This lesson offers a few tools to help you learn Japanese. Some of these great tools to aid in your Japanese studies include the following:
Rikaichan

• a popup dictionary extension for the Firefox Internet browser that translates Japanese into English, German, French, or Russian. With this extension installed, you can easily look up the meaning of Japanese words that show up on webpages by simply hovering the cursor over the word. A box will instantly pop up with the reading and definition of the word.

https://www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan/

Rikaichan Kanji Dictionary

• Hover the cursor over any kanji, whether it is part of a compound or by itself, and press the Shift or Enter key to toggle between the word, kanji, and name dictionaries.

• The kanji dictionary gives detailed information that include the kanji’s meaning, all possible readings, radicals that make up the kanji, number of strokes, and more.

https://www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan/

Eijiro Dictionary

• an English-Japanese/Japanese-English dictionary with an extensive database of translations and sample sentences.

• You can buy Eijiro online at the ALC Online Shop website in the form of a CD-R or a downloadable dictionary file, and a free online version of Eijiro is available through the SpaceALC Japanese website portal.

https://shop.alc.co.jp/top/ (free version https://www.alc.co.jp/)
Anki

• a flash card program that lets you review vocabulary, kanji, or both!

• This kanji and vacabulary practice is based on a theory called spaced repetition, which means it presents the learner with flash cards at certain calculated intervals.

https://ichi2.net/anki/index.html

Lang-8

• a Social Networking Service (SNS) created for the purpose of language exchange and international communication

• Once you register, which is free, you can write a journal entry in the language you are studying, and other users who are native speakers of that language can correct your entry.

https://www.lang-8.com/

Japan is a country rich in pop culture that has started to gain recognition and popularity throughout the world. As popular culture changes quickly and drastically, we focus this lesson on the most recent pop culture.

Popular Music

• Japan boasts the second largest music industry in the world after the United States.

• Pop music is especially popular in Japan, although you can find all sorts of music in Japan done by Japanese artists-including rock, rap, hip-hop, reggae, and more.

Popular Movies

• Recently, the popularity of domestic Japanese movies has been on the rise, with the annual box-office revenue for domestic movies hitting an all-time high in 2008.

• Of the top Japanese films of 2008, the highest-grossing title was the animation film Gake no

• Ue no Ponyo (“Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea”)

• Hayao Miyazaki directed this movie as well as other popular animated titles such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away, which was the first anime film to win an Academy Award.

Popular Television

• Variety shows, true to their name, feature a variety of different content-cooking segments, comedy segments, skits, and quizzes are just some of what you’ll find on a typical Japanese variety show.

• Variety shows often feature a large panel of currently popular celebrities and sometimes a studio audience.

• Quiz shows that feature contestants (who are almost always celebrities) answering questions on numerous subjects, such as science, history, math, the Japanese language, pop culture, and so on, also enjoy great popularity.

• Japanese dramas are also very popular among Japanese people of all ages.

• Many current dramas’ running in Japan are adaptations of popular movies, comics, or animated shows.

Popular Foreigners in Japan

•  Jero, is an African-American singer who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  

• He has gained popularity singing enka, a traditional type of pop music that is especially popular among older people.

Popular Japanese Men/Women Abroad

• Actor Ken Watanabe became a recognized name after appearing alongside Tom Cruise in the 2003 war film The Last Samurai.

• Issey Miyake is the most well-known Japanese designer in the world, and he is considered the first Asian designer to gain worldwide recognition.
  

Popular Sports Figures

• Ichiro Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners in 2000, a move that many watched with great interest, as he was the first Japanese position player to play regularly for a Major League Baseball team.

• Shizuka Arakawa made headlines when she received a gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics, a first in the event for a Japanese skater.

This blog focuses on the top five most important holidays in Japan.

Seijin no Hi

• “Coming-of-Age Day.” On this
  day, people who turn twenty during the current school year, which runs between April until the following March, celebrate their coming of age. In Japan, when people turn twenty, society legally recognizes them as an adult, and they are able to drink alcohol and vote.

Golden Week

• The period in late April and early May that contains many Japanese national holidays grouped closely together.

O-bon

• a Buddhist event where people pray for the repose of their ancestors’ souls and remember the deceased. If you are familiar with Mexico’s Day of the Dead festival, O-bon is quite similar. O-bon takes place from the 13th to the 16th of August (celebrated from July 13-15 in some areas).

Ōmisoka

• New Year’s Eve, This day is very symbolic in Japan as it is the last day of the year and the day before New Year’s Day, the most important day of the year.
• There are many traditions that fall on this day such as Ōsōji, or “big cleaning,” and a dinner of toshikoshi soba, New Year’s Eve Soba, a type of Japanese noodle.

O-shōgatsu or Gantan 

• New Year’s Day, Many people spend time with their families, and people who work or live far from their families often go back to their hometown for New Year’s.

This is a continuation of the previous blog post Top 5 aspects of Family Life

Work Culture and Economy

• Japan’s economy is ranked second in the world after that of the United States
• some of its main industries include motor vehicles, electronics, industrial and transportation equipment, and chemicals.
• Employees in their first years at a company often have to work long hours for little pay.
• It is very common for employees to all go out drinking together after a long day at work; the Japanese see this as a way to strengthen relationships and build work camaraderie.
• Another important part of the Japanese work economy is the custom of lifelong employment.
• This system is becoming less common due to a decrease in the number of full-time employees and an increase in the number of part-time and contractual employees.
• There is term, freeter, the Japanese have coined to refer to young people who work one or more part-time jobs as an alternative to obtaining full-time employment.

Politics

• Unlike the United States or the United Kingdom, Japanese political parties tend to change constantly with one major exception-the Liberal Democratic Party, which has held power for more than fifty years-since the end of World War II.

General Trends

• Generally speaking, the older and younger generations tend to do things differently and hold
  different ideas about things.
• Members of the younger generation also seem to keep more of their own interests in mind as they wait longer and longer to get married and have children.

This blog is a continuation of the previous blog 4 Major Cities. This blog will discuss 5 points of a standard Japanese family, but remember there are always exceptions!!

• Families in Japan are generally traditional, and the family is a focal point of life. 

• Immediate families are a bit smaller compared to those of other countries; it is not uncommon for Japanese parents to have only one or two children. 

• It is also very common for adult children to continue to live with their parents well into their twenties or thirties until they get married.

• Japanese gender roles are still quite traditional, with women expected to stay home and take care of their children and men expected to support the family financially.

• A few problems have recently plagued Japanese family life and society. One of them is the decreasing birthrate, which hit a record low in 2005 when the number of deaths outnumbered the number of births.

For more great lessons like this one, check out our other lessons: Click Here

Welcome to Part 3 of our Valuable Information on Living in Japan series! This time we will go over credit cards, taxes, and insurance.

If you have any questions or information that you would like to share about living in Japan, please leave us a comment!

Valuable Information on Living in Japan part 3

●  Credit Cards

Most major credit cards issued overseas can be used in Japan at major restaurants, hotels, department stores, etc. (please note, however, that Japan is still very much a cash society, and there are many stores and restaurants that do not accept credit cards) . However, it is said to be difficult for foreigners to get a Japanese credit card, and there are many stories of people getting rejected when they apply for one. It is not impossible, though – some residents have reported having luck obtaining credit cards through Citibank and Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

●  Taxes and Insurance

RESIDENT TAX: The amount of residence tax you pay is determined by the amount of income you made the previous year. This tax is paid to your Local Ward Office, and you can either pay it by yourself (using taxation slips sent to you by the Ward Office) or through your employer (who deducts it from your monthly salary).
INCOME TAX: Income tax is paid annually, and the amount paid is calculated based on how much one made the previous year. If you are a company employee, this tax is deducted from your salary each month. At the end of the year, the amount is recalculated and adjusted depending on how much you earned from January to December of that year.

INSURANCE: Membership in one of two main health insurance systems is compulsory. The two main systems are National Health Insurance (国民健康保険, kokumin kenkō hoken), and Employees’ Health Insurance (社会健康保険, shakai kenkō hoken). Monthly premiums are based mostly on ones salary, but are calculated differently.

EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE: Under this scheme, the employer provides a health insurance certificate to employees. Broadly speaking, this applies to those who 1) work for medium/large companies, 2) work for national/local government, and 3) work for private schools. Those who join this scheme pay only 30 percent of their medical costs.
NATIONAL INSURANCE: If you are staying in Japan for a year or more and are not covered by Employees’ Insurance, you need to apply for National Health Insurance. When applying at your local word or city office, you must show your Alien Registration card. Those who join this scheme pay 30 percent of their medical costs.
For more details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_system_in_Japan

PENSION: If you have paid into the Employees Pension Insurance system for at least six months, you are entitled to a refund when you leave Japan. You must visit your local ward or city office and get an application form, which you must send back within two years of leaving the country.

We hope you have enjoyed this information on getting started living in Japan.Please share any tips or information you have with us!

Welcome to Part 2 of our Valuable Information on Living in Japan series! This time we will go over banking, cell phones, and transportation.

If you have any questions or information that you would like to share about living in Japan, please leave us a comment!

Valuable Information on Living in Japan part 2

● Banking
Japanese banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00. When opening a Japanese bank account, you will need your alien registration card and address in Japan. You will receive your account information along with a bank book (通帳, tsūchō) When opening your account, you can also request an ATM card, which is used to withdraw, deposit, and transfer money through your account. Some banks may require you to have a name stamp (はんこ, hanko) to complete the sign-up process, although in large cities, most banks will accept a signature rather than a stamp. Shinsei Bank and Citibank are two banks that do not require a name stamp when opening an account.
Shinsei Bank in particular has a reputation for being foreigner-friendly, with ATM guidance and online banking in English, along with an English language website.

Useful Links:
https://www.japanlinked.com/about_japan/living/openbank.html (includes list of common banks)
Shinsei Bank: https://www.shinseibank.com/english/index.html

● Cell Phones

The most well-known cell phone providers in Japan are NTT Docomo, au by KDDI, and Softbank. If you plan to stay in Japan for a year or more, your best bet is to get a subscription plan. You will need your alien registration card (in some cases, the letter that says that you are in the process of obtaining one may suffice), proof of address, and your Japanese bank account information when you go to sign up. At many places, if you sign up for at least a two year contract, you can get a new cell phone at cheap price or even for free. Cell phone bills can be paid at convenience stores, banks, post offices, as well as through automatic debit payments from your bank account.

Useful Links:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2223.html (includes information on options outside of subscription plans)

●  Transportation

Japan boasts an extensive and sophisticated train network, which makes trains by far the easiest way to get around in major cities in Japan. If you are going to be living in the Kanto area, it’s recommended that you buy a rechargeable, prepaid card such as PASMO or SUICA. These cards are swiped at a card reader on the ticket gates, and the fare is automatically deducted, eliminating the need for buying tickets and figuring out train fares. If you are going to be taking the train to work everyday, you may want to consider getting a commuter pass (通勤定期, tsūkin teiki), which lets you pay in advance for the cost of your commute. You can apply for one at the office inside of the station you are commuting to or from. SUICA or PASMO commuter cards can also be purchased at designated card-issuing machines at the station.

Join us next week for more valuable information on getting started living in Japan!

As the number of non-Japanese people studying Japanese around the world increases, so does the number of people who want to live in Japan for work or study. After all, they say that one of the best ways to learn a language is to be completely immersed in it, right?

Moving to a country as foreign as Japan, however, can pose many challenges. When coming to Japan for work or study, there are many things one must consider: What do I need to do soon after I arrive? Where will I live? How do I get around? Here at JapanesePod101.com, we have used information obtained from staff and listeners alike and put together a mini-guide for getting started living in Japan. We will introduce it in three parts in this blog. Part one here covers valuable information on foreign registration and tips on finding a place to live.

If you have any questions or information that you would like to share about living in Japan, please leave us a comment!

Valuable Information on Living in Japan part 1

●     Alien Registration (外国人登録)

Foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days (which excludes those with tourist visas) need to apply for an alien registration card (外国人登録証, gaikokujin tōrokushō) within 90 days of landing in Japan. Applicants must apply at their local municipal office (city hall). The alien registration card is required for opening a bank account, purchasing a cell phone, obtaining a driver’s license, and more. Foreign residents are required to carry their alien registration card with them at all times. 

● Finding a Place to Live

When it comes to finding a place to live in Japan, there are two major options: a private apartment or a guesthouse.

APARTMENTS
Looking for an apartment using conventional real estate companies may prove to be difficult and expensive. It can sometimes be difficult finding a landlord who is willing to rent out to foreigners, and there are a number of fees that make up the rental contract. In Tokyo and other large cities, there are many real estate companies that cater specifically to the foreign community that may be worth looking into. When looking for an apartment, please be aware that utilities are often not included in the rent. After moving into your apartment, the start-up application forms for utilities can often be found in your mailbox or apartment. In come cases, they may be provided by your landlord or real estate agent, who may also set up the utilities for you. As for paying utilities, there are two major options: you can either pay your bills at the convenience store or post office as they come, or you can sign up to have the payments automatically deducted from your bank account every month.
Note also that for most apartments, a guarantor (連帯保証人, rentai hoshōnin) is required. Normally a guarantor is someone who is a Japanese national with good financial standing, or the company you are employed at. If you do not have someone who can act as a guarantor for you, there is the option of paying a guarantor company (保証会社, hoshō gaisha) a fee to have them act as a guarantor for you.
Useful Links:
https://www.tokyoapartments.jp/
https://www.tokyoapartment.com/
https://www.kimiwillbe.com/

GUESTHOUSE
An alternative to a private apartment is a guesthouse. Based on the living conditions (whether you share an apartment or room with other people, etc.), living in a guesthouse can be an inexpensive alternative to living in a conventional apartment. Many guesthouses also offer shorter contracts, which makes them ideal for shorter stays.

Useful Links:
https://www.sakura-house.com/
https://www.oakhouse.jp/eng/
https://www.t-guesthouse.jp/

Join us next week for more valuable information on getting started living in Japan!

Emily is busy working on a secret project, so I (Ben) get to do another blog. This last weekend I climbed 富士山 (Mt. Fuji). Last Friday night, my girlfriend and I left Shinjuku on a 7:50pm bus bound for the Kawaguchiko 5th Station. The bus trip took a little over 2 hours, getting us to the trailhead a little after 10:00pm.

We came rather prepared. Alisa (my girlfriend / hiking partner) spent a good part of the day running Fuji preparation errands. She made 14 おにぎり (onigiri) with her grandma, bought Soyjoys and Powerbars, and since we planned on hiking in the dark, she also bought two headlamps. We each were packing rain coats and heavier clothes (since it gets below freezing at the top). I carried our fluid supply of 4 liters of water and 2 liters of Aquarius (a popular Japanese sports drink). We checked our equipment, used the bathrooms (¥50), and started our ascent.

We got out our headlamps, and Alisa put hers on, but I was thinking to myself カッコ悪い, so I just tied mine to my backpack strap. The first half hour of our hike was below the treeline. We got to the 6th Station after not too long, but from then on, the hike was a seemingly endless succession of switchbacks. The trail grew steeper, the wind picked up, the air got colder, and the traffic became denser. On top of that, the toilet price went up: ¥100. I started out in a T-shirt and shorts. I made it to 8th Station before putting on a long-sleeve shirt. It really doesn’t feel that cold as long as you keep moving, but because we stopped for short breaks every once in a while, the cold started to get to me. So, we kept climbing, and we both were feeling the cold and the altitude.

Around the 9th Station we started to see the sky getting lighter. Worried that we wouldn’t make it to the top in time to see the sunrise, we weaved through the traffic as much as we could. I was amazed by how many people were climbing the mountain. From the 8th Station until the top, the trail was as packed as Tokyo’s rush hour trains. The pace was painstakingly slow–a twenty second wait between every two or three steps. What should have been a forty minute portion of the hike, took about three hours. Fortunately we made it to the top in time.

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Hello JapanesePod101.com Community! My name is Ben Jensen, and I’m interning here at the JapanesePod101.com offices in Tokyo. Emily is a pretty busy person, so I get to make a blog appearance today.

About two weeks ago, my girlfriend’s grandmother Mama-chan, who lives here in Tokyo, offered me a ticket to go see Noh. I’ve studied a little about Japanese culture, and I had always heard that Noh is hard to understand—even for Japanese people—and that there is very little action and very few props. Apparently it’s pretty common for audience members to fall asleep. In any case, I thought it would be worth seeing at least once, and it would be a rare opportunity, so I graciously accepted the offer.

Hosho Nogakudo viewed from the outside.

So last Friday, I left work just before 5:00pm and rode the Tokyo Metro to Suidobashi Station. From the station, it was a quick walk to the theater, 宝生能楽堂 (Hosho Nogakudo). The doors opened at 5:30, I went in, and found my seat right away. I asked a lady nearby if she knew whether or not pictures were OK. Side note: when you ask a Japanese person a question, if they don’t know the answer, they’ll likely go find an answer for you. So, I unintentionally sent her on an errand to find out if pictures are allowed during Noh. The answer? No. I was a little disappointed, but I was permitted to take pictures of the stage prior to the performance.
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