Japan that’s both fashionable and functional? Although nowadays people seem to be increasingly interested in smart watches instead of traditional wrist watches, I’m not among them. If you’re like me, a timepiece is a statement—a symbol of your character and lifestyle.Some people are all about the bling. Others are about classic luxury. Others still are all about maxing out capabilities. Me, I look for something that is a mix of aesthetic quality and modern functionality since life often sees me sitting in a business conference and out in the woods in the same week, and I look for a watch that can do it all and stand up to the beating it gets.There are a lot of great international options out there that could fit the bill (Suunto comes to mind), but none that have the combination of form and function that come with Japan’s Casio ProTrek series.I contend that Japan offers the world’s best digital watch technology, even if the analog options can’t contend with the powerhouses like Rolex and Omega. Seiko and Citizen both offer some great sport/luxury watches, but I was surprised that Casio of all brands would end up being my favorite and the one I recommend.The Casio ProTrek series first came out over a decade ago with the concept of combining every tool you would need for outdoor sports and activities with a high quality time piece. The result was a watch that had a built in compass, barometer, and altimeter along with all of the functionality of a high end digital watch. Even better, the pro trek series comes with Casio’s “Tough Solar” technology, allowing the watches to run off of solar power without ever having to worry about a battery change. Best of all, the ProTrek series offers all of this in watches that look like they belong in a boardroom instead of on a surfboard.Take the first-ever ProTrek I acquired, for example:A lot of folks are turned off by the digital face, but I actually think it's got a lot of character for a digital watch. The body and band are titanium, which is durable and looks good. The one downside (that Casio would fix in later designs) is that even though the band is nearly indestructible, the pins are standard aluminum and are not quite as sturdy. Nevertheless, I've had this watch for 10 years now, and it survived two military deployments to Afghanistan, countless hours in the ocean (both surfing and free-diving), and even more hours stuck behind a desk or in work meetings.My wife kindly upgraded my watch with a Japan-only limited edition "Black Titan" ProTrek:This watch fixes all of the mistakes of the previous model I owned with a sturdier band and overall smoother functionality of all of the major features. Personally, I am a huge fan of the black-on-black, and, like my older ProTrek, is versatile enough to be used in the outdoors or at formal occasions.Still, ProTrek does not only specialize in digital faces and metal bands. The product line has a variety of options, and my wife once again surprised me most recently with this model:It comes with all of the functions that the other two watches offer, but instead of a metal band comes with a sturdy olive canvas band (which dries quickly--a huge plus for anyone who wants an outdoor-functional watch) and a dual analog/digital face.The ProTrek Series ranges in price from around $100 (for older, marked-down products) to $750 (for top-of-the line, limited edition). If you are interested in the ProTrek Series, most Japanese watch stores will offer at least a limited selection, while the bigger department stores will feature a broad range of options. Still, I recommend checking out amazon.co.jp and watching for sales that often occur (that's how my enterprising wife was able to snag some good deals on the wonderful gifts she gave me!).It speaks volumes to the watches when I get complimented on the watch both on the trails in outdoor gear and on the office floor in a suit, but that's what the ProTrek series offers. If you are looking for Japan’s best all around timepiece, I strongly recommend checking out an option from this awesome Casio line.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqxx-shoppingTue, 10 Apr 2018 13:47:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqxx-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5ld-shoppingLook, I'm the last guy in the world to go to for fashion advice. Well, maybe not the last, but I'm not far off from "guy who still wears corduroy" and "guy who wears crocs with socks." Still, there is one important thing I wanted to bring to your attention now that the weather is starting to get warmer here in Japan, and that is the culture's aversion to shorts. I know some of you out there are shouting at the computer saying, That's an over-generalization! Yes, I too know Japanese men who wear shorts, but if you were to compare the average Japanese wardrobe to that of say an American or Australian one, you would wonder where all the shorts have gone. The point is that shorts aren't the done thing here. You can still find them in many stores, but they will not be prevalent items and you won't see a great many men here showing off their legs.So what are you to do if you love shorts in Japan? There is a compromise solution: the 3/4 shorts. I get it, you're probably shouting at the screen again, Only one man can pull off capris, and that's world class tennis legend Rafael Nadal, and while you may be right that Nadal can rock a pair of 3/4 shorts better than most men, it doesn't mean you shouldn't give them a shot.3/4 shorts are a nice compromise option for those who want to beat the heat but still fit in with the fashion customs here. Also, there are a great number of places to find 3/4 shorts; none better than Uniqlo. For just about 1200 yen a pop, you can stock your wardrobe with a 3/4 shorts that come in a wide variety of neutral colors, perfect for pairing with any number of summer styles. So yes, you may need to compromise, but I promise you, compromise never felt so comfy (especially in those hot and humid Japanese summers).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5ld-shoppingMon, 09 Apr 2018 10:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5ld-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxlA-living_shopping_howtoSpace comes at a premium in Japan, so many expats invariably find themselves in need of off-loading some old items. There are a great number of swap pages online for folks who want to sell items that way, but if you live in the inaka like me, there may not be an expat market that doesn’t involve packing and shipping those old items. Fortunately, the shops that make up the “Hard-off” group are fairly ubiquitous and can serve as an easy way to get rid of some old items while received some compensation. Don’t get me wrong, it’s often pennies on the dollar for what you originally spent to acquire the goods, but it’s often better than having to pay someone to dump it or the opportunity cost of having to clean, pack, and ship items to other places.The Off-House franchise is comprised of six different shops: Book-Off, Hard-Off, Off-House, Garage-Off, Hobby-Off, Mode-Off, and Liquor-Off. Book-Off accepts books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray movies, and video games (console and handheld); Hard-Off is for hardware, instruments, appliances; Off-House for household goods; Garage-Off for vehicle equipment; Hobby-Off for toys, models, etc.; Mode-Off for apparel; and Liquor-Off for, well, I'm sure you can guess!While the Hard-Off group offers instructions for selling goods on the website, I wanted to give you a quick rundown here to get you started.Step 1: IdentificationThe Off-house stores require that people selling items be ordinarily resident to Japan (meaning that you reside here under any approved status). As such you must produce some form of Japanese ID when trying to sell items, whether that’s a driver’s license or alien registration card. They’ll use that to sign you up for an off-house membership card (no fee). If you don’t have Japanese ID (perhaps you’re here under the US-Japan SOFA or on diplomatic status), be sure to bring one form of ID and something that can prove your residence. I’ve used my car registration before, but bills can work, too.Step 2: Drop off the items at the counterWhen you arrive at the store, the 売る “Sell Counter” will typically be right next to the entrance. Drop off your things, show your membership card (or ID to sign up for one), and then receive a number. At that point, you’re free to wander as they do an assessment on the items you’ve provided.Return when your number is called. As soon as they call your number and you return to the counter, the staff will explain what can be accepted and what cannot, while also quoting you on the items. Assuming you accept, they’ll start processing payment.Step 3: Payment and signatureTo receive your payment, you'll need to sign the receipt and offer a phone number (they'll have your address in the system from when you register for the membership). You'll have a choice whether you want cash or to use the payment towards new purchases.Do you have any questions about selling items at Off-House stores? Do you have any extra tips for those looking to unload old items at Off-House? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxlA-living_shopping_howtoSat, 07 Apr 2018 12:08:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxlA-living_shopping_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GO0xd-foodWhen you are thinking about seasonal treats, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't rice. I don't blame you, since rice is most often consumed as a daily staple. Still, rice is a vessel for many of Japan's best confections, and none beats daifuku mochi. Literally meaning "great fortune," daifuku is simply sweet mochi with anko--red bean jam--inside. While daifuku is available year round, it does tend to transform throughout the year based on the types of seasonal ingredients included.Perhaps the most common seasonal daifuku is ichigo daifuku, or daifuku mochi with anko and a whole strawberry inside. During the winter months, ichigo daifuku is available in most supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Japan.During spring, there are a number of varieties available. Among the most popular issakura matcha, available at a number of boutique confectioneries throughout Japan. In these, the anko is infused with matcha powder and the mochi is infused with sakura essence, offering a nicely contrasting pink and green color to the typically white and purple option.Summertime ushers in a period of fruit-flavored daifuku options including lemon, mango, and white peach. These are among the least traditional-flavored of the seasonal daifuku options, but they offer a refreshingly sweet treat during the dog days of summer.Autumn is a time when maron, or chestnut, rules Japanese seasonal confections, and that applies to daifuku mochi as well. This is one of my personal favorite, since the chestnut pairs so well with the anko.All of those are great, but the most unique seasonal daifuku I've encountered comes in late Winter/early Spring. As the season transitions to Spring, the first fruit to fall is the plum, or ume. Ume is extremely tart, which makes it great for things likeume shu (plum wine) and umeboshi, pickled plum, but it's not typically paired with confections. Imagine my surprise when I was walking through the supermarket and came across this:Yup, that's ume daifuku. I had to try it, so I purchased one for 100 yen (108 with tax).So how does it taste?Well, the ume was certainly tart, but the anko and mochi did well to counter the strong flavor of the ume. Overall, it is satisfying and provides a unique taste of the season. While I am still partial to the ichigo daifuku that are ubiquitous this time of year, the ume daifuku became one of my wife's favorites. Do be careful if you decide to try it though, since the ume's stone is not removed (i.e. be sure to eat around it!).You can find seasonal daifuku mochi at most convenience stores and supermarkets selling for (generally) between 100 and 250 yen. Boutique Japanese confectioneries will typically offer higher quality ingredients for commensurately higher prices.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GO0xd-foodFri, 06 Apr 2018 12:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GO0xd-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08dK-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThere are so many things to love about my town (Urasa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata). The people are friendly, the locally grown rice and veggies are delicious, and there is always some sort of festival or special event taking place. The only downside is the voluminous snow that is part of life in yukiguni. Don't get me wrong, snow is great for skiing and snowboarding, but in the middle of winter here, the snow can fall so heavily that you're in downright survival mode just making sure that you can get to and from work, the grocery store, and home.The meters and meters of snowfall can make for tough winters, but our town even finds wonderful ways to make the most of it. Another city-cost blogger wrote about the Snowball Fight festival that takes place near here, but about a month later in early March, our town threw a Children’s Snow Festival (literally the Urasa Kodomo Yuki Matsuri)in its large park, the Yairo no Mori Koen. For a family-focused event, it simply could not be beat in showcasing all of the most fun aspects of living in a snowy place.Here are a few of the attractions this festival had to offer:The FoodAs I mentioned earlier, one of the best things about Minamiuonuma is the locally grown produce, and the festival certainly showcased it. There was freshly cooked koshihikari rice served in a number of different ways, deliciousshiitakemushrooms (served by a mascot no less--as pictured above), and myriad other healthy and tasty options. Of course, no festival would be complete without the standard fare like yakitori, yakisoba, and manju, of which this festival had plenty to offer. Like other festivals, cash is king so be sure to have some handy, but you won't need much. The cotton candy we purchased for our daughter was only 30 yen, and none of the food options were priced over 500 yen.The FunThe town certainly showed that the people here are able to make the most of the snow. Pictured above is the Minamiuonuma yuru-kyara(mascot)-shaped bouncy castle for children to enjoy. There were also sled runs of varying sizes to accommodate different age and skill groups (sleds provided), and even a snowmobile-towed raft for up to four people to ride at a time. The best part? All of the attractions were free of charge.The FestivitiesThe town made good use of the amphitheater in the park, running a several-hour long program complete with dance troupes, taiko drums, and other musical performances. It was standing room only for the shows, but stopping in to watch some children show off some new dance moves or see a citizens' group taiko performance offered a nice break in between activities.This past year marked the 12th iteration of the Urasa Children's Snow Festival, and next year's event will take place during the first weekend of March. The event runs all day from early morning to early evening, culminating in a large bon-fire.Yairo no Mori Parkis located about a 20 minute walk from Urasa Station, but there are taxis and buses available to ride. By car, it is a less-than-five minute drive from the Yamato Exit on the Joetsu Expressway.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08dK-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 05 Apr 2018 11:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08dK-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpx8-living_shoppingWhen my wife and I moved to Japan, we had barely any furniture. That meant we had to do a bit of furniture shopping immediately after moving in, but the tricky thing was that we knew that we would have to move again in the near future and had no idea what to expect from the layout or size of our future home. As such, we were a little concerned with the type of furniture that was worth our investment.Admittedly, we made a few blunders, but one choice have stood out as ones worth recommending for folks planning an extended stay in Japan: expandable shelves. We love the Noce furniture company, and when we came across these shelves, we were intrigued by the flexibility they offered. The concept is simple enough: it's a shelf that allows you to double the width simply by spreading out the two end sections. We decided to purchase a tall shelf and a medium-height shelf for a bit of variety, and they have not disappointed.We've had three homes in a 5 year stretch now, and those shelves have earned their keep. When when we first had them, they were spread to max capacity. In our next two places, however, we had to adjust them to the width more suitable for the spaces such as under the stairs:Having the flexibility in furniture width saved us having to get rid of the shelves and buy new ones in spite of two moves to places of very different size and shape. It also meant that they could be used for a variety of different purposes. In our most recent place, we've had to use our tall shelf for towels and other odds and ends instead of the photos and books it housed in our previous home.In addition to the flexibility that being expandable offers, these shelves are surprisingly sturdy (important in an earthquake-prone country like Japan), and the Noce brand in particular has great aesthetics.While not every furniture company offers these type of shelves, Noce and Nitori are two that I have seen sell them. Both allow you to order online, and they will even do installation in your home, if you request. I opted to assemble them myself, and they were incredibly easy to build.Do you have any questions about these pieces or any other furniture choices for homes in Japan? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpx8-living_shoppingWed, 04 Apr 2018 14:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpx8-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNxN-living_transportation_familylifeTransportation with small children is never easy, whether its a plane, car, train, bus, horse-drawn carriage, or any other mode of transport you can think of. Still, you have to get around somehow, and one of the speediest and most convenient options in Japan is the Shinkansen(Bullet Train). But how is the Shinkansen for families? Is it worth it? How can you make it easier for you and your children? Allow me to answer these questions and offer some more insight to ease your next bullet train trip with children in tow.The BasicsTypes of TicketsMost of you who have taken the Shinkansen know that there are three options for seats: unreserved, reserved, and green car. Unreserved seats put you in cars where you just pick any available seat. Reserved seats are specifically designated by car number, row, and seat designation. Finally, green car tickets are reserved seats in the luxury cars.FaresNaturally, the price for tickets goes up from unreserved seat to reserved seat to green car. Generally speaking, the differences are not significant, but enough to consider when traveling on a budget. Children 6-11 ride for half the adult fare. Children 5 and under are free, but they are not entitled to their own seat, which means that if no seats are open, they must ride on your lap.So which ticket is best for families?If you are traveling with small children (5 and under) and have the money, it is always best to spring for the Green Car when you have kids in tow. Green Cars are the least likely to be full, meaning that you have a better chance of having an open seat next to you where your child can sit for the duration of the ride. Even if the child has to sit on your lap, there is a lot more space to accommodate the extra body in the seat area.If money is tight, you should still consider going for a reserved seat. It will just give you peace of mind when trying to get your family settled in the train car (not the easiest of tasks).I only recommend buying an unreserved seat ticket if you are traveling with a single child under 5. Any more and you run the risk of being separated because there are not enough open seats available, and if you only have one child, it will be a tight squeeze but you will be together on the single seat.Extra Tips:- Bring Snacks (or be prepared to buy snacks): Unlike normal commuter trains, Shinkansen seats have tray tables and encourage eating on board. They even have snack carts that travel up an down the aisle (they take small bills, PASSMO/SUICA, or credit cards).- Dump your big bags at the storage areas right when you board the train. I think it's impossible for parents to travel light with children in tow, so I recommend placing your big suitcases/backpacks/diaper bags in the baggage storage areas present right when you board the train. This is convenient, because those storage cubbies are usually close to the restrooms, so if you need to grab the diaper bag, it will be right there for you. The seats do not have adequate overhead storage or leg space to accommodate keeping the big bags with you when you are also sharing the space with children.Do you have any questions about taking the shinkansen with children? Do you have any additional advice for readers out there? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNxN-living_transportation_familylifeTue, 03 Apr 2018 16:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNxN-living_transportation_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqgx-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataOne of the great things about living in Yukiguni (snow country) is that there is no shortage of ski slopes. That’s a dream come true for a snowboarder like me, but just like anywhere not on the north or south poles, there are only so many months in the year to enjoy the snow. So what can I do the rest of the year? Fortunately for me, the answer is simple: cycling.I used to be an avid cycler before I moved to Tokyo and decided that I’d rather not be hit by a taxi. I parted ways with my bikes, wondering when I’d be somewhere conducive for cycling once again. And then I moved to snow country. While I’m still on the lookout for a good fat bike for riding through the snow during the winter, this area is great for cycling enthusiasts during all other seasons. For road bikers, there is no shortage of areas to ride, as can be seen in this map here (pdf here).Personally, I am a fan of downhill mountain biking. It’s a completely different experience from road biking and can be a helluva fun time.The concept is simple: ski resorts realize that having a business that runs for only 4 months of the year is not maximizing its potential. So instead of sitting idle, many open up the slopes for alpine cyclists. Even if those areas do not employ gondolas that can support people and bikes, most will instead just use a truck to drive you and your equipment up the mountains for a nominal fee.For those of you interested in downhill mountain-biking there are a number of considerations: first, be sure to have all the right equipment. At a minimum, you’ll need a mountain bike and a helmet. Most places that open up the lifts for downhill biking also rent out this sort of basic equipment. Elbow, knee pads, and gloves are recommended in case you take a spill, and I advise wearing long sleeves and pants to prevent scrapes and cuts.Second, consider whether or not you want lessons and/or a guide. For newbies to the activity, it can be helpful to begin your day with someone to show you the ropes and give you the lay of the land. No need for misplaced bravado here: staff are very accommodating and are interested in making sure you have a good time (besides, they’d rather take the time to show you the ropes than to deal with injuries!).Finally, if you’re bringing a bike with you, you’ll need to consider how you’re going to transport it. If taking a plane, bus, or train, you’ll need to have a bike bag or box and break it down. If you’re doing that anyway and planning a multi-night sojourn, you may want to consider Takkyubin to transport your bike for you. It costs a few thousand yen, but it will save you the difficulty of hauling a bike around.In Minamiuonuma, there are many places to do downhill mountain biking. My personal favorite is the Hakkaisan Mountain Bike (MTB) Courselocated right next to the Hakkaisan Cycling Terminal (a large hostel-like lodge for cyclists). Hakkaisan MTB Course has the best maintained trails and fantastic staff (one-time escort down the trail is 200 yen per person; half-day instruction is only 500 yen per person!). The slopes are open for cycling from May to October.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqgx-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMon, 02 Apr 2018 12:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqgx-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2d1-living_tokamachi_shi_niigata_uonuma_shi_niigata_minamiuonuma_shi_niigata_yuzawa_machi_niigataNo matter where you live in the world, transportation is a consideration, but the mode and cost of transport differs greatly from place to place. For those who live in big cities (especially in Japan), there is little need for a car when you have such an extensive network of trains, buses, and cabs. Out in Snow Country, however, we aren't as lucky, so we have to rely on a mix of personal and public transport to get around. Unfortunately, having a heavy mix of modes of transport can be costly if you do not think about ways to maximize the economy of each. Here are some considerations for budgeting for transportation in snow country:CarIt is possible to survive in Snow Country without a car, but life becomes exponentially easier if you have one. Expect to spend around 500,000-1,000,000 yen on a good used car and snow tires (which are must-haves for the winter season). You should also budget about 2,000 yen for a sturdy snow brush/ice scraper tool to keep in the car for when it looks like mine did in the picture above (don't skimp on this, since the cheaper tools tend to break under the heavy amount of snow, meaning you'll be out more money replacing the original). Insurance, tax, and maintenance will come to about another 120,000 yen annually. If you minimize use of your vehicle, you can probably get away with budgeting about 3,000 yen a month for gas. All of this may seem expensive, but having to take a taxi imposes heavy real and opportunity costs when you need to take care of things during the long and snowy winter season.BicyclesAlthough the winter season hampers your ability to ride bikes for about 3-4 months of the year, the other 8 months tend to be great for getting around on a bike instead of having to use a car. Although some folks will look for fancier road bikes, mountain bikes, or fat bikes for getting around the area in snow country, my wife and I put about 11,000 yen each into a standard mamachari bike (see pic above). We store those bikes outside (under cover), and in spite of all of the weather conditions that roll through snow country, they have kept up extremely well over the course of 5 years of use. I certainly advocate for everyone to have a bicycle in Japan, whether in the city or the countryside, and a good mamachari bike will only run you between 10,000-15,000 yen plus 500 yen for registration. Bullet TrainOne big advantage to living in Snow Country (thanks to former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka) is the Joetsu Shinkansen that connects Tokyo to Niigata. It's hard to believe that our little town has a bullet train stop, but it sure does, which means that if we need to take a trip into the city, there is no need to fly or take a long drive on the expressway. Standard fare to Tokyo from Snow Country is about 16,000 yen, or $150. If you are a student, however, you can apply to use the Gakuwari student discount (up to 20%) a limited number of times a year (apply through your student services office).Air?Out in the rural areas of Japan, you will generally find that you will have access to either airports or bullet train stations, but rarely both. In my case, I am lucky enough to have a bullet train stop available. The nearest airport, however, is in Niigata city and not near a train station, meaning that I either need to drive 3 hours or take a combination of bullet train and local trains or buses to get to the airport. In that case, it becomes more economical either to take the bullet train to my final destination, or take it into Tokyo to go to Haneda or Narita if I need to fly. When you move to the countryside, make sure to price this out, especially if you intend to travel or expect visitors to come to your town.Do you have any questions about the cost of transportation in snow country? Do you have any additional recommendations for readers? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2d1-living_tokamachi_shi_niigata_uonuma_shi_niigata_minamiuonuma_shi_niigata_yuzawa_machi_niigataSun, 01 Apr 2018 08:26:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2d1-living_tokamachi_shi_niigata_uonuma_shi_niigata_minamiuonuma_shi_niigata_yuzawa_machi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7j7e-livingOne of the features of living overseas is the fact that a lot of friends and family use it as a good excuse to travel abroad, sometimes for the first time. Accommodating visitors in Tokyo can be a piece of cake—there are always lots of options for things to do and for places to stay, which is important if you’re like the vast majority of residents here and don’t live somewhere with enough space to accommodate multiple house guests, if any. The same isn’t necessarily true when you live out in the inaka (countryside), however; in fact, many times, the opposite is true. Such has been our predicament out here in Niigata.Allow me to offer some lessons learned for accommodating visitors in the inaka for those of you expats out there who may find themselves in the same situation.Places to stayOur home is not small compared to the 1DK to 2LDK varieties so common to the Kanto area, but it’s not like places back in the states that have guest rooms and multiple bathrooms, either. As such, when folks come out to visit, we usually have to try to find hotels in town for them. There are only two business hotels in our town and one expensive Ryokan (nothing in between cheap/spartan and expensive/luxurious). Not only that, only one of them does online booking and that one rarely has accurate information on the website on availability. As such, if you live in the countryside and are expecting to have to coordinate accommodations for guests, I recommend scoping out the different hotels nearby. You can learn how to find some better middle ground on accommodations. For example, the business hotels have "suites" that are a bit nicer but not advertised without special plans. The ryokan also have options that are cheaper during off-seasons and without meals included (which may not be necessary if you plan to be dining with your guests elsewhere). Be sure to grab a meishi (business card) from each hotel/ryokan so you can call to make reservations. I’ve had rooms *magically* come available whenever I call. Is this all extra work? Yes, but it saves effort in the long run.FoodWe don’t mind cooking for houseguests, but sometimes that’s not feasible, or it’s a tough option if your home is small. In that case, you’ll need to find good restaurants that are suitable to foreign tastes. I recommend "family dining" options because they typically have pretty broad menus and are able to accommodate larger groups. Our favorite in the local area is Family Dining Kodama-ya, but you should be able to locate similar restaurants in yours by searching for places with "Family Dining," "ファミリーレストラン,” or "ファミリーダイニング" in the title.Things to DoI’ve lost count of the number of times someone around my town has told me, “oh, you used to live in Tokyo? You must get bored here with nothing to do.” On the contrary, the Japanese inaka has plenty to offer—it’s just a different side of Japan with very different options for things to do. This area here provides plenty of beautiful nature activities, but the best part is the festival culture. Small town festivals are infinitely times better than the big, commercialized festivals in metropolitan areas where festival workers are imported from other towns and areas are cordoned off to accommodate JTB and other travel agencies. I always try to time guest visits for when festivals are taking place and give them a real taste of Japanese culture at its finest.If festivals aren't an option and you aren't sure of what is good for tourists, be sure to check out your own town's tourism bureau for information. Take guest visits as an opportunity to be a tourist in your own town and see some sides of it you may not see through daily life.If you have any questions about accommodating visitors in the Japanese countryside, or if you have recommendations based on your own experiences, feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7j7e-livingSat, 31 Mar 2018 11:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G7j7e-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mp7NZ-living_workThe best advice I received from another expat before starting work in a Japanese office was this: "You'll never out-Japanese the Japanese, so don't try." I didn't quite understand what the person meant at the time, but after a few months, the light came on and I understood.Anyone who comes from the United States or one of the Commonwealth countries and has worked in Japan knows that things are starkly different between working in Japan and working back home. There are customs and traditions and ways of communicating that are all, well, foreign to us. For many of us, our first instinct is to try to fit in--to learn all of those customs and traditions and aspects of work culture and make them part of our own. Take it from a guy who nearly burned himself out trying to do that: it is an impossible endeavor.The thing is, because all of it is foreign to you, it's impossible to be able to get everything right. Heck, I've been in Japan for 16 years and I still can't get keigo and kenjogo sorted, let alone the barrage of other socio-cultural nuances associated with Japanese offices. But that's okay. Unless you're working clerical or manual labor-type tasks, a Japanese company isn't hiring a foreigner to come in and be more Japanese than its Japanese employees. It hired a foreigner for the qualities and traits that foreigners bring. You should look at those things as assets, not liabilities. Certainly, there are things you should learn and adaptations you should pursue, but the list is relatively small.Here are the things you should learn/adopt:- Traditions associated with special events such as weddings and funerals. Working in Japan, you will probably be invited to some sort of exceptional event, and there will be certain customs associated with each. Ask a coworker for advice on what to do, the types of gifts/money envelopes to bring, and any other pertinent information. It helps to write it down and keep it handy for the future.- Proper self-introduction and farewell speech (in Japanese). These don't have to be long (30 seconds to 1.5 minutes is usually more than enough), but in any Japanese workplace, you'll want to have a short speech ready to go for introduction and farewell, since every Japanese office I have ever worked has asked folks to do so.- Workplace events like enkai. No-mmunication (drinking "nomu" & communication) is an important part of doing business in Japan. Even if you don't drink alcohol, you should not pass up the chance to loosen up with colleagues, bosses, and clients and establish bonds that will help you in your daily business and life here in Japan. Here are the things NOT to adopt:- Work hours. Don't kill yourself trying to match your Japanese colleagues' work hours. Be efficient with your time and head home. Trust me when I say that most of your Japanese colleagues will thank you not resent you for it since it opens the door for others to leave earlier, too. Will it hurt your ability to promote? Like I said before, most Japanese companies hire foreigners understanding that they have different work behaviors, and going home at a reasonable hour is one of them.- Taking vacation. While few Japanese take leave outside of national holidays, you should take you allocated paid vacation. Like going home at a decent hour, taking your vacation sets a different standard for work-life balance that will be appreciated more than resented.- Communication and Leadership styles. As I mentioned before, use your foreign traits as assets, not liabilities. Japanese office culture may operate a certain way, and while you can't just change everything, you can use your unique qualities to serve as a catalyst or inject new life in projects, operations, etc. Be respectful to the culture in which you live and work, but remember that you are neither Japanese, nor were you hired to be Japanese. Ultimately, be yourself--that's the best thing you can do for you and for your place of business.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mp7NZ-living_workThu, 29 Mar 2018 09:03:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mp7NZ-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mn5Oj-living_medical_healthFor folks who live in big cities here in Japan, there are plenty of great options for top-of-the-line health care, many of which have English speaking staff. It's easy to call and inquire about the types of services each place provides, as well as operating hours and other administrative information. That's not necessarily the case out in the countryside of Japan, where there are few English speakers and no one to hold your hand through using each of the facilities. Since I didn't have anyone to help me through the process, I wanted to offer you, the reader, some lessons I learned to ease your transition to the inakaand to help you and your family get the medical care you need.Clinics or Hospitals?The first major thing that I noticed here is that there are actually quite a few options for health care, and nearly all of them accept National Health Insurance. However, there is only one hospital near us, but several clinics.Our local clinic, open from 0830-1700 most daysAs a basic rule, clinics only have general practitioners who can see patients and refer them to larger hospitals if they need to see specialists or if they require surgery or other medical procedures that cannot be completed within the scope of the clinic's services. Hospitals provide those specialized services as well as emergency rooms and surgery units.Our 24/7 top-of-the-line hospital, complete with medical helipad for Dr. HeliYou will want to register yourself and family members with at least one clinic and one hospital. To do so, bring your National Health Insurance card to the facility and fill out an application for a shinsatsuken, or patient registration ticket (basically a medical ID card). That way, you'll be ready to go in case you need to use any of the services there.So which is better, clinic or hospital? I discuss some common situations below:Walk-ins: ClinicIf you have some minor illnesses like a cold, need medication, or require a doctor's note for any reason, visit the Clinic. You will generally be seen relatively quickly. The doc will give you a quick once over and then write a prescription, doctor's note, or referral (if you need to go to a specialist), as required. You will only have to pay for the services rendered. If you go for a walk-in at a hospital (particularly an emergency room), you will need to pay a fee and you should expect to wait for your turn based on triage (order of medical priority).Optional Vaccinations (like the Flu Shot):ClinicIf you or your family members require seasonal immunizations like the flu vaccine, head to the clinic. Most hospitals don't deal with routine, voluntary immunizations such as these, so they'll just point you to a clinic anyway (which is what happened to me).Pediatrics: HospitalThere will be some clinics out there that specialize in pediatrics. That's great if they are available, but with Japan's dwindling children population based on demographic issues, there simply isn't the market for stand-alone pediatric clinics in many places, such as the town in which I reside. Instead, pediatricians work in the bigger hospitals, so that's where I take my children for their shots and routine health checks. If they have a minor illness and require walk-in assistance, still go to a clinic first to be seen, since the general practitioners (GP) will be able to take care of them.Specialists: Clinic, then HospitalEven if you know you require a specialist for an injury or illness, it is often best to see the clinic first rather than heading to a hospital. First, you'll avoid the additional fee for going to the hospital. Second, the clinic will refer you to a specialist and get you a scheduled appointment--most of the time same day. That means that you won't have to be put in line behind other scheduled appointment and urgent patients (which can leave you in the waiting room a LONG time). Third, the GP will be able to give you an idea of what you should discuss with the specialist.Emergencies: HospitalIf you have an emergency, skip the clinic and go to the hospital. Clinics will rarely have the capacity to handle emergent conditions, and there is no point beating around the bush to get a referral for a bigger hospital. Just go to the emergency room and be seen ASAP!If you have any other questions on clinics and hospitals in Japan, or if you have some additional advice for expats living in Japan, feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mn5Oj-living_medical_healthWed, 28 Mar 2018 14:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mn5Oj-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wN907-living_familylifeMy wife and I have had two kids in Japan now, lived in both the city and the countryside of Japan, and done quite a bit of traveling throughout the country. One of the constant considerations when living and traveling with kids is how the heck you're supposed to get them around when traveling on foot. In the United States, there's generally no question: get the biggest, baddest stroller and truck anyone who gets in your way. That's not really an option in Japan though, with narrow walkways, ubiquitous stairs, and crowds. Sure, there is a time and place for strollers here, but we found that carriers and backpacks were also necessary tools for raising infants in Japan. Allow me to give a brief description of the pros and cons for each here in Japan:StrollersCertainly, every parent should have a stroller. There are just times when you need to push your infant or young toddler around in a buggy. Still, strollers are extremely difficult to use in conjunction with Japan's public transportation system (namely buses, trains, and taxis). If you're going to invest in a stroller, here are a few things you should look for: - Narrow width: navigating doorways, turnstiles, and crowds gets increasingly trickier the wider the stroller. The narrower, the better.- Lightweight: expect to have to carry a stroller up and down stairs, so sparing weight can help make use of a stroller much easier.- Foldable: Invariably, you're going to have to store the stroller in a trunk, cubby, or closet. Space is a premium in Japan, so be sure to get something that folds down to a relatively compact size.Note: Most malls, department stores, and supermarkets in Japan offer children's carts with varying sizes to accommodate infants and toddlers, so we rarely, if ever, bring a stroller when shopping anymore.CarriersCarriers are the things that you will see most Japanese parents using, and for good reason: they are the best all-around method for transporting infants and young toddlers in Japan. Keeping your child close to your body helps when using any of the many methods of public transport, and it enables you to navigate crowds with relative ease. Also, whenever you find a public-use child buggy (such as in a mall or department store), you can simply unpack your child and give your back a break. The downside to a carrier is that it restricts the freedom of your little one. While many kids are okay with that, some lose patience after a while, and trying to soothe a bawling child against your chest can be difficult. It also makes temperature regulation a lot more difficult, especially in the hot and humid Japanese summers.When selecting a carrier, make sure you spend a little extra to get one with adequate padding and support straps, and you may want to think about getting one with a mesh pouch instead of solid cloth so that it is a little more versatile in the hotter months. You can also invest in cooling pads to place in the carrier before loading your tot to help keep him/her at a healthy temperature.BackpackThe backpack option is too bulky to serve as an everyday transport device for your child in Japan, but I have found it to be the best when traveling. The backpack combines the best elements of the stroller and the carrier while offering some extra built-in storage for diapers, snacks, etc. I find that my children have fared in the backpack much better for longer periods than the carrier, and the freedom they enjoy in the back (not to mention being up high) makes for a more enjoyable experience for them, meaning happier kids.When looking for a backpack carrier, I recommend selecting ones designed for hiking, even if you don't intend to be doing much hiking. Hiking backpacks are always developed with the highest level of ergonomics in mind, including easy-access pouches (great for snacks or drinks to be able to hand your children on-the-go), stow-away sunshades, comfortable straps (for you and your child), and sturdy construction. Regardless of the type of backpack you select, you should go for an option with a sunshade (either stow-away or attachable) and a retractable frame that allows you to stand the backpack on the ground with your child inside. As an add-on, I recommend picking up a small rear view mirror to attach to your backpack strap so you can easily see what your child is doing in the back.Do you have any questions about any of these options? Have any additional notes or recommendations? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wN907-living_familylifeSun, 04 Mar 2018 11:36:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wN907-living_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBOaj-living_food_healthLiving and working in Japan, you are likely to encounter more than a fair share of drinking parties (nomikai)--after all, it is a part of the culture. Now for the young bucks out there, bouncing back from a night of drinking may not be any problem at all, but for a father of two, a hangover can completely wreck you.So how can you prevent that dreaded hangover from hitting you in spite of a hearty night of drinking with friends and/or coworkers planned? While I'm sure many of you out there have your own hangover prevention tricks, I'd like to introduce you all to hangover prevention, Japan style. Here are the three easy steps:Step 1: Tap into the Power of the UkonAvailable at any convenience store in Japan, the Power of the Ukon (literally, ukon no chikara) is a vitamin drink made with ground turmeric root. Throw in some other vitamins and minerals, and this 100-120 mL drink is supposed to counteract the alcohol you will be imbibing (or had already imbibed). While I recommend starting with this, you can always pick some up for a pick-me-up after the event ends or between the nomikai and nijikai(after party).Step 2: Order Oolong Tea along with your other drinksOne of the keys to preventing a hangover is adequate hydration, which can be difficult if the only thing being ordered at dinner is beer and liquor. Most nomikaiwill take place at a restaurant with some sort of nomihodai (all-you-can-drink) menu plan. Sure, you can order water, but if you have ever been to a Japanese restaurant, you know that they'll almost always serve water in cups that are barely bigger than shot glasses. Still, one drink that will always be on an "all-you-can-drink" menu is Oolong tea. That is a fantastic option because it will be served in the same full-sized glasses as the other drinks coming to the table. Also, Oolong tea beats the soft drink options on the menu because it eliminates the worry about drinking too many sugary drinks that can exacerbate a hangover.Step 3: Eat some Oden after you're done drinkingAfter finishing your night of drinking, I recommend heading out for some Oden, which is a broth-based Japanese dish containing an assortment of things like boiled eggs, potato, konyaku, and noodles. This has long been a popular option for Japanese folks looking to close out a long night out, and it makes sense why. The broth of Oden helps hydrate you and settle your stomach while the starchier contents like potato and noodles can absorb some of the alcohol that you drank. A lot of drinking areas in Japan's major cities will have Oden restaurants nearby, but you can always stop by your nearest convenience store and get your own customized oden-to-go!Do you have any other Japanese hangover prevention tips? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBOaj-living_food_healthSat, 03 Mar 2018 17:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBOaj-living_food_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6LZ-livingJapanese hotels are steeped in tradition. They emerged as a major industry during the Edo period (1603-1868) thanks to the Shogun's policy of sankin kōtai, which mandated that feudal lords must leave their families in the capital city of Edo (modern day Tokyo) and transit back and forth from their own feudal lands. The long treks required overnight stays along the way, so ryokan (Japanese style inns) and minshuku (private homes providing lodging for travelers) became necessary features along the major thoroughfares leading to Edo. Given the class of patrons, those accommodations took to becoming the culmination of Japanese omotenashi, or hospitality, with superb staff, excellent food, and beautiful guest rooms. Of course, when Japan opened up its borders and began to modernize, it started accommodating western patrons as well, and hotels started to pop up alongside these ryokan. While modern Japanese business hotels strip away the omotenashi in favor of economy, the best of Japan's vintage hotels still maintain that quintessentially Japanese spirit of hospitalityand offer unforgettable accommodations for travelers.1) Hotel New Grand, YokohamaHotel New Grand recently celebrated its 90th anniversary this past December, and it certainly has a story to go along with its age. The original Hotel Grand in Yokohama was established in 1873, but it was demolished following the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. The Hotel New Grand opened three years later in its place, and it has since hosted a wide variety of interesting guests including Charlie Chaplin and Babe Ruth. Still, the most interesting aspect of the hotel's history is its connection to General Douglas MacArthur, who served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers-Pacific during World War II and led the General Headquarters of Occupation forces following the war. The hotel was spared from bombing even though much of Yokohama was leveled around it, and it served as the first place that MacArthur stayed upon arriving in Japan on 30 August 1945. Interestingly, that was his third time staying there. The first was when he was a young military officer and aide-de-camp to his father, General Arthur MacArthur in the Philippines. The second was in 1937 when MacArthur returned to Yokohama to honeymoon with his wife. When MacArthur returned that fateful third time, it's said that the hotel manager greeted him at the door by bowing and simply stating, "Welcome back, General MacArthur."Hotel New Grand stands as a historical landmark amidst the otherwise modern Minato-Mirai area of Yokohama. The main building is still the original, though the hotel has added an adjacent tower to accommodate more guests and special events.As for restaurants, Hotel New Grand maintains its deep affinity for French cuisine, which has been the tradition since its inception 90 years ago. You can find more information at the Hotel New Grand website.Map:2) Nara Hotel, NaraNara Hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels you will ever come across, even if not necessarily in size or grandeur. Founded in 1909, the purpose of the Nara Hotel was to play host to Japan's most prestigious guests. It was built including every modern amenity possible (including steam heating as early as 1914), and blends western sensibilities with Japanese aesthetics. The hotel has lived up to its mission, too, hosting such prominent guests as Edward VIII of England, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, Pope Paul VI, and the Dalai Lama.The hotel boasts beautiful guest rooms and top notch service, as well as world class French and Japanese meal options. Importantly, the hotel is located immediately next to Nara Park, meaning that the best that Nara has to offer is walking distance away, including the Kofuku-ji, Kasuga-Taisha and Todai-ji, among others.You can find more information on the Nara Hotel website.Map:3) Fujiya HotelSaving the best for last, the Fujiya Hotel in Hakone is a must-stay place in one of Japan's one-visit locations. Founded in 1878, the Fujiya Hotel is one of Japan's oldest, and the architectural styling reflects the period of transition that Japan was undergoing, blending Japanese aesthetics with western architecture and design. The hotel has hosted a number of famous guests including Charlie Chaplin, Helen Keller, John Lennon, Prince Albert (who ascended to the throne as George VI), among others. Moreover, during the Occupation era after World War II, the Fujiya Hotel served as an Armed Forces Recreation Facility for the Allied powers, and it accommodated many famous soldiers including future U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower.The Fujiya Hotel is located in the heart of Hakone, only about a 7-minute walk from Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan railway, and there are always taxis and shuttles available at the hotel for travelers. In addition to the spacious guest rooms, the Fujiya Hotel has several in-house restaurants, a delicious bakery, and other attractions such as a pool, onsen, Japanese garden, and greenhouse, among others.For more information, you can visit the Fujiya Hotel website.Map:To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6LZ-livingThu, 01 Mar 2018 14:33:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6LZ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wemNd-living_yonezawa_shi_yamagataWhen most people think of traveling to Tohoku, Honshu's northern regions, they probably think of Sendai, Morioka, Aomori, or Fukushima. Few look a little westward to Yamagata, but this mountainous prefecture is full of incredible sites and experiences. No place is better for experiencing the best that Yamagata has to offer than Yonezawa, and it is only a two-hour bullet train ride away from Tokyo.Nestled in the valley plains of Yamagata, Yonezawa is steeped in culture and history. Fans of Japan's Warring States period will immediately recognize the name Kenshin Uesugi, the famous warrior lord that hailed from Yonezawa. The town itself was the home of the Uesugi clan, and although the castle was destroyed during the Edo period (along with most other fortifications belonging to potential adversaries), one can still enjoy the spectacular military design and samurai culture in this town.Like most Japanese castle towns, Yonezawa was constructed with the castle at the center, and that's where I recommend starting your Yonezawa journey. Located about 2 kilometers from Yonezawa station are the former castle grounds. There, you can immediately get a sense of the military genius of Kenshin Uesugi by seeing just how the city was planned:Unlike most feudal Japanese towns, where roads were purposely made labyrinthine to confuse invading forces attempting to storm an adversary's castle keep, Uesugi opted to employ a grid pattern with strategically placed canals that would frustrate any would-be invaders. Not only did this allow for more economical daily life for the people of Yonezawa, but it allowed Uesugi to develop more effective defense plans for the city.Once you've awed at the genius of the city's design, it's time to wander the former castle grounds, which offer a wide array of historical and cultural sites.Here is a statue of Kenshin Uesugi, forever standing in development of some strategy for action:Then there's the Uesugi Shrine, which is a simple but beautiful shrine with an adjoining museum.After you are done there, you can head over to the Uesugi City Museum, which includes permanent exhibits displaying artifacts from the Uesugi clan's collection, as well as an assortment of temporary art exhibits. Entry is 410 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and junior high students, and 100 yen for elementary school students and younger.Not pictured here are the various incredible restaurants located immediately around the old city center. My personal recommendation for meal options is the Yonezawa gyu, the regional beef. The preferred way to serve this type of beef is in long, thin slices which can be grilled or boiled (yakiniku or shabu shabu style). It is not as fatty as Kobe beef, but for people who prefer leaner meat that is still full of flavor, you can't go wrong with Yonezawa beef.From there, you can take a quick ride over to Yonezawa's famous rice field art. Every year, the people of Yonezawa develop new designs (though they typically have some tie-in back to the town's samurai roots). When we went, it was a mash-up between Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) and the period of Warring States in Japan:Finally, one more cab or shuttle ride will get you over to one of the best parts of Yamagata: the fruit orchards. Yamagata produces Japan's best grapes, and while these bad boys will cost you upwards of a few thousand yen for a single pack in a supermarket, you can pick your own (all you can eat) for just a few hundred yen:We were there during grape season, but Yamagata is also known for apples, pears, cherries, blueberries, plums, strawberries, and peaches. Fortunately for you, no matter what time of year you decide to visit, there will always be at least one of those fruits in season!Naturally, Yonezawa has a lot of other great attractions for visitors, but these were my personal favorites and what make Yonezawa for me, one of the best hidden gems that Japan has to offer!Do you have any questions about Yonezawa? Do you have any other Yonezawa-based recommendations for travelers? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wemNd-living_yonezawa_shi_yamagataWed, 28 Feb 2018 17:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wemNd-living_yonezawa_shi_yamagatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4lpk-foodOne of the best things about traveling in Japan is the food. I've eaten out innumerable times in Japan, and I can honestly count the number of bad meals on less than one hand. However, I'm accustomed to Japanese food because I grew up eating it, and it's sometimes easy for me and others who are accustomed to Japanese cuisine to assume that others will not have food aversions. Still, when you stop and think about it, there are actually quite a lot of foods here that will cause folks used to Western cuisines (think steak and potatoes) to recoil. Raw food is the common obstacle for many, but things like horumon (beef and pork intestines), horsemeat, head-on fish, natto, kani-miso, etc. are all enough to drive some to eating every meal at McDonalds.So how do you overcome the challenge of traveling with someone who is averse to or unsure about Japanese cuisine?Here are a few tips:1) Mix and Match meal optionsJust because you’re in Japan doesn’t mean you have to try to eat sushi at every meal. In fact, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t branch out and sample the wide variety of foreign cuisine available here. Find a burger joint for one meal, then an Italian place, and maybe a Spanish or Turkish joint after that. Keeping your meals varied will make the few Japanese cuisine meals more doable for wary eaters.2) Be up front with staff (especially at Ryokan) about food preferencesThis tip is more specific to kaiseki meal plans, such as the ones you’d be enjoying at Ryokan (Japanese-style inns) or some of Japan's fancier restaurants. When making the booking, be sure to identify dietary restrictions up front, whether it's raw food, seafood in general, or anything else. The staff will do their best to accommodate and substitute in other foods that are more palatable to your less adventurous travel partners.If you're going to a normal restaurant, keep in mind that it is not customary in Japan to mix and match items in meals--what you see on the menu is what you get. You can, however, ask for a particular item not be included by saying "(food item you don't want)-nuki kudasai."3) Keep in mind the wide variety of Japanese cuisinesIf you ask an American to describe Japanese food, they'll probably talk about sushi and maybe Benihana-like teppanyaki. But that is only scratching the surface of all of the fantastic Japanese cuisines out there. Here are some of my favorites that are good for folks just starting out with Japanese food:- Ten Zaru Udon or Zaru Soba: Tempura and noodles are a pretty basic option that is still quintessentially Japanese.- Curry: Unlike the Indian or Thai varieties, the mildness of Japanese curry makes it an easy starter option for folks new to Japanese cuisine.- Yakitori: While I don't recommend pushing folks to eating liver or chicken hearts out the gate, kushi-style meats and vegetables are always safe options.- Katsu: breaded pork or chicken with rice and cabbage is similar enough to foods found elsewhere and a safe bet for folks looking for something a little heartier to eat.4) Cook it yourself option (e.g. Yakiniku or Shabu Shabu)This is especially good if you are traveling with folks who are not big seafood or raw food fans, since Yakiniku and Shabu Shabu gives you plenty of meat and veggie options while letting you cook it to your own preference. Of all the years I've been taking visitors out for meals in Japan, I will say that Yakiniku and Shabu Shabu have always been the most popular. Have any questions about overcoming some of Japan's more adventurous dining options? Have additional advice for folks? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4lpk-foodWed, 28 Feb 2018 10:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4lpk-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp11-living_okinawaIf you do a quick internet search for "Okinawa" and "U.S. military," the return will probably not paint a kind picture of the relationship between U.S. military bases and the Okinawan communities that host them. Certainly, there are some deep-seated socio-political issues that exist within that complex relationship, as well as historical factors that play in as well. After all, Okinawa was an American protectorate from 1945-1972, and the island prefecture still hosts 32 of 82 U.S. military facilities in Japan as well as over half of the U.S. defense personnel stationed in the country. Over the course of that relationship, there have been some heinous incidents and severe accidents involving the U.S. military that have rightly drawn protest and lingering criticisms.Still, as with most things, there is another side to the story. While there are negative aspects of base-hosting relationships, I suggest that you don't let them belie the friendly ties that exist between each military base and the surrounding communities. No matter what the broader politics may be, people make the most of it and some important traditions have emerged over time. New families have been forged, lifelong friendships formed, and cultural exchanges enjoyed over time. Symbols of these interactions that have gained in popularity and importance over time are open base events.For security reasons, U.S. military installations remain closed off to assigned personnel and their guests, but a few times a year, the major bases open up their gates to let all enter for festivals, concerts, fireworks, and an assortment of other special events. Those open base events showcase the best aspects of the relationship between the bases and the local communities, and fortunately for travelers, they are open to all members of the public.If you intend to go, just be sure to have your passport or residence card on you for identification, and although most on-base establishments typically trade in dollars, yen is just fine for currency.Here are a list of some of the more famous annual open base events:Camp Schwab FestCamp SchwabLocation: Nago CityDates / Times: 3/24 (Sat) - 03/25 (Sun) / 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.Description: Every year, Camp Schwab opens its gates to all visitors for food, music, and fun. There are various American and local food vendors, special event booths (this year, Oculus Rift will be providing VR games), and live music.Map:White Beach FestivalNaval Base White BeachLocation: Uruma CityDate: Third Weekend in AprilDescription: Every year, the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force team up for this open base festival that includes food and game vendors, military equipment displays, live music, water activities, boat races, and auto shows.Map:Flightline FairMCAS FutenmaLocation: Ginowan CityDates: Second Weekend of JuneDescription: Marine Corps Air Station is home to many fascinating military aircraft (like the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey), and the base invites several more from other locations to put on display for all visitors. Event-goers can enjoy getting up close to a variety of different aircraft while enjoying food and game vendors, live music (including local musicians and some headlining bands brought over from the U.S.), and fireworks.Map:America FestKadena Air BaseLocation: Kadena TownDates: Fourth of July WeekendDescription: Almost every fourth of July weekend, Kadena opens up the gates for an assortment of events including flightline aircraft displays, food and game vendors, live music, and fireworks. Similar to Futenma's "Flightline Fair," but slightly larger in scale, America Fest is usually closed for base-only personnel on the first day and open for all event-goers on the second day of the event.Map:Have any questions about Open Base events or recommendations for events I haven't listed here? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp11-living_okinawaTue, 27 Feb 2018 13:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp11-living_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2D9-living_food_hokkaidoWhen you visit or live in Japan, there are two types of cook-it-yourself meals that you typically encounter: yakiniku and shabu shabu. The former puts you in front of a small grill where you cook your meat and vegetables on a stove or over hot coals, while the latter uses a pot to boil your food. You can find yakiniku and shabu shabu restaurants all over Japan, and they've even become popular abroad.Still, there is one more type of cook-it-yourself meal famous in Hokkaidō that is even better: ジンギスカン (Jingisukan, or "Genghis Khan").I know what you’re thinking: why is there a Hokkaidō dish named after the famous Mongolian conqueror? To answer that question, first I need to explain what Genghis Khan (the meal) is.Genghis Khan is similar to yakiniku in that you get meat and veggies to cook over a stove in front of you, but in the case of Genghis Khan, you typically employ a conical cast iron hot plate (looks almost like a helmet). The signature meat in Genghis Khan is lamb and mutton that comes in various cuts (even lamb's tongue--see below).Like yakiniku, there are a variety of dipping sauce options, and if you’re enjoying Genghis Khan in Hokkaidō, you’ll also be able to enjoy the prefecture’s delicious veggies and beer.So how'd it get the name "Genghis Khan?"As with most regional specialties, there are variations on how the name came about, but here's the general consensus: During the Meiji-era (1868-1912), the Imperial government pushed for Hokkaido to increase its sheep production for the wool and meat. As such, Hokkaidō ended up having a large amount of sheep, to the point where lamb and mutton was considered a daily consumable rather than a once-in-a-blue moon delicacy. Naturally, the people of Hokkaidō gained an acquired taste for the meat, and travelers visiting the northern prefecture would often want to sample it. In serving it up, it seemed that the method of eating it fresh off a hot plate made for an especially delicious meal in the frigid Hokkaidō climate.Well, when it came to naming this hearty feast, the people of Hokkaidō looked west and attributed the style of meal to what the Mongol hordes used to eat to maintain strength and stamina; hence, the name Genghis Khan (or Jingisukan, in phonetic Japanese).How popular is Genghis Khan?It’s basically become the most popular non-seafood regional eat in Hokkaido—so popular, in fact, that they have modeled mascots after the dish (three, in fact).Jin-kun, Gisu-kun (pictured above), and Kan-chan are the three mascots celebrating this Hokkaidō specialty, and you can find them all over Japan’s northern prefecture.So where’s the best place to get Genghis Khan?There are fantastic places all over Hokkaidō, but the classic place to find it is at Sapporo Beer Museum. There, you can get all you can eat Genghis Khan and all you can drink for 3,900 yen per person, or if you are just interested in the delicious food, 2,900 yen per person. Here's where to find it:Do you have any more questions about this Hokkaidō specialty? Have any great recommendations for travelers seeking Genghis Khan? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2D9-living_food_hokkaidoSat, 24 Feb 2018 17:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2D9-living_food_hokkaidohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY4p1-living_hokkaido_aomori_iwate_miyagi_akita_yamagata_fukushima_niigata_naganoMoving to snow country in Japan? Nothing that anybody tells you can prepare you for just how snowy Japan's colder regions can be, so my family was relatively unprepared even though we thought we had planned ahead. Now that we’ve survived nearly a whole long winter here, I wanted to share some of the key lessons learned that we picked up during this season. Here are my top five:1) Go for gumboots, not snow bootsSnow boots are great, but they are relatively impractical for daily life in Japan. First of all, they are a pain in the behind to take on and off easily, which is incredibly frustrating in a country where you have to take shoes off so often. Also, in places like where I live, the town uses a sprinkler system to get rid of snow. That means that people here deal a lot more with pools of water then with piles of snow in their daily pedestrian traffic.2) Don’t be afraid of gas heatersWhen we first moved out here, we figured that we would be able to get by with our electric heaters; that is until we got our first electric bill and our eyes nearly popped out of our heads. Japanese kerosene heaters are surprisingly effective and while they cost more than a few pennies, they are still a heck of a lot cheaper than electric heaters. My recommendation is to employ those gas heaters as much as possible. Your warm body and fuller wallet will thank you.3) Invest in a Kotatsu and/or heated rugsIf your house is anything like mine, there is no central heating and it is drafty. In those situations, you may want to save gas or electricity by minimizing how many heaters you have running. A kotatsu (heated table) or heated rugs give you a place to hunker down and stay warm, even when the rest of the house is icing over.4) Opt for 4-Wheel Drive and Snow TiresYou don’t need a Toyota Land Cruiser to brave the wintry roads out here. We did just fine with our Honda Mobilio. Why? Because our Mobilio has four wheel drive and we purchased snow tires. You’d be surprised how many smaller cars in Japan come with 4WD/AWD options, and while snow tires are an added cost, they will save you money down the road when you don't have to pay insurance premiums or repair costs.5) Apply plastic insulationThis may sound ridiculous or tacky, but what’s more ridiculous is paying out the nose for heating or freezing your buns off instead of adding more insulation. Using plastic sheets (could be trash bags, plastic wrap, or plastic packing material), apply a layer of insulation over all of your windows and doors. There’s not much you can do about adding insulation to the walls, but you can preserve that precious heat in these other areas simply by employing this cheap and easy option.Do you have any other tips for living in Snow Country? Feel free to add suggestions or ask questions using the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY4p1-living_hokkaido_aomori_iwate_miyagi_akita_yamagata_fukushima_niigata_naganoFri, 23 Feb 2018 17:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY4p1-living_hokkaido_aomori_iwate_miyagi_akita_yamagata_fukushima_niigata_naganohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MEqQy-livingBefore I started working in Japan, I already knew about the all-important drinking parties (nomikai飲み会), but little did I know that there were so many types of -kai events. I had to learn all of them as I went along but for your sake, I thought I would provide a quick reference list here:Enkai 宴会: The basic term for an evening party. They come in all variety of types and sizes.Nomikai　飲み会: The drinking party. Every evening party is basically a nomikai, but if someone is straight-up just calling the event a nomikai, it's a good idea to eat plenty before hand and get your drinking pants on (if you are a drinker).Nijikai　二次会: The After Party. Expect this to include a smaller group at another restaurant or smaller bar.Sanjikai　三次会: The After-After Party. Karaoke is always a popular destination for this.Yonjikai　四次会: What are you thinking??? Go home already!Kangeikai　歓迎会: The Welcome Party. An opportunity to introduce all of the new members of the office.Sōbetsukai　送別会: The Farewell Party. The office's chance to say good-bye to one or more members of the team.Kansōkangeikai　感想歓迎会: The Hail and Farewell. For busier offices, these are done about once a quarter to say farewell to those leaving and hello to those coming in.Cyūshokukai　昼食会: A luncheon. These are typically more business-like, since almost every participant will be returning to work in the afternoon.Yūshokukai　夕食会: The Dinner Party. From my experience, this is basically a more intimate (i.e. less invitees) enkai.Bōnenkai 忘年会: The end-of-year party. Literally meaning, "Forget the Year Party," the Bōnenkai is the time to blow off steam. These also happen to be the most popular office parties in Japan.Shin-nenkai新年会: The New Year's Party. Basically a normal enkai done in January, a Shin-nenkai is a good chance to do relationship building in your office or with other organizations.Benkyōkai　勉強会: The Study Party: Not really a party, the Benkyōkai is a gathering for a seminar or presentation with a Q&A afterwards. These can take place at any time, morning, noon, or night.Kondankai　懇談会: The Roundtable Discussion: This is less structured than a Benkyōkai, losing the formal presentation in favor of free discussion among participants on a particular issue or problem.So there you have it: a quick-reference list so you know exactly what you're being invited to join when you're working in Japan.Did I miss any? Feel free to add to the list using the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MEqQy-livingThu, 22 Feb 2018 12:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MEqQy-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNWg-livingI’m a history buff—always have been—so living and traveling in Japan has always been a real treat. Being in a country with thousands of years of rich history offers plenty of options for someone looking to explore the past, but in many ways, that can make planning a trip difficult. When facing so many options and limited time to enjoy them, how can one maximize his/her travel?That’s where I come in. Having seen many of the best historical sites and museums around Japan, allow me to offer a few recommendations.The first step is to break it down by historical category. Maybe you’re into Samurai and the Period of Warring States. Perhaps you prefer Japan’s period of rapid industrialization after the end of Japan’s self-isolation (under the policy of sakoku). Here are the categories I typically use:Traditional Japanese History (pre-1200)Ise Shrine, Mie PrefectureIse Shrine is the shrine dedicated to Japan's Imperial Family and the deity from which they were derived, Amaterasu. The shrine reportedly dates back as far as before the common era, but the first shrine buildings were not erected until 692. Unlike most shrines in Japan, the main structures are not preserved; rather, they are rebuilt every twenty years on an alternating plots of land. If you time it right, you can catch a glimpse of the brand new structure juxtaposed to its 20-year old predecessor.Samurai History (1200-1868)Sekigahara, Gifu PrefectureThis was the site of the most important samurai battle in all of Japan. It effectively ended the period of warring states and ushered in the Edo era under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The actual battlefield where armies from all reaches of Japan converged sprawls across the modern day town of Sekigahara, and the town provides maps so you can walk the fields.Japan’s Industrial Revolution (1853-1937)Goryōkaku, Hokkaido PrefectureThere are many different features of Japan's Industrial Revolution, but an especially interesting aspect is the period of transition that initiated the Meiji Restoration (the return to Imperial dynastic rule). For years prior to 1868, Japan saw the introduction of western influences (France, Russia, U.S., U.K., etc.) and there was a power struggle between those that wished for rule to remain with the Shogunate and those that wanted to return the country to rule under the Imperial family. This led to the Boshin War (a civil war), and the final battle took place in a French-designed fort--the Goryōkaku--in Hakodate. The fort is now a large public part, and the adjacent tower offers a museum and a bird's eye view of the impressive structure.Wartime Japan (1937-1945)Yasukuni Shrine/Yūshūkan, TokyoThis shrine and adjoining museum (the Yūshūkan) are mired in controversy, and for good reason. A description of why there is so much controversy is worthy of its article (or book, for that matter), but I'll sum it up by saying that neither the Emperor nor anybody in the direct line of accession has visited since 1978 when the head priest unilaterally decided to enshrine the souls of convicted war criminals. I recommend a visit so you can get a sense of the militarist sentiments that contributed to Japan's wartime behavior, but take what you see and read with understanding that the history told on those grounds is a far-right understanding of Japan's military history.Postwar History (1945-present)Ministry of Defense, TokyoAs a counter to Yasukuni Shrine and Yūshūkan, I recommend touring the current grounds of the Ministry of Defense. There, you will be able to visit Ichigaya Memorial Hall. Although it was moved a few hundred yards to allow the new Ministry buildings to be constructed, it has been faithfully recreated with as much of the original structure as could be salvaged. Importantly, the main hall where the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal is still intact, as is the room where ultra-nationalist author Yukio Mishima committed seppuku, ritual suicide, after trying to rouse the Self-Defense Forces to stage a coup d'etat in 1970. The Ministry offers group tours several times throughout the day.Do you have any questions or additional recommendations? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNWg-livingFri, 16 Feb 2018 17:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNWg-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPO3O-living_workI started out working in Japan with limited Japanese capability. I could order food at a restaurant, talk about the weather, and other daily life Japanese. Entering the workplace, however, I realized just how far I needed to go with my Japanese language ability. Granted, nobody expected me to be fluent, but I didn't want to be that guy who just gave up and didn't put any effort into learning the ropes of how to do things in my new home. Of course, it wasn't easy, because there are so many mundane tasks that we do in our daily lives that you wouldn't realize you'd need to relearn in another language......like writing professional emails.Of course, as with any country, professional emails can run the gamut from quick correspondences between colleagues to formal messages to superiors to outreach emails to potential customers. Obviously, each category has its own set of protocols with the appropriate honorific language and requisite "small talk" content. My goal is not to give you the exhaustive rundown; rather, I want to give you, the reader, the basic structure that will carry you through any email chain you have to engage on while working in Japan. So here we go...Here is a fake little message that I drafted up for ease of explanation. Allow me to break it down for you:1) Subject Line: Always be clear on the subject line as to the purpose of your message.2) The salutation: Whereas many western cultures begin an email with "Hi" or "Dear," there is no need to do so in a Japanese email correspondence. Instead, just write the individual's name, followed by the appropriate honorific. For someone of equal or lesser position, use san, and for someone of higher stature or an individual from outside your organization, use sama. Oh, and no need to put a comma after the salutation (I used to make that mistake all the time).3) Opening line: For ease of memory, always start an initial email thread with "Otsukaresama desu. Itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu." After the first email, you don't need to use that line.4) Small Talk:It's always good to put a bit of small talk in the email. The weather is always a safe subject, though you can always personalize it. For example, if you knew the person was going out to a special event or a holiday trip, you could ask them about it, or you could drop a quick question about their family if they are the type to appreciate that.5) The Purpose of the email: Once you've completed the requisite "small talk" portion, start off the paragraph with "Kadai no ken desu ga," which basically says, "Regarding the subject of this email." After that, just write down what it is you need from the email recipient.6) Closing: You can sign off any number of ways, but the safest option is simply to say, "Soredewa, yoroshiku onegaishimasu" (or onegai itashimasu) if you need to throw in more honorifics.7) Signature: It's always helpful to have a signature block with your contact information, but when actually signing off your message, no need for fluff; just put your surname and call it a day.Do you have any other questions or tips on professional correspondence in Japanese? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPO3O-living_workWed, 31 Jan 2018 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPO3O-living_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp3e-livingLooking for a unique Japanese cultural experience?Most people will direct you to tea houses or temples or modern marvels like Sky Tree. Me? I'm going to tell you how to experience life as a Japanese salaryman in Tokyo.Okay, so I don't mean to imply that you should try to turn your vacation into work, but I want to offer you, the reader, a chance to see some of those aspects of Japanese culture that are often used as caricatures of modern Japanese society.Is this a quirky idea? Perhaps.Will it provide an authentic view of modern Japanese culture? Sure.Will it be memorable? Absolutely.So without further ado...Experience a manin densha:Most people have heard about the "max capacity trains" and maybe even seen similar footage to the clip above, but it's different when you experience it in person. Of course, you don't actually have to get on that sardine can of a train to experience this, since you can just observe the attendants cramming appendages and bags into the train cars. Then again, if you are brave enough, you can always try to hop aboard.The best time to experience this phenomenon is between 8:00 and 9:00 am, either at Shinjuku station on the Yamanote line or along any of the stops on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.Eat a One-Coin Lunch:Something I learned while working in Japan is the concept of the "one-coin lunch," which is a lunch meal that you can purchased with a single 500 yen coin. Wait, but Tokyo is supposed to be an expensive city though, right? Well, not if you go to where the salarymen eat their lunches, it's not.My personal favorite place for a quick one-coin meal is Yoshinoya. Now if you want the authentic experience, go between 12 and 1 pm to a Yoshinoya located in a business or civic district (like the one outside Toranomon Station). There, it'll be like an assembly line process where people are in and out eating in what seems to be minutes. The key is to get in, order quickly, and inhale your food so the next person in line has a chance to eat and spare a few minutes back at the office for a kip under his/her desk.Unwind at an IzakayaAfter a long day's work, the best place to unwind for dinner in Japan is an Izakaya. Certainly, you don't have to put in a full day at the office to enjoy these establishments of course, so go find a red lantern (the traditional symbol for an izakaya) and head on inside.There, the food is almost always served in small dishes meant to share (kind of like Tapas dining, if that is more familiar to you) and the drinks always flow. A good izakaya will always have a relaxed atmosphere, and should a be a place where you can loosen the tie, let your hair down, and relax while enjoying tasty food and drinks.My personal favorite Izakaya in Tokyo (especially for travelers and expats) is Andy's Shin Hinomoto, an izakaya run by a British expat. Located directly under the tracks leading to Yurakucho station, the rustic atmosphere transports you back to the heyday of the salaryman. For 2700 yen you can get the best izakaya set menu you can find in all of Japan, and Andy will even tailor it to your group's preferences. Finally, hit up some Karaoke for NijikaiAfter the first event of the evening is done, it's time for round 2, or the nijikai.There are a lot of things you can do for nijikai, but if you want to continue the salarymen trend, you might want to head to a karaoke box. Maybe karaoke doesn't seem like it's unique to salarymen, but the key here is that you go after all of the other potential stresses of the day are behind you. Tie a tie around your head and sing some Beatles, Southern All Stars, or whatever else strikes your fancy.If you do this, your foray into the world of Japanese salarymen will be complete!Do you have any other fun suggestions for how to experience authentic aspects of modern life in Tokyo? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp3e-livingTue, 30 Jan 2018 15:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp3e-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MqrBo-shopping_okinawaOkinawa is hands down the most unique of Japan’s 47 prefectures given its history as the former Ryukyu Kingdom, its culture that incorporates elements from China, Thailand, and other ancient Asiatic kingdoms, and its tropical climate. It’s uniqueness makes for an incredibly memorable trip, but if you're like me, you like to have at least a little memento to remind you of the places you love. Though Okinawa has many options, I'd like to offer you my short list of favorite things to bring home from Okinawa:#1 & 2: Shisa Dogs (always buy in pairs!)Although Shisa statues are found in other parts of Japan and other Asiatic cultures, I have never been anywhere where they are so much a part of the fabric of cultural identity. It seems like an Okinawan house is not complete without a pair of Shisa (one with mouth open, one with mouth closed) adorning the entry way or roof. As such, they make an interesting souvenir to bring back to your own home.You can find shisa statues in just about any souvenir shop (or at the airport), but I like the more unique versions you can find in smaller artisan shops scattered throughout the island (to find gems like the one below). But be sure to get two: the Shisa with the mouth open is supposed to keep the bad spirits out, while the one with mouth closed is supposed to keep the good spirits in.#3: ChinsukoOkinawan salt cookies may be my favorite meibutsu confectionary in all of Japan. These little cookies have a soft and crumbly texture similar to shortbread cookies, but pack a ton more flavor. The Okinawan sea salt provides a tasty contrast to the sweetness of the cookie. Other than the standard option, You can find chinsuko in a variety of flavors including brown sugar, Okinawan sweet potato, and milk, among others.While you can find chinsuko all through the island at various souvenir shops and supermarkets, I recommend picking yours up at the airport, where you will have the best range of chinsuko options. #4: Ryukyu glasswareAwamori is Okinawa’s signature liquor, and, like many other spirits, there is a specific type of glass from which it is traditionally drunk. Awamori cups made from Ryukyu glass make great souvenirs because they often come in unique shapes and colors—themselves reflections of Okinawa’s vibrant culture. Of course you can bring home a bottle of Awamori with you as well, but the glass has a bit more permanence and is a great souvenir even if you do not drink alcohol.Like chinsuko, you can find a variety of Awamori glasses at the airport, but I recommend trying your hand at making your own at Ryukyu Glass Village. A short glass blowing experience will only cost you about 1600 yen, giving you a memory and a memento in one fell swoop. Even if you don't want to do the hands on experience there, you'll be able to find the widest range of Ryukyu glassware options.#5: Sanshin MusicWhile some folks may know of the Shamisen, one of Japan’s most cherished traditional stringed instruments (think Kubo and the Two Strings), fewer know about its Okinawan cousin, the Sanshin. Using snake hides for the drum of the instrument, the sanshin produces a sound that has come to embody traditional Okinawan music. Listening to the sanshin always transports me back to Okinawa, if only for a few moments, and I am sure it will have the same effect for most of you. The airport again offers a variety of Sanshin albums, but if you are a true music lover and want to bring an actual sanshin home with you, there are plenty of places to where you can purchase an authentic sanshin from between 20,000-35,000 yen (like Chindami Shamisen Shop on the map below):To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MqrBo-shopping_okinawaMon, 29 Jan 2018 18:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MqrBo-shopping_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2Ea2-livingIf you surveyed kids under 15 in the states, I wonder if they would even know what a pay phone is. After all, it seems like everyone has a smart phone, and it can be exceedingly difficult to find pay phones anywhere these days back in America. Don't get me wrong, with smart phone technology, wi-fi, and plenty of apps that allow you to make calls to any place in the world, pay phones are not exactly the most necessary resource in public spaces. Of course, that is assuming smart phone battery doesn't die, wi-fi is available, or any number of other things don't go wrong.Thankfully, Japan offers travelers an alternative to exorbitant roaming fees, having to buy SIM cards, or trying to find a power point just to plug in so you can make a call: the common pay phone. Interestingly, pay phones are still relatively commonplace throughout Japan. Certainly, there aren't as many as there were when I was a child, but there are enough that you don't need to work too hard to find one when you need to make a call.Here's your basic Japanese pay phone:The standard rate is 10 yen to make a call, then 10 yen for every minute of talk time after that. Just pick up the receiver, put in your coin, dial the number, and then once you've connected, add additional coins as necessary. Almost all pay phones in Japan accept prepaid phone cards, which usually carry up to 60 minutes of talk time, but I do not recommend purchasing one unless you just want to have a unique souvenir for your travel scrapbook. If you do intend to use a phone card, just pick up the receiver, insert your card, and dial the number. The pay phone will dispense your phone card when the call is complete.Where can you find pay phones?Train Stations: Most train stations will have phone kiosks located at one or more locations (depending on the size of the station). You can always ask a station attendant or look at a station map to find out where the phones are.Department Stores: The pay phones will typically be near the bathrooms in department store buildings. Other places to look at the restaurant floors.Government / Commercial Office Buildings: While the number of pay phones in office buildings have decreased significantly, there will still usually be a handful available on the lobby floor. Hotels: Most hotels (especially large hotels) will have a pay phone area near the check in desk or adjacent to the lobby.Street Corners: Yes, there are still phone booths located on street corners and other pedestrian thoroughfares in major cities.For those of you thinking, Why would I need to use a pay phone to call someone when I'm traveling?, here are just a few things that may require you to use a phone:Emergency Calls: hopefully you won't find yourself in a position to need to make an emergency call, but in the unlikely event that you do, pay phones are available. Just pick up and dial 110 or 119.Reservations: Some of you folks out there may be those who have everything planned out down to every meal, so when you are thinking about dinner reservations, you either call or use a website to book your table before leaving the hotel room. For the rest of us, you may need to call on the fly. Most popular restaurants in Japan fill up pretty quickly in the evening, so it behooves you to call in advance. This is also relevant if you need to call to confirm or change an existing reservation (maybe you're running a little late). In those cases, pay phones can help you salvage plans for one of your precious few travel nights.Linking up with friends: Pretty self-explanatory here, but if you are without phone services and you're trying to coordinate a meet-up, pay phones can come in handy.Calling a taxi: I always recommend keeping the number for a local taxi service handy. You can get them at taxi terminals at the stations, or just do a quick internet search as you're doing your travel planning. Having a taxi number available can help you in a pinch. Don't stress if you don't speak Japanese, many Taxi services have English language support, and for those that don't, just keep your address or a prominent landmark in mind for coordinating a pick up.For those of you that are not yet convinced that pay phones will be a necessary part of your travel communication, I leave you with my trump card: one of Japan's many awesome phone booths...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2Ea2-livingMon, 29 Jan 2018 10:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2Ea2-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7jD-living_medical_healthHave you ever taken your your young child to one of the group checkups here in Japan? I’m referring to the periodic appointments that occur for children between birth and about four years, where the city office brings medical/dental personnel to a central venue and knock out the appointment for all children of the same age born in a particular birth month.Perhaps this is something common only to the rural areas of Japan, but I had my first taste of it when I took my daughter for her 3-year appointment. Let me tell you, I had no idea it would be like that. 2 hours and multiple tests later, I've learned a few things for next time. Allow me to describe what happened here so you have an idea of what to expect if you ever have to take your child to one of these appointments.Step 1: The QuestionnaireWe received the questionnaire in the mail from the city office well before the scheduled appointment date. In order to be seen at the group appointment, you need to fill out the paperwork beforehand. There’s no need to do any additional coordination, but make sure to bring your Boshi-teccho (mother-child record book)Step 2: Check- inWhen the day came , I brought my daughter to the event, in part because I lik spending time with her and in part Because there wouldn’t be English language support and I’m the Japanese speaker in the house. At the venue, there was a receptionist to check us in. Conveniently, the city office already had our name on the list. From there, I had to fill out and additional questionnaire that seemed to be more suited for gauging my own health as a parent (“Do you have people who help you share the responsibility of raising the child?”) as well as suitability, (“How often do you leave your child home unattended—never, sometimes, often?”).Step 3: Mass BriefingThis was pretty straightforward: one of the health professionals stood up and delivered a briefing on what to expect for the day, chastised parents who let their kids have too much TV/tablet/videogame time, and told us baseline expectations for feeding and communication with 3-year olds.Step 4: Aptitude test & Lifestyle questionsWhen the time came, my daughter and I were called to a table where she was asked to answer a few questions (“what’s your name?” “What are your friends names?”) and to tackle a few tasks (stack blocks, draw a circle and other shapes, and point out colors and objects in a picture book). The official then asked me a few questions ("What time does she go to sleep every night?" "Do you eat meals together as a family").Step 5: Height and Weight measurement(Nothing out of the ordinary here)Step 6: Teeth Brushing instructionAlthough we started early brushing our daughter’s teeth, I suppose the Japanese government wants to make sure that everyone is on board the teeth brushing train by three years old. You have an option to pay 300 yen extra for flouride application, but we use fluoride toothpaste at home so we opted out of that.Step 7: Doctor’s ExaminationThis is just a quick exam with a doc who does a vitals check and look over unless your child has any existing medical conditions, in which case the doc will conduct follow-on tests.Step 8: Dentist’s ExaminationThe dentist will check for cavities and do a once over to make sure the teeth and gums look good.Step 9: Review of paperworkAt the end, one of the officials will review your boshi-teccho and answer any final questions you may have.When all was said and done, about 2 hours had passed, so be ready for a somewhat lengthy appointment. Also, my own did not have English language support, so you may want to think about bringing a friend or spouse who can speak Japanese if you need to take your kid to one of these appointments.Well, there you have it. As with most new experiences, there were good and bad aspects, but at least I'm prepared for next time--hopefully this little blog post will help you be prepared, too!If you have any questions or additional feedback for readers from your own experiences, feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7jD-living_medical_healthSun, 28 Jan 2018 12:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7jD-living_medical_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxBb-living_food_familylifeLooking for baby formula in Japan? Can’t read the label when you find it? As someone who struggled through it already, allow me to help you out.My wife and I are currently raising our second infant in Japan, and while we know the ropes now, it wasn’t that way with our first child. Like many readers out there, we were anxious new parents, neither having more than a handful of encounters with babies and never on our own. Well, when we had our daughter here in Japan, we had to adjust both to the challenges of parenthood as well as the challenges of being a parent in a foreign county. One of the hardest things was finding formula for our daughter, but now that we have our brand and know where to find it, it’s easy as pie.Where to find itThe three most common places to find formula are drug stores (recognizable by the big signs that say “薬” and/or “DRUG”), department stores that have pharmaceutical sections, and supermarkets. Just look for the diapers (easiest to spot) and then scan the shelves next to those for what look like coffee cans with pictures of babies on them. Here is my favorite (and one of the oldest brands in Japan—think Gerbers in the States). A small can will run you about 850 yen, and a large can (pictured) will be double that.Alternatively, you can find formula on amazon.co.jp. While my wife and I are happy to run to a Welcia Drug Store to get some formula in a pinch, we typically order it online with other pantry items.How to Make ItI’m used to American formula that uses larger scoops for larger volumes of formula, so I was caught off guard when I read the label for the first time: 1 spoonful for every 20 mL. Surely that couldn’t be right...But then I saw the spoon. Granted, don’t be surprised if you have to dig a little into the formula to find it. Instead of digging around with your fingers, I recommend tipping the can a bit and giving it a few light shakes until you see the tip of the spoon’s handle. When you pull it out, you’ll see that it is about a teaspoon.With that, simply add the correct amount of scoops per water ratio (again, 1 spoon per 20 mL of water), give it a shake, and you’re good to go!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxBb-living_food_familylifeFri, 26 Jan 2018 12:54:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxBb-living_food_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqLX-livingI've done a fair few things in Japan over my many years here, and almost all of the events I have attended and places I've visited have been memorable and worth the trip. The one that stands out as the worst, however, was the Iruma Yukōsai, or air show. Don't get me wrong, I love air shows, but there are some things that you should know about Japanese air shows before you try to attend.I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation from a friend in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to head out to Iruma Air Base in Saitama prefecture for the autumn Air Show that takes place there. I've been to plenty of air shows in the States and I was interested to see one in Japan. It sounded like a great event: the "Blue Impulse" demonstration team (equivalent to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds or Navy Blue Angels) would be performing, and Iruma Air base always has a large number of static displays (that is, stationary aircraft) parked on the flight line for folks to see up close.The event started early in the morning, so I decided to make it to Inariyama koen station on the Seibu Ikebukuro line no later than 9:30. I tell you what, the train was already packed. Here's what we looked like coming off of the train:When I arrived, I discovered that the base had set up a special entry flow for air show attendees. Here is what it looked like:I figured that the entrance would be a bit crowded but folks would fan out once we got inside.Not so much...It took two hours to get from the train station to the side of base with the flight line. The throng of people was so thick, I couldn't even move from my little spot in the wave of people. If I needed to use the restroom I think I would have had to throw a few elbows just to get through. Worst of all, everyone was on his/her cellphone, which meant that cellular bandwidth was non-existent. That meant that I could not even call my pal to let him know where I was or ask where I should meet him (let alone pass the time browsing things on the internet).I wish I could say that things got better, but every thing I tried to do at the Air Show was just a battle with a crowd. It was impossible to find any enjoyment from it at all, and I like to think of myself as an optimistic person who tries to see the best sides of things.Ultimately, this event proved to be the worst I've attended, which was a huge letdown considering the enthusiasm I had going into it.Still, I know that many of you may still want to attend an Air Show (the demonstrations are quite amazing), so allow me to offer a few lessons learned:1) If you dislike crowds, you should avoid Air Shows. No matter which air show you try to attend in Japan, they will almost always be crowded like this. Unlike many air shows in the states which take place in larger areas and usually span a few days, Japanese air shows are typically just one-day affairs with lots of bottlenecks to get in and out of the event. Add the fact that there are so many aviation and military enthusiasts in Japan (as well as folks who just can't resist a special event), and there will always be a crowd.2) Go early. Unless you are the most hardcore air show enthusiast who is camping out overnight, you will encounter a line no matter what time to you show up in the morning. Still, seeing as the line and the associated crowd only grow exponentially with each subsequent train arrival, it behooves you to be the early bird.3) Don't rely on cell phone service at the event.With such a huge crowd, all of the cellular bandwidth will be either gone or frustratingly slow or intermittent. Pre plan meet-up times and locations, and if traveling alone, bring a book or magazine to while away the time hanging out in line since you won't be able to browse Twitter or Facebook.Unfortunately, this was the best picture I was able to take of any aircraft all day...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqLX-livingSat, 20 Jan 2018 20:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXqLX-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPBV-living_shoppingI've written a few blog posts on here lamenting certain aspects of Japan, and I hope you readers out there don't think I am one of those cynical expats who nitpicks every little thing. Yes, I do nitpick from time-to-time (my wrapping paper rant was pretty bad), but I am always one to give credit where it's due, so I decided to start an "Awesome Japan" series of posts for whenever i encounter something I find awesome about this place.Let me start with...Children's buggies at malls and department storesGoing anywhere with young children can be tough, especially if your children are as spirited and independent as mine. In those cases, going for a grocery run can seem like one of those dread-inducing chores--that is until I went to an Aeon supermarket and encountered the children's buggies there. Oh boy, I tell you what, my daughter is in heaven every time she gets to ride in one, and it has so many little bells and whistles to keep her happy even on those looooong list grocery days.The coolest thing (for you parents out there) is many times there will be multiple options from which to choose, including Winnie the Pooh, Anpanman, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Doraemon, and Pokemon.So yes, children's buggies in Japan are awesome, so I say, "Well done, Japan."To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPBV-living_shoppingFri, 19 Jan 2018 20:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPBV-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPONE-living_shoppingMy wife and I both love dogs, and soon after starting our family and moving to Japan we decided to find ourselves a little puppy. I reckon many of you readers out there may find yourselves in the same boat. If you decide to purchase from a pet shop here in Japan, it can actually be a pretty drawn out process, so allow me to offer a few tips to help add a little furry pal to your family.Note: We opted to purchase our little pup from a pet shop but there are many wonderful rescue agencies throughout Japan. If you're looking for a rescue animal, I recommend starting with ARK.Things to consider before purchasingLiving arrangements: I'm not referring to the need to ensure that your apartment is big enough to give an Akita or other big dog a good life (though you should think about that); rather, I mean you need to check to ensure that your landlord will allow you to have a pet in the first place, what fees may be associated, and how big the pet is allowed to be. In our apartment, the trunk of the pet was not allowed to stand taller than 30 cm off the ground, and we had pay an addition 5,000 yen per month pet fee.Vet Care: If you do not have Japanese language capability, you may want to verify that there are English-capable vets in your local area before purchasing a pet. It is not common, so it is helpful either to find an appropriate vet or line up a reliable friend who will be ready to interpret for you through appointments and (god forbid) emergencies.CostPuppies in Japan are not cheap. A pure breed can run you anywhere between 150,000 and 1,000,000 yen (insane, right?). The price goes down based on three factors: mixed breeding, age of the puppy, and special deals. Our poor dog had lived in that small pet shop for four months and there happened to be a special deal at the shop we visited, so he cost us 40,000 yen list price.But buying a puppy in Japan is kind of like buying a car--there are a lot of hidden fees that come beyond the sticker price. Here are some of the other associated costs:- Food/Puppy formula: Some pet shops (like ours) make it mandatory to buy at least a few week's worth of puppy food and formula that they had been feeding the pups. This will cost you a few thousand yen.- Pet pads: This is not a mandatory purchase, but the pet shop will offer to sell you pet pads to assist in housebreaking the animal.- Insurance: This is the big one. Pet insurance in Japan is expensive, so you'll have to decide whether or not this is something you need. However, a quick cost/benefit analysis told us that getting a year of pet insurance that would cover vaccinations, neutering, and other routine requirements was cheaper than simply paying out of pocket for a vet. Still, insurance will run you anywhere between 100,000 and 200,000 yen depending on the breed.When Buying the Pup...Allot enough time:The whole process for buying the puppy takes about 2 hours with all of the paperwork required. Why 2 hours? Well, there is the official transfer of ownership, the printing of breeding certifications, and filling out of paper upon paper for pet insurance if you go that route. Just be prepared for a long process. I will say that at least we were able to hold our new pup the entire time!Bring Cash:One other thing of which to be aware is that most pet shops in Japan do not accept credit cards for payment. That meant I had to visit the nearest ATM in the middle of the purchasing process, contact my American bank to change my withdrawal limit for the day, and take out a hefty amount of cash--just an extra consideration.Do you have any other questions about buying a puppy in Japan? Have some extra advice for others? Feel free to use comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPONE-living_shoppingThu, 18 Jan 2018 18:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MPONE-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQbNL-living_medicalNobody ever wants to find themselves in an emergency, and most travelers do not expect to have to engage emergency services along their journeys. Still, bad things can happen, even in a country as safe and secure as Japan. For that reason, I wanted to offer a few words and phrases that will help you through those emergent situations, along with this handy little picture that you can screenshot or download to use as a emergency flashcard should the need arise (hopefully not).In Japan, there are two numbers for emergency services: 110 and 119 (and yes, you're reading that right--that is just the reverse of 911).110 will get you the police and should be used in the event of a crime (theft, assault, etc.) or accident (that does not include major injuries).119 is for the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services, so you should use that if you or a travel companion needs an ambulance, there has been an accident with major injuries, or there is a fire.Some key words and phrases include the following:"Help Me"Tasukete"Send an Ambulance" Kyukyusha onegai shimasu"Sudden or Severe Illness" Kyu bo desu"I'm injured" Kega o shimashita"There's a fire" Kaji desu"There was an accident" Jiko desu"Please call the police" Keisatsu o yonde kudasaiHere are a couple notes on how to respond to emergencies in Japan:- All throughout Japan, there are "Police Boxes" called Koban--basically just tiny police stations scattered throughout cities and towns. They will almost always have an attending officer who can help you respond to any emergency. If an officer is not present, there will be a direct line phone inside that will dial to the nearest police station if you just pick it up.- Many taxis in Japan have additional roles as emergency response vehicles in preparation for a major natural disaster. If you or your travel companion need emergency assistance and you don't have a phone that works in Japan or police box nearby, you may consider hailing a taxi and either having them rush you to a hospital or call for the nearest emergency service vehicles.Finally, not all travel emergencies are major and involve the police or fire department. Sometimes a travel emergency may just include losing something important. Fortunately, people in Japan are famous either for leaving items alone or turning them into lost and found, so you'll more than likely be able to recover anything. If you lost something on a train, just go to the nearest train attendant and tell them what you lost. The same goes for an airport. If you lost something out on the streets, head to the nearest police box (koban) and give them the details.In all cases, the attendant will ask for a description of what was lost and for contact information for them to reach you. They will call you to come retrieve the item(s) once found.Here are some common words/phrases for things that travelers lose along the way:Wallet - saifuTicket - kippuLuggage/Bags - nimotsuMobile phone - keitai denwa or simply, keitaiPassport - pasupoto"I lost ____." ______ o naku shimashitaI truly hope you won't need to use any of these words or phrases outlined here, but if you find yourself in a pinch, I hope this post helps get you out of it.Do you have any questions or maybe some other helpful tips for emergency communication in Japan? Feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQbNL-living_medicalMon, 15 Jan 2018 10:15:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQbNL-living_medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7N3-living_transportationDo you hate hauling your luggage through train stations? I know I do, which is why I wanted to provide some information about this great service offered in Japan.I would be lying if I said I was not partial to Kureneko (Black Cat) Yamato Takkyubin for all of my domestic shipping needs. Sure, some people prefer Sagawa Kyubin or Seino, but I'm loyal to my friendly Black Cat delivery service. One of the many great services the company offers is luggage shipping, which makes traveling in Japan a cinch. Rather than lugging all of your bags in taxis, buses, or trains, how about getting someone to pick it up from your door and take it to the airport (if traveling internationally) or directly to your hotel (if traveling domestically)? Conversely, how about just dropping it off at a counter at the airport and have it delivered to your doorstep? In this post, I'll walk you through using this fantastic service. So without further ado... Traveling from a location in JapanPick up or drop off? When sending your luggage, you have three choices: 1) Drop it off at a Black Cat operating location 2) Drop it off at a Convenience Store with Takkyubin services [Note: for options 1 and 2, you can use this website to find the nearest Takkyubin servicing location] 3) Have Takkyubin pick it up from your doorstep: This is obviously the easiest option, and it comes free of charge. You can either schedule a pick up via phone or internet form (see the website here). If traveling domestically... ...all you need is the address for the hotel or destination where you'll be staying. Black Cat Takkyubin will deliver it directly to y our accommodations.If traveling internationally......simply provide the appropriate airport terminal, and the luggage will deliver to the Black Cat office there so you can just pick it up before checking into your flight. This webpage has a full listing of all the airport Takkyubin counters.Coming/Returning to JapanAll you have to do is visit the Black Cat Takkyubin counter at your port of disembarkation. There, have your home or hotel address handy and you'll be able to drop off your bags to send to your final destination.CostWhile this service can be a little pricey if traveling on a small budget, it is incredibly handy if on a business trip (with travel expenses covered), if you've got a lot of bags and need to free up some hands for wrangling kids, or if you simply want to get straight to sightseeing unencumbered.Here are the latest prices based on bag size according to the Kuroneko Yamato website:If you have any questions or additional feedback on this service for travelers, feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7N3-living_transportationSat, 13 Jan 2018 09:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7N3-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm52Q-living_kanazawa_shi_ishikawaKanazawa is a jewel of a city on the Sea of Japan coast that recently became far more accessible with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. This new bullet train connects Kanazawa all the way to Tokyo, making the trip a cinch.So why Kanazawa? Kanazawa is like a little Kyoto--full of art, culture, and memorable sights--just with far fewer tourists and much more interactive experiences available. This is in part because of its history: after the Tokugawa clan took over the Shogunate in 1603, the Maeda clan that controlled the area that is now modern day Kanazawa had to reconcile the fact that it was once an enemy of the Tokugawas. As such, the Maeda clan had to change in order to avoid appearing a belligerent party. The clan shifted its money and efforts to becoming a hub for culture and art--and thus a place that would be spared any draconian measures from the new Shogunate.The result is the vibrant and interesting city of Kanazawa which has enjoyed a revival with the opening of the major shinkansen artery. It is a great place to visit, and here are five things you may want to do while you're there.See the Motenashi Dome and go shopping at Kanazawa StationKanazawa Station is one of the best in all of Japan. At its entrance is the Motenashi (Hospitality) Dome and the "Tsuzumi-mon" (Wooden Drum) gate, which now stands as the iconic gateway to this natural competitor to Kyoto. The Dome is great to view from ground level or from above in a viewing floor in the adjacent department store. Inside the station, there are some incredible shops and restaurants which feature the best of Kanazawa art and cuisine. If you only have time to shop in one place in Kanazawa, do it at the station.Go Museum Hopping DowntownKanazawa has a wide variety of museums, and many of them are situated in the city center. You can while away a day hopping across museums like the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (modern art), the D.T. Suzuki Museum (Zen Buddhism), the Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum, the Modern Literature Museum, and the Kanazawa Noh Museum, among others. Check out the map below to see the rest of the options, too!Try Some Hands-on CraftsOne of the most charming aspects of Kanazawa is that they city really tries to invite visitors to interact with Kanazawa's culture. One way to do so is through hands-on craft-making experiences. While there are many to choose from, my favorites are Gold Leaf application and Kutani porcelain painting. Each experience allows you to make your own creation which you can keep as mementos from your trip to Kanazawa. Check out Sakuda Gold Leaf for the Gold Leaf Application......and Kutani Kosen Pottery Kiln for the Kutani porcelain painting.Visit the old Geisha districtsYou may be surprised to know that the Chaya (literally, "Tea House") districts of Kanazawa were much more than places to get some green tea. Chaya are actually terms for Geisha houses, which were places for patrons to escape the monotony of life through listening to music, watching Geisha dancers, and drinking tea as well as other, stronger drinks. While popular culture often focuses on some of the more scandalous aspects of geisha history, Geisha and the chaya districts represent havens for Japanese culture that you can still enjoy today. Kanazawa's most famous Chaya district is Higashi Chaya, with Nishi Chaya following close behind. There, you can find tea houses, maybe stumble into living Geisha, and enjoy all manners of traditional crafts (in both shopping and hands-on experiences).Stroll through the KenrokuenLast but not least is one of the most famous gardens in Japan (designated one of Japan's three most beautifully landscaped gardens, in fact). The Kenrokuen is the most renowned garden in the Hokuriku region, and offers a beautiful spot no matter the season in which you visit Kanazawa. Admission costs 310 yen, and it is open from 7:00 to 18:00 (1 March through 15 October)and 8:00 to 17:00 (16 October through the end of February) .Do you have other things you love doing in Kanazawa? Feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm52Q-living_kanazawa_shi_ishikawaThu, 11 Jan 2018 10:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm52Q-living_kanazawa_shi_ishikawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRvNe-livingMy wife and I love ryokan, or Japanese style-inns. Ryokan have been around for hundreds of years, and they have come to represent the pinnacle of Japanese omotenashi, or hospitality. In addition to providing a unique cultural experience, staying at a ryokan can offer some of the most relaxing and memorable memories of Japan. Still, if you have never booked a ryokan before, it can be a bit daunting since there quite a few things to consider. Allow me to help you navigate your first ryokan booking experience. If I've done my job right, you'll have no problem securing the best possible ryokan sojourn for you and your travel companions.First, a note on ryokan: the quality of ryokan runs the gamut in Japan. I have stayed in some pretty seedy places that had roaches and smelled of mildew, but that was extreme budget traveling. While I recommend avoiding that experience altogether (if on a budget, use business hotels instead), if you have a little more money to spare, ryokan are definitely the way to go.BudgetFor a quality ryokan, you should expect to spend at least 10,000 yen per person per night (that should include at least one meal). All of the additional options will add cost to your overall bill, but I'll walk you through those below.To dine or not to dineRyokan will usually offer half-board (i.e. breakfast) to all patrons as part of the standard room rate, but you'll want to consider whether or not to dine at the ryokan. Most ryokan offer restaurant-quality Japanese kaiseki-style course dinners. Sometimes they'll give you a private room in which to dine, and sometimes they'll serve you in your room (which is my favorite option). If you are staying at a ryokan in the middle of a big city, the dinner option is not as important, but if you're out in the countryside, I urge you to consider paying for the full-board. First, there may be little to no dining options in the immediate vicinity of the ryokan, and second, ryokan food is almost always fantastic, typically uses locally-sourced ingredients and recipes, and offers a truly memorable part of the ryokan experience.Food preferences/allergiesIf you choose to dine at the ryokan, the staff will ask at the time of booking if you have food allergies or other restrictions. Don't be bashful in telling them what you cannot or will not eat--they will accommodate you. For example, when my wife was pregnant, she was trying to avoid consuming too much raw seafood, and instead of sashimi and sushi, the chef made her a special (and very delicious) meat pie. Speaking of seafood, please be aware that kaiseki meals (even up in the mountainous areas of Japan) will typically include a lot of fish and other seafood, and much of it will be raw unless you specify otherwise. Like I mentioned earlier, don't be bashful with your preferences!Smoking vs. Non-smokingMost ryokan in Japan still allow smoking. Sometimes they will have designated smoking and non-smoking rooms, and sometimes they will not. If you're a non-smoker staying at a ryokan without designated non-smoking rooms, just be sure to mention that you are really averse to the smell of smoke, and the staff will do their best either to clean out any lingering smoke smell or place you away from smokers. (Like I said, omotenashi!)Public or Private OnsenOne of the hallmarks of ryokan are the bathing areas. The higher end ryokan will offer some of Japan's best onsen, but even the lower end ryokan will have great baths. The big question when booking a ryokan is how important the onsen is for you, and whether you want a private, in-room onsen. Most ryokan will offer smaller in-room showers and tubs with a large communal onsen available to all patrons. The quality of that onsen invariably affects the overall rates at the ryokan. They may also offer a second or third communal onsen that can be reserved for private use throughout the day for free or for a nominal fee. Finally, some ryokan will offer rooms with private open-air onsen. Certainly, you'll have to pay extra for a private onsen, but it means that you can share it with your travel companions and you will not have to worry about bathing with strangers.TransitIf you have a car, transit won't be a worry for you--ryokan will almost always have a designated parking lot with valet service. If you are not traveling by car, however, you will want to let the ryokan know whether you need transit to/from a train station or nearby airport. Most ryokan (especially the higher end establishments) have micro-buses they use to shuttle patrons to and from transit locations.And that's it! If you have any additional feedback or questions about the Japanese ryokan experience, feel free to use the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRvNe-livingWed, 10 Jan 2018 16:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GRvNe-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gyp3b-livingI never really thought that I would end up in the countryside at any point in my life—certainly not in the Japanese inaka—and yet I now find myself in Minamiuonuma City, a town best known for its rice and voluminous snowfall.I spent most of my childhood growing up in cities or suburbs, where there was always so much going on you were never want for things to do, great places to eat, or fun events to attend. So when I moved out here, I wondered if my new hometown could live up to my expectations. Here’s the strange thing: this town has far exceeded them.Look, Minamiuonuma does not have a lot of everything—museums, restaurants, special events—but what it does have, it does extremely well. The museums are beautifully constructed and well-appointed. The restaurants are top notch, and the special events are truly memorable.The other great thing about it is that you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy it out here (which, on a student budget, is paramount). Allow me to introduce you to my favorite free things to do out here in Minamiuonuma.Bishamon-doI’ve seen some pretty awesome temples and shrines throughout Japan, so when I went to the Bishamon-do, I wasn’t expecting much. After all, I've seen the Todaiji in Nara that is the largest wooden structure in the world, and Kiyomizudera in Kyoto which is iconic for its nail-less latticework balcony set among the trees and overlooking the city. Still, there is something so spectacular and charming about the Bishamon-do that resonates with me, and I reckon most people who visit feel the same way.The main gate of Bishamon-do is magnificent. Its huge structure looks every bit the part of a gate that has to withstand tens of feet of snowfall every year, and the fact that it has been standing for over 150 years adds to its grandeur.The rest of the temple is a lot older, however, with a history dating back to the 800s--incredible, right?Aside from the cool architecture and rich history, there are two other great things about the Bishamon-do: 1) admission is free, and 2) there are numerous festivals that take place there throughout the year. Here is the most famous one:Haddaka Oshiai Matsuri, aka the Naked Pushing FestivalThis is quite the name for a festival, right? Well, it’s about as literal as you can get, so allow me to explain. Every year on the 3rd day of the 3rd month (i.e. March 3rd), a procession of individuals wearing little more than fundoshi ("loin cloths") carry torches to the temple's purification well, set aside the fire to jump into the freezing cold water, and then push their way into the hondo (main temple) to receive a blessing. "Naked Pushing Festival" indeed, right?Although you have to be selected to participate in the naked pushing (if that's your thing), folks are free to attend and watch at their leisure.Echigo WineryNiigata is known for having Japan's best nihonshu, or sake, on account of its pure water and delicious rice, so it may seem odd that one of Minamiuonuma's coolest attractions is a winery. Still, it is pretty incredible to visit a winery that survives and thrives in an environment with such harsh winters. After all, most wineries throughout the world operate in places with mild, temperate climates. Echigo Winery, however, is fascinating for all the ways it embraces its home in yukiguni.Rather than using traditional vine grapes, Echigo Winery uses bush grapes that are much better suited for this climate. Also, the winery employs the snow in order to age and cool the wine. The roof of the winery opens up, allowing up to 250 tons of snow to enter insulation spaces in the wall. When the snow melts, the icy cold water circulates into the cellar to keep the wine storage at a perfect 5 degrees Celsius.You can visit Echigo Winery 365 days a year, and while there is no formal tour, the staff allow you to tour the facilities on your own. Rather than talking you through everything, the staff will happily offer you free samples of the various wines Echigo winery produces. All of that is free of charge. If you decide to spend a little cash, there is a wine shop the winery as well as a restaurant offering some delicious food and even wine-flavored gelato.Tanaka Kakuei StatueI know this attraction is more of a personal favorite than something most people would be interested in seeing, but just outside of Urasa Station is a statue of Tanaka Kakuei, Japan's most prolific (and arguably most corrupt) politician. Tanaka is probably better known for his involvement in the Lockheed scandal (accepting bribes in exchange for favorable consideration of Lockheed jets during the bidding phase) and his resignation from the post of Prime Minister. Still, this man orchestrated the revival of Niigata by securing public funds for major expressways and the Joetsu Shinkansen. Previously, getting over the Nippon Alps to Niigata was at best a chore, and at worst, impassable during the winter. With these new arteries, Niigata was easily accessible all throughout the year. As such, it's no wonder that the town commissioned a statue in Tanaka's honor in spite of the political controversy. Like I said, for me, this is a cool statue for the back story behind it.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gyp3b-livingTue, 09 Jan 2018 16:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gyp3b-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Goxqj-livingThere are plenty of cultures that enjoy public baths and saunas--Turkish, Russian, and Scandinavian cultures come to mind--but for me, Japanese onsen (hot springs) are in a class all their own. Bathing in onsen has long been a Japanese tradition, and it is a great way to enjoy one of the more relaxing aspects of Japanese culture.For those of you worried about bathing publicly, fret not, I'll guide you through the process so you can avoid missteps and maximize your enjoyment in this relaxing and memorable endeavor. [Of course, if you are absolutely opposed to being naked in the presence of strangers, go to the "Private Onsen Experience" section below]Public Baths versus Onsen:It's important to recognize that onsen are Japanese public baths, but not all Japanese public baths are onsen. The key distinguishing factor is the type of water used: in onsen, the water must come from natural hot springs (or simulated by adding natural minerals to the water). There's also a bit of a difference in terms of the characteristics between onsen and public baths in that onsen are meant more for relaxation while public baths are meant more for cleaning oneself and going about one's business. The facilities typically reflect those purposes.How to Onsen:Using a Japanese onsen is fairly straightforward. You can either visit an onsen and pay for a one-time use, or you can stay at a ryokan (Japanese style inn) where onsen are available on the premises.When you arrive at the onsen, you'll receive a small towel and perhaps a plastic bag with some amenities in it (razor, toothbrush, etc.). From there you proceed to the appropriate dressing room, male or female. There are very few unisex onsen left in the country, so you'll split up and follow the noren (hanging tapestry) in front of the doors. The male noren will be a darker blue or purplish color with this symbol on it:男; while the female noren will be a red or pinkish color with this symbol: 女.Once inside, there will be cubbies or lockers. Disrobe and place your gear inside an available space. Leave the plastic bag, but carry the small towel with you, which can be used for a bit of modesty when transiting to the bath.When you enter the bath area, you will see a bunch of shower heads with stools, buckets, soap, and shampoo next to them. Pick an available one, plop down on a stool, and clean up. Be sure to wash up BEFORE hitting the actually onsen tubs.Once you're fully washed, it's time to hit the tubs for a soak! Most onsen will have a large indoor tub, but some will have an outdoor tub, or rotenburo. Feel free to use either and enjoy the soak!Two quick notes: - Some onsen will have a smaller tub on the side or in the corner. Beware before hopping in, because that tub will typically be filled with really cold water. Especially on hot days, dipping in cold water can get you ready to go back and brave the heat and humidity after soaking in hot onsen water for a while. You also can use a bucket and just scoop some cold water out to pour on you if you don't want to get in for the full soak.- You carry the small towel with you everywhere you go. When you enter the onsen, you should either leave it on the ledge right next to you or put it on top of your head. Bottom line: just don't keep it soaking under the water if you have the option--just a matter of onsen courtesy.And there you have it: how to onsen in Japan!Private Onsen ExperienceIf you are reading this section, it means that given the choice, you would prefer not to be naked around strangers. There's nothing wrong with that, and you won't have to miss out on the onsen experience--it'll just mean a little prior planning and/or extra money.If you want a private onsen experience, you'll need to book accommodation at a ryokan that either offers in-room onsen tubs or a communal onsen that you can reserve for private use. A room with private onsen tub is costly, generally running anywhere between 30,000 - 75,000 a night (with room and meals). If you prefer something cheaper, many ryokan will offer communal onsen which can be reserved for patrons at specific times. Sometimes it's free, sometimes there's a nominal fee--in either case, be sure to talk to the front desk to set a time for you and your travel mates to use it, and you'll have the area all to yourselves for that period. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Goxqj-livingTue, 09 Jan 2018 12:22:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Goxqj-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr8kq-foodOut of all of Japan's awesome convenience stores, or conbini, Family Mart has always been number one in my book, and today, it proved yet again why it holds that title.The aptly nicknamedYukiguni (snow country) is cold and snowy, and in that environment, any snack that can warm you up while satisfying your taste buds can get pretty high marks, but Family Mart outdid itself with a mashup between one of its mainstay savory snacks and a Japanese favorite dessert. I was perusing their steamer when I chanced upon this special edition gem on the top row...Yes, it is a PURIN MAN.Family Mart managed to take a steamed bun and combine it with all of the best parts of Japanese purin(custard).While the steamed bun is normally pretty bland and doughy, this one has a distinct sweetness to it (not unlike what you might taste in an anpanor other sweet dough). Still, what made this an immediate favorite was the deliciousness inside:...hot custard and a generous amount of kuromitsu(brown sugar syrup)--so much so that when I bit into it, the sweet smell of brown sugar and custard filled the air around me. I'm not exaggerating either--my wife (who wasn't aware of what I purchased) immediately asked, "Oh man, is there brown sugar and custard in there?"Take it from me: Purin Man is the best treat on a cold winter's day, and for just a shade over 100 yen (with tax), it's easy on the coin purse as well. (Available for a limited time at your local Famima!)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr8kq-foodSun, 07 Jan 2018 19:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr8kq-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6jn-shoppingFinding souvenirs in Japan is easy when you're shopping for yourself, but what about when you have to get something for a friend or family member back home? What's the right gift to get? How do you choose from so many options? I've run into these questions more than my fair share, whether I'm doing the shopping or trying to steer a visitor in the right direction. Over time, I've found a few gifts that always seem to score big with friends and family back home based on their particular interests, so I wanted to share them here.For the Culture LoverJapan is full of cultural traditions, and there are countless things you could get like tea cups or matcha (for tea ceremony), kokeshi dolls, etc. I recommend something a little more interactive:DarumaThis is a gift that the recipient can personalize. You can offer it with this simple explanation: "Paint one eye and set a goal, and paint the other eye when you achieve it--the Japanese have been doing this for centuries." That's culture, tradition, and personalization in one gift!For the Sports FanJapan is home to world-class athletes in all manners of sports including baseball, soccer, and any of the Olympic events. Still, if you are shopping for a true (not just casual) sports fan, you should think about this gift:Brave Blossoms Gear(photo via amazon.co.jp)Japan is hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Brave Blossoms have been gaining in popularity over the past few years with some key victories on the world stage. Brave Blossoms gear offers a unique and interesting gift for any sports fan.For the Art LoverBuying art while traveling can be difficult since paintings are expensive to ship and sculptures or other ceramics are fragile. Also, those things can be quite expensive for high quality products. I recommend going with a traditional form of Japanese art:Kakejiku These hanging scrolls make the perfect travel souvenir. They are easily transportable, usually have beautiful calligraphy or art on them, and won't break the bank, especially if you're purchasing one from a recycle shop or shrine sale.For the Anime/Manga LoverIf someone loves Anime or Manga, you certainly won't be wont for choice in gift shopping in Japan. Popular anime characters will find themselves stamped on all sorts of items from towels to clothing to figures to you name it. Still, for a true anime/manga fan, I recommend hitting the nearest Book-Off store and finding one of these:Japanese Language TankobonIt's unlikely that your friend or family member will have the original Japanese language edition of the manga they love. Book Off has just about every Manga known to the Western world (and much, much more). If your friend or family member does not read Japanese, this gift can serve as a cool item to put on display (like an old record for a music fan who doesn't own a record player), or it could serve as a vehicle for studying a new language. Either way, it's a good gift at a reasonable price.For the FoodieThere are plenty of at-home master chef's out there, and Japan offers the perfect gift for them:Kitchen KnifeJapan is famous for its razor sharp, high quality kitchen knives, and they make perfect gifts for someone who loves food and cooking. You can even get them personalized in knife shops in Kappabashi (Tokyo) if you want to go the extra mile (and don't mind the extra cost), but there are a number of reasonably priced knives available at department stores, specialty shops, and hardware stores throughout the country.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6jn-shoppingSun, 07 Jan 2018 12:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6jn-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glk6d-transportationWhen most people are looking for modes of transportation in Japan, they typically look for the most modern and efficient. This article is not about those options. Rather, I want to take you back to another mode of transport that is quintessentially Japanese and will help you get from A to B in some of Japan's most popular tourist destinations: Rickshaws.A couple of hundred years ago before trains and cars took over, rickshaws were the taxis of Japan's major cities. Folks could hail a rickshaw driver, or if people were wealthy enough, they had their own personalized rickshaw and would simply hire drivers. Rickshaws were especially popular among foreigners who did wanted to get around the various port towns they inhabited. In fact, those foreigners were the ones that brought the term "rickshaw" back to their home countries.The term rickshawis an anglicized form of the Japanese jinrikisya (人力車), which literally means a human-powered car. If you have never seen one before, it is a two-wheeled cart with a yoke in front. The driver lifts the yoke and jogs to move you and your companion(s) to your destination.Of course, the notion of a Rickshaw driver hauling cargo up and down a highway or a major artery inside a city is absurd, but there are still plenty of places throughout Japan where you can hire a rickshaw to get you from A to B. The best places I've found for Rickshaw travel are Tokyo (near the Asakusa district), Kyoto, and Nara.So why should you opt for a rickshaw instead of other transportation?Personalize Your TourBus tours can be handy ways to see a new place, but it is certainly an impersonal way to travel when you are just part of a large crowd. In a rickshaw, it's just you, you travel companion(s), and the rickshaw driver. You can ask questions, head just to the places you want to see, and get a completely one-of-a-kind tour.See the Sights at a Leisurely PaceWhen you travel via taxi, bus, or train, you're often on the clock. You'll only have a certain amount of time at each destination before you have to load back onto a bus or catch the next train. Also, when you're on the transit, you'll often just zoom by some of the best sights a city has to offer. With a rickshaw, you'll have plenty of opportunities to snap pics along the way, take a little extra time at that shrine or temple you fall in love with, and stop at interesting places on the way between key destinations.Trek the Road Less TraveledSome of the best things Japan has to offer are in the back streets and narrow alleys; that is, places where it is difficult for taxis, buses, or trains to traverse. Not for rickshaws, however, so your driver will be able to sneak you through to some of the hidden gems in a city that other travelers won't ever know about!Experience a Traditional Part of Japanese HeritageThere is something about using a mode of transit that has its roots in the country. Thailand has tuk-tuks, the U.S. has horse-drawn carriages, and Venice has gondolas. Well, why not enjoy Japan's own quintessential form of transport?If you're looking for rickshaw tours, your best bet is just to do a quick internet search for your destination city and "rickshaw," so "Kyoto Rickshaw," for example. If you're looking for one on the go, Rickshaws will typically hang out near parks, shrines, and stations, especially in traditional Japanese districts (e.g. Nara Park in Nara, Gion in Kyoto, and Asakusa in Tokyo).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glk6d-transportationSat, 06 Jan 2018 18:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Glk6d-transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaN7W-livingTraveling in Japan can seem daunting for those who don't speak the language, but it is possible to survive on your travels using basic English. After all, English is a compulsory subject for all students in Japan, so a number of locals you encounter will have at least a modicum of understanding--provided you communicate the right way. To that end, allow me to offer a few dos and don'ts for using English in Japan that may help you along your journeys:Do:1.Speak slowly & enunciateEnglish can be difficult enough to understand among native speakers if someone is speaking quickly or mumbling, so be sure to take your time and communicate clearly. This does not mean that you have to speak like you're in slow motion, but just take your time.2.Ask one question at a timeIf someone has limited language ability, it can be exceedingly difficult to comprehend and to respond to a string of multiple questions received at once. The best thing to do is ask one question at a time. Sure, it can feel a bit staccato and unnatural at times, but it's much more effective at getting the job done!3.Use hand gestures/visual aidsCommunication is not just about language, so feel free to use hand gestures or visual aids like maps or pictures. They can help fill any gaps left in communication.4.Confirm what was saidThere's nothing wrong with repeated what someone told you to ensure that it was communicated correctly, so go ahead and walk back through those directions to the station or the cost of a certain item with the person with whom you're conversing. A few seconds to confirm a message can save a lot of heartache in the long run.5.Keep it simple and directSome people like to show politeness through words. Heck, the Japanese keigo/kenjōgo are perfect examples of how making words longer and adding honorifics are used in daily communication. Still, if you're communicating with someone who has limited English language ability, keep it simple and direct. Show politeness through a friendly smile and a bow.Don't6.Don't speak louderYou'd be surprised at how many people think that if they raise their voices, folks might better understand what they're trying to say. There's no need. Use the normal volume, and if the message is still not coming across, think about the other nine do's & don't's listed here.7.Don't use slang or idiomatic expressionsYou can't expect folks here to be up on all of the slang terms or idioms that English speakers back home use. Stick to textbook English.8.Don't use sarcasmWhile sarcasm is a prevalent part of communication in some countries (my wife's home country of Australia, for example), it is not part of Japanese language or culture. If you use sarcasm, folks here will generally fail to understand your meaning. 9.Don't use acronymsYou can't assume that certain acronyms that are common back home will be the same here in Japan. Avoiding acronyms may lengthen your conversation a bit, but it will also prevent unnecessary misunderstandings or additional explanations as to what the acronym means.10.Don't be afraid to make mistakesToo many people who travel in a foreign country are afraid of making a mistake in communication, so they opt not to try. They end up missing out on a whole lot. If you're traveling here and you try speaking English to someone, the worst thing that will happen is that they will bow and give you a little hand wave to indicate that they can't speak English back to you. If they engage, they will do their best to give you the info you need, and while it might be a little cumbersome, I guarantee you'll get there in the end as long as you don't fret too much about it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaN7W-livingFri, 05 Jan 2018 14:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaN7W-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2pR-living_familylifeI love my kids, and part of the reason why we're here in Japan is to give them a unique and important opportunity to learn a language and culture that's not their own. Still, when living in a foreign country, language and cultural barriers pop up in many different ways. Even if you try to stay ahead of it, it is impossible to forecast every particular situation which may present a challenge until you find yourself in the middle of it. For families in Japan--especially in the countryside like my family happens to be--schools can present some pretty big obstacles. Why? Well, it can be tough trying to communicate with your child's teachers or even to do simple things like call to tell them that your child is sick and cannot come to school. Then there are all the different rules and standards like what type of clothes are necessary and appropriate, the types of schools supplies--heck, even the standards for lunch boxes. It's a lot to work through.The other thing that you may miss out on is being involved in the school. School is a big part of your child's life, and if you're like me, you don't want to miss out on anything. So here are three tips to help you maximize your school-time experience for you and your children.1) Try to communicate with the teachers and other parentsYou may not speak good Japanese or any Japanese at all. Still, communication is more than just the words coming out of your mouth. It may seem ridiculous to talk to somebody in a language they don't understand while playing charades, but even the slightest bit of communication tells the teachers and the parents that you're happy to be a part of the community (even if you're the goofy gaijin).2) Go to all of the school eventsWith the exception of recitals or concerts, school events in the states are not generally meant for parental participation. I can't remember a single field day where parents showed up, and certainly none where they took part in the events. Japan is different though. The Cultural Festival and Sports Days (and all of the others) are important bonding experiences that leave cherished memories for you and your children. No English required either--just go and have fun!3) Volunteer for eventsThe language barrier here can be tough, but sometimes the school isn't looking for someone Japanese in particular to fill a role. Maybe they just need an extra set of hands or they are looking for a niche capability. That opportunity came up for me this past Christmas when the school was in need of a Santa Claus. I guess I look a little more like popular media portrayals of Santa Claus than the other parents who drop off their kids at school, but I was glad they asked. It turned out that there was very little Japanese required for the job, too. Admittedly I was a bit nervous that some kids would stump me with some tough questions, but in the end, the 1 to 5 year old kids were just so excited and awestruck that being present and being jolly was enough. And I'll tell you, there was almost nothing that could match looking out into the crowd of kids and seeing my daughter's bright smile. That's something I would have never gotten if I didn't put on that suit for the school.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2pR-living_familylifeFri, 05 Jan 2018 12:41:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2pR-living_familylifehttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pj3-food_toyamaDo you like sushi? Probably a silly question, since most people living in or traveling around Japan typically do. Still, even if you enjoy sushi, you may not know that there are all different types of sushi. Nigiri sushi, where the fish is placed on top of rice, or maki sushi, where the sushi is rolled, are just two of the most common examples. There are also many varieties of regional sushi, and recently, I got a chance to try one that I had always wanted to taste:MASUZUSHI from Toyama PrefectureWhat is Masuzushi?Masuzushi is a type of oshizushi (pressed sushi) where thin slices of cured masu trout (a variety of salmon) is placed across a round bed of rice. The whole package is then covered tightly in bamboo leaves and compacted to minimize oxidation. The chemicals from the vinegar in the rice and the natural ingredients of the bamboo leaves serve to preserve the fish and keep the rice soft, meaning that this type of sushi will keep for much longer than the standard nigiri or maki options.Because of its longer shelf life, masuzushi was among Japan's first "takeaway" sushi, used both as gifts and as a staple food for travelers making the trek to Tokyo from Toyama. This was especially important in the sankin kotai days of the Edo period, where long processions of feudal lords and their clansmen would make the treks to and from Edo (modern day Tokyo) at the order of the Shogun. Masuzushi and other long-lasting foods rose in prominence as a result of those practices.How does it taste?After years of curiosity, I finally got the chance to taste masuzushi when my wife ordered me some from our local co-op market. Unlike traditional masuzushi wrapped in bamboo leaves and presented in a bamboo container, this arrived in a ready-to-eat dish.You can see how the fish and rice have been packed down together. It made for easy slicing and eating.So how was it? This particular masuzushi was 50/50 for me. The fish was delicious, but the rice was a little dry. That tells me that it was either lower quality rice, poorly prepared rice, or not the right water/vinegar mix to keep it soft. In any case, I would definitely get masuzushi again, but probably something a bit fresher.Where can you find it?Regional Food FairAs one of Toyama's meibutsu (specialty products), almost any regional food fair in Japan will have masuzushi as the Toyama option. These fairs can be found at promotional events in major cities or even local supermarkets (like this one I bumped into at my local Aeon).EkibenFor those traveling by train, Masuzushi is Toyama's go-to ekiben (bento-style meal purchased to eat on trains). They will typically come in smaller sizes meant for a single person to eat in one sitting and will run generally between 1000 and 2000 yen.Rest AreasIf you are driving through Toyama, just about every rest area (both on the expressways and the Michi no Eki on normal highways) will offer Masuzushi. They will run you anywhere between 1200 and 5000 yen depending on the size of the dish.Masuzushi Specialty StoresIf you want the freshest Masuzushi available, your best bet is to head out to Toyama prefecture and visit a Masuzushi specialty shop. There are several famous ones throughout the prefecture, so a quick internet search for "masuzushi" and the town in Toyama you're visiting will give you plenty of options.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pj3-food_toyamaWed, 03 Jan 2018 19:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pj3-food_toyamahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp94-living_healthI was wary about getting flu shots here in Japan until one day I dropped off my daughter at school and I saw this sign: インフルエンザ　１３名 ("Influenza: 13 people"). It was then and there I told myself we're all getting the shot.If you have kids, you know that any sickness tends to go around and around the house until everyone has fallen ill. It's one thing to suffer through continuous bouts of colds and fevers in the house, but the flu is a next-level challenge that we just do not want to fight.So I headed over to the local clinic to find out about flu shots in Japan, and I wanted to share with the expat community what I learned, just in case other folks have been contemplating getting it for themselves or members of their family.[Please note that this is applicable only for folks covered under National Health Insurance. I can't speak for those with private health insurance coverage.]The Flu Shot is not a mandatory vaccine under the Ministry of Health's policies, so you have to sign up and pay separately to receive it (children included). Major hospitals generally will not offer the flu vaccine except on specially designated days. If you want to walk in, you'll need to go to a smaller hospital or clinic. Clinics are your best bet if you want same day shots.At the clinic, you should be able to find a designated table or stand with flu vaccine forms. They have the forms for children from 1-12, and then people from 13-65 years old. I asked, and the doctors here do not recommend (i.e. they will not give) flu shots to children under 1 or adults over 65, which is why they do not put forms out for those age groups.Although the forms should be available at any time, the clinic will most likely have a set time period in which to administer the shots. For example, my clinic only offered children's flu shots from 10:30-11:30 and 16:30-17:30.Bring whoever is getting the shot (yourself or your family members) to the clinic at the appointed time with the appropriate forms already filled out. [Note: you'll need to do a quick temperature check for your kids]. At that point, the staff will ask you to wait with all of the other patients waiting for flu shots.First, you'll be seen by a doctor who will review the form and confirm that you are healthy enough to receive the shot. Some docs may give you the shot then and there. At my clinic, we were asked to return to the waiting area for another person to deliver the vaccine.Upon being called up the second time, nurses will administer the shots, and then will probably ask you to return once again to the waiting area until the records can be certified and invoices drawn up.Finally, you'll pay the fee (around 1500-2500 yen per vaccine) and get the records. And there you have it--flu free (hopefully) for the season!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp94-living_healthThu, 28 Dec 2017 17:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp94-living_healthhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mqrq4-livingSome of you readers out there may know what otoshidama is, but for those who aren’t aware, otoshidama is a Japanese New Year’s tradition where adults place money into a small envelope and give it to children and young adults (typically, those from extended family). You can see how these little gifts could easily push a person into “favorite aunt or uncle” status, but Japan Post offers something to “sweeten the deal” for otoshidama offerings.Normally one would find otoshidama envelopes in all manners of stores, including 100 yen shops and conbini, and they run the gamut in terms of design (though the size and shape always the same). Having been the lucky recipient of otoshidama for many years, I can say that I never cared about what was on the envelope—what mattered was inside...until Japan Post came up with this gem of an idea a couple of years back......Affix the otoshidama envelope to a box of kit kats.What!? Now a kid gets money and chocolate at the same time? Favorite uncle status, here I come...The other neat thing with these is that they cleverly have taken the “Year of The Dog" theme and thrown in a bit of traditional Japanese culture offering the following mashups of pups and ancient deities:- French Poodle Daikoku- Chihuahua Benzai- Shiba-inu EbisuYou can find these at any JP throughout Japan, and they’ll run you 140 yen.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mqrq4-livingWed, 27 Dec 2017 09:05:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mqrq4-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBO4Y-shopping_tokyoWhen I was a kid, my mom would disappear every Sunday morning and come back with a car full of Japanese antiques: cabinets, kimono, obi, prints--you name it, she would have it. Our house started to look like a museum after a while (much to my chagrin, since I've always been clumsy on comical proportions), and when our house got full, she started procuring items for friends. For some time I wondered what kind of shady business she was into, because it's not as if my family was made of money. Of course, if you knew my mother, you'd know she is about the furthest thing from the type to be down at the wharf trading black market goods. No, her secret was something I found out is rather common in Japan but relatively unknown among expats: the Shrine Sale.When you think of "shrine sales," think of a cross between a flea market and Antiques Roadshow. On certain weekends, Shrines open their grounds to vendors who bring their wares to sell. On a few occasions, you'll find some junk, but for the most part, the goods at Shrine Sales are quality products, and you can always find some amazing antiques at reasonable prices.While each region of Japan has Shrine Sales, the one I personally recommend for folks in Tokyo looking for unique souvenirs is at Yasukuni Shrine.Yasukuni Shrine is better known for its controversy. It is the Shinto place of worship where the souls of Japanese lost in war are enshrined. Normally, that would not be a problem, but in 1978, the chief priest decided to enshrine 14 Class A War Criminals from WWII. Now, because of that decision, not even the Emperor of Japan goes to worship there. In many ways, the controversy makes Yasukuni an interesting place to visit regardless of the other things the shrine offers, but my favorite reason to go is its weekly Shrine Sale.Every Sunday when there are not other formal events taking place, Yasukuni opens the grounds to vendors. It is one of the few shrines left in Tokyo that operates Shrine Sales with such regularity, and it is probably the most consistent in terms of quality antiques available.Each Shrine Sale in Japan has its own character, and the Yasukuni Shrine Sale tends to take on the identity of its host shrine. Yasukuni became the place for memorializing Japan's war dead immediately following the Meiji Restoration and Boshin War (the civil war fought between forces of the Emperor and those of the Shogun), and so the Shrine Sale offers many products from the Meiji era (1868-1912) and items that reflect Japan's military history. You can find things like Imperial military medals and uniforms, woodblock prints from the Meiji era, and even awesome things like this:Of course, the Shrine Sale offers a lot more than military-related goods. There are always beautiful ceramics, furniture, statues, vases, tapestries, and traditional wall art (the kakejiku, hanging scrolls, are my favorite).Three recommendations for you: (1) be ready to haggle--the vendors expect it; (2) bring cash; and (3) go early. Other than that, just go and find yourself a treasure (my wife and I have picked up a fair few from there ourselves).Yasukuni Shrine is accessible via the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line. Vendors will usually be ready to go as early as 6:30 am on Sunday mornings.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBO4Y-shopping_tokyoTue, 26 Dec 2017 18:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBO4Y-shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GWP3m-foodI've been living in Japan for more than half my life now, but until today, I had never tried "Honey Toast." If you don't know what Japanese Honey Toast is, you may seem unimpressed by the notion of eating toast topped with honey, but over here, it's really something else altogether. Check this out:As you can see, Japanese honey toast is basically half a loaf of toasted bread topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate (or other sweet sauces).My wife and I had a mini-date after running some errands today since we are set to be snowed in the next few days, and the little cafe we visited offered a "Honey Toast Set" with coffee. We'd both seen it before, but neither of us had ever tried it before, so we figured that it was a good time to give it a shot.Boy, am I glad we did. The bread was freshly baked and it actually went really well with the toppings. It wasn't as rich as cake or pie, of course, but it was a great snack with afternoon coffee because it was both filling and kicked the sweets craving.If you haven't tried honey toast, I recommend it, though definitely share it with someone because it's a lot of food!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GWP3m-foodTue, 26 Dec 2017 15:18:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GWP3m-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPJr-living_food_okinawaI'm not a heavy drinker, but I find that one of the best ways to experience a new place is through its traditional alcohol. After all, how the local alcohol is made, what it's made from, and how it is imbibed reflects the area's crops, external cultural influences, and perhaps even religious traditions.Japan certainly has alcoholic drinks that reflect its history and culture. I think the one that most people associate with this country is sake, which makes sense, since even the Japanese call it Nihonshu (literally “Japan liquor”). Still, there are other alcoholic drinks that are culturally important here, especially throughout different regions. For example, the Kyushu and Chugoku areas are famous for Shochu since it is a potato-based liquor, and those areas are known for their potato crops. Meanwhile, Okinawa offers something altogether different but representative of the island prefecture’s unique history and culture: AwamoriSo what is Awamori? Awamori is a distilled rice liquor that symbolizes Okinawa’s cosmopolitan history. You see, when Okinawa was the Ryukyu Kingdom, it was a hub for regional trade. As such, the Ryukyu culture has an interesting mix of Chinese, Thai, and (of course) Japanese influences, among others. Awamori happens to be of Thai (ancient Siam) origins. The Ryukyu people took popular Siamese liquor and adapted it to local distilling ingredients and techniques. While Okinawan distilleries still use Thai indica rice to make Awamori, they also employ Okinawan black Koji (rice cultured with mold) in the distilling process to give Awamori its own distinct flavor profile. Further, the liquor is aged in traditional Okinawan clay pots to improve its flavor and mellowness.Nowadays, Awamori is used both as an everyday drinking liquor as well as for ceremonial purposes. For example, a person may receive a traditional clay pot of Awamori when breaking ground on a new home and take the first drink when the house is finished. Meanwhile, for visitors traveling to the island prefecture, Awamori can offer a unique cultural experience and an opportunity to pick up some memorable (and useful) souvenirs for the trip home.When you travel to Okinawa, you can visit a number of distilleries to learn more about Awamori. One place that I’m able to recommend is Zuisen Distillery at the foot of Shuri castle. With a history dating back to 1887, Zuisen offers tours and tastings with English language support. This is a great way to get the in-depth perspective on how Awamori is made and how it should be enjoyed. The tours run every 30 minutes between 9:30 and 16:30 and are free. Zuisen is located at 1-35 Sakiyama-cho Shuri, Naha City.Also, when you’re in Okinawa you’ll no doubt see the plethora of interesting shaped colored glasses at all of the different souvenir shops and specialty stores. Those are Awamori glasses— specialty drinking vessels for Okinawa’s own specialty liquor. Awamori is typically consumed straight, on the rocks, or mixed with water, though it can be used for cocktails. These glasses don’t do anything to change the flavor profile of the Awamori, but they do reflect the tradition of Ryukyu glass making. So if you are looking for a neat souvenir from Okinawa, a bottle of Awamori and a few of these unique cups make for good keepsakes.You may not end up the biggest fan of the distinctly-flavored Awamori, but it can certainly provide an interesting and memorable window to Okinawa's cultural tradition.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPJr-living_food_okinawaThu, 21 Dec 2017 12:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPJr-living_food_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPYx-living_shoppingThere are only 5 more days until Christmas, and I was feeling pretty good about my prior planning for the kids' presents. My wife and I (mostly my wife) managed to find all of the toys that the children wanted, and they have been safely tucked away waiting for the final step: wrapping. Little did we know that wrapping paper is a precious commodity in Japan, up there with gemstones and rare earth metals.You may think I'm kidding, but have you ever tried to find wrapping paper to cover all of your presents? We checked all of the local stores near our home and there was zilch. So we decided to drove about 20 minutes to where the nearest Daiso and Aeon department stores are thinking, these places will definitely have what we needed.Here was Daiso:Lots of Xmas stuff, but when I asked about the wrapping paper: "Sold out." C'mon, Daiso--how do you sell out of wrapping paper 5 days before Christmas!?Then we went to Aeon:You probably can't see in the photo, but wrapping paper sold for 500 yen per meter. 500 yen per meter!? For something that is just going to be shredded and tossed aside!? (For context, that is over 5 times as expensive as standard prices for wrapping paper in the U.S.) Seriously though, we checked the fabric section, and there were fabrics that sold for cheaper than the wrapping paper. I guess we're sewing giftwrap this year...And for that, I say, "C'mon, Japan..."To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPYx-living_shoppingWed, 20 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MvPYx-living_shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GWPr8-living_food_workAs an expat working in Japan, you may never be asked to handle this enormous responsibility, but I've found myself at the helm of plenty of work events in the all important role: the Kanji. Kanji? No, I don't mean kanji as in Chinese character, but 幹事, event organizer. In the Japanese work culture, the enkai or nomikai (drinking party) is a mainstay, but somebody has to put the event together. Being a kanji can be a thankless job usually given to the lowest man on the totem pole, but a little effort and prior planning can go a long way to leave a lasting impression for all involved. Frankly, it's pretty easy to do a passable job as a Kanji in Japan. Here are the baseline requirements:(Before the enkai)1) Search for a place close to the office on gurunavi or tabelog that has a course menu (usually no more than 5000 yen per person with an all-you-can drink option included)2) Make a reservation3) Disseminate the details of the event to the participants(At the enkai)4) Order drinks for everyone5) Make sure the event runs smoothly [the standard sequence: drinks, kampai, food, last order, kampai, pay, leave]6) Collect the money and pay the billStill, there are two things I've learned along the way that will help you step up your Kanji game. Allow me to explain:1) Pick a Decent PlaceHere are the three factors that make a great place for an enkai:- Plenty of space for your group: you don't want your group to be separated all throughout the restaurant or crammed into tiny eating rooms. I've experienced both, and it detracts from the overall experience. To mitigate this, be sure to make a reservation well in advance, ask for a special enkai room, and/or scope the place out yourself.- Good food: if people are going to be spending upwards of 5000 yen per person on a "voluntold"-to-go work function, you should make sure the food and drinks are worth it. Gurunavi and Tabelog can be great options for finding spots to eat, but be sure to check out places on City-Cost, Metropolis, TimeOut Tokyo, HotPepper Gourmet, Odigo, etc. - Memorable setting: There are tons of places to eat in Tokyo that leave their mark on their patrons. Whether you're picking a place that is has been around for hundreds of years, or a Showa-era joint that harkens back to a bygone time, or a modern themed-restaurant, there are myriad choices that can leave a lasting impression. My recommendation is to pick a place with a good story behind it. If you don't know of any off-hand, check out those sites I mentioned above. Some of my successes have been at places like Zauo (the fishing restaurant), Inoki Sakaba (sadly, closed down), and Sake Breweries.2) Don't necessarily go for the Course MenusIf the budget is between 3500-5000 yen per person, I recommend avoiding course menus. Certainly, I see the appeal of course menus--it takes all the thinking out of it, since you just pick a course and go. Still, there are some good reasons to take the road less traveled. First and foremost, course menus are usually terrible. Instead of getting the best dishes from the menu, you usually get the cheapest, least appetizing options. Second, ordering from a standard menu opens up restaurant options, since many of the better places to go don't have course menus.Third, you'd be surprised at how many people avoiding drinking a ton at a work enkai. You'll usually have one or two who like to keep the drinks flowing, but my experience has taught me that few people will drink enough to make all-you-can-drink options worth it at formal enkai. It's actually cheaper just to order pitchers or individual drinks (and more considerate for the non-alcohol drinkers that will invariably attend).Fourth, avoiding course menus will put you in control of the food options, so if someone (the boss, in particular) likes something that comes out, you can order seconds without upsetting the overall price.The trick is to scope out the menu before heading to the event. Do some simple calculations to have your choices in mind before you go. A good rule of thumb is one order per four people; e.g. one salad for four people, one main dish to split between four people, etc. Also, make sure that you're the one doing the ordering at the restaurant. It'll keep you busy, but also keeps you in control.If you take my advice, you'll be able to make your next enkai a memorable occasion. If you do, you'll ingratiate yourself with your colleagues and maybe even your boss. Worst case scenario? You'll best asked to do it again!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GWPr8-living_food_workMon, 18 Dec 2017 12:48:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GWPr8-living_food_workhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6oj-foodLooking for a tasty mid-afternoon snack? I was. So I did what anybody in Japan who wants a quick snack on the go does: I stopped by the nearest conbini (convenience store).Browsing the aisles, I came across what at first glance seemed to be some kind of jerky. Great, I thought. Jerky will make a tasty, satiating snack. (Okay, so my inner monologue is not so articulate. It was probably more like, Mmm...meat good. Fill my belly.)Then I inspected the package a little more...ホルモン Horumon: Japanese for all the, shall we say, "less than desirable" parts of an animalIn this case...ハツ Hatsu: Heartsガツ Gatsu: GutsSo that was a hard no on the innards jerky.Though it did make me wonder: is this something people just carry around with them at work or school? Let’s say you were inclined to buy these: would you ever find yourself in a spot where someone says, “Hey, I’m starving. Could I bum a few of those? What are they anyway?”If so, you couldn’t really lie cause then the person may want to eat some and then you'll have to feel the guilt of secretly feeding them pig guts. Then again, replying, “Oh, it’s dried hearts and intestine” is the fast track to earning 'creepy guy in the office' status.Well, i guess if you were looking for a way to get that guy from accounting to stop chatting to you about his dang anime collection...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6oj-foodWed, 13 Dec 2017 19:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zD6oj-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY4eB-transportationMy wife and I have traveled quite a bit in and around Japan during our years here, and the question always comes up when booking flights: should we fly out of Narita or Haneda? Personally, I love Narita Airport, whereas my wife is partial to Haneda (and really dislikes the long trek to Narita). At the end of the day, our discussions always come down to three main factors and the pros and cons that each airport has in those categories. As you plan your travels in Japan, allow me to list those pros and cons out here for you to ponder, so they may help you answer that key question yourself, "Narita or Haneda?"Transportation to/from:Narita(Pros)Because Narita is so far away, there are dedicated limousine buses and specialty trains (like the Narita Express) that are comfortable and easy to use.(Cons)All the methods of traveling to Narita are relatively pricey and time consuming.Haneda(Pros)One major advantage to Haneda airport is that a taxi from Tokyo proper is not out of the question. In fact, most taxi companies will offer some sort of flat rate. That is definitely not the case for Narita.Haneda also benefits from multiple train lines (JR and the Monorail), as well as tons of cheap buses that you can catch from all over Tokyo.(Cons)Because most of the transportation to Haneda is similar to normal business traffic, you'll find yourself lugging suitcases amongst crowds going to and from work. That can be a little hectic, especially if you're traveling with family in peak hours.Availability of flights:Narita(Pros)Narita has a high volume of international flights heading all over the world.(Cons)Narita has a low volume of low cost domestic carriers, so if you're trying to travel within Japan on a budget, it can be a little pricier than Haneda.Haneda(Pros)Haneda is a fantastic hub for domestic flights. It also offers a high volume of international flights to other countries in the region like Korea, China, Taiwan, and Singapore.(Cons)Haneda's smaller capacity means less volume of international flights outside of East Asia.Airport Stores and Restaurants:Narita(Pros)Narita has a lot of restaurants and shops. I personally think that Narita is far better for shopping and eating than Haneda, in large part because of the wider selection. Narita also includes many shops and eateries past security, which Haneda does not.(Cons)For all of its shops, Narita tends to be lacking in locally produced goods. So while you can get plenty of Pikachu toys for the kids, it's a bit harder to find traditional gift items than Haneda.Haneda(Pros)Haneda has a great selection of Japanese goods, which is great for souvenirs and mementos. Also, the restaurants tend to be higher quality than their Narita counterparts.(Cons)There isn't much when you get past security, so you have to do your shopping before heading through towards your gate. Also, there is a relative dearth of international products, if duty free shopping happens to be your favorite kind.Ultimately, my wife and I deliberate these pros and cons in depth whenever we're booking flights, and I'm happy to report that we can always find a compromise...which is to say that we always fly out of Haneda.(Granted, flying out of Haneda did give us this awesome view...)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY4eB-transportationWed, 13 Dec 2017 12:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MY4eB-transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wem6e-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWe've been getting snow dumped on us for about 36 hours out here in Niigata. I've lived in Colorado before, so I thought I knew heavy snowfall, but what I saw over there does not even come close to Yukiguni ("Snow Country")--not by a long shot.Some places shut down with even the threat of snowfall. Not here. Why? Well, part of it is that people here are familiar with life in the snow. But even someone who has spent countless winters here can't drive if the roads are not clear. If you can't drive, you can't work. If people can't work, the city shuts down.No, the real reason this town keeps running is because of the excellent public works systems out here. Of course there are things like plows and bulldozers to help clear some roads, but they can't fit through the small residential streets. Instead, the city built up a network of sprinklers to pump water onto the streets, and even individual homes and businesses can tap into the water lines to clear snow from roofs and parking lots. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:Over 60 cm of snow last night and this morning the roads were clear enough for me to drive my daughter to school and go to work.Business as usual here in Yukigunithanks to Public Works.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wem6e-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWed, 13 Dec 2017 09:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wem6e-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gox09-shoppingOne of the novelties of coming to Japan is seeing all of the weird English-translated signs, menus, quotes on t-shirts and more. It makes for some amusing memories and even better Instagram photos. Of course, "Engrish" signs can be somewhat hard to find these days, with the modern innovation of things like Google Translate and other web-based tools that have helped prevent awkward slip ups--unless you know where to look, that is. If you do still want to get a chuckle out of some humorous signage and pick up some fun souvenirs for family and friends back home while you’re at it, look no further than your local supermarket.The world already knows of several oddly-named Japanese products, such as Pocari Sweat and Calpis, but here are some other gems that you can find on many Japanese store shelves.Rice crackers“Salad Hope”We’ve all probably wished that we’ve eaten something as healthy as a salad when we’ve been chowing down on a donut, a giant steak, or some fried chicken. These rice crackers are the first food item I’ve seen to feel that emotion along with us. Salad hope, indeed.Gas Canisters“My Bombe”Anywhere else in the world and this item would likely get quarantined and searched. You only have to utter the word bomb to have Homeland Security on your case these days--but in Japan stores openly offer gas cans called "My Bombe." Not the most reassuring thing to call something meant for lighting stoves and heaters.Pet SweatGoing one up on Pocari Sweat is this gem that you’ll find in the pet supplies section of supermarkets or some other retail stores. Pet Sweat is actually a calcium fortified bottled water for your beloved furry friends, but as someone new to Japan (or even a traveler) you can absolutely understand how this could be misconstrued--and cause uncontrollable gagging in the process.Pasture TimothyAnother amusing pet food aisle find, this rabbit food name sounds like the developers just took an English word and random name and mashed them together. In the end, it starts to make sense since Timothy is a type of grass but certainly amusing, especially with the repeated "Pasture, Pasture, Pasture" watermarked all throughout the packaging.My Morning BreadNo really terrible odd words or unappealing words featured on this one, but it definitely begs the question: is there an afternoon bread...or evening? Am I only supposed to pair this with breakfast foods? [Spoiler alert: the name has nothing to do with the flavor, of course--just a literal translation of what the random Japanese name affixed to it]What I also enjoy is the haiku-like poetry at the bottom of the packaging. They didn't quite make the syllable count, but A for effort.Harvest BiscuitsIf you weren’t sure what these biscuits were, wonder no more. The marketing geniuses at this company said “we’re simply going to have a byline on the packaging explaining exactly what this item is.” Super thin and tasty appetizing biscuit leaves little to be wondered about what is inside, unless you're wondering what the heck they harvested to make them, that is.And last but not least, my personal favorite...Face WashNaiveYou have to love when the product you're purchasing makes you wonder if the company respects your decision-making. After all, naive literally means “showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement,” as in, "You must be very naive to think this will actually help your skin." Certainly, the name begs the question about whether this product is actually any good, and something tells me that my fellow expats have been somewhat reluctant to try this particular brand. In the end, I think the company must have thought that "Naive" sounded good to non-English speakers.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gox09-shoppingTue, 12 Dec 2017 16:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gox09-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GO04b-transportationAs an American, I have a fear of flying--not because I’m scared of airplanes, but because I hate airports. Imagine my elation when I took my first domestic flight in Japan. Granted, I showed up two hours too early, walked through security and found myself without any food options, but I quickly realized why those were wonderful things since it meant that I was no longer going to have to worry about the same things I did when flying in the states. As such, here are 5 tips to make your domestic travels by plane in Japan easier, more efficient, and keeping your travels running smoothly.1) Don’t arrive too earlyIf you’re an American and you’ve flown domestically, you know the rule is to arrive 2 hours before your flight is meant to take off. If you do that in Japan, you’ll find yourself with a lot of time to kill. 30 minutes to an hour ahead of your flight in Japan is plenty of time, even if you need to check bags. 2) Don’t sweat securityIn the States, security can take an average of 30 minutes to get through (but sometimes even in excess of an hour), so you may feel compelled to go through security early to ensure you don't miss a flight. In Japan, 5 to 10 minutes at a maximum has been fairly standard with all of my domestic flights. Plus, they don’t enforce the “shoes off” rule like you’ll find Stateside, and you can bring food and drinks through security as long as the bottles are unopened.3) Keep your ticket handy with you every step of the wayJapanese domestic flights use QR codes, so instead of just showing your tickets to security at the gates, you have to tap your QR code to the scanner. It’s second nature to most Japanese nationals that this is the standard protocol, but if you give it to the attendant they’ll tell you to tap it to the QR code reader anyway. That applies at security and your boarding gate. Just have it handy and you'll breeze right through.4) Get your food and drinks before you go through securityBecause security is so easy to go through in Japan and you don’t need to arrive so early for flights here, airports in Japan will typically have their stores and restaurants in the areas before the security checkpoints. If you’re in the mood for food and drinks, be sure to get those before you go through security. Otherwise, the best you’re going to get, generally speaking, are boxes of omiyage or onigiri. Not a big deal if you’re in the mood for a box of cookies, but otherwise, purchase your food before proceeding through security.5) Grab yourself a sorabenIf you’ve taken the trains in Japan, you’re probably familiar with ekiben--a bento meal, usually characteristic of the area you’re traveling through. Soraben is the same concept, but meant for air travel rather than train travel. Again, most of these will be sold before you go through security, so go ahead and pick one up before you head through. They offer an interesting glimpse into some local cuisine, while also generally giving you better quality food than what would be available on short domestic flights (if they offer anything at all).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GO04b-transportationTue, 12 Dec 2017 13:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GO04b-transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08oZ-livingMy wife and I love to travel in Japan. The country is so dynamic and every prefecture offers something unique for visitors. To date, we’ve visited almost 40 prefectures together (still need to head to Kyushu!) and seen our fair share of the country. Of course, we’ve also had our fair share of ups and downs related to traveling, often associated with our trip preparation. Sometimes we missed out on something that would have been really cool to see, or we picked an accommodation that was not very convenient for the types of activities we wanted to enjoy. Of course, we picked up some lessons learned along the way, and I’d like to share them with you all so you can maximize your travel experiences in Japan.Here are my three easy tips for filling up you want to do during your trip in Japan:1) Start by narrowing down a prefecture and areaSometimes that can be pretty easy, simply because there is a place you specifically want to visit, or a festival or event. Other times, it can be a bit more difficult, since you may not really know what’s around. If that’s the case, I suggest using the old dart board trick—meaning put your finger somewhere on a map of Japan and see where it lands. That should give you at least a region (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Hokuetsu, Hokuriku, Chugoku, Kyushu, Okinawa) and or a prefecture (one of Japan’s 47).2) Check out the Prefecture / City tourism websitesEvery single government office at the city and prefectural level in Japan have a division dedicated to Tourism. As such, they will always have some sort of tourism pamphlet or website that offers information about the local area(s). I always say to start here. Why? Because these are the places that the prefecture/city are most proud of, so they almost always worth the trip. Also, unlike some countries where only the big names can make it onto tourism pamphlets, in Japan, there are many grassroots projects that seek to take mom & pop establishments and bring them to fore for tourists. I love traveling down the backstreets to find places that would be otherwise obscure, and in many cases, the prefecture/city tourism bureaus tipped me off to their locations.3) Check InstagramI owe my wife for this tip, because she was the first one who clued me in on this travel planning trick. Once you’ve narrowed down a city, simply use the hashtag on Instagram and you’ll be opened up to a wide array of cool places. We’ve used this for sight-seeing, selecting restaurants, and finding cool hotel/ryokan accommodations. To these ends, Instagram is especially useful for finding the trending places in a local area, so even if the established tourist sites haven’t caught up yet, you can visit them. It’s also great for finding places that are popular with locals versus the standard tourist-recommendations. Finally, it is an excellent way to find great places to eat, whether for a meal or dessert. The fact that Instagram offers location pins really helps in your travel planning as well. As an extra tip, try to copy and paste the Japanese name into the search bar so you get the locals’ view of the great things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in that town.If you do those things, you can fill your itinerary up pretty quickly. From there, it’s just a matter of booking in travel and accommodations, and you’re ready for a fantastic vacation in Japan!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08oZ-livingMon, 11 Dec 2017 13:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G08oZ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpQ4-food_tokyoI am fortunate enough to have a wife that always thinks of me when she's out and about, so I often come home to different treats to enjoy. The latest was particularly special: a collaboration between Tokyo Banana and Kit Kat.While most people are familiar with the chocolate covered Kit Kat wafers, some may not be aware of Tokyo Banana. Tokyo Banana is a banana creme-filled pastry, and they have become the go-to omiyage for folks traveling through Tokyo Station.A few weeks ago, my wife happened to be passing through Tokyo Station, so she picked up these nice treats for me. Of course, they didn't come as cheap and easy as other specialty Kit Kats. My wife tells me that the line was 50-deep (she had a picture of it, too), and a pack of 8 costs 650 yen (15-pack comes out to 1200 yen). You can pick up any standard pack of Kit Kats at a convenience store for a fraction of the price with no line.So was it worth the wait and extra price? While you can't put a price on thoughtfulness, I can say that there wasn't anything mind-blowing about the kit kats themselves. They were decent, but the overall flavor wasn't much different from any other limited edition version. What was nice, however, was the packaging, so if you are looking for a treat for yourself, go to any convenience store and get whatever kit kats are there (there are usually limited edition flavors anyway, albeit not the Tokyo Banana variety). If you are looking for a unique gift for someone who either likes Tokyo Bananas or is into limited edition treats, I say go for it.Tokyo Banana Kit Kats are only on sale in Tokyo Station for another month (9 January).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpQ4-food_tokyoSun, 10 Dec 2017 09:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjpQ4-food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ9nJ-livingSo my wife and I were out on a nice little date lunch and stopped by the local Marui supermarket that we had not yet visited (yes, leisurely strolling through a new supermarket counts as a date when you have two kids under three). Of course, it was offered pretty standard fare that you would find in any regular Japanese supermarket, but it was nice just to be able to browse without the threat of tantrums or broken merchandise or whatever other trouble a toddler can get into at the market.As we were browsing, I stumbled upon these in the chips aisle:Don Tacos.For my fellow Americans out there, you know that Doritos has the flavored-Nacho market cornered, but when I moved to Japan as a kid, you couldn't find Doritos anywhere. Tough situation for a kid who loves Doritos, right?Enter Don Tacos. Those were the chips that all of us ate back in the day. The flavor is completely different from your standard bag of Doritos, but I think that's what gave me such a strong sense of nostalgia when I saw it again. I saw the bag, and suddenly I was back in middle school, splitting a bag of Don Tacos with my friends walking back to the train station (and yes, I'm aware that it is impolite to walk and eat, but tell that to a group of 12-year olds).It is really funny what triggers memories and a sense of nostalgia. I never thought Don Tacos would be one of those things, but I guess we never really know until we stumble upon them.Makes me wonder what other random things in Japan will bring about fond memories...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ9nJ-livingSat, 09 Dec 2017 14:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ9nJ-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MgPOA-foodThere are so many great things about the Holiday season--the cheer, the music, the gift-exchange, etc. Still, the one thing I think everyone dislikes is holiday shopping. Don't get me wrong, Christmas shopping in Japan is nowhere near as bonkers as it is back in the states, but it does get a bit hectic, especially during the weekends.Today could have been one of those hectic days at the shop, but just as I was about exhaust my patience reservoir, I chanced upon my favorite Japanese pastry: Siberia Cake.Siberia Cake takes two of my favorite sweets--castella cake and yokan--and combines them into a delicious treat. Haven't heard of it before? That's not unusual. Siberia Cake used to be popular during the late Meiji/Taisho era, but can be tough to find these days. The only company that produces this with any regularity is Yamazaki, though you can find a few bakeries that still make it.Fortunately, most big supermarkets (especially Seiyu and Aeon) offer these little gems in the pastry section, so if you need a pick me up after holiday shopping, treat yourself to one of these. Almost makes me want to go back out to the shops. Almost...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MgPOA-foodSat, 09 Dec 2017 14:00:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MgPOA-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBO7O-food_niigataNiigata prefecture is known for three things: snow, rice, and sake (nihonshu). Those three all fit together rather nicely, as the snow melt provides pure water, which is used with rice to brew Japan’s best sake. So when you travel to Niigata for an alcohol tasting experience, you would probably be surprised that another type of drink is popular here:WINEI know I was surprised as I was traveling through my new town expecting to see sake brewery upon sake brewery, only to stumble upon a very prominent, western looking building: Echigo Winery. I was even more surprised when every supermarket and convenience store in the local area sold the wine produced there. I got my chance to taste a bottle of Echigo Wine when my neighbor and I swapped bottles--I gave him a Napa Valley Cabernet since I’m originally from California and he gave me Echigo’s popular “Echigo Red,” which is a standard table red. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was sweeter than most wines I am used to, but I have come to discover that the cooler climate here influences the flavor of the grapes.Adapting to the climate here in yukiguni (“snow country”) is a common theme for Echigo Winery. After all, it is almost unheard of to have a winery in a place that gets tens of feet of snow in the winter time. Still, Echigo Winery has been around for over forty years, perfecting its craft in spite of the cold weather.Making the most of the situation, Echigo Winery cultivates hedge-type grapes which are much more resilient in colder climates. As I mentioned before, the flavor tends to be sweeter, but if that’s the palate you prefer in your wine, you’ll love the products here. Also, the winery has an ingenious system of using the snow to insulate and cool the stored wine to keep it at desired temperatures. There are openings in the winery’s roof that allows the snow to accumulate in space between the walls, providing insulating effect and allowing the wine to age at just the right temperature in a completely eco-friendly and efficient manner.Echigo wine offers over twenty varieties of wine, including your standard reds, whites, and sparkling options. The top three most popular options are the Kerner Grape White, the Merlot, and the Chardonnay. I haven’t had a chance to try all of them (I’m more of a red wine fan, myself), but my neighbor and other friends around here swear by all of the options.You can purchase Echigo Wine a variety of ways. Of course, you can head to the winery itself. Otherwise, if you’re in the area (basically anywhere between Yuzawa and Nagaoka), you can find the wine in supermarkets and convenience stores. Finally, you can visit the website hereto order online. The bottles range from about 600-4000 yen.One last personal recommendation: if you are into wine and want to visit Niigata, I suggest heading out in September in conjunction with the Echigo Winery's “Grape Festival.” In addition to having lots of food stands with which to pair a wide variety of wines, the winery offers guests a chance to visit the orchards and pick their own grapes (which are delicious and would be sold for exorbitant prices in supermarkets).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBO7O-food_niigataSat, 09 Dec 2017 13:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBO7O-food_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2bW-living_shopping_niigataLiving in snow country, I should have realized how much I would need waterproof boots. For whatever reason, I moved here and discovered that I had nothing but dress shoes and Pumas. So I went to my nearest general store to find some new boots that would help me get through the season.Sure enough, I was in luck. Since we just had the first snow of the year this past week, there were plenty of snow boots and galoshes littering the aisles. But now came the tricky part: finding a boot that would actually fit my feet.My wife was sure that I would not be able to find boots that would fit. I wear size 11.5-12 men's in US sizes, and for the most part, it can be difficult for me to find shoes in Japan that don't crunch my toes a bit, especially out in the countryside. When I first started perusing the boots, I was a bit worried that the store was going to prove my wife right, especially when they only had letters to correspond to the shoe sizes instead of measurements.S...okay, small. But how small?M...medium. Makes sense.L...Large, still tracking.LL...Largely large?Don't get me wrong, I understand where they are going with it--LL instead of XL. Fair enough. So I tried it on. No good--toes compacted. I went to the next style of boot. LL was the largest size. Then the next style--same result.Then the panic set in: am I destined to bind my feet all winter? Do I have to go home and tell my wife that she was right...again?As my heart raced, I started tossing boots throughout the aisle. Please tell me there is a Largely Largely Large size...I thought.And then I saw it. My salvation: the LLLs (as well as a handy size chart). Only three of about 15 different options of the boots in the store offered the LLL size. For your sake (if you ever need to go buy boots or other footwear at a general store), here is the sizing:S = 24 cmM = 25 cmL = 26 cmLL = 27 cmLLL = 28 cmLLLL = Better order onlineSo sure, I only had three choices of style, but when you see what I selected, you'll realize they were the only choice:"Outdoor Boots RELIABLE."Look, I know they are not the most stylish boots out there, but how could I pass up a boot that is so honest with itself?The company that made the boots could have said literally anything on there to spice up the boots: "Outdoor Boots AWESOME." "Outdoor Boots INCREDIBLE." "Outdoor Boots BEST FOOTWEAR YOU'LL EVER OWN." Nope. These boots weren't pretentious--simply proud of the fact that they will be reliable, and they were happy to advertise it in English for me.If only all apparel and footwear were labeled that honestly for me, life would be so much easier. "Cargo Pants FUNCTIONAL." "Glen Check Suit STYLISH." "White Sweatpants WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2bW-living_shopping_niigataSun, 03 Dec 2017 11:13:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gb2bW-living_shopping_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2Eyx-livingThe news this past week obsessed over the controversy surrounding an incident between Yokozuna Haramafuji and kohai Takanoiwa that eventually led to Haramafuji's early retirement. It was an unexpected blow to the sport that is not likely to go away, as Sumo's best-ever wrsetler, Hakuho, has openly contested the events leading to Haramafuji's retirement.With so much controversy, a true good news story was overlooked, when 39-yearold Aminishiki succeeded in his return to Sumo's top division. Not only was he the oldest-ever to return to the top division, Aminishiki posted a kachikoshiwinning record and earned the venerable "Fighting Spirit" prize in the process.When asked what drove him to such an achievement, Aminishiki tearfully responded that he owes everything to his family's support and does everything for them now.To me, this is the story that deserved the headlines. Congratulations, Aminishiki, I will be cheering you on next year!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2Eyx-livingSat, 02 Dec 2017 17:53:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w2Eyx-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4lv9-living_transportationI personally believe that if you are planning to see any part of Japan outside the city that a road trip is the way to go. Why? Japan has well-maintained roads, excellent expressways with even more incredible rest areas, and countless fascinating detours that will provide far more interesting memories than the standard tourist traps along bus or train routes.I've driven tens of thousands of kilometers in over 37 of 47 prefectures, and I've seen all the different types of drivers out there. On the whole, Japanese drivers are safe, patient, and courteous, but you have to be aware some special types of drivers. Please bear in mind that these are general categories of drivers I have encountered, so by no means is this an indictment of everyone who could potentially see themselves in those buckets. No, this is just some notes of caution of bad habits associated with the bad eggs in those categories so that you can drive safely along your journeys in Japan.That said, here are the five types of (potentially) dangerous drivers you'll find on Japanese roads:1) The Sunday DriverI personally don't recommend driving on Sunday if you can avoid it. First, it tends to be the most heavily trafficked day of the week for leisure activities, which means that if you are on vacation, you'll run into traffic heading to most of your destinations. Second, and more importantly, it is also the only day of the week that many people drive. I know most countries in the world have some term for Sunday drivers, but it is especially apt for Japan. If practice makes perfect, 1 out of 7 days a week can leave unsure hands behind the wheel. On Sunday, you'll tend to see a lot more erratic behavior on the road. The places I've seen the most danger is with merging onto expressways, changing lanes, and sudden stopping. The best things you can do is to maintain a consistent speed if you are in a lane with a car trying to merge (don't try to be too courteous or too aggressive). Be sure to watch out for poor lane changing habits (no signal, late signal, failure to check blind spot, etc.). Finally, keep a safe distance, especially in cities or towns where folks may suddenly stop to park or turn looking for their destinations. 2) The New DriverIn Japan, you'll encounter vehicles with this sticker on the back:This indicates a new driver, and it carries with it all of the associated risks. For the most part, new drivers in Japan have limited experience driving save for what they did in their respective driving schools--being solo on the open road may be new to them. If you see the sticker, be sure to keep a safe distance when following, be patient, and try to avoid aggressive overtaking.3) The Elderly DriverIn addition to stickers for new drivers, there are also stickers for elderly drivers (suggested to display for drivers over 70; mandatory for drivers over 75):At the risk of sounding stereotypical, there are a few driving traits common to these stickered drivers: driving at slower speeds; failure to signal properly; rolling stops; and overall lack of concern for whether or not you are going to hit them (in a less negative tone: trust that you will do the right thing in responding to their driving actions). As long as you're aware of those things, just adjust accordingly and there will be no problems!4) The Taxi DriverI mentioned that Japanese drivers are safe, patient, and courteous for the most part, but I throw that out of the window for taxi drivers. While not as bad as some of the notoriously dangerous cabbies around the world, there are a few habits that seem to transcend borders. In Japan, here are some of the habits to be aware of:- Sudden stops to pick up/drop off passengers (maintain safe driving distance)- Willingness to hold up entire lanes of traffic to pick up/drop off passengers, count money, jot notes, etc. (be ready for lane changes or stay in center or right lanes until you need to turn left.- Propensity to stop on street corners, blocking your ability to turn (be aware before you commit so you don't get stuck in an intersection)- Aggressive lane changing. Especially in cities, taxis will force their way into your lane whether you're ready for them or not. 5) The F-1 WannabesSimilar to Sunday drivers in that these guys only bring out their toys once a week, but when they do, they bring out the fast cars in often reckless fashion. Don't get me wrong, if I was driving a McLaren F1, I would want to open up the throttle too, but it really gets to be dangerous when you are doing it from red light to red light, or trying to weave through traffic on a crowded expressway. If you see one of these cars heading your way, it's best just to get over to the left lane, let them zoom past, and maybe shake a fist at them (or a thumbs up, depending on your inclination).As I mentioned before, for the most part, drivers in Japan make for safe, pleasant road trips, but I hope this helps you become aware of some of the challenges you might find on the road.!Oh, and before I sign off, allow me to share with you my favorite type of driver in Japan: Chibatman! [Chiba Prefecture's Batman]To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4lv9-living_transportationThu, 30 Nov 2017 14:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4lv9-living_transportationhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1A2A-living_food_okinawaI love food that tells a story. Sometimes that story is one of a places geography or resources, noticeable through the type of ingredients used or the temperature at which the food is served. Sometimes it's a historical tale, giving insight into the events and interactions that shaped the cuisine.I am particularly fascinated by the intersection between cultures, and Okinawa certainly has many examples of that thanks to its history of cultural fusion over time, especially with the United States. When WWII ended, US and Allied forces occupied Japan. In 1952, when the occupation formally ended, one prefecture of Japan remained under the administration of the United States: Okinawa. For 20 years, Okinawa existed as an American protectorate, and home to tens of thousands of US service-members and their families. Many observers of Japan and the US-Japan alliance may be well aware of some of the tension is that still exists based on that status as a protectorate and the relationship between US forces and Okinawan people, but strip away the politics, the intra-governmental negotiations, and what you were left with are people-to-people interactions. At the intersection of those cultures, friendships are made, lessons are learned, and, sometimes, new foods are born. Two of those foods are ones that you must try when visiting Okinawa: Blue Seal and Taco Rice.Blue SealJapan has a lot of good ice cream, but if you're searching for one with the best story behind it, Blue Seal is at the top of the list. For those of you new to Blue Seal, it has become the quintessential "Okinawan" ice cream in Japan, but it was born from a U.S. company that supplied dairy products for American personnel stationed in Okinawa after the war. The company, "Foremost," did not have a wide consumer base beyond American bases until 1963 when it opened its first "Foremost" Ice Cream shop in Urasoe City. The company eventually decided to change the name to "Blue Seal" in 1976, but it was a long road to reaching the popularity it now enjoys.In 1995, Blue Seal opened its second store in Chatan and it wasn't until 2007 that the third store opened in Tomigusuku. After that, though, Blue Seal ice cream took off, and there are now over 75 places to get Blue Seal ice cream in 20 prefectures (see here for the full list).So why is it so popular now?First, the fact that Blue Seal was born from a dairy company meant that it had a great deal of control over the key ingredients for the ice cream. The Blue Seal recipes are a company secret which they claim to keep in the "Orange Book." As a result, the ice cream has perfect consistency and terrific flavor, which the company builds upon by using some quintessentially Okinawan ingredients. Blue Seal offers the industry standards like Vanilla, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies and Cream, etc., but where it really separates itself is with its Okinawan varieties like Beni-imo (Purple Sweet Potato), Okinawan Ta-imo (Taro) Cheesecake, Ryukyu Royal Milk Tea, Sugar Cane, and my personal favorite: Chinsukō (Okinawan Salt Cookies). Unlike other seasonal or special edition flavors, these are all delicious, so I would encourage trying one or all of them (Chinsukō is a must!).Taco RiceThe one cuisine I do NOT typically recommend for folks coming to Japan is Mexican. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good Mexican joints scattered throughout Japan, but I am also originally from California, so I know how standards for Mexican food can be. That said, the one take on Mexican food in Japan where you can almost never go wrong is Taco Rice. Delicious, filling, and with an interesting story to tell in every bowl or plate, this modern-era Okinawan specialty makes for one interesting culinary experience.Certainly the relatively high volume of American service-members in Okinawa brought a demand for the tastes from home, and so a lot of local Okinawans who were hired to work on the bases learned how to cook cuisines from North America--Tex-Mex and Mexican being among them. Well, somewhere along the way, one of these cooks decided to take Taco meat and other fixings and place it across a bed of rice donburi style as with many other Japanese meals. That's all it took. Now, taco rice is a staple in Okinawa and has been spreading throughout the rest of Japan. While the versions you can find in Tokyo or elsewhere are good, there's still something about having a taco rice in its place of origin.You can find Taco Rice all throughout Okinawa, but some of the best places will be located right outside the American military installations (my favorite is in Ginowan City). You can even bring a souvenir Taco Rice seasoning packet to enjoy back at home!So when you head to Okinawa, be sure to give these foods a try for a treat that has a tale that goes along with it!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1A2A-living_food_okinawaFri, 24 Nov 2017 11:21:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1A2A-living_food_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63l9-living_education_okinawaMany people who visit Okinawa do so for the rich culture, delicious food, and, of course, the world-class beaches. Why wouldn't they? All of those things are fantastic and worthwhile reasons to make the trip.Still, Okinawa has another side to it that demands remembrance no matter how tragic it may be: the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.From April 1 to June 22, 1945, the Battle of Okinawa raged across the southern Japanese island. It was a bloody, traumatic affair that would forever shape the identity of Okinawa. By the time Allied forces reached Okinawa, the Japanese government had adopted a policy of gyokusai, or death without surrender. The purpose of such a strategy was to stage such a gruesome, hard fought defense that the Allied invaders would lose the will to continue their march towards Tokyo. The first island to bear that sacrifice with Japanese civilians alongside the Imperial military was Okinawa, and when all was said and done, tens of thousands of soldiers on both the US and Japanese sides had perished, along with one-third of Okinawan civilians.Such tragic loss left an indelible mark on Okinawa's history, but it can be easy to forget that when you go to relax on the beach, visit a Blue Seal ice creamery, or interact with the cheerful, friendly people of Okinawa. Certainly, the best way to celebrate peace is to enjoy those fun aspects of life, but if you have time, there are two stops that you should check out during your visit.Okinawa Peace MemorialThe Okinawa Peace Memorial is a sprawling complex located on the southern part of the island. One feature of the memorial is a museum that details Okinawa's history from the time of Japanese annexation to present day. The museum provides context for what you see today in Okinawa, while also telling the full story of the Battle of Okinawa. In addition to the museum there is a large park that houses the "Cornerstone of Peace," a monument to the Okinawans who died in the Battle of Okinawa. The names of all who fell are etched on stone walls that zig zag through the park, and they give you pause for the sheer number of names present. The Peace Memorial is located in Itoman city, and you can visit the website for more details. AbuchiragamaBefore Allied forces landed on Okinawa, Imperial Japanese soldiers and civilians alike took to caves both for refuge and for staging points for counter attack. Some of those caves are now open to the public, and they give you an appreciation for how difficult the Battle of Okinawa would have been, for the civilians who were hiding at the orders of the Imperial forces, fearing what the Allied invaders would do to them (thanks to Imperial propaganda), and the Allies who had to fight enemy soldiers who purposely hid out among civilians.The best cave to visit is the Itokazu Abuchiragama in Nanjo city. If you visit, you'll get a hard hat and a flashlight and head into the caverns where you can see relics from the people that lived there for months during the Battle of Okinawa, including earthenware and other household supplies. The cave also has signs indicating where people slept, where the "hospital" section was situated, etc. For me, it was unlike anything else I've ever experienced, and left a deep impression on me. I have no doubt it would do the same for you.For more information as well as interactive web-tour, visit the Abuchiragama website. Note: If you are interested in learning more about the Battle of Okinawa, I recommend watching the recent Andrew Garfield film, "Hacksaw Ridge," you can catch a glimpse of how furious the fighting on the island was, but I prefer the 1971 Japanese docudrama, "The Battle of Okinawa," which gives a little better perspective of the broader historical aspects of the battle.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63l9-living_education_okinawaTue, 21 Nov 2017 13:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G63l9-living_education_okinawahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp4v-livingWhether or not you enjoy sumo, you probably enjoy a good underdog story. If that's the case, you need to tune into the November basho (sumo tourney). It just wrapped up its sixth day in Fukuoka and will be running through until next Sunday the 28th. So who's the underdog worth watching?This is 39-year old Amanishiki, who entered this tournament as the oldest rikishi(sumo wrestler) to make it into the top division. Considering that many of his opponents are at least ten years younger than him (some almost two decades younger), Amanishiki has surprised fans and commentators alike by starting the tournament with five straight victories.He's a wily veteran who knows that he can't win in speed or power battles with the younger rikishi, but he has used his wits, technique, and incredible sense of space in the ring to confound his opponents.It really is a sight to see witnessing the "old man" show the youngsters a trick or two, especially after working so tirelessly to make it back to the big show.I haven't seen how he did today, but win or lose, he's still in the hunt, and that's something worth tuning in to see.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp4v-livingFri, 17 Nov 2017 19:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wjp4v-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxPX-foodIf you are the drinking type, which statistics show the majority of those above legal drinking ages are, then from time to time you enjoy a good drink to wind down after a long day. I picked up one of these bad boys to do just that:I'm a fan of dark beers (stouts, porters, etc.) and lagers, so naturally, I'm inclined to enjoy a black lager. Also, I tend to gravitate towards Asahi Super Dry when stopping by a supermarket or convenience store, so this seemed like an obvious choice. (Didn't hurt that my cousin posted on his instagram that these were back on the shelves to entice me to it, either.)Asahi Dry Black Lager has been around for about five years, but the only place I've been able to find it with regularity is Inoki Sakaba in Shinjuku (which, I'm told, has tragically shut its doors). I was excited to find it in the local supermarket to enjoy at home.So is it good? Look, if you're in the mood for a stout or porter, you'll probably be disappointed. This Black Lager emphasizes the "lager" more than the "black." Still, if you're looking for something that has a little more depth of flavor than a standard Asahi Super Dry, this is a great option. This will certainly be in my fridge as long as it's around this season!You can find it in most supermarkets and convenience stores for about 195 yen a can. They are also available in packs.Has anyone else out there tried Asahi Dry Black? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxPX-foodSun, 12 Nov 2017 16:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GoxPX-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm51v-livingSome major concerns over the level of press freedom in Japan have emerged in recent years. In fact, Reporters Without Borders listed Japan as 72nd in the world (last among G-7 members) in its World Press Freedom Index.In some ways, I agree with the criticisms of Japanese press, but I've also seen firsthand how the Japanese government openly affords press information that the U.S. government would never give away without at least a FOIA request. Whatever the case may be, the relationship between the government and the press is different from other leading nations in the world, so I suppose it would be easy to argue one way or the other. Me? I'm going to stay out of the fray and enjoy things like this:The "Bunker Shot Incident" (banka shotto jiken) was the name the media gave to the moment when Prime Minister Abe misjudged his exit from the bunker during his round of golf with President Trump last week. He misjudged it so badly, in fact, that he rolled back into the sand (for some of you Star Wars geeks out there, I had a flashback to Return of the Jedi!). Fortunately for Abe, I guess, President Trump was ahead and didn't notice. Unfortunately, there was at least one camera rolling.Is this newsworthy? Not really. Did it really need to be termed an "incident?" Absolutely not. Did the Japanese media bring it to my attention? Yes, and I love them for it!I'll leave the debates over press freedom to others. In the meantime, I'll continue to enjoy the fact that Japanese media is free to hype up such an embarrassing (and hilarious) moment for a world leader.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm51v-livingSun, 12 Nov 2017 13:30:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm51v-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5jv-food_beppu_shi_oitaMaybe it sounds a little dramatic claiming that I’ve eaten food cooked in the fires of hell, but that’s the selling point for the delicacies you can get in a place called Beppu, Oita, located in the southern island of Kyushu.Beppu is one of Japan’s most famous onsen spots, in part because it happens to be situated where surface level geothermal energy is among the strongest in Japan. The same heat that warms the water for your onsen also causes steam to rise up through natural and man-made vents in the ground. This steam, the locals say, comes from the depths of hell--or jigoku in Japanese. While the steam adds a great deal to the town’s aesthetic (especially when enjoying the view of Beppu and the adjacent ocean from your hot tub), it also serves a practical function in cooking.Imagine if you had a ready-made steamer all set up just by having a vent in the ground with Mother Nature doing the rest of the work. Well, plenty of restaurants and shops in Beppu take advantage of that, so the regional eats here happen to focus on steamed food.What kind of steamed food you may ask?My personal favorite happens to be Beppu's nikuman, or steamed buns filled with meat. There's something about a nikuman that has been cooked by geothermal heat that makes it just a little tastier than its counterparts that come from a convenience store steamer. It didn't hurt that the shop owner was hand-making them fresh right in front of us either.Other options include steamed sweet potatoes. The local variety of sweet potato is called satsuma-imo,andthey happen to be one of Kyushu's signature crops. These steamed potatoes certainly taste different than Japan's other popular sweet potato snack of yaki-imo, which are cooked on a bed of stones and have more of a roasted flavor. Instead, the steamed satsuma-imo that you get in Beppu is about the softest, creamiest cooked potato you’ll find in the world. The flavor is so sweet that it will make you think that the cooks added sugar to it, but no, the potato really is the only ingredient. Another thing I really like in Beppu are the steamed eggs. Chickens happen to be one of the representative livestock on Kyushu, so naturally eggs would be featured in regional delicacies. Unlike sulfur spring eggs found elsewhere in Japan, these steamed eggs cooked by geothermal heat don’t have the awful, awful smell that accompany the black eggs common to a place like Hakone. The Beppu steamed eggs make for a nice snack on their own, or a tasty topping on any of the other many food options Beppu has to offer.Finally, round out your steamed meal with some steamed purin, or custard pudding. True, pudding may not seem like a historically traditional Japanese food, but those who know the history of Kyushu understand that the port of Nagasaki happened to be the only one open to foreign traders for many, many years. As such, Kyushu happens to have a lot of western influences in some of their most cherished local dishes--especially their desserts. So don’t feel too guilty about eating steamed pudding or cake in Beppu, because it’s probably been around longer in Japan than your country or mine has existed!So if you like onsen and you don’t mind an extra flight or a fairly long bullet train ride, I highly recommend heading to Beppu. While you’re there, go ahead and indulge in some of that devil’s food--the steamed goodness cooked from the heat said to rise from the depths of hell.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5jv-food_beppu_shi_oitaWed, 08 Nov 2017 17:55:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm5jv-food_beppu_shi_oitahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNk9-living_tokyoSundays can be amazing for a day out on the town, or downright frustrating if you're not sure what to expect. Out of all of the days in the week, Sundays stand out the most, given that most students and working-class folks have at least this one day off for leisure. As such, there are always special events and additional considerations for shoppers, athletes, and anyone else looking for a fun time out on the town. Of course, because there are throngs of people about, it helps to have a good idea of what you want to do, lest you get lost in the crowds.Here are my top three best things to do on any given Sunday in Japan:Shrine SalesMy favorite way to start a Sunday in Tokyo is at Yasukuni shrine. For those of you aware of the controversy surrounding Yasukuni, please allow me to say that I am in no way advocating for the politics or history that it represents--that is an entirely different subject which I will leave up to the Japanese people and their neighbors to sort out. (For those of you unaware, a quick Google search will get you up to speed on the controversy). No, I go to the shrine on Sundays because is the only place left in Tokyo that consistently has a shrine sale. A shrine sale is like a cross between a history museum and the fleamarket. It is where Japanese folks gather to showcase their wares, but rather than just bringing out trinkets or knickknacks, these markets includes a lot of interesting antiques. The best part is, you find some pretty neat pieces like kakejiku (hanging scrolls), ukiyoe prints, pottery, and other ceramics for relatively cheap prices, but just know that you need to haggle. Don't be bashful when negotiating either, because the sellers certainly will not be.Yasukuni Shrine is most easily accessible from Kudanshita Station on the Hanzonmon and Shinjuku subway lines.Gaienmae On the opposite side of the Imperial Palace from Yasukuni Shrine is my next stop on a Sunday, and that's Gaienmae. This is the athletic heart of Tokyo and it beats faster than normal every Sunday. Why, you may ask? Well, Gaienmae is known for the big loop that in circles the Meiji Memorial Picture Museum (the iconic building you can see way in the background of the photo above). Around the loop and the immediate area around it includes Jingu Stadium (home to the Yakult Swallows), the Prince Chichibu National Rugby stadium, the National Olympic Stadium (currently under construction), and myriad sporting fields. The entire loop get shut down to traffic on Sundays, so if you are a runner or a cyclist you have it all to yourself. Take it from a guy who are used to cycle in Tokyo, unless you're riding at 3 o'clock in the morning you will never have an open road as nice as the Gaienmae loop on Sundays. Also, it's a great place to go if you're into club sports: a lot of soccer teams play there, and there are lots of tennis courts, so lace up, grab your racket, or hop on a bike and head on down to Gaienmae to bring sports back to your urban lifestyle.Gaienmae is located on the Tokyo Metro Ginza line.Harajuku/Yoyogi KoenFinally the place I love to go the most when I was a kid on Sundays and still is when my favorite places: Harajuku. Now when I was a kid, the city shut down Meiji dori, the street that runs from Harajuku station to Omote-Sando station. That doesn't happen these days unfortunately, so while I used to recommend walking up the hill towards Omote-Sando, I now recommend heading the opposite direction towards Yoyogi Park. On the overpass adjacent to Harajuku station, you're likely to run into hordes of cosplayers or other unique characters (like the gent in the photo above). From there, just continue towards Yoyogi Park, where you can just enjoy nice open space, watch dance crews practicing for the next competition, and people watch to your heart's content. Of course, if you walk just a bit further down the road towards the NHK building, you'll encounter an ampitheater with a courtyard next to it where they have events on almost every Sunday. It is a great place to enjoy a cultural festival or any number of other fun events that take place there.Harajuku Station is located on the Yamanote line, though it is connected underground to the Tokyo Metro Station Meijijingumae (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNk9-living_tokyoFri, 03 Nov 2017 12:49:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zaNk9-living_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wem9r-livingSo I've been living in Japan most of my life, but it was not until recently that I really started shopping for clothing in Japanese stores. Don't get me wrong, I think Japanese clothing is fantastic, but sizing tends to be an issue so I tended to defer to my comfort zone in American brands. The other things that happened were that I had children, and my family and I moved out to the Japanese countryside where getting goods from the states was not that easy anymore.Recently, I discovered something about Japanese clothes: oftentimes front is back and right is left.Here's one example:My wife and I bought these PJs for our child and without paying much attention, we were putting the pants on with the tag in the back. The pants looked a little awkward though. At first, I thought it was something wrong with the stitching--maybe it was defective. Then I looked at the tag a little more closely...it says "Mae," meaning "Front." Whoops. Of course, after 30+ years of having the tags situated in back, how was I to know that it would somehow be swapped for infant and toddlers clothes?The one other example comes in the form of jacket zippers. In the states, the actual zipping mechanism is on the right-hand side of all men's jackets. I grew up with the mindset that if the zipper was on the left-side, I might be wearing a women's coat. Then I get to Japan and all of my uniqlo jackets are left-hand zips. Mind blown.So these aren't life changing revelations. I get that. Still, it's a million little things like this that you never think about until you settle into a new country that really reveal just how much your brain is wired to certain expectations. Of course, I feel that I am a broadened individual: an ambi-capable zipperer who knows how to dress his kids properly in Japanese clothing.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wem9r-livingWed, 01 Nov 2017 20:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wem9r-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4l2o-foodSo if you're like me, you enjoy Japan's wide range of sweet treats, especially those that come from the chocolate aisle. Ever since I was a little kid, I've enjoyed Pocky, Toppo, Takenoko no Sato, Kinoko no Yama, Alfort, Pie no Mi, and the list goes on and on.Of course, when I was a kid, there were almost never limited editions of those brands of chocolates (Pocky was the only routine exception). Now, however, you can't go to a store without seeing at least one variant of the traditional brands.At first, the limited editions were simple: instead of milk chocolate, it would be strawberry flavored chocolate. That's easy enough, right?Then they branched out even further: white chocolate & dark chocolate. Oh boy, now they're really changing things up.Well, over time every brand has been trying to one up the other, introducing collaborations (like Komeda Coffee and Pie no Mi--which was delicious, by the way) and pushing the envelope on new flavors (the cough syrup-flavored kit kats were an example of one that went too far).But I ran into this limited edition that seemed to the be the ultimate symbol of just how far Japan has gone with its limited edition flavors:Japanese style Kinako Latte Koala March. What started off as a simple milk chocolate-filled biscuit with cute koalas printed on the outside has reached a point where it has roasted soybean latte (not just kinako OR latte, but BOTH), complete with limited edition koalas dressed in traditional Japanese clothing just to reinforce the "Japanese style" limited edition factor.Look, don't get me wrong, these are delicious, just as most other limited editions are, but I'm just saying that I'm impressed with how far Japanese companies are willing to go to attract the "limited edition"-loving consumers out there.I just wonder how much further they'll go...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4l2o-foodWed, 01 Nov 2017 20:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z4l2o-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK71K-livingDuring my childhood, I split time between the United States and Japan, and the starkest differences between the two countries from my childhood perspective were evident during holidays. Christmas in the States meant all the stores being shut, turkey dinner with the family, and gift exchanges. Christmas in Japan meant another normal day in the city, but KFC for dinner on Christmas Eve. No gifts per se, but when New Year's rolled around we could expect otoshidama, or little envelopes filled with money. There's Thanksgiving in the U.S., Tsukimi in Japan. Fourth of July in one place, and O-bon in the other. Like I said before: stark differences.So what about the holiday that's just around the corner: Halloween? It's hard to believe now since Halloween goods can be found everywhere throughout Japan these days, but when I was a kid, finding people who celebrated Halloween was somewhat of a rarity. You sure as heck were not gonna find any places to do trick-or-treating. I guess maybe that's one reason why Halloween kind of lost its luster for me as a child. But I do realize the Halloween happens to be some people's favorite holiday of the year (especially children), and for a kid to miss out on his or her favorite holiday can sour life abroad pretty quickly.So what are folks meant to do if they come to Japan with children looking forward to Halloween? Fear not, because over the past 20 years or so Halloween fever has started to catch on. All you have to do is Google Kyari Pamyu Pamyu's "Crazy Party Night" to witness Japanese pop-culture's collision with Halloween. For the most part, the Japanese are getting more into Halloween (especially the younger generations), but certain traditions haven't really caught up yet. The common Halloween events cater to adults, who in Tokyo can head downtown and hang out in Roppongi, Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Harajuku with all of the other cos-players. For the 16 and under crowd, other options must be explored. The first thing you can do for yourself if you are a fan of Halloween is to share the Halloween culture with your neighborhood. Don't avoid decorating with jack-o'-lanterns or cobwebs or witches hats just because nobody else in the neighborhood does--heck, traditions have to start somewhere. Who knows, maybe all that folks needed in the neighborhood was a little spark to light the kindling. Maybe your decorations could serve as inspiration for others.Second, check out local cultural exchange groups. There are plenty of other folks who already get together to share traditions and language, so it's pretty likely that they may engage in a Halloween party. Sure, they may not know certain Halloween party traditions that are prevalent back in the states like bobbing for apples or costume competitions, but that's where you come in. Groups like that are always looking for volunteers and folks who can bring their own cultural elements to the group. Of course, tact is always welcome in those situations if somebody's idea of a Halloween party is making a Halloween tree -- but hey, you can make some new traditions of your own (besides, a Halloween tree lets you double up on that Christmas tree that's gonna be coming out in a few months anyway!)Finally, throw your own Halloween party. You may have the space in your house to do so, giving you a lot more flexibility in making a haunted house or putting a lot of different games up, but there are also plenty of places where you can meet and set something up that's more on-the-fly. The point here is you should feel welcome to invite folks and share your culture and traditions with them. I promise that you will have a lot more takers then you may expect.Just a few recommendations for you though:One, offer clear instructions so that nobody feels left out. For example, be sure to say if it's a costume party or not. It may seem obvious to you that you should wear a costume to a Halloween party but it may not be so obvious to someone who has never been to a Halloween party before.Two, try to schedule it on a Sunday. Even if Halloween falls during the week or a Saturday keep in mind that a lot of folks have many other obligations. Even if you can't have it on All Hallows Eve, the point is to pick a day were the most people can enjoy it.Third, go easy on the scares. Japan doesn't really have scary Halloween traditions--they'd really only expect to get scared when going to a Haunted House at an amusement park. Scary decorations are fine, but maybe lay off things like hiding behind a table to scare kids reaching out for candy. Again, your goal is to ease people into the traditions that are so commonplace and fun for you. So there you have it: some ways to bring Halloween traditions from home to life here in Japan. It may not have been something that was easy to do 20 years ago when I was a kid, but I promise that you'll have a lot more success now if you just give it a shot.Happy Halloween, everyone!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK71K-livingMon, 30 Oct 2017 10:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK71K-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pm2-livingTomorrow is election day. For me, a guy who follows Japanese politics with the same interest and zeal as fans follow football, this is like the eve of the Super Bowl.Still, there are things I am of two minds about when it comes to Japanese election campaigns, such as this:On the one hand, I love the fact that candidates take to the streets and will give their stump speeches to whoever is willing to listen, even if it's just the wind. There's also some charm to the waving supporters and the white gloves.On the other hand, I am pretty tired of the candidates and their staff shouting over loudspeakers in my neighborhood periodically from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM everyday. I'm curious as to how many additional votes that actually garners. I guess I find it hard to believe that people sitting there in their living rooms watching TV getting interrupted with a loud, "Vote for me, Seki Tsuneyuki, and I will fight for you to the end," will actually say to themselves, "You know, I was going to vote for Sato, but Seki sounds like a much better bloke." But I digress.All-in-all, a 12-day formal campaign period is hardly obtrusive compared to the 1.5-year long media slog that is the U.S. presidential race, so I can't complain too much. Besides, it's a small price to pay for the main event that I get to follow tomorrow!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pm2-livingSat, 21 Oct 2017 16:10:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/M9pm2-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5Kj9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo there we were, hanging out in the house when we heard some beeping of trucks, some rumble of machinery, and then a series of loud crashes. We used to live on an Air Force Base, so we are no strangers to noise pollution, but being out in the country now, we expect to hear crickets and frogs more often than man-made noise. So imagine our surprise when we heard heavy machinery that sounded like it was right outside our door. We opened up our curtains and, well......the construction was taking place about 15 feet from our window!There are many ways to react to this situation, including, but not limited to:- Anger over the construction team's failure to notify us of their intent to do heavy construction next to our property- Frustration over the constant noise we'd be hearing over the next few days- Concern that the construction crew would accidentally damage our property going in an out with heavy equipmentStill, my favorite reaction (and one that helped me laugh at the situation) was from my daughter: "AN EXCAVATOR! YAY!"So we sat and watched the crew for a while with my daughter excited the entire time.The world through the eyes of a 2-year old is definitely a much more fun and tolerable place, I think!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5Kj9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 21 Oct 2017 15:38:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5Kj9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPPN-livingIf you are an expat living in Japan, chances are you may have had a few visitors fly in to visit. If not, don't worry, they're coming, especially with the Olympics coming up. So what's the best way to handle visitors in Japan, especially if you're still learning the ropes yourself? Allow me to offer a few lessons learned from my time in Japan--hopefully it'll make playing the role of host a little bit easier for you.1) Start sending them information before they arriveOne of the worst things you can do is wait until your guests arrive in country to start giving them information. That is a recipe for frantic phone calls from the airport or trying to figure out where the heck they went on the trains instead of where they were supposed to go. Be sure to send an email with clear instructions on where to go when arriving at the airport, since even the most seasoned traveler can find it difficult to get his/her bearings in a new place. 2) Don't stress too much about tailoring places to each of your guestsIf you try to change it up every time someone else comes into town, you'll just introduce undue stress. Also, try to rewind your brain back to when you first came to Japan, and how cool everything looked with a fresh set of eyes. If this is your guest's first time to Japan, he/she will probably feel the same. So don't stress about taking him/her to a limited edition art exhibit held at an obscure shrine in Nakano--the Edo Tokyo Museum will be plenty cool for your guest!3) Build a standardized "Guest Itinerary"The best thing you can do is build your own standardized guest itinerary that you can recycle every time someone new comes to town. For example, whenever I used to have guests, I had a "Harajuku-Omote Sando-Shibuya day." We start at Harajuku station, go to Meiji Shrine. From there, walk over to see Yoyogi Park and the old Olympic Stadiums. Then over to Takeshita Dori, and up Omote Sando. Once we hit the top of Omote Sando, catch the train one stop to Shibuya. See Hachiko, the scramble, and all Shibuya has to offer. That is a full day, with plenty of great sightseeing options (and enough variety to tailor to a guest who like history, or one who likes to shop, etc.). Have a few of those standard itineraries planned, and tailor as necessary!4) Ease them into Japanese cuisineEven if your guests have cosmopolitan palates, have a few safe restaurants handy in convenient locations. My favorites in Tokyo for new travelers include Gonpachi (in Shibuya, not Azabu, since the Azabu restaurant is always packed), Andy's ("Shin Hinomoto" in Yurakucho), and Katsu Midori Sushi (kaiten sushi across the Shibuya scrable crosswalk in the building with the Tsutaya Bookstore and Starbucks).5) Pick stuff that you enjoy, tooThe beauty of the aforementioned recommendations is that it allows you to tailor things to your preferences as well. If you plan ahead, you can make sure that you aren't signing yourself up for a less than wonderful hosting experience either. Make sure that you pick places that you enjoy as well, and I promise that your guests will feed off of your enjoyment to the overall benefit of their trip.Those five lessons learned have helped me play host many times, ensuring that my guests had a great experience and that I didn't lose my sanity. They've helped me out, and I hope they help you, too!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPPN-livingThu, 19 Oct 2017 10:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZPPN-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm562-medical_howtoJapan offers some of the best health care in the world. While there are of course differences in Japanese medical practices from other countries (usually longer mandated recovery times in the hospital and minimal use of narcotic-based painkillers), you can expect state-of-the-art medical technology and health care. While we all like to believe that we are supermen or women who never need health care, we'll all eventually have to visit a hospital from time to time. Since that's the case, let me offer a few notes on how to use Japanese hospitals.Free Access vs. General Practitioner SystemsCurrent Japanese health care favors the "Free Access" medical system, which means that you can go to any hospital without a referral and have access to a specialist appropriate for your condition. The problem is that you fall into a queue and may have to wait a long time.Many western health care providers favor the "General Practitioner" system which has you visit a general practice doctor who then writes a referral to a specialist, if necessary. While this means that it takes longer to see a specialist, you can get basic medical care quickly. While Japan has started to move towards this system (especially as the average age of the population continues to increase), the free access system is still commonplace throughout the country.RegistrationOf course, where and how you are seen at a hospital varies depending on your condition. If it is an emergency, go straight to the emergency room or urgent care area of the hospital. They will see you as soon as possible and worry about the paperwork later. If you are there for less an emergent situations, you will go to the normal patient check-in area (it will usually be clearly marked, or just ask one of the staff where to go and they will direct you there). There, they will take down your name and information. This is an especially important step if this is your first time to the hospital because they will make you a fancy hospital card that looks like this:That hospital card is used to keep track of all of your health care and medical expenses, and it will make future visits to the hospital much smoother.TriageAfter registering, the hospital will then proceed with triage practices. There will usually be a small consultation desk near the waiting area where a nurse will ask you a few questions about why you are at the hospital and the level of pain you are experiencing. That will help them determine where to rack and stack you among the other patients according to the specialist you require (remember, free access system!). Seeing a DoctorWhen you're called up, you'll be notified by name and room number. Proceed to the appropriate room, and a doctor will see you. Don't expect a long consultation--Japanese doctors see a lot of patients in a given day, so they will be very business-like in their manner towards you. They'll determine if you need further examination, a prescription, or just a pat on the back and some moral encouragement. From there, they'll direct you where you need to go in the hospital.PaymentWhen you're done with your hospital visit, take your handy hospital card to one of the automated cashiers near the waiting area where you started your medical adventure. Just insert your card and the machine will tell you how much you owe. Some machines accept cash, but this is one of the few examples in Japan where I'll tell you that a credit card is the better way to go. The machine will print you a comprehensive receipt for your records, and you're done!If you have any questions or additional tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm562-medical_howtoFri, 13 Oct 2017 13:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wm562-medical_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gyp4j-living_howtoSo you may have heard that Prime Minister Abe dissolved the Lower House on 28 September in order to call for a snap election on 22 October. Campaigning has begun, meaning that you are going to see a lot of people in fancy clothes standing on corners wearing sashes with their names on them and trying to tell you about why they are the best candidates. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party looks to use this election as a means to shore up its power for the next four years--maybe longer if they are successful in crushing opposition parties that are still trying to coalesce. Still, a new force in the form of Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has emerged to try to tip the scales with her new party called, Kibō no Tō, or the "Party of Hope." The next month will be fast and furious as Koike spars with Abe until voters have their say.Does any of this interest you? Is Japanese Politics a topic in which you would like to stay informed? If so, I have a few tips for you:Best English Language News SourcesThe two best English Language Political News Sources are Japan Times and Kyodo News, and I'm not just saying that because they are co-sponsors for City-Cost. They aren't paying me to advertise for them (although Japan Times/Kyodo, if want to do so, please leave me a comment below so we can start that conversation!). In all seriousness, Japan Times has some very capable journalists and reporters cover Japan's political world. Jesse Johnson, Reiji Yoshida, and Tomohiro Osaki are a few of those who provide timely, smart pieces on what is going on in Japanese politics. Kyodo News is a wire service that is great for staying up to date on the latest headlines and breaking news. My favorite way to follow the two is via Twitter. Japan Times tweets @japantimes...and Kyodo News (English) is available @kyodo_english.Best Political Analysis SiteThere are a lot of places to go for political analysis that includes discussion on Japan, but only one English language site that provides comprehensive analysis focusing primarily on Japan: Tokyo Review. Tokyo Review brings together academics, journalists, and researchers as contributors to deliver background and commentary on a range of issues. Of course, the election is a hot topic, but it is a fantastic place to bookmark so you can stay informed on economic, social, demographic, and security issues in Japan as well. Best News AppFor English language news, the NHK World TV Live App is still the best choice out there. Free to download, the NHK World TV App is available on all major smart phone OS's as well as Amazon Fire Stick and Apple TV. NHK World offers a great headline news program (Newsline) ever hour on the hour. There is also an hour long evening program called Newsroom Tokyo that provides additional commentary beyond what they offer in Newsline.If you use these sources, you'll be able to keep your finger on the pulse of Japanese politics. If you haven't gotten up to speed yet and this piques your interest, I recommend tuning in for what is shaping up to be an exciting election come 22 October!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gyp4j-living_howtoWed, 11 Oct 2017 12:27:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Gyp4j-living_howtohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5KK9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSo there I was, just minding my own business walking to the study room at my university. I glanced out the window to look at the beautiful scenery as I normally do, but holy molino, was I in for a surprise:Mothra was attacking my school!Okay, so maybe this little guy wasn't the monstrosity made popular in Japanese television and cinema, but he sure was the biggest moth I'd ever seen before. Where I come from, a moth is about the size of a small butterfly, not the size of a small bird!But it makes me realize where the creator of Mothra got his idea. Who knows, he might have been a student like me who happened to look out the window and see his own over-sized moth. From that, he said, "Hey, I got an idea..." After all, what student doesn't fantasize about a giant monster tearing down his school from time to time?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5KK9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 10 Oct 2017 21:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w5KK9-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G633Q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataIt's October 10th, which means that the official campaign period for Japan's 2017 election to decide the members of the House of Representatives has begun. As I was on my way to school today, I checked out the candidate board. Here's what I saw:Only one poster was up. This particular individual is running as an independent, but her campaign machine was on point with ensuring her promotional poster (the only kind officially sanctioned in Japanese political campaigns) was up first.Unfortunately for Odaira-san, running as an independent comes with significant challenges in a system that favors a single-party (the Liberal Democratic Party) and a handful of opposition parties. Independents are few among standing members of the Diet (Japan's parliament).Still, she was the early bird, so I wish her and her team all the best as this campaign season (though perhaps too short to call a "season") gets underway!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G633Q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataTue, 10 Oct 2017 13:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G633Q-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G633E-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI just wrote a blog here about Communists visiting my door before 6:30 AM, and a couple of folks commented about the use of loudspeakers. Well, before you could say Stalin, a female voice started to get louder and louder as it approached down the street. My wife and I happened to be out with the kids on a walk, but we had to stop in front of our house so I could snap this pic:I guess I give the old man points for smiling and bowing as he disrupted an otherwise peaceful morning.One thing that really bugged me though (other than the noise pollution) was the fact that it was a pre-recorded female voice calmly telling us about the dangers of the Abe government and the need to protect Article IX of the Constitution. Something just seems so lazy and propagandist about it. Instead, I think that the Communists should treat politics like yaki-imo drivers: sing it in a catchy, recognizable song. Actually, if they actually just sang the yaki-imo song, they would probably be able to hold my attention for more than the few seconds I used to take a pic so I could rant about how annoying they are. The moral of the story is that yaki-imo drivers are always welcome to disrupt my peace and quiet--communists, not so much.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G633E-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSat, 07 Oct 2017 20:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G633E-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8QqL-medicalIf you're like me, one of the most stressful things about moving to a foreign country as a parent is securing health care for your children. Whatever your personal feelings are about vaccination, I wanted to ensure that my children stay on a similar schedule as to what they would receive in the United States. I wanted to share with you, the reader, some of the lessons I learned about getting my children vaccinated to help ease your transition to Japan.For those of you who have separate health care providers (like Tokyo medical and surgery clinic, for example), the process for registering your children and ensuring they are on their vaccination schedule is similar to what it is back in the United States or commensurate health care systems: the hospital will schedule regular check-ups and give the vaccines at those check-ups.For folks on Japan's National Health Insurance that go to Japanese hospitals, however, the system is a bit different, so allow me to offer a quick guide.Step 1: Get a 母子手帳 Boshi tecchoThis "Mother-Child Book" is an all important book for parents in Japan which detail all of the major health care events from birth until the child has completed all of his/her routine check ups and vaccinations. If you don't have one, that's okay--you can get one made. I recommend taking all of your medical records to a bilingual medical center in Japan and requesting that they transcribe the records into a bilingual boshi-teccho. It'll cost between 5000-10,000 yen, but it will make health care for your children infinitely easier.Step 2: Register for National Health Insurance (NHI) at your local city officeWhen you register for NHI, the city office will ask to see your child's medical records. Hopefully you'll have your boshi-teccho in hand, which will make the process much easier. Some city offices will accept vaccination records in English, but they may ask you to get a certified translation. Once the city officer has recorded your children's vaccinations, they'll know when to contact you for the next round of shots.Step 3: Receive vaccination vouchers in the mailThe city office will send you vouchers in the mail for vaccinations according to the schedule prescribed by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. It is commensurate with world-leading medical standards, but if you have some concerns about Japan's vaccination regimes, see the "NOTE" section below. Step 4: Make an appointment at your local hospital/receive the vaccinationEvery hospital is different, of course, but many of the larger hospitals will have set hours for pediatric vaccinations. They'll ask you to set up an appointment to come during a certain window (maybe 1:30 to 3:30), and you'll be in an assembly line behind other parents looking to get their children vaccinated. Get in line, get your children poked, and you're done! While your children may disagree, it is a fairly painless process!NOTE: Matching your home country's vaccination scheduleThe Japanese health care system's vaccination schedule for children is commensurate with the United States and other western countries. There are a few minor differences, though (for example, Japan does not include mumps or Hepatitis A in the scheduled regime), and you may want to add those. That is no big deal. Most big Japanese hospitals will have those types of vaccines on hand, but you will just have to request them. There will be an additional fee, of course, but if you are covered under NHI, then the normal pricing applies (30% cost to you, the rest goes to the city). Be sure to check your home country's vaccination schedule and compare it to the vaccine schedule available at your local hospital if you are curious or worried.If you have any additional questions or tips for parents out there, feel free to share in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8QqL-medicalSat, 07 Oct 2017 17:37:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z8QqL-medicalhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7e4-livingJapan has some of the best public transportation networks in the world...if you live in a major metropolitan area. If you live in the inaka like me, a car very quickly becomes a necessity. Of course, even if you live in the city, you may decide that a owning a vehicle is the way to go. Even then, however, you may not want to take the plunge in buying a new car, whether it's because you only plan to be in Japan for a short while or just to save some money.Having shopped for a few used cars in Japan, I wanted to offer a few tips for finding that perfect car that suits your needs.Starting off, there's a few things to know about the folks selling used cars in Japan, since it will help you make a decision on where to purchase your vehicle...Here's how used car resale goes in Japan:- The licensed retailers (Honda, Mazda, Nissan, etc.) get the first crack at the used cars. If they are in good condition, they clean them up, inspect them, and sell them as certified used cars.- If the licensed dealers don't like the cars, they go to large used car dealerships like Gulliver. Those dealerships have no official affiliation with automakers. The cars will be cleaned up, but there is no additional certification or guarantee beyond what the specific dealer offers you. In spite of this, pricing will be similar to what you will find at a licensed retailer, ironically.- If the Gullivers (and similar used car companies) don't want them, then the cars go to auction. Those will either be scooped up by small, third party used car dealerships or will be sent to overseas markets.As such, I always recommend going with a licensed retailer, since you can get guaranteed reliability. Also, I've found that certified dealers usually take the extra steps to ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase so they can potentially secure your loyalty for the years that follow.With that in mind, the best place to start looking for a used car is Goo-net(English; click here for Japanese). There, you can search for used cars of every make and model, and it will conveniently allow you to search by region, price, and even features (like sliding doors or navigation systems, etc.). Best of all, the English Language version of the site is just as comprehensive and useful as the Japanese site (not always the case in Japan).Pretty great, huh? I used goo-net to locate the last two cars I purchased here.Once you find cars that interest you, it's just a matter of visiting the dealer and completing the transaction.Here are some tips for handling interactions at the dearlership:- Don't expect English language support. If you cannot speak Japanese, be sure to bring someone who can interpret for you.- Test driving the vehicle is not like in the states where you can log a fair few miles. In Japan, I've usually only been able to stay pretty close to the dealership.- Negotiating price is okay. Of course, the amount that the dealer will be willing to negotiate varies depending on whether you are at a certified dealer, a used car dealership, or a third-party seller.Sealing the deal:- The whole process of signing all the paperwork usually takes about an hour. There are a number of different fees associated with buying the vehicle, so expect the total price to be about 50,000-100,000 more than the negotiated price for the vehicle.- Don't expect to drive the vehicle off the lot immediately. The dealer will handle the registration and transfer of title. That usually takes anywhere from a few days to two weeks.- Whatever the dealer, they'll usually be willing to deliver the vehicle. Some will charge you, but if you can, get them to waive the fee (you are buying the car, after all).Finally, here are a few things that you will need to have handy to own and operate the vehicle in Japan:- liability insurance- a valid Japanese driver's license- residence card (or equivalent residence ID depending on your status in the country)- verification from the local Police Department that you have parking space available.Overall, I found that shopping for cars in Japan to be a far less contentious experience than in the U.S. Although the language barrier, different requirements (the parking space certification still gets me), and interacting with Japanese dealerships can seem daunting, I hope these tips help you feel more comfortable with this important step to settling down in Japan!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7e4-livingFri, 06 Oct 2017 15:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zK7e4-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G088V-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataMy dog is hardly what you would call a guard dog. Tipping the scales at about 18 pounds when he's wet, he won't be much good in a fight. Still, he is an excellent watch dog. That means if someone comes knocking around the house at 6:30 in the morning, he makes sure everyone in the house knows what's going on. That's exactly what happened this morning. But it wasn't a dorobo(thief) or some other type of criminal, it was someone who wanted to put this in our door:...an election flyer. Which party came to my house before 6:30 to drop this off? The Communists. I'm not even disdainful of their present-day politics--they are not the same radicals they were in the 60s and 70s. I am disdainful of the pre-6:30house calls. Come on guys, if the collective society you want me to live in requires me to be ready to answer my door before I've had my requisite two cups of coffee, you can definitely count me out.Not that I can even vote anyway...but for a political party that champions principles, can they please add "campaigning only happens after 8:00 AM" to the list?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G088V-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataFri, 06 Oct 2017 06:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G088V-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MdJJJ-food_tokyoSo my dad (who lives in Tokyo) sent me a picture of something he came across in the train station the other day:It's a Shu Cream in a can, available cold and ready to drink (?) for only 140 yen.Now, if you're like me, you love Beard Papa's. I grew up on Shu Cream, and Beard Papa delivers consistently amazing Shu Cream. Still, I am completely taken aback that someone would decide that turning that into a drink was a good idea. Look, give me a milkshake or a root beer float, or something that was meant to be drunk in the first place, not something that gives the impression that you just took a shu cream to a blender and canned whatever came out.Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's tasty. Maybe it tastes like a custard smoothie. Still, it's not a shu cream, so don't try to sell me on the idea of a "drinkable shu cream." I don't care how much of a hurry I am in, I'll settle for waiting in line for a pastry that I can eat if that's the craving I'm having. Sorry Japan, you went too far with this one!Has anyone tried this yet? How did it taste? Am I completely off my rocker for ranting so much about it? Let me know in the comments section below?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MdJJJ-food_tokyoThu, 05 Oct 2017 20:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MdJJJ-food_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MEqq0-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThe signs just went in our town in preparation for the 22 October general election of Japan's House of Representatives. You'll notice that there are no posters on there yet. That is because in Japan, the official campaign periods are extremely short. While candidates are not prohibited from doing stump speeches out on the corners of intersections, they are not officially running for office until a set time before the general election (at least ten days prior but no more than 30, if memory serves).That is a stark contrast to the long, drawn out election cycles in the United States. Between primaries and general elections, candidates are in a constant cycle of campaigning, leaving voters to wonder how much work can actually be getting done in Washington if everyone is out either trying to raise money for the party or grab votes. It's an awful machine, really.So I will relish seeing the posters of would-be Japanese lawmakers, reminding me of how quickly Japan can cycle through an entire election. Sure, there are downsides to that as well, but one can appreciate the efficiency with which the system can operate (when the law demands).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MEqq0-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 05 Oct 2017 20:12:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MEqq0-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ9qY-livingIf you've been watching or reading the news at all tonight, you will know about the massacre that took place in Las Vegas. The death toll is over 50, but who knows what the final count will be. The shooter was perched on the 32nd floor with an easy angle to take out unsuspecting concert-goers below.So other than outrage and sadness, why am I writing about this? Before moving to Japan, Las Vegas was my home. Just check out the picture below:That's me and my wife in front of the famous Las Vegas sign, and in the background, the Mandalay Bay hotel which the shooter used to execute his horrible deed.I am not originally from Vegas, but I did live there for more years than most places (I moved around growing up), and it will always have a special place in my heart because it is where I lived when I fell in love with the girl I would later marry in a little place not twenty minutes from where that photo was taken.For now, I know the people with whom I was closest to in Vegas are safe. Even so, some were there at that concert ducking for cover and running for their lives to make it out safely. I can only pray for the families of the others who were not so lucky.Everyday I am happy out here in yukiguni--the people are wonderful, the food is delicious, and the scenery is idyllic. Today, I can add a renewed sense of safety to that list as well. I recently wrote a blog here about someone illegally hunting fairly close to where I live, but not in a million years would I expect something like what happened in Vegas to happen here. So I count myself blessed. I only wish the rest of the world could know these same blessings. My thoughts and prayers to all those who do not, especially those affected by the tragedy in Vegas tonight.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ9qY-livingMon, 02 Oct 2017 21:42:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MJ9qY-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr85D-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI received my city newsletter today, and when I opened it up, I was amazed to find this:It's an introduction to the city's newest 100 year old residents. Yes, I see the irony of juxtaposing "newest" and "100 year old," but seeing this got me thinking that there is a pretty notable amount of people over 100 years old. This is certainly not some new thing that the city does. Obviously, they have been showing off the town's centenarians for some time, meaning that there are people 101, 102, and so on.If you're like me, you've never met someone who is 100. Heck, the fried food, red meat, and beer common in the U.S. means that making it past 75 constitutes a very long life. Now living in a small town in the countryside and being in the vicinity of tens of people over 100 years old makes me think about a lot of things--what's it like to be 100 years old? What's the secret to making it that long on this planet? Would I want to live to 100? It's a lot to take in on a Sunday evening when I'm just trying to enjoy one more peaceful night until the work week.Well, I wish those who have turned 100 many more years. In the meantime, I think I'll start watching what I eat and exercising a bit more. That, and I guess I should take up farming (I swear that's the secret to longevity out here in Niigata; well, that and the delicious rice and sake!).To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr85D-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataSun, 01 Oct 2017 19:40:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr85D-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zDmlG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI don't know how it is in your neighborhood, but where I live, plastics are only picked up twice a month. TWICE A MONTH! So when the day finally arrives that I can through out that stockpile of egg cartons and plastic trays, this is what the neighborhood garbage collection cage looks like:When I approach this thing, I don't even want to open it, lest I welcome an avalanche of other people's two-week old trash to fall on me.But it explains why when I put my burnables out there are always other bags with plastic shoved in them. And here I was trying to be the diligent Gaijin by sorting my trash perfectly and storing my plastic trash for way too long. I will not admit to following the same cavalier plastics-in-burnables practices as those in my neighborhood, but I will say that I don't have as much heartache about rescuing a few items that my two-year old accidentally throws in the wrong bin. After all, when in Rome, right?To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zDmlG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 28 Sep 2017 20:57:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zDmlG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBKAw-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataI was riding my bike to the market the other day when I came upon this signpost just about a kilometer from my house that caused me to stop in my tracks. Look at this:I tell you, I was not expecting to see that anywhere in Japan. I get that I live in the inaka, but I was under the impression that guns were so restricted that it would hardly require public reminders to folks that there are areas where they shouldn't be shooting at things.Or so I thought, until I was out on a walk with my family early in the morning near the river where that sign was posted. It was a morning like any other until I heard the familiar "Pop!" sound that normally accompanies a small gauge shotgun. I turned my head and saw a bird fall out of the sky, telling me that maybe there was a dang good reason why that sign had to be there.Guess I need to go to the Koban now...To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBKAw-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 28 Sep 2017 20:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GBKAw-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVopG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataOkay, so maybe that title has a bit different connotation back in the States, but ought here in the inaka we frequently receive messages from the Japan Communist Party and Akahata (the "Red Flag" Communist Paper) in the mail. In my former line of work and my studies, I understand what the Communist Party has become in Japan, so it's never a source of anxiety to know that the JCP is a relevant political entity in Japan. Still, I do find it interesting when I look back on what the JCP used to be in the sixties and seventies--certainly not the most peaceful lot in Japan. I guess everyone has to grow up sometime though, and that means the members of the JCP have slowed down and now resort to leaflets and newsletters instead of protests and raids.I suppose with the election coming up next month, I should expect even more of these pamphlets, but maybe there will be a little more balance with the other parties (maybe even the new Hope Party). I guess we'll see.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVopG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 28 Sep 2017 20:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/zVopG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/we45G-shoppingMy family and I just got done with a major move, and the things that usually break in the process are dishes. At least that has been the case in all of my many previous moves. In fact, that was one of the things that drove me and my wife to look for new dishware when we were living in Tokyo just before here--we had to replace the things we lost and we figured it was high time to upgrade anyway.So we set about looking for dishware in the part of Tokyo most known for it: Kappabashi. Little did we know that it was NOT the best place to find dishes. Sure, we picked up a few nice bowls from there that we still love, but for those everyday, in and out of the cabinet and sink and back again dishes, there is really only one place to go: Daiso.I know what you're thinking: "You got your dishes from a 100 yen store? They must be so tacky." Sure, Daiso has some tacky dishware made in cheap factories in China, but the store also offers made-in-Japan dishes that are simple with enough style to justify bringing home with you. Also, they are extremely sturdy--[knock on wood] we have yet to break a single dish from Daiso. Now, they are a little pricier than 100 yen, coming in around a whopping 300 yen per plate for the nicer options. We brought home an entire set of dishes for six people for 3600 yen, when something comparable to that in Kappabashi would have cost at least 30,000 yen.So maybe if you're looking to have the Pope over for dinner, Kappabashi would be a great place to get some interesting dishware, but if you live in Tokyo and are just looking to satisfy your family's needs, look no further than your friendly neighborhood Daiso.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/we45G-shoppingThu, 28 Sep 2017 20:32:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/we45G-shoppinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOYXM-foodYou may have seen at a number of fast-food restaurants around Japan that eggs have made their way onto the menu in recent weeks. The "Tsukimi" options, I learned, are meant to commemorate the upcoming harvest moon, and the eggs are supposed to resemble that big pie in the sky. I love eggs, so of course I wanted to try one. We were near a KFC, so I grabbed a Tsukimi Chicken Filet.Here's what the ad looks like:Of course, the actual sandwich doesn't look quite as appetizing, but it did taste good. I wasn't sure how I'd like the combination of poached egg and mayonnaise, but it was okay with the fried chicken. Still, if you are not a fan of mayo, either ask for "mayonnaise-nuki" or find another option. The egg and fried chicken combo, however, was really good. I enjoyed it, and it provided a nice pick-me up to keep me going through the whole afternoon.I give the KFC Tsukimi option 3.5 stars. It's worth a try if you really like eggs; otherwise, maybe just wait for the next seasonal option.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOYXM-foodWed, 20 Sep 2017 14:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GOYXM-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZ5lG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataIt's been almost a decade since I was last a college student, but yesterday, there I was standing in front of my new school's entrance.I walked into the school to start my journey as a Ph.D. candidate at the International University of Japan. Haven't heard of it? If you're American or from one of the commonwealth nations, you probably haven't. You'd probably be surprised to learn that it is a Graduate School in Japan that instructs only in English. You'd also probably be surprised to learn that a total of 57 nations are represented in this relatively small school. When I was looking for Ph.D. programs, I certainly was.Still, part of the appeal of IUJ to me was the fact that this is an incredibly diverse campus. Yesterday during my orientation, I sat next to a peer from Zambia and another from Taiwan. If I would have sat in any other seat, it would have been students from two other countries flanking me. I can't think of a single program in the States that would offer this kind of learning environment (though the East-West Center in Hawaii comes close). It's exciting and I am looking forward to learning as much from my peers as I am from my instructors here.It's only been one day and we're still in the midst of orientation, but I am excited. I feel old being surrounded by all these fresh faces, but I am excited.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZ5lG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataWed, 20 Sep 2017 14:16:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wZ5lG-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQydG-living_hakodate_shi_hokkaidoFor most travelers heading to Hokkaido, Sapporo and the natural parks are the two main draws, but there is one port city there that has it all: delicious food, rich culture, fascinating history, friendly locals, and incredible sights. It is one of my favorite cities in all of Japan. That place is none other than...HAKODATEHakodate is located on the southeastern-most peninsula along the Tsugaru Strait. For many years, it served as the gateway to the rest of Hokkaido, where travelers would board the Hakodate-maru and sail from Aomori to Hakodate before hitching another further inland. This was true for foreigners as well, as Hakodate was one of the first three ports opened up to foreign ships after Matthew Perry and his Black Ships changed the course of Japanese history.Of course, when aircraft and train travel became routine, Hakodate was no longer as important as a transportation hub, but it still retains its charm today. Now most people offering advice on Hakodate will tell you that the best thing to do there is to take the ropeway up to Mount Hakodate so you can see the iconic hourglass shape of the peninsula (especially at night, when it is illuminated by the homes and businesses below). While that is a great option, I want to share my three favorite things to do in Hakodate:1) Take the Ferry to get there or to get backNow that the Shinkansen runs all the way from Tokyo to Hakodate, the impetus to take the ferry has dropped quite significantly--after all, why should you disembark at Aomori just to make your way to a ferry terminal? Well, there is something about sailing across the Tsugaru Kaikyō that gives you an appreciation for the historical significance of the strait as well as why it is remembered so romantically in Japanese books and songs (I was humming Ishikawa Sayuri's Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeishiki for at least part of the trip!). There are a number of different pricing options depending on what type of cabin you prefer for the 3 hour and 40 minute trip. For full details, check out the ferry website.2) Forget Lucky Pierrot--hit up the Morning Market for some delicious foodLucky Pierrot is considered Hakodate's Soul Food fast food restaurant. It has all manner of burgers and greasy spoon kind of options, and anybody who has been to Hakodate will probably recommend it because of its quirky decor and the fact that Lucky Pierrot is only found in Hakodate.Still, I will break from the crowd and say that the food that best represents Hakodate is in its morning market located right next to Hakodate Station, and none is better than this bowl of Ramen...(Here's what the store front looks like in case you're trying to track it down).And even if that Ramen is not appealing to you, you can always catch your own squid to enjoy as sashimi!3) GoryōkakuFor any history or architecture buffs out there, Goryōkaku is one of the most fascinating places in all of Japan. It is a French-style fort built in a port city that was among the first opened up to foreigners that ended up being the final battleground for the Boshin War--a civil war that put an end to the Japanese shogunate and samurai way-of-life once and for all...FASCINATING. The fort was converted into a beautiful park, but an adjacent tower with corresponding historical exhibits gives you an appreciation for the incredible design of the fort and the intense battle that took place.Honorable mentions:Of course, Hakodate has many other attractions, so my runners-up include the Red Brick Warehouse district, which is now a shopping/dining area......and Motomachi, which is where you can really see all of the old Western influences with the Old English Consulate, a Russian Orthodox Church, and other relics of the foreign residents who were among the first to reside in Hokkaido.Hakodate is an incredible city that is well worth the trip no matter the season. I hope that you're able to take time out to visit so you can see firsthand why it is one of the best places in all of Japan!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQydG-living_hakodate_shi_hokkaidoTue, 19 Sep 2017 10:34:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/GQydG-living_hakodate_shi_hokkaidohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w53qz-living_niigataSo if you live in northern areas of Japan like I do, you received this J-alert message at 7:00 o'clock this morning warning of a North Korean missile launch. I happened to be out on a walk this morning with my family. My wife asked me what the message said, and I told her that North Korea launched a missile and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency was recommending everyone to take shelter in a building or underground.What did we do? We kept on walking. Why? Because the threat of a North Korean missile landing on us is so infinitely small that it would be more dangerous for us to scramble in response to the alert. North Korea is not targeting specific areas in Japan for attack. Regional security conditions would have to get far worse for that to be the case. The hazard then is if the missile fails and debris comes falling out of the sky. In that case, it would be completely random where exactly the pieces will fall. Sure, that is dangerous, but is it worth alerting a quarter of the nation and recommending that they take immediate shelter in the same manner as major geological or meteorological events?Personally, I disagree with the practice of using a missile launch alert on the same system designed for earthquakes or natural disasters unless the trajectory data suggests that a specific area in Japan is being targeted. Until then, leave the J-Alert to those hazards with high potential for damage to personnel or property.So to all who may read this, I say if you see a J-Alert warning of a North Korean missile launch, I say, "Keep calm and carry on."To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w53qz-living_niigataFri, 15 Sep 2017 11:29:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/w53qz-living_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mnl4G-living_minato_ku_tokyoSo I noticed the other day that Shonen Jump! is turning 50 years old next year. First of all, that makes me feel old. I mean, I grew up on Shonen Jump and was still reading it when Dragonball and Dragonball Z were part of the serials...But it also got me wondering what kind of cool stuff would be taking place to commemorate Shonen Jump turning 50. That's when I discovered that the Mori Art Center has a special exhibition for Shonen Jump. The Mori Art Center has special exhibits on the 52nd floor of the Mori Building in Roppongi Hills, usually with accompanying themed cafes.I went to the Marvel Exhibition a few months ago, and it was fantastic. My buddy and I spent a few hours reading every sign and checking out every part of the exhibit, and I have no doubt that this Shonen Jump exhibition would pique the same level of interest for me. Not to mention, I saw the cool cafe menu where you can get a Dragonball or Kinnikuman-themed sandwich.Alas, Tokyo is a bit far for me to visit these days. Have any of you readers out there visited? I'd love to hear if it was worth the 2000 yen (feel free to share in the comments section below)!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mnl4G-living_minato_ku_tokyoThu, 14 Sep 2017 21:11:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/Mnl4G-living_minato_ku_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr0yz-livingSumo was not a sport I grew up enjoying, at least I don't remember enjoying it. Then again, there was really only one way to watch it back then: watching the whole dang thing. You couldn't just fast forward through the long pauses in between bouts or skip ahead to watch your favorite wrestlers. Now, I guess some people really enjoy the pomp and ceremony that comes with Sumo, but there's only so much salt throwing and bow twirling I can watch before my attention starts to wane.However, in today's "on demand" world, one can enjoy the best parts of sumo without having to sit through all of the less interesting parts, and I find myself captivated during every tournament now. My new favorite Sports show is NHK World's Grand Sumo Highlights, available either live on the TV channel or on demand on the NHK World App. While you don't get every bout in the 25 minute program, you can watch all of the top matches. To me, it's the best way to catch all of the action!Do you enjoy the ceremonial aspects of Sumo? If you do, feel free to explain why in the comments section below. Maybe I can still be convinced that all of that is worth watching!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr0yz-livingThu, 14 Sep 2017 21:02:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wr0yz-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6klw-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThe depth of Japan's bureaucratic practices never ceases to amaze me. I just got done purchasing a car, but before I could register it and have it delivered, I had to visit the local police department to get certification that I had space in which to park it. I understand why that could be necessary in an urban center like Tokyo, but as I peer out over the vast rice fields of Niigata, I find it hard to believe that this practice is still exercised out here.The best part of it all was when the police sent someone out to examine my property to ensure that there was enough space. The individual parked in front of my house, and she could have put two more of her cars there. Thinking that would be enough, I assumed she would just drive away, but no, she pulled out her measuring wheel and started to measure the exact dimensions of my driveway.If you're curious just how much space there really is, check this picture out:As I said, the depth of Japanese bureaucratic practices never ceases to amaze me.Do you have a similarly bizarre or frustrating experience with the Japanese bureaucracy? I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6klw-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigataThu, 14 Sep 2017 21:01:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/G6klw-living_minamiuonuma_shi_niigatahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXpQw-livingNow that I've gotten back into sumo, I find myself rooting for ("barracking for" for any Aussies out there) two wrestlers (Rikishi) in particular: Tochinoshin......and Yoshikaze.Why those two? Well, first and foremost, Tochinoshin represents a wrestler who wins on technique rather than sheer size and power, and Yoshikaze is one who wins on heart. I call Yoshikaze "Bee Sting" because his face has been battered so much from torpedoing his opponents face first that it has a perpetual puffiness to it.I also appreciate that Tochinoshin represents a country very different from Japan. I feel great pride in foreign wrestlers who can make it in Japan. Maybe that's because I'm a foreigner trying to make it in Japan as well. The biases and obstacles based on my foreign origins that I face may be different than the hurdles that the native Georgian Tochinoshin faces in the dohyo, but there are enough parallels to make his success that much sweeter for me.Who is your favorite sumo wrestler? Why? Tell me in the comments section below!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXpQw-livingThu, 14 Sep 2017 20:59:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wXpQw-livinghttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MndqG-foodI was thinking the other day about my favorite food and trying to figure out what it might be. I guess for some people, it's easy. They might say "pizza" or "the duck l'orange at that little hole-in-the-wall French Restaurant I go to." Having grown up both in the States and Japan, as well as having traveled many countries the world (and tasted quite a wide variety of cuisines), this question proved a little tough for me. But I did figure it out; what I finally settled on as my favorite food is that simple but important staple...RICEI eat it literally everyday (most of the time for multiple meals). I crave it. My body feels out of whack when I don't have it. I remember cursing the heavens when I was on a business trip in Seoul and none of the hotel buffets had rice in it (crazy to think that they wouldn't).So yes, my favorite food is rice, and there is no more appropriate season to be talking about how amazing it is than now when rice harvest is just around the corner (I'm told 20 September is the magic day).Now I'm exceedingly lucky because I recently moved out to Niigata. In addition to all of the other amazing things about this prefecture, it happens to be home to Japan's best rice of all, Koshihikari rice. Being out here has ensured that I have constant access to this delicious product as well as lending me a deeper appreciation for how difficult rice is to cultivate. Not only is the planting labor intensive, but the crop itself can be fickle--even if the crop produces high yields, the weight of it may cause the plant to collapse on itself and the other stalks around it like dominoes.In spite of the difficulty of cultivating rice, it is so plentiful in Japan nowadays that it becomes easy to take it for granted. Still, what would Japanese cuisine be without rice? Since harvest season is upon us, it's a good time to think about the best way to enjoy this rice. Here are my three favorites.1) Onigiri: Ah yes, Japan's traditional on-the-go snack. Sure, it's evolved over time, but the basics are still the same--a lot of rice, a little seaweed, and maybe something inside. The "what's inside" is what has changed the most, and I've seen some unique offerings. My favorite onigiri comes from my new home in Niigata and consists of koshihikari rice (about double the amount that you would find in a convenience store) and locally caught salmon. Fantastic! 2) Donburi: I'm of the mind that you can take any food and make it better by putting it over rice. Bacon and eggs? Put it on top of rice with a little bit of crushed red pepper and tell me you haven't found your new favorite breakfast food. Like tacos? Put the ingredients on a bed of rice instead of in a tortilla and, voila, you have the popular Okinawan dish called Taco Rice. But my personal favorite donburi is one that comes around just for the summers and is only available at one place of which I am aware: Sukiya's Una-gyu donburi. Take the standard Sukiya beef bowl (my favorite fast food option) and throw unagi (eel) in with it...perfection. It's still on sale, but only for a short while longer.3) On its own: Who says that rice can't be the star of the show? Sure, you can add a few things like nori (seaweed) or furikake to liven it up, but sometimes there is nothing better than just having a nice hot bowl of rice. Of course, I recommend Niigata koshihikari. While many supermarkets will have it available, you can also find several varieties of it for purchase on Amazon.jp (here's one example).So as autumn harvest comes around, take a moment to reflect on one of Japan's most prized crops--you might find that it happens to be one of your favorite foods as well!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MndqG-foodFri, 08 Sep 2017 12:46:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MndqG-foodhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1k6w-living_tottori_tottori-shiThere are alluring aspects of the desert--the shifting sands, the rolling dunes--but there are a lot of downsides as well, not least of which being the lack of water. But what if I told you that Japan offered the best aspects of the desert with none of the worst? It's true, the Tottori Sand Dunes in western Honshu will give you just that.The Tottori Sand Dunes sprawl along the coastline, and its preserved land affords visitors a unique, others worldly landscape unexpected in a country known for its lush foliage and humid climate. There, one can partake in a few fun activities, but here are my top three:1) Camel RideThere is something so unusual about riding a camel through sand dunes in Japan that makes this activity so irresistible. For 1300 yen (2500 yen for two people), you can take a 15 minute ride along the sand dunes and get your picture taken on top of the surly beasts. If that's a bit too pricey, you can pay a small fee to take a picture either next to or atop the camel. Reservations are not required, but be aware that lines may form during peak holiday seasons. The "Rakudaya" is along the main street approaching the sand dunes from Tottori City.2) Sand BoardingI love most board sports--namely surfing and snowboarding--so when I saw that you could strap on a board to ride the Dunes, I was hooked. The rides are relatively short, but you can shred sand as many times as you like, so it certainly makes for a fun, worthwhile, and memorable experience. The sand boarding location is adjacent to the "Rakudaya" camel riding stand as you approach the sand dunes. It is open daily from March through December. Be sure to call ahead and make a reservation (0857301991). The fee is 3500 yen per person, but includes coaching, equipment rental, and insurance.3) Sand MuseumFor a quick break from the sun, head into the Sand Museum. Tottori brings the best Sand artists from Japan and around the world together to build a museum full of new sculptures every year. You may be thinking, "Sand sculptures? Big whoop," but I will tell you that the sculptures here are magnificent. The sheer size and scale are impressive enough, but the level of detail and the ingenuity of the designs left an indelible impression on me. There's not a lot of museums I leave saying, "I have to come back here next year," but the Sand Museum is one of them. When I last went, the theme was Russia, but the theme this year is the United States of America. The museum is open from April to January, and admission is 600 yen for adults, 500 yen for students and younger.The best way to get to Tottori is via road trip, in my humble opinion. But if you do not have a vehicle or if you prefer to use other means of transport, the best alternative is to fly via ANA to Tottori airport. From there, city buses are cheap and convenient.Tottori is one of my favorite places in Japan, and its Sand Dunes are the signature feature of the prefecture and capital city. For some fun in the sun, head on down and spend a day there (or a few)!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1k6w-living_tottori_tottori-shiMon, 21 Aug 2017 09:58:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/z1k6w-living_tottori_tottori-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wrrRw-living_ishikawa_kanazawa-shiI saw a statistic recently noting that there are 63% fewer beach-goers in Japan now than in 2007. On the one hand, that makes me pretty sad to think the Japanese are not getting out to visit their beautiful coastlines, but on the other, I remember going to the beach as a child here and not being able to see the sand because there were so many people. Regardless of how I feel about it, what that data means for beach-goers now is a lot more space when you do head for the ocean, so I wanted to share about one of my favorite beaches in Honshu...Chirihama BeachChirihama is located in Ishikawa prefecture on the west coast of Japan and runs for 8 kilometers along the Sea of Japan coast. It is easiest to access using Kanazawa city as your starting point, and from there you can visit some of the smaller towns along the beach.Like most beaches in Japan, Chirihama offers ready access to ocean activities while having lots of unique vendors, cafes, and restaurants littered throughout. You can enjoy some great seafod while at Chirihama--the Yaki-sazae (grilled turban shells) and Yaki-hamaguri (grilled clams) are the two specialities there. Some stops along the way will offer special events, including concerts, fireworks, and exhibitions. Another great feature of Chirihama is the multitude of ryokan nearby that offer public access to their onsen for just a few hundred yen. Instead of relying on just the beach showers, you can head to one of those onsen to get a full, relaxing bath. Still, there is one thing that sets Chirihama from every other beach in Japan, and most throughout the world...The coolest feature of Chirihama Beach is that one of the few beaches in the entire world where the sand is compact enough to support regular vehicle traffic. There is actually a 50 meter wide roadway along the entire beach, making it the perfect road trip destination whether you want to hit the beaches or just enjoy the ride. I spent my childhood summers in southern California where the loose sand barely allows a 4x4 to make it through, so being able to ride along two-way traffic and pull into an open spot near the water is a real novelty for me.The best time to visit Chirihama is in the spring and summer. It is accessible in autumn and winter, but the Ishikawa coastline is prone to snowfall in winter months and the water won't start being a pleasant enough temperature for swimming without a wet-suit until May. If you go during spring/summer, just try to avoid the big holidays like Golden Week and Obon. Other than that, the beach is so long that even on crowded days, you'll be able to find a place to set up shop.My favorite time of day to visit Chirihama is in the late afternoon. If you time your trip right, you can play in the ocean for a bit before watching the sunset. After that, head to a nearby ryokan for a bath before hitting up one of the many delicious cafes near the beach. Talk about the perfect way to have some fun in the sun and then some!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wrrRw-living_ishikawa_kanazawa-shiThu, 17 Aug 2017 19:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/wrrRw-living_ishikawa_kanazawa-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MYb2z-living_shizuoka_shimoda-shiAs an archipelagic nation with thousands of islands, it is not difficult to come across water in Japan. When paired with the scenic nature and vibrant culture of Japan, the coastlines can provide some of the best spots in the world. Naturally, everybody has their own favorite spot by the water--mine just happens to be Shimoda.Located at the tip of the Izu peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture, Shimoda is tops in my book for three key reasons:Surfing:Japan has some excellent gems of surfing spots, and the path to Shimoda is lined with beaches, each with different breaks, which means that you can almost always find some place to surf. Depending on when you go, you will not have to fight for a spot on the break, either.Serenity:So much serenity...Shimoda's combination of hills, beaches, and wonderful climate yield a place that offers much for those seeking to escape the stresses of the urban jungle. Whether it's snoozing on a clean, beautiful beach, or taking a nature walk through the forests, Shimoda has much to offer all travelers.One of the best ways to enjoy the serenity in Shimoda is to stay in a ryokan there. If you do, be sure to select an option that includes dinner. It can be pricey, but the fresh seafood and vegetables (fresh wasabi grown just up the road, too) make for some of the best meals you'll have in Japan.For the serenity, Shimoda is best visited in the late spring time to enjoy the blossoming and fragrant flowers and summer, when you can enjoy the vast ajisai, or hydrangeas, that flank the narrow pathways and trails throughout the town.Stories:As an American living in Japan, I have always felt a deep interest with the heritage of the U.S.-Japan relationship, and it formally began some 150 years ago at the small port town of Shimoda. It was here that Commodore Perry steamed into harbor with his black ships and demanded the opening of Japan's borders, ending the centuries-long policy of sakoku, or closed country.Shimoda has not forgotten its important place in Japanese history; rather, it embraces it, with regular tours of replica black ships around the bay, a small museum detailing the arrival of the Americans, and numerous shops offering themed cookies, prints, and other merchandise for the enterprising tourist.Two essential stops in Shimoda are at the harbor where the black ships make their rounds (my daughter loved the sight of the ships zooming around the bay), and the Ryōsen-ji temple which was where U.S. and Japanese government representatives signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, and which served as the first consulate for the United States in the early years of the formal relationship between the two countries.I hope that you'll be able to make it down to Shimoda at some point during your time in Japan. As a recommendation, take the train on long weekends--it is a favorite spot for folks from Tokyo to visit during 3- and 4-day holidays because of its proximity and all of the reasons I listed above, so traffic can be 3-4 times more than normal.Oh, and if you're in the area, be sure to stop by South Cafe--some of the best food and smoothies I've had in Japan (by far!). [South Cafe is located at 〒415-0028 Shizuoka-ken, Shimoda-shi, Kisami, 918−2, and the website is southcafe.net]To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MYb2z-living_shizuoka_shimoda-shiFri, 23 Jun 2017 11:09:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesuka/MYb2z-living_shizuoka_shimoda-shi