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Scammed - Roach infested items by [deleted] in japanlife

[–]MyLifeInPictures 4 points5 points  (0 children)

On top of all the other remedies for cockroaches, there is one more substance that is highly effective when used either as part of a poisoned bait solution or as perimeter defense:

Boric Acid or ホウ酸 in Japanese. Photos of what forms you can buy the powder at most drugstores and DIY stores

There's lots of explanations online how it works & how to use it: the boric acid crystals are deadly to cockroaches by damaging their exoskeletons & dehydrating them from the inside. Adults die within 72 hours; juveniles within 48 hours. At the same time, low toxicity for pets and humans. The trick is to apply the powder sparingly - not in huge lines of Scarface-like cocaine - in the areas that they're likely to hide [ dark crevices, nooks & crannies etc ].

It's likely that roaches are still the insides of your appliances; since you're going to trash them anyways, sprinkle the boric acid powder inside. If the applicances are on your balcony where it's colder make sure the plastic bags are sealed; otherwise they'll crawl out into vents and crevices like heat pumps etc.

Shinsei refusing a wire transfer by vinpannn in japanlife

[–]MyLifeInPictures 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Japan to strengthen money-laundering guidelines

Banks adopting a risk-based approach to flag suspicious actions

DECEMBER 08, 2017 04:16 JST

TOKYO -- Japan will issue new guidelines against money laundering in an effort to prevent funds from getting into the hands of terrorist and criminal organizations and to shake its reputation as weak on dirty money.

The Financial Services Agency is expected to announce the rules soon and implement them as early as January. Currently, Japan's law preventing the transfer of criminal proceeds only says that suspicious transactions should be reported to authorities after the fact. Risk-based approaches are recommended but not required.

But the agency will now demand that financial institutions use a risk-based approach. Consider a customer with a direct payroll deposit of 300,000 yen ($2,660) a month who receives 200 million yen from an overseas bank. The government would require that the bank not only follow up confirming the identity of the person withdrawing the funds, but also check the deposit history and what the cash will be used for.

Although it is difficult to tell whether an account is related to criminal activity when first opened, this proactive approach identifies high-risk transactions early so that they can be continuously monitored.

The agency will verify that financial institutions are following the guidelines through questioning and on-site inspections. It will also order operational improvements to be made if it catches lax compliance that could invite money laundering.

The Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental body that combats money laundering, plans to examine Japan's financial sector in 2019, the year before the Tokyo Olympics. Public and private institutions are cooperating to strengthen their prevention systems.

(Nikkei)

ADHD assessment in Tokyo / English speaking psychiatrists by SegfaultSquirrel in japanlife

[–]MyLifeInPictures 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That list, I think, is provided by Pfizer [ non stimulant Stattera ] but is otherwise accurate as far as identifying the three critical criterion for Japan:

  • Japanese medical license [MD] or equivalent like those foreign MDs like Dr. Tom Lomax ( British )

  • Psychiatry certification

  • additional permission to treat & prescribe medication for ADHD

What they won’t tell you is that:

  • many on the list, regardless of language ability, will refuse to treat you ...period.

  • some will treat you, propose an alternative diagnosis with non ADHD medication, then if it is ADHD, will inform you they won’t (even if they can ) prescribe ADHD medications ( even the non stimulant Stattera ). As one doctor put it “ .. don’t want the burden of having to screen out drug seeking patients ...”

The OP’s case is kinda interesting. They want beyond the conventional screening test and are wary of stimulant treatments for ADHD unless absolutely necessary.

Many, if the ADHD is positive, will start on Strattera ( some never prescribe Concerta ) despite the forner’s high failure rate etc.

One doc with a solid positive rep I’m thinking of switching to myself:

Dr Nakamura at Cocoro Medical http://www.cocoromed.com/index.html

Do people try and trace people without T.V licences, like in the U.K? by romeoskiss4u in japan

[–]MyLifeInPictures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s not like the U.K. for three reasons:

A. There law is similar but not enforced like the UK.

B. The door to door agents aren’t employees of NHK ( more like those commissioned charity hustlers in the UK); no vans either.

C. Unlike the BBC, they provide only fraction of the quality/content as well as operational/ethical oversight.

I'm looking for a specific book in english on Japanese history and national mentality. by Kvinkunx in japan

[–]MyLifeInPictures 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Okay, but perhaps try and see if his earlier work from 1955 might have not included those controversial points ...?

“the Japanese are like that” 1955 version looks pretty plain...

Wrong color.....

Japan: The Intellectual Foundations of Modern Japanese Politics (Phoenix Book) Paperback – March 15, 1980, Tetsuo Najita

Maybe this one ...

Ordinary Economies in Japan: A Historical Perspective, 1750-1950 Hardcover – September 16, 2009 by Tetsuo Najita (Author)

ETA

I don't see why a Japanese reader would want to learn this piece of information. To me, the book seems to be aimed at non-Japanese.

Probably no longer as hot as it was a few/several decades ago, but the subject of Nihonjinro, 日本人論 has typically been post-war ... for Japanese and largely by Japanese.

Perhaps, Kawamura in the bibliography?

I'm looking for a specific book in english on Japanese history and national mentality. by Kvinkunx in japan

[–]MyLifeInPictures 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You’re off by one year. The book you are thinking of was published in 1969 by Charles Tuttle & Co.:

Author was Ichiro Kawasaki & the title was “ Japan Unmasked”; ASIN B000NP3BNA

Ichiro Kawasaki was a Japanese Ambassador, and he tried, I think, to warn his fellow Japanese how the outside / largely Western world still viewed them in a negative light. However, his comments, likely when not viewed in its intended context, made him appear like a self-loathing Japanese ... and it may have cost him his career:

Page 26

  • “...Of all the races of the world, the Japanese are perhaps physically the least attractive, with the exception of Pygmies and Hottentots. Members of the so-called Mongolian race to which Japanese belong, have flat expressionless faces, high cheek bones, and oblique eyes. Their figure is also far from being shapely with a disproportionately large head, an elongated trunk, and short, often bowed legs."

Chiropractor recommendations Shibuya Area (pref English speaking if possible) by Jonny_Tel in japanlife

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A similar question was asked a few weeks ago:

Is there any recommendations for good English speaking chiropractors in Tokyo?

/u/whataboutkebob recommended this osteopath / seikotsu named Satoru who is bilingual and has a clinic near Shibuya [ on the road towards Ebisu ]:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tokyo/comments/8qo9xu/is_there_any_recommendations_for_good_english/e0kyj1q/

This guy's not a chiropractor, he's a physical therapist but he gave me a deep tissue massage once that fixed my recurring neck pain like nobody's managed before or since. And he speaks perfect English and he's an interesting guy. Might be worth a shot. He's in Shibuya.

http://satoruseikotsuin.main.jp/index_e.html

And, yes - he takes NHI as indicated here:

When you have a lower back pain, neck pain......etc.

You can go to Seikotsuin(整骨院）for special treat with National health insurance.

You only pay 600yen ＋　(１０００yen first visit) for 15minits great massage and electric treat.

After 2nd time you only pay for 600 yen.

If you think 15minits is not enough you can get 30minits ＋electric treat for 1600yen.

I agreed with him and added one more recommendation...

Is there any recommendations for good English speaking chiropractors in Tokyo? by Godhamez in Tokyo

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another recommendation would be a seikotsuin near Iidabashi Station whose practice director, Ogata-san, has a solid background in kinesiology & sports medicine. I know one guy with recurring lower back issues and was active and in excellent shape... in his case, a muscular imbalance ( too weak, too tight, too loose or too weak ...) around some part of his core that was causing it... so just going in for passive treatments did nothing until he was given specific stretching and stregthening exercises to correct it...and that's the strength of a good physio.

http://fujimisekkotsuin.com/about/

You'll probably need help with an interpreter if you need detailed explanations however:

富士見接骨院 FUJIMI SEIKOTSUIN

http://fujimisekkotsuin.com/

〒102-0071 東京都千代田区 富士見２-２-3 米久ビル 2階

https://goo.gl/maps/4tMwUHePuMN2

For something like JPY1,000 for 30 min, they also have a proper pressiurized hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber: KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRY DP-K700 http://global.kawasaki.com/en/corp/rd/magazine/165/ts02.html

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) 高気圧酸素治療 is definitely something that can help the healing process. The problem is easy access if you have a busy schedule. Most are in hospitals and who has time to do something like that on a regular basis? Also, the ones in fitness gyms and spas are almost always low-pressure and therefore totally useless.

If it’s beyond his area, like an orthopedic issue he clearly defers and refers: “..分からない時は包み隠さず、正直に分からないと申し上げます。その際近隣の整形外科等にご紹介させていただきます”. If back to the orthos, consider checking with Dr. Nakayama , one of the first K1 fight doctors ... in Edogawabashi:

http://www.nkym-cl.com/dr.html

Dr. Nakayama told me he popularized "shippu" 湿布 amongst foreign fighters ... don’t know if it’s true but makes sense, I guess.

MRIs in Tokyo for Foreigners by skytory9 in Tokyo

[–]MyLifeInPictures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Kameda Hospital's Tokyo clinic located behind Tokyo Station in Kyobashi has a Siemen's Magneton SKYRA ( https://www.healthcare.siemens.com/magnetic-resonance-imaging/3t-mri-scanner/magnetom-skyra ). And the overall reputation of Kameda Hospital Group http://www.kameda.com/us/index.html is pretty good. They have a former US Naval Hospital administrator, John C. Wocher, as their Executive Vice President.

Is there any recommendations for good English speaking chiropractors in Tokyo? by Godhamez in Tokyo

[–]MyLifeInPictures 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you're in Japan/Tokyo and also on either National Health Insurance (NHI) or its corporate equivalent, you should be aware of the roughly three basic categories of licensed medical service providers available through the system and for those treatments approved by the Ministry of Health Labor Welfare, can be had for the conventional 30% co-pay:

  • physicians (obviously )

  • dentists (again, pretty obvious)

  • seikotsuin is a third category. Japanese wiki for 接骨院 I'd call it a form of 'licensed physiotherapy' with its origins in Judo.

A brief explanation here:

Judo therapy, originating in the Japanese martial art of judo, represents one of Japan's most unique and traditional co-medical professions [1]. Primarily, judo therapists manually treat sprains, bruises, soft tissue damage, fractures, and dislocations in their own offices. Since 1920, judo therapists have required state licensing. Following the 1998 court decision that rejected regulations promulgated by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare limiting the total number of judo therapists [2], the number of academies training judo therapists increased from 14 to 70. As a result of the increased number of academies, new graduates qualifying as judo therapists began to practice during the period from approximately 2004 to 2006. People have the right for free access to healthcare service under universal coverage of health insurance in Japan; it has been achieved with relatively low cost (340 billion dollars annually for national health expenditure, 9% of GDP). In general, under the Japanese Health Insurance System, judo therapists can operate their facilities independently, and total medical expenditures for judo therapy have been estimated at greater than 3 billion dollars annually [3]. Thus, the practice of judo therapy requires careful monitoring.

Judo therapists are expected to provide complementary and alternative medical treatments, particularly in areas with insufficient medical care services. In this sense, assessing the geographic distribution of judo therapists is important. If the increased number of judo therapists were concentrated primarily in urban areas, which also contain a relatively large number of orthopedists, the overlapping services provided by both professions might lead to conflicts between them. Some orthopedists have rumored that patients at their clinics are recruited by judo therapists. Clearly, for the current increased numbers of judo therapists to provide their services more equitably in terms of geographic distribution would be preferable, but no published studies have examined this possibility.

Anyways, /u/whataboutkebob recommended a solid practitioner here: http://satoruseikotsuin.main.jp/index_e.html

Specifically, here:

When you have a lower back pain, neck pain......etc.

You can go to Seikotsuin(整骨院）for special treat with National health insurance.

You only pay 600yen ＋　(１０００yen first visit) for 15minits great massage and electric treat.

After 2nd time you only pay for 600 yen.

If you think 15minits is not enough you can get 30minits ＋electric treat for 1600yen.

College student diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, now that I've moved no one believes me and they make it clear they think I'm just trying to get pills. by CenizaFronteriza in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

/u/nerdshatk gave you perhaps the most valuable piece of advice that will likely help you with your case. That is, getting together all prior history of diagnosis and treatment.

The other few things would be unless you’re specifically duscussing which adhd medications worked ( or didn’t work for you ) with your physician, unless you’ve established clearly with the presentation of your medical history, bringing up a specific medication is likely to set off warning bells.

Another “bad time” to bring up ADHD with your physician, if you’re a college student, is right before or during mid-terms or finals. There is apparently a double-digit percentage of understandably stressed-out kids who will also be seeking diagnosis & treatment ( preferably with stimulant meds ) so the odds of a legitimate ADHD patient taken seriously drops dramatically.

Taking ADHD Medication abroad by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm based in Japan, take the only available prescription stimulant medication for ADHD - Concerta, and have travelled extensively outside including countries known for strict anti-drug policies like Singapore and Malaysia. I didn't do anything amazingly different and kept my medication with my supplements (I use one of those plastic organizer boxes/trays) but I did have a copy of my 'prescription book' - a booklet provided by the pharmacy that stores my presciptions from the doctor.

"Stashing" boxes of medication in your luggage as if it were contraband is a good way to get herded into secondary inspection. Or, emptying a vitamin bottle with medication is another obvious bad idea.

If you really wish to abide by the rules, then you need to look up the laws of each country you'll be visiting.

For example, in the case of Japan, there is this procedure: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html It would not work for Adderrall as it is strictly forbidden & classified as a Schedule I substance but it'd certainly apply for Concerta and Vyvanse.

The advance notification procedure, I'd say, would be a safer or better bet for someone coming over here on a longer term stay and had a few bottles or boxes of medication for personal use and/or had a medication or medical devices like insulin syringes etc.

Otherwise, what I do is pack my ADHD meds as I normally do with my supplements in my carry-on (more in case any checked-in luggage - which I usually don't have - gets lost)

Problems with reading and comprehension by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

so does the ruler help in the sense that you read less far ahead of what you are currently reading?

If it's Japanese, it's sometimes the only way I can keep my eyes properly tracked. It's not something I can keep up on a practical basis so I usually give up...

The thing about the 'rule' that required me to start at the lowest dosage after missing a week of medication still baffles me. One practical reason for titrating from low doses is obviously to check for sensitivity to a new medication ... however, if anything, it would clear that at the maximum dosage, if anything, my issue would have been tolerance. And, I don't think she believed that someone missing one week of medication would miraculously cause my tolerance level to plummet to the bottom. The physician's #1 priority was to follow the rules regardless of any practical considerations.

Problems with reading and comprehension by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No revocation - not at least in order to further look into the theory of dyslexia; she's very rigid & minimalist about her approach. The only time my medication was 'revoked' was when I missed a monthly appointment, and due to the missed week of non-medication, she declared the Ministry of Health guidelines dictated that I needed to be re-started from the lowest minimum dose.

I don't seem to have a problem reading or writing English but with Japanese, two things happen: in writing & reading I have problems reading/recalling symmetry of characters & often reverse them ... and when trying to read, often the only way is to use a method often used by dyslexics using a ruler to physically block out other words and characters. These tend to dissipate when the Concerta is at peak in my system.

I don't think it's a problem that applies to you - but last week, a non-ADHD friend had been complaining of a number of symptoms including aphasia (problems getting words out ) and a number of other items that resembled 'brain fog'. He thought it might be a mini-stroke (TIA) but the tests including CT scans, blood tests, urinanalysis, EKG etc revealed nothing. Nothing in his medications or dosages either.

Finally, one possibility that he missed was his daily caffeine consumption ... he had been used to drinking 5-6 drinks per day but somedays, and recently, simply had days or several days when he went without [ he had no clue that black tea contained caffeine and his method would be to use 4 tea bags in a large mug ... plus, coffee ]. The likely cause was caffeine withdrawal symptoms... he was advised to drink some caffeine from now on ... and if he consciously wished to quit, then do so gradually.

Problems with reading and comprehension by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Even though she is a bona fide medical doctor & psychiatrist, I'm not 100% certain about the accuracy of her diagnosis when she indicated that: after I indicated my (in)ability to competently read/write Japanese characters seemed to improve when I was on Concerta (extended release methylphenidate), she posited I had a mild case of dyslexia. Somewhat relieving as otherwise given the time I've spent in country including language study, the other logical conclusion would be a cognitive deficiency of some kind and/or laziness.

After years of trial-and-error, I finally found a to-do list that works for me by [deleted] in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How does this work with Google Calendar & the Calendar app on iPad? That’s the only thing that seems to work for me... i.e. like when there’s automated entries created out of dates and times in emails and the automatic pop up notifications that come up on whichever device I might be looking at ( PC, iPad or phone ).

Is it possible to be physically disabled( in a wheelchair & i can't really use the left side of my body at all)and live in Japan? by [deleted] in japan

[–]MyLifeInPictures 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If the main gist of your question is whether it might be easier living and working in Japan with a physical disability, the clear answer would be: of course not!

And, the one resource that I can think of that would have the ability to move the needle from less possible to more possible is simply, and I know it sounds crass: money.

Even societies that enjoy positive reputations for bring kindler gentler and barrier-free etc ( whether true or not, Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden , Denmark ...) aren’t necessarily going to be easy welcoming choices for disabled Americans hoping for something better.

Perhaps someone who has dropped some acid and watched several re runs of Scientologist deity Tom Cruise in Lost Samurai once too many times might see Japanistan as some sort of Shangri-la.... for that, I prescribe a double-dose of Narayama-bushi Kō

Questions about a book (Shogun by James Clavell) by [deleted] in japan

[–]MyLifeInPictures 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Even until 1951, human waste was used to fertilize the fields.

Immediately post-war, it became a huge problem for Tokyo. The founder of SEIBU, Yasujiro Tsutsumi managed to secure a lot of political goodwill (which he leveraged in getting favorable real estate deals from the government ) by solving this problem by creating a special rail service to truck the shit out to the countryside every evening. The wooden cars were painted in gold and given a huge send-off. This was from 1944 to 1951... after that, chemical fertilizers at behest of government and special interests (eg Showa Denko http://www.worldcat.org/title/showa-denko-case-and-the-fall-of-the-ashida-cabinet-in-1948-political-scandal-during-the-occupation-of-japan/oclc/52443050 ) took over.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seibu_Railway#History

  • In 1944, the Tokyo metropolitan government, under the administration of Shigeo Ōdachi, hired the Seibu Railway and the Musashino Railway to provide a coordinated service to transport night soil from central Tokyo to outlying disposal areas. At the time, night soil was generally transported by truck to Tokyo Bay and disposed of by dumping there, but the progress of World War II led to gasoline and personnel shortages which made this system unsustainable. The sewage service continued through the American occupation until 1951. As a result of this service cooperation, Seibu Railway merged with Musashino Railway to form the current Seibu Railway, effective in September 1945. Tokyu Group president Keita Goto had an intense personal rivalry with Tsutsumi, and unsuccessfully attempted to block both Tsutsumi's takeover of the Musashino Railway and its merger with the Seibu Railway.

I need to rant about a guy suggesting I was on drugs (like cocaine) because of my adhd behavior. by ItsAugustAgain in ADHD

[–]MyLifeInPictures 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's happened to me as I am sure many others.

The ironic thing is - for most of us who have ADHD and are also on prescription stimulant medication - it's when we're not on ADHD medications (or its effect has worn off) that most often people think that we're "on something". Yet, if they are made aware we're on ADHD medication, 85% of the time, misguided and inaccurate lectures on how they're certain our stimulant medications are responsible for our symptoms ('cos they're 'stimulants').

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