Direction Okazaki, Japan - Yamasa

Utility cost in Japan – Yamasa Accommodation

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:13:27 +0000

This a table I made out of my utility bills from Japan I shredded this morning during our traditional cleaning of the New Year. I kept all my papers from my Yamasa years but today I cleaned a little. Interesting to see the cost per Kilowatts per hours at around 25-30 yens. Compare that with Quebec!

Happy New Year 2010!

Be it a year full of good Japanese food and healthy discoveries.

Japan’s Zombie Finance

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:55:40 +0000

Japan’s economic outlook depicted as bleak as usual:

So far, the yen has been one of the strongest currencies in the world. But what happens if domestic investors (the major buyers by far of newly issued JGBs) simply begin to boycott the JGB auctions? Ironically, US treasuries would probably be hit first, as the Japanese government begins trimming back its forex reserves (mostly held in US treasuries) to fund domestic expenditures.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/167781-the-return-of-japan-s-zombie-finance

We are far from the exuberance and the hope of 2006:

http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/05/japan-economy-recovery_cx_jc_0907japan40intro.html

My timing for going to Japan couldn’t have been better.

Les Affaires électroniques

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:39:51 +0000

Comment former un tout avec mes intérêts et mes capacités pour le japonais et ce dont j’ai appris ces dernières années dans le domaine des affaires électroniques? À la lecture du blogue de Monsieur Dersot, se confiner au marché local japonais ressemble à un suicide professionnel. L’idée est de profiter des avancées technologiques afin d’exécuter mon travail, du Japon. Ce n’est plus par choix, mais par obligation de vie* que je m’y vois y retourner pour vivre dans les 5-7 prochaines années.

Les affaires électroniques, terme un peu fourre tout et qui sonne déjà années 2000, est maintenant ma compétence principale. Histoire de faire reconnaître mes acquis, je me suis inscrit au nouveau cours offert par le Cégep de Sainte-Foy. L’attestation d’études collégiales (AEC) en affaire électronique, saura’t-elle répondre à mon besoin? Qu’en penses nos spécialistes québécois?

Autres nouvelles :

Il semble qu’un de mes blogues préférer, aboutjoel.com soit hors ligne maintenant depuis plusieurs mois. Dommage. On y parlait de la vie en Corée. J’aimais bien comparer le Japon et la Corée.

Une amusante expérience ce mois-ci. Des visiteurs japonais sont venus nous visiter dans mon entreprise actuelle. Ces années au Japon n’aurons pas été inutiles.

Grippe H1N1 :

Aller vous faire vacciner S.V.P.!

The Emperor of Japan visit Canada

admin — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Ottawa Friday afternoon for an official visit to Canada.

I went with my partner to see them during their visit to the Mackenzie-King Estate which is 10 minutes by car from our house. I can’t believe the chance we got. My partner could even exchange some word with the majesty! This was a unique chance to see someone that even japanese in Japan can’t see from that close. Separated by only 1 meter… in here Ottawa-Gatineau. Still can’t believe it, was worth the wait!

note: See Lawrence Cannon in the background

Visit of the Emperor of Japan at the Mackenzie-King Estate, Gatineau Canada

Somebody was there also that day…

Yasuo Fukuda

Studying Japanese at the Yamasa Institute in Okazaki, Japan

admin — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:07:00 +0000

I had quite a few chuckles when I read that article about Studying Japanese at the Yamasa Institute In Okazaki, on a site called “Associated Content”. Just read the part about the Student Village. Really, now you can understand why I moved from there after a month. Like it is explained in the article, the Student Village is nowhere as clean as it was showed on the Yamasa Web Site. I even wrote about it in 2006, in my post called Another review of the Yamasa Institute: The Student Village.

I still recommend to AIJP students to consider another accommodation than the Student Village. If you can, even Leopalace 21 is a good choice.

Hello world!

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:51:00 +0000

Just moved to a new server. I need to clean again the french post because somehow the caracter encoding is not set properly. I indend to do a survey of the internet looking for new Yamasa Blog very soon. Summer is comming soon after all and I expect a lot of blog to be made.

Flower Spring Cleaning

admin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Can you believe that in Nagoya the temperature is around 10 degrees? You probably noticed the new banner at the top of this blog. I was thinking I was due for dropping the “direction” from the blog name. But still Okazaki has a strong meaning for me, being in communication every morning with Skype to Japan. Even watching streamed live japanese TV. We really live in great technological times. Mindless tv shows accessible to masses

It is kind of nice to think that I started this blog around this time in 2005! I had a picture of a warehouse I was renting. Time does fly fast.

State of the Japanese economy

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:03:00 +0000

There were talks of inflation at the end of summer in Japan. Some were quick to jump to the conclusion that this was desirable outcome. But this inflation was driven by outside force, namely the price of imports such as oil. So while the cost of goods increased, people’s salaries did not. This wealth such went outside of Japan. And now that Japan is in a confirmed recession one has to wonder about living in Japan. You wish to be an English teacher? Thing are not like they used to be. With the demise of Nova, a surge of qualified teacher hit the streets. Combined with a demonstrated reduced interest in learning English and you have one of the worst time ever to go to Japan. With the Japanese Yen (JPY) at an all time high it seems risky to plan a move until the end of 2009. Even Yamasa, the school I attended still has opening this late before the start of the new semester of spring 2009 in the AIJP program. How will you be able to sustain yourself? Can you put this burden on your families? You are better staying at home.

No explanations

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:53:00 +0000

I like starting to write again, without explaining my purposes and reasons. I like to confuse and mystify. Keep in doubt and disguise. Why reviving this blog, which was supposed to be short lived and temporary? Why throw away such a great accomplishment. I could finish something that was unthinkable. I went to Japan and stayed 18 months. I came back with a piece of it that I should cherish. Don’t try to understand or follow what happened.

Ai to iu nano moto ni

admin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:47:00 +0000

We watched the first five episodes of ” Ai to iu nano moto ni “and we are moderately interested. Featuring Suzuki Honami who appeared in my all time favorite Tokyo Love Story and Eguchi Yosuke. She recently appeared on a press conference announcing her return to TV after her absence since her marriage. The style and acting is starting to date, but it is just pure enjoyment for fans of old Japanese drama.