Expats in Japan - Help me out

So I'm going to be moving to Osaka (hopefully, the exact location unfortunately is not guaranteed to be Osaka, it may end up Kyoto or Tokyo - I REALLY hope I don't have to go to Tokyo) sometime in the next two months here. I have some questions for those who live and work in Japan:

What is the best option for cell phone service? I'm going to be around for a year, maybe two or maybe more, I'm not sure.

As far as the language goes, are you completely fluent, and how long did it take you to get there, and from what background did you start? I know enough Japanese that I could probably type this thread in mediocre mismatched accents, but I'm worried even that will not be enough of a start to truly become fluent, especially in Kanji (I know only 200 or so Kanji on a read-and-write basis right now).

Transportation: I'm thinking of getting a Vespa or something. Good idea? Bad idea? Should I stick with public trans and a bike?

Do you find medical help is decent? I plan to pay for health insurance, I'm afraid that if something goes wrong I won't be able to communicate with the doctors.

Is pot really that illegal in Japan?

Do Japanese women really not shave their uhhh body hair?

HELP ME OUT EXPATS!

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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Do Japanese women really not shave their uhhh body hair?


having "dated" a few Japanese girls from Japan, yea that's true for the most part. I think now they've gotten more accustomed to trimming a bit, at least a landing strip, but it's probably STILL common to find that many girls don't shave

It looks like they stuck a Troll doll in between their legs

I was only there for 6 months, so my answers my not be as complete as other with more experience.

Cellphone companies all vaguely offer the same services, so shop around and pick the one you like. All you need to register is your gajin card and you need to be 20 and over (which I wasn't so it was more complicated).

For the language, I studied a bit before leaving on my own. I really liked kanji so I knew about 700-800 before leaving. The language was easy enough to pick up but as with anything becoming really good takes work and time. Sounds like you're already fairly good, so you probably shouldn't worry too much.

I don't really know Osaka, but in Tokyo I would stick with trains and bike.

I have no idea about health insurance, sorry.

Pot isn't a widespread as in other parts of the world and you have to be careful when you buy and smoke. Like anywhere, Im sure you'll make friends that will be able to hook you up, but most of the time the weed is ****** and expensive. Just get drunk like everybody else.

Im assuming the last question is a joke but yeah, most off them don't.

Other people on this board will be able to help you out much better than I can, but my brother who has lived in Japan for 2+ years was under the impression that you don't really want to be caught with drugs.

I don't think that you'll want a Vespa.

I've been in Osaka for a little under a week. It was a ****-hole.

I've been in Osaka for a little under a week. It was a ****-hole.

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lawl?

I love Osaka.

Heh maybe it was the neighborhood I was in or something. It just seemed kind of bleak and tired. I had just come from Kyoto, so that might have had an influence on my impression. I will say, that I did have some mighty good eats in Osaka.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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What is the best option for cell phone service? I'm going to be around for a year, maybe two or maybe more, I'm not sure.

If you are just going to use the phone in Japan (and not take it abroad) then the differences between services are small.

Transportation: I'm thinking of getting a Vespa or something. Good idea? Bad idea? Should I stick with public trans and a bike?

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Vespa type scooters are very popular in Japan. It might be better than having just a bike. Public trans is very good, so you don`t have to worry about getting a car.

Do you find medical help is decent? I plan to pay for health insurance, I'm afraid that if something goes wrong I won't be able to communicate with the doctors.

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I am sure you will be able to find someone in the hospital that speaks English. For routine check ups, etc. I would recommend finding a clinic that caters to the Expat community. Then the clinic can refer you to a larger hospital if necessary. In emergency situations, you will just have to improvise.

Is pot really that illegal in Japan?

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It`s all over the place, but you really do not want to get caught. Even possession of a small amount is a serious offense in Japan.

Do Japanese women really not shave their uhhh body hair?

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I hate that too. They prick off all of their eyebrows until nothing is left, but leave everything growing down under. Not all of them, but I would say at least 80-90% do not do anything (or very little) gardening down there. The clean, simple, zen like gardens are rare.

In 2 years, you should be able to speak Japanese pretty well. For language, I would recommend Tokyo over Osaka. Osaka is like the South in America. If you want to develop a southern accent, then Osaka is better, but if you want to develop the standard accent, then Tokyo is better.

Hey Brian,

For cell phone:
Unless the system has changed, you will have to wait until after you are issued your "Alien Registration Card", which will take a few weeks after you apply. After that, there are a variety of companies and phone types. I use AU and Softbank and they are both fine. NTT Docomo is the market leader and will be fine also. After you get here, just ask around and see what other people are using and how happy they are with their unit. Most phones, but not all, can be set so that the display is in English. Make sure to ask which ones are bilingual.

For the language; Your goal is to become fluent? Then you have to study. And you should put yourself into a life situation where you HAVE to speak Japanese. It is very easy to get by in Japan without speaking Japanese at all.
For me? My Japanese is crap and I have been here for a decade. I have never studied and all people around me speak English. It has some advantages.

Transportation: You better check out the Driver's License situation for Americans. I think it may be more complicated than simply getting an international license. If the license is OK, then you may be able to find a cheap scooter around but the cost of parking is very high. Osaka has a great subway system and the downtown core is not that huge so most people that live downtown use a bicycle.

Medical: Don't worry. The standard of health care here is fine and many doctors speak English. Will you use national health insurance or use a private insurer?

Pot is very illegal in Japan and quite a few foreigners are sitting in Japanese prisons today for having minor amounts of it. That being said, it is available...but expensive.

In my experience, Japanese women will remove any unwanted body hair on arms, legs, face etc but not touch the pubis. Jason's Troll Doll analogy is correct. But there have been a few exceptions...try to find a beach girl that wears a bikini- she will trim.


I live in Kobe and work in Osaka. Let me know if you have any other Q's.

Originally Posted by Alter

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Transportation: You better check out the Driver's License situation for Americans. I think it may be more complicated than simply getting an international license. If the license is OK, then you may be able to find a cheap scooter around but the cost of parking is very high. Osaka has a great subway system and the downtown core is not that huge so most people that live downtown use a bicycle.

Just take your American license to the Japanese version DMV, and you can apply to get your Japanese license converted. You will still have to take a simple written test and maybe a short driving test. Once you get your car license converted, you can ride 50cc scooters with the same license.

In my experience, Japanese women will remove any unwanted body hair on arms, legs, face etc but not touch the pubis. Jason's Troll Doll analogy is correct. But there have been a few exceptions...try to find a beach girl that wears a bikini- she will trim.

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Unfortunately, even if you find a bikini girl, she will probably only have the sides shaved a bit. The rest will still be like a garden that hasn`t been taken care of for 10 years.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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So I'm going to be moving to Osaka (hopefully, the exact location unfortunately is not guaranteed to be Osaka, it may end up Kyoto or Tokyo - I REALLY hope I don't have to go to Tokyo) sometime in the next two months here. I have some questions for those who live and work in Japan:

Kyoto or Tokyo would be preferable in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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What is the best option for cell phone service? I'm going to be around for a year, maybe two or maybe more, I'm not sure.

The government is planning to mandate number portability and the interchangeability of IC cards in around 2008, so at some point it really won't matter which company you use.

I'm very happy with my Softbank 707 SCII ultrathin.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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As far as the language goes, are you completely fluent, and how long did it take you to get there, and from what background did you start? I know enough Japanese that I could probably type this thread in mediocre mismatched accents, but I'm worried even that will not be enough of a start to truly become fluent, especially in Kanji (I know only 200 or so Kanji on a read-and-write basis right now).

I've been studying for 20 years now and am still going. 200 kanji isn't even the tip of the iceberg. It will take a lifetime of brute memorization and continuous practice. Don't fool yourself about this. You'll need to take lessons, preferably intensive, if you can manage it. Being immersed in the culture helps. DON'T learn Osaka-ben or you'll be made fun of in the years to come.

For me, work is equivalent to study because I'm speaking 95% Japanese on a daily basis and translating. *****cat and I speak only Japanese. Beware of falling into the trap of speaking English with your SO.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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Transportation: I'm thinking of getting a Vespa or something. Good idea? Bad idea? Should I stick with public trans and a bike?

Trains and bike.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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Do you find medical help is decent? I plan to pay for health insurance, I'm afraid that if something goes wrong I won't be able to communicate with the doctors.

Kyoto Baptist Hospital is where everyone went in Kyoto. But as someone mentioned, most doctors speak enough English that you'll probably get by. Dentists are a different story, in my experience.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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Is pot really that illegal in Japan?

Yup, but still available. Quality is hit or miss and it's expensive.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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Do Japanese women really not shave their uhhh body hair?

My experience seems to differ from most of the people here. I've found Japanese women to be some of the most naturally hairless women on the planet, though I've had a couple who required a map and a machete.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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HELP ME OUT EXPATS!

Hope that helps.

Also, Brian, watch out for Kancho!

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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Also, Brian, watch out for Kancho!
And definitely watch out for "gang kanchou"!

What's with the pubic hair hate?

Thanks for the opinions. I was going to learn osaka-ben for the fun of it, I really have no professional purpose of learning Japanese at all. Is it really that bad?

A lot of things said differ from what I thought I knew so its very helpful.

Originally Posted by Brian SD

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Thanks for the opinions. I was going to learn osaka-ben for the fun of it, I really have no professional purpose of learning Japanese at all. Is it really that bad?

A lot of things said differ from what I thought I knew so its very helpful.

The thing about Kansai-ben is that it always comes across as sounding comical from a non-Japanese person. Like a non-American speaking with a "down south" hillbilly twang.

That being said, the only Japanese I know is Kansai-ben. I also know some very succesful non-Japanese business-people that primarily speak Kansai-ben (but they can switch to standard Japanese also).

The one thing to be careful of is to mimic the Japanese you learn from girlfriends. Japanese vocabulary is very gender-specific and you will end up sounding like a flaming homosexual.