Japanese Baby Modeling
01 Feb 2008
I've gotten quite a few emails asking about my daughter modeling in Japan. She has been
doing it since she was four months old and loves every minute of it. For foreigners, it
is not difficult to have a part-time modeling job in Japan, especially for foreign children.
All racial mixes are sought by one company or another, but blonde hair and blue eyes seems
to be particularly popular. Excepting the fact that Leila does not have much hair, she
fits that description. However, no matter what your child is like, if you have time to
dedicate you should definitely consider baby modeling!
[Read
full article]
Kyoto Weekend
04 Sep 2007
Because it was a holiday weekend for US citizens, we decided to spend
two nights in Kyoto. Getting there was a breeze because we took the bullet train. We
found out it saved a lot of money to go to a travel agent (you go to agents for most
processes in Japan), and we got a package deal with the hotel and Shinkansen. For the
two of us, it was about 50,000 Yen for the weekend, whereas a typical double room in
Kyoto is around 20,000 Yen per night and the Shinkansen is over 10,000 Yen per person.
You have to go to a JR travel window or an authorized travel agent to purchase
Shinkansen tickets anyway, so using an agent to save money on the hotel is logical. We
caught the Shinkansen at Shin-Yokohama station (though you can get it at Tokyo station
or, as we later found out, Odawara) and it took about 2 1/2 hours to get to Kyoto.
[Read Full Article]
Japanese Utilities
05 Apr 2007
Before we moved into a Japanese house, we were warned that utilities in Japan were expensive. Because of this, we have learned to be very conservative with energy--turning lights off when not in use, unplugging phone chargers, heating only the room we are using, hanging clothes to dry, etc. So, just how expensive is Japan? Well, as conservative as we are, these are our average monthly utility bills:
| Bill | Gas | Kerosene | Power | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost in Yen | 9000 (~$78) | 3000 (~$26) | 10000 (~$87) | 5000 (~$44) |
This winter was mild, so the kerosene and electricity bills would normally be higher. In the summer, kerosene is not needed, but more electricity is used for fans and air conditioners, so the total amount will be comparable. [Read Full Article]
Living in a Japanese Home
07 Jan 2007
This article is being posted now as our internet has just been reconnected. We decided to move from our apartment on-base into a Japanese home. The move was not an easy process, especially with me at almost 9 months pregnant, but we wanted to experiences the real Japanese lifestyle while we have the opportunity to do so.
What has this "Japanese Experience" entailed so far? Cold nights, energy
conservation, fumbling with poor Japanese for appliance, gas, and internet
installations, and finding time to make gifts for our new neighbors in order
to introduce ourselves (customary in Japan). These are the main reasons
the base seems to discourage moving outside. However, do not let all of these
initial frustrations deter you from living in Japan.
[Read Full Article]
Tokyo Christmas
26 Dec 2006
We decided to spend Christmas Eve in Tokyo to see if the Japanese decorated at all for the season. As it turns out, even Buddhists find this festive holiday fun because, as I know more than anyone, you do not need to be religious to deck the halls.
We arrived at Tokyo Station around 5:00pm, just as it was getting dark. Tokyo did not seem any more crowded than normal, much to our pleasant surprise. Most Japanese do not have Christmas off, but even still the streets were lined with displays of lights. Nearby the station, the Imperial Park displayed electronic snowflake-filled trees, blue-light fountains, and a large painted lantern display. There was accompanying Zen-like music in the air. Crowds of Japanese and tourists alike throned the plaza to take videos and pictures and we were no exception. [Read Full Article]
New Forum!
12 Dec 2006
I have added a new Forum to the site for Questions and Answers about traveling and living in Japan. Please check it out and ask a question or provide insight! I will do my best to answer any questions asked in the forum with as much detail as possible.