The X-Pat Files -  September 2006

 (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 counselor and life coach Sue Conolly (www.sueconolly.net).

  Contents for This Edition

  1.  English Speaking Gynecologists
  2.  Large Sized Shoes
  3.  Learning Japanese
  4.  "Hard Off" Recycle Chain
  5.  Sling
  6.  Tokoname and the Chita Peninsula
  7.  MapFan Route Planner
  8.  Meet & Greet Lunch
  9.  Komaki Water Park
 10. Attitude

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  1. English Speaking Gynecologists

I am often asked for recommendations for English speaking gynecologists.  Of course, every woman has a gynecologist who's best for her, so I never like to recommend just one, but here are some good places to start.

1.  St. Sophia Clinic in the Nagoya Station Building

http://www.st-sophia.jp/

From this website you can access a map for which elevator to take to the 19th floor when you get to Nagoya Station, and you can also see a picture of Dr. Asai, who is the female English speaking doctor who is both the oldest one there, and in charge of the clinic.  She is a bit shy of saying that she speaks English, and prefers you to have someone with you who can translate, but she does speak English and has tended to many foreign patients.  Her hours are also posted on the website.  When I looked Dr. Asai’s hours were: MON 9am-1pm, TUE 9-1&5-7pm, WED off, THU 9-1&5-7pm, FRI off, SAT 9-1.  There are other doctors there at other hours, but these are Dr. Asai’s hours.  Here are the details of the clinic:

JR Central Towers 19th floor Clinic Centre
St. Sophia Ladies Clinic, Dr. Masako Asai
TEL 052-551-1595      FAX 052-551-1596

Please note that this is a gynecology clinic only and does not deal with ObGyn.  For pregancy related issues, St. Sophia's parent hospital is Narita Hospital in Osu, which is not only an ObGyn Clinic but also specializes in infertility issues as well.

Narita Hospital
Address: 1-20-30 Osu Naka-ku Nagoya　　
Phone: 052-221-1595
Fax: 052-221-1968
Hours:
9-12 Monday to Saturday
5-7pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday


2.  Kato Clinic in Mizuho-ku

http://www.kato-clinic.jp/index2.htm

This website is only in Japanese, but Dr. Hisanori Kato has lived in the United States and is very good at English.  If you click on the link that says "map", you will get directions in Japanese which you can print out and take with you.  It is not very near any station, so going by car is best.  Kato Clinic has facilities for childbirth, and also specializes in breast cancer.

Address: Mizuho-ku Tanabe Dori 5-8
Tel: 052-836-7953
Clinic Hours: 9:00〜12:00 (patients accepted until 11:30)
Evening Hours: 5:00〜8:00 (patients accepted until 7:30)
Closed:  Sunday, Public Holidays, Saturday evening, Thursday excluding ObGyn patients


3. Marumo Hospital in Hongo

http://www.marumo-hospital.jp/english/english.html

This hospital in Hongo specializes in breast cancer as well.  It is right across the road from Hongo Station on the Higashiyama (yellow) subway line.

Address: 2-124-1 Hongo Meito-ku Nagoya
Telephone: 052-771-6111（Administration Office）
FAX: 052-771-6104
Clinic Hours ：9:00 〜12:00　Monday〜Saturday.
Reception：8:30AM〜
Evening Clinic Hours：18:00〜20:00 Monday,Wednesday and Friday.
Night Reception：17:30〜
Breast Disease：Monday and Wednesday

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  2.  Large Sized Shoes - Jenny Elsby

If you have big feet like me then getting shoes in Japan can be a nightmare! However I have discovered some stores selling shoes up to size 27cm (check here if you want to convert your shoe size).

1) Nagoya Station:  Matsuzakaya Department Store in Nagoya Station has a selection of shoes on its first floor.  They have sizes up to 27cm.
Tel: 052-561-1111
Open: 10am -8pm

2) Jinmei in DAIEI, Meito Ku
This large size clothing store also stocks ladies shoes, albeit of the sparkly Japanese variety up to a foreigner friendly 3L.  These cost from about JPY3000.
(As this is a chain Department Store I would recommend checking out other Daiei's which are closer to your residence).
Tel: 052-778-4741
Open: 10am −9:45pm

3) Mega Shoes Shop Tsuruya, Sakae
This multi-level shoe shop just across the road on the North side of Loft Department Store stocks both "King Size" and "Queen Size" shoes, however the sizes tend to be smaller.
Tel: 052-252-8911
Open: 10am -8:30pm


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  3.  Learning Japanese

Check out these sites if you are serious about learning Japanese!

http://www.japanesepod101.com

A system of Japanese lessons on podcast which you can listen to on your computer or MP3 player, also linked to other educational materials, a forum and a blog.  I have it on good authority that the whole program is very addictive and a lot of fun!

http://www.kantango.com/

A combination of the word for easy (kantan) and word (tango), this site is about making words easy.  There is an easy lookup section which works equally well in kanji or in hiragana, and if you register you can make your own vocabulary list for review

http://www.rikai.com

Created by a software engineer in Tokyo for his own Japanese educational purposes, this site features an online kanji translation tool, e-mail Japanese lessons, flashcards, and a very cool kanji map.  Most of this page works on a mouseover system, in that you have to place your mouse over the word to get the English translation and reading.

http://www.hellonavi.com/foldera/html/japanese.html

A funny little animated site aiming to teach elementary school children and parents basic conversation they will need to attend a Japanese elementary school.  The site is entirely in hiragana and katakana, and has sound, so it's great for reading and listening practice.  There is no English on this site whatsover, but there are so many graphics that it's immediately recognizable what scene is being played out.

http://www.kanjiclinic.com/

Kanji Clinic is a column appearing the third Tuesday of every other month in The Japan Times.  Its purpose is to provide practical advice and inspiration to non-Japanese adults striving to achieve literacy in Japanese by learning the 1,945 general-use kanji.  The thing I like about Kanji Clinic is that it makes kanji seem really interesting, whetting the apetite to learn more.  When you're faced with so many kanji to learn, anything that makes you want to learn more can't be a bad thing!

Finally, a big tip for all those who want to learn Japanese, learn Kanji, or don't want to learn either but simply want to be able to walk around the in the supermarket and be able to buy things!  Japanese students would never be without their little packs of word cards, available in the 100 yen shop.  They are about the size of a matchbox, and contain about 50 white cards which are on a ring and can be attached to your mobile phone, keys or purse.  You write the Japanese word on one side, the English on the other, and you have instant flip cards that you can use on the train or while you wait in the doctor's surgery.  The other way I've seen these cards used is for grocery shopping.  Once you have found the kind of oyster sauce or low fat milk that you like, then you're going to want to find it again.  You can, if you clip a little bit of the label and stick it on one side of the word cards.  Then every time you go to the supermarket, it is right there on your key chain so that you can find it again, or show it to a shop assistant so that they can help you find it, or a similar product.

Another fun thing to do to improve your Japanese is to watch J-dramas on TV.  Japanese TV dramas are great because they are easily to understand (the basic storyline is very obvious even if you can't understand what is being said), amusing, and unlike soap operas from the west, they end in just ten episodes, so there is no dragging of the storyline.  You can check out the whole wonderful world of Japanese dramas at http://www.jdorama.com/, but basically, they start every season (summer, winter, spring, and autumn) on TV stations like Fuji, TV Tokyo and Asahi, on week nights at the 9pm or 10pm time slot. 
  
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  4. Hard Off Recycle Chain

Many of you may already be familiar with this very eye-catching sign on the streets of Japan.  Book-Off is for second hand books, Hard Off for second-hand hardware, B-Kids for second hand children's clothes.  Here is a more complete list of the shops, and what kinds of things you can find there.

Hard Off
Computers, Audio, Visual, Musical Instruments, Cameras, Watches, Golf Supplies, Game Software, CD/VHS/DVD software

Off House
Furniture/Interior, Home Electrical, Home Items, Sports, Outdoor, Hobby, Gift, Baby & Kidswear, Womens Clothing

Mode Off
Ladies Wear, Menswear, Womens Shoes, Brand Items, Accessories

Garage Off
Audio & Navi, Car Goods, Books & Videos, Car Parts, Tyres & Wheels, Model Cars

Hobby Off
Promotional Goods, Capsule Toys, Hobby, Cards, Toys, Collections, Novelties

Book Off
Used Books, CD Software, Game Software, DVD, LD, Videos

B-Kids
Used Children's clothes, toys, furniture, baby goods

B-Sports
Sporting goods, outdoor goods

B-Style
Used men's and women's clothing

B-Life
Furniture, Interior and Everyday Items

For those of you who enjoy a good recycle shop wherever you go, here is a list of all the shops and where they are in the Aichi area - click on the name of the shop to take you to a map, opening hours and more information:

Hard Off Toyohashi  Ph: 0532-47-3212   
Hard Off Chiryu  Ph: 0566-81-6531  
Hard Off Handa  Ph: 0569-21-7086  
Hard Off Tsushima  Ph: 0567-23-3280  
Hard Off Shikenya (Moriyama-ku)  Ph: 052-777-1109
Hard Off Tokushige (Narumi)  Ph: 052-876-7070
Hard Off Nanyo (Minato-ku)  Ph: 052-301-1114
Hard Off Hekinan  Ph: 0566-46-3144
Hard Off Ichinomiya  Ph: 0586-24-2309 
Hard Off Tokai  Ph: 052-603-4630 
Hard Off Okazaki Rokuna  Ph: 0564-71-5999 
Hard Off Toyota Kamijo  Ph: 0565-21-0008 
Hard Off Bisai  Ph: 0586-46-6534 
Hard Off Takabari (Meito-ku)  Ph: 052-703-2321
Hard Off Midori  Ph: 052-621-3690 
Hard Off Nagoya Airport Road (Toyoyama)  Ph: 0568-39-2468
Hard Off Inazawa  Ph: 0587-22-0603
Hard Off Shimada Minami (Tempaku-ku)  Ph: 052-800-9000
Hard Off Anjo  Ph: 0566-71-2169 
Hard Off Kozoji  Ph: 0568-53-4011 
Hard Off Toyokawa  Ph: 0533-80-368 
Hard Off Okazaki Kamisato  Ph: 0564-24-7111 
Hard Off Owari Asahi  Ph: 0561-55-0303 
Hard Off Komaki  Ph: 0568-71-4066 
Hard Off Kakuozan (Chikusa-ku)  Ph: 052-761-6661 
Hard Off Fuso  Ph: 0587-91-3566 
Hard Off Chiyoda (Moriyama-ku)  Ph: 052-795-4040 
Hard Off Nishio  Ph: 0563-64-3100 
Off House Bisai  Ph: 0586-44-3188 
Off House Ichinomiya  Ph: 0586-28-7275 
Off House Nagoya Airport Road (Toyoyama)  Ph: 0568-39-1717
Off House Fuso  Ph: 0587-91-3577 
Off House Seto  Ph: 0561-85-5502 
Off House Nishio  Ph: 0563-64-3101 
Hobby Off Owari Asahi  Ph: 0561-55-5595 
Hobby Off Ichinomiya Bypass  Ph: 0586-23-1340 
Hobby Off Toyota Kamijo  Ph: 0565-25-0053 
Hobby Off Shimada Minami (Tempaku-ku) Ph: 052-800-3090 
B-Kids Nagoya Showa Dori (Nakagawa-ku) Ph: 052-365-6252
B-Kids Nagoya Takinomizu (Midori-ku)  Ph: 052-899-0125
B-Kids Nagoya Takabari (Meito-ku)  Ph: 052-705-8501
B-Sports Gifu Orchid Park  Ph: 058-254-8040
B-Sports Owari Asahi  Ph: 0561-55-3956
B-Style Takabari (Meito-ku)  Ph: 052-709-6765
B-Style Chiyoda (Chikusa-ku)  Ph: 052-725-7345
B-Life Hirabari (Tempaku-ku)  Ph: 052-800-8600

  
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  5. Sling - Steve Burson

A new gadget allows you to catch your favorite T.V. shows from home, wherever you are.

Most of us accept that when on foreign vacation we do without our regular dose of sport, soap operas and more localized T.V. Equally, globally mobile professionals are long resigned to the fact that travel means missing out on way too many NFL games.

Well, think again, thanks to the arrival of ‘Slingbox' it is now possible to watch all your home country T.V., wherever you are on the planet.  The latest in home entertainment technology, Slingbox gives you instant international access to your favorite games, soaps and news channel via your laptop, desktop or 3G cell phone.

Slingbox was launched in 2005 by Sling Media Inc. in both the USA and the UK. The device, which resembles an oversized chocolate bar, is attached to your U.K./U.S. TV set top box and home router. From there the Slingbox streams or ‘placeshifts' your regular programs over the Internet. These programs can then be viewed wherever you have a high speed Internet connection via your Windows based computer/laptop, Windows pocket pc or smartphone.

The device may also appeal to expats missing their regular fix of soaps or local news channels. Those on a foreign posting could affix a Slingbox to their TV set back home, or that of an obliging relative or friend. Slingbox works with regular TV, satellite TV, cable TV, a DVD player, DVR or camcorder and your living room programs are only accessible via your own password. There are no subscription fees, you just pay for the hardware and the software. Currently, it is not possible to operate a Slingbox from a TV set in Hungary or anywhere else on mainland Europe, however, the company plans to go ahead with a European launch later in 2006. The Slingbox retails for around $250.



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  6. Tokoname and the Chita Peninsula

As a former resident of the Chita Peninsula, I can recommend it for it’s natural beauty, Japanese authenticity, and hospitality.  While it is not brimming with wilderness, it is my opinion that there’s no beating it for just “getting away from it all”.

Famous also for Centrair International Airport, Tokoname City is known for its pottery.  You can get to Tokoname on the Meitetsu Tokoname line, and just a short walk from the station is the starting point for several walking courses along narrow streets lined with odds and ends of broken pottery.  It is fantastic for photo oppotunities, with old houses, dustry streets and little pockets of wilderness that jump out at you from seemingly nowhere.  It is truly a lovely hike to get up to the big step kilns they still have there.  In these narrow streets, there are often artists in residence (sometimes foreign artists too), with their workshop just open for you to wander in to.  Tokoname City has an advanced homestay system for foreign artists, so everyone is very welcoming here.

http://www.city.tokoname.aichi.jp/html/intro_e/top.html

http://www.tokoname.or.jp/cerapath/path-e.htm

No trip to the Chita Peninsula would be complete without lunch at one of the fine restaurants run by the Milky Coke group.  Yes, it’s a funny little name, but this group runs a chain of restaurants and shops that have a wonderful homey feel.  The one at the end of one of the Tokoname walking courses, Fu-u, is a beautiful little place on the second floor of a ceramics and glass shop.  If you are in Handa City, there’s no going past Italien Cafe, which is a delicious little place I go to every time I get the opportunity.  In Taketoyo, and old farm house has been converted into a sublime little Japanese restaurant (try the Tofu!) called Fuu-sha. 

Italien Cafe
Address: Handa-shi Hoshizaki-cho 2-201-1
Phone Number: 0569-22-3395
Hours of Operation: 11:00～23:00
Open: All Days

Fuu-sha (Eclectic Restaurant in old farmhouse)
Address: Chita-gun Taketoyo-cho Rokkiyama 5-70
Phone Number: 0569-73-7003
Hours of Operation: 11:30～14:30 / 17:00～22:30
Closed: Mondays

Gallery-Cafe Fu-u (in Tokoname walking streets)
Address: Tokoname-shi Sakae-cho 3-11
Phone Number: 0569-34-8818
Hours of Operation: 10:00～17:00
Closed: Tuesdays

Close to Gallery-Cafe Fu-u in Tokoname, there are several other Milky Coke shops, interior shops, pottery shops, and a YUMMY bakery.  All these shops are closed on a Tuesday. The Milky Coke website certainly has enough English on it for you to navigate around - when you get to the individual restaurant pages they give phone numbers, addresses and maps (in Japanese), so if you want to go, plan in advance!

http://www.milkycoke.com

I love the Chita Hanto and all it has to offer.  I hope you like it as much as I did!


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  7. MapFan.com Route Planner

For those of us not blessed with a navi, or for those times when you just want to know how to get somewhere and you don't want to run to the car to find out, there is a very easy to use tool.  This does require some skill in Japanese, and a Japanese keyboard, but it is very easy to work out, especially if the first time you do it you have a Japanese friend with you.  This is what you do.

1.  Go to http://www.mapfan.com/

2.  Click on the little car down the left hand side of the screen to start your search.

3.  The very first time you do this, you may be asked to register for this free service.  This will be where a Japanese speaking friend will come in handy.

4.  Click on the blue button on the right hand side of the screen which will allow you to conduct a search.

5.  You will see a map screen, with search functions down the right hand side of the screen.  You can search by address, by station name, by facility or shop name, or by postal code (there are four different search boxes for these four ways of searching).  For example, you can put your seven digit postal code in the bottom box, and then hit enter to find a list of options for your address. 

6.  The list of options will appear immediately below the search boxes.  Click on any one of these options and you will get a map that represents either the place where you want to start your journey, or the place where you want to end your journey.  Click the blue "S" button below the map to set this as the place you want to start, or the red "G" button to set this map as the goal.  You may also click the yellow "flag" button, to set this map as a place you want to visit on the way (you can set up to three of these "on the way" places).

7.  You can change the "Start" or "Goal" or "On the Way" places as many times as you like, just by using the search functions on the right and the three buttons below the map. 

8.  When you are finished, scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the gold button to create the route for the places you listed.  Just above this button there are extra options that you can set like "Use the closest way" or "Don't use the highway", but these are unnecessary as they are pre-set to get you there in the fastest and most convenient way. 

9.  The route planner will calculate your route and provide you with all the maps you need along the way.  Look under the first map.  There are five buttons below the map.  The first one on the right will show you the entire map, the next one will show you that same map centring over the start, then you can use the forward and back buttons to centre the map over different stages of the journey.  To the right of the map you will see each little detail of the journey planned out step by step.  Clicking on the number of that step will bring you to that map.  All maps can be zoomed in and out of as needed.  The number of kilometres is printed in blue just below the route.  And of course, you can print the whole thing out to take with you as a cheat sheet to show someone if you get lost.  To print in the best possible way, scroll to the very bottom of the page and hit the button to the right, which is a "Print these directions" button.

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  8.  Meet & Greet Lunch

 Are you new to town?  Do you want to get out and meet new people?  Or do you just want a nice lunch in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere where you can chat with new friends and old friends?  The Meet & Greet lunch is held on the second Tuesday of the month at Shooters Sports Bar and Grill in Fushimi. 

 Date:  Tuesday, 12th of September
 Time: 11:30am -
 Place: http://www.shooters-nagoya.com/
 Price: 1500 yen for buffet lunch and a drink
 RSVP:  Please RSVP by Saturday the 9th of September.  RSVP to Sue Conolly at 090-4186-9459 or by e-mail to conolly@p-cafe.net

 Shooters has a relaxed atmosphere and is closed during the day except for our event, so we have the run of the place.  This means that it is a VERY easy event for mothers with  babies or small children.  It also means, however, that I must ask for an RSVP so that Shooters can cater for the correct number of people.  Since they are opening the restaurant especially for us, I want to keep these Meet & Greet lunches well attended as they are a valuable resource for newcomers to the area.  Please mark it on your calendar - every month on the second Tuesday, and let me know if you can come this time.

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  9. Komaki Water Park - Jenny Elsby

http://www.city.komaki.aichi.jp/english/shisetu/030.html

Are you missing the heat, and wishing the summer would never end?  Well, it never has to, as Komaki Water Park indoor pool is open the whole year round.  Part of the pool is inside and part of it outside, and during the colder months it is closed off to be just an inside pool.  Facilities include a wave pool, circular pool, competition pool, water slides, mountain stream water slide, children's pool, and an adventure pool (outside).

Address:  2394-3 Oaza Noguchi, Komaki City
Telephone: (0568) 78-0102
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 1p.m. to 8 p.m. (from July 1 to August 31, 10a.m.to 8 p.m.) Saturday, Sunday, and national holidays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pool Holidays: Every Monday and days that fall after a national holiday (the pool is open if the holiday falls on a weekend, and between July 1 and August 31) and the New Year period (December 28 to January 4)

Please note:

* Children 9 years old (elementary school 3rd grade student) and younger must be accompanied by an adult wearing a swim suit (adults are not allowed to accompany more than two children)

* Infants who need to wear a diaper are not allowed to enter the pool facilities.

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  10.  Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes." (Charles Swindoll)

It's rather a long way of speaking a very simple truth: that we (and no one else) are responsible for our experience of the world.  The unhappiest people that I meet, believe that 90% of life is what happens to them, and perhaps 10% (if that), their own contribution to their outlook or attitude.  If life is only a series of unchangeable experiences over which we have no control, it makes us unhappy when those experiences are not the ones we were hoping for.  If, on the other hand, only 10% of life is what happens to us, and 90% is our own responses to those experiences, it puts the ball back in our own court.  Plenty of successful, happy people have had horrible experiences in their lives.  The only difference is that these people have found a way to grow beautiful flowers in the manure of their lives.  So it is with us all - we are all dealing with our own shit, but we are each responsible for the garden we can grow.

http://www.sueconolly.net/

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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.

  A disclaimer - While we do try to check submissions when they come to me, we do not take responsibility for the accuracy of any donated information.  Nor do we take responsibility if your experience of places and services you find through this newsletter are not as rewarding as they were for the person who originally sent in the information. Obviously everyone`s experience is different.

  If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, please do so online at http://www.xpat-files.com, where in the future we would like to archive information contained in this newsletter.

  If have some information you feel might be of benefit to the Expat community, please send as much information as you can to info@xpat-files.com.

  The newsletter will be as good as the contributions made to it, so please send in ideas and materials!