We are still just as crazy and wild as we have always been... Only difference now is that we are Those Crazy and Wild Westerners.

All we ever get in the mail is adverts... They have pretty pictures on them...but we have no idea what they say. I actually look forward to this stupid junk mail ... PLEASE send us a poste-card!!

FYI--Stephen-san's birthday is 08 Oct. if you wanted to mail a sleazy birthday card (or a Lotus). -rebekah

Happy Happy !!! Joy Joy...

-rebekah

Stephen-san has mastered the use of chopsticks. He now eats everything with chopsticks.

The Japanese word for fork is foku, the word for knife is naifu. Gaijin tip: Just add a "u" to the end...and ka-bam! you are speaking Japanese!

Gohan is cooked rice. Also means meal. The Japanese don't think that you have had a proper meal unless one has consumed a bit of rice.

Breakfast is Asagohon. Lunch is Hirogohan. Dinner is Bongohon.

One more Gaijin tip: Add "o" to the end of a term. To waiter: Where is the toilet? Waiter: Blank face. To waiter: Toilet-o. Waiter: Ah! ...points... Must be careful when using this trick however...many words have several different meanings...and adding a "u" or an "o" just may change the word into something very improper! ...which would REALLY give you away as a Gaijin!
-rebekah

Despite missing cheese....I'd even go for a chunk of Velveeta at this point ... The food and beverage here are exceptional!

We are really embracing the Japanese cuisine culture!

Have you ever tried eating with chopsticks after having a few glasses of sake? I wouldn't recommend it. Or at least wear some old trousers...because that is where most of it will land.

This is some seaweed and radish conjecture... It looks like grass and Elmer's glue...and tastes about as appealing...

Have you ever had raw horsemeat? I've seen it on menus... apparently it tastes like...chicken ?

-rebekah

Nothing to do,
Nowhere to go-o-o-o-o-o
I want to be sedated…
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
Take me to the doctor,
Before I go insa-a-a-ane…
I NEED to be sedated!!!

Please send Valium …. AND…..CHEeeeeeeESE!
You would not BELIEVE how expensive cheese is here! Send ANY kind of cheese…PROCESSED FAKE ORANGE-COLOUR “cheese” would be GREAT! I’d EVEN go for VELVITA !!! That’s how desperate we are!! And actually, to think about it… Velvita WOULD ship well…the shelf life is something like 1 million years…isn’t it?!!

The Japanese people are so very polite and nice. They are all so much shorter than I was expecting…and they are all so nice and fit and thin!! (No fat “Super-sized” American’s here!) I am wondering, however… are they thin because food is so expensive?? Or is it because they cycle EVERYWHERE?!!

The bicycle is THE MODE of transportation in and around Tokyo! Children, grannies, hip-hop cool dudes… EVERYONE rides a bike- EVERYWHERE! AND… they all have a basket attached to the front—if not the back as well. Basket for the briefcase to the office, or schoolbooks to classes, a child in a seat in front & sometimes behind as well!, or bread and beer for home…. I MUST get a basket for my bike when it arrives!!!! OR-risk looking (more) like a gaijin (westerner—aka idiot). Outside of train stations it is a SEA of bicycles. I’m not sure HOW they know WHICH one is theirs!

The Japanese drive on the “Correct Side Of The Road” –this according to Stephen-san (which means the LEFT side of the road). Hmm Right…
What I find interesting is… The Japanese ALSO drive in the MIDDLE of the road. Busses, cars, taxis, bicycles… Upon encountering an on-coming vehicle, a game of “Chicken” ensues… One vehicle must swerve left into their lane in order to avoid a sure collision. I am not entirely sure about how the “pecking order” goes here (sorry for the pun)… BUT! At the VERY last minute –the one (looser) vehicle jolts left 1st and then the other (bully) vehicle cuts left- JUST ENOUGH so as for the split second the two vehicle’s pass… a mere 5 millimetres distance is created...the two drivers can SMELL the o-sake that the other drank the night before! (and hopefully NO curry!)

What is further amazing…is that the cyclists swerve around in this same manner – on the same thorough-fares… Imagine a ballet. Cyclists – some with children (kodomo) in their baskets, some with groceries… Busses full of hitobito (people)…Taxis packed with eejits (business men)… swerving and darting to and fro… it really is a Risk Manager’s nightmare!! BUT it WORKS for them!! I have yet to see an accident…but then again…WATASHI-WA (I) have YET to hit the streets…!

Mata’nee
-rebekah

Washing Machines.


Now there comes a point when one has to use a washing machine. As you can see form the picture above, the washing machine has a detailed and intricate control panel. You might think that this would be beyond anyone who did not speak Japanese to operate, but let me tell you, I think it is no more complicated than a English washing machine. I don’t understand how to operate a normal washing machine anyway, so the fact it is in Japanese makes no difference. I personally think that washing machines seem to have escaped 21st century design and have adopted female logic in their operation. What I can say about the Japanese washing machine is:

1 Built in dryer.
2 Very quiet and vibration free in operation
3 Does not use Hot Water. Japanese people wash all their clothes in cold water.
4 Makes a variety of bleeping noises and flashing of lights if you open the lid while in operation. Also makes no attempt at slowing the drum down, so don’t stick your arm in, unless you want a broken one.
5 It has a rosemary inverter, which leaves all my clothes herb & dry; mmhhh.

Right. Made it.

The airlines lost my luggage and I had to wear the same dress and (horror of horrors!) same shoes for 2 days.
I picked up some food poisoning　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｓｐｅｎｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　３６　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｅｉｔｈｅｒ　ｉｎ　ｂｅｄ　ｏｒ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏｏ　ｆａｍｉｌｉａｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｒａｎｇｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｔｏｉｌｅｔｓ．
Ｐｈｏｎｅ　ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ　ａｎｄ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ　ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｒ　ａｐｐａｒｅｎｔｌｙ　ｄｉｄｎ’ｔ　ｔａｌｋ　ｔｏ　ｅａｃｈ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ａｓ　ｙｅｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ　ａｔ　ｈｏｍｅ．　Ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ　ｂｙ　Ｔｈｕｒｓｄａｙ　ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ．

Ａｌｌ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｎｏｗ，ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ！　　Ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｃｈａｎｇｅｓ　ｏｆ　ｕｎｄｉｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ａｂｏｕｔ　２０　ｐａｉｒｓ　ｏｆ　ｓｈｏｅｓ．

Ａｓ　Ｉ ｈａｄ　ｐｒｅｐａｒｅｄ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｓｔ．．．ｏｕｒ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｆｌａｔ　ｉｓｎ’ｔ　ｓｏ　ｂａｄ．　Ｗｈｉｌｅ　Ｉ　ｆｅｖｅｒｉｓｈｌｙ　ｓｌｅｐｔ，　Ｓｔｅｐｈｅｎ　ｈａｄ　ｐｕｔ　ｕｐ　ｒｏｐｅ　ｌｉｇｈｔ　ａｎｄ　ｍａｄｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｐｌａｃｅ　ｌｏｏｋ　ｌｉｋｅ　ｏｕｒｓ．　Ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｓｅｎｄ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｇｅｔ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｌａｔ．

Ｌａｓｔ　Ｆｒｉｄａｙ　ｗａｓ　ａ　Ｈｏｌｉｄａｙ－ｔｏ　ｃｅｌｅｂｒａｔｅ　ｔｈｅ　ａｒｒｉｖａｌ　ｏｆ　Ａｕｔｕｍｎ．　Ｓｔｅｐｈｅｎ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｓｅｔ　ｏｕｔ　ｆｏｒ　Ｒｏｐｐｏｎｇｉ：　http://www.infocreate.co.jp/hometown/roppongi/roppon-e.html
Ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｂａｃｋ　ｈｏｍｅ　（ＭＹ　ｔｈａｔ　ｓｏｕｎｄｓ　ｗｅｉｒｄ）　ｗｅ　ｊｕｍｐｅｄ　ｏｆｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ａｔ　ｒａｎｄｏｍ　ｔｏ　ｅｘｐｌｏｒｅ　ａ　ｔｉｎｙ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｔｏｗｎ．　Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ａｔ　ａｎ　ａｄｏｒａｂｌｅ　ｎｏｏｄｌｅ　ｐｌａｃｅ　－ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｐｕｔ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｍｏｎｅｙ　ｉｎｔｏ　ａ　ｖｅｎｄｉｎｇ　ｍａｃｈｉｎｅ，ｍａｋｅ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｓｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｔｉｃｋｅｔ　ｅｍｅｒｇｅｓ－－ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｙｏｕ　ｇｉｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｏｋ．．．ｔｈｅ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　（ｎｏ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ）．．．ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅｎ’ｔ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｗｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ．　　＊＊ｐｌｅａｓｅ　ｒｅｆｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｐｒｅｖｉｏｕｓ　ｅｎｔｒｙ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　Ｉ　ｓｔａｔｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ　ｏｒｄｅｒｉｎｇ　ａｂｉｌｉｔｉｅｓ　ａｒｅ　ｌｉｍｉｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅｅｒ＊＊　　Ｎｅｖｅｒｔｈｅｌｅｓｓ，　ｈａｄ　ａ　ｄｅｌｉｇｈｔｆｕｌ　ｍｅａｌ　ｐａｉｒｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｂｅｅｒ！

Ｓａｔｕｒｄａｙ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　Ｓｈｉｂｕｙａ　ａｎｄ　ｍｅｔ　ｕｐ　ｗｉｔｈ　Ｋａｔａｙａｍａ－ｓａｎ．　http://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/eng/strolling.html　　Ａ　ｄｅｌｉｇｈｔｆｕｌ，ｖｉｂｒａｎｔ　ｃｉｔｙ　ｆｉｌｌｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｓｅｅ　ａｎｄ　ｂｅ－ｓｅｅｎ　ｙｏｕｎｇ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ．　　Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ａ　ｌｏｖｅｌｙ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ａｔ　ａ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｋｎｅｅｌ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｔａｂｌｅ．　　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｗｉｎｄｏｗ　ｓｈｏｐｐｉｎｇ，　Ｋａｔａｙａｍａ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｕｓ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ｎｉｂｂｌｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｓａｋｅ．　　Ａｎｄ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｓａｋｅ．．．ｗｅｎｔ　ａｎｄ　ｄｉｄ　ｋａｒａｏｋｅ．．．ＷＨＥＲＥ．．．Ｓｍｅｌｅ－ｓａｎ　ｍｏｎｏｐｏｌｉｚｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｃｒｏｐｈｏｎｅ　ａｎｄ　ｓｏｎｇ　ｓｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ．．．Ｓｅｒｉｏｕｓｌｙ！　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｄｅｏ　ｔｏ　ｐｒｏｖｅ　ｉｔ－　ａｎｄ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｐｏｓｔ　ｉｔ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｌａｔｅｒ！

Ｓｕｎｄａｙ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　Ｇｉｎｚａ．　http://www.ginza.jp/　Ｒｉｇｈｔ．．．ａｂｏｕｔ　ａｓ　ｍｕｃｈ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ａｓ　ｗｅ　ｓａｗ　ａｓ　ｗｅｌｌ．　　Ａ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｃｈｉｃ　ａｒｅａ　ｗｉｔｈ　Ｃｈａｎｅｌ，ＹＳＬ，　Ｐｒａｄａ．．．Ｗｅ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｆｏｕｎｄ　ａｎ　Ｉｔａｌｉａｎ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈａｄ　ａ　ｍｅｎｕｅ　ｉｎ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｌｕｎｃｈ．

Ａｎｄ　ｎｏｗ．．．Ｓｔｅｐｈｅｎ　ｉｓ　ａｔ　ｗｏｒｋ．　　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ａｎ　ｉｎｔｅｒｖｉｅｗ　ｏｎ　Ｍｏｎｄａｙ　ａｎｄ　Ｔｕｅｓｄａｙ．．．ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ　Ｉ ｗｉｌｌ　ａｔｔａｉｎ　ｇａｉｎｆｕｌ　ｅｍｐｌｏｙｍｅｎｔ　ｓｏｏｎ．．．ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ＳＯ　ｍａｎｙ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｓｈｏｅｓ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｔｏ　ｂｕｙ！！

Ｍａｔａ’ｎｅｅ
-rebekah

Still waiting for internet connection at home. It will be fast and cheap, but it seems that NTT and the ISP are talking well to each other at the moment.

Right. I think I am ready to move.

1. I know how to order sake. Sumimasen! O-sake o kudasai. And Stephen knows how to order beers. Nihon biru kudasai.

2. We have become wise to all the spouts and buttons on a rice cooker. (Not that I know how to actually USE it...).

Our FIRST very gaijin moment (of what, I am sure, is to be 1 million)....

Stephen was pretty sure that the spout/spigot thingy on the rice cooker was the ricedispenserr. Like a waterdispenserr. You just hold down on the button and rice shoots out of the spout. ???!!
THIS coming from someone with a degree in Cybernetics, with extensive mechanical, physics, and electronic experience.... yup! That's my man! (The spout is for steam..Apparentlyy).

3. There is no rice in grocery shoppes. Rice is found in RICE SHOPPES...don't you know?! Well, I didn't...but thanks to one of Stephen's workcolleaguess...I do now!

Sake, beer and rice. Right. Think we are all set.
-rebekah

Saturday 10 September 2005 ~~Sayoonara party at Axis ~~

I think I'm turning Japanese. I think I'm turning Japanese. I really think so... (hah! now the song will be going through YOUR head also!)

It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces in one place.

Jake out-did himself with the food! Green tea creme brulee...to DIE for!!

Jonny out-did himself pouring drinks (psst, Jonny ! I am no bartender...but isn't there supposed to be tonic -in a gin & tonic?...)

Thank you all for gracing us with your presence! It was a great send off.
-rebekah

This is a satellite image of the new flat taken from that fantastic product, goggle Earth. As it happens the resolution in Kawasaki was updated just last week. The flat is in the long white rectangular building in the middle of the screen, with a large arrow pointing at it. Smele

We have an ACTUAL address!!!

Send us an email if you want to send us something in the post.

This is the view from the outside. That is my scooter. Stephen's Lotus is around back.
-rebekah

The adventures of a spiced couple moving to Tokyo from Seattle.

Useful Information for foreigners on Tokyo

Websites - Tourist, Travel and general information

negates Online Comic is about Two hardcore American gamers get stuck in Tokyo with no money, where they have to deal with ninjas, giant lizards, androids, the undead, schoolgirls and more...

The Tokyo Food Page is a complete guide to Japanese cuisine and eating in Japan. With great recipes, tours of Japanese markets, and tips on the best places to eat in Tokyo and Yokohama.

Weekly English City Guide on clubs, bars, music, movies, TV, restaurants, exhibits, life and business guides. Messageboard and chat plus 1500 jobs and more...

Narita International Airport NAA, objective is to maintain our status as one of the worlds leading international hub airports, contributing to the tourist. If you are coming to Japan, you are probably going to see Narita.

Japan Tourist Guide to the city of Tokyo, Japan. The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and the information continues.

The Japan Times Online is Japan's leading English-language daily newspaper with a good balance of news from around the world, Asia and Japan. Ideal for foreigners living in Japan. The Weekend Scene Section is particular good at highlighting new bars, musical events, gallery openings and cultural events happening in Japan.

The CIA World Factbook on Japan has a lot of useful facts and figures for Japan and any other country in the world.

The Japan National Tourist Organization Web Site
is a government site providing information for online budget hotel reservations,
regional guides, convention locations, museums, and important information on visiting Japan.

Japan Today covers latest news, politics, business, sports, new products, technology,environment and weather. With analysis and commentary.

ASAHI Weekly is the foremost teacher of English in Japan throughnews, features and columns. Asahi Haikuist Network

Shift Japan E-zine Japan-based e-zine "for digital generations". Features interviews and articleson art, design, fashion and new media.

CLASSIFIEDS - Secondhand items for sale
The Japanese people are not very fond of secondhand goods. They always prefer to have new goods, be it homes, cars or TV's. This means that secondhand goods are very cheap and a good buy, but there is not many of them out there.

Classifieds at Gaijinpot has a godd selection of classified goods, but really only good for jobs and housing. House hold goods sections are limited, but there are often foreigners leaving Japan and selling off all there stuff. Hand if you have just moved to Japan and want to buy some household items.

Craigslist Tokyo is not like the Craigslist's in the US, where they are a secondhand phenomenon. You can buy or sell virtually anything. Before leaving Seattle to move to Tokyo I managed to sell of lots of unwanted belongings. Here in Tokyo it is nowhere near as popular, with only foreigners and a very few Japanese knowing about it.


Interesting Blogs on Tokyo Japan
The Tokyo Times blog has many articles on the day to day living in Japan

Japan Window Photo Blog showing Japanese people, life, and culture through pictures and stories.

Josh in Japan is lost and has a simple mind but don't let the simple mind of a lost foreigner detract from some interesting articles.

Undercover In Japan and not a spy musings from Osaka.

Herro Flom Japan, no not a spelling mistake has more fun stories of life in Japan.

Entertainment, news, travel info and more from Japan.