Living in Japan means that you may not fully enjoy the covenience of the net due to the language barrier. Of course by learning to read some Japanese (difficult) or by opening the page in google's translator (easy) you may be able to shop online just like the Japanese do...albeit very slowly and with a certain amount of trepidation in not knowing if the process was successful until the goods arrive at your door.
Sometimes though I've come across a website that is just so good that it begs to be shared.
One such website I had the pleasure of shopping with recently is the wine shop ENOTECA
, their English language website is so well written and contains all of the features/information as found on the Japanese side. Prices are reasonable, look for the mixed bottle cases that offer fantastic value with Japanese and English wine tasting notes included the box. You can also specify delivery days and times which is great if you're out at work all week and want a case of wine delivered on Saturday
or Sunday morning.
Back to the title of top English language websites in Japan and I feel I should provide a list, well:
Amazon Love it, or hate it, still the most convenient and one of the cheapest sources of English language books and almost anything else for that matter. And all in English, even customer support will answer e-mails in English.
The Japan Times Keep up with "some" of the news in Japan. Not quite up to international standards but not a bad online read.
ENGLISH OK Originally a kind of shop/bar/restuarant listing site where the staff, or a member of the staff, could speak English. They seem to have branched out into other areas recently but the listings can still be found on www.eok.jp/
Metropolis Recently revamped and looking better for it. Still the best site for reviews of what's hot, and what's not, in Tokyo.
That's all I can think of, off the top of my head. If you have any recommendations then please send me a message.
Monday, August 31, 2009
It's almost a year ago to the day ...
It's almost a year ago to the day when Mr.Fukuda stepped down as leader of the LDP and therefore Prime Minister of Japan. Today it was the turn of Mr.Aso to step down as leader of the party, the difference this time was that he wasn't the Prime Minister anymore. His party was well and truly battered in yesterday's election by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
What this means for Japan is difficult to say, the DPJ made many promises during the campaigning but whether they can actually deliver remains to be seen. (Personally I'm looking forward to the 26,000 yen monthly allowance for each child, I've got three!) What is true is that the LDP's stranglehold on power has been broken after over 50 years in power, not strictly true as in the mid-nineties a socialist alliance won an election but as the factions bickered and changed allegiances it was all over after a year. This time the consensus seems to be that the DPJ can hold itself together to make some real (and badly) needed reforms to the system.
Not quite the thrill of Labour gaining election victory in 1997 but still refreshing to see Japan waking up to a two party system after all this time.
What this means for Japan is difficult to say, the DPJ made many promises during the campaigning but whether they can actually deliver remains to be seen. (Personally I'm looking forward to the 26,000 yen monthly allowance for each child, I've got three!) What is true is that the LDP's stranglehold on power has been broken after over 50 years in power, not strictly true as in the mid-nineties a socialist alliance won an election but as the factions bickered and changed allegiances it was all over after a year. This time the consensus seems to be that the DPJ can hold itself together to make some real (and badly) needed reforms to the system.
Not quite the thrill of Labour gaining election victory in 1997 but still refreshing to see Japan waking up to a two party system after all this time.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Japanese Killifish (Medaka) Eggs
Or maybe it should be preceded by the new that one of my Japanese killifish, or medaka, has died...she (for it was her who was laying the most eggs) perished sometime yesterday night. So I guess she won't she what becomes of her eggs.
Now onto the killifish eggs. Two of the three medaka purchased last week began laying eggs, or more precisely they had eggs visible at their anal fin area. After observing them snagging clusters of eggs against the aquarium plants and then in the morning being unable to find the medaka eggs I assumed they were eating them overnight. So I set a few of the killifish eggs aside in a container with some of the tank water. It's now one week after the first killifish eggs were removed and aside from the eggs gaining a kind of white fuzz around them there aren't any other signs of life. Which brings me onto the killifish eggs that I assumed they were eating...
...yesterday I found some white fuzzy clumps on the bed of the aquarium..fearing it could be some sort of fungal bloom I decided to try and remove them. Upon inspection they appear to actually be clumps of killifish eggs! So it seems that the medaka eggs that I had seen snagged on the plants had later become free and settled on the floor of the aquarium. So I decided to return the killifish eggs to the aquarium floor and let nature take it's course.
All very exciting I know...well for me it is. I'll keep you posted if any of these white fuzzy killish eggs show any signs of becoming baby medaka, or Japanese killifish.
Now onto the killifish eggs. Two of the three medaka purchased last week began laying eggs, or more precisely they had eggs visible at their anal fin area. After observing them snagging clusters of eggs against the aquarium plants and then in the morning being unable to find the medaka eggs I assumed they were eating them overnight. So I set a few of the killifish eggs aside in a container with some of the tank water. It's now one week after the first killifish eggs were removed and aside from the eggs gaining a kind of white fuzz around them there aren't any other signs of life. Which brings me onto the killifish eggs that I assumed they were eating...
...yesterday I found some white fuzzy clumps on the bed of the aquarium..fearing it could be some sort of fungal bloom I decided to try and remove them. Upon inspection they appear to actually be clumps of killifish eggs! So it seems that the medaka eggs that I had seen snagged on the plants had later become free and settled on the floor of the aquarium. So I decided to return the killifish eggs to the aquarium floor and let nature take it's course.
All very exciting I know...well for me it is. I'll keep you posted if any of these white fuzzy killish eggs show any signs of becoming baby medaka, or Japanese killifish.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Japanese Killifish
Last Monday I took my oldest daughter to the pet shop to buy more hamster food, and was quite taken by the idea of keeping some fish again (we'd killed the last goldfish off after introducing some fish won at a masturi, or summer festival.)For those of you looking for a pet shop in Tokyo then a visit to ZOO is a real eye opener (have branches accross Tokyo including Shinokubo, Yotsuya, Roppongi, Shinjuku and Shibuya.) The selection of pets always amazes me, not just in the variety but also in the legality!
So while my daughter was checking the hamster selection I took a look at the fish, with the general idea of getting some more goldfish. Swimming in the tank next to the goldfish were these little fish called medaka, or Japanese killifish. Not knowing much about them I asked my daughter, who then persauded me that killifish were a much better option than goldfish. So it was that we returned with three of the little fellas to put in our waiting aquarium.
So far so good, but there's more to this story...on Thursday evening I took a look in the tank and noticed that two of them were laying eggs (is laying eggs the correct expression for fish?) So after seeing them attach the eggs to some of the articial plants and semingly eat them overnight I colected a few of the remaining eggs and put them in a separate container. Of course it's two early to say if they'll progress to baby killifish but I'll keep you posted.
Sorry for the low resolution of the picture, but it's the best I can manage with my webcam pressed to the aquarium.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sport's Day
My eldest daughter entered Japanese elementary school this April so today was our first Sport's Day, or undoukai. Actually it should have been yesterday but as it was raining in the morning the school cancelled it.
So it was another 5:00am for my wife as she had to prepare bento yet again. I crawled out of bed about 7:00 and tired to look lively. Actual Sport's Day started at 8:45am, although the first 45 minutes were taken up with a rather boring introduction ceremony and what can only be described as a call to arms event, which consisted of much flag and fan waving, shouting and students mimicking what I believe was a militaristic ritual from early in the last century.
Then at 9:30 we actually got to see some sport. As someone who grew up in the UK during the 80s I don't have many memories of sport's days as our teachers were locked in battle against Thatcher's government and refused to do any extra-curricular events so it's difficult to compare.
But what was evident today was the focus on involvement for all the students, the school was split into 2 teams, red and white, with points earned for each event. The events were split into about 50 percent races of various forms and 50 percent dance and movement which really took the focus off the all out sporting battle I remember from school. Also there were none of the boring heats leading to finals that I seem to remember from sports day in the UK.
All in all it was a very enjoyable day, just as well, as we worked out with the three kids we will have another 12 years of Sport's Days to attend!!!
So it was another 5:00am for my wife as she had to prepare bento yet again. I crawled out of bed about 7:00 and tired to look lively. Actual Sport's Day started at 8:45am, although the first 45 minutes were taken up with a rather boring introduction ceremony and what can only be described as a call to arms event, which consisted of much flag and fan waving, shouting and students mimicking what I believe was a militaristic ritual from early in the last century.
Then at 9:30 we actually got to see some sport. As someone who grew up in the UK during the 80s I don't have many memories of sport's days as our teachers were locked in battle against Thatcher's government and refused to do any extra-curricular events so it's difficult to compare.
But what was evident today was the focus on involvement for all the students, the school was split into 2 teams, red and white, with points earned for each event. The events were split into about 50 percent races of various forms and 50 percent dance and movement which really took the focus off the all out sporting battle I remember from school. Also there were none of the boring heats leading to finals that I seem to remember from sports day in the UK.
All in all it was a very enjoyable day, just as well, as we worked out with the three kids we will have another 12 years of Sport's Days to attend!!!
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