At the movies!

I have some free time this week before the new school year starts, so yesterday I went to see a movie (Captain Marvel).


I'm not sure if this is how all movie theaters work here, but the one I go to (109 Cinemas) allows me to make a reservation online and pay by credit card.  I can even choose my own seat!  I don't have to arrive early at the theater to stake out a good seat.  Just go in, enter my reservation number and phone number into the machine, and my ticket pops out.


On the way out, I found this guy...

"Pikachu's Hollywood Debut!

Cute on the outside, but inside...a middle-aged man!?

And he can speak like a human."

I couldnt get a picture without glare...  Anyway, I'm not an otaku.  I very rarely watch any anime.  BUT Pikachu is my hero.  And I'm a huge fan of Deadpool and Ryan Reynolds.  Even so, when I first heard about this movie, I wasn't sure how it would work.  After seeing the previews, I'm super excited!

The best part about this promo stand?  The TOUCH part!!!  Holy crap, it felt just like I imagined this movie version of Pikachu would!

Can't....stop...touching...the softness....

Japan release date is May 3rd, right during the extended Golden Week/new emperor enthronement holiday.  See you there!  

What the heck is that?!

One day, I was riding my bike along a small river and saw an animal along the bank.  It looked like a beaver, but with a thinner, round tail.  An older lady walking nearby told me it was a ヌトリア (nutoria).  Never having heard of that, it wasn't much help. 

Again, Google comes to the rescue.  These are called Nutria or Coypu, depending on where you live.  And...they're pretty much just big rats. 

They DO exist....

So, they're pests.  But I still enjoy watching them eat and swim around on nice days.  Here's another pic, this time sharing the river with ducks.  I often see
egrets in the river too, but none showed up on the day I was taking pictures.

GACKT goes bananas

I was shopping at my local 業務スーパー　(wholesale supermarket) and suddenly I stopped in my tracks.  GACKT is now hawking bananas?!?

Apparently so!  And in typical GACKT style, they include supposedly authentic phrases which convey his true feelings about these amazing bananas.

"This springy texture is unequaled."  

"I shall never eat another (company's) bananas."

Thus sayeth GACKT.  Unfortunately, all the bananas there looked like they'd seen better days...

Japan's "Disability Identification Booklets"

I feel that Japan offers much more support to me, as a parent of a child with special needs, than my country of origin would. I plan to discuss this topic more in future posts, but today I want to introduce Japan's system of disability identification booklets (or as I call them, Disability IDs).

The color and layout varies

First, I should say that while the Disability IDs are a Japan-wide system, sometimes the names of the IDs differ according to region.

There are three types of IDs:

身体障がい者手帳 – Shintaishogaisha Techo This is for people with physical disabilities. For example, hearing and vision impairments, mobility impairments, HIV, or internal problems (heart, liver, etc.)

療育手帳 – Ryoiku Techo This is for people with intellectual disabilities. This is given based on an IQ test and ability to handle basic life activities. The grading system may be a bit different in different areas. For example, Tokyo uses a 1 through 4 system (with 1 being the most severe disability). In Osaka, we have three levels: A, B1, and B2 (with A being the most severe).

精神障がい者保健福祉手帳 – Seishinshogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo (wow, that's a long one!) This is for people with mental disabilities. For example, severe depression, alcoholism, stress-related illnesses, autism, or epilepsy.





What are the benefits of having one of these IDs? I think one big merit is you don't have to be constantly “proving” a disability in order to apply for special services. These IDs are nationally recognized.

There are also financial benefits. Depending on your family's income, you are eligible to receive 特別児童扶養手当 Tokubetsu Jido Fuyo Teate, which is a monthly (though usually paid out a few times a year) stipend for parents of disabled children. My daughter also receives a small “pension” (shogai nenkin) from the city. There is also a significant tax break for families with a special needs child. In addition, your child and one caregiver (usually) can get discounts on transportation (trains, buses, taxis, even airfare) and on entrance fees to various facilities such as theme parks, public pools, aquariums, etc.





How do you apply for one of these IDs? This may vary according to region and/or disability type, but I go to the 障害福祉室 Shogai Fukushi Shitsu (Disability Welfare Department) at city hall. They handle the application and it's also where you pick up the ID once it's ready. The evaluation, in my daughter's case, is at the city 子ども家庭センター Kodomo Katei Center (Center for Children and Families). Once she hits 18 (which won't be for a long time!), I'm not sure where we will have to go. Also, I assume there would be a different evaluation system for a physical disability, maybe at a medical facility.





Any additions based on your own experiences here? Any similarities or differences in your country?





In Japanese:

https://chopi.jp/archives/711

https://h-navi.jp/column/article/761

Point cards in Japan

I sometimes hear foreign folks in Japan complaining about the point card systems nearly every major shop chain offers.  People fall into two categories: apply for every point card, then have a wallet filled to bursting with point cards OR don't bother because you think they're a waste of time.  A somewhat humorous take on the Japanese point card system here.


Here's my two yen, as it were.  Point cards can be incredibly useful!  Today, I did a quick grocery run (at a store in the AEON chain) and decided to pay with points.  My shopping was FREE thanks to my point card and I still have points left over to use another time!  I've also gotten my printer ink discounted (or free) by using the point card from Joshin (electronics chain).  I get a free snack or drink from time to time using my Lawson (convenience store) point card.

On the other hand, some point cards really aren't worth getting.  I have a point card for the Sugi chain of drugstores.  I didn't check beforehand.  Turns out, you can only redeem points for "stuff".  There are a wide variety of presents to choose from (I got a step-stool and a tablet-like toy for my daughter), but they would probably be cheaper just buying them on your own.


WORDS OF WISDOM (aka, my advice)

• Apply for point cards ONLY at stores you shop at on a regular basis.  This makes racking up the points easy!
• Unless you like "stuff" (see above paragraph), only apply for cards that give you discounts in return for points!!
• Check the expiration dates for points.  It's usually listed on your receipt.  If in doubt, ask a customer service rep at the store.  You want to make sure your points don't expire before you can use them. 
• Don't forget to hand over your point card before you pay!  If you only remember as you're leaving the store, you're out of luck.
• Some of the AEON chain grocery stores (AEON, Max Valu, Daiei, who knows what else!) have special sales for point card members.  Usually 5% off.  Keep an eye out for "perks"!

Point cards are GREAT for the frugal shopper in Japan!  Of course, if you think they're a waste of time...well, you're probably going to end up living in a cardboard box under a bridge due to your profligate ways!

Super Cute Classroom Decorations

Warning.....these things can take alot of time to make, especially when you're not used to the process!  But, on the other hand, there are quite a few merits:

• Gives you something constructive to do during "off" time.
• Other teachers/principal will look at what you're making and think you're awesome!
• Because you're working from templates, you don't need to be an artist.
• Monthly/Seasonal classroom decorations are fun for the kids.  They can notice something new each time they enter the English classroom.

First, you need to get a template book.  Yes, you need to buy one.  I've looked online and I've found very few templates available for free.  Sorry.  I use this book, but I think if I was shopping now, I'd look for something that has templates specifically for holidays and seasons.

You also need a copier that can enlarge the templates.  I enlarged the original frog template in the book (left) by 250% (right).

Cut each piece individually and trace onto colored construction paper.  You should add a bit extra on certain parts so they're easier to glue or tape together.

The faces are the hardest part.  If the balance is just a little off, the whole thing goes from kawaii to kimoi!

And here's the finished product, along with the color page in the book you can use as reference for which kind of paper to use. 

Here are a few others I made over this past school year.

So, hey, teachers, do you decorate your classrooms? 

Congratulations, Graduate!

In Japan, the school year starts in April, which makes March graduation season.  April is also when many company workers start their jobs or transfer to new positions/locations. 


Today, I'll share some photos and information from an elementary school graduation.

There is no mistaking when there's a graduation going on at the neighborhood school.  Almost everyone gets their pictures taken near or in front of these commemorative signs.

All the teachers in the school wear suits, but the teachers of the graduating classes sometimes choose to dress Japanese style in a hakama, especially the female teachers (though I have seen a male teacher in a hakama once).

Students also usually wear suits, but this varies from family to family.  I've seen kids in the school uniform of their next school, some boys in more casual slacks and a button-up shirt and/or sweater, and sometimes (usually girls, but boys too) in Japanese hakama.  Most of the girls these days opt for AKB48-style blazers and checked mini-skirts.   
Parents are mostly in dark suits and mothers have a corsage.  A few moms will go all out and wear kimono.  I'm not a kimono expert, but notice the differences between kimono and hakama.


What do you think?  Personally, I don't like to be told what I "should" wear...so for my daughter's daycare graduation and her school entrance ceremony, I wore jeans!  But I dressed her in a kids' version hakama, rather than the stupid mini-skirt.

What am I doing...??

Well, here I am...starting a blog.  I used to run a couple of band websites/blogs, but it's been years and I've never used Blogger, so this is going to take awhile for me to get used to.


I have two audiences for this blog.  First, people outside of Japan who may want to know what it's like to really live here, not just visit.  Second, people living in Japan who are looking for information on something going on in their own lives, but are more comfortable getting said info in English.  Of course, if neither of these exactly apply to you, you're still welcome!


I heard blogs with photos get more attention, so here you are: 

This pachinko parlor sign was damaged in last year's typhoon.  They've only just gotten around to fixing it, so I decided I'd better take a picture!  The joke is that with the "pa" missing from pachinko, what's left is a slang term for male parts...  I'm surprised it's taken this long for them to fix it!