I travel to Japan twice a year, ask me anything...

[rufuspaul]

Do you dread that flight over and back?

[senelcoolidge]

Do you dread that flight over and back?

I'm flown from the East Coast to Asia...oh boy. Going doesn't feel as bad, but coming back I dread more. I look forward to my time there..hate leaving. 24-30 hours on a plane and airports is not fun at all.

[niko]

hey, niko- i was just thinking about starting a "weird japan" thread one of these times. i've read so much about japan over the years, including watching video and films, that i could probably ramble on quite a bit, even though i've never been there... yet.

no doubt japan sounds like a truly fascinating place to visit and study, but a really shitty place to live long-term for a gaijin. for example, even working your tail off over the course of decades mastering the language and all the intricacies of their culture, you'll never EVER be really trusted, confided in, or thought to be on the same level as a japanese person. even japanese-born asians whose grandparents first settled there years ago are still commonly seen as 'outsiders'. even a japanese person who goes abroad for a year or two and comes back is seen as 'tainted' and often has trouble getting a job.

i don't know about you, but being treated as a second-class person would probably start to wear on me over the years, as it seems to do for many. even though they do have a huge fascination with the english language and with americans. indeed, apparently any caucasian person in japan is assumed to be an english-speaking american... even when the person tries to explain that they're german or french or whatever. anyway, i could go on forever with this stuff...

BTW the film i'm currently watching- "Japan - A Story of Love and Hate BBC":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_l5b6lZ0mM



anyway, my question-- i forgot where you said you went, but i wanted to ask about prices. apart from the fact that tokyo is probably the most expensive place to live in the country, in the blogs and sources i read, everyone seems to casually mention the prices for snacks and meals, even though those prices are insane! 500yen for a packaged cookie, 200yen for a banana, 3000yen for a small lunch... not sure how much a medium-sized bento costs, but i assume it's equally ridiculous:





you should read azrael's blog. he went there as an ESL teacher... made it work... got married to a japanese girl... had a kid. a lot of fascinating stories there, including how the kids at his middle were always trying to stick their fingers up his ass. i'm not kidding-- it's called "kancho" and even has some kind of weird tradition behind it, like most things japanese. anyway, the blog:
http://gaijinchronicles.com/category/archive/

Food is cheap if you know where to go. A good rule to follow is FOLLOW THE BUSINESSMEN. They need to eat out everyday, so it won't be too ridiculous. If you get a good Bento it would be $30 but thats like getting take out from a manhattan restaurant, not something you would normally do.

As far as teh blogs go, i read a lot of things from Japan from people who take their personal experiences and etrapolate it to "i saw it so everyone is like that". I'd not believe things like Kids stick their fingers up people's butt (never head of that, i mean never). Something so strange is probably just someone's personal experience.

[niko]

Do you dread that flight over and back?

I have a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old. So **** yes. Although watching my son pick up flight attendants (the 2 yr old) is entertaining.

[niko]

Are Japanese women very serving. I don't want to say subservient, that might be too strong. But is family life like taking care of her children and husband very important to Japanese women. I know it depends on the upbringing, but is this something Japanese. My wife is Asian and for her family is first. She puts our son and even me before herself. Very selfless. She reminds me of how women used to be. My wife loves being a wife and she loves her role. I have so much respect for her. She is strong without being a loud mouth or obnoxious. Doesn't nag. She reminds me that I'm the head of the family..so cool. So are Japanese for the most part similar to this.

it depends on the person. those who want western men often are not like that which is why they are looking for western guys. I'd say on average probably moreso but its not everyone.

[millwad]

Do you like me?

[RaininTwos]

sorry.

NIKO

[gigantes]

As far as teh blogs go, i read a lot of things from Japan from people who take their personal experiences and etrapolate it to "i saw it so everyone is like that". I'd not believe things like Kids stick their fingers up people's butt (never head of that, i mean never). Something so strange is probably just someone's personal experience.

um... niko.... no offense, but the concept of kancho seems about as clearly proven and described as any theory about japan ever described. do you want more evidence?

WP itself has a full entry about kancho built upon half-a-dozen entries. here's the main abstract from the world's #1 encyclopedia:

Kancho (カンチョー kanchō?) is a prank often played in Japan; it is performed by clasping the hands together so the index fingers are pointing out and attempting to insert them sharply into someone's **** region when the victim is not looking. It is similar to the wedgie or a goosing, although, as compared to kancho, the former mentioned acts do not involve physical contact which is quite as intimate or direct. A Kancho is often executed simultaneously as the offending party loudly emphasizes the second syllable of "Kan-CHO!".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kancho

or if you like browsing for material, pictures, tributes, stories, check out such major internet sites as these based upon the japanese tradition of schoolkids' steepling their fingers and attempting to stick them up a teachers' ass while they're not looking.
http://www.kancho.org
http://www.kancho.jp/

how about google images?
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...J-OFyQGQv4HoAw

how about what azrael (a tall, well-built african-american man teaching english in japan since 2005 or so) described:

DR. WATSON AND MR. KANCHO
March 13, 2006

I was helping out a female sannensei student after school one day with English – she was concerned about the English part of her high school entrance exams, and wisely sought out my council. We talked about various things, eventually coming to my running rivalry with Watson. “He’s an ‘interesting’ dude, for sure,” she said. “But you know, he’s actually really, really nice. He’s always reminding us “don’t forget, it’s your turn to clean the bathroom” or “hey, don’t forget it’s your turn to erase the blackboard.” And sometimes if he has the time, he just does these things for us. He really is a nice guy.” Huh. This is a side of him I have *never* seen before. Of course, I’ve never seen a side of him that isn’t trying to violate my kibbles and my bits. At the same time, I suppose it’s not at all far-fetched, but I can’t even imagine a reality that involves this kid and not trying to grab someone’s dick. It’s just like what he does. Superman fights against evil and injustice. Jack Bauer is an anti-terrorist hardcore weapon of doom. Watson grabs *****. That’s just how the world works.

To prove my point, later that week…

There are times in life when you just find yourself in a “Oh shit!” situation. It’s like time just freezes, and the only thing that goes through your brain is the extent of how ****ed you are. Like if you were a Robeast, and you were fighting Voltron, and he pulls back and goes “FORM BLAZING SWORD!” You just know you’re ****ed, the end.

It’d been a while, but I had one of those moments today. I was on my way to class on the third floor. I was going up the steps when suddenly my Ascended Senses flared up and I turned around to see Watson behind me. On the steps.

For those not familiar with Kancho Dynamics 101, I’ll explain – nailing someone on the steps is like the Perfect Kancho Position. Having the ass above you provides for maximum finger/arm extension, and full Thrust Acceleration. It also puts the bullseye in a prime location, thus improving Thrust Accuracy by a full 67.3%. Kancho has to be one of the only offensive attacks where having the lower ground is actually the advantage.

So yeah, with Watson behind me on the steps, it wasn’t a matter of if I was shit outta luck, but by how much.

I’d love to tell you that nothing happened. I really would. That Watson and I simply went up the stairs and onto our respective classes like any two normal human beings would. I’d love to tell you that. But you and I both know that if that were the case, we wouldn’t be here right now, would we?

With me at a disadvantage, I did the only thing I could with the time I had – turned around and switched targets on him. Now, I know I have just potentially sacrificed my **** for my cornhole, but that’s just the reality of the situation here. Luckily, I caught his hands as usual, and we were once again interlocked into our Endless Waltz.

Watson’s going to graduate soon, so this may be one of the last times I see him. I tried another shot at reasoning with him. “Seriously, dude, it’s been three years. Three whole years. Do you even know what you’re doing anymore?” Watson’s reply? “Honestly, does it even matter at this point?” Is this what we’ve come to now? Is it just now a natural battle of opposing forces? Like Good vs Evil? Hunter vs Prey? Kanchoer/Dick Grabber vs Kanchoee/Dick Dodger? If Watson ever did actually get a grab at my dick, I’m not sure he’d even know what to do next. He’d just be stunned, like “Waitaminute, I got it. So the battle’s over now? Huh?”

Hurry up and graduate, kid. There’s a brand new, shiny, untarnished foreign dick just waiting for you in high school. Unless the English teacher at his school is female, in which case he’ll either be shit outta luck, or the rules of the game will change completely.

http://gaijinchronicles.com/2006/03/13/335/

are you really serious when you say you've never heard about this practice? then again, you said you've only been a brief visitor to japan across the years, no?

times change, boychick...

[AlphaWolf24]

Do real japanese girls moan and cry as if they are being murdered during sex? Or do they only do that annoying shit on Japanese porn?

FMPE...

Yup...surprisingly so...

[Rameek]

[COLOR="Red"]You should have PM'd me I would have helped you answer some of these ridiculous questions....

I am moving back next spring. [/COLOR]

[Rameek]

[COLOR="Red"]Yes Kancho exist yes it has happened to me yes the little ones do it to most male foreigners when they teach. They do not do it to strangers.

Most japanese people have no connection or relationships with foreigners so physically foreigners are a novelty. I can tell you changing at a public pools or anywhere that has to deal with changing clothes in public can be annoying.... Foreign woman if they are blessed with TNA will get touched by other Japanese women that are friends.

I hate flying back and forth personally before I decided to move there.

Azrael blogs are famous. They were hilarious he used to have a forum called OutPost9 but was shut down a few years ago.

Tokyo is hella expensive but it many ways you can find stuff for cheap.The things that are considered a necessity/luxury are usually are expensive.. cellphones, gas, cigs used to be $2.00 now they doubled, alcohol, some foods, property, rent etc.....

The 100yen store is a god send.

A person couldnt tell you if all Japanese women make that noise during sex because no one has slept with all. Generally they are quiet but its based on what they think the man likes. Which pretty much makes them a bad lay if you want someone to get it on with you. Most westerns sleep with western japanese ho's anyway. They pretty much give it up to any westerner and have been trained to have western type sex. I used to always ask so many foreign dudes they travel thousands of miles just to sleep with a ho impressive

It does suck to be treated like a 2nd class or 3rd class citizen sometimes but overall its the safest most loviest place i had the chance to live. Its a xenophobic society you just gotta take the good with the bad.

Generally it takes a LONG time to get in the good graces of a Japanese family unless they are exposed to foreigners. [/COLOR]

[niko]

[COLOR="Red"]Yes Kancho exist yes it has happened to me yes the little ones do it to most male foreigners when they teach.

I hate flying back and forth personally before I decided to move there.

Azrael blogs are famous.

Tokyo is hella expensive but it many ways you can find stuff for cheap.The things that are considered a necessity/luxury are usually are expensive.. cellphones, gas, cigs used to be $2.00 now they doubled, alcohol, some foods, property, rent etc.....

The 100yen store is a god send.

A person couldnt tell you if all Japanese women make that noise during sex because no one has slept with all. Generally they are quiet but its based on what they think the man likes. Which pretty much makes them a bad lay if you want someone to get it on with you. Most westerns sleep with western japanese ho's anyway. They pretty much give it up to any westerner and have been trained to have western type sex. I used to always ask so many foreign dudes they travel thousands of miles just to sleep with a ho impressive

It does suck to be treated like a 2nd class or 3rd class citizen sometimes but overall its the safest most loviest place i had the chance to live. Its a xenophobic society you just gotta take the good with the bad.

Generally it takes a LONG time to get in the good graces of a Japanese family unless they are exposed to foreigners. [/COLOR]

I often found the first time the girls give you the squealing "japanese girl" voice that they think you expect where things are more cutesy, and it gets less over time. Even my wife, at the beginning it was more "this is how i think you want me to act" and it got less because you can't keep that up really.

Where are you going to live? Let's have a beer in Japan! (I will be there in July, every July for like forever...)

You have to get lucky with the family. I have two close friends who are african american, one of them was a soldier and the other a businessman, the soldier is LOVED by his inlaws. I'm not sure what happened, or why but he is a treasured member of the family, and was pretty early on.

The other one is an actuary, businessman and he was practically an outcast until the grandkids came. Once the grandkids come you are ok!

[Rameek]

I often found the first time the girls give you the squealing "japanese girl" voice that they think you expect where things are more cutesy, and it gets less over time. Even my wife, at the beginning it was more "this is how i think you want me to act" and it got less because you can't keep that up really.

Where are you going to live? Let's have a beer in Japan! (I will be there in July, every July for like forever...)

You have to get lucky with the family. I have two close friends who are african american, one of them was a soldier and the other a businessman, the soldier is LOVED by his inlaws. I'm not sure what happened, or why but he is a treasured member of the family, and was pretty early on.

The other one is an actuary, businessman and he was practically an outcast until the grandkids came. Once the grandkids come you are ok!

[COLOR="Red"]Yeah the chicks do what they think the guy likes. But nothing definitive or absolute though. JHS and HS kids used to ask me why Americans make all those stupid sounds during sex.

I will be in West Tokyo I can PM you the details. I am by the Chuo and Keio lines.

Yeah Japanese family's can be hit or miss.[/COLOR]

[niko]

[COLOR="Red"]Yeah the chicks do what they think the guy likes. But nothing definitive or absolute though. JHS and HS kids used to ask me why Americans make all those stupid sounds during sex.

I will be in West Tokyo I can PM you the details. I am by the Chuo and Keio lines.

Yeah Japanese family's can be hit or miss.[/COLOR]

I'm in Kawasaki (but if you step 10 feet to the left it's Yokohama.) Den En Toshi Line (Fujigaoka). Nice out there, far enough away from Tokyo to be quieter and calmer but Yokohama is right on the train one way, and Tokyo the other way. Can be in Shibuya in 30 minutes if you grab express train. Yokohama 30 minutes too (the center part). We will go every year July once school ends returning sometime in August (well, my wife will, i go like 3 weeks and they stay 5/6).

[millwad]

I'll try again, Niko, do you like me?