Alien Times July 2003
Computing in Japan
Introduction
E-mail is one of the most important methods of communication between foreigners in Japan (how else would you be able to invite 160 people to your 1LDK for a party on the weekend?). You should have an e-mail address. If you do not have one, there are many free services available that will provide one (e.g. Hotmail www.hotmail.com or Yahoo www.yahoo.com). Most of the information you will get will come from direct email or email lists.
Great! How do I get started?
Well, in order to enter the incredible world of computing, you will need to get access to a computer. You can either buy and / or use your own, or use one at a public facility or internet cafe.
Where do I buy one?
Often people make the decision to purchase their own computer after being here a few months. Laptops are popular due to their convenience and the ability to take them home after you have completed your time here.
Japan is well known to be an electronics paradise. All the latest high tech gadgets are available here, and often before they are released elsewhere in the world. Most electronics stores sell a variety of computers, both laptops and desktops. A good laptop can be purchased at a cost of around 150,000 yen. Anything cheaper would usually be perfectly adequate for things like general word processing, but if you are purchasing one new, it is better to pay a little extra and get alot more.
The best place to shop for computers and related items, is Akihabara (or Electric Town as it is sometimes known). Akihabara is in Tokyo and is about 2.5 hours from Mito by train (Take the Joban Line from Mito to Ueno, then the Yamanote Line from Ueno to Akihabara). Most stores in Akihabara have some English speaking staff, cheap prices and generally more variety than you would find anywhere else. In some stores you are able to order in English software. International models are sometimes available also.
Tips and Tricks
Most Japanese electronics stores promote and operate customer loyalty programs based on point cards. Yodobashi Camera (electronics as well), Bic Camera (electronics also)and WonderStation to name a few, all operate similar programs. Usually about 5-15% of the purchase price will be credited onto the card to offset purchases made at a later date. When you consider that 10% of 150,000 yen is 15,000 yen and that 15,000 yen is enough for a cheap printer or a good kerosene heater, these cards are definitely worth signing up for. Cost to join = NOTHING! (But you can't always use the points on the same day that you get them)
What should I look for?
If you plan to use your computer for word processing, internet access and writing the occasional CD, most laptops priced around 130,000 yen would suit your needs.
An average system should include:
- An Intel or AMD CPU operating at a minimum of around 1.3 GHz
- 128-256MB of Memory
- 14.1in screen
- 30Gb Hard Drive
- Modem and or 10/100 LAN Adapter
- Minimum 24x CD Burner
Other options that will add to the cost are:
- DVD combo drives.
- USB 2.0 or Firewire ports
- Larger screens
- A more powerful processor.
- Larger Hard Drives
- Better graphics chips (so you can play reasonable games on it)
- 15in screen (a lot easier to work with)
What else should I consider?
Often computers sold in Japan carry only a Domestic Warranty. If the computer dies or needs a component replaced under warranty, it will need to be returned to Japan for authorised servicing. Ask about an International Warranty before purchasing.
Japanese computers carry Japanese keyboards. If you find this irritating, ask if an international model is available.
What plugs are provided with the computer. Will it operate normally in your home country? What about voltages and Modems?
Can you get English software on your computer instead of the Japanese versions? How much extra will this cost?
Bringing one from Home
To avoid all the traps and pitfalls of purchasing a computer here, many people elect to bring a computer from home. In many cases the prices may be cheaper in your home country.
Things to consider
Japanese electricity is 100/110 volts 50-60hz. Voltages and frequenciesdiffer between Eastern and Western Japan but moderm appliances are built to cope with this difference. Nearly all laptop computers have a universal power supply, however be warned, some don't. Voltage adapters are available in Japan but they are usually quite expensive.
If you are bringing a computer from Europe, you will need to purchase an adapter for the telephone socket as the plugs are slightly different here.
Notes for Geeks
Some of us just can't stop ourselves from tinkering with any new machinery we get. Some of us just prefer to build things ourselves. Here are a few pointers for the more technically minded:
Shopping for parts in Japan can be a trying experience. Most Japanese computer store clerks know only a little about their products, even less jargon, and almost no English. It is sometimes like trying to communicate with someone by trying to translate through two languages. Before you go shopping for parts try to gather as much information about the product as possible.
Steer clear of Japanese domestic models, If you wish to upgrade a driver or need a need a new BIOS or other kind of support, you will probably need to navigate through a badly constructed Japanese website to get it.
If you purchase a Japanese computer with the intention of wiping the Hard Drive and replacing the operating system with an English version, beware. As soon as you wipe the drive, you will have invalidated the manufacturers warranty.
White Box, or OEM parts carry an extremely short warranty in Japan. In the region of two weeks to a month.
ARRRRGH! It's Dead
If the gerbil powering your computer dies or if you mistake the CD tray for a cup holder and it snaps off, you will need to get it repaired. There are three possible scenarios here.
- It's a Japanese Computer.
Probably the easiest scenario to resolve. If the computer is still under warranty, just return it to the store that it was purchased from (Just like home). If is isn't under warranty then you will need to find a Japanese retailer who does repairs.
- It's a foreign computer that is under warranty.
Warranties come in two flavours. International and Domestic warranties. If it is an international warranty, then it is reasonably simple to resolve. Ask someone to find the nearest branch of that manufacturer and make contact with them. If the computer is running an English operating system, it may take a little longer to get repaired as they will need to send it to someone with English skills. If it is a domestic warranty, then refer to the next section.
- It's a Japanese computer with an English Operating System you have installed yourself, or an international model that is out of warranty.
If this is your situation, you will usually need to find a shop that specialises in English computing, or a local computer guru who is willing and able to help you. Many Japanese shops will not take computers with English operating systems for repairs.
Software
Computing in Japan is a little different from computing in an English speaking country. Here are a few points to look into:
Anti-Virus Software
If you don't have it.... GET IT!. If you already have it . . . UPDATE IT! Schools and businesses in Japan are notoriously bad at installing and maintaining Anti-virus software. The result is that there are A LOT of worms and virii floating around. In the 9 months I have been here, I have encountered more virii and worms than in my previous 10 years computing. In addition, most people will be storing worksheets and other personal information on their computers. Ask yourself, do you really want to loose all that information because someone sent you some "Pictures of the party last night".
What software should I get?
Norton Anti-Virus is recognised as one of the best packages available. It monitors your system while it is running, as well as scanning all incoming and outgoing e-mails for infected files. An English version of Norton Antivirus can be purchased online (www.symantec.com) and downloaded for about USD$39.95. If you intend to purchase this, consider buying Norton Systemworks as it includes the Anti-Virus program as well as a set of utilities to maintain the health of your computer for only a little extra.
Other Anti-virus packages are available that include different features and cost more/less. I personally have tried many of them and would recommend Norton Antivirus above the rest, however, different people have different opinions. You can evaluate Trial versions of Anti-virus software (usually time limited to 30 days) by going to the sites listed below:
Norton Antivirus (www.symantec.com)
McAfee Antivirus (www.mcafee.com)
Pc-cillin (www.download.com)
Updating the software
Anti-virus software is only effective if it knows what to look for. Every good anti-virus program has a library of virii signatures built into it. The library is very similar to a library of medical books, with lists of symptoms that your computer may exhibit and treatments. As more virii and worms are found, new entries are made in the medical book. HOWEVER your anti-virus program can only work effectively if it has the latest version of these books.
Many modern anti-virus programs are able to automatically update themselves on the internet. Norton calls this feature LiveUpdate and the whole process usually takes less than five minutes. BUT . . . some antivirus programs require that you download a small program or package of files, and somehow use these to replace the existing library.
Firewalls
If you plan to use a high speed connection to the internet (especially if you use file sharing software like Gnutella, Limewire, Morpheus or Bearshare), you should also use firewall software. There is a remote, but very real possibility, that your system could be target for a hacking attempt or used for some other malicious perpose without you knowing. Download a program called ZoneAlarm from the internet to protect yourself. ZoneAlarm is free for personal use.
Japanese Keyboards in Windows
Windows 95, 98(SE) and ME
To change the 101 (normal style) keyboard to the Japanese A01 style you will need the following files:
KBDJPA01.KBD (Japanese Keyboard Driver File. Save to the C:/windows/system folder)
JKEYB.REG (Registry Entry. Double click on the file and merge into the registry)
These file can be found at this site:
www2.gol.com/users/pbw/jkeyb.htm
Once this is done, go to Control Panel and then the Keyboard icon. On the Language tab highlight your version English (US or UK as the case may be) and then press Properties. Then you will be able to select the newly created Japanese Keyboard Layout A01. Once you have done this press apply.
Windows 2000 and XP (Home and Professional)
Go to the Device Manager and select the current keyboard. Click on Update Driver and select either a PC/AT 106 Keyboard or a Japanese PS2 Keyboard. Next, go to the Control Panel and select Regional Options then select Japanese Language as an addition language option. You may require your installation disk for this step. Reboot your computer. Once the computer has restarted, go to Control Panel and then Keyboard. Change the keyboard layout of the English Language to Japanese.
The Internet
You haven't been on the 'net for close to 3 weeks and your Hotmail account is set to explode with all the e-mails from Uncle Larry wanting to find out how you are in Japan. You need to get online.
Connection Methods
There are three main methods of connecting to the Internet in Japan.
Dial-Up (max 56k)
This is by far the most common method but it can also be the most expensive depending on how much you use it. The actual cost of the Flat Rate (all you can use) account is relatively low, about 2,000 yen per month with OCN. However, NTT charges 10 yen for 3 minutes for a local call which works out to 200yen per hour. If you spend 1 hour each day on the net writing mails and reading news from home, that works out to 6000 yen for local call charges alone plus the 2,000 for the account, so the grand total for the month is about 8,000 yen. (With TimePlus you pay an extra 1000 yen (?) per month and pay 10 yen for 5 minutes instead of the usual 3. This is useful for heavy internet users who cannot get ADSL as it cuts the local calling charges by a third.)
How do I get started?
Firstly, you will need a 56k modem installed and working correctly in your computer. The next step is to go to the local electrical appliance store, or sometimes railway station, and pick up a connection brochure. Ask your supervisor to help you fill out the form an fax it off. About a week later you will receive a letter in the post detailing your passwords, login names and other settings. You may need to ask your local computer guru to help you setup these options if you are not able to do so yourself.
ADSL (max 12mb)
In simple terms, if you are in an area that has it, GET IT! Download speeds of up to 12mb per second makes this form of connection up to 160x faster than a dial-up account. I addition there are NO LOCAL CALL CHARGES and no limits on the amount that you can download each month for this kind of service. By now you are thinking that you will need to sell your first born child into slavery to pay for this account -- WRONG. In the last year, the prices for these plans have gone through the floor. An all you can use, 8mb account has an average monthly charge of about 3,500 yen (plus NO local call charges) and this includes the rental modem.
But there must be some kind of catch? Right?
Yes, there is. ADSL is mainly confined to urban areas. In addition, the rollout of this technology is still in its early stages. If you live in the South of Ibaraki you are more likely to have access to this service than those in the North. You must also live within about 6km of a telephone exchange, as the ADSL signal degrades over distance. Anyone living in a rural area can almost write off any chance of using this kind of connection.
How do I get started?
NTT is VERY slow at getting anything organised so contact Naomi at www.bricks.co.jp, who is an authorised reseller for NTT. Bricks do not charge anything for this signup service and they are a lot quicker than dealing with NTT directly.
You have two options regarding the modem that you will need. You can rent them for about 300 yen a month, or purchase one outright (about 15,000 yen). Options with the rental modem may be limited (ex internal vs external) and the type of connection between the modem and the computer will affect overall data transfer speeds.
You will also need a 'splitter' (a small plastic box which connects to the telephone outlet in your apartment) These can be purchased for around 1,000-2,000 yen. (This comes with a rental modem.)
The next step is to go to the local electrical appliance store, or sometimes railway station, and pick up a connection brochure. Ask your supervisor to help you fill out the form an fax it off. About a week later you will receive a letter in the post detailing your passwords, login names and other settings. You may need to ask your local computer guru to help you setup these options if you are not able to do so yourself. Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) do not support English operating systems so you will not be able to call them for help with configuration.
ISDN
ISDN the third option between ADSL and Dial-up in terms of speed. Prices for the FletsISDN plan from NTT around 3,000 yen a month. Using this kind of connection you will be able to use your telephone at the same time as using the internet, and if you are using some operators have an agreement with NTT so that if your sign up for it you will not be charged local calling fees.
You will need a piece of equipment called a Terminal Adapter (T.A.). These can be purchased for arount 10,000 yen and most electronics stores. The terminal adapter plugs into your regular telephone socket and acts both as an ISDN modem as well as a splitter, to allow you to make calls at the same time as using the internet.
ISDN isn't for everyone though. Only some areas qualify for the 'Flets' (all you can use) plans. If you can't get Flets, then there isn't really much of an advantage over a standard dial-up connection in terms of speed or costs as you'll be paying the normal local calling charges (10 yen for 3 minutes).
See the above instructions for signing up for an ADSL connection if you wish to use ISDN.
Paul Granberg
Alien Scientist: Monsters Are Us
We humans delight in fabulous beasts and monsters. As if the diversity of species on Earth were not enough, we always seem to need more of the exotic, monstrous kinds to satisfy our imaginations. We would trade thousands of species of beetle for just one species of dragon.
Anything big, angry and hungry could make a good monster. However, there is more to monstrosity than size, temper or appetite: somehow a Very Large Rabbit or a Rather Cross Unfed Goat do not seem to be the real stuff of scariness. There has to be something strange or alien about a creature to make it truly monstrous.
Something like a sea anemone - which turns from a ghastly glistening brown polyp into a menacing tentacled carnivore - sounds intrinsically creepy. But it's the wrong scale. A human-flesh-eating carpet bug grown to the size of a house is more like it: and just the right combination of brute and creepy-crawly. (In contrast, a mouse-sized elephant sounds more cutesy-kawaii than anything else).
Then again, just looking strange is never enough to be scary. A life-form can't afford to appear too alien, or we would hardly recognise it as anything threatening.
It is easy to imagine the terror of a Godzilla-like creature stalking the streets of Tokyo, because it seems plausible to scale up a lizard to the dimensions of a dinosaur (after all, we have seen the size of those bones!). Similarly, a horribly slimy sea monster could be imagined reaching its tentacles out from the city's murky river channels, curling round the pillars of the Shuto Expressway and hungrily plucking people from their vehicles like mussels from their shells.
In contrast, we find it harder to relate to what a 'giant microbe' would look like 'stalking' the streets of Tokyo, because the world of the microbe is so alien to us. To envisage a viable scenario, we might have to first imagine the city drenched in an organic ooze, from which mega-microbes would emerge to attack us. An unpleasant image, perhaps, but a bit far-fetched to be convincingly chilling.
In general, the more contrived the image, the less threatening the impact on the senses - as a dip into Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings can elicit. The vision of Kujata, the bull with 4000 eyes, ears, nostrils, mouths and feet is somehow just too much for the imagination. Whereas Japan's Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi seems to have just the right amount of fearful exaggeration, having eight heads and eight tails stretching over eight hills and eight valleys. (This brute devours seven maidens before a god lops off all eight of its heads after enticing it to drink from eight tubs of rice beer.)
For a good monster, then, being vividly imaginable is a great start; the clincher is a convincing provenance. The mythical chimera is clearly intelligible as a monstrous hybrid: a lion's head, goat's body and snake's tail. (Such a creature could provide a nourishing meal of three different meat courses. A 'chimera kebab' could be a classic snack). But if the coupling of any two of those component creatures stretches credulity, the threesome seems to take things too far.
And so, biological possibility is ever the brake on monstrous actuality. In their book Evolving the Alien, Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart point out that the aliens in War of the Worlds could not have fed on human blood, or been infected by earthly bacteria, because they wouldn't have had the right biochemistry. It is because predators, prey and parasites all evolved together that we form a single food chain. We earthlings are, collectively, what we eat. Vampire bats are viable on Earth because they have a sympathy with our blood. Alien vampires, it seems, just wouldn't do. Alien invaders, no matter how scary, are unlikely to be interested in eating us or sucking our blood; far less mating with us.
A monster is scarier, then, as it gets closer to home. The giant insect with huge bulging eyes and slobbering mouthparts is scary partly because we recognise these as monstrous analogues of human features.
More monstrous still could be the cross-breeding of humans with other species. In one sense, mythical creatures that are half-human seem less alien than other kinds of monsters - mermaids and minotaurs seem to have very human qualities and frailties - but only so long as they are safely confined to the mythology of the past. The idea of engineering a real live hybrid of human and non-human perhaps gets more scary as it gets technically more plausible - as science fiction threatens to hatch out as science fact.
Stephen Marshall
Russian Vodka Ceremony
Everyone knows Japanese tea ceremony, but every nation has its traditions. I have made an attempt to look on the Russian Vodka Drinking Ceremony through the prism of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. This is a highly spiritual process, so it is very difficult to translate it into English. You better ask your Russian friend for a practical demonstration.
Click the text to open the Russian document in a new window.
Michael Mozzhechkov
Science Projects for Big Kids
Cubic watermelons in our round plates?
How nice it is to eat a watermelon during the summer. But handling these fruits is not very easy as their round shape make them roll very easily. An agricultural cooperative in Kagawa Prefecture has found the solution: they produce cubic watermelons! No need to use genetic engineering to produce these watermelons, they take this shape because they grow in cubic glass! The only problem at the moment is that they are not good for human consumption...
Are the US and their allies going to invade Mars?
The red planet seems to be the preferred target of the astrophysicists at the moment. Following the launches of Mars Express by the Europeans (with a Russian launcher) and two Mars Exploration Rovers by NASA, no less than 4 spacecrafts are due to converge on Mars by early 2004. The Japaneses will also be present with the craft Nozomi which was launched a few years ago but suffered badly from a solar flare and should arrive at almost the same time. Why this sudden interest in the red planet? Mars is this month very close to the earth (just 56 million km) and thus you can save on the fuel by sending your crafts now.
More details at www.nature.com/nsu/030602/030602-1.html
Nicolas Delerue
Drivers Licenses: What You Need to Know
You are legal to drive in Japan with an international drivers license for 1 year. After this, you must get a Japanese license. I would suggest making your first attempt at getting your license several months before your international license expires, so that you don't have to drive illegally if you fail. You must wait a month to re-take the test after every failure.
I understand that for some its really too much of a pain to get your Japanese license. It's even possible to get away with it if you are stopped: the police might not know that there is a new law or might not want to bother to try to figure out if your current international license is valid. However, if you get in an accident, it seems more likely that the facts will come out. If you are in an accident without a legally valid drivers license, your insurance policy may be automatically void and you will be liable for damages, which can be very expensive. Although I've already heard one story of a guy who'd been in Japan for 8 years and whose insurance still came through with only his international license. So the choice is yours.
Here's some information about getting your Japanese license if you already hold a valid license from your home country (prices from September 2002 and subject to change):
First step is to get an official translation of your home country's license. You can do this by post, or maybe in person (but best check by phoning Ibaraki JAF beforehand on 029-244-7211). To get a translation by post, photocopy your home country license, front and back, and mail it together with your name, address and phone number and 3,700 yen (cash) in a special envelope called a 'genkin kakitome', which you get at your post office to: JAF Ibaraki branch, 24757 Senbacho, Mito-shi, Postal code 130-0851. They say it takes 7-10 days, but mine took 2.
Once you have received your translation, you have to go in person to change your license over to a Japanese one. In Ibaraki, you do this through the licensing bureau in Mito. Their address is: Ibaraki-machi Nagaoka Yagashira 3783-3 "Licensing centre", Tel: 0292 93 8811. You can get a bus there (Kanto tetsudo bus, labelled 'to the Licensing office' from the North exit of Mito station.) Or you can just drive to the center. Its near the Ibaraki-machi Higashi I.C. from the Kita Kanto Expressway on prefectural route 50. There is plenty of parking, and the three times I was there I never saw a policeman or other official in the parking lot checking for valid licenses. But again, the risk is up to you.
The foreigner's drivers license window at JAF is only open until 10:00 am Monday through Friday. Get there before 9:00 on your first try to be safe. On subsequent visits, should you need them, be there before 10:00. You must take the following with you:
- your original home country license
- the official translation of you home country license (see above)
- your passport
- 2 passport photos
- your alien card
- your hanko seal
- 2400 yen the first time and every subsequent time you take the test
- 1750 when you pass
If you have to take the road test (US and other countries), here's the scoop on that:
From Joe:
On my third try, I passed the driving test. I could have supplied material for 4 apocalypses, 2 World Wars and a holocaust from all of the violence I imagined befalling the Japan Drivers License Center during the hours they made me sit there and the months between tests, not to mention the needless failures. Although, if I can honestly say its the worst thing I've had to go through in Japan (and I can), then I guess my life isn't too bad. Note: you do not need to take a driving school course in order to take the test. This is true even if you fail, you do not need to attend any classes. Just come back and take the test, however many times it takes to pass.
First and foremost, let me say that, in spite of my preceding invective, it is highly possible to pass the test on the first try and therefore have a much better experience than me. I failed on the first time only because I didn't have this information that I'm giving to all of you. I failed on the second time only due to a very stupid mistake right at the end (more on that later). Otherwise I was nearly perfect. So don't let my experience be a discouragement, let it be instructive. And any other time you wish me to lay myself down upon the pyre of experience to be consumed by a fire of gross ineptitude for your edification, please, just gimme a call.
The test is pedantic, involving what are, in my opinion, arcane driving rules with little relation to actual driving, which is probably to be expected of any driving test anywhere in the world, but I think even more so in Japan. The important thing is to know what is expected of you, partly to prepare mentally beforehand, and partly because your Japanese language might not be up to understanding it when the instructor gives the group instruction before the test.
The test takes place on a course, not on the real road, and in a test car, which is manual or automatic depending on which you choose. The car is about the size of a taxi.
Joe's list of reminders:
- Before you get in the car, walk to the front and back of the vehicle to check the tires.
- When you get in the car, adjust all your mirrors and fasten your seatbelt before you start driving. This one is probably obvious, but I thought I'd throw it in as a reminder.
- You are expected to drive in the far left lane of any road with two lanes of traffic going the same way. The right lane is only for passing (and right turns), which you will have to utilize at least once for that purpose, though only in passing some cones, not in overtaking a moving vehicle.
- An important thing to remember is that if you are using a manual transmission, you must keep both hands on the wheel between shifts. This may be harder than it sounds, because the distances on the driving course are very short and you have to do a lot of shifting up and down. But it is in your best interest to make a show of putting your left hand back on the wheel between shifts.
- The top speed on the course is 40 km/h. Around the corners, you must go much slower. Much slower, I might add, than seems necessary. The instructor pretty much mocked me after my test for slowing 'only' to 25 km/h (I am a bit of a wild one when you get a few milks in me) while we coasted around this vast, expansive corner that anyone would take at 40 on a normal road. I may be embellishing a little, but I know for a fact that it behooves you to slow down to a much slower speed than seems necessary. Try 10 km/h.
- There is a hill on the course, and this part was really confusing to me because I wasn't (and still am not) sure what situation it was supposed to represent. Anyway, I know what you're supposed to do. The instructor will ask you to stop in the middle of your ascent. You must put on your parking brake. Then, when he tells you to go, take the parking brake off, HONK THE HORN (I think this is to warn anyone on the other side of the hill), and proceed. This will involve the difficult task of taking off on a hill with an unfamiliar clutch for manual test takers.
- When making a right turn, look left, right, then left again, and vice-versa.
- One common way to fail that I saw is to make a right turn into the oncoming traffic lane. I did it my second time (the aforementioned fatal mistake) and the guy who tested right before me did it, too. When he did it, I secretly called him an idiot, but my attitude changed after I did the exact same thing. Apparently its an easier mistake to make than it seems. At any rate, I did right after I saw another guy do it. In North America we paint the center lane yellow so we can tell the difference between the two sides. In Japan they like to confuse things and paint everything white. Since there is virtually no other traffic, my usual keen intuitive sense to not drive toward a pair of headlights was useless.
Melanie's list of reminders:
You can lose up to a total of ten points. More than ten points fails you and some mistakes are worth more points than others. If you fail, they won't tell you how many points you lost for each mistake you made. Just try not to make any mistakes!
Before you start driving
- Don't wear sandals or high-heeled shoes.
- Before you open the car door, look back to make sure no cars or pedestrians will run into the door.
- When you are in the car, lock the door, adjust the seat and mirrors, put on your seatbelt and make sure everybody else puts theirs on before you start the engine.
When you are driving
- Keep both hands on the steering wheel and grip the wheel without wrapping your thumbs around it. Your thumbs should be pointing inward towards each other. It sounds anal but they will deduct points if they don't like the way you hold the steering wheel!
- Keep a good posture. They deduct points for bad posture as well.
- Be overdramatic when you look left and right before making turns or crossing intersections. (One of the reasons why I was failed my first time was because although I looked left when making a left turn, the driving test administrator felt that I was not sincere when I looked left.)
- When turning/changing lanes you will need to put on your blinker for 30 meters/ 3 seconds, but sooner is better.
- When making a left turn, you must look, blinker, look, move you car a little bit more to the left of the lane and have about 50 cm between your wheel and the white line on side of the road, then turn.
- When making a right turn, you must look, blinker, look, move into the right lane, look blinker, look move your car closer to the center line, leaving 30 cm between your wheel and the center line, then turn. (They will deduct points for not getting close enough to the center line before turning right!)
- Keep left! This has two meanings.
1. Stay in the left lane at all times except for when passing and changing lanes.
2. Stay closer to the left portion of the lane you are in. In Japan the roads are narrow and this is to prevent head on collisions.
- Don't ignore a yellow traffic signal. Slow down! Don't speed up to beat the red.
- There is a narrow z and an s shaped road you will have to drive on as part of your test. If your wheel goes off the edge and you continue to drive, you will lose 5 points. However, if you back up to get your wheel back on the road and then proceed again, they won't deduct points (if they feel like being nice). Just go very slow and you will be OK.
- When you see a triangle shaped slow down sign. Go below 10 km/hr. Go about 8km/hr to play it safe.
From Joe:
About the course. It consists of several very wide 2-4 lane roads and several tiny curvy Japanese style roads crisscrossing in between. The tiny roads are kind of hard, and I believe you will fail if you fall off the edge. For some of the other things there is a margin of error. You won't automatically fail for just any mistake. There are few cars on the course at any one time, so you thankfully don't have to worry much about responding to other traffic. There is a traffic light and some slow down signs. As mentioned, you will be driving one of the licensing center's cars with the person doing the testing in the passenger seat, and another passenger in the back seat. They are on deck to take the test next. In fact, before you take the test you will be riding in the back as the person before you takes the test. This should help you immensely with remembering what to do.
I arrived at 8:40, finished the paperwork by 9:00 (go to window 12, then to the pay window for 2400 yen in stamps, then to window 14), took a written test at 10:00, and at 10:30 was told to come back at 1:00 for the driving test. So it can be an all day affair.
There is no English help, except for on the written test. My Japanese isn't too hot, and it was only able to get me through all the administrative procedures, but not comprehension of the driving test. If you're Japanese is really poor, bring someone to help.
The written test is really easy. 8 true and false questions drawn from a pool of 24. It is in Japanese English, but comprehensible. At first I was afraid they were trick questions, but it was easy once I figured out that they aren't. Even if you didn't know the answer before, the questions are pretty leading in indicating the correct answer. (This is how I, for example, learned that you are expected to only drive in the left-most lane).
If you fail, you will be told to return at 10 am on a specific date approxiamtely one month later. The re-take involves only the re-doing the driving course if thats all that you fail. Even though you may not do the test until 2pm, you have to register by 10 am, so it can be an all day thing.
When you do pass, after waiting for hours for your turn to take the driving test, the good news is.....you get to wait a few more hours to get your license. They processed the gaijin after everyone else. I passed my test at 1:20, but didn't walk out with a license until 5:00 pm. (violence violence crashing burning reigning terror knives explosions.....sorry got lost in my thoughts there for a second). The last hurdle, besides the wait, is the eye test, which is easy if you can see. You have to know the Japanese words for up down left right (ue, shita, hidari, migi) and red, blue, yellow and green (aka, ao, kiiro, midori). It was at this point that it was really driven home to me how disgruntled our test-meister, was, as a Brazilian man was having trouble with the terminology and the guy giving the test was acting like most people would only imagine acting toward people who frustrate them. Without the violence, at least. Dismissive and rude, is how I would describe it.
More from Melanie:
Those lovely employees at the driver's license center seem to enjoy failing people for any reason they can think of. And even if you do a flawless performance and there is no reason to fail you, they'll make one up and fail you just because they can (from Joe: the man administering the test said she did everything right but that she didn't seem 'confident'). Well at least that was my experience the first time I took the driving test. Anyhow, it is very easy to fail the test numerous times and you have to wait one month between each test. This means if you fail 3 times it will take you 3-months to get your license. If you wait until the last minute and fail your test, you risk being unable to drive if your international license is no longer legal. That happened to a friend of mine.
Now that you have decided you want to jump on the ball and get a Japanese drivers license ASAP, here is some advice to help minimize your chances of being failed on the test. Before you take the behind the wheel driving test, you will need to pass a written examination. This is a very simple exam and almost everybody passes it their first time. Just read up on Japan's road rules and you will be fine. Next is the behind the wheel test. You can choose manual or automatic for this test. I have spoken with some gaikokujin who have taken the test, people at my BOE and a traffic police officer/ driving instructor about the driving test. They gave me some of this helpful info that I have passed on to you.
Joe Kern
Melanie Neault
Conseils de lecture (Book Review)
Religions, croyances et traditions populaires du Japon
publié par Maisonneuve & Larose, 34 Euros, ISBN 8-7068-1432-2
Comprendre les traditions religieuses du Japon n'est pas évident et lire les textes sacrés est souvent difficile, même pour ceux qui maîtrisent la langue. Ce livre permet de pallier à cette difficulté en présentant des traductions de textes fondateurs du shintoïsme et du bouddhisme abondamment commentés et complétés par des explications culturelles et historiques permettant de placer les textes dans leur contexte et d'attirer l'attention du lecteur sur les éléments importants (mais pas toujours évident) qu'ils contiennent. Au fil des pages, le lecteur comprends mieux comment les traditions shintô se sont mises en place au temps où "arbres et plantes se disaient des choses", puis comment de nouvelles traditions se sont ajoutés aux anciennes lors de l'arrivée du Bouddhisme, la fin de l'ouvrage est consacré au syncrétisme entre les deux religions avec, par exemple, un texte relatant comment un moine Bouddhiste libéra un Kami (dieu shintô) de ses tourments. Plusieurs textes illustrent la rivalité entre le mont Fuji et le mont Tsukuba et nous révèlent les traditions existant autour du mont Tsukuba.
Après la lecture de ce livre, vous porterez un regard différent sur les sanctuaires et temples que vous visiterez!
Nicolas Delerue
Hello Work
It isn't very well known, but the staff at "Hello Work" (Public Employment Security Office) provides employment information and consultation for foreigners as well as Japanese. Basically it is for foreigners who are either "spouses of Japanese", "long-term residents", "permanent residents" or have a visa status as professionals or specialists. Students who have permission to work part-time are also eligible for their services. But even persons with a dependent visa can work, although there are some restrictions and it will require a trip to the immigration office.
With a dependent visa you are allowed to work up to 28 hours a week. If you are able to find a job, you will need to have the employer fill out a form stating your work duties and hours. You then take this form and your passport, alien registration card and a certificate of Alien registration for the person whose dependent you are and go to the Immigration office to apply for a "permission to engage in activities other than that permitted by present status".
The staff also said that they don't have any jobs that are especially for foreigners like English teacher, translator, researcher etc. Those kinds of jobs are found through recruiting companies. Hello Work basically offers work where you use your body more than your brain.
The nearest Hello Work Office is in Tsuchiura. Consultation in Chinese is available on Mondays 10 am to 3 pm. English is available on Wednesdays & Fridays 10 am to 3 pm. Please bring your passport and alien registration card and a "Certificate of Alien Registration" for the person whose dependent you are.
Last year over 1000 foreigners came for consultation and about 100 found work. The staff said that it isn't easy for a foreigner to find work especially if he/she can't speak Japanese and doesn't have mobility. Most jobs available are in cleaning, manufacturing etc. The office is located at 1-18-19 Manabe, Tsuchiura City. Phone : (029) 822-5124
Anna Hamakoji
Tsukuba Events
There is an exhaustive and updated list of things to do in Tsukuba (including exhibitions and concerts) at tsukuba.free.fr/events/
If you want to receive a weekly list of events by email, register with our mailing list at tsukuba.free.fr/events/subscribe.php
We need your help to keep this list as complete as possible. If you know of an event we forgot, email me at nicolas@alientimes.org. (We reserve the right to decide which events we will publish.)
Nicolas Delerue
Tsukuba International School To Move
For the past 7 years, Tsukuba International School has been located in two rooms graciously provided by Shuei High School. It has been a relationship from which TIS has benefited greatly, and we wish to thank Shuei for its kindness over the years. TIS's new location will be in the southern part of the city near the border with Ushiku. Academia Kindergarten has a couple of very nice "log cabin" style buildings on its property, and TIS will be using part of the "Chopin House". The facilities there are very nice and will give TIS the possibility of further expansion.
For AT readers not familiar with TIS, the school began in 1992 as a "one-room school house" for elementary school-aged children to be educated with an international curriculum in English. Beginning with just 6 students and 1 teacher, TIS had 14 students for the 2002-03 school year with 3 teachers (1 full-time and 2 part-time), along with several volunteers who taught specific subjects, such as music, art and Japanese. A similar format is planned for the next school year, beginning in September. For further information on TIS, please check out the school web site at www.tsukubainternationalschool.org.
Tim Boyle
Shakespeare in English
The Taming of the Shrew
July 27th (Sun.) 14:00; Tsukuba Capio Hall
In English with Japanese superimposed dialogue
General Public 1000 yen
Student 800 yen (For University students or vocational school students)
*Only children 10 years old or over admitted.
Performed by the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS):
Founded in 1885 that OUDS would be "free from club and class jealousies" and with the intention of being different from other clubs which had acquired a bad name for their less than orderly behavior, OUDS today is responsible for the most exciting and experimental theatre in Oxford.
Tsukuba Capio Hall
Book Review: Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary
For foreigners who are not familiar with kanji, most of the dictionaries available here in Japan are of little use when they need to pronounce a word. On the other hand romanized dictionaries are not very useful when one wants to write a word (or to match a word with a Kanji). The Furigana dictionary published by Kodansha addresses this problem. This dictionary is written for foreigners and uses furigana to help them pronounce the kanji. Furigana are little hiragana letters printed above each Kanji to show how to pronounce it. For most of the entries in this dictionary, a sentence gives an example of the usage of this word. The dictionary also includes a special section dedicated to numerals and counters (useful to remember how to count unfamiliar items). It also includes a list of Japanese cities and prefectures as well as verb and adjective conjugation. With its 30 000 entries this dictionary will certainly be very useful to all those who have not yet mastered all the kanji in the Joyo list!
Nicolas Delerue
T1 Communications Community Donation Program
Support Tsukuba International School and Save Money!
There are 2 big reasons why TIS would like you to consider using T1 international and domestic long distance, direct dial services.
1. You can make up to 80% MORE SAVINGS when you use T1 to call internationally or domestically compared to NTT, KDD, etc. and get the exact same high quality connections. (Don't worry! T1 is not an IP or callback service.)
2. You can support TIS by designating TIS on the T-1 application form provided below (i.e. A generous percentage of your monthly telephone usage will be donated directly back to TIS). Instead of spending big bucks (or rather yen) for ads which only help magazines and newspaper owners, T1 Communications has created a program that allows community service organizations like TIS to help themselves. (Isn't this the way it should be?)
While you, our TIS supporters, save more using their excellent services, "we" as a group can automatically generate a significant and very generous residual donation that will help TIS provide a better international school for the children here in the community.
T1 registration is FREE. They don't have any monthly charges or additional charges. You can also dial NATIONWIDE in Japan any time of day for only 7 yen per minute! If you're calling Hokkaido or Kyushu on a weekday, that's a huge savings. Their international rates are ROCK-BOTTOM. 15 yen per minute to the United States or Canada 24hr x 7 x 365, and they have 24hr on-line consolidated billing details and call records you can access for FREE.
Check out their web site (www.t-1.co.jp/index1.html) for more information, BUT...don't forget to use the TIS APPLICATION FORM to support our school. TIS will get a list of names of those of you who have registered with T1 to support TIS, so we'll surely be thanking you again in another letter soon.
Tim Boyle
Chairperson, Board of Advisors, TIS
Information about the Tsukuba International School can be found on www.tsukubainternationalschool.org.
Tim Boyle
Photograph Exhibition: "Nahjejida" (Hope)
Sponsors: Tsukuba City, Nahjejida Executive Committee
8th (Tue.) July to 13th (Sun.)
Tsukuba Museum of Art, Ibaraki
Entrance: FREE
Photographer/Director: Seiichi Motohashi
Seiichi Motohashi went to Chernobyl for the first time in 1991. He visited reactor 4 of the nuclear power station and the hospitals in the contaminated region. For the past five years he has continually revisited the scene of events and photographed the people who confront the catastrophe with the courage of despair. Since he believes that "film can only emerge from a close relationship to reality" he has spent an extended period living with them, and has come to the conclusion that they have a fulfilled life, despite the enormous problems of daily existence and the danger of radioactivity they constantly face. Included are photographs from "Mugen hoyo", "Nadya's Village" and "Alexei and the Spring".
Tsukuba Museum of Art, Ibaraki
Helpful Hints: Telephone Line Transfer
Tsukuba has such a fluid population, there are probably a number of people at any given time looking to buy or sell a "telephone line". (The term "telephone line" is a bit misleading because you are not actually buying a line, but rather the "right to have a line".) Have a look at the following page for information about buying your telephone line directly from NTT.
www.ntt-east.co.jp/product_e/guidebook/1/index.html
However, as we have a lot of people coming and going at any one time, there is a much cheaper way of going about this process. First of all, find someone who is trying to sell their line. Often you will find sellers on the TAIRA mailing list. See this website to see the archives or join the list: eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp. If no one has posted a selling message recently, send a note to the list saying that you would like to buy a telephone line. You should get a few responses. (I did this recently and got about seven responses.)
If you buy directly from NTT, you will have to pay over 70,000 yen. If you buy from someone in Tsukuba, you are likely to pay somewhere between 25,000 yen and 35,000 yen.
Once you have found a buyer/seller, the two of you will have to go to the NTT office to do the transfer. Here are the basic instructions for completing the transfer.
Both the current and new subscribers should complete and sign the form 'Request for Approval for Transfer of Telephone Subscription Rights' (Denwa Kanyuken Joto Shonin Seikyusho) available from NTT East service counters, and submit this along with the necessary documents. There is a handling fee of 800 yen (plus 5% consumption tax). Please discuss in advance who will pay this fee, or whether you will share it.
|
Current Subscriber
- Certificate of Alien Registration with current address
- Seal/signature
- Certificate of Signature (required when the current subscriber cannot go to the NTT East service counter in person)
|
New Subscriber
- Certificate of Alien Registration with current address
- Seal/signature
|
Please be aware that any unpaid telephone charges become the responsibility of the new subscriber.
More information on this process can be found on the following page.
www.ntt-east.co.jp/product_e/guidebook/1/3.html
Shaney Crawford
Bella e Bestia (Beauty and the Beast)
13th July (Sun) 16:00; Tsukuba Capio Hall
Original story: Viellenuve's tale
Script & directed: Teresa Ludovico
S 3500 yen, A 2500 yen
Reserved seats only
*Only children 6 years old or over admitted.
(In Italian with Japanese superimposed dialogue)
Italy's Teatro Kismet presents the familiar fairy tale in an athletic and witty hour that both adults and children can enjoy. This theater provides the amplified growls of Beast, the production draws imaginatively on styles from circus clowning to acrobatics and dance.
The play is performed in Italian with Japanese superimposed dialogue. The Beast is never too scary, looking a bit like a man with a teddy bear head, and the actor plays as an attractively athletic figure, swinging from hammocks and rope ladders so that he rarely touches the floor. In appropriate counterpart actor's Beauty evokes both grace and the enegy of youth in her dance-like movements.
*There will be a theater workshop for Kids.
Tsukuba Capio Hall
Tsukuba Toku Talk: Movies
CHEAP THRILLS: Videos & DVDs
There are all sorts of deals to be had when renting videos and DVDs. There are special rates on special days of the month and the three big stores (Big Ben, Ishimaru, and Tsutaya) all offer extended borrowing periods if you rent more than three videos. Have a look at the graph to see a price comparison and read below for more detailed information. (The best prices in each category are highlighted in white.)
Big Ben
Sakura. Movies are half price on the 2nd and 4th (and sometimes 5th) Wednesdays of the month. This store has a very large selection of both old and new movies. As you can see in the chart, it has good prices for old videos (one night rental) especially. You either have to live in the Sakura area, or you have to have a car for this store to be convenient.
Ishimaru www.ishimaru.co.jp
Denki Town. The tiny little DVD rental store has closed and a new one has opened up about 50 metres from the old one. It used to be that this store was cheap but its collection was so small that you often couldn't find what you wanted. Now, however, the collection has been increased substantially (although it still only offers DVDs). During the somewhat undefined "fair" period, all older DVDs are 100 or 200 yen. You can see in the chart that Ishimaru has the best prices in almost all categories. If you have a DVD player (and a car), this may be the best shop to use.
Tsutaya www.tsutaya.co.jp
Denki Town. On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, Tsutaya (near Jusco in Tsukuba Center) offers new movies at 300 yen and older ones at half price. The current Tsutaya will close on July 9th and a new store will open in the "Denki Town" area of Tsukuba (where all the Ishimaru stores are) on July 12. They will add a book section and probably also increase their DVD selection.
Video Alpher
On the east side of the Tsukuba University campus near El Torito. This store is pretty small, but it's very close to the Tsukuba campus, so many people use it. It has a special discount system that sounds a bit complicated, but I have been assured that it makes sense once you've tried it out. All OLD videos are 100 yen on the days that end with the same number as the month (in July, that would be the 7th, 17th, and 27th). You get the videos for 7 days in January, February, March, November and December, and for 3 days in the other months. Then, seven days after those days (eg. 14th, 24th, and ??), you can rent NEW videos for half price for 3 days. In certain months, this creates a perfect cycle so you can rent old videos for one week, then when you return them you can rent new videos for three days, then when you return them you can rent old videos again, etc. Neat, eh?
Thanks to Ashwin, Chin-Tan, Efren, Farshid, Jirka, A. Sundaresan, Takayuki, Tomomi, and Yilmaz for information about the various stores and discount plans.
EXPENSIVE THRILLS: Movies
Cineplex www.cineplex.co.jp/tsukuba/
Cineplex (in Tsukuba You World on Route 354 at the southern part of the city) has various deals so you should never have to pay full price (1800 yen) if you play your cards right. Late shows (starting after 9pm) are 1200 yen. On the first day of every month, you can see shows for 1000 yen, and if you are a woman, you can see 1000 yen shows every Wednesday too. University students and high school students can get in for 1500 yen as long as they show their student card. JHS and elementary school kids are always 1000 yen. Seniors (above 60 years of age) get in for 1000 yen, and children below 3 get the "amazing" price of 900 yen. Note that almost all discounts are invalid for sneak preview shows (usually shown on a Saturday, one week before the show opens) and premiers.
By the way, Cineplex is celebrating its 3rd anniversary from June 21st to July 18th by doubling the points you can get on their point card. Also, movies will be 1000 yen on July 8th, the actual anniversary.
There are also a few theatres in Tsuchiura:
Tsuchiura Central Cinema www.tsuchiura-central.com
Tsuchiura Piccadilly www.piccadilly.co.jp
Cinema Easter
You can find a weekly Schedule on the Joyo Living website
www.joyoliving.co.jp/movie/schedule/kennan/thisweek.htm. This and all other websites mentioned in this section are all in Japanese, but you might be able to read enough to figure out what is showing if you know a few katakana characters.
NOTE: Companies that are mentioned in "Toku Talk" are not being endorsed by Alien Times. This information is provided to give you an idea of what is available. You will need to do your own research to figure out what is best for you.
Shaney Crawford
Webster
Tim, our faithful editor, recommends having a look at the March issue of Japanzine for a very good list of weblinks. You can see the current issue (click on the first link below), or go directly to the article in March that lists the weblinks (click on the second link below).
www.japan-zine.com
www.japan-zine.com/0303/Feature.htm
Mario from the Livetalk Tsukuba email list offers a program that will kill the annoying pop-up ads on some websites. The guy who made the program offers it for free, but you can make a donation if you want. (I have installed the program on my computer and I am very happy with it.) Please note that it is only available for Internet Explorer, and only on PCs (not Macs). If you have trouble with the "Open Link in New Window" action after installing this program, you can do it manually by holding down your control key while you click on the link, according to Melissa, another Livetalk Tsukuba regular.
www.endpopups.com
And finally, I have a few that I would like to mention. The first is the very best Japanese-English/English-Japanese dictionary that I have found on the internet. It is fully bilingual, so you can search for English words or Japanese words by using the same searching mechanism. The advantage of using this dictionary is that it usually offers several examples of the word in context, which can help you decide which word to choose in a particular situation. The only drawback is that sometimes they don't provide the pronunciation for difficult kanji (because this site is mainly for Japanese people, I think).
www.alc.co.jp
In order to figure out the readings, you can use Rikai.com which is an online program that shows you the reading of a kanji or compound when you run your mouse over the word. Very easy to use and quite helpful when you have a page full of scary characters to get through.
www.rikai.com
And, to help you with those times when you are not even sure of the original English word, let alone how to translate it into Japanese, please have a look at the online dictionary provided by Merriam-Webster. It offers advice on pronunciation, word origins, synonyms, antonyms, and yes, even a definition of the word.
www.m-w.com
Whenever I do translations, I use these three websites in tandem to try to find the very best word for a particular context.
If you have a website to recommend, please contact us!
Shaney Crawford
Tanoshimi Terebi
As English speakers are not a majority in Japan, we are not blessed with a great deal of quality TV programming. Nevertheless, there are quite a lot of English shows available, so we should be grateful for what we have. Have a look at the general lineup below. (Tanoshimi means "look forward to" and terebi means "television".)
NHK (Ch1)
Bilingual news is shown every day from 7pm and 10pm. ER is on at 11pm on Fridays. Roswell is on at 11:10pm on Sundays. Will & Grace is on at 12:20am (after midnight) on Mondays.
More information at www.nhk.or.jp/englishtop/program_list.
NHK Educational (Ch3)
Some kind of children's comedy show or drama at 6:45pm Mondays to Thursdays and at 6:25 on Fridays. Japanese Traditional Performing Arts Saturdays at 12:30pm and Tuesdays at 5:25am. Sesame Street Saturdays at 7;35am and 4pm. Little House on the Prairie Saturdays at 2:50pm. Also Chinese poetry (in Chinese) Mondays to Fridays at 5am.
More information at www.nhk.or.jp/englishtop/program_list.
NTV - Nihon Terebi (Ch4)
This channel shows movies on Friday nights at 9pm. Next month's schedule includes:
July 4 Major League (1989)
July 11 Deep Blue Sea (1999)
July 18 Death Becomes Her (1992)
July 25 Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
More information at www.ntv.co.jp/kinro
Terebi Tokyo (Ch 12)
This channel shows afternoon movies four days a week (Mondays to Thursdays at 1:30pm). The movies are often old (1960s to 80s), but a new one occasionally slips through.
More information at www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/oa_afr_load
Chiba TV (Ch 5?)
This station has a number of shows, but they are not on every week. (I'm not sure of the channel, but I think it is 5.)
July 1, 8, 15 (Tues) The Trials of Rosie O'Neill at 1:05pm
July 15 (Tues) JAG at 7pm
July 2, 9, 16 (Wed) Party of Five at 1:05pm
July 2, 16 (Wed) Star Trek Voyager at 8pm
July 3, 10, 17 (Thurs) Murder, She Wrote at 1:05pm
More information at www.chiba-tv.com/kaigaitv.html
If you would like to look up information on this month's movies, try the Internet Movie Database at www.imdb.com or Rotten Tomatoes at www.rottentomatoes.com.
Shaney Crawford
Coffee Hour: Yugoslavia, a Land of Diversity
Yugoslavia, a land of beauty and diversity - fertile plains, rugged mountains, deep river valleys and white sand beaches along the southern coast of the Adriatic Sea.
The traditions of ancient Greece, Byzantium and Central Europe clashed, diffused and took root in this region. The multiethnic society of the Balkan Peninsula bears Mediterranean, Central European and Middle Eastern imprints of great complexity and diversity. Troubled by ethnic violence and civil wars, Yugoslavia exists under a new name: Serbia and Montenegro, a continuation of the two ancient kingdoms of the Serbian people.
If you would like to hear more about the fascinating history of this region, please join this month's Coffee Hour. This month's guest speaker is Ms. Vesna Belusevic from Novi Sad, Serbia, a long time resident of Tsukuba.
Date/Time: July 23 (Wed.) 14:00 to 16:00
Guest: Ms. Vesna Belusevic
Place: Tsukuba Information Center
Tsukuba Information Center
Tsukuba Walking and Mountaineering Club
Meetings every Wednesday night at Hot Stuff from 9pm. Future walks and information at eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp/twmc.Please contact Tadashi Takemori at takemori AT eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp.
Ibaraki Hash House Harriers
Join the Ibaraki Hash House Harriers, the international drinking club with a running problem. Check our homepage at ibarakih3.infoseek.ne.jp and join the mailing list at groups.yahoo.com/group/IH3.
