Taspo Cards - How to Get ID for Buying Cigarettes

Back in 2008, the Tobacco Industry of Japan discovered, via a shock report, that having cigarette vending machines in the street meant that under-age people could buy them.

Anyway, since that revelation they have introduced the ID-check system of Taspo cards.

In order to buy cigarettes (from Taspo-enabled machines) you must swipe your card over the sensor (or press your wallet against it), and in order to have that card you need to have applied and been approved for one.

Here are the details of how to do that.

Any idiot can get a Taspo; you just need to be 20 or over.


Apply
The application is free. Here's the application form (Japanese only, but not complicated).
You must complete and return that form, along with

• A copy of one of your forms of Japan-issued photo ID: your driver's licence, health insurance card, gaijin card, pension book, welfare cetificate or residency certificate,
• One photobooth photo.

Send to the address printed on the application.

Two weeks later, your card should have arrived. YAY!


Credit
Of course you can pay by cash in vending machines, but you can also credit money to your Taspo card (for some reason referred to as "pidel"). You can charge the card and use your pidel at machines where you see the icon to the right.


Alternatives:

• Convenience stores/supermarkets/tobacconists.
• You may well find some machines without the Taspo sensor (apparently 2%). Go nuts.

Happy smoking.

Recent Blog Roundup

It's been a long time since we did a roundup of our recent blogs, and as our readership has taken something of a jump since new year, here's a rundown of some of what you may have missed.

Our big hitters this year were: our expose of Compensated Dating, examination of Japan's Face Mask Culture, Cherry Blossom viewing calendar and 10 Types of Cherry Blossom trees; we showed you how to most easily transfer money home, check train times and buy a bargain train pass, as well as a long-distance bus pass. We also filled you in on how to recycle in Japan.

Our Being an ALT series was a big hit: an 8-part look at what life will be like for you starting work as an English teacher in Japan. We followed that with several articles of tips on passing your driving test in Japan. Then we broke new ground with buying a foreclosed house in Japan.

We later showed you how to send flowers and gifts in Japan, exposed Matsumoto castle's Ice Festival and produced some very detailed maps on things to see and do in both Nagano prefecture, and Shiga prefecture. Nagano's awesome Dinosaur Park even got an article of it's own.

We taught you how to calculate the highway tolls in Japan, and then gave some exciting news about the drop in highway toll charges.

Earthquake
AccessJ published many articles on the earthquake. We told you how to help with the cleanup, how to offer your house for survivors to stay in, and provided a way you can give money without actually paying anything. We also offered important information on radiation levels, rolling blackouts and explained the Shindo method of measuring earthquakes.

Employment
Our Job Spotlight series has covered several openings, including High School ALT jobs still available in Nagano prefecture. We also offered guides on how to best use job-finding websites such as Gaijinpot jobs and TOP-US.

TEFL
Our weekly Worksheet Sunday series has relentlessly provided great teaching ideas, including some fun Gambling games, ideas for introducing your new students to JHS, and one of my favourite original games: Snake-eyes.

I also got very, very angry about the JHS textbook characters.

And that's not all. In fact, that barely scrapes the surface. We publish an average of five days a week, so check the links at the top of this page to browse our posts by category.

Thanks for supporting AccessJ!

Japanese Earthquake Levels (Shindo) Explained

As you may have noticed, the Japanese don't generally use the same scale as you may be used to to measure earthquake intensity. Instead of the level of magnitude which we use in the West, they have a system called 震度 "shindo". The main difference is that this scale measures the physical shaking of the surface of the earth at numerous points. This is why the earthquake report maps look like the one to the right (incidentally taken from yesterday's quake), where there is a strength gradient across affected areas.

For a visual representation of what this means, the Japanese Meteorological Agency has this useful graphic (click to enlarge):

And here it is in text:

JMA Seismic Intensity Scale
0	Nobody feels the tremor.
1	Some people indoors may feel a slight tremor.
2	Many people indoors feel the tremor. Hanging fixtures, such as lights, may slightly shake.
3	Most people indoors feel the tremor. Electrical wires may slightly shake.
4	Hanging fixtures shake considerably and dishes in the cupboard may rattle.
Lower 5	Many people feel the need to plan for safety. Dishes in the cupboard and books in the shelves may fall. Items that are not supported well may fall.
Upper 5	There is a sense of extreme danger. Heavy furniture, such as bureaus, may fall over. Many brick walls that are not supported well may topple.
Lower 6	People cannot maintain a standing position. Furniture that is not secured may move or topple over. Many doors will not open. Window glass of buildings will break and fall down.
Upper 6	Impossible to move without crawling. Furniture that is not secured may move or topple over. Most brick walls that are not supported well ill fall.
7	Unable to move or act by will. Most furniture will move, and some may seem to fly.

More detailed information about the effect on buildings etc can be found on the JMA site.

Detailed Radioactivity Readings in Water, Air, etc

Another resource issued by a foreign embassy in Japan. This time not only covering general radiation levels by prefecture, but also featuring detailed analysis of water etc. very useful for calming nerves (and family at home).

We have the good people at KEIO University to thank for translating this one.

Here's the link to the radioactivity reports.

10 Varieties of Cherry Blossom Trees

Well, it's well and truly 花見 (hanami/blossom viewing) season again. This coming weekend will see the peak in my town. Check our past entry for the full-bloom sakura dates for your region of Japan.

The trees became nationally iconic in a bid, many years ago, for Japan to distance itself from China (whose national symbol is the plum blossom). In hindsight, they probably should have picked something a bit more different, as the two are often confused by outsiders.

The distinctly white, mildly pink (when in full bloom) blossom which dominates much of Japan belongs to a tree known as 染井吉野 (somei yoshino). This is the "standard tree". There are around 100 other varieties, such as the low hanging, droopy branches of 枝垂れ桜 (shidarezakura). Intensely pink blossoms most likely belong to 関山桜 (kanzanzakura).

Anyway, someone asked me the other day about the different types of cherry trees seen in bloom. So, here's the answer they wanted:

Click to enlarge.

1. 染井吉野 (Somei yoshino).  Distinctive for being everywhere.

2. 八重桜 (Yaezakura) Distinctive for it's bushy, double-blossoms.

3. 山桜 (Yamazakura). Distinctive for growing wild.

4. 関山桜 (Kanzanzakura). Large, clumpy blossoms.

5. 普賢象桜 (Fugenzozakura) Distinctive for it's heavy, thick blossom.

6. . 枝垂れ桜 (Shidarezakura). Distinctive for its fountain effect.

7. ウコン桜 (Ukonzakura). Distinctive for being yellowy green.

8. 一葉桜 (Ichiyozakura).

9. 松月桜 (Shougetsuzakura).

10. 十月桜 (Juugatsuzakura). Distinctive for flowering in October.

Kameari Koban, Tokyo

Kameari is the site of possibly the most famous anime and manga in Japan: こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所 (usually shortened to Kochikame and referred to as Kameari Park Precinct in English). It's the longest running manga series in Japanese history and centres around a police box (koban) outside a small children's park in Kameari.

I went there last week and thought you might like to know about a walk you can do around the (lovely) area. It makes a unique couple of hours to add to your experience in Tokyo.

The koban itself doesn't actually exist in the location from the series, but a similar one which inspired the design sits just outside the station. Very nearby are two bronze statues - one, life-sized, of the main character Ryu, and one smaller one of another character, Reiko. These two are part of a series of 11 statues around the area. Each one has a map nearby to help you find your way around, and it's very simple.

Seeing all the statues and the koban will take you around an hour, or a little more if you take your time and enjoy what is a very nice area of Tokyo.

If you're a fan of the series, you may well spend a bit longer in the area checking out the memorable locations and buildings which you will have come across in print/on TV. The shrine along the route has a huge billboard with a fabulously detailed map of the area cross-referrenced with scenes from the comic.

The huge shopping centre near just North of the shrine also has it's own dedication in a reconstructed faux-koban, and several shops along the route sell souveniers.




Access
Kameari station is on the JR Joban line, and with a couple of changes from Shinjuku in about 40 minutes (500yen), or about 20 from Ueno (310yen).

Map

View Kameari Kochikame Walk (www.accessj.com) in a larger map

WS: Is this/that your...? 1st Grade JHS

This is a self-explanatory sheet for practicing "Is this/that your...?"

In case you don't get it, the hand close to something is "this", and further away is "that".

Doing the whole sheet should take something in the region of 25 minutes.

Here it is.

Checking Train Times in Japan

...couldn't be much easier.

www.hyperdia.com comes in English and has all times local and national, including private lines, Shinkansen and, bizarrely enough, some airplane routes. Prices are quoted for one-way, return and commuter pass.

They also have some cool features for use with iPhone/iPad, including a voice command system (which sounds more trouble than it's worth). Those using an Android phone are offered a pretty swish mobile route finder which uses GPS.

Another popular option is http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english which is pretty much the same, but much more attractive. You can also book hotels and see maps of station locations through the results page. They also have various non-free versions of the site which add weather, tourism and offline features.

Alternatively you can use the fairly basic (Japanese) options of transit.yahoo.co.jp or transit.msn.co.jp.

Tips or advice in the comments please.

GoLloyds: 2000yen International Bank Transfers

...is with GoLloyds Japan (see below for more options). It's also the cheapest I've seen at 2,000yen a time.



GoLloyds is a go-between from Japan to your home-country bank account. You transfer money domestically from your Japanese account to GL, who will then send it to your chosen target. Because it's a domestic transfer initially, it shouldn't cost you anything other than the GL surcharge.

Step-by-step

1. Go to this GoLlyods webpage and download the application form,
2. Send GL a printed copy of the form, along with 
1. a copy of your passport  
2. AND a copy of one of the following (showing your address). Don't forget to copy both sides.
1. your gaijin card
2. health insurance card
3. driving licence
4. inhabitant certificate
3. Write Dominic Beverley as your referrer!

The address is

GoLloyds Registrations
Lloyds TSB Bank plc.
ATT, New Tower (5F)
2-11-7 Akasaka
Minato-ku
Tokyo 107-0052

or

〒１０７-００５２ 東京都港区赤坂２-１１-７ 赤坂ツインタワー新館　５F
ロイズTSB銀行東京支店

It might be worth checking all this information on their website before applying.

Transfering Money

1. GL will send you a letter, in English, with the instructions for how to send money,
2. Take the letter to your bank (any branch is ok) ATM
3. On the ATM, choose the 振込 option (furikomi/bank transfer)
4. Follow the letter's instructions for number input etc
1. Remember that sending after 3pm will use the next day's exchange rates
5. Save your bank details to the ATM when prompted (if you want)
6. Wait 24-36 hours and check your foreign bank

As all banks will, GL skims a little off your money through their exchange rate. It's pretty much the same as anywhere else, but if you're sending a vast amount of cash then you might want to shop around to be sure you're getting the best rate.

More

• Currency website xe.com used to have a good service for this, but it no longer serves Japan.
• CitiBank also offers this service with almost immediate transfer. You don't even need to have an account with them. The charge is 3,500 yen. More info on their site.
• Some people have also reported being able to use a PayPal account linked to two personal bank accounts in different countries; paying into one and withdrawing from another.

Volunteer & Donation Information By Prefecture

AJET have published an excellent list of ways you can help Japan's current crisis. Unfortunately, volunteer opportunities are still pretty limited. However, there are dozens of donation drives for both money and essential items. Check the list for what you can do, and where, in your prefecture.

Volunteer & Donation Information By Prefecture

Job Spotlight: High School ALT Spots Across Nagano Ken

For the last two years, the Nagano Board of Education has listed direct hire ALT positions at high schools across the prefecture. These are cream-of-the-crop jobs, on par with the JET Program in terms of salary and support.

The jobs were first created as Nagano began to pull away from the JET Program, and they are often occupied by 5-year JETs who weren't quite ready to go home. But, the positions are open for anyone to apply.

However, because the package is nice and there is no shortage of applicants each year, the qualifications are steep. For starters, you need to be in Japan and have a valid landing permission for work.


Job Title: 外国語指導助手 (Assistant Language Teacher)
Type: 12-month contract employee, renewable
Qualifications: Living in or near Nagano prefecture, English teaching experience, valid work "visa" (landing permission)
Working Hours: Same as JET (Approximately 8 to 9 hours per day, Monday to Friday)
Remuneration: Monthly, 300,000 yen
Insurance: Yes, Japanese national insurance deducted from salary

To apply, you'll need a Japanese and English resume, a 1-page essay, and results of a health check.

The contract period is also unusual and deserves mention: The job runs from August to July, on the same timeline as JETs. Nagano appears to be keen on retaining experienced ALTs in their high schools, so contract renewal seems likely here.

The site to watch is the ALT Hiring Page of the Nagano Board of Education website. In previous years, the notice has been posted late in April, and the deadline for applications is in mid-May.

WS: Gambling Games for All Ages

Here's a template to print your own money (goes down well), and some ideas for games you can use it with.

Here's the template. Change the details and gogogo.

Some games
MES English has a popular idea called Grammar Casino, which involves betting on true or false to some right or wrong sentences. You can do the same thing getting your kids to write missing words in gaps; betting on their own confidence.

In fact you can slip these notes into a lot of activities from T/F tests to Shopping lessons. The world is your oyster.