The X-Pat Files |
March 2008 |
(Brought to you by H&R Consultants) |
The X-Pat Files Community E-Newsletter provides a forum for the spread of information useful for English speakers living in Aichi. You can use the newsletter as an informational resource, and of course you can send in information you would like to share.
This newsletter is a community service from The Japan Real Estate and Relocation company, H&R Consultants (www.japanhomesearch.com), and is edited by Sue Conolly (http://web.mac.com/conolly).
Contents for This Edition
1. Schools for Little People
2. Schools for Middle-Sized People
3. Schools for Big People
4. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
5. Teacher of Japanese Culture
6. Trip to Tajimi
7. Party Planners
8. HOPE at the Hilton Week - March 2-9
9. Events This Month
10. Starting up the Road Less Travelled
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1. Schools for Little People
Day Care (Hoikuen)
The day care system in Japan is very thorough, and there are many rules and regulations in place to ensure the highest quality of care for children whose mothers work or otherwise are unable to look after their children during the day.
To qualify for a place in the public day care system, the primary caregiver must be employed, be actively seeking employment (in this case you will need to submit extra paperwork to the City Hall or Ward Office as your job search continues), or be otherwise unable to look after your child (for example, in the case of physical or mental illness).
Daycare is charged according to the family income, and so requires a certain amount of paperwork to enrol. Also, you may be placed on a waiting list or encouraged to attend a hoikuen further away from home if there are too many applicants in any given area. This is most likely to happen in the case of younger children (the daycare system is in place for babies as young as 3 months) as child to teacher ratios are kept very low and there are less available spaces.
For more information on the hoikuen system near you, visit your local ward office (for Nagoya) or City Hall (for other areas). Take your Japanese speaking friend with you, as there is a certain amount of red tape involved.
Kindergarten (Youchien)
The youchien or kindergarten system in Japan is for three years. These years are called “Nensho” (littlies), “Nenchuu” (middlies) and “Nencho” (biggies).
There are many different youchien in Nagoya and it can be difficult to choose. There are Steiner and Montessori, Catholic and Buddhist... and each youchien will have its benefits and drawbacks in terms of teaching style, facilities and curriculum. The very best way to find a youchien you’re comfortable with is to ask around your friends, or if you haven’t met anyone yet, look on forums such as the one on the Japan with Kids website.
Finally, there are also options for you if you’re keen to give your child a start with an English education. Several little youchien around the place offer English immersion programs, and bigger International schools also offer pre-school programs. Here are some options with links to websites:
Nagoya International School in Moriyama Ward
Aichi International School in Meito Ward
Kids International School in Nagakute
Ueda International Pre-school in Tempaku Ward
International Christian Academy in Nagakute
Playpourri in Chikusa Ward
Kozoji Kids Garden in Kasugai City
American School in Nakagawa Ward
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2. Schools for Middle-Sized People
The public school system in Japan encompasses 6 years of elementary school (shogakkou), 3 years of junior high school (chuugakkou), and 3 years of high school (koutougakkou or koukou). In the private system, it is possible to see one school offering both junior and senior high school together, or even elementary school through to senior high school on the same campus.
To enrol your child in the public school system (for elementary and junior high school) it is necessary to apply directly to the school closest to your home, or through the City Hall or Ward Office. Public school is free to junior high school, but there will be nominal charges for things like school lunch. The school lunch system, introduced in Japan after the war at a time when many Japanese people could not eat well, provides a healthy and well-balanced meal which has been planned by a nutritionist who works for the Department of Education. While there may be some cultural differences to overcome for an expatriate child eating Japanese school lunch, you can always be sure that your child will be well fed and nourished.
Japanese private school is of course an option. As with kindergarten, the style of education for each Japanese private school varies greatly with the school and the best way to search is by word-of-mouth.
If the Japanese school system is not for you, there are a few schools in Nagoya based on an international curriculum, and a few more schools that (while they run on a Japanese curriculum) offer more English tuition than the average Japanese school.
Nagoya International School in Moriyama Ward (all grades)
Aichi International School in Meito Ward (for lower grades)
International Christian Academy in Nagakute (all grades)
St. George Academy in Imaike (for lower grades)
Nanzan Primary School (website in Japanese but curriculum includes upwards of 2 hours of English tuition from grade one)
Nanzan Kokusai Junior & Senior High School (website in Japanese but school is specifically for Japanese or non-Japanese who have been attending school in another country, to help them integrate into the Japanese school system). The English program in this school is therefore much more evolved than programs in other Japanese high schools.
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3. Schools for Big People
If you’re hankering to further your education in Nagoya, you have many options. The obvious way you can improve your life in Japan is to learn Japanese, and you can do so part-time or full-time, at a language school or university.
C3 Japanese School in Chikusa
I.C. Nagoya Japanese School near Nagoya Station
P.L.A.N. Japanese School in Ikeshita
Trident College of Languages near Nagoya Station
The Yamasa Institute in Okazaki (also offers online course)
Nanzan University Center for Japanese Studies in Showa Ward
If you’re just wanting to brush up on your professional skills, or even just develop a new hobby, there are literally hundreds of options for little private schools around the place. Of course, you’re going to want to have some level of Japanese before you enrol, but you’d be surprised how quickly your Japanese will improve all on its own, when you’re studying something IN Japanese that you’re really interested in. There is a website called Keiko & Manabu which lists such private schools all over Japan (of course the website too is in Japanese so you’ll need someone who reads Japanese to help you navigate and fill in the request form for more information) and in this region they have listings for:
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GOING BACK TO UNIVERSITY - Two Peoples Stories
Story #1: Taking the Plunge and Going Back to Graduate School
Think Japanese universities are only for young Japanese people? Think again! Many Japanese universities with large foreign studies, international relations, British and American centers and international development studies are always on the lookout for independent, creative and knowledge thirsty students. This applies not only the undergraduate world, but also the graduate and doctoral programs.
Of course, foreign students do add to the school's reputation by giving it that coveted "International Look", but also, many otherwise boring class discussions and forums can be spiced up with the ever eager and "Opinionated" foreign student. I can attest to the fact that the Canadian school system did indeed teach the fine skill of "How to properly and effectively express your personal opinions" very well. The contribution, however, is not only one sided. If you are looking to further your university studies with a graduate degree or doctoral degree, Japan also has many things to offer you. Investigate deeper into many school's international programs and you can discover many extremely well educated and knowledgeable professors who are experts in their fields. Many have extensive teaching experience in the west and elsewhere in the world and who can act as very rewarding and skillful academic advisors.
It is not necessary to go for the big and prestigious names either. Many less well known small universities have many classes offered by visiting professors and you may gain access to a number of other affiliated schools with more complete and extensive libraries.
Age is also not a problem. I thought at 35 I would be the grayest of the lot, but to my pleasant surprise, there were a many grayer than me. The sheer academic rewards of going back to school as a "Mature" student actually equipped with some useful and real life experience has complemented my graduate studies very nicely.
Many Universities do have all English programs tailored to English only speaking students from abroad, however, I am in an all Japanese program in International Area Studies, and although most of my classes are conducted in Japanese, many professors allow essays and reports to be written in English.
My overall impression of going back to graduate studies in Japan is a positive one. If you have some good ideas for a solid thesis and area of study, there seem to be no shortage of willing programs and educators willing to offer a helping hand. Education is important and we never stop learning.
Sheri Yasue
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Story #2: One Mom’s Mission to Have a Career and Make the World a Better Place!
I always knew I wanted (needed) to go back to school, primarily because I had never had that "career" before the responsibilities of marriage and children came along. I was always a little skeptical that I could actually fulfill that dream, though. Could I study in a foreign country using a foreign language? The answer was that I wasn't at all confident enough in my Japanese ability to actually consider a graduate (or even undergraduate) program. Sure enough though, time went by, the kids got older and I could see "my time" appearing on the horizon. At about the same time my work with a local NGO really sparked my interest in the field of International Development and also gave me the opportunity to meet a bright, young Japanese girl who introduced me to Nagoya University's Graduate School of International Development. This, I was to find, is a wonderful program offering Masters and Doctoral programs in Japanese or English (nearly half each class is made up of foreign students and English is the common language used). It was an "aligning of the planets" moment for me and I began to think that going back to school was a possibility after all. After a little research and a lot of support from my family I decided to apply to the GSID. Just gathering the documents and writing the application essay set my heart palpitating. By the time the entrance exam rolled around I wasn't quite sure I could clean enough cobwebs out of this brain to put together a decent attempt, but once again with my family and friends cheering me on, I wrote my exam and to my great surprise was accepted! I will start my studies this April and I look forward, with great anticipation, to being a student and actually STUDYING again (though my junior high school aged kids are baffled as to WHY)! Since finding this program I feel that I can actually realize my dream of continuing my education and having that once elusive "career". Wish me luck!
Erin Sakakibara
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Universities in Aichi with English websites
Please note: The fact that a university has an English website does not automatically make it an “English friendly” universities. For most of the universities listed above you’ll still need to pass the first level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (see below) for entry into one of their courses. Each university is different, however, so please do your research before applying for a place.
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4. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
If you’re looking to enrol at a regular Japanese university in an undergraduate program, you’ll want to look into special training for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) which is administered in four levels. To get into most universities, you’ll need to have passed the JLPT Level 1 (ikkyuu) in the previous five years before you apply for entry.
Studying for the JLPT will give you a good grounding in Japanese skills no matter whether you use it to gain entry to university or not. Levels 4 and 3 are relatively simple to pass if you’ve had some training in Japanese, but it is necessary to apply yourself to pass Level 2, and to a much greater extent Level 1. Here are the levels and what they mean:
For Level 1, you’ll have mastered grammar to a high level, know around 2,000 Kanji and 10,000 words, and has an integrated command of the language sufficient for life in Japanese society.
For Level 2, you have mastered grammar to a relatively high level, know around 1,000 Kanji and 6,000 words, and have the ability to converse, read, and write about matters of a general nature.
For Level 3, you have mastered grammar to a limited level, know around 300 Kanji and 1,500 words, and have the ability to take part in everyday conversation and to read and write simple sentences.
For Level 4, you must have mastered the basic elements of grammar, know around 100 Kanji and 800 words, and have the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short, simple sentences.
The JLPT is multiple choice in format. Sections include writing/vocabulary, listening, and reading/grammar. The questions are quite similar in style from year to year, and the very best way to study is to practice on tests from previous years. Some language schools offer course specifically geared to help you pass a certain level of the JLPT, and it can also be worth your time to hire a private tutor to take you through the material, piece by piece.
The test is usually administered in December of each year, and information for the current year is released on the website in March. You really need to start planning and preparing for the test around about now if you are going to sit for a level that is higher than where you currently are. Fail to prepare, and you truly are preparing to fail!
Most people do their JLPT shopping for back tests or textbooks at Maruzen in Sakae. The following list of book stores (among selected others) sell the application form for this test, along with study materials.
Jiyuu-Shobo in Gifu City (058-275-0208)
Kumazawa Shoten in Anjo City (0566-79-0231)
Kumazawa Shoten in Kariya City (0566-29-5221)
Komaki Book Center in Komaki City (0568-75-6728)
Seibunkan in Nishio City (0563-54-9195)
Seibunkan in Toyohashi City (0532-46-9900)
Kumazawa Shoten in Toyota City (0565-37-8035)
Toyota Seibunkan in Toyota City (0565-33-3322)
Miraiya Shoten in Toyota City (0565-36-2260)
Shibiko Seibunkan in Okazaki City (056-424-8173)
Seibunkan in Tahara-cho (0531-22-7161)
Seibunkan in Chiryu City (0566-84-2341)
Chikusa Seibunkan in Chikusa Ward (052-741-1137)
Sanseido in Nagoya Terminal Bld (052-562-0077)
Maruzen in Sakae (052-261-2251)
Asahiya in the LaChic Bld in Sakae (052-238-3125)
Sanseido in Takashimaya 11F (052-566-8877)
You can also buy JLPT study materials online at Amazon.co.jp or White Rabbit Press.
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5. Teacher of Japanese Culture
Thank you to Erin Sakakibara for this submission
Did you know there is a cultural treasure in our midst? At least she is to me! I'm talking about Noriko Kato, or better known as "Noriko-sensei". Noriko is one of those people who gives freely of herself to help foreign residents of Nagoya learn the ins and outs of Japanese culture. She is a kimono maker by trade but recently has dedicated herself to the foreign community offering classes in yukata making, calligraphy and tea ceremony in her home in Minami-ku, Nagoya. In the yukata class you will learn how to cut and sew by hand a beautiful cotton (summer) version of the Japanese kimono. She also provides a variety of opportunities to wear yukata to make the experience extra special. Noriko's other love is to promote and teach the delicate art of tea ceremony in the lovely setting of her tatami room. Through this ceremony one can really appreciate the attention to detail and the love of nature that seem intrinsic to Japanese society. Last but not least, calligraphy class introduces the art of writing in Japanese to everyone! No need to have experience or even know the language to participate! Every class provides a chance to expand your knowledge about Japan while appreciating the beauty of the society...not to mention socializing and networking with other foreigners in the community. Class are held on Thursday afternoons nearly every week of the month. For details and to be included in our mailing list, please contact Erin at erinsakakibara@mac.com.
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6. Day Trip to Tajimi
Aichi America-Japan Society would like to invite you to a day trip to Tajimi, a must-visit place for ceramic lovers!
You will be visiting Kokeizan Eihoji Temple, a historic Zen temple with a beautiful Zen-style garden, and strolling along Honmachi Oribe Street, where old and new buildings, products and cultures merge harmoniously. You will also get a unique experience of making a pottery with instruction from Mr. Ryotaro Kato, a great ceramic artist, at Koubei-gama.
Volunteer guides and English interpreters will be with us for this trip. So, please join us on this special occasion and mingle with our AAJS members!
1. Date & Time:, Sunday March 16, 2008, from 9:30 to 17:30
2. Destination: Tajimi city, Gifu
3. Designated meeting place: In front of Nagoya Chamber of Commerce &
Industry Building
4. Transportation: Chartered bus
5. Expected number of participants: 30
6. Itinerary: Leave NCCI (9:30) => Arrive in Tajimi (10:30) => Eihoji Temple (10:30〜11:15) => Oribe Street (lunch& stroll) (11:45-13:30) => Kobei-gama（lecture from Potter Ryotaro Kato, making a pottery, and visit
Ichinokura Sakazuki Art Museum) (14:00-16:30) => Leave Tajimi (16:30) => Arrive at NCCI (17:30)
7. Fees: AAJS members & families: \2,000 (without pottery making) ￥4,000(with pottery making)
Non-members: \3,000 (without pottery making) ￥6,000 (with pottery making)
(*The above fees include bus transportation, lunch and entrance fees.)
8. How to apply: Please fill in the application form below and send it to us by fax at (052) 232-5751by Monday, March 3.
9. Payment: We would like to ask you to make a payment to the following account by bank transfer by Friday, March 7.
Bank: Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi UFJ,
Branch: Tsurumai Branch
Ordinary Account Number: 587002
Account Name: “Aichi Nichibei Kyokai”
10. Inquiries: Aichi America-Japan Society, c/o Nagoya Chamber of Commerce & Industry Tel: 052-223-6741 (Kawamoto) or 223-5726 (Tsunekawa)
Please fax this form to (052) 232 -5751
Application Form: Tajimi Outing on March 16
Company name:
Name:
Telephone:
Fax:
Fees (Members & Families) = \ 2,000 （without pottery making）
= \ 4,000 (with pottery making)
Fees (Non-Members) = \ 3,000 (without pottery making）
= \ 6,000 (with pottery making))
＊Regarding fees, please make check in the appropriate box.
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7. Party Planners
Thank you to Erin Sakakibara for this submission
I recently discovered a "gem" here in the Nagoya community. My husband and I were debating on having a long overdue party to celebrate the new year and entertain some of his work colleagues but I was dragging my feet. I confess I'm not much of a multi-tasker and I've never been one of those to throw a party with flair... cooking, decorating and playing the perfect host while taking care of the dishes and filling everyone's glasses when needed. No, the thought of it scared me to death. Then we were introduced to this fabulous new business in the community that takes care of your every party need! Though the business is new, it is clear that the team of professionals are anything but new to this business. Everyone has had experience with food and food service both here and in the U.S. so all of our planning was done in English.
A week before the planned party they came in to assess our "space" making plans for how the party would "flow" with the number of people we had invited and the amount of space we had. We talked menus and decoration style and after that, I left everything up to them. One hour before the party they arrived with their armament of supplies and I evacuated to make myself ready for our guests. When I came back upstairs I found a transformed "party room"...I hardly could recognize my place. They even converted a counter dividing my kitchen and dining room into a sushi bar! The decorations were classy and beautiful. By the time the guests arrived they were ready to go with a variety of western and asian cuisine timed perfectly over the course of the party. Everyone (especially me!) was in a relaxed, comfortable mood and my husband and I were able to really enjoy our guests. Best of all...no cleaning up afterwards! Though their name emphasizes their skill in preparing baby showers, this team can do anything! I highly recommend them for a business dinner, friendly get-together or any event that requires you to be a super-host!
Baby Shower Co.,Ltd.
Hideyasu Tawada, Chief Coordinator
*of course, English is OK!
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8. HOPE at the Hilton Week - March 2-9
HOPE International Development Agency
The Hilton Hotel and HOPE International join forces to bring help to the poor and in the process, bring you opportunities for travel and fun! Check out the info below to find out how you can get involved.
ONLINE TRAVEL and LEISURE AUCTION - www.hope-auction.com
March 2 - 9
Go online or on-sight at the Hilton all week to bid on a selection of great prizes which include two business class round trip tickets on United Airlines from Japan to the U.S., packages at over 40 Hilton hotels worldwide, mountain getaways in Nagano, a TREK bicycle and so much more! And as an added bonus, every time you bid you will be entered into a raffle with the top prize being two business class tickets on Continental Airlines to New York City!
DINE AT THE HILTON AND HELP THE POOR
March 2 - 9
Dine in one of the second floor restaurants during the week and 5% of your bill gets donated to HOPE!
CHARITY CUT
Monday, March 3
Top stylists from around Nagoya will be on hand to give you a gorgeous new look...all for ¥2000 (minimum donation)! Call for a reservation now: 052-204-0530. Walk-ins may also be available on the day...come on by, eat lunch and check it out!
ADVENTURE TRAVEL RECEPTION
Friday, March 7 - 2,500/1,500 students
Come learn about holidays that make a difference. Guest speaker is Professor Yoshiharu Masuda, who, when not riding a bike across Cambodia can be found performing as a Jazz Cellist or cruising around in his Mercedez that is 100% fueled by recycled vegetable oil. An interesting guy with an interesting story! Cost covers entrance and refreshments. Call 052-204-0530 for a reservation.
All in all a great opportunity to help the poor and have fun while you're at it! Additional information at www.hope.or.jp.
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9. March Events
all events proudly linked to HOPE at the Hilton Week
MEET AND GREET LUNCHEON
For those of you who are new to Nagoya, please come and join us for lunch. Meet and Greet lunch is the ideal place to make new friends, have a chat, and find out what is going on in Nagoya.
The Meet and Greet this month has been "hijacked" to the Hilton for the HOPE at the Hilton Week! This is a week long fundraising event to highlight HOPE's online Travel and Leisure Auction. We will be dining in the privacy of the Seasons restaurant on the second floor while enjoying a lovely buffet selection from the Terrace restaurant across the hall. Kids are welcome and we will provide a play space for them to hang out. By joining us at the Hilton for the Meet and Greet, HOPE International Development Agency (www.hope.or.jp) will get 5% back from the proceeds for the lunch and all those who come will get one free entry into a raffle in which the first prize is roundtrip business class tickets to New York City (!) on Continental Airlines as well as a Hilton hotel package. So come one and all...tell your friends, too! You'll get all the great networking that the M&G has to offer and a chance to help the poor, too! These are the details:
WHEN: Tuesday, March 4 from 12:00-2:00
WHAT: Great buffet lunch, free raffle entry and the opportunity to bid on exciting travel packages and leisure goods at the online/onsite auction.
HOW MUCH: ¥2,600
Please RSVP to me RIGHT NOW! I need to tell the Hilton numbers on the 29th of February, no later!
TOWARDS AN INTELLIGENT GLOBAL SOCIETY: A FUTURE PERSPECTIVE ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
DATE: Wednesday, March 5, noon to 2:00 p.m.
VENUE: Hilton Nagoya
Patricia Bader-Johnston will speak about the global drivers behind CSR and how progressive CSR practices could lead to an end game of "an intelligent global society" that is diverse, inclusive and characterized by "leaders who give back." An influential and experienced leader as well as an advocate of CSR and sustainability, Bader-Johnston is Director of Communications for IBM Japan, chairs the ACCJ CSR Committee,
and is President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan. This event is organized by the ACCJ, supported by the CCCJ and TJCS and is held in conjunction with HOPE at the Hilton Week.
COST: Members: 3,500 yen, guests: 5,000 yen DEADLINE: March 3
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
VENUE: Hilton Nagoya
In addition to an excellent evening of networking and delectable drinks and dishes from Hilton Nagoya, we will celebrate the beginning of the 2008 Walkathon Charity Event, which last year raised over 7.5 million
yen for many needy charities and organizations in the Chubu area. This will make this networking event all-the-more worthwhile, as those involved in the Walkathon Charity will also be attending. Furthermore,
attendees will be voting by secret ballot for their favorite T-shirt design for the 2008 Walkathon. As this is a great opportunity to introduce people to the ACCJ, please feel free to invite coworkers, colleagues, or any business associates who may be interested in joining the ACCJ or contributing to the Chubu Community. This event is held in conjunction with HOPE at the Hilton Week.
COST: Members: 5,000 yen, guests: 6,000 yen DEADLINE: March 4
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10. Starting up the Road Less Travelled
Sue Conolly
Many people feel that living in Japan is kind of like living in Pixieland - put your real life on hold for a year or two and then eventually return to your beaten track. However, I am not one of those people.
As a very young thing I came to Japan, in the days when English Teaching jobs were given out like tissues on the street corner. “I am an English teacher in Japan” became my whole identity, the path on which I had been planted and in which I was firmly entrenched. It seemed there was no other world in Japan.
I know other families who have been transferred to Japan from overseas with a company who will pay for their housing and other relocation costs. To these families as well, the rails are well and truly laid for them to plough through their life in Japan and out the other side.
There is nothing wrong with having a beaten path. There’s certainly nothing wrong with choosing to be an English teacher, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong deciding to take a break from the tough decisions of life if you’re a spouse along for the ride in a temporary assignment. However, little decisions and big decisions that you make might make all the difference to who you are. Being here in the moment, and doing things you may not think were possible for you, can put you on another far more rewarding path than you could have dreamed possible.
Up there in the X-Pat Files you can see people who’ve done just that. Sheri Yasue is the mother of young children who’s decided to go back to graduate school. Erin Sakakibara is the mother of four teenagers who’s done the same. She transgressed from what may have been her path (she’s always been actively involved in women’s groups such as the Association of Foreign Wives of Japanese and the Cross-Cultural Exchange Association for example) but her path took a swerve when she became involved with HOPE International, and now she’s enrolled in a graduate program for which she feels her life’s passion.
Asia-Pacific’s director of HOPE International, Lowell Sheppard, has his own “off the beaten path” story outlined in his book Never Too Late - Ten Tips to Change the Course of Your Life. Having maintained a relationship with the Canadian NGO, HOPE International since 1978, Lowell and his family moved to Japan. Lowell’s wife Kande had grown up here, and he made the perhaps unorthodox decision to follow his wife here, for what might have been a temporary stay of a few years, but has quickly turned into ten (and counting!). Since coming to Japan the Sheppards have undertaken several business ventures including an event management company, a homestay business and a wedding planning service (all fairly “Road Less Travelled” in themselves) but perhaps the biggest turn in the road for Lowell was when HOPE International’s office in Canada wanted him back. Lowell described this time in his life during a recent Japan Times interview: "We talked it through, decided Japan was home and that we wanted to see our boys through their own schooling. This is when I talked with a group of diplomats and business folks in Nagoya about starting HOPE in Japan and began devoting my spare hours to that enterprise."
It’s not necessary to take drastic measures (such as moving to Japan!) in order to make changes in the direction of your life. However, keeping an open mind and thinking outside the box can really make the difference in your life, wherever you’re living it.
I know expatriates in Japan who have:
Sent their little blonde children to a Japanese school in the countryside
Got their drivers licence in Japan after years of not being able to drive
Written a column for a Japanese newspaper and become a big TV celebrity
Started a tree-climbing business
Lived and worked as a potter in Tokoname
Become a female Buddhist monk (with bright red hair!)
Studied jewelry design to make and sell jewelry
Worked part-time in Mister Donuts
Studied massage and worked in a Japanese massage salon
Taught yoga in several yoga schools around Nagoya
Started a business exporting things Japanese (antiques, kimono silk, porcelain, iron teapots)
Set up a website to sell Japanese paper and ephemera online
Studied counselling and sat a test to become a Certified Educational Counselor
Made a living as a photographer
Made a living as a musician
Lived in a tiny little old house in the countryside and commuted to Nagoya
Looking at the list above, you can see that much of it is language intensive, so learning Japanese is a top priority for those wanting to live a life with the difference However, it’s not necessary to be “fluent” in Japanese before you even start. Those who aim to be fluent in Japanese before they start to live their lives, will be old before they know it! Learn Japanese by all means, but while you are learning Japanese take that first step to putting the kink in that line. It’s much easier to regret something you didn’t do, than it is to regret something that you did.
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That`s it for this edition of the newsletter. We hope you found it informative - please let us know what you would like to see in future editions, and we will attempt to address your issues.
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