August Blog Roundup

月末です。

I went on holiday last month (yes, I had a great time, thanks for asking!) and missed the roundup, so here's the best of July and August.

We were blown away by the popularity of our Japanese Pen Spinning post this month, which scored 26,000 hits in 48 hours, while our lovely video about Taking a Poop in Japan failed to get anything near 10% of that :(

Dan finished his in-depth guide to Japanese Cellphones and quickly got stuck into an excellent series on Getting a Credit Card.

Laura continued her elementary lesson plans in our Worksheet Sunday series, and still had time to write about Buying Japanese Edibles in England, and the Japanese Straight Perm available at your local hair-dressers.

I posted a handy video explaining how the Japanese Postal Address System works, and several articles about studying Japanese: The Worst Mistake You Can Make Learning Japanese (or any language), JLPT Past Test Papers, and two articles about kanji - why Kanji is So Useful for Learning Japanese, and the Best Way to Learn Kanji.

I also made it known that I am running a series of long-distance runs for charity this year. Every month I will run one half- or full-marathon for Save the Children Japan. Any donation will help the needy. I did a run last week at the base of Mt. Fuji which was incredibly difficult thanks to the altitude and terrain. Make it worth my while!

The mysterious LP has also been posting, letting us know how a Japanese Girlfriend will Affect Your Japanese, as well as polishing a great article on getting an ETC card without a credit card.

ETC Personal Card: ETC Without a Credit Card

Japanese highways have tolls. You either pay in cash, or use a fancy ETC reader installed in your car, paired with an ETC card, which electronically tracks your highway usage and charges your credit card as appropriate.

However, getting hold of one was not as easy as it sounded... until today!!!!!!!!!!

Read on for a full description and a guide to filling out the application.

The benefits of ETC are obvious: saving money through ETC's multifaceted discount system. The snag for most foreigners in Japan is that almost all ETC cards are tied to domestic credit cards. And getting a credit card tends to be difficult for many foreigners. (Though it's not impossible! Check out our guide.)

Anyway, the exception to the rule among ETC cards is...

The ETC Personal Card. It's independent of a credit card, any resident of Japan can apply, and the approval process is lenient. If you have an alien registration card, you'll almost certainly be approved. The tradeoff is that the card requires a financial deposit.

Interested? Read on for our guide on how to apply!

• Getting an Application

Applications are available from the personnel on duty at ETC-equipped highway tollbooths or from the Information or Concierge desks at Service Areas along the national highways. It's ironic, since this means you need to ride on the toll road in order to get a card for it. Furthermore, Concierge desks at Service Areas are often only open during certain business hours, such as 8:00-16:00, though usually 7 days a week. (Info about Service Area hours can be found here, but you may have to follow links to the SA's own homepage to find the Concierge's hours.)

You'll need to ask for it. This will do the trick:

"ETC paasonaru kaado no panfuretto wa arimasen ka?"

The alternative, which lets you stay at home, is to call up the ETC Personal Card Issuing Office (ETCパーソナルカード事務局) and ask for an application to be sent to you. You'll need enough Japanese to ask for the application and provide your name and address. The office is open 9:00-17:00 on weekdays only. The number is 044-870-7333.

• Filling out the Application

The application is in Japanese, but filling it out will be easy thanks to AccessJ!

First, you'll need to make a photocopy of your alien registration card to cut out and paste in a space provided on the application. Don't bother sending them your driver's license instead, because the ETC Personal Card Office won't accept it as proof of identification for a foreigner. They'll just call you a week later when they process the application and ask you to fax a copy of your alien registration card separately anyway, making the application process take even longer.

By the way, you can use a fancy 7-11 convenience store printer to easily make a clean copy of the front and back of your ID on one page. Unenlarged copies are fine, as is folding your copy to fit into the space provided on the application--it probably won't fit otherwise, since you need to copy both the front and the back. Paste it in a way that it can be unfolded while still attached to the application.

Phew. Copy done, right? Now just fill out the rest of the form. If you can't get a Japanese person to help you do it, then here is a high-quality, annotated scan made by us. Beware: this may feel like the most ridiculous form in the history of paper. (Unless you've ever filed US taxes.)

Things that need further explanation:

• When you are asked for your name in kanji, you may write it in English alphabet letters. Just follow however your name is written on your alien registration card. Always make sure the form matches your ID. Above your name, just use furigana you normally use in Japan, even though it probably isn't recorded anywhere on your ARC.


• Date of birth. This section asks for your DOB in Japanese years. You must also circle the era in which you were born. The Japanese date system is based on the length of a given Emperor's reign, so it doesn't follow the usual Gregorian calendar system. The main modern eras are Showa (昭和) and Heisei (平成). (If you're reading this application guide, you probably weren't born in Taisho (大正). More like somewhere between Showa 50 and like, uh, Heisei 2.) Anyway, check the converter here for exact date conversions. For example, if you were born in 1984 you'd circle 昭和 and write 59.


• Types of job categories are 1. self-employed, 2. company employee, 3. civil servant, 4. student, 5. housewife, 6. part-time, 7. unemployed, 8. other


• The deposit (Part 2)


• As you can see from the annotations, once you've estimated your average costs you must choose a yellow box with an amount in. These amounts are the required deposit you must pay.  If you only want to pay the minimum deposit (40,000 yen), then just adjust your average cost calculations to fall into the lowest categories. The deposit will not be used to pay tolls when you get the card. Rather, it acts as a guarantee on the charges you rack up on the highway. So, your deposit, for most users 40,000 yen, will be held by the ETC Personal Card Center until you choose to relinquish your ETC card to them. Your actual highway charges will be billed once a month to the bank account you fill our later in the application. However, your deposit amount is relevant, because if the total of your tolls over any 2 month period exceeds 80% of your deposit, your ETC card will be locked, unusable, and the ETC Personal Card center will contact you asking you to increase your deposit amount.


• Bank types from Part 3:


• 銀行 ginkou- bank


• 信用金庫 shinyou kinko- this one is tricky. Often times its written as “credit union” or “co-operative bank” in English, or simply “local bank” or “shinyo bank.” Basically it’s a local financial intuition that is dedicated to serving local clients and small to medium sized business


• 信用組合- shinyou kumai- this is quite literally a “credit union,” usually associated with a labor or business group. I have seen it written as “credit association” to distinguish it from the above


• 農協 noukyou- agriculture coop bank, like JA


• 漁協 gyokyou- fishermen coop bank


• 労金 roukin- labor bank or labor union bank


• Branch types from Part 3:


• 本店 main branch/hq


• 支店 branch office


• 出張所 extension/mini-branch


• Other options from Part 3 ask who's bank account the details belong to:


• 本人 self 


• 配偶者 spouse 


• 親・子 parent/child
  

The application pack also comes with an explanatory copy of the form. If you want to battle through it in Japanese, here it is:

And here is the application without annotations, if you want that.

• Paying the Deposit

After you send in the application, you should get a call from the ETC Personal Card center. If they have any inquiries about your application, such as "Please send us your alien registration card, not your driver's license." or "Your name is too long and you have too many middle names, which is causing general panic at our offices. How do you want your name truncated to fit on the card?", they'll ask those now.

Then they'll explain that they are sending out a bill for the deposit. This bill is similar to ones you may have received when paying for utilities the first time. You can take it to a bank, post office, or any convenience store and pay there. The funds will reach the ETC Personal Card office on the next business day, after which they'll continue processing your application.

• How Long Will This Take?

Time wise, be aware that the receipt of your ETC Personal Card will be about two to three weeks after you first send in the application. In our experiences, the bill for the deposit arrived almost exactly a week after application, and the card itself arrived another week after the deposit was made.


By the way, here are some maintenance issues you might wonder about after getting the card:

• Changing Address: The ETC Personal Card office sends out its mail in an obnoxious 転送不可 (tensou fuka) fashion, which means if you change addresses in Japan any mail pertaining to the ETC Personal Card will not be forwarded to you, even if you requested at the post office to have all your mail redirected to your new address. So, if you change residences after getting the ETC Personal Card, you need to call them ( 044-870-7333 ) and ask for them to update your file. ("Jyuusho henkou no tetsuzuki wo shitai desu ga.")


• Relinquishing the Card and Reclaiming Your Deposit: After you get your flashy ETC Personal Card in the mail and use it for a few years in your fancy ETC card reader, you may someday decide that you want to get rid of it and lay claim to that hefty deposit you paid on application. The process for this is simple but lengthy: Again, call the ETC Personal Card Center ( 044-870-7333 ) and tell them you're done using the card. They will guide you through the process and the deposit will be furikomied into your bank account about one month after you make the request. Be sure to time this correctly. It'd suck to have that money appear in your account after you've left Japan or bounce because you've already closed your bank account.

For frequent drivers, the benefits outweigh the snags. ETC cards qualify you for big discounts when driving on expressways around Japan. So, good luck with the application process, and let us know how it goes.

Japan and Marijuana

Among the weird characters, objects, and symbols that Japanese adopt as cultural icons (including, but not limited to, Stitch from Lilo & Stitch, human feces, faux-Russian rabbit-centric series Usavich, the V sign, popularizing NG as a handy opposite to OK in everyday life, the abomination that is Sento-kun, and Sento-kun's girlfriend) is one that still catches me off guard every time I see it:

The seven-pointed cannabis leaf.


Any upright, punk-themed fashion store is bound to have a bunch of bracelets and baseball caps bearing the leaf, and a day on the town is enough to find several 20-something Japanese guys thuggin' around with a cannabis-themed Zippo lighter and at least a dozen schoolkids (boys and girls alike) sporting leaved backpacks, sneakers, flair, and pencil cases.

You can surprise any number of kids by telling them what plant that leaf comes from, but it's not like Japan as a nation has never been in touch with psychotropics: Less than a decade ago magic mushrooms were still being openly sold in nightclubs here.

And other drugs have had a place in traditional Japan. A small town in northern Shikoku today maintains an ancient tradition of piling hemp on a mountaintop and burning it bonfire-style in an annual festival.

These traditions persist in a doublethink paradox alongside Japan's zero-tolerance controlled substances policy which criminalize all varieties of drugs, including cannabis. Even modest drug busts tend to make national NHK news, each time shocking the Japanese public, and criminal suspects face penalties far beyond those of Japan's Western allies. For example:

Any person who commits an offense [of growing marijuana] for the purpose of gain shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding 7 years or to both penal servitude not exceeding 7 years and a fine not exceeding 2,000,000 yen according to the circumstances.

Any person who unlawfully possesses, receives, or transfers cannabis shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding 5 years. (source)

Photo courtesy of engrish.com

JapanHemp offers some interesting reads on the subject, including accounts of several people who were detained at Narita airport and imprisoned for possession. Stories tell of the absolute servitude demanded in Japanese prisons, followed by deportations and 20-year bans on readmission to the country. Even Sir Paul McCartney spent a brief stint in a Japanese jail when he brought marijuana into the country for a Wings concert tour.

Those harsh penalties appear to keep usage low among nationals. In one survey, only 1.5% of Japanese people admitted to trying marijuana, compared with 42% of US residents. And this low demand keeps street prices for all illegal substances sky high.

In sum, the cannabis leaf gets plenty of exposure as an object of fashion and youth in Japan, but that doesn't mean that the general public understands what it is or wants to smoke it with you. If you're the kind of person who needs the green to get by, you may find it best to stay home.

WS: Blockbusters (all grades)

Blockbusters is a famous quiz show format which you've probably heard of. Here's how to play it with your students.

Any age can play this if they can understand your questions (or translate some words).

Here goes...

MS Paint masterpiece

1. Draw a grid on the board, like this one. It can be bigger if you want/have more time to fill (a 6x8 grid can last all lesson sometimes).


2. Write a letter in each circle/shape.


3. Make a question for each letter. The answer to the question starts with the letter in the shape. 


4. Make two teams (you can try with three or four if you like).


5. One student from each team comes to the front, and sit either side of a desk (facing each other). 


6. On the desk is an object (eraser or something).


7. Students janken to see who starts. The winner chooses a letter from the first column on the board.


8. The two students put their hands on their head while you ask the question. The first student to grab the eraser answers the question. If they get if right, that circle is coloured in that team's colour.


9. After this question the students go back to their groups and the next kids come up to try.


10. The aim of the game is to get a line across the board (diagonally is okay). Failing that, the most number of circles in that group's colour.

A line all the way across the board earns 100 points. One top to bottom earns 50, and each square is 5.

Credit Card Guide #3: Filling out the Application

In part 3 of our credit card mega series we will be covering the finer points of how to fill out  a model credit card application. 


While it is always good to have a Japanese friend handy, this guide should help you understand the basics of the whole process through example.


Read on...
The model application we are using for this part is a card issued by Aeon Credit Co., a subsidiary of the supermarket company Aeon. While every application is a bit different, there is obviously a lot of cross-over. 


This article is intended to serve as a basic guide; so if you are unsure about exact process of the card you are applying for make sure to ask a friend or do some further investigation. As always, mistakes on an application will result in an awkward phone call and/or a returned form.

Step 1- Which type of card do you want. Some issuers offer a choice of multipe brands while others only offer one. In this case, you can chose from Visa, Master Card, and JCB.


Step 2- This card asks you if you want to sign up to use Aeon's proprietary "waon" e-money/point system. Many cards offer service like this, especially ones issued by retailers. In this case it doesn't cost extra, but make sure you don't end up paying fees for things you don't need.


Step 3- This card gives you the option to set "auto charge" incase you run out of waon money. Presumibly it just charges you after your waon balance drops below a certain level.


Step 4- Singing up for and ETC card. It is a credit card size card you can insert into a car mounted card reader (see more info about that here) in order to get discounts on highway tolls throughout Japan. This add on is usually free of charge and is a good idea if you travel frequently.


Step 5- Singing up for "iD" which is a contact payment system where you simply swipe the card over a reader. This service is found on many credit cards and can also be used with iD compatible mobile phones. This option is also free.


Step 6- Signing up for extras. In this case the credit card is offering a special discount magazine subscription. Card issuers like to try and sell you little extras like insurance and what not so be careful not to sign up for anything you don't need.


Step 7- Your name. The top line is for adding your katakana spelling while the bottom line is for English lettering (or Chinese characters if you have them). Make sure to write your name and katakana exactly as it appears on you ID and bank account.


Step 8- Your date of birth in the Japanese calendar system, known formally as 年号 (nengou). The Japanese date system is based on the length of a given Emperor's reign so it doesn't follow the usual Gregorian calendar system. The main modern eras are  大正 (Taisho), 昭和 (Showa), and 平成 (Heisei) . Check the converter here for exact date conversions.


Step 9- the next two boxes are sex (性別 seibetsu) with 女 (onna) meaning "girl" and 男 (otoku) meaning "boy." To the right of that is a box asking are you married ( 配偶者haigusha) with 有 (yu) being "yes" and 無 (mu) being "no."


Step 10- Pick a four digit pin number that is easy to remember but isn't your birthday or address. Remember this because you will need it to pay at some terminals.


Step 11- Write your name in English characters (even if you have a Chinese character name). This is what appears on your actual card. Don't worry if you can't fit a middle name in, first and last are the ones that count.


Step 12- The number of people in your household (世帯人数 seitai ninzu) excluding yourself.


Step 13- How long you have lived in your current residence ( 居住年数 kyoju nensu) as calculated in years (年 nen ) and months ( ヶ月 ka getsu).


Step 14- Fill in your post code (the boxes on the far left) and address in Japanese characters. If you can't remember it off the top of your head then you need only look as far as your Alien Card or drivers license. The small line above is for the katakana spelling of your address.


Step 15 and 16- Part 15 is your home phone number. Skip it if you don't have one. Part 16 is your mobile phone number.


Step 17- This refers to the type of residence. In this application there are two basic categories including 一戸建て (ikko tate)  or a regular house and 集合住宅 (shugo jutaku)  or unit housing. For regular housing the options are self-owned/owned with family (自己・家族有所 jiko-kazoku yujo), company provided housing (社宅 shataku), public housing  (公営住宅 koei jutaku), or rental (賃貸 chintai). The same options are available for unit housing with the addition of the dormitory option ( 寮 ryo). Pick the number corresponding to your type of housing.


Step 18- This asks if you have a loan or outstanding housing payments. 1 is yes (あり ari) and 2 is no (なし nashi )


Step 19 and 20- The space in section 19 is for your yearly income in increments of 10,000 yen. 5,000,000 would therefore be written as 500 in this case. Step 20 represents outstanding loans, excluding auto and housing. This is also calculated in units of 10,000.


Step 21- This section represents how much "cashing" (see part 1 If this is your first card, we recommend picking the lowest amount (in the case, 300,000 yen).


Step 22- This section is for anyone who is applying for a spouse or family card. Simply fill it in like did in Step 7, including name, katakana, birthdate, sex, and relationship (zokugara 続柄).


Step 23- This section is for ribo-barai (see part 1). Select the monthly payment plan you wish (some cards let you change this later) as well as the option for "all ribo-baraiI" where all payments are automatically done in installments. If you wish to use this, enter 1 ( 利用する riyo suru) or 2 for no (利用しない riyo shinai ).


Step 24- Fill in the number corresponding to your work type. Option 1 is for public employees and company employees ( 会社員 kaisha-in and 公務員 komu-in respectively). Anyone working for JET, City Hall, or a full time private company should pick this. Option 2 is for dispatch workers and part-time workers (派遣 haken and パート・アルバイトpaato/arubaito). Anyone working for a dispatch firm like Interac, Borderlink, etc or non-fulltime hourly work should pick this. Option 3 is for students ( 学生gakusei) and option 4 is for the self employed (自営業jieigyo). Option 5 is for stay-at-home moms or dads (主婦・主夫shufu) and option 6 is for pensioners. Don't forget your student ID if you put down number 3.


Step 25- Fill in the name of your company, dispatch firm or, if you are a student, your school. Don't forget to fill out the katakana reading of your school or company's name as well as the full address of the headquarters or branch that you work at. If you work at a school list your dispatch firm or employment organization (usually city hall). Don't forget to include the telephone number in the line boxes below as well as the type of work you do (事業内容 jigyo naiyo) and your department/assignment (所属・役職 shozoku/yakushoku). Finally, don't forget to put how long you have worked in your given job (勤続年数 kinzoku nensu) in months and years. If you are a stay-at-home mom or dad, write your significant other's work place and if you are self employed, write the address of your business. 


Step 26- This section is only for stay-at-home wives or husbands. The first box on the left asks for your spouse's yearly income in units of 10,000 yen (配偶者年収 haigusha nenshu), the middle asks for how much outstanding credit your have ( クレジット利用残高 kurejitto no riyo zandaka) excluding one time charges but including auto loans, revolving credit payments, shopping loans, etc. The box on the far right asks for the amount of projected credit payments in one year ( レジットの年間支払予定額 kurejitto no nenkan shiharai yotei gaku).


Step 27- This section is for people under 20. If you are a minor, have your guardian fill out their name plus katakana in addition to address and phone number in the box below. Don't forget to circle the relationship status (本人続柄 honnin zokugara), which in this case is parent (親 oya ) or other (その他 sono hoka ). 



Step 28- The final step is entering your bank account information. If you have your bank book with you then most of the information you need will be contained within. The big blue box in the upper left has two options for payment: financial institution (金融機関 kinyu kikan ) or JP Bank (ゆうちょ銀行 yucho ginko  or the former Postal Bank). You only need to fill in one or the other. If you elect for a regular financial institution then you need the bank name, type of financial institution (regular bank, shinyo bank, credit union etc), the branch name, and the type of account (regular or checking). However if you chose a JP Bank account then all you need are the numbers that appear on  your bank card and pass book. The final square on the bottom left is the account holder's name ( 口座名義人 koza meigijini) (not pictured). This particular application asks for the name and telephone number of the applicant in the box in the top right. You will also need your banking inkan (not pictured) which you need to stamp twice in the small dotted circles.




And there you have it, folks. A fully completed card application. While each and every app is different, this should serve a good model. Don't forget to attach a copy of your ID (usually on a separate form) and if you have trouble, try going directly to a shop where they hock credit cards. If you have all the paper work in order they should be more than happy to help.


Well that about covers this section. Stay tuned for our final installment where we cover the pros and cons of getting your own card!



Other Posts in this Series
Part 1: The Basics
Part 2: Application Pointers
Part 3: Filling Out the Application
Part 4: Do You Really Need a Card?

Applying for the JLPT

It's that time of year again. Applications are now available in the bigger book stores in Japan.

For more information, see the entry posted earlier this year.

The Worst Thing You Can Do When Learning Japanese (or Any Language)

The very worst thing you can do, and which a lot of people will unfortunately find themselves doing in this age of the internet and downloading, is drowning in resources.

I've seen torrents and download packs of things like "120 Japanese Learning books" etc and had to wonder why anyone would doom themselves to failure before they've even begun.


If you get stuck on something difficult when studying, which most people do - frequently - then you may find yourself blaming yours tools in just the way we were all taught not to. You might think "oh, I guess this textbook/website just isn't that good. I'll try another one."

Not only will you backtrack and cover the same ground again if you change resource, but you will also enforce within yourself the idea that it's okay to quit, and doing so isn't your fault.

Learning Japanese is hard. Learning any language is hard. If you want to do it successfully then you need to do the following things:

1. Research and find what resource suits you best. If you're looking for a particular style/presentation of book, then do what you can to find it before you start. Read as many reviews/guides as you can before making your decision.


2. Stick with your chosen resource until you have mastered it.

That's it. If you hang in there, you will get it eventually. Even a terrible textbook can be used if need be. That doesn't mean that you absolutely can't change your book even if it doesn't work for you; different people respond to different teaching methods. Bear that in mind when choosing your resources and hopefully you won't have to revise your decision.

The most important thing is to trust your decision, and your resource. Keep your focus tight, and don't get distracted by new miracle solutions.

Like I said, not everyone will respond to the same materials, but we've put together some guides for the different aspects of learning Japanese:

• The Best Way to Learn Hiragana and Katakana


• The Best Way to Learn Kanji


• Why Kanji is the BEST Thing for Learning Japanese


• Learning Vocabulary


• Applying for the JLPT test


• Past JLPT test papers


• Using an Amazon Kindle to Study Japanese


• Browsing the Web in Japanese

Japanese Girlfriends and Better Japanese

A while back, Tofugu wrote an article about why having a Japanese girlfriend (or boyfriend) won't improve your Japanese. Some of the points there are pretty valid. I mean, laziness is the same reason that keeps Pimsleur CDs disappearing into living room shelves without any meteoric rise of polyglots in the English speaking world.

Anyway, in regards to the article, the only point I had any particular problem with was point number 2.

And yes, I did read reason 10. I do understand that the article is written tongue-in-cheek. But it'd be a shame for any readers to nonetheless be left with an impression that code switching is not a means through which significant language learning can occur.

Code switching is similar to the way bilingual children speak before they're aware of possessing two languages. (It just happens to be called "language mixing" when a child hasn't reached a stage of cognitive development in which he or she can discriminate between languages.) But, even after a child understands this difference, it is common for that child to continue a pattern of language switching when in the presence of other bilinguals.

As a language learner, this kind of linguistic playfulness helps you work on foreign vocab words and grammar patterns not present in your native language. You're practicing Japanese vocabulary when you put a word into the middle of an English sentence, and you're internalizing grammar when you rearrange your English words in Japanese order. Great!

After all, different languages have the ability to say certain things more efficiently or precisely than others. This difference between languages is what might cause you to break out into an explanatory paragraph every time someone asks you how to translate the phrase "懐かしい" or "甘える." It's often hard to find a common, simple translation for things we learn and identify with in Japanese--and the same is true for Japanese learners of English. (I mean, I don't buy the idea that any native English speaker is going to pick up an old favorite novel and naturally exclaim "How nostalgic!" into the open air.)

So, when you're with your Japanese girlfriend or whatever, and you feel like saying "懐かしい," then say "懐かしい!" Practice your Japanese! Take advantage of this kind of linguistic understanding. Be proud that you've found a shortcut to expressing some human emotion a little bit more accurately than your native language allows. Even if that word pops up in the middle of an otherwise all-English dialogue.

But, be careful who you code-switch with. Do it too much in public, and you risk looking like a tool:

Im looking for a bento box, it cant be pinku (thats japanese for pink) or any girl color. It has to be of 2 or more kotoba (thats japanese for 2 compartments) and has be be chibi (small) sized. And has to be really kawaii (cute). Also It has to be about 10-20 bux. And you have to post pics of it first (i want to make shure it's kawaii (cute)). And it would be nice if it came with matching chopstick holder (WITH chopsticks). OH! and it CANNOT have any cartoon pictures, or be made out of plastic. It has to be made of ceramic, or something like that. Also it would be nice if it was made in japan. and not in china or corea (korea) or whatever. I have found a bento box similar to the one im describing in e-bay, but it was 1 kotoba, and i dont want my gohan (rice) to touch my other things (it can get wet and i would not like that, plus 2 compartments looks more kawaii)

That's the same reason bilingual kids tend to only code-share with family members and close friends. When you're in an intimate relationship with someone, you talk with them in ways that you wouldn't with anyone else. Code-switching is more available as a tool when you have someone close to use it with. Having a Japanese girlfriend just happens to be one way to make code-switching available as a practice tool.

Now, the problem with code-switching is (and the article at Tofugu bashes on it precisely because of this risk) that it gives you, the language learner, an easy cop out when you encounter anything you don't know how to say in Japanese. I'd say this really boils down to a problem of laziness, though, not code-switching. It's like only wanting to review the ten flashcards you already know and immediately shuffling unknown cards to the back of the deck rather than learning them properly.

If there's an immediate need to communicate, by all means, do whatever necessary to get your point across. But when you're not rushed, get off your ass and look whatever you want to say up in a dictionary! There are so many quick, convenient tools out there, especially if you're anywhere near a computer. Once your point is across, ask the person you're talking with how to say it in natural Japanese. And then write it down. If you're really able to talk with your Japanese girlfriend and instantly remember new words that she tells you, there's no reason for you to be reading this article, and your Japanese is probably already amazing. The rest of us need memos. So keep a mini notebook and write down the new word you hear, or flip out your cellphone and type the word in once and e-mail it to yourself. Do anything to store it, so with any luck you'll find yourself glancing at that word again later and pushing it that much further into your long-term, usable memory.

So, what do you think? Do you agree? Am I way off the mark?
As always, please feel free to share your opinions and comments below.

WS: Eigo Noto 2: I Can 3

Three sessions may seem like a long time on one grammar point, but "I can" is so important, and has so many uses that it's well worth it.

After learning "can (+verb)" you can introduce more complex things.
I can play, I can play the, I can cook, I can make, I can eat etc.
By keeping the main grammar point constant ("I can" and "can you?") the introduction of these new verbs isn't as conceptually difficult as it may seem.


Greeting Good morning etc.

Chant Using the flash cards from previous weeks, with vocabulary the students already know. I have them chant I can/I can't. Strangely I always find that students can remember how to say "I can" but have trouble remembering "I can't".

New Vocabulary Next I introduce some new verbs. This week we studied; cook, make, ride and eat. We made example sentences and the students repeated them after me. I got them to suggest their own sentences, such as "I can't ride a dog" etc to make it more entertaining.

Activity Eigo Noto 2, page 27, has a space for students to draw pictures of things they can and can't do. Of course you can use a worksheet or even some scrap paper.
I had the students draw 3 things they can do, and 3 they can't.
I asked them to be as creative as possible giving them examples such as, "I can ride an elephant" and "I can't eat a monkey".
I made it clear that the students did not have to know the sentence in English, and could ask me for help. My students were great and came up with some very interesting ideas!
N.B. At this point I asked the students to draw their pictures secretly and not show anyone.

Speech In groups of 4 or 5 (they may already have groups or you might have to make them) I had the students made speeches using their pictures.
Hello, my name is ____________________
I can ____________________________________ x3
I can't __________________________________ x3
Thank you very much.

Activity 2 At this point I got students to collect the textbooks/worksheets in and bring them to me. (Tip: if using textbooks have them leave them stacked open on the correct page!).
I then chose a book at random (Tip: hide the name on the book!).
I then gave hints, I can__________ I can't____________________.
After giving the hints the students should guess whose book it is.
The students whose book it is should not raise their hand.

Problems you might face with this game:
1. Not being able to understand the pictures.
Whilst students are drawing at the begging of the lesson walk around and ask the students what their picture means.  There will be some you don't understand, but my students found it hilarious when I ended up with a pile of 10 books with pictures I couldn't decipher!
2. The students may very well all have the same ideas. I can play soccer, I can't play kendama.
When giving your examples make them as exciting as possible. the students will get a laugh out of it and it will hopefully encourage them to have a go at creating some funny sentences in English. If you are lucky you might get some ideas as interesting as these;

A few of my favorites
I can't ride a dinosaur.
I can't bungee jump from this school.
I can't sleep for 24 hours.
I can't put a car on my head.
I can eat monkey, and cheese and everything is delicious.
I can sew a wedding dress.
I can eat ume boshi on Wednesday.

Credit Card Guide #2: Application Pointers

Some of you veteran expats may have heard that getting a credit card as a foreigner is near impossible in Japan. 


Unfortunately that is not too far from the truth. However, there are various ways to increase your chances for approval. 


Read on...


Like any financial product, getting a Japanese credit card requires wading through paperwork. The following are essential:

• A valid resident status in Japan and alien registration card or drivers license
• A Japanese bank account
• An inkan (印鑑), the same one you use for your regular bank account
• Tax forms, salary slips, and/or utility receipts (not required for all applications)
• A student ID from a domestic university or vocational school (if you are a student)

Choosing a Card
Credit cards are becoming standard fare in Japan and just about every major super market, airline, and shopping mall has their own branded card that has all sorts of points, perks, and goodies attached to it. Banks, of course, also offer their own.


Many department stores have tables were you can sign up on the spot (provided you have and ID and inkan) and just about every retailer has card applications on their website. However, if you apply online you will still have to fill out a form from the credit card company and present a valid ID copy.


Pointers for the Application Process
You may have heard horror stories of foreigners getting rejected purely on the basis of their foreignness. Unfortunately, there is a legal precedent in Japan for rejecting foreigners without permanent residence for financial products due to their potential flight risk. Yes, its unfair and it sucks.


When you apply for a credit card, the card issuer will do a credit check. The Japan Credit Information Reference Center Corp acts as a central clearing house for consumer credit data for all big banks and issuers general check this organization first to see if you have outstanding loans, missed payments, or other financial obligations. 


What sort of credit reporting goes on here isn't exactly clear but it only involves your Japanese credit lines, so if you haven't been in Japan long then your shouldn't have any too much to worry about.




Some of the following factors can effect your Japanese credit worthiness:

• Having a home phone number - it may sounds silly but having a home number in addition to a mobile phone is seen as a big plus on credit applications since it indicates you are staying in the same place for a while. And don't try using a Skype number (anything starthng in 05) since the dialing prefix will give it away.

• Living in the same place - almost every application will ask how long you have lived in your current residence and what type of housing it is. People who live in a rental unit and have just hopped off the plane or changed locations are considered bigger credit risks. It pays to settle down for some time before applying for a card.

• Working for a private company/on a short-term contract - many foreigners in Japan who teach at public schools work for hakengaisha (派 遣会社), or dispatch firms like Interac. Japanese financial institutions tend to view this form of employment as a risk since you can be fired essentially at will and you don't have access to the same benefits as contracted company employees. 

• Permanent Residency/Spouse Visas - Those who have PR will have a lot easier time getting credit due to the fact that you are not seen as a flight risk. Plus, if you are married to a national then you can have your wife apply for you and get a family credit card.

Things to avoid when applying:

• Big Banks - Banks in Japan are big credit card issuers but they are very, very conservative with their credit portfolios. Even if you have been banking with them for ages, there is a good chance you could face rejection just based on your foreignness. Try for an independent credit card issuer instead.

• Alien Card - Most foreigners use the Alien Card as the primary form of ID. However, this card contains the length of your residence status in Japan. If you only have a one year visa, this might be considered a turn off to potential issuers. Try using a driver's license, insurance certificate or other valid ID instead.

• Lying - Don't fib on the application. Japanese card issuers often call your house to verify if you live there, as well as your boss to make sure your job and salary information is in order. Some card companies might even ask you to present proof of income like a tax form or salary slip.

• Applying for Multiple Cards in Short Order - Avoid applying for one card after another. Banks can see your past applications and having a lot of rejections and outstanding applications dings your credit eligibility. If rejected, cool your heels and wait for a bit.

• Big Name Cards - Certain cards such as American Express and some department store credit cards cater to wealthy clientele so it is best to avoid them all together. JCB branded cards have a reputation for being much easier to get than Visa and Master Card brands so try them first. 

Finally, if you are a student, don't forget to check and see if your university has a deal with a card issuers. The University Co-op Association seems to have a deal worked out with Mitsui-Sumitomo Card Co. for a student-only credit card that is relatively foreigner friendly. Other card issuers have similar student cards if you have a valid ID. While these are by no means a sure bet, its a good place to start if you are a student.


The whole application process may seem very intimidating but once you know the basics it gets much easier. 


Don't get frustrated if you get rejected a few times and don't let anyone tell you foreigners can't get credit cards here (this author has two already). 

Check back soon for our next installment where we will show you how to fill out a model application. 

Other Posts in this Series
Part 1: The Basics
Part 2: Application Pointers
Part 3: Filling Out the Application
Part 4: Do You Really Need a Card?

Japanese Pen Spinning Tricks

If you work in a school in Japan, you've probably seen your students flipping their pens around their thumbs or some other such trick. When I was at school, we just punched each other for fun... ah, well.

Anyway, I was curious and looked it up. I like sharing, so here you are.

Read on to not only watch some funky videos, but also find out how to do some tricks yourself.

First thing I found out: there are tons of these tricks.
Second thing: it's kind of dorky. A bit like those mini finger-skateboards that used to be popular.

Here's a popular video of people spinning their pens:



There are tons of instructional videos out there, so just follow this link for a selection on YouTube.

Here's a summary of some of the basic moves to get you started, from some pen nerd going by the name KTrihn93 on YouTube:

Thumbaround

Finger Pass

Sonic

Charge

Get Your Japan Grocery Fix in the UK

So you lived in Japan, or you went on holiday to Japan, and you fell in love with some of the delicious foods and drinks.

But now you're home (in the UK)... and you just can't quench your craving for dried octopus suckers, or have a burning thirst for the sickly sweet Royal Milk Tea.

Well look no further. The Japan Centre, based in central London, has an online shopping service as well as a Physical Store (in Real Life).


While we all know about sites like J-List, where you can order all manner of snacks and tat, the Japan Centre seems more focused on practical goods (though you can still get your treats) like tofu and alcohol.

Their online store features foods such as Japanese curry roux, senbei, and even those little koala biscuits they sell in 7/11 as well as chilled items (Kimuchi and natto included). You can also buy in bulk if you are really craving Asahi Superdry or desperate for 20kg of white miso...

There's also a wide range of non-food produce: kitchenware, rice cookers, magazines and books in both Japanese and English and a variety of gifts and omiyage. Don't forget their Japanese learning resources.

Happily the site also has a wide range of recipes - from takoyaki to meals and snacks using natto.

Japan Centre links in this article do not generate any revenue for AccessJ, so click away knowing we're not using you!

WS: Eigo Noto 2: I Can 2

This is the second lesson teaching 'I can'. You may wish to introduce 'can you' at this point, but I found that due to time restraints, and a two week gap in my being at this school, the students couldn't remember 'I can' as well as I would have liked. So I stuck with it for another week


Greeting - Hello, How are you? What month is it now?

I can - Review vocabulary from last time "I can fly/run" etc.

• Then, introduce new verbs. "I can play basketball, soccer etc."
• Next, "I can play the piano, the guitar, etc."
• We repeat this as a class a number of times before I stop and ask students to guess why you say "I can..../I can play..../and I can play the..."
• After studying this I show some pictures of other things (instruments, sports etc.) and get them to tell me if it is play, play the, or just I can.

I can game - If you're in a regular classroom, students should be already in lines of 4-6 students. This will be their team today.

• Have the first student from each team come to you, and give them a verb flashcard. They should keep this card a secret.
• Next, have the student stand, facing one team. This should not be their own team.
• The student with the flashcard has 2 seconds to gesture what is written on their card.
• They should make the gesture as difficult as possible, they do not want the team to guess!

After making their two second gesture (it's best for you to time it and have all students present their gesture at the same time), the team gets to guess what the player was doing. They should say, as a team 'I can .....'
The student who presented the gesture should answer "I can ..." Or  "I can't..." If the team was correct, they get one point.

Repeat until all students have had a turn at giving a gesture.

Fruit basket - As played a few weeks ago.

• Students make  circle with their chairs. There should be one less chair than players. (I usually start myself to ensure this).
• The student in the middle will say "I can ......" or "I can`t...."
• The students sitting who have the same answer will stand up and change seats. The student left without a chair starts the next round.
• Saying "fruit basket" means all students have to change seats.

Finish - see ya.

Credit Card Guide #1: The Basics

For our next AccessJ super-feature, we will be thoroughly covering the Japanese credit card system. We'll also offer a guide and tips for getting your own Japanese credit card.

Read more for an introduction to the credit card system of Japan.

One of the things that travelers in Japan tend to notice is how many stores outside of major shopping districts do not accept credit cards. While this trend is changing, expect most small shops and eateries to only handle cash. Even then some older credit card terminals have a hard time handling Western debit cards and certain types of international credit cards. 

The Basics

The Japanese credit card system is extremely dissimilar to other developed countries. Credit cards, by default, work a lot like a charge card or debit cards found in the Western world. Basically, you just charge up to a set limit and you are billed for the balance at the end of the month. 

Just about every major credit card brand is available here including Visa, Master Card, and American Express. JCB is also a major brand but it is not often seen outside of Japan (however American Express in the US has a deal to process JCB cards at some terminals and vice-versa). Most stores simply require signatures will while others use a chip-and-pin set up similar to UK credit cards and debit cards.

That being said, there are some important differences that you may come across when trying to apply for and/or use a credit card in Japan. 

Bunkatsu Barai (分割払い)

Bunkatu barai literally means "split up payments" or "installment payments." When using a credit card, be it foreign or domestic, the teller will ask something to the effect of "how many times do you want to divide this?" ("nankai deshou ka?") or "will this be in one payment?" ("ikkatsu wa yoroshi deshou ka?"). If you are using a non Japanese credit card or debit, always answer "one time" ("ikkai " or "ikkatsu") or else your transaction will be rejected. 

Japanese credit cards always include this system of splitting up payments, usually in 2-12 installments. Some credit card issuers have specials where 2-3 installments are interest free but picking up any more installments will incur interest on each payment. Credit card companies will usually have a rate table available on their brochures and websites. 

Ribo Barai (リボ払い)

Ribo Barai is short for "revolving payments" and it resembles something closer to a Western, pay-as-you-go credit system. This option takes your balance for the month and divides it into pre-determined payments plus a finance fee attached to each payment. Like bunkatsu barai, this option only works with cards issued in Japan and only if your card issuer thinks that you are credit worthy enough to not duck out on your payments.

There are two ways of using this system: 

a) punch the ribo barai  button on the credit card terminal or ask the sales person if they can make your purchase ribo barai

b) call up your card issuer or go to their online terminal and request that your remaining balance be split into ribo barai

Kyashingu (キャッシング)

The Japanese take on the English word "cashing," this service is essentially a cash advance or loan. You can take money out at most convenience store or institutional ATMs but expect a hefty interest charge plus possible ATM fees. Some companies require separate applications for domestic kyashingu and international kyashingu.

This service can be handy for withdrawing money overseas where Japanese bank cards are as about as useless as monopoly money. However, when it comes to daily purchases, it is good to avoid unless you want to be up to your eyeballs in debt with heavy interest. Most card issuers give you the option of not signing up for this at all and it is usually a smart move, especially if you are a first time credit card user in Japan.

Multi-Use Cards

Some banks and brokerages offer a single card that combines your bank card and your credit card. They have similar functionality to a stand alone credit card save for the fact that you can use them at ATMs for deposits and withdrawals. Like all credit cards, you have to fill out and application and be approved. Banks may also set certain conditions such as having a certain balance or charging an annual service fee.

Well, that about covers the basics. Stay posted for our next installment where we take a look at getting your very own Japanese credit card!


Other Posts in this Series
Part 1: The Basics
Part 2: Application Pointers
Part 3: Filling Out the Application
Part 4: Do You Really Need a Card?

The Japanese Straight Perm

You may think that your hair is straight after using a straightening iron, but you don't know straight until you have had a Japanese straight perm! And gone is the frizz of humid Japanese summer!

A Japanese straight perm, or "thermal reconditioning" as it is also known, is a technique developed in Japan in which the internal hair bonds are first broken, and then reconditioned into a straight style; giving glossy, soft and easy to manage hair.


Treated hair will stay permanently straight with only the re-growth needing touching up. Generally you will only need a touch-up every six to ten months, depending on how quickly your hair grows and how curly your hair was originally. It works equally well on all hair types.

I have had my straight perm for a 3 months now and have absolutely no sign of re-growth and in that time I have not had a single bad hair day!


Be prepared, a Japanese straight perm can take from 4 - 6 hours. Make sure you book in advance and take something to read.


The procedure

• Your hairdresser should assess your hair. 
• You can choose between 'natural straight' or 'hard straight'. Hard straight is almost inhumanly so, which is why I recommend the natural version.
• Thorough shampoo and condition of your hair. 
• Deep conditioning treatment can be used on your hair should it require it, to prevent breakage during the treatment. 
• Creme based relaxer will be applied to your hair, which will then be wrapped in cling-film. 
• This may be left on for around an hour. 
• A second shampoo and condition. 
• At this point your hair will look terrible. The bonds inside have been broken and it will be a frizzy horrible mess. Don't cry at this point. 
• Hair will be dried and straightened within an inch of its life. I had 2 hairdressers straightening mine for over 30 minutes. 
• At this point the style should be decided. If you want a parting etc now is the time to say so. The hair will be set into this style, and there's no going back. 
• A neutralizer will be put on the hair. Finally setting the hair into position. 
• Be prepared to be wrapped in cling film again.
• A last shampoo and condition. 
• The hair will be allowed to air dry for a short time (if you are in Japan this is most likely the time you will get your complementary head and shoulder massage).  
• Depending on the salon your hair will be left to dry naturally or blasted with a hairdryer.
  
  Done!

Well, not quite done. The bonds of the hair are still not set in their final position. You should follow your hair stylists advice on how to care for your hair in the few days after the treatment.


General after care advice

• Do not wash your hair for 2 days. 
• Do not put clips or hair ties in your hair for 2 days. The hair may set in this strange position, leaving kinks. 
• The first few times you wash your hair after treatment use a hair dryer to dry it completely straight. 
• Use a shampoo and conditioner recommended for use with a straight perm.  

The price
Price is another thing which can vary salon to salon. I personally paid 12,000 yen, (about 95GBP/160USD). Not cheap, but not unreasonable for something so significant.

I hear that it can be even more expensive outside of Japan. If anyone has any experience of this, we'd be glad to hear from you in the comments.