OP9 Japan crew head count

[ミュー]

Hey guys,

Who is still in Japan and on the forum these days?

[belladonna]

I'll be back in Japan, permanently in June. I'm in the States at the moment, though.

[SoulPlay]

You know im here.

[ミュー]

We should cobble together another meetup sometime soon.

[Arvynia]

I'm still here, until August!

Damn, 5 years went by hella fast. Holy fXck.

[Kyletherealninja]

I will be moving to Japan for my job in about three weeks. Tokyo for a week or so, then off to the frozen north.

[SoulPlay]

I'm in for the hypothetical meet up.

[laggedreaction]

In the process of moving up to Tokyo for a job. I'd be up for a meet at Hooters since it's right by work.

[six-eight-ten]

I will be moving to Japan for my job in about three weeks. Tokyo for a week or so, then off to the frozen north.

I'm currently in the frozen North, and depending on how the upcoming job interview goes, I might be moving to Tokyo in about 3 weeks. Apparently, I'm your evil twin.

[Civilization Phrase III]

I'm in Tokyo~

Holla.

[TommyA]

I'm still here, until August!

Damn, 5 years went by hella fast. Holy fXck.

Holy shit! Arvynia still exists! I am coming up on 5 years too! I am also leaving in September! No clue on what to do next with life though. Thinking France or Spain!

How have you been?!?

[TommyA]

As for the meetup, you KNOW I am down to clown! I have a 4 month expiry date though!

[mikem]

You know I'm still here!

[belladonna]

Most everyone is up in Tokyo and further north, right? I hope to meet everyone soon!! I got to meet Pezonna when I was in Nagoya last year and she is so sweet!

[RoxFontaine]

I left Japan in 2008. Not going back other than to visit.

[laggedreaction]

Holy shit! Arvynia still exists! I am coming up on 5 years too! I am also leaving in September! No clue on what to do next with life though. Thinking France or Spain!

How have you been?!?

Weren't you trying to get into some web/multimedia stuff? Whatever happened to that?

Why don't you talk to our mutual friend JG about trying to break into the biz here.

Looks like he just found a sweet new job today...

[six-eight-ten]

The job interview went well. I'm now working in Tachikawa and living in Hino.

[belladonna]

The job interview went well. I'm now working in Tachikawa and living in Hino.

おめでとう〜:clap:

[TommyA]

Weren't you trying to get into some web/multimedia stuff? Whatever happened to that?

Why don't you talk to our mutual friend JG about trying to break into the biz here.

Looks like he just found a sweet new job today...

LOL You know JG! I am wondering how I know you then, or vice versa!
Yeah he just got his new job. I want to take a look outside Japan to see what other offshore life looks like before I settle.

I am scared of settling in Japan without seeing what else the world has to offer!

[Raenir Salazar]

Out of curiosity when you move to Japan how hard is it to move belongings over? Like say my rather large desktop computer which will probably still be up to snuff 4 years from now (I build my computers to last).

[belladonna]

Out of curiosity when you move to Japan how hard is it to move belongings over? Like say my rather large desktop computer which will probably still be up to snuff 4 years from now (I build my computers to last).
It's pretty expensive, and 4 years will be even more so. I am cutting down on a lot before I move out there this summer just to save on money

[RoxFontaine]

Money talks. The end.

[belladonna]

Indeed

[Raenir Salazar]

It's pretty expensive, and 4 years will be even more so. I am cutting down on a lot before I move out there this summer just to save on money

Hmm, so the question is, will it be cheaper to sell everything and rebuy it in Japan or to ship it over in 'bulk'.

I could probably with some jury rigging turn my desktop into something portable and make it fit in a travel bag (so long as its not x-rayed?) but I got like 3 20 inch monitors, an xbox 360, peripherals, not counting things like books, clothes, etc.

Within the next 4 years I will certainly have a laptop I could bring instead but dislike the idea of having to leave behind my primary gaming platform.

Surely not everyone only brings what they can fit in their travel bag and carry on their back?

[belladonna]

I'm moving permanently and am only taking three suitcases and a backpack, the only things I am shipping are my sewing machine and serger

[laggedreaction]

The job interview went well. I'm now working in Tachikawa and living in Hino.

Congrats! How do you like Hino? That's not too far where I am. I was actually looking at Hino before moving here, but the people at work told me that was ridiculously far away from central Tokyo.

Anyway, my company as a backup office in Tachikawa. I only go there for occasional maintenance though.

LOL You know JG! I am wondering how I know you then, or vice versa!
Yeah he just got his new job. I want to take a look outside Japan to see what other offshore life looks like before I settle.

I am scared of settling in Japan without seeing what else the world has to offer!

Well, I've never met you, but I've known JG since he came to Nagoya. We worked for the same company. Yeah, I noticed that you started popping up on his facebook. That was weird.

lol, maybe we can have the OP9 meet up at the Keio Hub...

Anyway, that's not a bad idea. I did a lot of traveling before coming to Japan though. Definitely get your fill of Europe. I'd also recommend Africa. Spent about 2months traveling around there, and it was awesome. I'd probably avoid the northern and western areas if I were you though...

[mawande]

*hopskipjump* I am here, and happy to meet up! Saturday nights are fine. My Sundays are usually clear. It just generally takes me two hours to get to Tokyo-based events.

[six-eight-ten]

Hino's not bad. A little on the quiet side in regards to restaurants/bars,/stuff to do, but that made rent a bit cheaper and it has some decent places to take the dog for a walk. It's the next stop from Tachikawa, so my commute to work is about 20 minutes, and that includes walking to/from the stations. It's a little ways from central Tokyo, but on the Chuo line, so not too terribly inconvenient- It took about 1/2 an hour to get to Shinjuko yesterday (on my way to Ikebukuro), and about 45 min to an hour to go to Yokohama a few days ago.

As to Raenir's question about moving stuff... I just moved from Hokkaido. Granted, that's within Japan, but I found it easier and slightly cheaper to get rid of most of the big stuff and replace it once I was here. I'm referring to the bookshelves, desk, bed, etc. Bringing a lot of stuff with you is problematic. If you bring an X-box, keep in mind that many games do use region protection, so you'd likely not be able to buy anything new here and would have to order in (I have a Japanese 360, so I can buy games here, but I often order from play-asia.com anyway, as they often have better prices and the Asia region games are usually in English as well). Stuff like monitors are easy enough to find here. I suppose you could look into getting a shipping container- I knew a guy who had an import goods shop, and he would make the occasional trip to the US, buy up tons of crap at 2nd hand stores and rummage sales, and ship it all together in one big crate- but I imagine that it might just be worthwhile to get new (or used) stuff once you're here rather than try to bring it all with you.

[RoxFontaine]

I lived in Tachikawa for a while. Love Showa Kinen Koen. Also like the mall at Tachikawa station.

[ミュー]

My account is finally back alive. Good to see that everyone is alive and kicking.

How was everyone's GW? I waited in some lines, it was awesome!

[mawande]

I went to Nikko Edo Wonderland one day, and to the Mashiko Pottery Festival on another, both with a friend. So, it was pretty nice!

[Druid]

Assuming we don't pull out of Yokosuka, I might be moving there in a year or two. Anyone have any experience in the area?

[Scott]

In Gunma. Hi guys.

[RoxFontaine]

Yokosuka is ass. I didn't live there but I've been there several times. Navy guys piss me off. They're animals. Yes, I'm generalizing. No, I don't give a shit.

Gunma is beautiful. We have a house in Tanigawa. Love riding White Valley. Okutone is dope if you can ride park.

[Scott]

I love Gunma and it's totally unappreciated by 99% of the people who come here. There are many good reasons that the Japanese people who were born and raised here tend to love it too.

Gunma pride etc.

[japanat]

Hmm, so the question is, will it be cheaper to sell everything and rebuy it in Japan or to ship it over in 'bulk'.

I could probably with some jury rigging turn my desktop into something portable and make it fit in a travel bag (so long as its not x-rayed?) but I got like 3 20 inch monitors, an xbox 360, peripherals, not counting things like books, clothes, etc.

Within the next 4 years I will certainly have a laptop I could bring instead but dislike the idea of having to leave behind my primary gaming platform.

Surely not everyone only brings what they can fit in their travel bag and carry on their back?Ship it DHL or another freight company. Probably cost about $300-400 to ship, which is presumably much cheaper than replacing it, right? I shipped a 200 lb desk which was broken down into boxes and I put together myself for a little less than that.

Or call FBCExpress. If you can get your stuff to them, they'll airexpress it over. It's not cheap, but they are very flexible. ExpatExpress is another, but as far as I know, they only handle shipment for new goods.

And I'm in my 21st year here....

[Raenir Salazar]

Awesome, you've seen it all :) Do you have skype/msn?

[ミュー]

I totally got the gaijin no good shit from an apartment owner today.

Go go Mew bikkuri nihon-jin dato damashtara gaijin haittekuruyo POWAH!!

[Fred]

Mew - I heard Gaijin nara dame a couple of times when I was apartment hunting in the 90's.

Japanat - I am glad to see you back!

[Raenir Salazar]

Elaboration for those of us who aren't quite neckdeep in Japanese expressions yet ^_^

[belladonna]

Mew - I heard Gaijin nara dame a couple of times when I was apartment hunting in the 90's.
I hope this doesn't happen with me and my soon to be husband. Since he's Japanese do you think it will make it easier?

[Raenir Salazar]

Making a quick guess basically saying "no foreigners"? I heard that a friend of a friend, a francophone Quebecois girl JET alt had alot of difficulty in the rural town outside Tokyo she was in. But then "But your male, so it should be fine." So I imagine that maybe your husband being both a native and male is probably fine?

[Fred]

To R.S. "Gaijin nara dame" means "If you're a foreigner - no way"

To Bella - My guess is you and he will not have any problems finding a place to rent, especially if you go through a real estate agency. Eventually, I went through one and they found me a great place very quickly.

[Scott]

I totally got the gaijin no good shit from an apartment owner today.

I've gotten that a few times from phone/e-mail inquiries, but if I go in person wearing a suit and speaking properly/politely, they tend to relent. Sometimes I wear my AJKF lapel pin to make myself look more respectable, though it doesn't really mean anything.

[laggedreaction]

Ship it DHL or another freight company. Probably cost about $300-400 to ship, which is presumably much cheaper than replacing it, right? I shipped a 200 lb desk which was broken down into boxes and I put together myself for a little less than that.

Or call FBCExpress. If you can get your stuff to them, they'll airexpress it over. It's not cheap, but they are very flexible. ExpatExpress is another, but as far as I know, they only handle shipment for new goods.

And I'm in my 21st year here....

He would probably be better off shipping through Yamato America. It's always way cheaper than UPS, FedEx or USPS. You can even ship to one of their offices in the States and they'll just forward it to Japan for you.

I use their international takkyubin service all the time and my boxes get here in just a few days.


I totally got the gaijin no good shit from an apartment owner today.

Go go Mew bikkuri nihon-jin dato damashtara gaijin haittekuruyo POWAH!!

What kind of job do you have? Like what kind of company? IME, that seems to affect things a bit. I knew people who made more than me, yet worked for smaller companies/start ups. They got grilled and/or rejected by the some realtors/owners.

Even though I made less, just saying that I worked at a high profile company seemed to garner open arms and big snaggle-tooth smiles all around.

I guess your budget range does affect things too, but the biggest change in attitude was in mentioning where I worked (○○○証券)

[Druid]

Yokosuka is ass. I didn't live there but I've been there several times. Navy guys piss me off. They're animals. Yes, I'm generalizing. No, I don't give a shit.

Gunma is beautiful. We have a house in Tanigawa. Love riding White Valley. Okutone is dope if you can ride park.
I detect large amounts of bitterness; and yes, that does indeed sound like a few gentlemen I know.

[Raenir Salazar]

How bad does it actually get there with the US personnel on shore?

[Darrel]

Yokosuka is ass. I didn't live there but I've been there several times. Navy guys piss me off. They're animals. Yes, I'm generalizing. No, I don't give a shit.

Gunma is beautiful. We have a house in Tanigawa. Love riding White Valley. Okutone is dope if you can ride park.

______________ guys piss me off.

Insert your flavor. I've met people from every group to prove me wrong.

[Matt W]

Hi :) It's been quite awhile. I'm living in Yokohama.

[belladonna]

I'll be in Nagoya Friday night!!

[mawande]

What happened to our get-together? Saturday nights, Sundays usually okay. Actually, I can do some Tuesdays, too.

[Clear.tranquil]

Perhaps we should make a skype thread for thsoe who still use it

[RoxFontaine]

I detect large amounts of bitterness; and yes, that does indeed sound like a few gentlemen I know.

Bitter? Negative. I made a lot of money on them after all was said and done. That 3 months out to see business screws with them. They come back and seriously have no idea how to act.

[ruaidhri]

I've never visited Japan but I know about sailors on liberty. From 1962 to 1966, I was one of those "animals", especially when I was with a group of my shipmates. Only three things concerned us: finding girls, drinking and looking tough. Considering that the ports I visited were along the Oregon coast (I was in the Coast Guard), the only thing we really succeeding at was getting drunk, which prevented us from finding girls and looking tough. But, we had fun and if we were out of a little bit of money it didn't stop us from being just as stupid the next time.

Why do they act that way? I believe it's because that's what their military society expects and they want to fit in. And, don't forget many are barely, if at all, out of their teens. They're away from home in a different world and they're lonely and homesick.

[Trump]

That attitude is reinforced in groups too. Get them alone and I'm sure they'd act differently.