A book of medical, good health, nutritional and life advices based on the 50+ years of experiences and life lessons of Dr Edward Stim (M.D.) plus the wisdom of literature and medical research into living long with one's wit and wits and on one's feet. In 2015, Dr Stim at age 86 stands as his own best example of the value of the Work. See http://adventuresofkimi.blogspot.com for the Slim Novels which also has much good advice plus an exciting, interesting story of lives lived.
Physician's Notebooks 1 - http://physiciansnotebook.blogspot.com - See Homepage
②Writing (Update: 08 Octr 2021) The descending column gives subject headings in order and may be useful for search & find and also for giving an idea of the chapter and helping decide whether you want to read it or not at a glance.
For most of us, writing does not come easily
Magnifying glass improves the efficiency of editing What to Write?
For most of us, writing does not come easily because we do not, on first try, choose the right words. My first draft is confused and poor sounding, and as an unskilled writer I need much rewriting. Computers give us the word processor and added Internet access to quickly get facts, spelling, grammar and meaning that have made rewriting efficient, effective and time saving for hackers like I. Once you make a draft, repeatedly review your text to delete what is repetitious or not needed, to correct error of fact, to remove excessively fancy language, and to further make your text easier for the less educated or non native reader. I benefit much from being aware I have readers for whom English is not native. It makes me try to write less words, clearer and simpler. (Like Ernest Hemingway) One wants to keep an individual style and use elegant or poetic words or phrases when needed, but do not try it merely to impress. Magnifying glass improves the efficiency of editing. It is like subjecting your writing to microscope - you pick up error normally missed.
What to Write? One needs something useful to write. That gets to content, aim and imagination. In my case, I wish to leave to the future my idea of living efficiently and happily so I wrote (and am still writing) the Slim Novels accessed through http://adventuresofkimi.blogspot.com. For my advice on good health and long life, I write Physician’s Notebooks, http://physiciansnotebook.blogspot.com.
Do your typing using computer graphics, and internet pictures and cover design. I use size-14 Century bold font (You are reading in it now; but perhaps you have enlarged the size), which takes spacing into consideration as well as size of letters. The size-14 is the largest you can use without too widely spaced lines, and is easily read by persons with aging vision. Keep your books slim. The thicker book is apt to elicit an "Oh! Too much reading !", the slim book psychologically, on viewing, keeps a potential reader's interest better than a thick book. If you need to write a huge tome, break it up into many slim books.
A major motivation to write is to make money and get admirers. For a few it happens but many unpublished writers waste time and money on vanity and vague hopes. The literary agent today charges too much for merely receiving a manuscript. And most of the time she or he will not even try to find a publisher because the market for unpublished writers is glutted with too much material. It is OK to use fame and money to energize your starting a book; but, once you have started, continually up-edit to perfect your writing and develop a readership via an internet blog like this one, www.blogger.com. If your book has commercial value, you will get readers.
It is important at some point in writing a book for its writer to decide on its worth to society, its value as entertainment, and its potential for commercial success. If any one of these seems valid, keep improving your book and keep pitching. Here I want to comment on my concept of Amateurism in writing. Too many authors take their being a writer too seriously, i.e., calling oneself, for example, an "artist", a term which ought to be reserved only for someone who paints well. One can be an amateur at a particular activity, do it uncommonly well, and not need to flatter oneself by terms like "artist" or "writer"; for example, click next on the URL--
--for the following, brief film on the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1950, William Faulkner. It is an interesting film to watch but also notice right at the beginning that the great writer starts off by referring to himself as "a farmer, who also writes" by which I take him to mean the concept that I have given for an Amateur: someone who does a thing uncommonly well but does not value his or her taking money for it.
Factors in Success to popularize a book. a) Writing talent, by which I mean the ability to edit in one's head and to put together words to fascinate a reader; and to make a good story or narrative. Talent is not usually something one is born with although circumstances of birth may help (cf. W. Somerset Maugham, Edith Wharton; their European continental upbringing); it is learned, sometimes by hard study, daily writing and observing other writers' good styles.
b) Content and imagination, which relates to the subject(s) of a book. Certain content appeals to a reader's instinct for survival, or addresses his or her anxieties or it promises the reader big rewards. You should keep aware of your book's appeal to readers. An appeal of content may over-ride the reader's dis-incentive from its poor writing. c) The power of hype, persuasion and advertisement is a factor that can override factors of content and writing talent. For example, O.J. Simpson's writing How I Killed My Wife and Got Away Free would have been an automatic best seller not because of O.J.'s (or his ghost's) writing talent but simply because of his appearance on the TV news. Name recognition, e.g., "Meghan Markle", is important and, even in the absence of fame, you may get it by getting on a website that gives worldwide exposure. End Note on writing style, syntax (word order), grammar, and orthography (the use of punctuation marks). Of course, good sources exist: two books, E.B. White's Elements of Style or Donald Hall's Writing Well, ought to be read at leisure purely for the pleasure of reading the good style.Here I try to give a few ideas that new writers in English, especially non-native, may use to make their writing clearer and more compelling especially to those readers who have less education or for whom written English is not a first language. Writing style by which I mean the feeling your writing should give to a reader is best done in what I call a friendly, informative way, which means paying attention in a reader-friendly way. For example, if you use a foreign language quote or a rarely understood slang expression be sure in footnote or brackets to include the standard English meaning. And neither be overly formal nor too informal, which means no use of slangy or foreshortened or show-off words, unless in context, but also relating to the reader by the not too frequent use of "You", again in context. Grammar and spelling should be perfect; it means using computer correction but also good knowledge based either on birth in the language or, for non-native writers in English, on previous intense study in writing the language. Do not experiment with word shortcuts or slang; it distracts the reader from his or her main attention which ought to be meaning. Above all strive for clarity and simplicity (in words and syntax). Rewriting is an absolute must and never satisfied. A few words on the use of commas. Always keep in mind the one rule that you should never ignore: the comma (or other orthography) should never cause confusion or confuse meaning. Its purpose should be to improve clarity - , the comma is well used to separate the grammar function of words without which, if not separated, confusion may arise. Sometimes we may need to use a comma because it is strongly customary. (After an "if" clause.) and lack of its use may prove a distraction even though it is not really necessary for improving clarity. Unless you are a Nobel prize writer like William Faulkner, avoid long, complex sentences. When you see you have written one, in rewriting, break it up into smaller, simpler sentences (See The inserted story Twilight by John W. Campbell. To access, click on the “Twilight.”) that express each idea of the complex sentence. And edit out words that really do not add anything to what you wish to express as an idea; words like "very", "much" and the like, unless of course they are truly needed for exaggerated emphasis. Writing by Dictation: Most persons start off writing with pencil/pen and paper and then typing/computer. I did that for years; then, one day recently, I got to write by dictations. What a difference! Both have good points and I do not mean to hype dictation; however, the big benefit of dictation is, it gives you more time to think about the content and method of your writing. When you write directly off your hand or computer, your mind and body are so occupied by the direct action of the writing that you do not usually consider other aspects. But when you dictate, you become also a more slow-motion observer of an act of writing that happens to be your own, and hence a better critic and editor. I find I add alternative points of view, modify extremes of my prose and see errors better. Perhaps writing directly allows one to express high emotion better than by dictation. In a sense, writing by dictation combines writing by hand with editing your first draft, but taking the editing alone, of course, it lacks the original inspiration of spontaneous writing. In any case, dictation is useful.
The following column has the headings in order as they appear. Scan, scroll or search & find as you please.
Reason for making a trip
Air flight ticket-buying Timing of Making Your Reservations Refundable Ticket
Airlines
Travel with companions
EAJ; Travel Insurance
Travel light
Setting out for airport
X-ray and Body Imaging Security Scans at Airport
Keep in mind we are now in the surveillance age Check for Flight Delay Constantly
Food or drink at the airport
They announce your flight is overbooked
Your flight gets cancelled Wheelchair Service through the Airport
Sit in non premium economy class
Do many-minute stroll on aisle
Stowing your luggage in overhead
Important health notes based on recent observations
Before you leave the aircraft
TSA Lock Specific Airport Tips & Pearls Airlines to Avoid Compare Delta with United Airlines on Tokyo-NY route
Airports I have known Final End-note. Travel timing tips Shanghai Trip Report
Reason for making a trip: Give it strong preparatory thought – be sure you really need and want it, and then consider what you wish to get done and be sure you have the means and help to do it. Before you leave, check the weather at your destination.
Air flight ticket-buying advice here is based on our experience with United Airlines (UAL) and Delta Airlinesround trip between Tokyo and New York City areas. For UAL, you save $25 by doing it online; for Delta, $20. These are flights that I made frequently; the reader can investigate his or her own routes.
Timing of Making Your Reservations: From a price standpoint, United was a little more expensive for a very early-making compared to a later reservation.On Delta, there was no difference in price. This should emphasize that one should shop around by using the telephone between the various major airlines in the weeks before making the final reservation. Important point: You may specify your exact trip without buying the ticket and have the airline operator hold it for you. On United Airlines, they will hold it for 72 hours and on Delta they will hold it for 24 hours. All things being equal, it is not good to schedule too early, meaning several weeks before a flight, because changes may occur that may cause you to cancel the flight for which you will have to pay a penalty. On the other hand, if you schedule too close to your leaving date, the aircraft may be totally booked and scheduling within a day of the flight is more expensive than a week or two before the flight. Generally about 2 to 3 weeks before the flight time is a good time to make the reservation. Also, day of the week counts: midweek is usually least expensive. Also leastexpensive mid holiday or the week before the holiday when most persons do not fly because they are planning to fly on the holiday. In Japan, never fly on Golden Week (First week in May) and Obon (Summer holiday season in Japan usually mid-August). Now the Covid-19 pandemic is making international trips very problematic. That should clear up by 2022.
Refundable Ticket: Most tickets on major airlines for intercontinental trips are refundable with a penalty of c.$300. But occasionally the ticket may be non-refundable so one should check before exhibiting one's credit card. Non-refundable tickets are usually only on promotional flight offerings. Keep in mind that once you reserve your flight with your credit card you will have 24 hours to change your mind without penalty. However, even if you cancel in the first 24 hours, your credit card will still be debited and you will get a credit card refund that may take months. This could badly affect your current credit balance. Concerning credit card, it can be disconcerting to misplace it in the midst of a trip as happened to me once because I stupidly took it out of my regular set of cards and put it in to an outer jacket I had recently bought; then, at a friend's house, I mistakenly switched jackets with him and thought I had lost my credit card and immediately cancelled it by telephone only to be told a few days later by my friend about the switched jacket. So the whole thing made quite a disturbance in my trip. Lesson: Keep your credit card always together with your other important cards in your most internal pocket.
Airlines: Stick to major (Not smaller affiliates like Germanwings of Lufthansa) western country (Include Japan) airlines and avoid country with political unrest, or major terrorists threat. Avoid Malaysia, Egypt and Indonesia Airlines above all! Japanese airlines give best service for price but may cost a little more than US Airlines.
If you travel with companions be sure of agreement on purpose and conditions of travel before you make the reservation. In general do not bring children. Traveling, especially with close companions like husband or wife or child, should ideally be, each one, in separate aircraft and each companion should get air-crash life insurance. I know that this advice is unpopular and usually is not followed but why would you want your whole family wiped out in one crash? Of course, with a large family it could be impractical, i.e., each of the 6 children on a separate flight, but you should get the idea and try to use it in a practical way when you can. EAJ; Travel Insurance: For overseas trips get a travel insurance for each trip that will cover your medical rescue in case you get major illness on a foreign trip. Without such insurance, medical rescue may cost US$100,000 or more. For details contact EAJ, Emergency Assistance Japan, Mr Ii at ii@emergency.co.jp Note that travel insurance for persons over age 60 does not usually include a death payment. That, you must buy at the airport.
Travel light! Travel light! Travel light! Carry-on with wheels. Max size for UAL or Delta carry-on is centimeter, 55 height x 35 width x 23 thickness. (in inches, 21 x 13 x 9; and it can change so check before you trip). Mostly there is no carry-on luggage weight limit but a few airports limit to a max 7 to 10 kg (16 to 22 lbs) and readers should use 10 kg as upper limit. This size gives max capacity for traveling light and such a piece of rolling luggage fits into international airline overhead and, in the airport, may be usable as a seat when no chair or bench available. It should have a telescoped handle that can disappear when you need to carry. (Important because some airport lounges exclude travelers with rolling luggage). If you will use a hand-carry case for immediately available needed stuff, the max measurements that will fit under your forward seat are 43x32x10 cm but best not to have a separate bag because a hand-carry extra case is easily lost. What you might lug as too much baggage, you may better buy at destination. For clothes, just what you wear and one change. Keep in mind your jet aircraft will be too cool for short sleeve and short pants. Cell phones or iPads have built-in photo, video and clock, so no need for unattached cameras or time pieces. A mobile local smart phone is very, very useful in foreign country; with international phone the roaming charge can be very high.
Setting out for airport, be sure you know the terminal, the time for check-in, and go over all documents. Especially passport should be in accessible pocket and secured from dropping-out loss. Check well before departure date, your passport expiration date and visa stamps. As tickets are electronic, all you need is passport for check-in. Be sure not to forget your important plastic cards. X-ray and Body Imaging Security Scans at Airport: Just after ticketing (or if you have boarding pass already) you must get security body check that in U.S. airports may include x-ray (Each x-ray increases risk of leukemia 10 to 20 years later) or millimeter radio wave body scan. How do you know which is which? The harmless body scans are in semi-open (glass) booths and you are asked to do a right body turn and extend both arms above head. You may avoid the x-ray by telling the TSA who checks your passport and boarding pass, after he has checked them, "I want to opt out of the x-ray." Say it in a low voice and a friendly manner. He should reply "No problem" and refer you for full body pat down, which is done right away in public or private (Your option) and takes about 1 to 2 minutes and is not bad. The radio wave scans are harmless and not worth the effort to avoid. Always keep in mind we are now in the surveillance age. You could be stopped and questioned for hours at the airport and your electronics confiscated and data copied. In individual case it is unlikely but be prepared for the possibility and do not carry anything you do not wish copied or confiscated.
Train yourself not to buy food or drink at the airport. If hungry before leaving, have breakfast or lunch at home and eat light. If you have lounge-privilege, keep it light and stock up on lounge foods to eat later. On aircraft, consider not eating every snack as it is set before you. I save the rolls, candies, salads or even main course in the discard bag to enjoy later on the ground. And before eating any airline foods, I inspect what is in them. I do not eat mid-flight snack. I refuse the ice cream cup and save the sandwich. And with the pre-arrival snack I save for eating later. On drinks, stick to water and tea instead of sodas and juices because these latter are loaded with salt and sugars or artificial sweetener. Do not waste money or expose credit card for in-flight alcohol drinks or other in-flight buys.
Check for Flight Delay Constantly: Upon entering the airport for your flight, make it a rule to check the overhead flight schedules and keep tab on your flight's status. Especially if you have a close-interval connecting flight, an announcement of your flight's delay that may cause you to be late for your connection should immediately trigger a call to your airline for emergency rescheduling. Good service airlines have backup contingency plans for just this event and the sooner you discover the delay the easier it will be to remedy it. If before boarding, they announce your flight is overbooked and ask for volunteers to do later flight, grab the chance unless good reason not to. Overbooked flights are high risk. Do not rush to get anywhere. Airlines should put you up in a nice motel for the night or reward you monetarily (or both). Never become obnoxious over being kicked off a flight. If you are at airport at boarding gate and your flight gets cancelled just before a storm, stay in the boarding gate area and try to get on a flight to another large hub airport out of the storm's way and from there get reservation to your final destination. In worst case, stay in boarding area even overnights because when flights start re-booking, you'll have first access after the storm. Conditions are best in boarding area. Do not motel overnight.
Wheelchair Service through the Airport can be arranged if age 65 or over with even fairly minor disabilities. Even if you do not need it physically, it can be a great advantage when you need to speedily get through an international arrival after debarking your plane. Also in wheelchair your body and document inspection is minimal and fast. Check with your airline ahead of arrival; often you may arrange it when you buy your ticket by phone.
Sit in non premium economy class unless you need extra space for medical reason. Not just too expensive but in the upper class seats the food and drink is less healthy than in the economy because they overfeed with gourmet snacks and free alcohol. Also on some airlines, the upper class seat entertainment is not convenient and the strolling space is too limiting compared to economy. Select an aisle seat if you wish ease for getting up to stroll or to WC. Do many-minute stroll on aisle at convenient times, several times during intercontinental flight. Sitting for many hours increases risk of blood clot in leg that may travel to lung and kill you and also ups rate of attacks of leg and foot joint acute arthritis such as gout of big toe. (A single aspirin taken before flight will prevent both if you are high risk for blood clot.) On your luggage in overhead compartment on aircraft, be sure it will not fall out and injure someone on opening the compartment or that it is not so heavy it will harm your back or cause an accident lifting into overhead bin. And on opening an overhead bin, do it very slowly. And check closely in the overhead that you do not lose anything from the luggage.
Important health notes based on recent observations: High altitude intercontinental flight increases edema (swellings). The ankles swelling at the end of a long flight is the most frequent sign and should warn a traveler of possible weakened heart. Also the high altitude pressurized cabin air reduces your blood oxygen saturation to 90% or lower from its normal above 97%, not noticeable for a healthy young person but possibly provoking coronary heart pain or even infarction or brain stroke in traveler with coronary heart or cerebral artery disease. Be sure of your heart before flying, especially if over age 50, and do not overeat or over drink. If you can get a finger oxygen pulse oximeter, measure your oxygen saturation of blood (SaO2) during the flight. If it drops below 85%, notify air attendant at once; it could mean a leak in aircraft air seal and portend crash or it could mean your own problem with heart or lung that might require mask oxygen. We have seen an attack of multiple sclerosis provoked by an intercontinental flight that caused an MS lesion to swell up and affect speech, breathing and swallowing within hours after take off. If you have multiple sclerosis (or a question of it), take a single high-dose oral corticosteroid dose under medical advice just before setting out on the flight. Also if you recently (few weeks before) had minor surgery like hemorrhoids, in vagina, tonsils, do not fly because of risk of hemorrhage in flight. Especially take care of bleeding risk if you take aspirin or are on other anticoagulant (Coumadin, heparins) to prevent blood clot. Before you leave aircraft, check seat area carefully for forgotten item and as you walk forward to debark scan other area for forgotten valuables. TSA Lock: All luggage you check in on a flight in the U.S.A. may be opened and inspected after you have given it for the flight. Unless you have a TSA Lock, the lock you use will be broken beyond repair in order to inspect. The TSA locks can be purchased at any U.S. airport. I use no locks and carry nothing of real value in luggage.
Airlines to Avoid: This is dealt with in the accident in transportation chapter and includes most smaller country airlines. Specifically highlighted to avoid are Korean Airlines (Rowdy passengers, untrained crew; but we hear that recently things have improved), Malaysian and small German Wings Airlines (Suicidal pilots), and Yemeni Airlines (Terrorists). Airlines of Mainland China and Russia are high risk for sabotage and poor training and equipment. Best limit oneself to major western airlines and Japanese airlines.
Compare Delta with United Airlines on Tokyo-NY route We frequently fly between Tokyo and NY area and were able to compare its 2 main carriers, Delta and United Airlines: First, Delta does not have a direct flight between the 2 destinations while United does; second, Delta caused us multiple delays due to computer problems while United was perfect. So the current advice for this route is: choose United.
Airports I have Known
San Francisco International (SFO) Free WiFi and direct connection to the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Overnights at the airport without hotel easy and pleasant. If you want a good motel, check out the Dylan in nearby Millbrae. Also note that trippers non stop from East Coast USA to Far East have one free stopover at SFO or other major airport on route if they so choose Vancouver International is a good airport to do overnights. It has free WiFi and the Canada Line transit into the Vancouver Area is just across the street and 22 minutes from the downtown convention center. Final End Note: On all kinds of trips, during boring intervals (on train to airport, waiting for transport) make use of the time by reviewing what is in your pockets and bags and arranging and inventorying your possessions in convenient way.
Here is a report of a recent trip to Shanghai written by my
assistant, which may be useful.
Shanghai Trip (Ed: Note this is a first trip to Shanghai for tourism)
On
my trip to Shanghai, I used Delta/JAL/China Eastern code share flight.
China Eastern has a strange policy of no-use of cellphones even on airplane modes.
Since the flight was less than 3 hours, I wasn't frustrated as much but
it can be a huge bother on far-distance flights especially for
businessmen or people who need to text.
In
the planes, they do not have separate monitors, so to some (like me)
the flight without entertainment can be a pure agony. Most of the people
were sleeping, but some were trying to sneakingly use their phones. Of
course, human life is most important, so I don't want to complain much,
but this was inconvenient. (Ed: Note this wasfrequent flier freebie so she got a no frills flight)
Prices,
I think are not expensive and you will get a nice meal as well. You can
choose between chicken/noodles or rice and it comes with salads and
desserts. Airport in Shanghai is fairly modernized but not too
impressive.
Boarding took much time both on my way to China and on my way back. We had to get on a bus to get closer to the airplane.
Trip
from airport to hotel - From airport, you can either take a taxi,
subway or Maglev. I took Maglev because that was very unique to me and
you can take subways within the city anyway. Subway is cheaper but
slower (c.60 minutes to central Shanghai cf. 8 minutes by Maglev). Maglev is
more expensive than Subway but way faster.
From the
last Maglev station, you can change to the major subways and get off at
the closest station to the hotel. Transfer is very easy and no problem
because everything is written in English.
People in Shanghai are generally nice. Some things I noticed were: they spit at every corner and they can be overly loud.
Sightseeing
is easy due to a developed subway system. All the major touristy spots
could be googled. Be careful for pick-pocketing. Soliciting is not
excessive so don't worry.
Language:
I'd say it's 50:50. Hotels are good, but some personnel have difficulty
with English and understanding them can come with difficulty. On
streets, people will understand you if you talk very slowly using easy
words. Some Chinese people do not understand English, and would still
continue to talk in Chinese.
Eating
in Shanghai: There are a lot of local restaurants and also street food
good too. My recommendations are Chinese cuisine at an authentic Chinese
restaurant including egg tarts, dumplings, and other famous gourmet,
probably best eaten within your hotel because of safety. Chinese
traditional tea is a must gift and is good for souvenirs.
Places
to go from Shanghai: I would love to know the difference between
Beijing/other cities and Shanghai, I can't say much about this because
I've never been to other places…
Why
Go?: To see the modernized, developed metropolis. It will exceed all
the expectations you have. It is said to be very different from South
East Asian cities and of course very different from European cities. If
you live in Tokyo, you may not find it as different though. Three days are
more than enough to tour around Shanghai. If you want to go farther,
then I suggest having a tour
Here are final endnotes with important tps:
Foreign Travel Tips Timing is everything when it comes to saving money on flying, or wasting it.)
The easiest way to waste your money flying is through bad timing — both booking your flight at the wrong time or flying at the wrong time of day or day of the week. So take the time to find out the best times to do your flying and booking. In an in-depth analysis of plane fares, the folks at Hopper.com found that airline passengers pay about 3 percent higher fares when they book on Fridays at around 3 a.m., so they recommend you avoid late-night/early-morning ticket-shopping binges late in the week. Hopper also says the cheapest day to leave for your trip is Wednesday (when relatively few people fly), while the most expensive day is Sunday (when just about everyone is flying to get back to work Monday). As for your return flight, Tuesday was found to be the best day for you to return from a domestic trip, while Wednesday was the best day to head home from an international trip. All told, Hopper says flying on the right days could save you an average of $85 on domestic flights and $120 for international flights. There’s also the matter of how far ahead you book your flight. In its 2014 analysis, CheapAir.com found the best time to book domestic fares was 47 days in advance of your trip. CheapAir finds buying too late can cost you an additional $111 if you buy within 14 days of your flight, and an extra $174 if you buy within seven days. Buying too early can be expensive, too: CheapAir says tickets can be about $50 more if you jump on them when they first open for sale.
So in flying, time really is money — or money wasted if you time it poorly.
Physician's Notebooks 1 - http://physiciansnotebook.blogspot.com - See Homepage 4. Japan - C'mon a My House - Update: 09 Octr 2021. The following headings in the chapters as they appear. One can access by search & find or just scroll down.
Covid-19 in Japan, latest update
Why come to Japan?
Getting to Japan American Citizen Services of U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, A Gem for Amricans Japanese Money The Japanese Numbers
Climate Getting Into the City from the Tokyo Airports
For sightseeing I advise How long to Stay in Japan?
Starting New Life in Japan The sexual psychology of the young Japanese woman Good Reading About Japan
Eating in Japan
Transportation If you wish to tour Kyoto
Creative Writing in Japan Library Facilities in English You have The Weekender
Medical Care; Being a Patient in a Japanese University Hospital Good Medical Care for U.S. & Other Foreigners
Telephone Numbers Lost & Found in Japan
Employ a housekeeper,
Applying for Japanese Nationality/Passport End Note: A Hongkong Tailor in Tokyo Birthday and Wedding Cakes in Tokyo A Good Luxury Hotel Notes on expatriate life in Japan from an old expat Walden in Japan The Prices of a Coffee Valuables found by looking down McDonald`s in Japan. Machines you don`t need to buy for home Free WiFi on the Street Point Cards
Covid-19 in Japan, latest update: - Covid-19 is a virus of the family of common cold viruses. It was first noticed, apparently a mutated new form, in Wuhan China in Winter 2019, and in January 2020 the first cases appeared in Japan. It is, initially, an airborne, touch-transmitted, upper respiratory infection that is most highly transmitted in basement type, poorly ventilated, crowded cafes or any place where people gather closely and talk and eat and drink a lot. Incubation is 1 to 2 weeks and first and most important symptoms are, usually, fever and then other upper respiratory and flu-like symptoms (But note that it differs from flu in that flu starts with the flu-like symptoms followed by the fever.) A striking symptom of C-19, seen in no other URI and noted in acute phase in 30% to 60% of patients, is loss of smell and taste (anosmia and ageusia). A dry cough is also typical. The mortality has ranged from less than 1% in low-risk countries like Japan to nearly 5% in high-risk nations like Peru. Mortality is due to severe ARD pneumonia and widespread vascular thrombosis often with final pulmonary embolism. Old age is biggest risk factor for dying from it. Best prevention is wearing face-nose mask on all human encounters and 6-feet-apart social distancing and keeping away from mass human gatherings. The daily cases in Japan first peaked in April 2020 at c.750, dropped drastically after the Prime Minister advised masks and social distancing for everyone, and then rebounded to peak at c.1100 on 30 July after these restrictions were relaxed. It has since fallen to c.500 cases with renewal of the restrictions. By 02 March 2021, Tokyo reported 121 daily cases, the lowest since the start of the pandemic here. This is due to Japan’s culture of routinely wearing face/nose masks at the slightest suspicion of any respiratory infection. New cases as of 13 May 2021 had jumped to 6,367 with 7-day average 6,425.
Pearls are that death from Covid-19 may be made less likely by taking a daily aspirin because it will reduce the risk of thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and that the risk of catching Covid-19 may be reduced in persons who take ACE-I for medical indication, e.g., against hypertension, because the C-19 virus seems to need angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in human cells for its development. Covid-19 vaccine started its availability March 2021 with priority to healthcare workers and by late April it was offered free to all elderly. As one of the elderly I signed up in April and I got my 1st shot of the Moderna vaccine 13 June 2021 along with thousands of other Tokyoites in central Tokyo. It is free of charge and I got my 2nd and final shot 18 July. No side effects noted. Now there is a PCR test from a nostril swab that tells if you caught C-190 after 2 hours of getting the swab.
Why come to Japan?
Answer: It is foreigner friendly and you may find fellow friends. If you plan life or work in Japan, first come to visit. Also Japan is a nice place to live; take it from me, an expatriate for the past 30+ years.
Getting to Japan: If you are a U.S. citizen, get a passport and with it alone you may make multiple, up-to-90-day stay, for 3 years. But also check visacentral.com . For the Tokyo/Yokohama and surrounding areas you will enter either at Narita International or Haneda International Airport, and United is the best airline for service and price. From east coast USA, the UA Flight is 13-hour, nonstop from Newark-Liberty Airport to Narita International Airport. (From West Coast USA 9+ hours) Alternative arrival airports are Kansai International located near Kyoto and Osaka, or Chitose International north in Hokkaido. Arriving non-Japanese passport-holders will be photo’d and fingerprinted each time on arrival from oversea, and luggage may be checked. American Citizen Services of U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, A Gem for Amricans If you have any question on services for Americans, just telehone (03) 3224 5000 and ask for American Citizen Services. Then check the website under US Embassy Tokyo. Japanese Money is Yen coins in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500; and then paper bills (rare 500) 1000, (rare 2,000) 5000 and 10,000. To see what they look like, just Google Japanese Money. Now, the rate is 1 U.S. dollar to c.111 JPY (Very chugging, or inexpensive JY; a time to convert from your USD for bargain price.
The Japanese Numbers: For 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; say or write ichi, ni, san, shi (or yon,), go, roku, shichi or nana, hachi, kyu, ju. When you get above 10, the system is easy to figure out once you see it. For example, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, .... is 10-1 ju-ichi, 10-2 ju-ni, 10-3 ju-san, 10-4 ju-yon, 15 ju-go, and so on. The number 100 is hyaku, 101 hyaku-ichi and so on. The 1,000 is sen, 2,000 ni sen; and so forth but 10,000 is man or ichi-man. Next comes 100,000 - ju man. 1-million is hyaku man, 10-million - ju man; then at 100-million, use oku or ichi oku and at 1-billion, ju oku.
Climate: in my Yokohama 8th floor flat on 01 April I recorded inside room temp. 70 degrees F (c.21 degrees C) comfortable without heating for my mostly unclothed body. On a 04 July nearly 6 AM, it was a comfortable 24.3 C (Meanwhile USA is sweating in triple digit Fahrenheit) From late Nov. the temp had fallen low enough that I needed my electric heater and it’s max. billing was from Jan. To March.
Getting Into the City from the Tokyo AirportsHaneda Airport is inside Tokyo city proper and one may use a taxi or, inexpensively, the subway or train lines to get to parts of Tokyo or to Yokohama. If you are going to a big hotel, especially from the farther out Narita International Airport, a Limo Bus is best. You'll see the bus desk immediately after exiting the customs check, and just tell your hotel name and you can purchase ticket (c. Yen 3000 from Narita) or you may even be able to ride a free shuttle bus to a hotel near Narita Airport. Haneda was the domestic airport but recently it has been enlarged for international flights and it is much more convenient, if your destination or take-off point is Tokyo/Yokohama, than Narita International is. Many airlines offer a choice of flight arrival and departure between the two. From Narita International Airport the trains to Tokyo are pleasant for group conversation and sightseeing and mostly get you into central Tokyo faster than a bus. Allow me to guide from Narita International now. (Most of this is useful for any airport entry into Japan) You step off your flight with a rolling luggage and follow the signs for arrivals. This will take you through Quarantine andto Passport Check. Arrivals are guided to form 3 separate lines - Japanese passports, foreign passports of long-term residents who have re-entry permits and foreign passports who do not have the re-entry permits. Passport processing is quick. Just have your passport out with customs declaration and you will be index-fingers-printed and head and shoulders photo'd by a device on the passport-check counter. Then go down escalator, pick up checked luggage and pass custom-check for luggage and maybe body search for drugs (rare). Generally you will not be required to open luggage but it is possible. If you're over 65 or even slightly disabled, you can get a wheelchair assist which will speed you. You are now out of the arrival-area and you go out exit doors and will see greeters holding signs. (Note: there are 2 arrival areas on the Narita International arrival floor so if someone has come to greet you and you do not see him or her, either check the other arrival area or use cell phone to locate the greeter) If you are going into Tokyo by train, head to the nearby escalator and go down 2 flights to lowest level and walk diagonally across to the Narita Express (NEX) Line to your far right. On your left you'll see the Skyliner that advertises 38 minutes to Tokyo via the northern Nippori Station but that is misleading because Nippori is almost 30 minutes from Tokyo Central. If you are taking a train, before buying the ticket, check to see when the next express is leaving for Tokyo. Sometimes there is as much as a 25-minute difference in wait for one of the line's trains to leave and you can save time by choosing the train that leaves soonest. If you decide on the Narita Express (Actually best for getting to Tokyo quickly) you may see that the the ticket-selling counter has a long line, so long it may cause you to miss a soon-departing train. But those who read here can avoid the long line by walking to the turnstile entrance, and you will see on your right the automatic ticket machines built into the wall. If you have brought a Yen 10,000 bill with you, as I advise, just insert it, down and to your left as you stand facing the ticket machine and then on the screen press the 140 Yen (or lowest price, since the price goes up at intervals) ticket and the machine will deliver the ticket and produce your cash and coin change. This lowest price ticket is the minimum trip ticket that pays for one stop down the line but it will give you entry into the turnstile. (Insert the ticket or, if you do not understand how to, ask the clerk who stands nearby). The ticket gets notched and returned to you and you should not lose it because it is your ticket to enter and ride. Then you continue straight ahead and down the escalator a few meters ahead and, onto the trains platform: the Narita Express track is on your right and the multiple-stop Airport Limited train on your left. The Narita Express goes nonstop from Airport to Tokyo, a 60-minute ride for Yen c.3,500. The Airport Limited makes stops for a 90-minute ride to Tokyo for Yen 1,280. If you are not in a rush, do the Airport Limited train. (Warning: at night the Airport Limited train may only go as far as Chiba City where it makes a long stopand you must get off and change there to the the train across the way on the same platform or you will end up back at the Airport. Always ask before you chose a many-stop Airport Limited train into Tokyo at night) On the Narita Express if you have not already bought a reserved seat, you will be requested to show ticket to the conductor who walks through checking tickets and, if you have the 140-yen ticket, he will sell you a full ticket and give you a paper receipt you must use at your destination. On the other, the Airport Limited dtrain, no one will ask for your ticket but you must present it at your destination and pay the balance. (If you lose the ticket, no problem; the ticket-taker will trust your word and charge from your entry point) Again, on timing into Tokyo: on the Narita Express platform, you may note that the Airport Limited is just about to leave and the next Narita Express is not leaving for 20 - 25 minutes. Then it is smart to take the earlier leaving Airport Limited for much cheaper price and almost same time to get you into Tokyo. This is an advantage of buying a 140-yen (or lowest price) entree ticket rather than reserving a seat on Narita Express. A point to know if you use the 140-Yen ticket on Narita Express is not to seat yourself until the Express leaves the Airport 2 Station, the next from starting station Airport-1, because all seats are supposed to be reserved although, practically, many remain empty. So you want to wait till all reserves are seated at Airport 2 Station closing doors. Assuming you get off at Tokyo Station, another pearl point is to walk along the Tokyo Station platform to pillar 16 and you'll see the elevators (or if you're British, the lifts) there. Take an elevator to B-1 and you will find yourself exactly in front of the exit turnstiles and ticket-takers. You may have a question how to take the subways or the older surface transit from Tokyo Station to your final destination - a hotel or a friend's house address. The ticket-takers may be able to answer those questions in English. Tokyo Station is the biggest hub in Tokyo. From it you can get anywhere - by subway, surface transit or taxi. Best to have a written instruction that shows your destination on a map and, if you are carrying a cell phone, have your destination's phone number. If you get lost in Tokyo Station or out on the street, it is not a big problem - the friendly passers-by will offer help and everyone speaks enough English to assist. From Haneda Airport you simply take a city transit (train or bus) to your location in either city. Follow the signs to Tokyo or Yokohama.
For sightseeing I advise a morning that starts with boat from Hinode Peer. (Ask your hotel lobby manager how to get to Shimbashi Yurikamome Station). Buy a ticket to the Hinode Station and follow signs in English to the 10 AM boat. Up the SumidaRiver, it takes you under the many bridges ending at Asakusa, where you walk to the famous shrine area of hundreds of small shops for buying mementos. Best to approach the shrine leisurely browsing the stores but not buying or eating until you see the temple site and take your photos. Then, on your way back, have lunch in a restaurant and buy mementos chosen from those you looked at during your arrival walk. You should finish by
n afternoon, see other area - Ginza, or the Emperor's Palace in HibiyaPark. But keep away from the old TokyoTower, a tourist trap. One day for guided tour is enough. You may have friends or other activity for other days.
How long to stay in Japan? For a first timer, I say 1 or 2 days for Tokyo, 1 for Kyoto-Osaka, and another two days for Hiroshima in south or Sapporo in north. A local travel agent from JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) contacted at the hotel can help plan tours.
Starting New Life in Japan: Jobs with sufficient pay to live well are here. Least difficult to get is teaching English but also editing, proof reading, medical assistance and even legal jobs. Check the Help Wanted in the English-language Japan Times. Best to establish personal relationships on a tourist trip and do interview and find living place and then go out of Japan and return with working visa arranged by employer. Most foreigners work in Tokyo/Yokohama/Chiba area but outside is OK too if you can find.
If you are to start new life in Japan, study Japanese at home. (Of course, you can always buy a Berlitz or other conversation course) For learning Japanese reading and writing The Nelson, Japanese-English Character Dictionary is invaluable. The best single word for a non Japanese to know is Sumimasen! (Usually spoken "sooeemasen" - "Sorry to bother you, but ....!" It can be used in all cases where you want to ask question, or you inconvenience or accidentally bump someone.
Once you have job and residence status, you can develop social life. The Japanese are friendly and like to practice English, the women are open to marriage proposal and other proposition, and the men find foreign women alluring. The sexual psychology of the young Japanese woman (This section may seem very frank to non-Japanese readers but it comes from a millennial university-educated Japanese woman and could be useful especially to American men) The Japanese young woman has many things in common with the young European or American woman but differences exist. The young Japanese woman tends to be a little less free with sexual favors than young women in the U.S.A. so it is a good idea for a foreign man not to rush a Japanese girl into a sexual relationship. Especially do not do any guessing by trying to grope or embrace a woman for kissing. At least one preliminary date and some discussion of a close, perhaps sexual relationship is the best approach. This may be on a mutual vacation weekend at a nearby health spa. Then, in lovemaking, unless discussed ahead of time, a foreign man should not be too aggressive. At the start, best to be very straight and with good preliminary romantic petting. (Japanese women call it "cuddling") Also, especially with the first encounter, the foreign man is expected to practice good hygiene because there is much worry about foreigners spreading sexually transmitted disease, especially HIV/AIDS and now Covid-19. So, a mutual hot bath or shower and good obvious mouthwash before the lovemaking is de requier as also is the full use of a condom, which the foreign man is expected to provide.
Good reading about Japan starts with Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan, An Attempt at An Interpretation. Also to enjoy and learn Japanese life and culture are the English translations of Junichiro Tanizaki’s The Key, Natsume Soseki’s I am a Cat, Yasunari Kawabata’s Snow Country, and Yukio Mishima’s The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. Also Google or click http://adventuresofkimi.blogspot.com .
Eating in Japan: The tourist and new employee will become most involved with the Japanese restaurant dinner: I concentrate on eating for good health. For each restaurant I choose the ideal food that does not overfill, that you will not gain weight on, that you won’t get suddenly sick from and that is good price. Japanese restaurant business lunches take c.30 to 50 minutes. Price of a meal ranges between Yen 500 and Yen 1000. First, do not order a la carte coffee, tea, or beverage that adds to bill. If you are going to sample gourmet restaurants (steak house, cutlet, chops, fish & chips etc.), keep in mind that prices may vary much depending on whether you go after 5 pm, on weekends, or midday of Tues to Fridays. The best prices are weekdays between 2 pm and 4 pm. The worst and highest prices are on weekends, holidays and evenings.
Noodle shop: best buy is mori soba, plain, thin, cool noodles, with chopsticks and dipped in mustard-spiced soy sauce. Order the regular size not the big size and get the usual price Yen c.550 (But prices go up). If you want hot, then try tanuki soba.
Curry Rice nice: Price in franchise take-out like Matsuya is as low as Yen 380. For a calorie-counting-eater, the serving may be take-out and split into two eatings. Noodle restaurants offer at higher price. And don't forget the Cup Noodle that you buy in a 24-hr Lawson or 7/11 store.For Yen c.160 the Light,
198 K-calorie size, you get a good tasting, low-calorie noodle lunch
that just needs hot water.
Sushi is popular but has raw food risk. Fast Food eating is best at McDonald`s. Doutors (Said: “Daughters”) is too expensive!
Hotel eating is expensive.
Here is a use of chopsticks, or ohashi, in Japan. When you eat, hold them halfway, using one as lever between thumb and index finger and the other steadied between third or fourth finger. When you put food in mouth, of course, the end you eat catches the food. But when you transfer a food from one plate to another, reverse the direction and transfer the food with the untouched upper end. And you can cut soft foods with scissor-like motion. Eating with chopsticks allows you to go slow and enjoy more.
Transportation: Ticket is sold at station via vending machine, priced for distance traveled from entrance to exit. If you do not know your destination ticket price, just put in the minimum price using 100, 50 or 10 Yen coins (Indicated on the machine; minimums are 140 to 170 or 180 Yen for subways or for JR surface it is 140 Yen or at Narita Airport 140 Yen; but the price goes up each year). The ticket gives entrée, and at destination you present the ticket. If you have any question, ask the station clerks, all of whom are usually cooperative and know enough English to help. Most city transit stations close a little after 12 Midnight so best reach your final destination before 12 Midnight. Taxis are safe, efficient and reasonably priced. Uber is available. Most drivers do not understand much English so, if you leave from hotel, have hotel employee tell the driver your destination, otherwise have business card or map to destination or its telephone number so driver may call by his cell phone for instruction on getting there. Do not tip.
If you wish to tour Kyoto the ancient capital, take the Bullet train for the 3 hours from Tokyo Station. For other big city outside Tokyo metro, fly domestic airline.
Leaving Japan needs only show passport at airport.
Creative Writing in Japan: If you are staying in Tokyo and like to write stories or poetry, the Tokyo Writers Workshop meets third Sunday every month and you may find out about a meeting by telephoning (0424) 69 33 77 and speak with John or else Google it. Library Facilities in English The Kokusai Bunka Kaikan (International House URL: http//www.i-house.or.jp) located not far from the Roppongi Crossing Subway Station (even closer to the Azabu Jyu-ban Oedo line station) has an excellent English-language library with public internet that foreigners may use Mon. to Sat. 9 am to 5 pm. The Weekender Speaking of fine magazines for the expat, The Weekender is tops for fashion, sightseeing, social meetings and whatever else an expat in Tokyo might like. You may pick one up at any big hotel in lobby.
The Medical Care The excellent English-language Jikei Medical University Library with latest medical/nursing literature publications in stacks is open 8 AM till 10 PM weekdays and Saturday, and afternoons from 1 PM on Sundays. (Closed on national holidays). For info, Tel (03) 3433 1111, ask "Toshokan, onegai shimasu" and wait to be connected. It is near the Mita-Line Subway Onarimon Station; and have an ID for the library. Japanese physician offices generally do not like to have foreigners as patients but exceptions exist. Two clinics I know that cater to foreigners are KIC (info@kic.clinic) and Tokyo and Medical and Surgical Clinic (outside Tokyo or cellphone, call 03 3436 3028 for info; in Tokyo landphone drop the 03). The usual fee for seeing a general doctor at TMSC is 12- to 14-thousand JY. It is located acrss the street from the Tokyo Tower, nearest subway is Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Subway line. Also, of course you may call or text my Night&Day Medical Advisory at 080 5034 9898 (Use email: edwardstim-eaj@softbank.ne.jp . From North America digit 1 702 234 1015 to telephone or text me in Japan. And you may call or text using the telephone numbers) for free telephone medical advice. If you start non tourist living and working in Japan, you should obtain a National Health Insurance (NHI) membership at your local ward office (Kuyakusho; you can’t miss the office because you will have to register there, if non-tourist). If you declare no earnings, only a small amount is taken from Your bank account each month. And, once you have the your NHI card, all your medical care, including prescription fees (see below) in local HMO or private office is one third the regular fee (10% the regular if over 65 and salary JPY 3.6 million or less a year). Quality of care good: I know, having used it for thirty years. Medications are dispensed by prescription (Rx) form by physician in clinic and paid for in the NHI system. If you lose an Rx scrip you may get it replaced by mail without a 2nd clinic visit but NHI will not pay for filling a replaced Rx. Dentistry is covered. Medical Care;Being a Patient in a Japanese University Hospital: Note that Japan has an excellent public ambulance system. But it would be very helpful for a foreigner to have a Japanese doctor, available by telephone, who can direct the ambulance to take you to his university hospital. In a recent experience of mine, because I am over age 65 and have a low enough salary my NHI paid 90% of the ambulance and subsequent hospital fees which relieved me of a great deal of anxiety because the total cost of my hospitalization was 360,000 yen a week. I was put in a hospital bed on the orthopedic ward due to fracture accident. In the Japanese university hospital, not much English is spoken or understood. So, it is helpful to have a Japanese or foreign friend or co-worker, for interpreter, who is fluent in Japanese and your language. The hospital beds are comfortable and the mattress is air-inflated to prevent pressure sores and you have hand controls that allow you to elevate and lower your bed, elevate your feet at the knee and elevate and lower your head. The room lights are turned on 6 AM and out at 9 PM but there is an overhead light over your head that will allow you to read without disturbing your roommates at night. The usual room contains 6 beds partitioned by curtains and there is not a great deal of space for visitors (visiting hours 2-8 Mon.-Sat., 11-10 Sunday but now modified by Covid-19). The hospital room and the care that goes with it is covered by the insurance, but if you want a private, single room, you must pay a much higher fee not covered by the insurance. The food service, I found, tolerable and you can choose to have Western style food, which means you will get bread in the morning rather than rice, and beef and pork rather than fish, and also things like spaghetti and macaroni. Also, it is useful to know that you can delay your meals, for example, lunch is served 12 noon but it can be delayed till 2 PM and the supper is served 5:45 PM but can be delayed till 7:30 PM. Unless you are on a special diet for your illness, you are free to have people bring you alternative food. If you are mobile, there is a 1st floor Lawson (in Jikei Hospital, but other hospitals have similar convenience stores) where you can buy all kinds of goodies to eat. If you want coffee in the morning (in Jikei), take the elevator to floor 1, the Lawson Convenience Station which opens at 7 AM.
Telephone Numbers Inside Japan, the telephone numbers are written with brackets for area code: (03) is Tokyo; (0424) is Narita International Airport area. Calling inside the area code on land phones does not require the area code but on cell phone it does. Calling from outside Japan, use your region's international access code, then Japan country code 81 and drop the first zero of area code, e.g., from North America 011 81 80 5034 9898, you'll get me, Dr Stim. Finding an address in Japan starts with the place name, and the section name followed by three hyphenated numbers. For example in Tokyo Ben's Cafe, Takadanobaba 1-29-21. You need to know what is the closest station. Then you go to the station and ask at the usually obvious police box (Koban). The first number is the section-area, or chome, the second number is the block, and the 3rd number is the building number. Once you get experienced you can find it from the map located out on the street in front of every station. Most places have a Google map that may be accessed on internet under its name, e.g., "Ben's Cafe." In taxi, show the address to your driver. Lost & Found in Japan is very good because the Japanese are honest and the system is efficient. If you lose something important, first check ASAP where you lost it if you know (hotel, airport, department store, etc.) by calling to the local place's Lost & Found. If it's like a money card or key or other important pocket item, check with local police office or call central Tokyo police. You'll be astounded how efficient the system is. I know, first hand by 2 experiences. Several months ago my bank cash card went missing. I went to my bank, thinking to cancel the lost one and get a new one. As soon as I said "lost money card". they called the police central and the computer immediately located the card that had dropped from my pocket on the subway and been given to the police by the subway car cleaner at the end of the line. I went to the local police station where the card was found and had it back at once. For longer term lost and found, the police have a building at Iidabashi that you may contact through any police station. More recently, I was coming back to my office by subway and when I arrived at my office I discovered to my horror that my Japan foreigner registration card and my bank money card had dropped out of my inside pocket on the subway! This could have been a catastrophe because the foreigner card must be presented at airports for overseas trips and I planned to do a trip in a week. Since I discovered the loss immediately on arrival at my office and could locate that it must have happened on a particular subway line only in the previous hour. I immediately called the subway line through telephone information and within minutes discovered that my lost cards had been found by a subway conductor and were being kept in the station master's office at a nearby station. A good example of the super efficiency of lost and found in Japan if you know the system by reading this. Employ a housekeeper, the pay rate is c.1500 Yen an hour. The ladies who clean the office where you work can usually be recruited. And pay cash. Applying for Japanese Nationality/Passport A non Japanese person wishing to change nationality to Japanese should first call the Ministry of Justice in Tokyo at (03) 3580 4111 and connect with extension 2034. If not fluent in Japanese, have a Japanese friend ask for information about how to change a foreign nationality into a Japanese one. The questioner will be directed to his or her local Ministry of Justice office, the Nationality () Department. Then one makes a first consultation (sodan) appointment in which one is tested for understanding Japanese and being minimally competent in reading and writing in the hiragana/katakana system. The application involves: 1) An investigation by the Ministry of Justice for criminal activity during one's previous stays in Japan; and 2) documentation of one's family members and spouses (birth, marriage & death certificates), one's recent tax returns in Japan, and one's previous passports and bank books in Japan.
End Note: A Hongkong Tailor in Tokyo: For custom-made clothes by a master tailor using best European and English materials for good price for quality and high honesty in dealing, one should click onto www.himarkmartintailors.com or call in Japan 090 6116 2965 to speak with Aroon. Weekend and Holiday Post Office: On Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays the local post offices are closed. In Tokyo, use the Central Post Office at Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit, In Yokohama, use the Central Post Office at Yokohama Station, east exit. In other large city inquire at hotel or at street police box. For airmail say hikoki de, or for special deliver sokutatsu and for registered mail kakitome. Birthday and Wedding Cakes in Tokyo If you need an inscribed birthday or wedding cake custom-made, use Bellasbetween Shirogane-Takanawa Mita Subway and Sengakuji stations. Information at WWW.BELLAS-TOKYO.COM. and order at email ORDERS@BELLAS-TOKYO.com
A Good Luxury Hotel. I have experience with the Tokyo Dome Hotel near Suidobashi Station, 15 minutes from central Tokyo. (Tel. in Japan 03 5805 2111) It is a 43-story structure with striking views from its lifts and from the 43rd floor Sky Bar & Restaurant (also known as Artists Cafe). If you use a luxury hotel and want the best, try in the Dome, the 39th, 40th and 41st floors for the Executive rooms that come with an Executive Lounge that gives you a very delicious self-serve breakfast from 7 to 10 AM, a coffee time 1 to 5 PM and a drinks & snacks time after 5 PM. The Lounge has a desktop computer that is rarely used by Japanese and also good reading and pretty views. Also a seminar room is available by appointment. And you may invite non-hotel guest friends for breakfast, snack & drinks and seminar-room conference. All rooms have free WiFi as does the lobby and floors. Cost of executive floor rooms officially minimally is Yen 35,000 to 55,000, a 2 PM check-in and 11 AM check out; but ask for best price and you might be given room fees down to 20,000 Yen especially in slack season (Spring and Winter). Best to make reservation ahead for "best price" but you may also try the same day any time till 2 PM. The famous Imperial Hotel is terribly expensive and just terrible. Stay away!
Notes on expatriate life in Japan from old expat
The above is basically directed toward the new traveler to Japan. But from here, I wish to give my pearls as an old expat who has spent the years mostly in Tokyo. It will be about eating, shopping, meeting friends. I will keep adding; so what you read now may have a look of incompleteness.
About food shopping through the supermarkets and the 24-hour stores (the 7/11s, the Lawsons, and Family Marts): 1) In supermarket a lot of free samples are given out that you could almost dine on; for example, in my local supermarket, during the tangerine season, they offer plates-full of tangerine which I collect for my desserts. Also lots of spicy condiments such as pickled bits of ginger that you can sprinkle on your snack, little packages of mustard and many other like flavorings. Then for the economy-minded buyer, you can get discounts if you shop after 8 or 9 PM up to 50%. About these discounts: if you go to the store 8 to 9 PM, or about an hour or so before closing, you my see the guy pasting the discounts. And if you spot a particular snack you want, you may indicate so to the discount guy by holding the snack-pack up to him and he may accommodate by stamping "half" on it. And finally the ubiquitous point card that gives you a small credit bonus on your purchases..
Allow me to go into my experiences in my local Higashi/Nishi (E./W.) Kanagawa Yokohama area, which more or less mirror the experience throughout Japan. The two main supermarkets are Aeon and Maruetsu at or very near the immediate west exits side of the Higashi Kanagawa JR Station. The SMkTs, especially Aeon, are now highly automated and instead of having to wait on long, slow lines to pay, one may use the automated self-serve pay section which moves quickly. Aeon has generally lower prices for same products than Maruetsu with occasional exception; also it is open 7 days a week and Holidays from 7 AM to 10 PM while Maruetsu opens at 10 AM. Both have attached Department Stores. For after hours one may use the three chain convenience stores—-Lawson, 7/11, Family Mart—- and pay slightly higher prices for the convenience. My experience is with Lawson and my impression is that it is the best in terms of price, product and store locations. And Lawson’s, in contrast to the other two, shows local differences in price, product and type of store (Lawson’s Stations and Natural Lawson’s) I find 3 Lawson stores within walking distance from my flat, each with its own special bargains and good product availability.
On using subways and other mass transit: In Tokyo the mass transit is the JR surface trains (Yamanote and Chuo) lines, the Subways, and the buses. Of the trains, the surface lines are least expensive (Basic entry ticket today JY 140) but mostly they are big circles that may miss inside parts of Tokyo that are better accessed by the subways. Subways are a bit more expensive (JY 170/180 for basic entry) Buses are of 2 types: 1) the private buses which are larger and rather expensive, and also hard for foreigners to understand. And 2), recently, the community borough buses (Minato-ku, Bunkyo ku, etc.), which are all only JY 100 for full trip and can be very convenient but you need to understand Japanese. These community buses are instantly recognizable because smaller, and cutely painted with cartoonish designs.. A good example for foreigners who may want to find the Kokusai Bunka Kaikan (International House of Japan) is the Minato-ku community bus between the popular JR Tamachi Station and the Bunka Kaikan, which is in Roppongi and normally rather hard to find. Also a pearl: When one buys a ticket for transit on the machine at station entry, the tendency is to locate the price and then buy that price ticket. A better way is to buy the least expensive ticket to get you on the platform (JY 140 for JR) and then pay the remainder at end of trip. In addition to speeding your way you may save money because some ticket price info is overpriced. For example if you are taking Hibiya Subway Line from Hibiya to Roppongi the ticket price of the chart will be listed at JY 280, exorbitantly high because is based on a roundabout route. The direct fee is actually the lowest, JY 170. A warning during hot, humid summer days when your 1000-JY cash notes may get moistened in a sweaty pocket and will not work in ticket or other delivery machines. Be sure to have a supply of JY100/JY500 coins because the ticket sellers are very unkind about replacing moist cash notes. Pasmo is a travel credit card you buy at subway and ticket machines. One charges the card usually up to 10,000 yen and it automatically pays for tickets until next charge. Also can be used to make purchases in many stores. If you are a long term expat, the Pasmo is useful and convenient but if you buy a card be sure to copy its data because you pay a 500-Yen deposit on the card and if you lose it and do not have the data where and when you bought it, you not only lose 500 Yen but somebody else may use the money you put in the card.
Walden in Japan Readers may recall the classic Walden by Thoreau wherein one person determined the basics of living by a pond in Massachusetts in the 1840s. Here, now, I give my Walden in Japan, give the basics for an expat living in Japan, basing it on my own experiences and observations living in the Tokyo/Yokohama area (Japan is very uniform so this applies anywhere from Hokkaido to Okinawa). It will be in the form of subjects as they have come to mind from recent experience. The Prices of a Coffee: I do not advise, nor am I, becoming a person addicted to coffee. I use it for a particular need: motivating and energizing especially in the morning. And the can of Black Coffee, I find, is good for that. I note the machine price varies in JY, mostly from 140 to 100, but I found in large supermarkets, not in machine, the same can of black may be as low as 68 (plus the 10% sales tax). For very low price machine coffee, if you are in Roppongi, Gaien Higashi Dori is the wide east-west street that runs east from the Roppongi Crossing where the subway station is toward the Tokyo Tower (the Tower looms on your eastern horizon). When you come to the first big crossing underpass make an exact 90-degree right angle turn (Your right) and walk about 100 meters downhill and you should spot two machines advertising 100-Yen cans and one of the machine gives the two types of 80-Yen cans. But hold on! Since then, I discovered a 50-Yen machine sweetened UCG can that is delivered pleasantly hot from the machine, a bright white one located outside the Maeda Building, Haircut Salon in Higashi Azabu 3-chome, 7-9, on north side of the wide street and about 175 meters from the Toei Subway Azabu Jyu-ban Crossing Stn. Then cf. the cans: Pokka UCC Blended JY Cost 80 50 Amount 190 gm 185 gm K-calories 39 13 Sweeten Dextrin(Glucose) Ace K (Arti.)
If you buy Blendy coffee sticks at your local supermarket you get up to 150 mg caffeine at c.18 JpY, a drink. Best taste is to use 140- to 180-ml water). Best yet is to stop habitual morning coffee, as I did, and substitute a small chocolate 120 yen McDonald’s McShake, which will supply your breakfast calorie expense, and the chocolate has enough caffeine plus its placebo affect to satisfy your caffeine habit. (You may also empty your Blendy’s coffee powder cachet into the McShake) Also how you use coffee: To me coffee is only for motivation and energizing (So caffeine coffee). I do not drink it in the street. Also do not mix black coffee with anything. I mean, have it Black! and before any food is eaten! This is to maximize the caffeine effect on the empty stomach. Valuables found by looking down: Because of my age and a bad back I tend to walk in a stooped position and get quite a glimpse of the pavement as I go. And I have discovered many rewards, ranging from the 10,000 JpY cash note someone inadvertently dropped, to the stick of gum lost from a pack by a gum-chewer walker. (A list of recent finds: unopened tissues, paper clips, valuable coins, candy in wrappers, chewing gum in wrappers, pachinko balls, Mintia-packaged mint pills, and even a packaged dinner inadvertently dropped that I advertently ate at home with great pleasure). In between I have gotten rich from the money and had good eating from the wrapped candies, and many other goodies people drop on the pavement as they rush by. I am not advising telescoping the pavement as you walk. Always be aware of what is above and beside and behind you. But keep scanning the pavement as you go and be a happier fellow. Kleenex Type Tissues are continuously being handed out at stations in Japan (and also, the napkins given with your McDonald's order) so you should collect and not buy. And keep in mind these tissues can replace toilet paper, kitchen roll paper, napkins ... .
And, less frequent, promotional energy drinks, as freebies v McDonald's in Japan, a Source of Much Saving and Good Eating: A great source of money saving and good eating ! First, the 110 JY (U.S. c. USD $1) burger is a best buy for the central part of a lunch. And if you like the custard ice cream, the small-size McShake --- vanilla, choco or strawberry --- is best buy for JY 120. And for morning snack: the 250-Y set of bacon&egg on hot melted American cheese in a muffin with hot coffee and free ketchup, creme and sugar really satisfies as you sit using the free WiFi.
Machines You Don't Need to Buy for Home: Desktop or laptop computer may be replaced (in their useful for you function) by public-use computers in libraries and big hotels as I have been doing these last months. Better yet an IPad can satisfy most computer needs. And without any loss of feeling of need, as I've discovered. Home washing machine and dryer (Almost everyone buys or pays more rent for today) for a single person may be replaced by coin machine whose price for a wash&dry ranges from 400 to 600 yen, and I found one across from the Kanagawa-ku Kuyakusho for 200 yen on Mon. to Fri., 1 to 4 pm. A fridge, I have done without for years because I'm a single who quickly eats up and drinks up his food and drink Free WiFi is now available in every public telephone booth in Tokyo.These booths are located on the street and state on the window, Free WiFi. Also many hotels and fast food places. The new iPads all have built-ins. So do not waste money on home WiFi router. About accessing the free WiFi: Some places, like the Sheraton hotels give automatically free WiFi merely by being in their vicinity. But with others, like the McDonald’s, you must go to your gear icon, scroll to WiFi, and click, On. Most (McDonald’s) give 1 hour. Street telephone booths give 10 minutes.
Point Cards : Stores where you buy regularly, including McDonald's, offer point cards where you register points for each purchase and can usually exchange for free or discounted buys. As with all these small plastic cards, stow them carefully against loss and make sure to initially register them. 50 JY Celery or lettuce Replacing Expensive Salads: In the supers, 7/11s and Lawsons you pay over 100 to 200 JY for salads with your meal. Why not buy a large 50 JY celery stalk or lettuce that you may use - leaves and all - by scissoring it up for 3 or 4 salad replacements.
