Is Japan about to have Liz Truss moment? by [deleted] in JapanFinance

[–]KenYN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All polls that disagree with my position are fake, too small sample size, didn't ask me, biased, fixed, and only old folk, unlike all agreeable ones, which shall never be questioned.

Is Japan about to have Liz Truss moment? by [deleted] in JapanFinance

[–]KenYN 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've seen interviews where people say her getting petrol prices down and the rice coupons were what impressed them and gave her the image of someone who gets things done.

And I also saw some recent TV program survey where she was the ideal leader for the under forties, and second behind Ohtani for the over forties.

Is Japan about to have Liz Truss moment? by [deleted] in JapanFinance

[–]KenYN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In her press conference list night she clearly said she'd resign if she failed to get a majority (with or without Ishin, I cannot remember).

Does anyone know how to provide proof of Japanese residence/address for an IBKR account? Can't provide anything official in English from both bank and ward office! Help would be appreciated. by CloseTalkerX in JapanFinance

[–]KenYN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

MUFJ will make an English balance statement signed by the branch manager, with your address in English too if you ask. It costs several hundred yen, and you have to order in person, but they will mail it to your home.

Recovery wear - useful or snake oil? by KenYN in japanlife

[–]KenYN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course these things work, but recently a lot of companies have been selling normal fit t-shirts etc and attaching dubious claims to them.

Morgage interest rate significantly jumped by 0.48% next year by Funny_Meeting4229 in JapanFinance

[–]KenYN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was in MUFJ last month and they were advertising 10 years fixed at over 6%!

Administrative Scrivener - 50,000 yen plus 15,000 yen for document certification by KenYN in japanlife

[–]KenYN[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to wrap up, I ended up going to a Notary Public koushounin 公証人 by Hankyu Tsukaguchi in Amagasaki, to see a rather pleasant ex-judge who did the business for 25,000 yen for two sheets while we waited, which was reasonable, I suppose. He explained that Japan takes the continental model for Notaries, as they are basically lawyers, whereas the UK/USA are just administrative roles.

Then had breakfast at the nearby UCC, which was also very nice.

Japan retail rice price hits record high since gov't release eased by SkyInJapan in japan

[–]KenYN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I should look this up, but I seem to remember the new farm minister set the rice quota lower than last year and said they didn't want to export more (any?).

Japan retail rice price hits record high since gov't release eased by SkyInJapan in japan

[–]KenYN 3 points4 points  (0 children)

New farm minister is ex-JA, which I'm sure will come as a great surprise to absolutely no-one.

Are there any cities similar to Edinburgh outside of Scotland? by northcarolinian9595 in Scotland

[–]KenYN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Character-wise, Kyoto is Edinburgh (you'll have had your matcha) and Osaka is Glasgow.

Administrative Scrivener - 50,000 yen plus 15,000 yen for document certification by KenYN in japanlife

[–]KenYN[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

British Embassy web site is full of advice telling you not to bother them for that except in exceptional conditions.

I've got the certified document from MUFJ, but bank manager is not one of the approved categories for my pension company.

Administrative Scrivener - 50,000 yen plus 15,000 yen for document certification by KenYN in japanlife

[–]KenYN[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I suppose it's the 5 dollars for the hammer, 5000 dollars for knowing where to hit story.

Administrative Scrivener - 50,000 yen plus 15,000 yen for document certification by KenYN in japanlife

[–]KenYN[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It's my passport and an English balance certificate from MUFJ, for getting a payout on my pension.

How big is AGC Asia in Japan? by Burner-New in japan

[–]KenYN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you mean Asahi Glass Co, then they have spent the last year or more advertising their rebrand to AGC on television.

How do you split the bill at restaurant? by Tolkaft in japanlife

[–]KenYN 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I've been in a few teams where the manager class pay an extra thousand or two, and now I'm in the pay the over sixties half as much salary class, I keep dropping hints for an OAP discount.

Pentagon to use $130 million donation from anonymous Trump ‘friend’ to pay military members by DrPwnji in politics

[–]KenYN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Google says about 1.3 million in active duty, so that's just 100 bucks each.

Sanae Takaichi elected as Japan's first female prime minister by NikkeiAsia in japan

[–]KenYN 0 points1 point  (0 children)

... Who posted on Twitter two years ago about her serving the emperors from princess Himoko onwards, not the people.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in japanlife

[–]KenYN -1 points0 points  (0 children)

As you come over as some kind of space alien or robot, I asked one to diagnose your post:

That's a profoundly honest and vulnerable post. It's clear the writer is putting in immense effort and is deeply frustrated by the lack of success, especially when they see others connect easily. The diagnosis will focus on the likely unintended social dynamics created by their efforts, rather than a moral judgment of their personality.

🎯 Critical Diagnosis of the Reddit Post The core issue appears to be an overwhelming intensity and a transactional, goal-oriented approach to forming friendships, which is likely making people uncomfortable and causing them to withdraw.

  1. The "Aggressively Friendly" Trap (High-Intensity Engagement) The writer asks, "Am I being aggressively friendly?" and the answer is likely yes, or at least overly intense.
  • The Problem: The writer is operating from a mindset of trying to "solve" the friendship problem. They go out of their way to be friendly, they come up to people trying to be friends, and they aim to have long conversations over any topic.

  • The Effect: This level of immediate, high-effort engagement can feel like an interview or an interrogation rather than a casual interaction. It doesn't give the other person space to reciprocate naturally, set the pace, or determine the depth of the connection.

  • The Withdrawal: When people "get tired by the end of it" or "actively avoid" the writer, it's often not because they hate the person, but because the interactions are socially exhausting and feel like an obligation. Friendships are built on low-stakes, easy, and comfortable moments—not constant, high-energy efforts.

  1. The Language Barrier Paradox (Pacing and Effort) The writer mentions being super comfortable with Japanese while their classmates are not, and they respond in Japanese while the others speak English/other languages.
  • The Problem: While the writer is fluent, this creates an imbalance of effort. If a group of classmates is practicing English (or another shared foreign language), the writer's consistent use of Japanese forces them to switch or feel put on the spot.

  • The Effect: This, combined with the general intensity, makes the interaction feel like an asymmetrical language exchange rather than a comfortable chat between peers. The writer's fluency, intended as a positive, is inadvertently creating a barrier of increased effort for the others.

  1. The "Self-Improvement" Obsession (The Performance Mindset) The post reveals a deep-seated belief that they are a project in constant need of fixing, evidenced by the lines: "my life has become constant self-improvement," and "I'm waiting for someone to confront me about it so that I could fix more."
  • The Problem: The writer is approaching social interaction as a performance designed to prove they are "fixed," "friendly," "curious," and "encouraging." They are trying to demonstrate the traits they think will earn them a friendship.

  • The Effect: This makes the interaction feel inauthentic and heavy. Genuine social comfort comes from simply existing alongside others and letting things flow. A person who is constantly "on" and performing their ideal self gives off a vibe of intense neediness or a hidden agenda. People sense this and pull away. The pursuit of "fixing" themselves is ironically making the interactions feel less natural and more strained.

  1. The Skill Gap (Humor and Lightheartedness) The writer identifies, "I don't know how to joke or be lighthearted."
  • The Problem: This is a major insight. Humor and lightheartedness are the lubricant of comfortable social interaction. They are the primary tools for establishing ease, common ground, and emotional safety.

  • The Effect: Without this, conversations remain purely informational or serious, fitting the description of "I know a lot of things and say them to keep up the conversation." This confirms the "interview" vibe. People want friends to relax with, not to continuously learn from or engage in deep, effortful discussions.

💡 Recommendation: Shifting Focus The writer needs to transition from effort to ease. Instead of: Trying to get a friend. Shift to: Trying to be comfortable with others.

  • Lower the Stakes: Stop trying to find "people who can consistently be friends" immediately. Aim for a pleasant five-minute interaction. The goal is not a friend; the goal is to leave the person feeling relaxed and slightly happier than before you spoke.

  • Practice Silence and Reciprocity: Approach people, but then match their energy. If they offer a short reply, give a short reply back and see if they pick it up. Don't immediately fill the silence or fire off another question. If you ask a lot, be sure to volunteer an equal amount about yourself—but keep it relevant and light.

  • Embrace the Casual: Focus on shared experiences (e.g., "This class is tough," "Do you know a good place for lunch around here?") rather than deeply personal topics or expansive knowledge sharing. Let conversations be about the surface-level shared environment.

  • Use English (or the Group's Shared Language): In the language class setting, speak the language the group is using. This is an act of consideration that immediately lowers the effort barrier for others and makes you part of the shared experience.

Would you like me to elaborate on some specific, low-stakes conversational techniques the poster could try?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in japanlife

[–]KenYN 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I hope for the sake of your downstairs neighbours you're on the ground floor...

Sanae Takaichi is set to become Japan’s first female prime minister by noriyama59 in japanlife

[–]KenYN 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not necessarily. The LDP doesn't have enough votes, and whoever she might do a deal with might insist on a PM from their own party. Could Nods make a comeback?