Gaijin-in-Japan

Blogging direct from Kobe, Japan

Gaijin isn't a bad word. There just isn't any
other word to describe us. And besides, I'm
different and I like it that way. Why else would
I decide to leave San Francisco and live here
forever? So that I can eat good food? Maybe.

• Podcasts

  Japan News

  

• Categories

  Select Category Education  (12) Food in Japan  (17) Japanese Culture  (54) Living in Japan  (308) Marriage  (24) Musings  (76) News about Japan  (66) Podcasts  (98) Sites Sighted  (19) TnT  (9) Videos  (23)

• Archives

  Select Month January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 June 2005 May 2005 March 2005 February 2005 December 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 March 2004 January 2004 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003

• Pages

  • About this Blog
  • Japanese Onomatopoeia
  • Kaizen Management
  • Podcast Episode #91 Halloween
  • Timeline of Japan
  • Top 10 Albums for 2006 - Japan
  • Typing Japanese
  • US vs JP Culture

• Article of the Day

  Provided by The Free Dictionary

  
  

  This Day in History

  Provided by The Free Dictionary

  
  

  Quote of the Day

  Provided by The Free Library

• World Oddities

• Message Box

  

  Last Message 2 days, 19 hours ago

  3 guests are online.

  • Info : Please, resolve the addition below before post any new comment...
  • oh6pu : I like some of Kumi-san's songs, also I do like Ayu.. Greetings and Happy New Year from Finland
  • oh6pu : It's Kumi-san on the pic.
  • Mike : An earache..well... so did mine but it was from talking to loudly. Peace.
  • sluggo : My wife got an earache for Christmas!
  • Zen : peace to the world
  • Guest_3995 : Hi Mike-you staying at home at Xmas?
  • Zen : Nice header pic!
  • JM : So Mike...are things better now?
  • Mike : So we didn't get paid on time this month for weddings and my wife and I are splitting a 500 yen coin. Man...this sucks. How can this be happening?
  • Mike : lol....exactly why I write this blog. Hopefully I can say these percentages will change.
  • JM : Then you are screwed Mike!
  • Mike : For three years...100%. For 5 years...90%. For 10 years...80%. Over 10 years...75%...Fo rever...25%. It also depends on how much money you have. IMHO.
  • Guest_2554 : could someone tell me what the lickely hood for a gaijin in japan to be happy even if the person knows japanese
  • Mike : Hi everyone...sory I'm not around right now. I'm finishing up my Masters this month!! Then I'll be back!
  • Mike : Hey Zen, yeah we missed you. I understand. Great for you. Studying that stuff will definitely help.
  • ZenKaze : I'm deep into Flash training these days. Just finished up CSS.
  • ZenKaze : I do not have much time to hang out there these days. I am taking a class early in the a.m. so I only have about 15 min to blow on SL
  • ZenKaze : I guess I miss everyone today on SL
  • Mike : Hahaha...that's funny. God. If I let you listen to may first podcasts you might think otherwise. Lol. But what the hell. Send me an email to mike[at]gaijin-i n-japan.com
  • JM : Please!
  • JM : Mike, im sorry to tell you this way because im a total stranger to you but, you are god (as i told you before). I really need to hear your first podcasts! I listen to your podcasts every night till i eventually fall asleep. Think i can have acess to all of your podcasts?
  • Mike : I really should get another podcast up....just trying to find the time.
  • Mike : I'm in OpenLife from 9:00PM to 10:00 to night and then to our new group in Second Life on Cypris Isalnd from 10:30 until I fall asleep. Hope to see you there.
  • Mike : Cool Zen. Welcome. See you tomorrow night hopefully. Have you tried the fishing?
  • Zen. : I just log on . Now hangin out on this new beach! I'll just hangout by this building for now.
  • Mike : Yeah, if Jesus knew what I have done he'd tell all his friends I was crazy. I'm sure it wouldn't have changed anything though.
  • JM : Mike, you are GOD!!
  • Mike : We were wondering what happened to you. Strange. Can you log in now?
  • Zen. : I got cut off in SJ today... Do not know what happened could not log on again.
  • Mike : Man it's cold!!! 2 degrees this morning.
  • Mike : I'm off to ETJ for my presentation on the use of virtual worlds for language learning.
  • Anoner : Newsonjapan.com said that japan is heading into recession. i was in costco a couple of days ago.. they are still pretty cheap here, except for paper goods.
  • Mike : I'm heading into Open Life in two and a half hours then Second Life an hour and a half after that. Tonight we'll make history. «link»
  • Mike : Um recession? Costco raised their prices about 10% I think. It's a bulk food store from America.
  • Anoner : I was wondering how the recession in Japan is effecting you and your family.
  • zen pass thru : 6:30 am fro me, maybe 7:30 am for you spanky
  • Matt : I don't leave a comment becuase I can do the math without taking my shoes off, Cheers
  • Mike :
  • Mike : 10:30PM JST maybe 7:30AM PST.
  • sluggo@home : thursdays in SL? what time?
  • sluggo@home : oops, sorry, that was me... i'm not ignoring you guys, i'm really not!
  • Mike : I'm making the annual Halloween episodeS. One is the regular podcast with a twist and two is the reading.Wierd stuff coming.
  • Mike : Hey Ykji..I'm not sure why most of the people don't leave comments, but I can guess they're like me; people who like to listen and enjoy it. No problem. Glad to hear from you. I hope you can join our little circle of friends who are curious about living in this country of mystery.
  • Ykji : Hey Mike, about damn time i write something sorry bout' that :roll:. I really enjoy listening to your podcast even though i don't really know why so uhm yeah, greetings from an half irish half arabic guy that lives in germany! ah and start making more podcasts, like 3 a week
  • Mike : Sure lookin' forward to hearing about your adventures over there. I went out with John, Dave and Neal last night to Lickys...whoo.
  • Iain in Valencia : Will go to mr merry man . Mariko happy here loves spain. Will return to japan sometime definitely but dont know whn
  • Iain in Valencia : listening to you in August
  • Iain in Valencia : you there?
  • Mike : How can you contribute? Send me a recording of you in Spain and what it's like to take a Japanese away from Japan.
  • Mike : Wow! Valencia. I really want to visit there. It was once I place I was certain to visit. Nice to hear from. For those who don't know, I worked with Iain here in Kobe. He got married and moved to Spain. We don't know if they will ever come back.
  • Iain in Valencia : Miss ya man !!!
  • Iain in Valencia : Hi Mike, great site and great to hear your voice all the way over here in Spain. How can I contribute?
  • Mike : Crazy times coming. Not sure what will happen.
  • Zen : DOh! Polo player shirts not shorts
  • Zen : Ivy League eh, do we have to wear blazers, yachting caps and dickys. Oh oh, I know those plaid sweaters or polo player shorts with knickers.
  • Mike : A clubhouse would be fun to build. I'm going to make it an Ivy League clubhouse though...fits the education theme.
  • Mike : I like the idea of a GinJ clubhouse. I'll build one in Open Life...maybe this January of if I have some extra time. I always say I'll do things later and end up doing the same day.
  • Mike : Sorry Zen. It was under Living in Japan «link»
  • Zen : Why not setup a Gaijin-in-Japan Open life clubhouse and or a Kobe place like what was on SL before you pulled the plug...
  • Zen : I do not see the link for Japanese study.

  Captcha: 8+5= 01234567891011121314151617181920

  Name: URL/Email: Message:

• Recent Comments

  Senzoku - Stable wedding job:

  • sukarabi: Hello Mike, May I ask you if you've got any contact for doing this job ? Actually…

  A Recessionary Christmas:

  • sluggo: Yeah, I won't be going to a love hotel anytime soon, but I did get…
  • Zen: Podcast Podcast Podcast Podcast Podcast

  Are we going to have a Christmas this year?:

  • Zen: Perhaps it is time, to embrace the real meaning of Christmas, which is not about…

  Public Baths - Sentos:

  • SteelGolem: Great post! If (or when) I visit Japan, this was one of the things I…

  I'm sorry. It was my fault.:

  • Mike: Crazy, ain't it. I just didn't get my ballot in in time. Didn't know…
  • Vecko: what the hell XD

  Meyer's Briggs...ENTJ:

  • nenya: Sorry this is not going to be related to your post but I just wanted…
  • Zen: I did not think it was suppose to change. One's ideas change, but not who…

  The ride up slows down...lessons learned:

  • Zen: ISFP - The Artist
  • Zen: It has been interesting watching your growth.

  DJ and Shamisen:

  • Zen: it's a Afro-Japanese Jazz Band, with Shamisens, Shkuhachi, and some other traditional Japanese instruments and…
  • Zen: go here or see my post on …
  • Mike: I just looked it up on You Tube. It's anime, isn't it?
  • Zen: Pretty Cool! Ever heard of Zipang?

  World's oldest man turns 113:

  • Zen: Otanjoubi Omedeto gozaimasu ogeisan!

  Things are looking better...but:

  • Zen: for all of us dude, for all of us...

  I just get sick now - alcohol:

  • Zen: Your plan is working freaky LOL
  • Vecko: you need to get back in shape Mike!
  • Freakshow: My plan is to do enough damage now to ensure I don't make it to…

  Is it worth it to go to Japan?:

  • Mike: Zen likes chuhai though. It's a start. He'll be that guy who orders a bottle…
  • tokyo5: >I hate beer! Why???

  Podcast Episode #89:

  • tokyo5: Sorry, I didn't really want to comment on this post. I wanted to comment on your…

  16 things it takes most of us 50 years to learn:

  • mrhappymac: I enjoy your podscast, this post is my favorite. I had to laugh a lot,…

  Sex doesn't sell in Japan?:

  • Zen: Kawaii big time!!!

  They treat me like a child...why?:

  • time4oyatu: Man, japanese people just need to go take themselves some chill pills because they’re like…
  • The Warrior: Nice picture. I guess he is having a bad hair day.

  Podcast Episode #88:

  • The Warrior: Mike, I think you got it right that the key to enjoying Japan is money. Like…
  • Zen: 105 degrees F , in Concord, on Tues

  Anki - Studying Japanese - Motivation:

  • Mike: Thanks Shell. I'll have a look.

• Electronics Stores

  • Edion Electronics
  • Midori Denki
  • Seiden
  • Yamada Denki

• English

  • Bartelby

• Food in Japan

  • Alishan
  • COSTCO
  • FBC
  • Gourmet Navigator
  • Hot Pepper
  • The Flying Pig

• Friends

  • Hello Sluggo
  • Zensekai (Zen’s World)

• Japan Blogs

  • Ayumi - Kintaro
  • Big Red Dot
  • chipple.net - Blog
  • Englishman in Osaka
  • Gaijin Tonic
  • Ichi Blog - New
  • Ichi Blog - Old
  • Japan it UP
  • Midnight Eye
  • Mike’s Blender
  • Yanko Design

• Japan Design

  • Design Association
  • Fashion-J
  • Japan Design Foundation
  • PingMag
  • Yanko Design

• Japan Podcasts

  • Herro flom Japan
  • Japan Talk
  • Planet Japan

• Living in Japan

  • All Japanese All the Time
  • Brovision Videos
  • Japan Guide
  • Kobe
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Tokyo
  • Weather in Japan - Hyogo

• Miscellaneous

  • ESL Daily

• Transportation

  • Hyperdia Train Times
  • Japan Railway (JR)
  • Kobe Airport Flights
  • Kobe Bus
  • Nihon Bus

• Options

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org