Archive for February, 2007

Back in Japan after a week abroad. Every time I leave Japan I now get sort of a reverse culture shock. This time I got one coming back here too. The following conversation is the first I had coming to Japan this time: (translated from Japanese)

Customs officer: (to my wife) So, this is your suitcase. Guess it is mostly clothes and shoes in there, right?

Wife: Yes

If I was a customs officer and wanted to know what was in a travellers bag I would check it to see for myself. Second choice would be to ask the traveller. Guessing from the basis of gender stereotyping would not be an option to me.

But hey, I am not a customs officer and I don’t know what kind of training they have. Maybe he was just making small talk to see if we would get nervous, and from there he would have made a decision to open the bags. To his defence I can add that my suitcase was slightly smaller and made of aluminium. Still this was a bit funny for a first impression this time. Mahalo.

Review of the K-1 WORLD MAX 2007 Japan Tournament! Read the rest of this entry »

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If you live in Chiba (Tokyo) you can stop at Minami-Funabashi to pick up some kimchi on your way! A great thing about Japan is that they have some of the biggest companies in the world and at the same time a lot of small entrepreneurs too. Like this stand outside the train station selling home made kimchi from a table. Read the rest of this entry »

Update! Interview with the publisher here.

Family Mart is one of the big convenient store chains here in Japan. F’ed Gaijin picked up the story on the magazine they sell about criminal foreigners in Japan.
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Yes, everything you heard about crowded trains in Tokyo is true!