The TV Dilemma (and What it Says About Me)

Over the past 5 years, the time I’ve spent in front of the TV has dwindled away, replaced by sitting at the computer, and sometimes healthier pursuits such as walks and shopping – although how healthy this last one is debateable.

The background to my current situation goes like this: when we arrived in Japan, Keiko and I did not have a TV. This didn’t bother me: I had a computer, internet connection, and a seemingly endless supply of streaming content. Keiko, however, felt we needed one, mainly so she could have some entertainment while I hogged the TV. So we bought a Toshiba 15-inch flat-screen. It cost us about ¥50,000 and is really good quality with all the inputs and features we needed. This TV was fine in a small living room where we sat relatively close to the TV, but now we have a larger living room, and we lounge around on our sofa. We’ve tucked the TV in the corner to maximise the space we have and it has become difficult for me to read subtitles (most Japanese variety shows have lots of text which I find easier to understand than the original speech sometimes). While I rarely watch TV, I often watch videos feed from my PC to the TV… many of which are subtitled.

Keiko agreed to getting a bigger TV so long as it was under ¥100,000. I checked online and discovered that we could find a good-sized TV for about that price, so we’re now saving up  for it in ¥500 coins. Having never been much of a TV-tech fanatic, I had no idea about what size we were looking at, so on Valentine’s Day, while present-shopping, we stopped off in Yodobashi Camera (the best electronics store in the world, in my opinion) and checked out what was on offer.

Our options were three-fold: 32-inch, 37-inch, and 40-inch. We could afford most 32-inch TVs, but I felt they were a little too small given that there were models in the 37- and 40-inch ranges that were also within our budget. Keiko ruled out the 40-inch TVs as being too big for our living room. They are a little over a metre long, and having checked the available space when I got home, she made the right call. We settled down to looking at two 37-inch TVs: one, a Panasonic TH-P37X1 Viera with a resolution of only 1024×720, or the full HD Sharp LC-37ES50 Aquos at a slightly more expensive ¥94,800. Both were being superceded by newer models and thus were on a time-limited sale (the Panasonic until the 14th, the Sharp until the 28th).

I had itchy feet. I had decided that I really wanted that Sharp. It always happens like that: I see something in a shop and I get that panicky feeling that I must have it. Keiko was surprised that I was even considering buying it straight away, but I could feel the hole burning in my wallet. Keiko convinced me to wait until her pay-day, but I was antsy.

We argued back and forth about whether we should get it. I felt that it was a good price and a good model, and we had no idea if such a good model would be available at such a good price when we finally finished saving. Meanwhile, I didn’t want to continue struggling to watch our current TV. For me, buying now made sense. As my friends chirped: “Buy now regret nothing.” Very true.

Keiko, however, was unconvinced. Having no problems with our current TV and unaffected by tech-fever, she was the calmer head. She argued that we could keep the money we would be spending just in case we needed it between now and the time we amassed our planned savings. She reminded me that we would be trying to go back to the UK in 2011, and that it wouldn’t be cheap. At each step, I countered with the arguments above, that is until Keiko mentioned that there would be summer sales too. Finally, at 1am, the calmer side prevailed and we’ll wait.

I’m a sucker for low prices, and I’m a terrible saver. I will do everything to make a good purchase today, but I cannot even contemplate the steps needed for larger purchases just a year later. It’s at times like this when I really appreciate Keiko’s financial discipline. She never stops me getting what I want, but she does a good job at convincing me to wait. If it weren’t for her, today I’d be playing with our new, big TV instead of writing this post. I think we made the right choice.

Thanks, honey.

Socials, Snow and Sickness

It’s Monday, my day of rest. Much deserved too, I think.

On Friday, January 29th, I went to my first ever tweet-up. After finishing work, I rushed over to Yoyogi-Uehara to catch the tail-end of the party. There, the hardcore contingent of Japan twitterers were over-drinking and over-talking. It was nice to meet the avatars in the flesh, and they were all lovely people (and eminently more successful than me – but hey, they have age and time in their favour). I couldn’t stay out too late, what with an early start the next morning, but I was grateful for being able to attend: thanks to all the #youguys, but especially Fukumimi – for his good taste in organising the shindig – and Shinpuren – for inviting me.

The next day was my final Saturday in Kokubunji School. It was a bit tear-jerking for me. I loved that day, and some of my favourite students were there. I received loads of presents – thank you everyone! – including the wonderful inking of the church in Motomachi you can see on the right. My change of days was entirely internal. My branch of the company recently merged with the northern branch, and in the merger came a big reshuffle of our districts. Kokubunji has swapped districts and I can no longer work there (my Wednesday there will also change in the near future).

After work, I again rushed off for a nomikai. Okay, not so much rushed, but dawdled. I had 1 hour and 40 minutes to kill for a 50 minute train journey… too little time to go home and change, too much time to be comfortable. This particular get-together was with Musashi-Shinjo School students. Despite not actually working there, I did attend Shinjo’s Christmas Party as a teacher from Saginuma school. At that party, largely due to how close I live to their students, I was the last teacher standing and I made some good friendships as a result. Saturday was our shinnenkai and I was out until 3am with only two (awake) other people – three were sleeping. It was nice to get out again, to drink to excess and to chat about the most random things. The food was great too!

Unfortunately, Sunday was filled with queasy moments and a rotten hangover. Oh, and copious amounts of blood. Not mine, though. Ebichu was in dire need of a manicure. We’ve had him for over a year now and we’d never clipped his nails. Instead I attached small strips of sand paper to his wheel and ramps to grind it down a bit (with seemingly no effect on his tiny little feet). Still, they had grown long and unmanageable (possibly due to his lethargic response to winter) so we took him to our local vet for a trim. The nurse held him by the scruff of his neck and he struggled around. The doctor managed to cut a few ends off, but then Ebichan decided he wouldn’t have any more of it. As he wriggled around to escape, the nurse tried to secure him and must have hurt him in the process because he bit her – just once. There was quite a lot of blood but the doctor showed the nurse a better way to hold him and they got the job done with no further injuries – although Ebichu came out a lot redder than when he went in. Poor baby!

By the next day I was as right as rain and so I pulled together my camera equipment and went out for a walk. Unfortunately, while it’s a nice bright sunny day today, last week was dark, dull and very grey. I knew it was going to rain and there was even talk of snow, so I packed an umbrella and headed out regardless. My destination was Todoroki Valley, a gorge running through through Tokyo just on the other side of the river from me. The actual location is very nice, but it was difficult to appreciate it on such a cold, dank day. I will definitely be heading back there at a later date. I finished my walk with a trek to the train station. It was spitting and getting cold, and I had a Japanese lesson to attend.

Following my lesson, I was back on the train, this time to Yokohama to meet Keiko and her colleagues for dinner. We had kushiage, fried skewered food. It was really nice, and the service was great too. For five people, we got a window-side booth and a free bottle of champagne. As we ate, the much-anticipated snow began to fall. At first it came down in tiny spots, barely distinguishable from the rain, but the snowflakes grew bigger and bigger leaving wet splodges wherever they landed. It was all very pretty, but walking home in it was hell. Keiko and I arrived back very cold and soaked to the bone. It wasn’t very surprising that I woke up with a sore throat.

As I worked, the sore throat developed into a full blown cold. I felt energetic the next morning, but again, by the afternoon I was close to death. I wisely took off the Thursday to recover, although that’s easier said than done when the temperature difference between the outside and inside of your home is as marginal as it is here. Still, by Friday I felt well enough to work, just in time for my new day in Machida on Saturdays.

Finally, yesterday, Keiko and I decided to celebrate Valentines early. We headed off to Nihonbashi for a kimono exhibition (I got free tickets from a student). It was interesting but, you know, it was embroidery, hardly the most engaging subject for a man. We followed this up with delicious gelato from the Valentines chocolate fair being held on the same floor of Takashimaya as the kimono exhibition.

I was eager to pick out my Valentines presents, so I dragged Keiko over to Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara. It’s the biggest Yodobashi Camera I’ve ever been to, and it was packed out. We mingled around the Wii section for a while as I debated what to buy – in the end I chose Smash Bros Brawl, Wii Sports Resort and an extra motion-plus accessory. I then took Keiko downstairs for some replacement headphones.

These were the appetisers to our main event: dinner in the Shin-Marunouchi Building. We booked a table at Deliziôso Firenze (5th floor) and sat down for a well-priced course – ¥5800. For the second time in as many months we were eating real truffles and foie gras (this time fried, and much nicer). The service was excellent and we had a great time: Keiko was already starting to plan our next visit as we headed over to the neighbouring Marunouchi Building for chasers (Breeze of Tokyo, 35F, ¥1050/head cover charge). I highly recommend both to anyone in the Tokyo area with a bit of cash and a desire for great service.

It’s a stressful time at the moment for Keiko, and I hope she had a chance to relax. The evening didn’t end on such a good note as Keiko found out her colleague has come down with swine flu… so while my tough week has just finished, Keiko’s has barely even begun. Hang in there, honey.

Losing Your Phone in Japan

Losing your phone always sucks. You lose your contacts, pictures and, most depressingly, money. Losing your mobile phone in Japan is doubly depressing: you are typically locked into a 2-year contract with few options and mobile phone insurance appears to be unheard of. I know this because I dropped my phone somewhere on my way home a few Fridays ago.

My job contract obliges me to keep a mobile on my person at all times, mainly because if a train line shuts down due to an accident or if I forge about work, then they need to shout at me or arrange emergency cover. So after losing my phone, I didn’t really have much time to wait. I needed one as soon as possible.

Of course, the first thing I did once I realised it was not in the house or my bag was call Docomo’s customer services. They have the ability to triangulate your phone’s position, although they couldn’t do it in my case (perhaps because I didn’t subscribe to it, or because it wasn’t available for my phone: a Nokia). So, while we waited for the results of the trace (which we didn’t realise wouldn’t work), we blocked the SIMM card and set up a call diversion system to Keiko’s mobile. If we were able to find it, we would be able to reactivate the card with a PIN and begin using it again. However, it didn’t show up by the next afternoon.

As a Docomo customer, I had two choices: finish my contract and start a new contract with a new phone, or the same but with a different network. If I had my old phone, then I could have saved on some charges for creating a new contract (in the former case) and transferred my contacts, but without my SIMM card, that was impossible. That left me with a difficult choice to make before I entered the NTT Docomo store.

I had originally joined Docomo because I could be on a family plan with Keiko and have unlimited free calls to her mobile. They have excellent customer service, and perhaps due to the family plan and my low usage, my bill was always minuscule. However, my biggest grievance with Docomo is their selection of handsets: they are over-complicated, poorly designed, and don’t have the features I wanted. If I were to stay with Docomo, they would have needed to have offered me a decent deal on a new phone contract and handset. I thought I was in luck as they had a free handset campaign at that time, but of course it was only available to new customers. As an existing customer I would have to pay nearly ¥10,000 to break the contract, and then another ¥7000 to make a new one. Although I would be able to reclaim that cost if I were to find my phone, I had no idea if it would turn up. It seemed pretty pricey and so I was exploring my second option.

My previous phone was the epitome of European mobile phone design. In Japan, the clamshell rules. Phones are bulky, heavy and a complicated by useless features. My phone was simple and small, with a clear interface and no extraneous features. Unfortunately, it wasn’t well-adapted to the Japanese market: no QR code reader, I couldn’t use i-Mode apps, and the camera was pretty terrible. I had learnt a number of things by owning my Nokia NM705i, and the experience had made me much more fussy as a consumer.

Before losing my phone, I had already begun to think about changing my handset. The one thing I really wanted was GPS which has become very common in the past year. Two really caught my eye. The first was from KDDI’s au, Sharp’s Sportio, which offers the exercise-based GPS system that I wanted, as well as being a fully integrated phone in terms of its functions and the standard feature set of Japanese handsets. It was different and easy enough to use to catch my eye, and perfect for taking out on my runs, which meant I could carry a phone with me when I run (I always wondered: ‘What if I get injured?’).

The second handset was Apple’s iPhone 3Gs from Softbank. As a iPod Touch user, the switch would be super easy. It had a decent camera, GPS, and it would also let me take just my phone when I went running. On the downside, I really don’t like the lack of tactile feedback with the iPhone/iPod Touch, but that problem (caused by over-use of the touch screen) was also apparent in the Sportio. The iPhone made a lot of sense to me. I’m a low-volume caller (maybe less than 10 minutes a month, if I don’t speak to Keiko), but a wannabe high-volume mobile internet user, possible thanks to Softbank’s flat rate data package and the iPhone’s use of standard websites (instead of mobile counterparts).

If I were to change my network, I would get charged about ¥10,000 by Docomo for breaking the contract, and then I would be charged the cost of creating a new contract with a new handset on a new network. Luckily for me, Softbank have a great deal on iPhones at the moment called ‘iPhone for Everybody’. This campaign saw a discount that effectively cut the cost of the handset by two-thirds over the course of two years (¥980/month) and gave me a sliding scale flat-rate data package where I would never pay more than ¥4410 per month (even after the 24 month campaign period). We wouldn’t have to pay anything on the day, and the average bill would be less than my gym membership (which I cancelled on the same day).

For the features I wanted, the iPhone made sense, so we headed over to Softbank for some grooming by the sales staff. Like all mobile phone salesmen, they were pushy and scant on details, but I had a pretty good understanding of the necessary payments before going in. Even so, as I read through the contracts, I was cautious, checking each and every little thing to make sure I wouldn’t be walking into something I’d later regret. The best thing about Softbank is its popularity among foreigners, which has given it the motivation to develop English language paperwork and English-speaking staff (although I didn’t see one). This meant I could deal with the staff on my own instead of relying on Keiko. Also, calls among Softbank users are free, so this meant that while I lost free calls to Keiko, I gained free calls to my colleagues.

During our time in the store, we were talked into taking home an Acer Aspire One netbook. The netbook was free, but to get it we had to subscribe to a USB-based mobile internet provider. Like the iPhone’s data plan, this too was a sliding scale. Keiko and I have very little need to use the internet on the go in that fashion, so I calculated that based on the minimum payment per month (less than ¥2000 all told), we would be getting the netbook at a pretty good price, so we took it, or rather Keiko did (she was angry at me for losing my phone, so it’s the least I could do).

A few things you should take note of before running out to get an iPhone in Japan (or any mobile phone):

• To get a mobile phone, you will need two forms of identification: either your passport and alien registration card or your alien registration card and a Japanese credit card. I happen to have a credit card (which can be difficult to get for foreigners) – perhaps because of my spouse visa – and so I used it with my alien registration card. Without a credit card, you might be restricted to only a one-year contract with some networks/stores. The only problem with that is that until you show your passport, your payments will have to come out of said credit card.
• While everything is written in English, you should probably take someone with you who can ask questions and receive (and translate) detailed answers. You are entering a 2-year contract with some pretty nuanced and complicated wording. This is not something you should take lightly. Changing mid-contract is not as easy as in the UK or other countries.
• If your iPhone breaks, you will need to contact Apple, not Softbank. I recommend you get an AppleCare Protection Plan while you’re in-store. If you can, find phone insurance as soon as possible (I’m still casually looking).
• If you get a 2-year contract, you will be unlikely to have to pay anything in-store. Instead, it will be charged with your first bill.
• Inter-network calls are expensive, particularly with Softbank. I have to pay ¥21 per half-minute. If you are married or call someone regularly, you might want to explore family plans on the same network instead of switching.
• iPhone customers are signed up for a number of small services (things like voicemail) which may or may not have been set up on your phone. Ask about these services in-store. You must subscribe to them for at least the first month, but you should be able to cancel them after your first bill.

So now I am a proud owner of an iPhone 3Gs, which has not been without its surprises. As the iPhone is somewhat different to most mobile phones due to its data-hungry preferred mode of usage (namely as a ultra-mobile browser with image-intensive applications), it took a while to sink in that just because I was on Softbank’s network, it didn’t mean I was on the same playing field as my colleagues.

Softbank customers are able to access their current billing status through dialling 157 (quickly press 8 if you want English). I was unaware of this, perhaps for good reason, as I found out on Tuesday. When I listened to the current size of my bill, I was gobsmacked: ¥70,000? That’s about £500! I felt sick to my stomach. How could I tell Keiko about that? It’s almost a month’s rent. I started wondering how I could hide it from her. Could I afford it on my own? Maybe… But then I started to wonder why it was that price. Did they not explain it properly? If they didn’t, would I have any legal recourse?

After a good twenty minutes, the shock started to wear thin. I was still pacing around, but I began to wonder about the sentence that followed that hefty price: “Discounts are not included in this figure” (I paraphrase). I couldn’t stand the worry and uncertainty, so I called up Softbank’s operator (Live Support, also accessed through 157) and talked to them. They automatically speak in English if you transfer from the English version of 157, although they have very strong Japanese accents which might be difficult to understand. Anyway, I explained my predicament and they reassured me that the data package (¥4410 per month) would be applied at the end of the billing month so the figure I heard over the phone would not apply. Phew…!

For me, the mobile phone market back home is pretty complicated, and that’s the one that I’m most familiar with. Unfortunately, due to unfamiliarity and the inevitable language gap, Japan’s system is all the more confusing. Keep your wits about you if you have the misfortune to lose your phone, or even if you’re just looking for a phone in general. You’re wading through a minefield.

The Upside of Living Abroad in an Economic Crisis

As you’re all aware, the global economy is going down the tank. However, its not all doom and gloom. As a result of the hit taken in Europe and America, especially, I am now relatively better off as a result. The Yen, as I write, is about 158/159 to the Pound, down from the 200s. My earnings have gone from the 15,000 mark to the 17,000 range.

However, despite being one stock market crash away from buying a country home, there is a downside to my (relative) affluence: my student loan. It appears that I will now tip the scales significantly in my income-based repayments. So, good news is, so long as I keep appearing to earn more here, I will still be paying through my teeth to a quango bank that doesn’t understand the problem of relative cost-of-living.

On another note, the weather here has cooled down significantly. Autumn was a sneeze between summer and winter. Supposedly the temperature is in the late teens, early twenties, but it feels positively chilly in the shade. However, with the lower temperature comes a lack of humidty, which translates to more respiratory infections. You can’t win here, weather-wise. While we’re both well now, it’s only a matter of time before the lurgy catches up with us.

Due to the cold weather, Keiko and I hit up Shin-Yurigaoka, a regular changing point on my train journeys to work. It was our first time and we really enjoyed it. Keiko needed some clothes for work, and just some nice casual clothes in general, and I, having been taking on Tokyoite fashion, helped out. I think we did good. I, on the other hand, needed a coat.

Last weekend we went to Ebina (a few stops down the line in the other direction – Keiko’s regular transfer point) and bought an order-made suit, that perversely cost the same as one off-the-rails. My suits had arrived from the UK, but the jackets are too warm to be good here. You see, in Japan, I am frequently hopping on and off (now sometimes heated) trains. It causes a sweat tsunami if I am too warmly dressed. So, this suit that I got sized up for is actually a summer suit (which came off the shelves a few months ago), i.e. unlined. I should be able to pick it up in 2 weeks time.

In the meantime, I really wanted a nice coat for work, and I found a great one at Comme Ca Ism (in Machida, actually, Shin-Yurigaoka is rubbish for menswear) at a very decent price too. With not having to wear jackets at work, I now have a choice of suits/jacket combinations for different types of weather.

Next on our shopping list are winter clothes. I leave for Hokkaido on Christmas Day, alone. Keiko will join me a few days later. Its going to cost a small fortune, but having not met much of Keiko’s family, nor her budgie, it is about time I visited.

And on the Seventh Day, He Rested…

On Sunday, I had a lie in, at last. It was nice to just relax and sleep in until 9am… However, the whole teaching thing, the lack of information particularly, was weighing heavy on my mind.

With plenty of time, I headed out for a walk. Since coming to the town, I had yet to set foot on the other side of the tracks, and Sunday was the perfect opportunity. In doing so I found a hell of a lot more to do shopping-wise, and an arcade with Guitar Freaks 5 (think Guitar Hero, but an arcade with three buttons). I picked up a Konami ‘e-Musement card’, essentially a memory card for Konami games. I think it unlocks songs in Guitar Freaks, but I’m not sure.

At some point on my walk up what I think might be called Sounan’s ‘high street’, I decided to head over to the largest, nearest town/city: Sagami-Ono. After getting my bearings in the incredible heat (I had stupidly worn a black t-shirt and was sweating my ass off), I started walking past a fence with sign like the one below dotted around:

I could see some kids skateboarding, plenty of basketball hoops, and a load of barbeques. I had just found the “US Army Family Housing Unit, Sagamihara”, obviously housing personnel for Camp Zama, which I have mentioned previously. Wherever the US military goes, it invariably takes a slice of US life with it. From what I can gather, the compound has its own shops, bars, etc, even if it all looks a little empty at the moment (perhaps it was too hot to be out?).

Eventually I found Sagami-Ono, which has loads of shops, karaoke, and a big Book-Off/Mediapolis where you can buy used games, films, music and books. It took between 30 minutes and 45 minutes, whereas by train it is closer to 5. Still, it was nice and I arrived in time to catch my train to Shinjuku to meet Keiko’s friend from her Tokyo days, Yasuko.

The train ride to Shinjuku takes between 30 and 60 minutes from Sagami-Ono, depending on the train. I had to stand all the way on this particular 40 minute journey. I was already hot and sweaty from the heat, and moreso, the sun, so as soon as I arrived in Shinjuku, I dashed off into the streets to find some t-shirts and deodorant so I could tidy myself up. This is a common occurance in my life in Japan… at least thus far.

After meeting up with Yasuko outside the South exit, we hit up the nearest NTT/Docomo shop to start the hunt for a new phone. Japanese phones are technically sound but in terms of size, price and features, they’re always a little too much: they favour huge over-featured clamshell style phones on relatively expensive tariffs on long-term contracts. I looked at the cheapest phones, but realised I didn’t know enough about Keiko’s new phone to be able to make a decision regarding which one I wanted… and to be honest, I was a little underwhelmed.

So we headed back into the streets and decided to catch a film at Wald 9 Cinema, an impressive complex built into the top stories of the OIOI department store building. We missed the start of The Dark Knight by 5 minutes, so we instead chose the next available film: Tamio no shiawase, starring Jo Odagiri. I wish I could tell you what it was about, but I didn’t quite get it; not only for the lack of subtitles – Yasuko didn’t understand it either!

We rolled out into the streets scratching our heads. Keiko was due to be finishing, but we hadn’t heard anything, so we moved back over to the east where I had seen a Za Watami izakaya (a franchised traditional Japanese-style gastro-pub). At some point we passed Krispy Kreme, the only branch of the US doughnut shop in Japan. I had heard about the long queues that continued even though the store opened about a year ago. Sure enough, there it was, a queue that must take at least 45 minutes from start to finish.

Finally, at some point after Krispy Kreme, Keiko let us know that she was going to be late and that we should start eating without her. I was famished, so there was no way I was going to refuse that offer. We descended into the Za Watami and had a couple of drinks and a selection of food, notably yakitori and yakisoba.

Izakaya tend to have a variety of rooms, some are tatami, but most are booths. Its nice to have some degree of privacy while you eat and talk. And talk we did, mostly about Keiko and life abroad, but we soon grew bored of filling time with overpriced beer, so we made our exit. A short walk from the izakaya was an arcade, so we played a little Taiko no Tatsujin. The guy before us was a pro, even in his tight jeans and leotard-esque shirt, we paled in comparison, it didn’t matter, its a fun game regardless of how well you do. After that, we moved inside where I saw Street Fighter IV in action for the first time, it does look pretty awesome. Yasuko seemed entranced by it.

She was snapped out of it by a phone call: Keiko. For the third time that day, I traipsed over to the train station and found her, and then we headed back in the same direction for an hour of karaoke, which I decided is not the same if you aren’t getting all-you-can-drink (nomihoudai). Keiko was starving though, so we went to her favourite izakaya for more drinks and (for Yasuko and I) dessert. It was nice, they have some great sours (shochu/sake cocktails) and the desserts, while small, hit the spot.

However, it already past 10 and with my first day weighing heavily in my mind, we left Yasuko and rode the long, cramped train journey home.