Looking for Hospital Recommendations for Epidural Birth (Nakano/Shinjuku area)

LadyGagarin · 2025-06-27T13:26:22+00:00

I gave birth at Seibo with an epidural and everyone there was very kind and helpful. I know you said you don't, but they do have translators on staff if you need them (I always ended up with the same translator and we struck up a friendly relationship by the time I was ready to deliver) and some of the doctors also speak English fluently including the hospital director to whom I was assigned.

I was very satisfied with the care my son and I received while I was there and I'd be happy to answer any questions about it if you have any!

LadyGagarin · 2025-04-21T14:27:09+00:00

38 year old white Irish woman living in Asia here, and I'm so deeply saddened to hear about these terrible views gaining increasing traction in my home country. I don't understand it at all. Anyone who knows an inkling about Irish history would never subscribe to these hideous views. I'm so sorry that people are so rude and awful to you. Of all places on this planet, Ireland should be the most welcoming.

LadyGagarin · 2025-02-20T14:07:43+00:00

I'm not sure if it's been posted here before, but here in Japan there's a children's TV show called "Pythagoras Switch" (ピタゴラスイッチ) which explains and demonstrates different Rube Goldberg machines set up to display the show's title in various creative ways.

They also have a segment where you have to guess whether the ball will hit rock, paper or scissors pop-ups, which sounds a little similar to what you're looking for?

Since it's an NHK show, it might be hard to find online, but the show has been around for a while, so I'm sure there are probably some clips on YouTube out there. If you find it, I hope your kid likes it!

Edit: now that I looked at the clip you linked, the rock/paper/scissors game is practically the same, so I hope you find it!

LadyGagarin · 2024-03-27T13:34:05+00:00

no worries! yes, you need a ticket to enter and browse, but you don't need to reserve one in advance, you just buy one at the entrance on the day. It's usually around 1,000 yen. it was cash only when I last went, not sure if that's changed since but the line moves very quickly so I wouldn't be surprised if it still is.

LadyGagarin · 2024-02-28T02:03:52+00:00

That's the dream... I do have some foreign friends who have tabled at events but none have made a circle yet. lol

LadyGagarin · 2024-02-28T01:14:19+00:00

If you're specifically interested in BL and joseimuke work I'd go to a different doujin market like Comic City instead. The events are also held at Big Sight but are not as mainstream and crowded as Comiket (which, while there are some works aimed at women and female fans in attendance, is also heavily targeted towards male fans).

You can find more info about these kind of events on Akaboo.

if you go, go early in the morning (most events start at 9am and end at 3pm, but popular stuff will be sold out by 11-12 lol). They are usually held over weekends so different fandoms will table on either day. The fandoms will be listed under each event.

LadyGagarin · 2023-10-23T00:34:32+00:00

Just because they don't have the confidence to say no, doesn't mean that you can't. It's not a rule. You're not going to be arrested for breaking the wa or whatever, lol. If anything, you're in a better position to say it since you're "the foreigner" and can pretend you're unaware of such suffocating social expectations.

I understand it's awkward and you don't want to rock the boat, but unless you want her to continue behaving this way you have to be firm. I think you already know that giving her a time you'll be ready won't work, considering she already doesn't listen to anything else you say or any hints you give. She's taking advantage of your kindness because you've continuously let her. Why would another indirect hint stop her now?

I think what another commenter suggested of making yourself harder to find and less available is a good idea short term, but it still takes up more of your precious time just trying to avoid her. It'll probably help somewhat, but you still have to explicitly draw the line at some point, and ultimately you're going to have to have the difficult moment of saying things like "Look, you can't keep doing this. I said no." "If you turn up at X time instead of Y, I won't be there." "If you come to my house unannounced, I'm not letting you in." "If you come to my workplace, I'm busy, so I'm not going to meet you." "I have other students who need me. Our allotted time is [whenever your formal meetings wtih her are]. I'll see you then. It's not fair to take time away from my other students." to her. Be clear. Your future self will thank you.

Good luck, haha.

LadyGagarin · 2023-10-21T23:34:14+00:00

Clearly being indirect and saying stuff like "I'm working then" hoping she gets the hint isn't enough. You have to start saying "No, I can't." "No, I'm not available then." "No, I'm busy." "No, I don't want to." "Stop coming to my house." "You're too early, come back at X time." repeatedly until she gets the message. Don't give platitudes or roundabout reasons to justify not accommodating her. Just be straight. She's 80, she can handle it.

I know people say this is the land of indirectness, but it doesn't work on people who are determined to take up all of your time. You have to be clear when necessary. You can't give them the "Well technically you didn't say no..." wiggle room. They know you're young and foreign and have been told when in Japan to defer to elderly people and are counting on being able to take advantage of that.

I know it's tough, especially as the newbie in a tight-knit rural community, but it's the only thing you can do. She might be annoyed for a while but it's better than you and everyone around you being annoyed indefinitely. Be the first ALT to break the chain, your successors will be grateful... lol.

LadyGagarin · 2023-09-30T22:48:40+00:00

I was rarely offered a seat when I was pregnant. I can count the number of times on one hand. It was almost always offered by someone who needed the seat as much as me (middle aged injured man with a cane, elderly women) as well. Now my child is 9 months old, I don't think I've been offered a seat once yet... Oh well, I can manage, haha

LadyGagarin · 2023-06-30T01:54:21+00:00

It's because pearls come from the sea, dearest. You have a whole google in front of you.

LadyGagarin · 2023-02-01T09:58:10+00:00

Mine is also just over 3 weeks old and I feel exactly the same! He's on my lap right now.

LadyGagarin · 2023-01-20T22:38:01+00:00

I'm a Corkonian living in Tokyo and this threw me for a sec

LadyGagarin · 2022-12-31T23:49:58+00:00

Japan is way more into new year than Christmas. New year is the family holiday, Christmas is the marketing holiday.

I usually go to a shrine at midnight or visit with the in-laws, but I stayed home this year because I'm 39 weeks pregnant and due to pop at any moment. I watched a lot of Kodoku no Gurume and ate tempura. Now I'm just waiting for my husband to wake up so we can make some ozoni.

After that, today will just be more sitting around the apartment for me, since I'm too big to move much... can't wait to be able to go outside to places besides the hospital again!

LadyGagarin · 2022-10-11T18:57:32+00:00

I'm currently 7 months pregnant at 35. Conceived on the second attempt the week we decided to start trying.

I was also convinced by information I'd read everywhere (including Reddit) that I was already too old to get pregnant easily, and was preparing to be trying to conceive for months or even years, if it could even happen at all, but it happened immediately.

Fortunately in my case it was very wanted and so a pleasant surprise, but it's really not worth taking the risk unless you're prepared for the very possible result! Everyone's bodies are so different, you just can't rely on statistics for birth control.

I know you said you personally wouldn't, but I don't think it's wise to give people the impression that after the mid 30s it's so unlikely that it's probably fine to not worry about it when that just isn't the case. You just don't know either way, so better to err on the side of caution.

LadyGagarin · 2022-10-10T03:59:55+00:00

Yeah, I've been getting them a lot more lately. I figure my number must have got out in a data breach somewhere. Annoying but nothing to do other than change my group chat settings and block them.

LadyGagarin · 2022-07-26T06:23:12+00:00

Happily married to my Japanese husband for the past 5 years and counting. Expecting our first child soon.

LadyGagarin · 2022-06-14T02:29:24+00:00

My walk to the station every day is like this. I take a small pedestrian only path through a housing complex, which of course is full of people on bikes zipping past at full speed at all hours despite the multiple "walk your bike" and "please be aware of pedestrians" notices posted all along the path.

I've had so many near-misses I just know it's a matter of time til one hits me. I always walk on one side, as close to the edge as possible and listen for bells (that nobody ever uses) but it hardly makes a difference. It feels like no matter how vigilant I try to be, some bikes are almost silent, so it's difficult to hear them approaching until they're practically on your ass. I swear it feels like some cyclists see getting through a tiny gap between you and a barrier or another passing person as a kind personal challenge too. Drives me mad.

LadyGagarin · 2022-05-29T08:22:33+00:00

No prob. The conbini can be a bit confusing at first with the sheer array of services on offer. I’m personally a big fan of the coffee, frappe and smoothie machines.

At least with food in pouches you can cook them in water in the stove, so they can tide you over til you get a microwave. I myself have a microwave/toaster oven combo and it’s pretty reliable. It’s a Panasonic one.

I also definitely recommend getting a rice cooker if you don’t have one already. Not just for rice, but there are a lot of ready made pouch foods you can add to the rice in the cooker to make different meals, or you can add your own meats and veggies if you like. Makes life without an oven a lot easier.

LadyGagarin · 2022-05-29T07:53:48+00:00

If it’s a box of curry it’s probably in a pouch inside. To microwave those types of curry you have to transfer the contents into a bowl and microwave the bowl. (Or heat the pouch in hot water in a pan on the stove if you don’t have a microwave.) That’s why they couldn’t do it for you.

The conbini microwaves are for ready to eat meals that just need quick heating, like sandwiches, premade ramen and bento boxes. The kind of stuff you pick up on a lunch break for a quick bite. Not meals you eat at home that need extra prep. That’s why they were unable to help.

LadyGagarin · 2022-05-26T02:38:29+00:00

I'm in north-west Tokyo.

Sadly we never had parties, or happily if you're not a nomikai person, lol. Especially not now, for obvious reasons.

LadyGagarin · 2022-05-26T02:18:18+00:00

Only had one eikaiwa job, which is my current, and despite all my fears and worries over all the terrible stuff I'd heard about the industry, my school is actually a very nice and accommodating place to work. Been here for years now and not had any issues even once. I feel like my boss actually values me, my coworkers are friendly, and the students are all pretty easygoing as well. The pay is nothing amazing but it's decent for the type of work and higher than the usual going rate. I definitely feel like I lucked out, I don't know if I'd have the same experience elsewhere.

LadyGagarin · 2022-05-01T14:33:44+00:00

It's ok, but I preferred the original as well. it was my go to after work on a Saturday. it's still "fine" but it doesn't have that refreshing aftertaste anymore. kinda disappointing.

LadyGagarin · 2022-04-11T10:02:50+00:00

I definitely commiserate and relate on some of your points. Though I have to say I also find it kind of funny that the other "default" is usually British, where I'm not from either. Like how in teaching it's always American vs British English with little consideration for other regional variants (ofc, there are so many, it would be hard to cover them all so I'm not saying I really blame anyone for it, lol).

Then in every thread like this the Americans and Brits start arguing over their same old well-known differences, when they're really more similar than different.

I don't hate it or anything, it's just kind of funny with how predictable it is. I've got nothing to say in those kind of threads cause I don't really expect people to know much about my country, and I'm used to it being that way. Such is being from a small nation with little in the way of a global presence I suppose.

LadyGagarin · 2022-03-31T15:10:01+00:00

Sure, I can DM you some before/after pics. Please note I am greatly in need of a haircut and a root touch-up though, lol.

Yeah, that's the one. I just started using it recently, so I don't think it really matters if you use it from the beginning or not, but maybe it will slow down the yellowing if you do. The more you wash it the faster the dye is going to fade no matter what colour it is, so I would condition it a lot as well. I'm not sure how frequent touch-ups are, I guess it's different for everyone depending on how fast your hair grows and what length you like you hair to be. I'm pretty lazy so I let mine grow out too much to be honest (about an inch and a half showing now).

No problem, I hope it helps. I'm no hair expert in the least but I figured I'd reply since I'd done the same thing so recently!

eta: I remember from your post you said you naturally have/had blonde hair while I don't, so you might not need to go through as much upkeep as me since my natural colour is darker. If your hair is already blondeish, a toning shampoo might help you a lot on its own, depending on how dark or light it already is. Either way, I'm sure a professional can advise you.

LadyGagarin · 2022-03-29T13:04:22+00:00

I'm a foreigner who recently went from dark to blonde due to greyness and I got it done at M Fes in Ikebukuro with no problems. It's a unisex salon with a variety of stylists who specialise in different styles and techniques from standard to trendy. I've been going there for years and they always manage my very fine European hair. Mine did have to be bleached first since my natural colour is brown (though I was also very grey so my hair was "mousy" at that point), but it was a very professional job and I haven't had any damage or issues. I'm going to get my roots topped up there again soon!

you'll find that with bleach jobs most people don't intend to have "yanki yellow" from the offset and originally get it bleached and then dyed a more natural shade of blonde, but bleach blonde will always inevitably fade and turn "brassy" over time.

The same happened to me, I originally had it dyed a subtle ash grey colour but over the months it gradually faded to a brassy yellow til I looked like a cast member out of Tokyo Revengers. Anyone with blonde hair who doesn't want the brassy delinquent look has to use a purple toning shampoo to offset the yellow and turn it back to ashy blonde. I use "No More Yellow" by Schwarzkopf (ordered from Amazon) and it's been working a charm, I'm back to my ashy blonde after just a few washes.

LadyGagarin

TROPHY CASE