Trapped in Japan

Custermize your Longchamp bag!!

2010-06-27T00:09:00.000+10:00

I was very excited couple weeks ago, to find out you can make custom made Longchamp bag.

Well I didn't even know you can do that online but it is the first and only shop that can do so in the store.

It's in Aoyama, just by Harajuku Station, and it was all exciting.

Finally the day before yesterday I have received a call and I went to pick it up last night.

My name is also printed on the bag. I must say this is the only bag in the world!!

I already have a dark gray one so I decided to get a different colour and chose the one that makes me little older and smart.

Although you can do the same online, you can touch and feel the material and see the real colour there and for the first timers it makes it feel safer to do so. It is also good for people who don't want to give away credit card details. Probably for the second time and later, you can just purchase online and your bag will be delivered to your door step.

It's not too expensive and you can make the one you love!! Longchamp bag is very easy to use. It's light and tough!! I put so much things in the bag and it doesn't break. It doesn't look tough at all but it is!! You must get one if you have not. There are lots of girls have Longchamp bags in Australia and Singapore/Malaysia but there is still very few in Japan. I am going to do my best to spread the word for Longchamp because I love it so much!! hahahaha it sounds so gay :p

I am already thinking about ordering the second custom made bag :p

Oyako-Don, "Torimikura"

2010-06-06T18:53:00.000+10:00

Oyako-don is a combination of chicken and egg, and Oyako means "parent-child". It is one of the basic Japanese dish and it's usually a home-made dish or served in a non-expensive restaurants.

This Oyako-don is called "kyukyoku no oyako-don" (the best Oyako-don) and it is very nice.

They use Shamo-chicken and they are tender and soft at the same time!! They are grilled with charcoal and then cooked with plenty of eggs. I have to say it is quite expensive for an Oyako-don and it is $10(JPY1000) and they seems to serve Yakitori (grilled chicken on stick) at night. The space is not too big but has an atomosphire that you can relax. The spices you can add at the table are nice too. They have Shichimi (mix of 7 spicies) , Sansho and natural salt.

The shop is not too easy to find. You have to go to a little ally way on the opposite side of Franc Fran Aoyama. They seems to have few other stores in Tokyo but I only been to the one in Aoyama.

If you are looking for a place to have lunch in Aoyama area, this is the place to go

Donut store: Neyn

2010-06-04T10:11:00.001+10:00

We have Krispy Kream, Mr Donut and other donut stores in Tokyo. We often see lots of people lining up for these stores. But I never thought Krispy Kream was any good, but sugar and fats.

This shop Neyn is different from those greasy donuts stores. They have both deep fried and grilled donuts. They are cute and tasty!! It's a great "Temiyage", hand- carried souvenirs when you go visit them at their home or office. Cake could be great option but in Tokyo it cost around 5$(500jpy) per piece and could be costly for a big office. These are from$1.20(120jpy) up to$2.50(250jpy). It's not cheap for a donut but they look good and yummy. What else could be the problem?

They also pack them in such a cute box but the problem is that they don't have many stores. My personal favourite is Green Tea Kanoko(Grilled) and Berry Rouge(fried).

One is in Shinjuku, Lumine Est( by the East Gate)

And another is in Akasaka.Check out the link for the details! The website is bilingual

Just have a look when you are around these locations!

having a relationship at work

2010-05-13T23:57:00.000+10:00

let me ask you a question first.
are people at work open about their relationship?
even if it is within the workplae?

in japan people are usualy NOT open about it.
we are highly likely not to tell anyone unless we are getting married.
some workplace do not allow to have a relationship within.
i think it is ridiculus as it is impossible to prohibit it.

i know lots of people got married within and it is welcomed at my work.
my senior staff, she got married to a guy and shes open about it.
her wedding is on next month and she is in the greatest mood for the last few month. but on the other hand, there is this lady in admin that got married to an engineer in the company. they do not tell anyone and i have heard it from a friend. he told me that i must not talk about it and not to tell anyone. its pretty weired i think but that what people do here in japan.

what do you tihnk? do you think its weired or its okay? or you might not even care.

Taking leaves in Japan

2010-01-22T09:13:00.003+11:00

For many of Japanese "salary-man" taking leaves can be pain-in-the-ass.
Most people are on some project or routine job but they need to find some time when the project doesn't require them, or personally find some one that can do their jobs.
What I wanna say is that Japanese companies do NOT have he system for people to take leaves.
They also do not have a system of "medical leave" and if they are sick and take a day or two off, it would be deducted from thier paid holiday allowance.

Paid holiday allowance is like annual leaves in some sense but it's quite different.
The allowance are given every half year or so, depending on the company plicy, but because no one really take leaves, it builds up.
Before they leave the company, they will take these leaves.

So when Japanese people have holidays?
Only on public holidays and "obon" period.
There are around 20puhlic holidays in japan and they are organised to make long holidays.
we had two 5day holidays last year but this year there is only one long holiday.

I'm talking about holidays because I am very tired and need to take some leaves!
Gotta go now, reaching work very soon.
Have a nice day everyone:)

Working as a Woman in Japan

2009-10-01T00:29:00.003+10:00

I have started working in a maker, OEM maker, in Japan in April.
I am a Japanese but must say I do not think like stereo type Japanese.

Anyways, one thing I found it hard to understand in this company is how my senior, a trainer, treats me. She entred the company a year before me and she was transfering her job to me.

The thing I cannot stand was how she tells me off about social life.
She intentionally came to me before a drinking dinner and told me how I need to pour drinks for seniors. How I have to be on alert all the time. My seniors are quite open and they know I am not really Japanese and my direct senior leader told me I don't need to do all the Japanese stuff. But she was still stiring at me.

She told me off how I talked, the way of using "DESU".
One of senior stuff asked me when was this event happening, and I just said "this Friday" and she was like "desu, Friday Desu". In English it's like I was only said "this Friday" but she told me to say "It is on Friday" OMG what the heck the big deal??

She graduated from one of the best universities in Japan, so I thought she was smart.
And her English is quite good for a person who ever studies overseas.
I got tricked there, I thought she would be open minded because she can speak English.
Big mistake there!!
She is 100% Japanese!! and does not understand the world.
She is only living in little Japan, no offence but she is not really looking at big picture.
I thought she is slow because she thinks about lots of options etc,
but she does not seem to see others' point.
But she says she want to work with people that can see what others are thinking!
When she says that I always say it in my mind that she needs to start doing that first!!!!!!
argh!!
I think I can just complaint about her here forever so I need to stop it right here hahaha.

I am probably just tired/stressed and paranoid!!
Anyways she finished tranfering her job to me already so it should be cool cool.
I also need to learn how to work with people who I don't get along with.
Anyone has any good advice? if you do please let me know!!

New Ruling Party for Japanese

2009-09-22T00:19:00.002+10:00

End of August, we had a national election and the history of Japanese politics had dramatically changed. As most of you probably know by now, LDP has lost their ruling power to JDP.

Even before the election, people knew that LDP would lose by looking at the result of Tokyo Prefactual elecetion. People was sick of LDP, running politics for their party but the people of Japan. Well that was what I personally thought of Japanese politics. I am not expecting much from JDP to be honest with you, but the change in ruling party could mean lots of things for the Japanese.

It means;
1) that all the bad things that LDP has done and has hidden from us, would come into the surface.
2) that the ruling party knows that they can be pull down from its power if they do not do things right.
3) that bureaucracy would also face the change
4) all the new politicians entred the political world and therefore more variety of people, not all the sons and daughters of previous politicians
5) that the Japanese people themselves have more interests in the politics

These points, I could come up with them in 2mins, and there must be more positive effects of the change in the politics of Japan.
If the ruling party is not doing things right, they have to be replaced.
It is the natual process.
It is a normal thing in everyday life!! If your shop does not provide proper products and service, customers will stop coming and you will have to close down.
OR if you do crappy job at your parttime job, you will get fired and they will hire new students.

I just want to stress, I like the change!! I am looking forward to see how things will change in Japan.

The Fire of Summer

2009-07-28T23:29:00.002+10:00

No,it's not the fire you imaged.It's fireworks.In Japan there are lots of fireworks events during summer and girls often wear Yukata which is summer version of Kimono,almost,People love fireworks and usualy it comes with lots of street foods.

Last weekend there were two big firework events in Japan. I went to a smaller one in Showa Memorial Park.Bigger one was by Sumida river and on aired to TV. It's quite commerised as lots of business foundraise for such events.

My one had 5,000fireworks and 60,000people gathered for it.One of friend started to reserv our seats just after mid-day.

I might be going another one which is bigger than the one I just went to. But I have not made my mind up yet because there will be too many people,,,but it also really fun!!

Japanese like this kind of festival because we think that we can feel cool by watching these events. It is uniquely very Japanese that by watching or listening will make us cooler. For example, we think that listening to water running, will make us cooler. Fireworks event is one of these try-to-be-cool events. (According to me :p)

I took some pictures with my friends camera and I am getting them probably tomorrow, so when I do, I will upload them here!! The picture I uploaded was taken by my cell. I like it but it is not clear.....

Hopefully, you are feeling cooler by looking at the picture!!!Good night!

Sound of Summer

2009-07-20T00:54:00.003+10:00

Yes it is what you think it is. It's Cicada "Semi". I am not sure where they are from,....they are lots of them around Japan in Summer. Especially around my place, there are plenty of them in Summer. And it has started to make noisy in this last 2-3days. Tonight, I was walking home after having dinner with my friends, I saw white stuffs. At the beginning, I didn't know what they are but in a few second, I knew it. It was Cisada!! I looked around and there were few of them in 10-15metres! I got excited and went home to get cameras!!

I haven't seen them for few years. I am pretty sure in few days I will get sick of them. They annoys everyone so bad in this time because they are just tooooooo noisy.

Well of course all the little kids love them!! Since it is school holiday right now, there are lots of kids catching the cicadas!!I still remember catching them but I was so scared to touch it at the beginnning. Great time for kids but....there are lots of happy kids and lote of unhappy parents! and I am glad I am not neither of them yet LOL but I am happy because I don't have to fight over seats in the train with kids for a month or so!! hahahaha what an adult!!

Gotta go yo'all! Night night

Rainy Season is over!!

2009-07-16T00:13:00.002+10:00

I have been sluking too much....I am going to start blogging again.
Anyways, I have started working in Japan in April and I am a Shinnyu shain (newly joined staff/workers).

Let's start talking with the season right now.
Yesterday, it was announced that rainy season was over! That means it is "Natsu Honban" which direct translation would be real stage for summer!! Well it means it is going to get hotter and hotter everyday and not going to rain like everyday.

In rainy season, many of us enjoy the flowers shown on the left hand side. It is called "Ajisai" in Japanese but I am not sure about English. It is a symbol for rainy season and they are beutiful.

This picture was taken in Takahata-fudo. A temple in eastern side of Tokyo.

Another hot news in Japan is that there was a metropolitan government representitive election. Please excuse my direct translation.....it's "Togikaisen" in Japanese. It was the first time for me to vote!! Since I was a political student, I am interested in politics. Although I am very dissapointed in Japanese politics, I don't think it will excuse me from not voting. It is not compulsory and many people do not vote. Voting rate is usually less than 50%. The result was quite interesting for me because the ruling party of the country lost their majority seats in Tokyo metropolitan government. I guess many people are sick of the "Jimin-toh" LDP(Leberal Democratic Party)!!! There will be a national election very soon and LDP are getting very nervous about it. I hope the rulying party will change to make some changes in Japanese government but it is still hard to say that LDP will stay as the ruling party or not. It will be in August!!

Tokyo Tower

2009-01-25T23:06:00.003+11:00

My Taiwanese friend was visiting me in Japan for 9days and I am going to write about places that we went....I am going to start with Tokyo Tower.

Tokyo tower is in Minato-ku (港区）There are few stations that you can walk from. Some of the closest would be Akabanebashi Station, Kamiyacho Station and Onarimon Station. You can see the details on their website.

The height of Tokyo Tower is 333m but the Observatories are at 150m and 250m. It costs 820yen to go to the main observatory (at 150m) and another 600yen to go to the special observatory. My personal opinion is that Tokyo's sky is dirty and I did not see the point to go to the higher one ( probably won't be able to see so far) and if you want to save some money, then better go to the Me tropolitan Government Building. It is free of charge and its height is higer than the main observatory of Tokyo Tower. If you are interested, follow the link and check out the details.

When you first goes up to the Observatory, you would be at the second level of the Observatory, and it has touch screens that shows what you are looking at. It also shows the old maps and how it changed over the time. It is quite interesting. On the way out, you need to go to the first level of the Observatory (i.e. One level down of where you entred the Observatory) and there are much less people there. Just enjoy the view on the 2nd level and play with the screen, and then take pictures on the first level. AND the interesting part of the 1st level is that there are few glass windows that are facing down and you can see the bottom of the tower (see the picture on the left) It is scary!! You can even stand on it but I found it quite scary!

If you want to go to the special observatory, you buy the ticket to the main observatory first and at the main observatory, you can buy another ticket to go upto the special observatory.

Tokyo tower have other attractions like Max Museum, Guinness World Records Museum etc but there are lots of Omiyage Shops (Souvenir shops). For Japanese girls, Hello Kitty, Stitch, and other characters' pencils, key holders etc that are specially made for Tokyo Tower and other Tokyo tourists areas are popular. For Japanese People in general, Tokyo Banana is quite popular. Should go and look at pictures here. There is banana flavoured castard like cream inside. If you are visiting people outside Tokyo, this could be the nice 'hand souvenir' (Te-Miyage).

Parkings are not as expensive as other tourists areas in Tokyo and much cheaper than Kyoto.

Hope people will visit there and see the city of Tokyo. It is interesting to see Tokyo. You would see the big buildings but also see the little houses in low cities (Shitamachi) and see the contrast. I was surprised to find out that there are lots of graves around Tokyo Tower....

Anyway, see you later!!

How People Apologies in Japan

2008-12-19T01:08:00.002+11:00

Hey I am back in Japan and already noticing some weird culture of Japan.

This few months, drug problems has made a big news on TV and I see many priciples or some representitive of Universities come on TV to apologies for what their students did. I found it really weird since most of these students are adults (over 20years-old) and I do not see how university could stop them from using or growing these drugs.

Apperlently, it is not ilegal to import or to sell the seeds of Marijuwana(not sure how to spell it but...well hope you know what I meant) in Japan. So these students had imported them to grow and then take them.........

It looked like as if universities are responsibles for what they did and I didn't think it was right. They are responsible adults and universities should not have to take blame for it. It seems to be that Japanese society is always concerned about group responsiblity or whatever that person belongs to have to take blame for whatever. I also see this when someone commits crime and the company's maneger or spokeman comes up on TV to apologies and they fire the person. I mean if the person kills someone, it should not be the company who has to take the blame, or not even parents. The person is an adult, then the person should be blamed for what they did.....I guess it is the "Social Responsibility" but I feel that Japanese goes too far sometimes....Maybe I do not like it because it looks fake. These people comes up on TV are not concerned about the person who commit the crime but instead, they are worried about their reputation....

What does everyone think about how the Japanese companies or the universities take the blam for what their employee or the students did??

Useful Links When You Are Travelling to Japan

2008-11-27T23:42:00.002+11:00

Useful links when you are planning to travel or thinking about traveling to Japan!
I have mentioned JNTO (www.jnto.go.jp) website before but there are few more that are useful and they are in English.

Japan Guide http://www.japan-guide.com/
It's like a Wikipedia for International tourists. This site contains very very useful information. I found it this site is really good to find out about pretty much everything. For example, if you want to book tickets for Sumo, you search Sumo, it will explain what Sumo and how you can book tickets PLUS there are links to useful websites. Useful informations from Cherry Blossom, Carier Services, to Cultural practices in Japan.

Hyperdia www.japanrail.com/JR_hyperdia.html
It's a Japan Rail website that can search timetables, connections, costs, how to walk around the station etc. You have to be careful that this site only can search JR lines and few other railways but some private lines are excluded. In Tokyo, there are few private railways but long distance railways are most likely to be operated by JR. There are few different companies in JR; JR East, JR West, etc. You also can search Shinkansens (Bullet Trains)here. Please note that only JR East Shinkansens can be booked online (http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/). Other JR lines cannot be booked from overseas.

Narita International Airport www.narita-airport.jp/en/
It contains transportation information from Tokyo, Yokohama, Haneda Airport and etc, facility informations, such as luggage deliverly, coin lockers, shops etc

Hope these are useful for everyone!!

Job Hunting

2008-11-02T21:58:00.003+11:00

Job Hunting in Japan is called, 'Shushoku Katsudo', or 'Shukatsu'. This is one last war for the Japanese kids. Japanese children ususally have 'ojuken senso', entering school war, -the entering school exams can be very tough and then they have in again when they enter University. It is a common thinking that which high school you go determines which university you can go and therefore it determines where you can work.

Well, this July, I did Shukatsu in Japan. It was during my winter break but becaues most of the corporations setup interviews for American university which has 3months summer break and I was sometimes disadantaged. Lucky thing was now days there are sites that you can just register your CV and then apply with a push of a botton!! and there are websites for oversea students. On the other hand it means that there are many enough oversea students looking for jobs in Japan and being able to speak English is not a very big thing in these website. Also meant that many of us shared a common experience of living overseas.

I went to a forums for this oversea Shukatsu People and there were lots lots lots of people. Let me give you a typical process for oversea students (usually less steps than the local students)

to register online either through the database like website or corporations own recuritment site. (sometimes makes appointment for interviews if there is)-this is where we submit our CV, oversea students ususally go through here easily.
to go to the stoll of the corporation and listen to their introduction session or sometimes just have interviews. Sometimes you need to have an appointment but usually you can walk in.
have the first interview. This interview is usually to see what kind of person you are and not so much of why you want to work for the company. It is better if you know about the company but does not have to be in details. Some comapanies have 1(interviewer) to 2 (Students) or 1 to 1 or 2 to 2. (some have 2-3, depends on the comapanies)
have a test, sometimes it is done with the process 3. what type of test you would be tested on depends on the companies. Usually on simple maths, language (Japanese and English), common knowlodges, current affair etc. There is typical test formats but I would not mention here. BUT most tricky one is the PERSONALITY TEST!!
If you upto this stage, chance of you getting to the job is quite high. Anyway, at this stage, the interview is either 1 to 1 with the Human resourse or 3 to 1 with CEOs, Manegemental level. (Big corporations have many interviews before this. I heard some Foreign bank had 8 interviews before the final.) If it was with CEO or some manegemental level, that would be the last interview!!

There are many things you have to do and many things that you should not do. Like the suit has to be dark blue if you are going to the interview for banks. When you writing or saying about what are the BAD things about you, you have to talk about what you are doing to improve it and always have to finish with the PLUS images. They almost always like to know what you did put most of the energy into in during your university life and that should sound like it would be useful in workplaces....etc etc there are toooo many of them!!!

If you are looking for jobs in Japan, try Recuruite Navi(Rikunabi), My Navi (Mai Nabi), and CFN.

What is 'Burikko'?

2008-10-20T18:34:00.003+11:00

I went out with my friends this weekend because it was my friends' graduation and met few new people. One of the girls appeared to my as 'Burriko'(ﾌﾞﾘｯｺ)but I couldn't explain to him how I felt about her....I did some Googling but couldn't come up with proper translation.

There is no english word to describe the word and I think this is very unique. Well I think it is the word to describe a person (almost always girls) who pretend to be pretty and cute in order to seek attention from others (almost always from guys lol ).

Usually girls hate this kind of girls and these Burriko girls often does not have many girl friends but many guys are not aware of the fact they are acting or they do not care but they like these kind of girls. I think it can be said in many Asian societies. This Burikko phenomenan(?) has acrossed the ocean to Taiwan, and then to Mainland China mostly through Media. Usually this type of girls are very girly girly and likes to wear Pink....Can you imagine it? I really stand these girls and guys who have no idea.

Talent(ﾀﾚﾝﾄ), in Japanese context they are TV stars and entertainers who are not exactly singer not actor, such as Hoshino Aki, Sato Tamao, Chiaki and so on. In Taiwan, Ranie Yang would be the typical Burriko type person who spread it to China as well.

Anyway, I told my friend that she is an attention seeker type, he gave me a look that he did not agree. At the time I thought he is one of the guys who have no idea of Burriko but later on I found out that he used to like her!! Oopos!! This guy friend of mine was Taiwanese guy in Australia but he likes Eikura Nana and it shows that he like that girly but sporty type but I think in general that guys cannot seek when girls are faking to be pretty and seek some sorts of attention.

Imperial Palace

2008-10-07T16:05:00.001+11:00

Many people would like to visit the Imperial Palace in Japan. There are five of them and most of them are in the old capital Kyoto. Most of them are not open for the general public and only can entre with guided tours, usually twice a day. The Kyoto Imperial Palace has English guided tours and you need to book all the guideed tours in advance. It is free of charge and it gets booked out quite quickly (usually starts 2-3months in advance). And most of them do not open on Sundays and Public Holidays (It's just like government never opens on Sundays and Public Holidays).

The one in Tokyo is called The Imperial palace Tokyo east garden is open to public except on mondays, Fridays and special occasions. The building and the inner palace is not open for public unless you book them in advance. Bookings are done on internet and starts about 2months inadvance. On January 2nd and December 23rd(Emperor's birthday), the inner ground is open to the general and public and see the memeber of the imperial family in the balcony. It is probably interesting to see so many people waving at the imperial family. Very Patriochy moment. Follow the link below to book the visit

The Kyoto Imperial Palace is called "Kyoto Gosho" in Japanese. It was (maybe) used as an imperial resident untill 1868. It is not open to the general public and need to book guided tour to entre the palace. It has 30mins and 60mins of Japanse guided and 60mins English guided tours. The booking starts 3-4months before the actual date.

Sento Imperial Palace, Katsura Imperial Vila, and Shugakuin Imperial Villa are all located raletively close to the Kyoto Gosho.

They all have pretty gardens with traditional house buidings, in different styles depending on when it was build.

The link for Imperial Household Agency http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html

JNTO

2008-10-06T00:37:00.003+11:00

I am currently doing an internship at JNTO. The internship has been very intersting and useful for me. Many of my friends are interested in visiting Japan but does not really know how to research where to go etc. The JNTO website is one of the most useful site for that purpose and I think if you never been to Japan, it is the place to start researching from.

The problem of earning inbound travellers to Japan, is that many believe that Japan is very expensive place. In fact you can have an expensive experience in Japan but I rekon Japan is cheaper than living in Japan. My mum agrees with me at that point, she is so glad that I am coming home by the end of this year. Back to the topic, Japan was an expensive place in 1970s and 80s but it was because of the value of the yen. Today, the value of yen has deappriciated greatly and it is not expensive at all.

So, what is JNTO. JNTO stands for Japan National Tourist Organization and I think it is a government body.....It is under Minitry of Transport. For general public, it gives general informations on Japan and gives brochures. It has a self-servies room where people can come in and get brochures but for people who cannot visit, they send brochures out. I think it means a lot to people who are planning to go to Japan. I have learnt lots of things. Before I start this intern I did not know where is Shirakwago, one of the most beautiful village, or Shiretoko, a part of Hokkaido, is a UNESCO World Heritage place. Pretty shameful when Australian asks me where they are and I will be like 'ahh.....wait a sec.....ahhh....' and they like ' I know it is in this prefecture but blah blah blah'. That moment I feel very shameful that I do not know all this pretties coolest places in Japan.

Well from now on.....I would like to post some stuffs and links that I found it useful through my internship to help some of you that is lost and somehow I can SHOW OFF my hard work lol

about myself

2008-10-04T18:56:00.004+10:00

Being a Japanese is a question for me.
I lived in Kenya (africa) for a year when I was small and I have been living in Australia for 3years. Before Australia, I lived in New Zealand for 4 years. I am 22 now, so 8years out of 22years long life is a big part of my life.

In Australia, I only have one Japanese friend and almost everyone says that I am not a Japanese. I always get people telling me I do not look like a Japanese. They think I am a Korean or a Chinese which I hate to be called. I guess I think I am a Japanese and I get little offended by these people.

Is it because I have been overseas for too long?....Anyways...I am going to blog about what is being Japanese.....or...anything to do with Japan I guess. Sometimes off the topic lol.

ABOUT MYSELF
I am a 22 year-old girl studying International Studies in Sydney Australia. I already got a full time position in Japan and starting graduate position in April 2009. I love shopping, going Karaoke and watching TV! I also study Chinese now and like to listen Taiwanese songs. For my course at University, I am doing internship at Japanese Tourism Organization and that gave me inspiration to start this blog!! I want to know more about Japan and like to share with others!!