EUcitizen comments

I know some people in Korean movie biz, and they say all the younger Korean actresses have been tucked and nipped somewhere.

koiwaicoffee: Yes, as we all know, Japan is pretty much the only country in the world, where they sing anthems, raise flags and recite pledges of allegiance.

Or?

They should try it once.

My home country is very non-hierarchical as compared to Asia, U.S., France or UK. Hence the priority is on getting things done, no matter how. I find some Japanese office practices really weird, like the forced drinking with the boss. Also, at one office I worked, we had a punch card for work time. If my train was late (Chuo line :D:D) I might be punching in at 9.05. This did not mean that I could stay 5 mins later in the afternoon to compensate. I lost automatically 30 min pay. In my home country this just would not happen. My work was not customer service, so in that sense it did not matter if it was done 5 mins earlier or later. Also the matter that everybody has to take 1 hr lunch break at the same time is ridiculous. In my home country you can just bring sandwiches from home and take 30 mins lunch break and leave then 30 mins earlier from work in the afternoon. It is called flex time and it is really handy for working mothers and fathers, who have to pick their kids from school or daycare.

Also in this place I worked whenever I wrote a letter to foreign country in English, I had to show it to my superior. She would then read it consulting a dictionary, as she did not understand half of the words I used. Before writing the letter I had already consulted with her what I should write, but she obviously (this being Japan) had to "check" the letter.

Direct flight, price, flight time. Finnair is OK as is also SAS. BA is quite horrible. And I try to avoid Charles Le Gaulle in Paris as a transit airport, as they are notorious for loosing the highest amount of luggage in Europe.

Overpriced as compared to the quality of the coffee. Dunkin' Donuts' coffee tastes better and you get a free refill. Also McD 120 yen coffee will do for a quick pick-up.

Last time I was in L.A., the downtown Starbucks was selling black coffee of the day for 1 dollar or was it 1,50? Anyway, they are overcharging here in Japan.

I think the most distasteful thing is Starbucks inside of Beijing Forbidden city. There really is one!

You forget something. A lot of us Europeans got already the Chernobyl s-t over us 25 yrs ago. We have experience.

I think some companies in EU are also thinking the huge profits that will be gained through green technologies in the near future. After all, we all wanna stay competitive.

The Japanese commercial media are notorious for downplaying people. I hated to see all these silly reporters prior to the earthquake shouting at old people in some village "Obachan"... I only follow NHK, who, at least for my eye, have kept a decent approach to evacuated people.

And really the geinojin rally. In the beg. most of them stopped by at the Saitama Super Arena - no need to travel to dangerous Fukushima or Miyagi-ken - and had photos taken. If these geinojin want to do something, instead of going to the evacuation centers, they could donate money and urge other wealthy people to do so, too.

Re the money: Japan Red Cross has not given the money to the evacuated people yet. They have not figured out a way how to do it fairly. I think it makes more sense to donate for grassroots organizations like Peace Boat or JES or JEARS, who have been there since week 1 helping people.

I also agree with Ranger Miffy.

bass4funk: Go for it. As a woman at least I appreciate a nice, faint high class cologne on men.

It is ok as long as an average user can easily use them without carrying a 100-page manual in their hand/backbag. I don't know if this is advertizing, but I am satisfied with my iPhone.

Those 2 guys who interview Japanese university professors on NHK1 late at night are kind of funny in an intellectual way. Those 2 guys could probably pull off something like SNL. But Sanma??

Pity for you U.S. folks. Us with €€€ find this country quite reasonably priced.

I have also been able to find nice hotels under 10 000.

These suits are not meant to protect against radiation itself. Like a couple of pointed above, they are meant to protect against radiation sticking to your body, hair and clothing.

I got directions from my embassy for possible radiation leak, and they are kind of similar, for ex. wear a disposable raincoat outside esp. if it rains, shower once you get back in, protect all food in closable zip bags etc.

Foxie and Cleo: I agree with you 100%.

OK, if the company is a power co with nuclear plants: Create a plan and an emergency fund for a 20-30 km evacuation plan which includes the farm animals as well. If you evacuate, you have to evacuate the cows, pigs etc. as well, and the company should have ready some piece of field where to put those animals temporarily. It is criminal what they are doing in Fukushima now.

Maybe they have internet in France, too? So Kan or his assistants can keep in touch w/ Edano.

I also wonder this Japan is expensive talk. Yes, a beer in Roppongi is 900 yen, but who the hell comes to Japan to spend time with other foreigners in Roppongi? You go to other places and a beer is likely to be 600 yen. And: there is no tipping here.

I also agree with the writer before me: I have been taken to right places and helped when I looked lost. Hell, I only have to check a metro plan in a train to figure where to exchange and people ask me if they can help.

Depends on the company. I think considering flex time (stamp card, you get paid for the time you work, not for being there at the same time as others) and computer work done online from home are good options.

I like that Japanese men have a certain cleanliness about them, like nails and stuff. And they are not overweight, mostly. Japanese men have also beautiful legs, check now that the short pants' season is starting. Young men's hair style is often weird, though, esp. celebrity guys - all hair glued to the face. I like the J-men who have either very short hair, or long kep on ponytail.

Actually, tailoring Hollywood movies to foreign audiences is nothing new. It has happened since Hollywood was born in 1910s.

Hollywood now produce even Japanese movies, like Warner Brothers.

shogun36: Couldn't agree more.

LoveUSA: Hello Kitty is popular in Europe.

Nipponjour: Jietai is already near the nuclear plant helping, and have been since the first week of the crisis. Please follow the news before making false claims.

Patrick Smith: But U.S. fingerprints also, and there is actually more trouble going there as you have to get a prior permission via internet and remember to do it 2 weeks prior leaving and print it with you etc. etc. Still many people from Europe go there.

Do you really trust Japanese power companies with amakudari politicians "surveying" them? Only a fool would.

I think closing Hamaoka was a good step, and also closing some of the other oldest & unsafest nuclear plants, and instead of building new ones, start building solar power and other green energy will promote a good and safe picture for many tourists.

Generally, in earth quake preparation Japan is probably the top of the world. Same magnitude quake in any other country causes a lot more deaths. I think foreigners do not want to hear "oh it is completely safe", but to hear some concrete measures on how for ex. hotels are prepared for earthquakes, and how they themselves can make their trip safer.

sf2k: Yes. domestic pets and farm animals dying a slow and agonizing death in the 20 km zone does not exactly paint a bright holiday picture of a country.

Firstly, everybody in this conversation is writing about the dollar-yen exchange rate. Excuse me, but last I checked the map, there were some 180 countries in the world. For ex. € (euro) exchange rate for yen is ok. The biggest tourist groups to Japan come from China and Korea. Japan does most of its tourism PR in Asia.

I can understand why people stay away. Some of my relatives were thinking of coming this summer, but they changed their plans after 3/11. The news abroad pictures the situation worse than it is (for ex. people might ask if there is food in Tokyo).

And as someone already wrote, if you wanna have a nice cheery relaxing vacation, you don't go to a country where lots of people have recently died and others are suffering. It feels heartless to go. So the promotion might mention that by going you help Japanese travel businesses stay in business and it actually helps the country.

And yes: if the word goes around that Japanese think of foreigners as flyjin, it does not exactly help them to feel welcome.

I went to one Japan Tourism advancement press conference and felt baffled afterwards, and so seemed most of the foreign press there. The Japan Tourism promoters stressed how they are going around Asia telling that Japan is safe. Well, how can you say that 100%? There is no way you can tell tourists that during your 10-day stay in Japan absolutely no big earthquake or tsunami will occur and no nuclear power plant will leak.

Other smaller tips: someone mentioned the eternal masks. I think the use of them has gone up since 1990s when I was here for the 1st time. Why, I wonder. I certainly understand if someone who has heavy flu or H1N1 or whatever wears them, or if you do special gardening or warehouse cleaning or work in a hospital or dentist or as a beautician, or live in Fukushima-ken...but half of the nation is walking around with a mask on. Why on earth?

Also: many capitals in the world have a special cheap tourist ticket with which you can travel around. In Tokyo you have to put perhaps thousands of yen a day for local travel, if you do a lot of sightseeing. Create a tourist pass for whole Tokyo, covering all the train lines, metro and busses.

kabukilover: exactly!