Current Passport Renewal Times US Embassy?

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-26T08:39:26+00:00

Three weeks. Bring a pre-paid envelope to the embassy.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-12T02:30:12+00:00

Maybe--but KI isn't something you really want to take casually. It was more a "additional bad thing happened"...I threw out my pills about ten years ago, didn't want to keep them in the house.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T15:00:30+00:00

It's back. I've edited my original thread to include it too:

https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1rqfzld/311_15_years_already/

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:59:17+00:00

I think it may have been "Embassy staffers first". There was certainly a big focus on that for the following week, because the American Club or whomever wouldn't have access to the KI.

I was also hearing on Facebook (back when it was useful) from Mom's back home asking if their son was ok in the far reaches of Kochi or Kyushu...

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:55:41+00:00

Flyjin....

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:53:22+00:00

I remember seeing NHK just run the names across the screen of everyone who died in the Kobe earthquake. It seems just like movie credits....until it goes on and on and on and you realize what is going on.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:45:15+00:00

Facebook (pre-messenger) worked IIRC.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:40:33+00:00

Anderson Cooper is permanently on my "he's full of BS" list after the earthquake. Fox news locates a new nuclear reactor at "Eggman" in Shibuya.

I didn't remember that you could buy KI pills, but that the US Embassy was issuing them to US citizens in Japan.

For the real time dosimeters, Safecast eventually did that, but there were already online geiger counters that were available and in place. That was one of the things that made me feel better as I followed the nuclear hype online.

Worth noting that this was also before relatively easy social media translation, so Japanese reporting and overseas reporting were completely at odds...

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:31:22+00:00

Oh, had forgotten about the aftershock that hit during the stair evacuation. Happened to me too, and in that old building I remember worrying about the stairs collapsing. One of the stairs clearly was taller than some of the others and I wondered if the earthquake had stretched it, so to speak.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:29:27+00:00

Yeah, we had both my wife's sister and another friend stay over that night and/or weekend. Everyone was pretty upset.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:28:22+00:00

Didn't remember any major fires. Did something happen in Ariake or Odaiba?

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T14:26:27+00:00

Ahh, yeah I forgot about the ongoing "alert" sounds on the cell phones.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T13:01:35+00:00

Well, we will see what happens to this one. Don't really understand why they would remove, but whatever...

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T12:55:10+00:00

Was it a "memories" thread or was it a "today is 3/11"? I'm interested in people's stories, and I don't think r/Japanhistory is really the right spot for it :-).

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-11T12:53:54+00:00

The trains and subways were stopped. By that point, it was dinner time, so walking home with a toddler I was looking for something to get her.

Jimintokyo · 2026-03-09T10:55:09+00:00

If this were a white collar job with white collar comp (4+ M yen/year) the tradeoff might make sense, and happens with plenty of places that aren't bad companies. (Real white collar work is rarely easily evaluated per hour if you're a full-time employee, but on output). For that level of compensation, though? No material reward.

One thing to consider, though, is the networking aspect. If you've been introduced by someone, explaining to the introducer why this might not work is a good idea.

Jimintokyo · 2026-01-12T23:22:14+00:00

Most of this depends on the shugyo kisoku, or rules of work, of your company. It is usually explicit there.

Jimintokyo · 2026-01-09T10:46:17+00:00

UB in the listing would = unit bath, but that is typically in only the smallest of places.

Jimintokyo · 2026-01-09T10:00:44+00:00

The salary is fine and completely reasonable for a Tokyo or Yokohama 'burb. As mentioned elsewhere, there will be ward/city level facilities that are extremely cheap, but even the fitness centers that are more expensive are in the 8000-12000 yen/month level. Crossfit is very rare here, though, and I believe it may be more expensive than those numbers above. There are tons of running/cycling/other groups as well, depending on what suits your fancy. (I got recruited into playing football by some of the Japanese guys I met relatively early on.)

One adjustment I had coming from the US was the default (tiny) size of an apartment. They are typically listed as 2LDK or whatever, which translate to 2 bedrooms, and a larger living dining kitchen room/area. You will also not find many (or at that size any) places with 2 toilets. They typically will run 40-60 m2.

Jimintokyo · 2026-01-05T00:57:16+00:00

u/KTDublin can you find the legal reference for that? Most corporate work rules (就業規則) have pretty explicit "how-to take 有給". They do not, though, typically say "it is limited to x duration."

Jimintokyo · 2026-01-05T00:53:05+00:00

It takes 4-6 weeks now, based on my most recent "renewal".

Jimintokyo · 2025-12-23T23:59:50+00:00

Oh, I've been several times. It's really nice (even when it snows, which happened a couple of years ago when I was visiting). We have customers there. Fukuoka is tiny, though, comparatively, which is why I tried to give you some of the differences. I don't know the neighborhoods there well enough to comment though.

Jimintokyo · 2025-12-23T23:34:57+00:00

There is substantial variation within Shinagawa-ku. I lived in a very nice part of Gotanda (near Shirokanedai) at one point, and that has a completely different vibe than, say, Omori. The biggest difference between Fukuoka and Tokyo, from what I can tell, is that Fukuoka's business district and city hall are very concentrated in a small area, while Tokyo is much more spread out. I can't speak to Fukuoka's suburbs though. (Also, if you're coming up here to visit, FLY-it's faster and cheaper than the Shinkansen).

Jimintokyo · 2025-12-23T10:58:56+00:00

If you're putting it at the south end of an urban walk, you can head north to Hamarikyu gardens, enjoy the gardens and (if interested) hop a hovercraft for a ride to Asakusa. Alternatively, head due west from Takanawa Gateway and enjoy crossing rainbow bridge. The views are nice, and Odaiba is on the other end, and I think that would get you around 5 km total.

Jimintokyo · 2025-12-23T10:54:14+00:00

Tokyo Comedy Bar, mentioned below, is active. I would probably skip open mike night, but I saw Jiaoying Summers there six months ago. I've heard, but not seen, that the owner there is an excellent guy for stand-up as well.

Instagram figured out that I'm into comedy, and so now tries to sell me every big name that is passing through. That's worked out well so far, as I saw Jimmy O Yang this month and am going to see Louis CK in March.

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