As a returning visitor I want to thank you for your interest.Thanks for visiting!
Hi there!
As an applicant to Yamasa, I had a lot of questions. I have searched the net for information from third parties. Blogs are a good source of information when you want to learn about the student life at Yamasa. I have collected a short list of blogs from students. Navigating at yamasa.org can be hard sometime when you are looking for a very specific information. See because there is hyperlink everywhere, sometime I get lost. Also sometime there is information that look like outdated. But if you take your time, you soon find another page with the corrected information.
I have found interesting documents about Okazaki too. Okazaki City Hall published a booklet for visitors. Okazaki City Hall edited in January 2005, a guide in English about life in Okazaki. I have printed it and now read it sometime before going to bed. My site is still in an early stage. I know I should spend more time studying Japanese 
I started my blog a year ago. At that time I wasn’t sure I wanted to apply at Yamasa. I ordered the visa application kit in February 2005. The kit contained a prospectus and the paper forms. I must say that I was impressed with the prospectus, information was organised in a more interesting way. I have passed it over at my friend and relatives so that they could know were I wanted to go. Yamasa.org is way to intimidating for them.
By July 1st , I had completed it. Yamasa admission received it the next week. I was a bit early but I was sure about this project and I wanted to give me the best chance possible. Later in October I mailed in my Bank Statement. My application was completed. After that no news from Yamasa. In December they withdraw the visa application fee from my credit card. At that stage I did not knew if I was accepted at the school. Now I can tell that it was the case. The letter of acceptance they just send last week, state that I have been accepted at the end of November. We are now halfway thru March with 20 days remaining before I move to Japan. The wait was long for the Visa approval. I was very nervous because I had already left my job at the microprocessor foundry. No worries, everyone is accepted this year too!
I hope this will ease the concerns of future applicants. I was in Okazaki from April 3rd, to June something. Then in Gamagoori from July to September.
Update 2008: I finally cleaned the list a bit. I changed some comments and removed a lot of dead URL. What is it with people? Don’t erase parts of your life like that!
Update 2010: This is list still maintained. Changed the url to http://www.okazakijapan.com/yamasa-blog
Regards to my previous classmates.
Do I use Japanese at work after studying for 15 months? The good news is yes I do, technical documentations and procurements are done in Japanese. The study is ongoing.
Japan For Good – One Day at a Time
A refreshing new entries. Lots of good “omoidasu” when reading this blogs. Almost everyday of school has an entry. Talking about my favorite Nagaki-sensei? Ore no Yoroshiku wo tsutaete ne?
*update Jan 2010. The blog is now password-ed, too bad!
Gabriel Shiguemoto
More than a year in Japan, heading for the full 24 months? A Designer & Illustrator, Gabriel Shiguemoto blog is interesting for his admission for being disturbed by his gorgeous teachers.
Credit for picture : Gabriel Shiguemoto
*Jan 2010, he left..
Dare to Dream
He documented his application to yamasa and his almost 12 months stay. I wish I could read more but my time is limited and my interest too. This is a nice addition to your list of blog to read before going to Japan.
*Jan 2010 : nothing new, blog is dormant.
zennie’s web journal
Nice pictures from a short stay student in 2008
.Den in Japan
Was in Japan at Yamasa during summer 2008
Fred’s Website
French speaker studying for 2 years. Now at the end of his last year. Update Jan. 2010 – The site is useless crap about crystal report now.
Ingrid in Japan
I am not quite sure but I think she is in N class in the AIJP program. She got absolutly great marks I heard. The site is still online but no news since August 2007. Update Jan. 2010 still no news
Andy’s Jap blog
An other 2006 AIJP student: He is still working in Japan as of November 2008. Looks like at ECC. Does not update often his blog. I am glad to learn from him that the Nagoya immigration have moved toTenpa-ku. Oups, that information is incorrect, I read his blog again, this is were he live… sorry For prospective Yamasa Student you should read his final review. Update Jan. 2010
Lasses in Japan
Swenden-jin in Okazaki, was in my class from April to June. Still online as of Update Dec. 2008
Jonathan’s Japan Journal
Story of a Houston man, whowill be studyingStudied Japanese at Yamasa from April 2006 to March 2008. He studied so hard and was rewarded with a job using his japanese skills. He is now back in the US and his blog is now mostly in Japanese. Update Dec. 2010 Still going strong, he is a machine!
David Chart’s Japan Diary
Long entries about life in Japan. Recently bought a flat, I must say I am impressed. Studied for a year and a half at Yamasa. Worth reading from the beginning. See my japan links section for more explaination about this blog. Update Dec. 2010, he is slowing down on his writing on his blog
Yamasa Teachers Exposed
Report that this page is outdated: hereSince the page is still online, I might just keep it for the sake of archiving. Update Dec. 2008
Monkey Pen
Don’t think LiveJournal users are safe from me, sooner of later I will find your blog and read it! This blog contains the usual, life at Yamasa, Nagoya trips and exploited gaijins… Still no activity since 2006. Update Dec. 2008
dawne_aoi’s live journal
Very actual adn verry funny. This girl began in October of 2005 at Yamasa. She wrote a funny story about one of her friends that did not know how to make rice. You need to add water! ( same happened when I was at College, except the moron tried with pasta) I am enjoying this blog very much. Was proposed by a Japanese Man, she is working as an english teacher. Still being updated. Update Dec. 2010 : This journal has been deleted and purged.
GoodKittens.com
They have not updated their site since August. Brenda was at Yamasa this summer. They provide us with some good pictures of the school, and of brendaThe site tells the story of a young couple who lived in Japan for some years. But they have returned to America now. A must see. Update Dec. 2008 Still Online but still no changes. Update Jan 2010: the domain registration expires on 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 we might want to backup that site…
Kongetsu
Went to Okazaki for 3 months, was in Tokyo too. Long text entry about Okazaki, first impression and so on. Last entry on september 2007. Update Dec. 2010 no change
A homeless blog
Taiwanese guy who studied in the U.S is now at Yamasa. Again an interessting blog. Been there for 2 months. Last sudden update in september 2008. Update Dec. 2010
Studying in Japan 2005 with Peter Donohue.
Experiences studying in Japan from September through November of 2005. He went there for the third time! He ends his blog with a link to this list. Update Dec. 2008
Peter Donohue also went to Japan in 2003
to continue his study of the Japanese language at Okazaki Japan, Yamasa.
Peter Maydell
I think he is very brave; he leaved his flat witch he owns I think for long studies. The interesting part is the present time has he return to his old life. He is still taking Japanese courses. Update Dec. 2008, still updated still related to japanese studies. Update Jan. 2010, no news since jan 09
Precious Moments
Girl’s blogs are very different from those from the guys. They talk more about new friends, cooking and how they miss family. So they are the most interesting if you want to learn about the student life at Yamasa. Some great pictures are there too. Update 2008. The structure of the blog have changed so if you want to read the Yamasa bit follow my first link.If you want to read the blog at her new URL its hereUpdate 2010 – she decided to disappear, I might have more chance on Facebook
Rambling, a piece of…
One of my favorite, we can follow the inscription process at Yamasa. Required documentations such as the medical letter, and all the visa hassle. He is still there. He is about to extend his stay for another 3 months. Not updated since 2006. Update Dec. 2010 , the domain will expire in 25-dec-2013
Mystic journeys
For a guy who did not like blogging, he gave us a very good one. Nice picture of Nagoya, Okazaki, and Yamasa. He bought enough anime to load the bookshelf entirely. Not updated in a long time! Update 2008
Grant’s Journal
Funny, a guy who did the same thing as I am about to do, leave a good job to go to Japan. Except that I am leaving for a year, not 3 months. IT professionals need to take breaks. Please take care of yourself and avoid depression, now that your trip to Japan ended. He did the SILAC class. Update 2010. Still online, old update.
Toby Oxborrow
A recent addition to the blogosphere, Toby Oxborow and his blog half in English half Japanese take us away with is ‘gallery’ and flickr photos. It shows that he has been there for some time but, he does not provide a link to his old site. Update Jan 2010, the pictures are now on flickr, there is no blog anymore.
NullSchool
I hate variable, pointers, programming and Visual Basic. Scroll down a bit to see the Yamasa Part. Not a long part, but worth taking 30 secs. Even Microsoft techies are into Japanese. Update 2008. Not updated at all.
Update dec 2010, still blogging.
Update dec 2008. After working for almost a year at the international office of Yamasa, she returned back home.
Ah one of my favourite. A girl again. This blogs starts January 2005 and continues as of October. Shopping in Tokyo, Aichi World Expo, cooking and bitching are the commons subject of the blog. This girl is lazy, read report on studies.
Update 2008: still online and ongoing. Still back in home country.
elzkitten’s journal
Once in Yamasa now an intern at the American Embacy. Update dec. 2008 Leaving Japan Update 2010, its like its another person’s blog. Teacher for a while for AEON
What does a vegan do…
Was sharing in the summer of 2005, a room in Yamasa dorm + a homestay. Beware of the epileptic choice of color. Update 2008 warning about the color still in effect.