JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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tmarie
Well said Phil!! I feel exactly the same when going "home" when speaks to some people. Few to be honest. But enough for me to feel sorry for them.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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tmarie
I 100% agree Cleo - with such things, FIL wouldn't suffer as I don't and will never live with them. He's changed his mind - and like you, my MIL gets excited when I bring them banana bread, Xmas cookies... I have brought them leftover Japanese food that FIL did take seconds of so I guess I'm not that bad.
Sadly though, when he first heard about me, it was "no son of mine will marry a gaijin", "halfu babies aren't Japanese", "you marry her and you're out of the family"... Sadly, I know about twenty other western women who have dealt with the same thinking. My PIL are traditional and while I can "understand" FIL worries that I might not look after my husband properly, suggesting an average Japanese women who lives with mom and dad, never cooks, never cleans, would be better is laughable. It was rough though at the time and caused a lot of hurt that while mending, won't ever be forgotten.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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tmarie
Nicky, not to "defend" this guy but aging parents can be a huge burden. My FIL hasn't slept at his house in more than five years because he has to stay with his mom. She can't be trusted alone. No holidays, no day offs, no time to enjoy his retirement because of his mom. I think it is unfair and have suggested she be put in a home but alas, not enough of them. And she's just with it enough to howl like a banshee if they tried - they tried to speak to hear about moving into their house but MIL just can't take the stress of it all and neither can granny. It is a very, very sad situation and I pity my MIL the most. She's stuck doing all the cooking, the cleaning, the caring... She's no spring chicken either and sadly, I think it will give my PIL an early death note. The women is 83 and god knows how much longer she'll live. She isn't "living" but existing.
Posted in: Woman dead, son unconscious in apparent murder-suicide
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tmarie
Perhaps he was tired of looking after her? It isn't like he was unemployed and was a NEET sponging off mom. regardless, tragic. Sadly I think these numbers will only grow with the population aging and needing so much care.
Posted in: Woman dead, son unconscious in apparent murder-suicide
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tmarie
There should be no need spending public money for training and examinations of care givers. Strongly disagree. No one in this country wants to do this job. People complain about not finding work but won't suffer under the working conditions and for the crappy pay these women will get if they pass. Incentive. Japan needs trained caregivers. Japan needs immigrations to help prop up the pension and health care system. Win/win. These workers will make more money than home and Japan will get more care givers.
I don't get why a dime a dozen English teacher can easily renew their visa every year, but valued healthcare workers 3 years of on the job experience must pass a test to have their visas extended. Perhaps because English teachers aren't killing medicine and working in life and death situations? Sadly, the Japanese system isn't like the rest of the world and embracing English for doctors/nurses/care givers in terms of meds and the like.
I think the system these women have gone through is poor but I can understand the need for them to have Japanese. I think they need more time and support though for language study.
Posted in: First group of foreign care worker trainees take written exam
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tmarie
I hope this is part of an ongoing study - say one that spans that next 50 years. Perhaps they could exchange info with the Russians??
Hate to say it but I don't expect the full truth to come out with those studies done in Japan by the Japanese funding by the Japanese government.
Posted in: Scientists studying effects of radiation on flora, fauna in Fukushima
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tmarie
Yes of course, why shouldn't they? A well-educated, healthy woman with no obvious physical or mental defects who is obviously very much in love with their son who is also in love with her. What's not to accept? You aren't Japanese. I am very happy to hear you didn't have issues. Though like I said, you are now only the second foreign wife I know of who didn't have a problem with the family. Like I also said, they've come around. I my case it took over two years. Sadly, all you listed as to why wouldn't you be accepted meant nothing to a lot of PILs.
My father in law made comments about me not knowing how to cook Japanese food, make bentos, clean... My husband has to point out to him I had been living on my own for a number of years, knew how to do it all which is more than most Japanese women who live with mom and dad could say. FIL has come around but it nearly ripped my HIS family apart. Glad to hear you didn't suffer like some of us others.
I fear the kid thing. Everyone I know got on with MILs until they had kids!
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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tmarie
You comments are easy to say if your are not involved. Some would rather die then abandon their homes, and this is understandable in a place where tradition is so important.
How are we not involved? We are ALL worried about our food these days. Our tax money is being used. That involves those of us living here. If you think tradition trumps health, by all means but I certainly don't.
Posted in: Radiation fears slow clean-up in Tohoku
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tmarie
I don't think Japanese want to live in American tin cans.
I think they'd rather than that a school gym. I also have to laugh at the comment but tin cans are pretty much what Japanese houses are!
Posted in: Foreign firms feel sidelined in post-quake rebuilding
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tmarie
** "In Japan especially, being pure Japanese is very important and to be married to a foreigner make you something like being openly gay"
I read stuff like this a lot on JT, yet in real life I have never once come across it. Most people seem envious that he has a real-live blued-eyed blonde for his wife, and good-looking haaf kids.**
Cleo, your PIL happily accepted you? That now makes only two foreign women I "know" whose PIL were happy. or okay abotu a foreign wife. Every other foreign female I know married to a Japanese man had a heck of a time with the family. In the end, they've all come around but certainly was no cake walk for the friends I have, nor for me.
Coworkers and friends are all fine with it - shocked at first but fine. I do get tired of the amount of time spent talking about it when I see his friends/coworkers though. We're married and go about our lives like any other couple. Why people would assume we are different is beyond me.
With regards to language, sad to read that someone won't "let" their kids learn/speak a language that is part of their identity. Governments have had to pay of certain groups for doing such things in yesteryear. Why limit? More language means more opportunities.
Net, very well said. I married my husband. Not his country, not his passport, not his culture. I have given up a lot to be here with him and as time goes by, he learns that with every trip "home" we take. However, definitely worth it. In the end, I probably "know" more about Japanese culture than your average Japanese Toru. I educate my husband on some of it as he is clueless about Japanese women's culture and things we "should" do. I thank the wonderful Japanese people who have passed on this knowledge but to assume it came from my husband is a joke.
Posted in: How foreigners’ daily lives change when they live in Japan
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tmarie
I don't go to posh restaurants often because I don't think they are worth the money. I'm not a foodie snob. I look good food, good service at a reasonable price.
Cleo, "hamburger" shops back home will fill it up for you. Here? They won't. Do you have any idea how much it costs to fill a glass up to the top? About one yen. 1 yen to make a customer happy. Worth the price I think. Feel free to disagree - no shockers there. You're being very "Japanese" with the "fair" talk. It is "fair" that someone gets extra napkins? I don't care. I don't care if the next guy over gets more or less. I would like a glass of whatever it is I ordered. Heck, I am saving them on the ice - eye roll!
And actually, nice places with good service that give you small serving will pretty much bend over backwards to make you happy - even here! The place with a sense of good customer service. Anyway, feel free to think such a request is too much and unfair. Life is unfair. I thought you of all people would know that by now.
Posted in: What do you think of the level of service in shops, restaurants, airlines, banks, offices and so on in Japan?
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tmarie
“I believe that the Japanese wanted to do everything in-house,” Shea said. “I get a sense of inflexibility.
Anyone who has lived here will agree with it.
They didn't learn from Kobe. They continue to think 'they" know better and don't want the help out the outside world unless they get to control it all and make people jump through hopes. Rejected good because not everyone can have a pair? Suffer together rather than help a few.
Posted in: Foreign firms feel sidelined in post-quake rebuilding
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tmarie
**“We want to rebuild at all costs,” he said. “To do that we have to clear the rubble as soon as possible. I wish people in Tokyo and other areas would understand the situation we are in.” **
People understand the situation which is why no one wants the garbage from the area being burned in their backyard and possibility making other people sick.
Like others, I don't think people need to be focused on rebuilding. They need to focus on getting their family to a safe area and start over - be it in Gifu, Fukuoka... I disagree with our tax money being used to rebuild communities that had an average age of 65 and were dying a slow death as it was.
Posted in: Radiation fears slow clean-up in Tohoku
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tmarie
Why isn't TEPCO paying for any illnesses related to this?
Posted in: Gov't says no to free medical care for children under 18 in Fukushima
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tmarie
Different business perspective. I ordered a glass of whatever, not half a glass. Single whiskey is a a presumed shot and the amount of the alcohol is a set standard. A glass of whatever isn't. They can afford the 1 yen extra it will cost to fill the glass up - it is good customer service to do so. Hence my point of not thinking the service here is always good.
If you can ask for extra napkins - which you can - why not ask for a full drink?
Posted in: What do you think of the level of service in shops, restaurants, airlines, banks, offices and so on in Japan?
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tmarie
I have no idea why anyone would suggest I think this is excusable. It isn't. However, accusing him of hating women is a huge assumption - hence my comment. The guy issues, however what those issues are haven't been reported and there is no need to speculate.
Posted in: Woman, daughter attacked by man with scissors on Aichi street
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tmarie
I will agree with whomever said that the staff gets treated like crap by the public. Yelling sumimasen doesn't bother me. It is the lack of thank yous that gets me. I want to smack the people I see who can't even be bothered to get off their phones, take out their earphones or stop talking to their friend when they pay a cashier. Of course, no nod nor a thanks for the service. It is just rude.
Posted in: What do you think of the level of service in shops, restaurants, airlines, banks, offices and so on in Japan?
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tmarie
Uk, have had gap and Gucci here refuse to fix or replace poor quality. Like you, time spent arguing resulted in getting the results that should have been offered from the get go. I shouldn't have to argue with them about it, they should no better. I spoke to a few friends about it and half were shocked at the poor service while the other half were shocked I took something back. If I paid for it, it better do what it is supposed to! The same can be said at cafes and the like. If I ask for no ice, fill up the drink. If I ask for something to be taken off or out, don't run to the manager to ask if it is okay. Just do it.
Like I said, all is well until you have a problem or a request.
Posted in: What do you think of the level of service in shops, restaurants, airlines, banks, offices and so on in Japan?
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tmarie
Jazz, you think noda quitting will change anything? Are you suggesting that the party who built these plants, ignored the safety standards and caused the economic issues of Japan would do a better job? Noda isn't perfect but he's certainly better than the other "options".
Posted in: Gov't says no to free medical care for children under 18 in Fukushima
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tmarie
Almost, how are they "robbing" you of anything?! As far as I'm concerned, that child bonus needs to be done away with. How many parents really need it?! Why not put it towards schools and free health care for kids rather than let than parents decide what to spend it on?
Posted in: Gov't says no to free medical care for children under 18 in Fukushima