Ye Olde Japan Thread

[manuel]

That's really funny. 
But isn't it always that way? People are seldom in the place they'd like to be.
If I were you, I'd just take the risk and move to Portugal, if you like that country. If you have work in Japan, you certainly will find work there, too. The earlier the better. Taking a little risk is better that regretting afterwards. 

I will be living in the Bingo area (that's in the east of Hiroshima prefecture, directly at the Seto inland sea), the town's called Onomichi.
You're invited to visit of course.

When I travel to Kanto and you're still there, I'll try to come to your neighborhood. 

How are everybody other's plans? JC, you visit Japan in March, right?

[corisco]

You right, manuel, I have to take the risk but... I just don't know how to start! My wife don't speak portuguese, just 日本語 and english, so I think it's hard to her to find a job over there.  As you like Japan, I like Portugal and all that culture(specially about Middle Ages and anything about the Crusades).
Anyway, when you come to Kanto, let's dig some retrogame shops

[manuel]

Anyway, when you come to Kanto, let's dig some retrogame shops

I'll have to start some savings for that. Because when I start retrogame shopping I can't stop.
Do you live in the Tokyo area?
And if you don't mind to answer... what do you do for work?
How did you come to live in Japan?
Sorry for the load of questions.

[corisco]

Anyway, when you come to Kanto, let's dig some retrogame shops

I'll have to start some savings for that. Because when I start retrogame shopping I can't stop.
Do you live in the Tokyo area?
And if you don't mind to answer... what do you do for work?
How did you come to live in Japan?
Sorry for the load of questions.

Don't worry about questions
I live in Chiba, Tokyo Bay area and I'm working for a Japanese/british glass company Pilkington. I came to Japan when I was 20 years because I like to travel and when I came here I decided to work for some months and... still living here 'till today

[JC]

JC, you visit Japan in March, right?

That's the plan, but I have to wait to see if a couple things happen: I'm looking into buying a home and considering public office. If one or both happens, I may have to delay the trip.

[manuel]

If you delay the trip long enough, you can come to visit me.

Good luck with your plans.

[manuel]

Bringing this back to page 1...

It's 2008 now, so I can say "I move to Japan THIS year." 
Last year I had to say "next year". 



With about 5 months left I'll have to start preparations for the move.
First thing is applying for a spouse visa. I'd like to phone the consulate in Munich about it, but they have very short office hours and I have to work when they are there. 
I'll try a mail first maybe.

I'm still wondering how I should get my whole game collection from Germany to Japan. Maybe at first I'll only take my favourite stuff and have the rest sent to me in the following months/years.
And then there are my DVDs and books... 
I think I have to sell some stuff to earn the shipping for the rest.

[133MHz]

Maybe you could send them by ship. It takes a lot of time but it's very cheap. I know some friends whose parents sent their whole house furniture and appliances from the USA down here to Chile.

[kite200]

Lol seto inland sea is where battle royale takes place.
great book, have you read it manuel?

[manuel]

Well... I saw the movie. 
Does that replace reading the book?

I quite like that movie. It's fun.

I have the book for Battle Royale II in Japanese, but have not yet read that.

@133MHz: Yeah, I guess that's what I'll do. Ship everything box by box. Not all at once, though. One packet of 20kg costs 82 Euros (121US$) to ship. 
Depending on my earnings in Japan I might have my parents send me one 20kg box per month. In a year or two everything should be in Japan. I hope I don't have to pay expensive customs fees.

[kite200]

book>movie

[manuel]

Maybe I'll try to find the book when I'm in Japan.

I'm a bit disgruntled now because the rate between the Euro and Japanese Yen dived from 166 Yen per Euro to 156Yen per Euro. My current savings lost the worth of a PS3 with 2 games in a period of 2 weeks.  I'm pissed. Stupid Yen and Euro...

[kite200]

I'm a bit disgruntled because 1 US dollar a while ago was 120 yen but now it's 107

[Josh]

I'm a bit disgruntled because 1 US dollar a while ago was 120 yen but now it's 107

Hear, hear.

Economy sucks.   

[manuel]

I really hope the Yen gets a bit weaker again. It was so nice buying cheap stuff from Japan.