tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65316019641285186682024-02-19T13:14:54.404+09:00The Adventures of a Foreign Salaryman in TokyoIn case anyone is wondering, I'm a 30-something foreign guy slaving away as a mid-management salaryman in the corporate world of Japan. This blog will relate wonderous tales of my adventures in work and general life in Tokyo as I try to balance work and family.Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.comBlogger917125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-42620487220185771752014-09-25T23:32:00.001+09:002014-09-25T23:32:49.384+09:00Ooops...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did it again....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one will be our last one for sure (?!) but now Ms. Salaryman Jnr. 2 has joined the family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first nine months of pregnancy is a general bee's nest of nervousness, but everything turned out well, apart from the men in the family now being outnumbered 2-3... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a year or so, things might get back to normal blogging I assume...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGG1d9QhfzqMnMSiEhFoK30XFm-F9dOiOWGLj5pJg16fPEYkwRqchF-LCmevHjeENU2j34g8mNkb1nrPD3-nkUUev2_luxpTFQTRjTD_ghAk8C0WyhdC2ODT-8neUCZxsktKdDq1wDSk/s1600/2014-09-21+20.48.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGG1d9QhfzqMnMSiEhFoK30XFm-F9dOiOWGLj5pJg16fPEYkwRqchF-LCmevHjeENU2j34g8mNkb1nrPD3-nkUUev2_luxpTFQTRjTD_ghAk8C0WyhdC2ODT-8neUCZxsktKdDq1wDSk/s1600/2014-09-21+20.48.05.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-55416958298527116862014-06-29T14:46:00.001+09:002014-06-29T14:46:51.653+09:00Getting a Japanese driver's license - Part III, passing the driving tests<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doing the right things or doing things right...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqosoVrTc0SGcbm4JxJ6MdYXteEaicQCzJxnBuZN2FT4EtV6lvRgIc8St0IKS7HZikfTU33KVp1jYcKSV9qEorm9MEmq3CqnSf2A6zcEfEb3RXa9-gcV84VjjpRZPMWkgkykDlgf_8E/s1600/Salarymanmobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uqosoVrTc0SGcbm4JxJ6MdYXteEaicQCzJxnBuZN2FT4EtV6lvRgIc8St0IKS7HZikfTU33KVp1jYcKSV9qEorm9MEmq3CqnSf2A6zcEfEb3RXa9-gcV84VjjpRZPMWkgkykDlgf_8E/s1600/Salarymanmobile.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the first things that you need to mentally prepare yourself for when starting to drive at the school is that you will need to adapt to the Japanese way of training. For the theoretical lessons this does not matter much as the lessons are mostly one-way affairs with little interaction, and you can study as much or little as you like. As long as you pass the test you are fine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What I mean specifically with "the Japanese way of training" is that the Japanese generally put a much larger emphasis on getting the process right than the end results, especially in the beginning. When you start your lesson, every step of the process from the start of getting into the car to the actual driving will be decided and explained to you and if you do anything in any order other than the correct process (f.i. put on your seat belt before you lock the door etc.) you will hear it, and if it happens during one of the tests you will get points deducted. What is important to understand here is that you need to just suck it up and learn to do things in the exact order you are instructed, and keep doing it every time. Getting into an argument with the instructor as to why a tiny detail really does not matter will only frustrate you and the teacher. Their job is to teach you not only how to drive, but also, how to pass the driving test and the requirements of that test.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be nice...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think that this is common sense for most people, but I would recommend to always be polite to the instructors. If you find this difficult, pretend that they are policemen or any other person in authority you would behave in front of. The reason I mention it is that you can assume that the teachers will talk to each other about you, Japanese speaking foreigners are probably pretty rare, and getting a reputation as difficult will just make things more difficult for you. Also, keep in mind that at most schools, you will perform the tests supervised by the same teachers you have been training with...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Assuming you are something like me, your patience will be tested at times as the bulk of the Japanese students at the school will be university students who are not particularly mature, so the teaching style of the instructors is not generally aimed towards more mature and independent thinking people. Most of the teachers were friendly enough, but there were a few which were quite condescending at times. But I just sucked it up as making an issue out of it would lead to more problems for me than anything else. As it turned out, one of the teachers that I personally found more annoying and condescending was the one I had my final driving test under...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Passing the Test</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The test at Level I is conducted inside the driving area of the school and is obviously quite basic. I cannot say that I have any specific advise to give here, except the above. The way the point system works was not completely clear to me, but you start out with a certain number of points and every mistake you make deducts points depending on the severity of the mistake. Serious mistakes such as driving on the wrong side etc. will immediately disqualify you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Similarly for the final Level II driving test, I have no particular advice. I started my driving test at a point some way from the school, were shown the route I was going to take and then observed as I drove. Thankfully the teacher provided instructions on when and where to turn so I did not have to think about the route. Similarly to the first test, some form of point system is at work here as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am not sure if it is standard at other schools, but for my tests, another student was present in the backseat as an observer to make sure everything was done fair. Similarly, I was present during other students' tests, I just basically sat there and enjoyed the ride as nothing dramatic happened.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>That is it for this time, coming up next: Hints and tips on resources for learning! If you have any questions, post it in the comments so other people can see if I bother to answer!</i></b>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-10770404328510939532014-06-06T20:43:00.004+09:002014-06-06T20:43:44.785+09:00Getting a Japanese driver's license - Part II, passing the theoretical tests<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(for the first part see <a href="http://foreignsalaryman.blogspot.jp/2014/06/getting-japanese-drivers-license.html">here</a>)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Theoretical Test</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow, that's smart!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To begin with, one thing that could be good to know from the beginning is that <b><i>the Level I test is by far the hardest</i></b>! The theory you learn in Level II I would estimate to be just ~20% or so compared to what you need to learn for the Level I test! Basically, if you pass the Level I test you can feel pretty confident that you are capable of passing the final test as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The reason for this is quite easy. In the Level I classes they stuff you full with as much information on the hardcore rules and regulations of the road as possible so you can get the conditional license and drive out in the real world. For Level II, sure, there are plenty of details and rules that you will need to remember in case they show up on the final exam, but not like in Level I where they need to stuff you full with information to let you drive out on the roads without killing anyone (including yourself). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Level II also includes useful practical information such as first aid, regular car maintenance and stuff which is good to know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For all the theoretical tests you need to pass <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>90%</i></b></span> of the questions. In <b>Level I</b> there are 50 text question allowing you to get 5/50 wrong and still pass but any more than that and you're out of the game. Time was not an issue for me, but for those more methodical (read slower) I think it was around an hour for both tests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All the questions in both Level I and Level II are in the form of statements and answered with "False" or "Correct" with no need to write any explanations or have any writing ability in Japanese. A sample question could be something like "<i>It is permissible to park at an steep uphill slope but not allowed on a steep downward slope</i>". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For Level II (final exam) there are 90 text questions at 1 point each and 5 illustrated questions asking you how to behave in certain situation based on an illustration and written explanation. Each of these questions contain 3 sub-questions which you all need to get right to get 2 points (2/3 for an illustrated question gives 0). In total, you need to get 90 points our of 100 to pass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the Level I test, the school I took it in could give me the score, not that I cared that much as I was relieved just to pass it (46/50!). For the final Level II test at the license center I did not see the actual results, just that I had passed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to Study for the Tests</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is really individual as people learn in different ways, but basically what worked for me was <b>1)</b> Listening quite attentively to the lectures and <b>2)</b> Doing tons of practice questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I basically did not open the book after the lectures more than to check-up on a particular question that I needed to find out the why's and how's around. In hindsight, I would have purchased an English instruction book to supplement the Japanese one as reading Japanese takes quite a bit more concentration for me compared to reading English. But at the time I did my tests I was not aware of any English books. But fear not, in the next post I will point you in the right direction where to find the stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the end, what worked for me was doing practice questions again and again, looking up the answer to all the questions that I got wrong and step by step build up the necessary knowledge for passing the test. Having the lectures relatively fresh in the head also help quite a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How to Pass</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is quite simple. Do the practice questions, do plenty of them and when you think you are starting to get ready, do a few complete tests (i.e. 50 questions for Level 1 and 100 questions for Level II) without looking up the answers until you finished the full test. If you manage to get ~95% correct answers I would say you have a fair chance at passing. If you are struggling between 80-90% you can always try, but chances are that you fail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember that the official tests are fresh from the authorities and might differ slightly from the test questions, so safest to make sure you can pass with some margin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I passed both tests on the first try, but have the feeling that I got lucky on the Final test as there were quite a few "new" questions that I never had seen before. But if you have done your practice questions you should feel pretty confident.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>That is it for this time, coming up next: Tips for passing the driving tests! If you have any questions, post it in the comments so other people can see if I bother to answer!</i></b><br />
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<br />Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-74577521299989349782014-06-05T17:22:00.003+09:002014-06-05T17:22:39.660+09:00Getting a Japanese driver's license<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59ih8gdDeQC7Gfeeo8DJIKLc9kDrCTS8uuIG2mzjyG0nkffxqKO5XMnMYtqUZY9JO2-MkhMGxFD0_YeSy90LR0yom2aUDwFZG0V5TZhky5O_V9RpBZl9le0M9V6qa9Wbsh0Eru09yRe4/s1600/batmobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59ih8gdDeQC7Gfeeo8DJIKLc9kDrCTS8uuIG2mzjyG0nkffxqKO5XMnMYtqUZY9JO2-MkhMGxFD0_YeSy90LR0yom2aUDwFZG0V5TZhky5O_V9RpBZl9le0M9V6qa9Wbsh0Eru09yRe4/s1600/batmobile.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only if you got a license!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Work and managing the offspring has taken a lot of energy away from my blogging again despite my intention to somewhat revive the blog. In any case, I will keep it going with low maintenance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This time I actually thought to post about something that might not be particularly funny, but could be helpful for some people as the information out there is sparse to begin with: how to get a Japanese driver's license. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you probably have figured out, I recently got my Japanese driver's license. How to get a driver's license here in Japan differ a bit depending on whether you already have a foreign license or if you are starting from scratch. If you already have a foreign license and are trying to figure out how to get a Japanese license this post won't be much help. But if you happen to be in a similar situation as me it could perhaps be helpful: <b>A)</b> No previous driver's license or driving experience <b>B)</b> Good Japanese ability (hearing and reading).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my particular case I have spent my life mostly in larger cities with good infrastructure and no real need for a car or driver's license. Living in central Tokyo, a car might be more of a hassle and cost than actually helpful. However, since the Salaryman family moved out to the suburbs and started to grow in size the convenience of having a driver's license combined with the fact that Mrs. Sunshine does not particularly like to drive gradually pressured me into getting a driver's license.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Finding a School</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first thing you need to do is find yourself a mighty fine driving school to enroll in. The cost might vary depending on the program you select, but should be a little above or below 250,000 JPY for a standard plan. There probably will be a number of plans available depending on speed, flexibility etc., but I picked a standard plan in which I could take the lessons at my own convenience and pace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my case it worked relatively well as my current job gives me quite a lot of freedom, but taking a driver's license while working as a regular Salaryman might be next to impossible to do unless you are ready to dedicate all your weekends over several months to driving school. The school I picked was located relatively close to the Salaryman family base camp and offered convenient bus pick-up services. If you are not confident enough in your Japanese abilities to take the lessons in Japanese I can't really help you much. I know that there are a few schools in central Tokyo that offer English classes, but to me that was not even an option as it would be too time consuming to add a commute to the time I needed to dedicate to the lessons. It probably is more expensive as well, in any case I do not really know.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting Schooled</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The path to the driver's license here in Japan is divided into two parts, conveniently titled Level 1 and Level 2 (第一・二段階). Each part consists of ~15 hours of theoretical lessons and ~15 hours of driving lessons, if I remember it correctly there is a little more driving in level 2 compared to level 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Passing level 1 gives you a conditional driver's license which lets you out on the streets to practice driving on real roads so the first part is much more focused on traffic rules etc. (more on that later).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Handling it Theoretically</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The theory lessons could be taken in any order (basically) and my school had all the lessons rotating throughout the week at different times of the day so you had at least 1-2 chances each week to get the one I wanted to take. As I have little free time to waste at the school, I generally tried to take as many classes as possible in one visit and could often time in 2-3 theory lessons each time I went to the school. It got a bit harder as I was finishing up most of the theory classes as I often found myself having to go to the school to pick up a "stray" lesson at slightly inconvenient times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The theory lessons were actually quite good, at least at the school I went to, the teachers obviously knew the routine of doing the lectures and pointed out the things that were essential to remember for the tests. If you can follow the news on Japanese TV your level should be enough to follow the classes, obviously there is a lot of new lingo you have to learn but that is also true for most of the Japanese students as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Driving lessons</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The driving lessons were quite straightforward with the Level 1 lessons taking place in the school driving course (or whatever it's called, you know what I mean). The focus is on the basics of driving. After you have passed the Level 1 exams you get the conditional driver's license and the lessons mostly move out to the real streets together with the instructor. Again, nothing particular to mention here as the focus is very much as you can imagine.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_MGmrsiAYDvTbo5qomiPbIWHKCgfq869qVIxnQxVNINyCx4VldGdtYgjjPnY_N7rY-VDXqNuvyN8aAQVN9Qmi8n8AdUTY_q4nIPduZ5CHQF9Sw6yC_yLW5gRkRsvrsbw-94aSLNtqA4/s1600/random+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_MGmrsiAYDvTbo5qomiPbIWHKCgfq869qVIxnQxVNINyCx4VldGdtYgjjPnY_N7rY-VDXqNuvyN8aAQVN9Qmi8n8AdUTY_q4nIPduZ5CHQF9Sw6yC_yLW5gRkRsvrsbw-94aSLNtqA4/s1600/random+school.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...course like this (random school)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the actual driving lessons you will need a certain level of command of Japanese, but it could be much lower than for the theoretical lessons as the instructor can "dumb it down" as you would be the only person he/she needs to make understand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bring on the Tests!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My school had quite an annoying amount of tests and I am unsure on whether other schools do it the same way or not. In any case I had to through the following test:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Level 1</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. <b>Level 1 theoretical qualification test</b> - A test done alone on the computer without strict supervision to see if I was up to the level that I had a chance to pass the real test, passing this allowed me to take the formal test</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. <b>Driving test</b> - Relatively simple driving test, cannot for the life of me remember any details, but the basics</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <b>Formal Level 1 theoretical test</b> - Done a bit more formally as the results need to be reported to the local authorities, only allowed to take by those who passed both previous tests (driving tests were done before lunch, the theoretical in the afternoon)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...after passing the above tests I got the conditional driver's license. Then it's back again doing theoretical and practical lessons until that is finished up and you can again do the tests:</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmPfmdwsfmN7rC5XYyO8JT10LY63GR6QBnBjObDG0lozAqvJ8M2O4GToBs9w-ofBcf1Tkhx0GYBSGEG0U935rdzN5P_UIzFBlArYzePQOlmVUTLed2ZjRsxcRvy8VSVWK8P-7J7RkRJY/s1600/super+test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmPfmdwsfmN7rC5XYyO8JT10LY63GR6QBnBjObDG0lozAqvJ8M2O4GToBs9w-ofBcf1Tkhx0GYBSGEG0U935rdzN5P_UIzFBlArYzePQOlmVUTLed2ZjRsxcRvy8VSVWK8P-7J7RkRJY/s1600/super+test.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just like me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Level 2</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. <b>Level 2 theoretical qualification test</b> - Again, the same as the one for level 1, basically a filter to see that you are ready to take the real test</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5.<b> Driving test</b> - Again a driving test out on the real roads, nothing too exciting, driving from point A to B doing things the right way while following the route the instructor points out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. <b>"Are you really OK?!" Test</b> - I think this test was unique for my school, but this was the most annoying test of all, after passing the driving test we were given a random theoretical test to do, if you passed it was great but if you failed, you had to stay and study a few hours more, did not matter in any case since it was not a formal test</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. <b>REAL Theoretical Test</b> - With the graduation document and conditional driver's license in hand I could take the real test at the prefecture site, very formal and strict supervision, after passing this I got the real actual license</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8.<b><i> Random Testing</i></b> - This did not happen to me, but apparently sometimes people are picked out to do a driver's test again at the site to check that the level of skill really is adequate, as far as I understand it this would not impact getting the actual license, but is done to measure the level of the schools. It did not happen to me in any case so seems rare</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>That is it for this time, coming up next: Tips for passing the tests! If you have any questions, post it in the comments so other people can see if I bother to answer!</i></b></span><br />
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Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-61017552031250075902014-03-25T22:10:00.001+09:002014-03-25T22:13:17.643+09:00Aligned Family<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/03/25/363.jpg"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/03/25/s_363.jpg" height="224" style="margin: 5px;" width="215" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dungeons and Dragons Alignments applied to our family:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mrs. Sunshine - Lawful Good</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"A Lawful Good character typically acts with compassion, and always with honor and a sense of duty"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Salaryman - Neutral </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">" A farmer whose primary overriding concern is to feed his family is of this alignment"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Little Ms. Sunshine - Lawful Evil</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"A Lawful Evil character sees a well-ordered system as being easier to exploit, and shows a combination of desirable and undesirable traits"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Salaryman Jnr. - Chaotic Evil </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"A Chaotic Evil character tends to have no respect for rules, other people's lives, or anything but their own desires, which are typically selfish and cruel"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad</span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-53633609586844085462014-03-17T05:07:00.001+09:002014-03-17T05:11:44.970+09:00Shotgun Meeting...a quick business advice...<br />
Bringing a certified legal rep to a meeting is the same as bringing a shotgun to a meeting. It will be difficult to speak one's mind... <br />
<br />
End advice.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=14/03/16/952.jpg"><img align="right" border="0" src="http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/14/03/16/s_952.jpg" height="210" style="margin: 5px;" width="240" /></a><br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPadMr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-61419100357491765342014-03-07T20:23:00.002+09:002014-03-07T20:23:23.249+09:00A Review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9jSHf2cgDY3yj2PgEIqFqnqIvUNu2FkmCh2Ku70q5eZxZyic4a-w85vova843_n9z0NkZYaBnrIqaPXuVra69Alij-LWdwbF7Jzi57PEAQS7_pG35A4LVAGyNKxhyvSvOqUD1grOV2g/s1600/One+of+these.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9jSHf2cgDY3yj2PgEIqFqnqIvUNu2FkmCh2Ku70q5eZxZyic4a-w85vova843_n9z0NkZYaBnrIqaPXuVra69Alij-LWdwbF7Jzi57PEAQS7_pG35A4LVAGyNKxhyvSvOqUD1grOV2g/s1600/One+of+these.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of these is mine...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Earlier in the week we went to see a performance put on by little Ms. Sunshine and her Kindergarten class. In case you are thinking of going, here comes a review for you to make you informed consumers:</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The props were amateurish and looked like
they had been reused a hundred times, costumes were limited to stupid paper
hats and looked like they were made by small children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over half of the performers did not sing
when they were supposed to and several completely ignored it and wandered about
aimlessly instead. The ones that actually sung were completely out of tone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The dancing numbers were completely out of
synch, that is, for the few performers that actually bothered to try and dance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only redeeming feature was that the
piano playing adult actually could tinker out some simple melodies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All in all, it was a horrible performance
which I cannot recommend to anyone. For lovers of fine art this was an insult
of a performance.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-49895820882941331392014-02-26T20:11:00.002+09:002014-02-26T20:11:49.824+09:00The Future of Entertainment is here!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWGXWIj_nwBdCYihyphenhyphenqXOBDqlfMppq7-IQpev765tNkUjWS5oI5ICzHIXLQEMrYYZEgqCbWWqj9IYMhd6phklM1aJowtwxSWFN-bVMuauIdbsLN-wB4e0rXTFmTRtma8CossNG25B5ju8/s1600/The+future+of+gaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWGXWIj_nwBdCYihyphenhyphenqXOBDqlfMppq7-IQpev765tNkUjWS5oI5ICzHIXLQEMrYYZEgqCbWWqj9IYMhd6phklM1aJowtwxSWFN-bVMuauIdbsLN-wB4e0rXTFmTRtma8CossNG25B5ju8/s1600/The+future+of+gaming.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The future of gaming, in the past!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">When think of it, it strikes me as a little odd that I haven't
really posted more on the topic</span>, but the truth is that I am a gamer. Not
the obnoxious type who loves Japanese Role Playing Games though, and I embrace
the fact that it is practically a waste of time! I do not play games to grow as
a person or challenge myself, I do it because it keeps me entertained for a bit
and a happy Salaryman is a good Salaryman. Playing computer/video games is by
far my favorite way to entertain myself and has been from when we got our first
Spectrum ZX81 home computer. The hour between when the kids and Mrs. Sunshine
fall asleep until I go to bed is my gaming time and when I can relax a bit from
all the other stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, for me as a gamer, the recent launch of the Playstation 4 is a
big event (<i>and yes, I am somewhat of a Sony PS fanboy, screw xbox!</i>). Probably
due to the delayed launch in Japan, almost four months after the US launch, I
could order my Playstation off the Sony online store just a week before the
launch and got it delivered before lunch last Saturday without having to stand in a line or camp outside!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The thing about new consoles is that usually they are crap when
they come out. The user interface and features are not fully implemented and
the first wave of games are usually junk. However, I tend to forget this and
get swept up in the excitement only to be disappointed that things are
basically the same, only with a little prettier graphics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I was checking through what the new and improved Playstation
had to offer, I found the Playstation streaming TV stations. Basically it’s
meant for people to show what they are playing and give their fantastic
commentary while doing it. But when I checked it out the number one watched
show was that of an American family sitting in front of their TV, having the
Playstation camera film them while they are sitting around reading the comments
that people wrote to them. Occasionally the overweight lady would flash her
boobs, whipping the commenters to a frenzy of “do it again!”, “more” etc. while
the guy kept drinking his booze. After a few minutes a younger woman that
looked a bit like Ms. American teen pregnancy joined the group in the sofa and
also started into the screen while people wrote “you new girl, show your boobs
too!” and similar comments at a breathtaking pace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The whole thing was mesmerizing. I could not stop watching. It was
like Youtube with even lower production values and completely devoid of any
point. This is the future of Entertainment and again I felt at peace with my
purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday evening I turned it on again, but their show was gone
and it felt empty… </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-75385578473665701732014-02-16T20:40:00.000+09:002014-02-16T20:40:15.849+09:00Help! My Children are Japanese! Episode I<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOTobX_Jd2fx5cNvJL1j18-T8V7aXG0YFHWrl6jeXBzMmx2mHXuXyicyEgUm6kP08r-8Q5ionmVXhQs0qb9kO2n_vzCOTAsGFUVkHt-DhCllG5yczf-VkiBZknNkME0i9S0LYdoQPqRU/s1600/japanese+children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOTobX_Jd2fx5cNvJL1j18-T8V7aXG0YFHWrl6jeXBzMmx2mHXuXyicyEgUm6kP08r-8Q5ionmVXhQs0qb9kO2n_vzCOTAsGFUVkHt-DhCllG5yczf-VkiBZknNkME0i9S0LYdoQPqRU/s1600/japanese+children.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical Japanese children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Salaryman family live in our little housing community in the outskirts of Tokyo in an area populated almost exclusively by Japanese. I have seen one white British guy on a few occasions who lives somewhere in the area and our neighbor with a Chinese wife, but that's basically it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The environment that little Ms. Sunshine and Salaryman Jnr. are growing up in a typical modern Japanese one, but I was anyway hoping that they might grow up with a little broader view of the world than most Japanese kids. However, it seems like my hopes were futile and in this fantastic brand new series I will document the key moments where I have come to realized that my offspring are Japanese...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few months back I was sent back to the old country for business and since my visit was for a few weeks and the home office very accommodating and helpful, I decided to bring the whole Salaryman family over as a team-building exercise. Some of Mrs. Sunshine's main concerns were the lack of proper Japanese rice in Sweden and the lack of a bath tub in the apartment we were going to stay. I swiftly ignored her concerns with a casual "<i>they're kids, they'll eat whatever cheap rice we put in their feeding through and won't even notice!</i>" and "<i>they'll be fine without a bath, they have strong Swedish genes in them!</i>".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>I think it goes without saying that I was wrong... <b>Terribly</b> wrong...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We first tried with regular non-sticky long corned rice but that was met with a frowned nose and refusal to eat by little Ms. Sunshine and Jnr. Salaryman throwing the rice all over the room except in his mouth. Next, we tried with jasmine rice which I sheepishly thought might be received a little more favorably, but again frowning faces and rice ending up all over the room. Finally relenting, we resorted to buying expensive "sushi rice" which was the only thing we could find in the area where we stayed. Annoyingly for me the kids launched into that as hungry wolves while Mrs. Sunshine gave me a "<i>told you so" </i>stare<i>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's not to mention the struggle to get the kids in the shower after the dinner. The screams of terror, fear and desperation that we had to endure every day during shower time we have not experienced since that time. After a few days of going through this I was starting to despair and went to a local toy store and luckily found (despite it being off summer season) a small inflatable pool that would fit into the shower room. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Again... With the inflatable pool inserted as a poor bathtub substitute, the kids turned from miserable hellions to smiling angels, happily giggling away and again cooperating all of a sudden. Of course, while I got the "<i>told you so</i>" stare again from Mrs. Sunshine...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I should just have the bathtub physically removed from our house, after a few years they should been weaned off it!</span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-48556847220696379062014-02-12T12:57:00.000+09:002014-02-12T12:57:00.513+09:00The Top 3 Most Annoying Kid's Shows in Japan - Number Two<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You might have thought that things were bad enough with Happy Crappy, but believe me, there are worse things out there... Today we have reached number two of the most annoying kid's shows in Japan on my list.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">2. Anpanman</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqu1m3IbZKyJucOnaFoRgmHU7k74OgZ4wzb_oU2HdUQ1aYejvZFgmCH7uGStrscUoMYc6B1Z_uQ82rKM29xnDvbY-mukZmLyqGQo5uk2oFSWLN9rwr7-3W9AZE__ManD7xzTXTv1ivvM/s1600/anpanman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqu1m3IbZKyJucOnaFoRgmHU7k74OgZ4wzb_oU2HdUQ1aYejvZFgmCH7uGStrscUoMYc6B1Z_uQ82rKM29xnDvbY-mukZmLyqGQo5uk2oFSWLN9rwr7-3W9AZE__ManD7xzTXTv1ivvM/s1600/anpanman.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Almost like the Justice League</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It might be that I have lived in Japan so long now and have been exposed to so much Anpanman, but my feeling is that this character is by now relatively well known even outside of Japan? I might be wrong, but for those of you who are not familiar with Anpanman, it is a picture book turned cartoon show starring mostly characters made out of some form of bread. The lead character Anpanman is a superhero flying around helping people and fighting his archenemy "Baikinman" (Bacteria Man) who cooks up various devious plans to destroy all that is good. If I tune out and don't think about it the show is not that bad. It's pretty standard fare with Anpanman, together with his friends, helping out someone and thwarting the plans of Baikinman. Baikinman is not completely evil either but more mischievous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To call the show "annoying" might actually be a bit wrong as I find it a little more disturbing than annoying... The premise of the show with a superhero who is made out of a Japanese sweet bread is odd enough, but that Anpanman sometimes takes pieces of his own head to feed friends in need and that when his head gets dirty (<i>Anpanman's own Kryptonite which makes him lose his powers</i>) his baker Overlord Mr. Jam just bakes up a new head which promptly replaces the old head is bordeline grotesque... Not to mention that most of the characters in the show are based on something edible, little Ms. Sunshine is especially fond of Hamburger-Kid for some reason...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other annoying thing, which is not directly related to the show, is the extent in which Anpanman permeates the life of people like me with small children. Everything is Anpanman: clothes, toys, candy and even the Kindergarten uses Anpanman characters for decoration and in their games (<i>certainly without paying any licensing fees, those thieves</i>). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rating</span></b></span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Sexiness</b>: Nothing. 0 out of 5 stars</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white;">Pointlessness</b><span style="background-color: white;">: The show usually does have some form of point and a story to tell so this is not where I find this show the most troubling 3 out of 5 stars.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white;">Characters</b><span style="background-color: white;">: This is where things start to get disturbing with Curry Bread Man, Cream Panda (a pun on "pan" which means "bread" in Japanese), Infant Baby Man etc. -5 out of 5 stars</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><b style="background-color: white;">Total Score</b><span style="background-color: white;">: I give it 1 out of 5 stars</span></span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-4529541970147380352014-02-11T12:49:00.001+09:002014-02-11T12:52:26.419+09:00The Top 3 Most Annoying Kid's Shows in Japan - Number Three<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you can imagine, I am nowadays more often than not exposed to Japanese kid's TV shows. There are shows that I might not find particularly entertaining myself, but which I recognize as reasonable entertainment for the kids. For instance, the kid's shows on NHK are of reasonable quality and even if they become a bit grating upon the 103rd time of watching I do not actively hate them (<i>thinking of the Wanwan show, With Mommy (おかあさんといっしょ), Play in English (英語であそぼう) etc.</i>). But there are shows that I am more actively annoyed by and will list them here in the hopes that some of the annoyance will rub off on you.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I will present the Top Three Most Annoying Kid's Shows in Japan for your education and as a possible warning for those with small children considering a move to Japan... Here comes place number three with the rest to follow!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>3. Happy Crappy</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLapCuhG7fMzqrdj9TWYgkKQTwouCvH7Ldk7WspdP_IbI8aTsTLaHDpSkcXgT_KjEY5JJuoWfmLBaQcVfWGsSOGkiHhLVJLxQ8MRWcinn_MsghXOgfrmLPl0oIC_hiyvkabpKqwhTPm8/s1600/happy+crappy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLapCuhG7fMzqrdj9TWYgkKQTwouCvH7Ldk7WspdP_IbI8aTsTLaHDpSkcXgT_KjEY5JJuoWfmLBaQcVfWGsSOGkiHhLVJLxQ8MRWcinn_MsghXOgfrmLPl0oIC_hiyvkabpKqwhTPm8/s1600/happy+crappy.jpg" height="403" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yep, it's Crappy Alright!</span></td></tr>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The name is great, I give them that much. I admit that I actually have no idea why they have chosen the title of "Crappy", there might be some meaning in Japanese of this that pass completely above my head (<i>Ok, I guess it could be "Clappy" but "Crappy" is way more suitable here</i>). Happy Crappy is shown on the cable channel Kid's Station and I see it as a little flashier and fast moving version of the NHK kid's shows. Basically a lot of singing, some English and stupid characters. In fact, the stupid characters are what annoys me most with this show. Not only the cute mascots, but also the guest characters in the form of the odd robot man, the Power Ranger like things and the most annoying jungle characters. I admit that I feel that I have not yet adequately conveyed the awfulness of this show, but the below opening theme might convince you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rating</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sexiness</b>: Ok, this is one of the few areas where this show wins, the host girl looks a little sexier and sluttier than in most shows, but it's still only degrees in hell. 2 of 5 stars.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pointlessness</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: This is where this show wins, I am not sure if they want to sing songs, tell stories or what they want to do. Thankfully the offspring seem to feel the same way as they are not too attached to this show. 1 of 5 stars.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Characters</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: Awful... Plain horrible, just see the picture and watch the video if you are not convinced...</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Total Score</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: I give it 1.5 out of 5 stars</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My advice is to avoid at all costs. Usually you can just switch to a recorded NHK show and the kids will thank you for it without putting up a fight. That is the only redeeming quality of this show.</span><br />
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<br />Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-64026706396901576512014-02-10T15:36:00.001+09:002014-02-10T15:37:14.978+09:00I'm back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can it be?!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have given it long a thoughtful consideration and have decided to once again revive the blog! However there will be a slight shift in focus as I still cannot really write that much about work. Instead I will focus a little more on the perils of being the father of small children here in Japan, something of which there is plenty of craziness involved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As little Ms. Sunshine and Salaryman Jnr. now have grown to considerable size (for a 4 and 2 year old anyway) and started develop, what I interpret as , personality, and in the broadest possible meaning of the word, interests, means that I am from time to time exposed to their interesting world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also, to our great surprise, the little critters have also started to actually sleep at relatively reasonable hours at an almost (!?) predictable time, this has also freed up a little time when I don't need to try to entertain/sedate a rowdy offspring and can instead write blog posts in poor grammar for your entertainment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopefully some of my former readers will at least find something mildly interesting in this new direction and those who are not probably have moved on to bigger and better things anyway in this nasty harsh post-blogging climate. I thought about changing the name of the blog, but since I am still something of a salaryman (although it could be argued that I left that behind me) and "The Adventures of a Foreign Father in Japan" doesn't really sound that great...</span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-60294622139673693602013-06-17T20:49:00.000+09:002013-06-17T20:49:33.399+09:00Groping by proxy, great idea, great execution - poor outcome<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYE3xOmxVdldkKF8TxG2qpecXUOXX80_TBpnddALQq8SmIJ0Fpnrhg3wdcWRO4tYfoWQst8i9KhUICMhZUvc54TKQc702eeV-_7UdSULiGJQkc9rTUNCGTXsCyXftP4BwC83rozqb01A/s1600/it's+ok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYE3xOmxVdldkKF8TxG2qpecXUOXX80_TBpnddALQq8SmIJ0Fpnrhg3wdcWRO4tYfoWQst8i9KhUICMhZUvc54TKQc702eeV-_7UdSULiGJQkc9rTUNCGTXsCyXftP4BwC83rozqb01A/s400/it's+ok.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's OK, he's in on it, go ahead!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know that I promised to retire, never ever post again and all that stuff. Don't worry, I won't make a regular habit of popping back in here to too often but I just saw some hilarious news that is too funny to not share with you here on my own little blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of you with even a passing interest in Japan probably knows of the interesting culture of train molestation that exist here in Japan. Partly fed by the crowded trains and partly fed by by women to timid to make a proper scene when groped upon, those two ingredients has then been put in a pot made to gently stew and creating a pretty unique fetish here in Japan. I do have to admit that my own experience with groping has been very limited as I have never groped anyone, nor, to my infinite sadness, ever been groped upon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apparently this little fetish has created small communities online, far away from timid law abiding citizens like me. In these communities, women who wants to be groped upon give their location (current train etc.) and the guys exchange information and experiences. As long as this is exercised without bothering me and between consenting adults you'll not hear any moral outrage from my corner, good for them. But that's where this funny news story comes in...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few months ago, on one of these sites for west Japan, a "woman" detailed her request for someone to come and molest her including where she was sitting on the train and what she was wearing. A good community member happened to be in the area and decided to oblige the request (in this story, he's a good guy, he meant well) and merrily started to molest the lady he found with the outfit and place in the train car as described. Apparently she didn't really express her consent, but we all know that a little resistance is all part of the game, right? Too his surprise this poor guy realized that the lady really wasn't interest in being molested when police was called and he was promptly arrested. Poor guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The real funny part is that just recently the police located the 49 year old man who apparently had made a hobby out of pretending to want to be a woman requesting a molestation session on these friendly community sites. The guy was actually sitting in the train writing on his smartphone calling out for molesters describing himself as a woman he saw in the car and enjoying the hilarity of the show as it was unfolding in front of him. I find the whole thing pretty funny and I'm sure that he meant no harm, he was just playing a little practical joke that the girl and the groper surely will find funny with time. All in all, I think that he too basically is a good guy in this story as he amused me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only bad guys in this story are the people on the online communities who actually trusts that the "women" that requests a good groping really are women. That's beyond sad and pathetic. That's all, this was just too funny to keep to myself, I'll go back to retirement now, stay as long as you like but please turn off the light when you leave.</span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-53407433225558559532013-05-01T21:03:00.000+09:002013-05-01T21:03:19.564+09:00The end (for now at least)...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BwKPHwWGFydLg35ak6TyYhglhKfiKT_iFB1NncWIsWosPC-ICRuVgSMpDjQASsHj_ANbnk8wU9I1Yqx04qtvF_Pd5jXGEWqPauUfLms00OwFJufzHZRQ-49ahqumxd08f8DVyL5TiBI/s1600/the+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BwKPHwWGFydLg35ak6TyYhglhKfiKT_iFB1NncWIsWosPC-ICRuVgSMpDjQASsHj_ANbnk8wU9I1Yqx04qtvF_Pd5jXGEWqPauUfLms00OwFJufzHZRQ-49ahqumxd08f8DVyL5TiBI/s400/the+end.jpg" width="275" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blog was always intended to mainly be about absurdities and funny stories from working as a Salaryman and not a "life in Japan" blog. Unfortunately the new job make it difficult to keep this up, the problem is not a lack of amusing stories from work, the material from that little crack where Japanese business culture meets European business culture is generating as much friction as ever! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the problem that I am facing now is that I am in a much smaller organization and working with a fixed number of clients in a relatively limited geographical location. This is making it very difficult to keep up the anonymity and to not risk pissing any clients off, or in worst case damage someones business, I cannot really blog about work stuff as I used to and if I can't, it's not particularly fun anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, with two small children I have no gaping hole of free time and energy that needs to be filled either, so I have decided to end my bad consciousness for not posting more often and "officially" put this blog on an indefinite hold. At some point in the future when I have more time and energy and the work situation allows it I might pick it up where I left it, but if and when that would be I have no idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really do hate when people stop blogging in the middle of something without bringing any closure to how things ended up so let me assure you that things are going well. The new job is great fun so far, Toddler Sunshine and Baby Salaryman are growing up way to fast or way too slow (depending on their attitude), but are healthy and keeping us busy. Mrs. Sunshine is also doing as well as can be expected after managing two small kids, but we are still having fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, thank you all for following me for as long as you have. I am a bit curious on whether I have any followers from the first couple of years, if you have I would appreciate if you could drop a quick comment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you goes out to the small informal blogging community that formed around this blog, <a href="http://badboyinjapan.blogspot.jp/">Chris</a>, <a href="http://alwaysleavingthingsunfinishe.blogspot.jp/">Corinne</a>, <a href="http://project-kathryn.blogspot.jp/">Kathryn</a>, <a href="http://fightstart.blogspot.jp/">Kamo</a>, <a href="http://octopus.wordzr.com/index.html">the Octopu</a>s (<i>although he has also dropped of the radar now mostly</i>) and everyone else on my blogroll! Also, thank you to everyone who has commented here at one point or another over the years, thank you tons, you are the guys and gals that kept it fun to blog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will still monitor my e-mail and this blog so if you want/need to reach me you can still drop a comment or send me a mail. So again, <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><i>thank you all for reading all these years</i></span> and see you around!</span></div>
Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-6873044496520022042013-03-24T21:47:00.004+09:002013-03-24T21:51:51.456+09:00The Cleansing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kd85GhuMa-Q9LWjFM-4DdMzg1cBFn7zlERN4KH7a0Lvi8QJsBj_5zA7LaQR6mGONG72e7ldP5kau9Lvt31LvdPEk2ziNiCdpLuyYC_duI4C-SQ_i6A9_js-85I54QErFWgf-dTEtT4g/s1600/burnemall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kd85GhuMa-Q9LWjFM-4DdMzg1cBFn7zlERN4KH7a0Lvi8QJsBj_5zA7LaQR6mGONG72e7ldP5kau9Lvt31LvdPEk2ziNiCdpLuyYC_duI4C-SQ_i6A9_js-85I54QErFWgf-dTEtT4g/s400/burnemall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burn those books, you'll feel better afterwards!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I in the quite near future will start working a lot more from home (assuming toddler Sunshine and Baby Salaryman will kindly allow me to do so) I did a purging of my computer/work room to throw out some old stuff. I threw out two large cardboard boxes of books and a large part of my trade paperback collection of comics went deep into the closet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was a time when my most valued possessions was my "stuff", things like books, comics, DVD collection, games and CDs, everything else I didn't care too much about, even if the TV was expensive it would be easy to replace while my "stuff" had taken some time and effort to acquire and not as easily replaced. The change to digital media has piece by piece ruined this for me, the first to go was my CD collection as the iPod and iTunes came into play. My 2000+ CD collection now sits in a drawer (<i>all hard plastic cases exchanged for thin plastic sleeves to take up less space</i>) and I have not taken out a CD for over 4 years... Selling it off does not really seem like an option considering that I would in best case only get a pittance for it, particularly here in Japan as the music is obscure, but I can't bring myself to throw it away either as many of the CDs hold a story for me, so I just keep it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I got the iPad something similar happened to my comic collection, as I just read comics digitally now and can download all the stuff I have, the comics are just sitting there on the shelf, taking up space. I'm torn between trying to sell them somehow as they probably have a little more value to some than obscure CDs but on the other hand I might want to keep them for a rainy night after the apocalypse has killed the Internet and North Korean EMP bombs have rendered my electronic devices useless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In one way it feels a bit sad as I often have memories attached to the stuff and can remember when (<i>and what I was thinking</i>) I ordered and got the CD/Comic/Book and a sense of accomplishment as the collection was growing bigger. Nowadays it's way too easy to find most stuff online without any real effort more than google or an iTunes search and it's a process that's basically the same every time. Now my "stuff" is all digital and sitting on a harddrive without anything physical to touch, sort and fondle with. I used to enjoy going through the stuff from time to time and figuring out how to sort it the best way, but moving folders around on a computer is just a hassle that feels like work without any enjoyment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't want to come across as a technology hostile Salaryman, all in all the the joy of physical stuff is outweighed by the convenience of the digital age. But the collector in me was rudely woken up, killed, dragged outside, mutilated and hung in a streetlight as a warning to others... What's the challenge in collecting when everything is readily available and easy to reproduce (control+C...)?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, just recently I realized that the collector had reawakened in me again, although this time directed towards the exciting world of... ... ... </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>cables</i></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">! With all the electronical devices in the house, I have accumulated a significant range of cables for all imaginable purposes and recently got these two babies for the house and as I unpacked the stuff and felt satisfaction looking at them I realized that these are the depths that I have sunk to now... Is this what is has come to?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wR8aAjeNjVimexeFL4K95fdBC5_5pPS78gNCxhcr27-m6VIQZi_8yzomhwXN0DEPy9gRga3D7y-dHhwmi9TgEMANBgPLi32ZuJZybBFi8NEE_YWWfo7xl2ejIcpNPAYyB3YuLaXPpJI/s1600/check+out+this+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wR8aAjeNjVimexeFL4K95fdBC5_5pPS78gNCxhcr27-m6VIQZi_8yzomhwXN0DEPy9gRga3D7y-dHhwmi9TgEMANBgPLi32ZuJZybBFi8NEE_YWWfo7xl2ejIcpNPAYyB3YuLaXPpJI/s320/check+out+this+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(<i><span style="color: blue;">I actually got the pink one for Mrs. Sunshine and initally felt a bit miffed when she didn't share in my excitement of the convenient and stylish power outlet (with USB ports!)</span></i>)</span></div>
<br />Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-75627391951050051132013-03-07T21:03:00.004+09:002013-03-07T21:03:47.022+09:00Hitting The Motherlode<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQzUdZjOj8RaQBTpVcbbxy8-4zU2qAwR93QyTNoOQS4CAE7X8O5J3UT-vAX0bm91RgEbzQmvvy28FXNWhVdnSwpCkn61djTAuQYOGMPwfk__7LJUF8qHbnA5wdxU568SxFFegpvrDkyU/s1600/I+quit!+again...+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQzUdZjOj8RaQBTpVcbbxy8-4zU2qAwR93QyTNoOQS4CAE7X8O5J3UT-vAX0bm91RgEbzQmvvy28FXNWhVdnSwpCkn61djTAuQYOGMPwfk__7LJUF8qHbnA5wdxU568SxFFegpvrDkyU/s400/I+quit!+again...+.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"War Outlawed!" - Why didn't we think of this before?!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ooops, it looks like it's been over a month since I last posted again... Well, now I can now reveal one of the big reasons why I have been a bit distracted a bit lately (<i>as if two small kids wasn't enough of a reason...</i>). Again I will venture out on new adventures and I am quitting my current job at the big US corporation for something a bit closer to home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will be starting to work for a German based healthcare consultant as their man in Japan, assisting their European clients in building relationships in Japan in the field of healthcare (pharma, devices, hospital planning etc.). The firm is so small that we'll only be two people working in Japan so a big change from the large firm I am working for now. The firm is so small that there is no legal entity in Japan and I will be under a contract directly with the German office, this has the main benefit that I will be subject to German working conditions. This means a significantly longer vacation per year while still lifting Japan competitive salary, basically the best of both worlds! Also, frequent business trips back to Europe will make it a lot easier to get back home from time to time and bring the family to use up all that vacation time. No more early morning or late night teleconferences with the US east coast either sounds pretty nice too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I no longer will have any Japanese colleagues I am actually starting to get a little bit worried about fitting in in a non-Japanese work environment... A mini-organization in Japan also means that I do not have to put up with all the politics and stuff that comes with it, but also that I will have to do all the stuff myself as no one will be there to help out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The timing is not perfect though as I actually was enjoying the work at the big US corp and with just a little under two years in I had started to establish my base of power from which to further extend my reign of petty terror, but opportunities like these are very rare so I decided to take the jump again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's the quick update, if not particularly funny, as I will soon have more time to spare in between the jobs you can expect a little more frequent posting from me in the coming weeks!</span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-65382109007939869722013-01-27T21:02:00.002+09:002013-01-27T21:02:59.177+09:00It kills everything<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTviklnhQwloClqp0rXAMAJY5jwyBzrQF4Ec6r1kWBliCZaLePthj3X-vJWbVcgMJh32ZlHIEgR_sHo0bhnBecJJ_Fcbd7xfH3mHE4bLIWp8InMYbgx339nH9b8gGis7J76dB-bTgRMY/s1600/superman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTviklnhQwloClqp0rXAMAJY5jwyBzrQF4Ec6r1kWBliCZaLePthj3X-vJWbVcgMJh32ZlHIEgR_sHo0bhnBecJJ_Fcbd7xfH3mHE4bLIWp8InMYbgx339nH9b8gGis7J76dB-bTgRMY/s400/superman.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Superman mixes things up sometimes</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I work with health care and have done so basically all of my career. One of the pillars of health care is clinical evidence based on medical science. Basically whenever a new treatment is proposed, it needs to prove itself through scientifically solid evidence that it is better or comparable to the currently available treatment (even if that is doing nothing). I'm inherently skeptical towards any "alternative" treatments like homeopathy, "healing" or prayers as no evidence up to date has shown any favorable outcomes and although the patients health might not negatively be impacted, someone is preying on the gullibility of the sick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Generally my colleagues agree with me and are sensible in this, but I have often been engaged in discussion on the topic of using face masks to avoid getting a cold. The Japanese often use the masks in the belief that it actually helps in preventing getting a cold although no evidence exist that using the flimsy masks that the Japanese use actually improves the end-point here; getting a cold or not. Until there is any evidence I will continue to refuse to wear a mask.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Around a year ago one of my colleagues, Mr. Short, had purchased some form of "bacteria killer" device, I am unsure on exactly how it was supposed to function, but it was worn around the neck and supposedly would kill off bacteria in the general vicinity and thus protect the wearer from nasty bugs. This initiated some friendly discussion on whether it actually worked or not with me checking up on it on Internet and not finding any evidence apart from the manufacturer's own lab testing (<i>which might or might not be correct, but it's all meaningless anyway unless it actually can prove to reduce the number of times the wearer gets sick</i>). My colleague insisted that he thought it would work, but relented to the fact that he had no evidence to back him up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The topic was forgotten about until last week, when he was suffering from a particularly nasty cold but still came into the office (<i>wearing a mask, of course</i>). This made me remember the anti-bacteria talisman thing from earlier. The conversation went something like this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Salaryman</b>: (<i>genuinely curious</i>) Oh yeah, what happened to that thing you wore around your neck, are you still using that? Wasn't that supposed to stop you from getting sick?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Short</b>: (<i>silent for a few seconds</i>) ... no, I stopped wearing it...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Salaryman</b>: (<i>sending amusement</i>) Oh really? How come?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Short</b>: (<i>embarrassed</i>) Well, apparently it stopped selling it as it proved to be a little too efficient and could pose a danger to small children and you know that I have small kids, so...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Salaryman</b>: (<i>cannot refrain from rubbing it in</i>) Huh? There you go, so I was right in the end, better to wait for some real evidence, huh?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mr. Short</b>: Yes, you were right, next time I'll wait for at least some evidence before getting a thing like that...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">...I do however overuse nose-spray on occasion despite the overwhelming evidence that it's not good to do so...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-48930265781260281782013-01-20T20:23:00.000+09:002013-01-20T20:23:07.108+09:00...no baby, but not too far off...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeBKWjslq_rTNaasnEle4TQHwDds9GUC5xyfbmiS7VNhXobRwRRIAvq_ebCPrvpI1-NV_z3VFPcQv0x-YRJQfnyXjvVQkh7DF_N_GjlFYJtvO_FMJuhndVPBF78e3sKJ4KfrGAe6bDo4/s1600/pope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeBKWjslq_rTNaasnEle4TQHwDds9GUC5xyfbmiS7VNhXobRwRRIAvq_ebCPrvpI1-NV_z3VFPcQv0x-YRJQfnyXjvVQkh7DF_N_GjlFYJtvO_FMJuhndVPBF78e3sKJ4KfrGAe6bDo4/s400/pope.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy? Is that you?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other day, I was sitting in the sofa with the iPad reading the comments on my latest post with 2 1/2 y.o. toddler Sunshine sitting next to me. As I was scrolling down the screen she screamed out with glee andpointed at the "Our Mumbai Escorts" picture I used in my last post,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">happily</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">exclaiming "Mommy!" (</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">more specifically, the right one "Rina"</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). As a parent, I felt that I needed to set her straight with a "<i>No baby, that's not Mommy, that's... someone else...</i>" after which she went back to doing whatever she was doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Apparently a few days earlier she had been going through one of Mrs. Sunshine's fashion magazine and stopped at a one page advertisement with a sweaty hunk staring horny into the camera, happily exclaiming "Daddy!".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I guess I can say that I probably am closer to a sweaty hunk than Mrs. Sunshine is to an Indian prostitute at least, but that might be stretching it... </span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-91991881130220549412013-01-14T15:01:00.001+09:002013-01-14T15:01:31.869+09:00The year of the snake 2013!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SqCanpNRJauGEyyJMKzC7kdb41GmMiSRcrxNhy3lkHrpNPOFHg3QnijbhyF_4YLC__65yWbpLEgCgFWY3ZkqOyaRjySGus4HTd7PssoYoO7reY8TxBwCUvFe7InXriHXDUPGGHN7wyg/s1600/year+of+the+snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SqCanpNRJauGEyyJMKzC7kdb41GmMiSRcrxNhy3lkHrpNPOFHg3QnijbhyF_4YLC__65yWbpLEgCgFWY3ZkqOyaRjySGus4HTd7PssoYoO7reY8TxBwCUvFe7InXriHXDUPGGHN7wyg/s400/year+of+the+snake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's not a normal snake? Is it a cobra?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Considerably later than other years so far on this blog, but I thought I should give it a shot to try and summarize 2012. As the remaining readers of this blog obviously have figured out, other prioritizes made my blogging schedule irregular to say the least. The start of the year I was kept busy by Toddler Sunshine, Mrs. Sunshine's late stage pregnancy and trying to get into the job I started in the summer the previous year, after the birth of Baby Salaryman things just passed by in a bit of a blur. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Biggest Event of 2012</span></b> was of course the birth of Baby Salaryman, born to restore balance to the battle of the genders in the Salaryman household and ensure that my name lives on for eternity in the island of Japan. May his seed burn strong and brightly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Biggest Revelation of 2012</span></b> is much harder to pinpoint... Looking back, it feels like most of the year was spent looking after kids or working with not much in between. Of course, seeing the Avengers movie in the movie theater was great, there came out some good new music as well, thinking especially of Agent Side Grinder with the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Txx93j7mLo">Wolf Hour</a> and old school EBM band Orange Sector with the hit <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLbpf1m0RrE">Der Maschinist</a>, the comeback of Daybehavior, but nothing that really changed how I view the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Biggest Staying Power in 2012</span></b> was the iPad, the little tablet has not gotten me bored with it yet. In fact, I like it so much that I upgraded to the newer iPad during last year (the one with the faster processor) after some negotiating with Mrs. Sunshine ("Do you really really need it?" "Well..." "If you really really need it and you absolutely must have it you can buy it, but there are other stuff we need..." "Ok, thanks, I'll buy it then!"). To toddler Sunshine's delight, this means that we now ended up with three iPads in the household and one that she has claimed her own. I have even seriously considered getting one of those water proof iPad bags so I can bring it in the bath with me as well. I'm still waiting for the toilet model of the iPad as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Blog of 2012</span></b> is also really hard as I have not found any new particularly interesting ones and for my favorite ones both <a href="http://alwaysleavingthingsunfinishe.blogspot.jp/">Corinne</a> and <a href="http://badboyinjapan.blogspot.jp/">Chris</a> have run into a bit of a blogging fatigue similar to mine it looks like. Former "Green Eyed Geisha" started a <a href="http://princessofsound.wordpress.com/">new blog</a> that I was looking forward to, but the posts there also stopped coming. Kamo with the blog <a href="http://fightstart.blogspot.jp/">This is how she fight starts</a> is the most interesting thing to pop up in 2012 (but not sure if I actually started reading it in 2011?). Even if I am embarrassed to say that my commenting manners is lacking, I still check out <a href="http://project-kathryn.blogspot.jp/">Project Me</a> and was happy to see <a href="http://supersarahf.blogspot.jp/">Ninja Without a Clue</a> make a comeback in posting.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWTpFgtZzC-MIhlbwXSMVPHfm1nG690_nDD9hrq0KO5DByC4Th3wsRzFVRs6HmYtWPFOfqRFGhlcD-A5NlsmJTsPehRFsFm4f5cYEGNW2qfJRupCp6dqRRmS5A-t_Hxg_gCpT8S2bIaI/s1600/good+job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWTpFgtZzC-MIhlbwXSMVPHfm1nG690_nDD9hrq0KO5DByC4Th3wsRzFVRs6HmYtWPFOfqRFGhlcD-A5NlsmJTsPehRFsFm4f5cYEGNW2qfJRupCp6dqRRmS5A-t_Hxg_gCpT8S2bIaI/s320/good+job.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep at it, it'll get better with time!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Favorite Comment Dropper of 2012</span></b> is the people behind Mumbai/Dehli Escorts who ferociously started leaving comments on my posts advertising their exclusive services. In the beginning I deleted them as soon as they came up, but their eagerness to drop comments won me over and I decided to let them be (at least on older posts). As an interesting tidbit it can be mentioned that I have very few visitors from India, I have myself never been there with no plans to go and I doubt that many of my readers visit India often and even if they did they would not trust those guys with their physical needs. Good work Mumbai escorts and happy 2013!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Other Stuff that kept me Entertained in 2012 </span></b>was (to my surprise) the King of Thrones TV-series, it's rare to see fantasy done well but this show has pulled it off. The Walking Dead TV-series and comic has kept its staying power, but ultimately they all still lose out to a classic like The Wire (which I started re-watching during autumn and still working my way through). Some good games came out as well in 2012, thinking particularly of Mass Effect 3 (I was ok with the ending), Dishonored and the remake of X-Com. But still, nothing like Skyrim from 2011...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To all my readers, a belated <b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Happy New Year and wish you all a fantastic 2013! </span></b>This year happens to be the Year of the Snake, something that is supposed to be good, contrary to what the Western image of snakes would make you think... </span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-90176753467339831312013-01-13T21:27:00.000+09:002013-01-13T21:28:10.801+09:00Japanese New Year's TV<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHeH7FdudDzWUUrPFAbBfP-rtqMRRRiBRzAu9R493mmLLuYSEd7WkIA_7MUMEoGPgNjWPWrykbhpO_LFE_tp3jhV2tzhzvybZPxXugnkQZQgm65St-FJ5wxa1X1XvuhD1MQgHjuag16M/s1600/%E7%AC%91%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%AF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHeH7FdudDzWUUrPFAbBfP-rtqMRRRiBRzAu9R493mmLLuYSEd7WkIA_7MUMEoGPgNjWPWrykbhpO_LFE_tp3jhV2tzhzvybZPxXugnkQZQgm65St-FJ5wxa1X1XvuhD1MQgHjuag16M/s400/%E7%AC%91%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%AF.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last year's "Stewardess training" version!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(<i>This time I'll keep myself from apologizing for the long time between postings, the little offspring and work has kept me quite busy and what little energy I have had left has been spent in other places than this blog. In the coming months I hope to be able to get up and running at a slightly better pace though, I do not intend to stop this blog</i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although the annual new year holidays this year came in quite nice with a full week of from work, the Salaryman family decided to stay put in Japan as the two small kids and the excessive price hikes from the travel agencies/airlines make vacation outside Japan a bit difficult. Instead, we braved the train crowds and packed us on the shinkansen train to Mrs. Sunshine's grandmother's place in Kobe for a traditional Japanese new year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's very little I actually like about the traditional Japanese new year celebration, the food is not to my liking, not much is actually done and I have no emotional attachment to any of the traditions. But at least it's a break in the pace from everyday life and Mrs. Sunshine's family were more than happy to give us a break and entertain toddler Sunshine and baby Salaryman for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then there's the TV... The big Japanese TV tradition for new year is to watch the annual song contest "<i>Kohaku</i>" were all the biggest music start of the year gets divided into two teams and somehow "compete" against each other. Basically it's just a show with live performances one after another and as neither J-pop nor enka is anything that I listen to unless forced to it's a combination of dull, boring and uninteresting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However... At the same time as Kohaku is going on, there is another TV show that also traditionally runs every new year... The show is, roughly translated, called "<i>This is no kid's play - You're not allowed to laugh</i>". It is pre-recorded, runs for about six hours and does not in the slightest acknowledge the strike of twelve and the start of the new year, just carries on. The show is hosted by the comedy duo "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_(owarai)#Hosted_shows">Downtown</a>" and features them and four other comedians. The basic concept is that the group is put in absurd situations around them for a period of a full 24 hours and are not allowed to laugh, the location and theme varies each year. If anyone in the group laughs, a loud "OUT!" is announced and a bunch of guys dressed in fatigues, berets and black balaclavas armed with rubber batons run in and proceeds to give each of those who laughed a hard spanking after which they quickly run out of picture again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The show is definitely an acquired taste, it is extremely stupid, however to dismiss it on the grounds of being "stupid" is a huge mistake as the whole point of the show is to revel in stupidity. I admit to mistakenly taking this stance for quite a few years until I realized that the level and intensiveness of the stupidity somehow creates comedic brilliance! The amount of effort put into it and level of people the producers manage to recruit into doing some extremely stupid character with the only purpose of making the group laugh so they can get a spanking is amazing. It does help to have a decent knowledge of Japanese celebrities, pop stars, comedians and actors as well known and respected people turn up in the most absurd roles. On occasion they have even roped in well known politicians to participate in the absurdity. Of course, to fully appreciate the show, a certain level of Japanese knowledge is required, but even without it some of the brilliance can glimpse through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, I sit through the Kohaku on new year's eve but take comfort in that the big TV event of the year is recorded at home. Me and Mrs. Sunshine, not having the comfort of being able to sit through 6 hours of TV in one sitting, work our way through it in bite sized chumps over January. Toddler Sunshine watches us laughing perplexed but sometimes join in just for the sake of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It might be hard to get an image of what this really is about and what's so great about the show from reading my poor synopsis above, but<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <a href="http://toracyan53.blog60.fc2.com/blog-entry-3560.html">here</a></b></span> you can find the whole of this year's show streaming. Skip through the studio talk and straight into it and you just might understand what I am talking about! </span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-22659763020992451782012-12-01T22:02:00.001+09:002012-12-01T22:02:56.154+09:00It's just not funny anymore...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV9K8v1Aiu8dvTi1j_rLyuNgYJ6CRg-E0W01X5J2QmBqlKMaLyxiSlRW-XpEh0bRb-oZkVhnBdnYzJgXsg3YO1Hd55ijiswy8DBC5EKVI9w7KodktSOzjDEGn0vHrV9iCZ1n8BepOSSI/s1600/Japan+election.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV9K8v1Aiu8dvTi1j_rLyuNgYJ6CRg-E0W01X5J2QmBqlKMaLyxiSlRW-XpEh0bRb-oZkVhnBdnYzJgXsg3YO1Hd55ijiswy8DBC5EKVI9w7KodktSOzjDEGn0vHrV9iCZ1n8BepOSSI/s400/Japan+election.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who will best represent MY interests? Maybe that little guy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I wanted to, I feel pretty certain that I could get Japanese citizenship fairly easy now as I have permanent residence and now also sprouted two offspring that are Japanese. However, as life is going pretty well without it and I have so far yet to run into any situation where I have felt that being a Japanese citizen would make things easier, nor encountered any blatant discrimination due to my Swedish citizenship. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The big thing with citizenship is of course that you get to have a vote in the elections, however considering the current state of Japanese politics it feels more like a relief than anything that I am not allowed to vote in the upcoming December general election and having to take some form of responsibility for the outcome...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the past I've posted a bit on the new splinter groups from various parties that have emerged the last years (<i>see post<a href="http://foreignsalaryman.blogspot.jp/2010/04/well-it-is-called-party-after-all.html"> here</a></i>). At that point it was ridiculous and depressing, but still a bit funny. However, now that <a href="http://foreignsalaryman.blogspot.jp/2012/07/the-top-3-japanese-politicians-i.html">Ishihara and Hashimoto</a> have thrown their masterful minds together headlining another new party the fun is all gone and now it's just depressing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Liberal Democratic Party had a golden chance this election to show that their loss in the previous election had made them take a critical look at themselves and removed the excess fat that the<b> </b><span style="background-color: white;">complacency</span> after all those long years in power is now gone and they are once again hungry and revitalized. However, what do they do? They elect former one-year Prime Minister Abe as the party chairman, the guy that started the whole "<i>Japanese-one-year-Prime-Minister</i>" thing that has been going on the last six years...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Democratic party is in disarray, splintering into infighting groups with no evidence that they would be better prepared for a second term than the first one that turned into a massive fiasco with revolving door Prime-Minister and Cabinet change and fighting within the party.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What remains apart from the clownshow of new parties, LDP and DPJ is the Communist party and the religious Buddist party New Komeito.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's hardly even a lesser evil here, it's all bad across the board and the only good news is that since I'm not a citizen I do not have to make the choice here. Mrs. Sunshine does not have this luxury however and is trying to figure out who will do the least amount of damage... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For the sake of full disclosure, it should however be mentioned that I have on rare occasions accepted tissue paper handouts from party representatives loitering around the station as I enter the Communting War on weekday mornings.</i></span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-60617846748351906372012-11-15T21:31:00.002+09:002012-11-15T21:31:59.152+09:00A $2 dollar ambulance<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXrjsuCb4l2yYawHaOc1nBU9vwPfClTKTGHxugSun4M6NNCcgW3mdtycYh6ktWWeADsTN1DRbxa97Q5YPxPtYZ0CoEQQed5Qr01jfuvKK-zgNKWDzntpMVy5HFT9rKj_etB8RDcI0WIM/s1600/Ambulance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXrjsuCb4l2yYawHaOc1nBU9vwPfClTKTGHxugSun4M6NNCcgW3mdtycYh6ktWWeADsTN1DRbxa97Q5YPxPtYZ0CoEQQed5Qr01jfuvKK-zgNKWDzntpMVy5HFT9rKj_etB8RDcI0WIM/s400/Ambulance.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ambulance wasn't this fancy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ooops, I just realized that it's been almost a month since my previous post... To my defense I can say that even though the horrible heat of summer is gone, Japan has now entered the probably worst season of the year; late autumn. This is the time of year when the bugs are all over the place and commuting by train is a surefire way to catch most of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a spending a week in the US East Coast in work (<i>and ruining basically two full weeks due to the extremely painful jetlag that 13hrs time difference gives</i>) I came back just in time for the cold and catching a few of them as well. In turns, the whole Salaryman family has been sick at one point or another and in the fantastic team spirit that we have, we do it in relay form, shipping it forward to the next person to make sure that someone is sick at all times for a little over a month now. Being sick myself is no fun, but on the other hand, having a sick Toddler Sunshine or Baby Salaryman is not much fun either and a sick Mrs. Sunshine leaves the two kids all under my supervision which is almost as exhausting as it is being sick. Most of the times two members of the family have been sick as well...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It started with Toddler Sunshine catching a fever a few weeks ago. The first day she was ok in the morning, although obviously feverish. Mrs. Sunshine took her to the clinic where she received some nice suppositories (<i>glad I don't need those</i>) while I was off to work. During work I get some mails from Mrs. Sunshine with health updates, each getting a little worse than the next as her fever had gone up past 40 degrees. By the end of the day she was getting really worried and was drifting in and out of consciousness. As we both have the view that it's better to call the ambulance one time too many than one time too few she called the ambulance as I was on my way home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I arrived home just in time for the ambulance arriving and Toddler Sunshine looked alarmingly out of it. The paramedics were great though and took her and me and Mrs. Sunshine with us in the ambulance. Just to embarrass us Toddler Sunshine started coming back to life when in the ambulance, still highly feverish but looking curiously around and responding to us talking to her. After some cursory check-ups the ambulance took off, with the red lights and siren on (<i>giving the Mama Mafia much to speculate on the next day</i>) taking us to the closest hospital with an open pediatric emergency ward. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we arrived to the hospital, Toddler Sunshine decided to make us look even more the fools by waking up a bit more and actually giving out a laugh or two between looking sick. The emergency doc checked her up and quickly declared that "<i>this is not an emergency, I'll give her something for the fever but you can go back home</i>". I was slightly annoyed that he didn't run at least a few tests just for the sake of it, but as we were happy to see that she was seemingly getting better we did not push our luck and went out to pay the bill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was expecting a hefty sum due to the ambulance, even though the insurance coverage is available in Japan, it does not cover all expenses and it can sometimes be quite costly. However, I was presented with a grand bill of 200 yen (<i>$2 USD</i>) which I paid, thinking that the rest of the cost was being calculated and would be invoiced to us later on or. However when I told Mrs. Sunshine this she matter-of-factly stated that the children's insurance coverage in the area we live cover basically all the cost and the maximum amount that we ever have to pay is 200 yen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To me, this has opened up completely new opportunities! Instead of calling a taxi or driving ourselves, we will now try to call an ambulance instead under the pretense that one of the kids are sick and insist on that they take us to a hospital close to where we want to go. I do pay taxes here after all so it should be within my right!</span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-82368492473335956652012-10-17T21:39:00.004+09:002012-10-17T21:40:04.385+09:00Commuter Terrorists - The Dive Bomber <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mR3wm2tkigX7Wv-h82dGnaCkhLhf1uYN6uNhKrkAWdBIpqe-ggrpKb-g-2wCwrYxE0A4FIoa9hmOwG8SBi_iOSowK6U-D06Hyk_LcpPPAVoKVq0SCbiC2-fCg6swtKebQwByt_b4CTs/s1600/fat-guy-on-a-plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mR3wm2tkigX7Wv-h82dGnaCkhLhf1uYN6uNhKrkAWdBIpqe-ggrpKb-g-2wCwrYxE0A4FIoa9hmOwG8SBi_iOSowK6U-D06Hyk_LcpPPAVoKVq0SCbiC2-fCg6swtKebQwByt_b4CTs/s400/fat-guy-on-a-plane.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When he comes crashing down...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the most valuable things that you can hope to achieve in the commuter hell is an available seat. Having a seat means that you are shielded from the battle raging back and forth among the poor sods standing in front of you. A seat can mean the difference between a horrible ride and a reasonably comfortable one. The <a href="http://foreignsalaryman.blogspot.jp/2012/07/commuter-terrorists-sleeper-agent.html">Sleeper Agents</a> may try to invade your space, but they are reasonably easy to repel most of the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having a seat usually gives two hands free to pick up the iPad, book, gaming device or phone to read a magazine, book, play a game or watch a movie compared to how both hands often are needed when standing just to be able to remain standing due to the ebb and flow of the passengers as the train accelerates, brakes, twist and turn. The seat is sacred and worth fighting for. Experienced Subway Warriors know this and respect what the seat stands for and the personal space it provides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, one Commuter Terrorist that you can encounter is the <b>Dive Bomber</b>... The Dive bomber sees an open seat next to you, often an available seat with limited space between two sitting Subway Warriors. The Dive Bomber turns around and very ungracefully dumps his ass (<i>female Dive Bombers are very rare as most a larger than average body size is required</i>) with horrible accuracy, half ending up in your lap with quite some force, before he roughly goes ahead to squeeze himself down in the seat. Sometimes some Terrorists starts off as Dive Bombers and when comfortably squeezed in the seat, turn into Sleeper Agents...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On the other hand, inexperienced commuters can often be identified by how carefully they check behind them (often profusely apologizing) and lower their behind in slow-motion, careful to not accidentally touch any of the passengers on either side of the seat they are targeting. These amateurs are slightly annoying but at least try to do their best to not invade any personal space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However a true Subway Warrior has perfected the sitting down into a work of art. You can tell an experienced Subway Warrior from the way he/she sits down in a seat with limited space. Basically the move from standing to basically pouring oneself down in the seat in one fluid motion, quickly and if brushing the persons on either side ever so slightly, quickly compensating to just pour into place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of you reading this and are dedicated to the Way of the Subway Warrior, my advice to you on how to master the art of sitting down on the train is: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Don't get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like Teflon. </span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Empty your mind, be formless, frictionless — like Teflon. Be Teflon, my friend</span></i>.</span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-49615009349221614992012-10-11T13:51:00.000+09:002012-10-11T13:51:00.545+09:00The true face of fear...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmR9B2BPkgTdjvB8Zq4hrvQ2dQtZziDObhUBGlHL9t3j5aLXSLhYPYt2Q0DAIqjyZYxC2tNkqI_SdFEZkD9TXLvRRAj41_c4I6znHrsy9S0I9lLPl8ZxzdBXrizFn2B1mtuga9HHkfe4/s1600/Superbaby+run+away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmR9B2BPkgTdjvB8Zq4hrvQ2dQtZziDObhUBGlHL9t3j5aLXSLhYPYt2Q0DAIqjyZYxC2tNkqI_SdFEZkD9TXLvRRAj41_c4I6znHrsy9S0I9lLPl8ZxzdBXrizFn2B1mtuga9HHkfe4/s320/Superbaby+run+away.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You shouldn't have gone on the slide before the change!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After I became a father, first to toddler Sunshine and then Baby Salaryman my priorities in life has changed radically. My outlook to life is probably about the same, but having kids has changed the way I look upon life. The biggest change is of course that it's not all about me anymore, of course Mrs. Sunshine and the family has always been important, but in the end they can take care of themselves. With small children you have to watch out for them and put their needs ahead of your own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My fears have also changed considerably. Before I had children, my greatest fear was perhaps becoming paralyzed after a horrible accident, getting a nasty form of brain cancer or something similar. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, now, my greatest fear is realizing that Toddler Sunshine just did a nasty poo, reaching for the diaper only to have her running away giggling, getting on a slide and slowly making her way down applying great friction to her butt and turning a somewhat nasty, but salvageable, situation into a clean-up nightmare...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(<i>Also for some reason Mrs. Sunshine strongly dislikes it when I measure the fecal output of Toddler Sunshine in estimation of grams as it reminds her of packages of minced meat, which is oddly enough what I use in my head for comparison... Women are odd...</i>) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span>Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-55412151001881663222012-10-08T14:37:00.001+09:002012-10-08T15:19:25.555+09:00Kim Jong Un Sends Autographs to Officials and Workers of Various Units<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(<i>First of all, again, sorry for the lack of posting! Some travel in work resulting in over two weeks of continuous jet-lag made the blog suffer a bit. Also, sorry for starting to use the annoying word verification when writing comments but recently I've gotten flooded with over 50 spam comments a day...</i>) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq3qGhL3zG7jskwO-cbKEVRkjSQkeWJOrF_GcfTcg9DLz4j8NUu3hyphenhyphen_fAObaAMSGcyKWpfs_pFLR3QhUFX5JW_EQpSNprp2so8NapeGPDOpgWzejI-dSInERXgeJhUabZCm5oWcH6UIE/s1600/dear+leader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq3qGhL3zG7jskwO-cbKEVRkjSQkeWJOrF_GcfTcg9DLz4j8NUu3hyphenhyphen_fAObaAMSGcyKWpfs_pFLR3QhUFX5JW_EQpSNprp2so8NapeGPDOpgWzejI-dSInERXgeJhUabZCm5oWcH6UIE/s320/dear+leader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A recent hot news from the </span><b><span style="color: #a00000;">K</span><span style="color: #0000c0;">OREAN</span> <span style="color: #a00000;">C</span><span style="color: #0000b0;">ENTRAL</span> <span style="color: #a00000;">N</span><span style="color: #0000b0;">EWS</span> <span style="color: #a00000;">A</span></b><span style="color: #0000b0; font-weight: bold;">GENCY of DPRK</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that I felt was too good to not share with you all:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Pyongyang, October 4 (KCNA)</b> -- <span style="color: purple;">The dear respected Kim Jong Un sent autographs to officials and other workers at various units and teachers and students on Sept. 13 and 27 after reading their letters.</span><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the letters they expressed their determination to make a dynamic advance in close unity under the leadership of the party, bearing deep in mind warm love and trust shown by the great men of Mt. Paektu.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Among them were officials and employees of the Tanchon Area General Mining Bureau, the construction site of Orangchon Power Station, Electric Power Designing Institute No. 1, Pyongyang Tangogi Restaurant, Phyongnam Noodle Restaurant and the Wheat Cake Stuffed with Roast Chicken Shop of the Kumsong Foodstuff Factory and builders and teachers and students of Sibyon Secondary School of Thosan County, North Hwanghae Province.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the letters they reflected their ardent reverence and loyalty to Marshal Kim Jong Un who helps them make a leaping advance with the same loving care as that shown by Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />They vowed to invariably follow Kim Jong Un to repay for his loving care in the road of successfully carrying forward the revolutionary cause of Juche started on Mt. Paektu in keeping pace with his footsteps despite any storm and stress.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />They wholeheartedly wished Marshal Kim Jong Un good health for the eternal prosperity of Songun Korea and happiness of all generations to come, representing the best wishes of all servicepersons and people.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(<i>Seriously, I don't think any witty comment I could write here would make it more funny than it already is, so I won't</i>)</span></div>
Mr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.com2