Life in Japan

The Anime Addicts Anonymous are doing another Japan episode by request.  Mitsugi, Chiaki and Kram have lived in Japan over a year and will talk about daily life in Japan.  This isn’t traveling, finding a job, or tourist things, this is what to expect every day from living in Japan, from taxes to car insurance.

• Favorite Chain Restaurants in Japan and Japan’s 5 foods

  • 5 Foods of Japan: Hamburg, Curry, Noodles, Katsu, and Sushi

  • Super Fast Chains

    • Yoshinoya, CocoIchiban, Matsuya, Sukiya (Beef bowl from Persona)

  • Fast Chains

    • Katsuya

  • Sit Down

    • Saizeria, Gasuto, Denny’s

• Chiaki’s Discussion Ideas:

• Paying Taxes

• Enrolling in National Health Insurance

• Getting a Driver’s License/Dealing with Japanese Bureaucracy

• Going to Doctors/Medicine

• Kram

  • Driving (traffic laws, police, road etiquette, wipers/blinkers)

  • Shopping (self-bagging, “Auld Lang Syne” and store themes, taped bags, baskets/carts, sales tax pre-included, narrow roads and “stoppers”)

  • Home (flooring, heat/air/insulation, stove/oven, toilet/shower/bath)

  • Convenience Stores

Forum submitted questions:

Miss Bones –

• My question concerns living costs and salary. How cheap or expensive is everyday life in Japan and what would you consider a decent salary?

DaddySmokesCherry –

• Is it still (or was it ever) true that are used panty vending machines in Japan, i.e. those that sell used school girl underwear? And have any of you seen one?

• Are the Japanese heavy smokers? Finished reading Tokyo Vice and it seems like every second person is smoking. Is that the case in Japan?

Righteous Ramza –

• My specific question is whether it’s easier to learn Japanese here or would it be better to learn once I’m in Tokyo. As I’m in Finance, it wouldn’t be required for my line of work but I still wish to learn it well so that it can help me establish the kind of social lifestyle I currently have here in the States.

UnderaBridgeEatingBg –

• Most people, from what I’ve read suggest living outside of places like Tokyo and just traveling in to the city. Besides cost, what kind of benefits do you think this has? Less crowded?

• I know students/teachers get covered under the health insurance there in Japan. What about just general travellers or people who move to Japan, what kind of health insurance options do you have over there?

• Going from there, I’ve heard of having to get a Yakkan Shoumei for prescriptions, is this like a yearly thing?  I’ve heard it’s not mandatory to get one (the Yakkan Shoumei) but if you don’t, immigration can just seize your prescription drugs at their discretion.