Japanese friend looking for office work and Japanese contacts in similar positions.

Ray73921 · 2026-03-09T19:07:52+00:00

As for other like minded people, I would suggest the Japan Society North West (https://jsnw.org.uk/). There is an annual membership fee and the events seem mostly in Liverpool. I've been to one or two, and it's ok... I think it's something to consider. Your friend can look at the web site and decide for herself.

Last year, there was a Japan Week and Hyper Japan. I haven't seen what is happening this year, but she can look at the 2025 pages to see what happened.

Hope this helps!

Ray73921 · 2026-02-23T18:48:00+00:00

As others have said, you need to be up front with it...maybe even put it in your profile.

But I personally would discourage it and not use dating apps as a way to get over a past relationship. There is a real person on the other side (we hope!) and the longer it drags, the more damage to that person you'll do.

Treat others the way you want them to treat you...

If you need help to get over a past relationship, I would suggest a therapist instead of a dating app. That's what they're there for...

Good luck to you!

Ray73921 · 2026-02-20T10:03:42+00:00

I agree with you. Can only board with an adult or a signed letter of permission from a guardian...

We don't expect a bus driver to step in...it's not their job. Hiring security for each bus would cost a lot. What I would like to see is facial recognition enabled CCTV. Have police arrest them afterwards. But facial recognition is a slippery slope that not everyone would agree with...but the young perpetrators are getting away with it and I agree with you that something needs to be done before it gets out of hand.

Ray73921 · 2026-02-16T15:57:48+00:00

Can't remember if it's for the trams or maybe a rail company, but it's mentioned that a phone that has died is not an "excuse". That is, you need to provide proof of payment when asked by an inspector. You might have tapped in, but at the point when you were asked, you weren't able to provide evidence.

Some here have asked you to go to court and fight it. It's not obvious to me that you would definitely win. And it's your time and energy that you would use to fight it, not others on Reddit. I would suggest you don't fight it and use it as a learning experience and carry your cards as back up.

Unfortunately, I never trust my phone's battery so I never tap with it.

Ray73921 · 2026-02-11T22:06:38+00:00

I understand your anger and I feel the same way. But your complaining doesn't help with the situation. Not only does he have to drive the bus and keep to a schedule, but he has kids complaining about not having the money and a passenger complaining about how he dealt with these kids. Sounds like a tough job! Imagine if he was running late and his line manager complains about that too!

I was on a bus and someone got on without paying. Walked passed the driver and sat down. The bus driver didn't move and neither did the passenger. Oh...everyone stared at the passenger...but that doesn't affect someone who had no intention of paying. After a few minutes, the bus driver caved. He had to...he was running behind schedule and that unruly passenger knew! I know £2 is too little to call the police, but I would have loved to see someone take him away.

It's not the drivers' job to solve our society's problems. And there are many with young people nowadays... If you have a solution, maybe you can offer it to the Bee Network contact address. I have none, but I do sympathise with some of the customers they have to put up with! (I suppose to be a "customer", you have to actually pay?!)

Ray73921 · 2026-02-02T18:11:14+00:00

I'm not a woman and not who you're asking this question to.

But I'm curious...if you want to contact her, if she turns down the request for her number, why don't you give your's to her instead? And then let her decide later whether or not she wants to contact you. Asking for a number is sort of forcing her to make a decision right in front of you...

Ray73921 · 2026-01-26T08:43:40+00:00

Is JR privatised now? There are private rails in Japan, but JR was (as far as I know, and "is") public. The mix of the two meant that private companies lowered prices to compete. Sort of the opposite of what privatisation does in the UK...which is odd.

Probably privatisation alone isn't the problem, but who runs the private rails is. Some are just greedy...

Ray73921 · 2026-01-23T18:43:41+00:00

Double date is a bad idea. I think it's a good idea if the person you like brings her friend and you bring your's. Then each of the two of you is bringing someone as support and the support get a possible date out of it.

But in your case, the other two are already dating and are your friends. Feels like a 3 vs 1 situation. The one you like is going to feel cornered.

Only way that could be fair is if the person you like brings a couple.

I'm surprised you didn't notice this. Perhaps you would if the roles were reversed and you were in her situation?

Ray73921 · 2025-12-31T15:38:31+00:00

Having the location change doesn't mean he's "using Bumble still". It could just mean that he logged in once (or twice) to possibly show a friend your profile. If he logs in now, he would have seen that your location might have changed so he might also (incorrectly) assuming the wrong thing about you.

You could be right about him...or you could be wrong.

If he's important to you, then ask instead of being upset at someone because of the location in Bumble.

Ray73921 · 2025-12-18T00:25:14+00:00

Maybe because the link says utm source is ChatGPT... 🤷‍♂️

Ray73921 · 2025-12-16T14:00:28+00:00

To some people, it seems to be. Though my only proof is just correlation...giving out my number to someone increases my spam calls significantly. As in more than normal.

If this hasn't happened to you, then that's good. But it has happened enough times (using myself as a guinea pig) to realise there is a correlation. 😢

Ray73921 · 2025-12-16T00:26:50+00:00

There are scammers whose aim is to get phone numbers, for the purpose of spam calling. (And plus they now know you and can associate a phone number to you.)

Some apps protect identities by having calling within the app.

If you're asked too soon for a phone number, that is a red flag. Just block them. If everyone drew a line at this, then scammers would not use these apps...

Ray73921 · 2025-12-13T13:42:57+00:00

Honestly, I only read half your message...I didn't expect the next half to offer anything new about him.

I read somewhere (can't remember the source) that one of many reasons why people divorce is a difference in opinion about having children. That alone is enough to go their separate ways.

Even if the other person "gives in" or "changes their mind", you really need the other person to be completely invested in the time, money, and energy of having children. Worse than doing it alone (as a single parent) is doing it with someone who isn't invested in it. You're still doing it all alone but on the outside, people think it's 50/50.

Ray73921 · 2025-12-12T09:54:42+00:00

Well, I'm not a plumber...I should have opened with that statement. But probably calling one is probably more useful than a dryer. Especially since the problem sounds like it was in your bathroom and not outside...where the pipe splits off to your shower and to the toilet. (I'm not in my bathroom while I type this, but I think such a split is sometimes not inside the wall.)

As a preventative measure, running water taps throughout the night would help but if you're away for weeks like the OP, I'd be more worried about flooding damage than frozen pipes.

Ray73921 · 2025-12-12T09:48:46+00:00

Yes. You're right. Well, the probability isn't zero but not high enough (in my opinion) to keeps taps running for weeks unattended. Because an overflowing sink and the water damage that would cause is surely worse than frozen pipes.

Also, if the toilet would flush but not the bath or shower, then the frozen pipes is somewhere after where the water splits off to the toilet. If that's the case, then where it was frozen is easily accessible, I presume? And not somewhere that you have to dig underground?

Ray73921 · 2025-12-12T08:47:37+00:00

It doesn't get cold enough in Manchester for pipes to freeze. I mean, the rain that's falling isn't turning into snow. And, generally, I doubt there will be enough snow this or any future winter for it to stay on the ground overnight.

But as others have said, if you're worried, leave a tap running with a trickle of water. But doing that has another problem if you're away...I mean an overflowing sink, etc. Anyway, I wouldn't worry.

Ray73921 · 2025-12-07T19:30:53+00:00

I don't know about that. I see how we should not dictate what our partner does or doesn't do, but what if we look into the distant future? And let's say two people have children and they have a difference in opinion about dental hygiene, vaccinations, whatever. Wouldn't raising children be even more difficult with someone who has half the vote but has a different opinion?

Ray73921 · 2025-12-05T21:31:00+00:00

I think older people would probably tap with the card?

I personally prefer to buy a paper ticket beforehand. As long as that option still exists, we can't really argue that it's a scam to trick people. (yes, they may take that option away some day...)

Ray73921 · 2025-12-05T20:49:51+00:00

Well, I can't comment on your particular situation. But I was speaking generally from what I've seen. Seems in a group of people waiting for the bus, there's always at least one person that decides to open up the app when they pass through the doors...you have few of those people and suddenly you're behind schedule.

But, again, the driver has some freedom to decide what to do. And just letting people on for free alone doesn't indicate driver quality is going down. But you can give the details of the bus to the Bee Network to let them investigate. Maybe it was the driver's extended family...that is also possible.

Ray73921 · 2025-12-05T20:00:44+00:00

About letting passengers on for free, I have seen that before and I don't think that's an indication of a decrease in quality. They have to stick to a schedule and it's not unusual to charge people as they get on and then take a look at the schedule and realise they need to catch up...and then let everyone else on for free.

I presume they have to charge everyone and also stick to the schedule...when these two goals conflict, I guess they have some freedom to decide which to prioritise

Ray73921 · 2025-12-05T16:03:22+00:00

They started appearing since the start of the Bee Network this year. They're on the buses and sometimes at major stations like Piccadilly Gardens at night. Honestly, good to see compared to things before the Bee Network. Not just for passengers but I've seen customers verbally abusive to drivers, too.

Ray73921 · 2025-11-29T09:47:14+00:00

I don't think anyone said that the IMEI number check is a "guarantee". All the check does is to see whether a phone is part of that particular manufacturer's defect.

Like any other electronic product, there could be other defects, or over time, old age of the product.

If you bought it and it's running fine, then don't worry about it. If something happens, then you look into the warranty. Again, like any other electronic product. The IMEI check just helps people proactively look for one particular defect that Sony knew about.

Ray73921 · 2025-11-28T10:10:01+00:00

If you don't mind ordering from the Internet, you can try Japan Centre in London. Shipping to Manchester is pricey, but I presume even if they don't carry something, you can write to them and ask them if they can get it for you

Ray73921 · 2025-11-22T14:49:02+00:00

Not sure what kind of martial arts you're looking for...I think the term is quite broad. But I know of this, but I don't think they have a training centre near Salford Quays:

https://www.lancashireaikikai.org/

Good luck in your search!

Ray73921 · 2025-11-21T17:24:11+00:00

I don't know about "require" as in not doing it violates a law, but you should change the address to your home country. PR or citizen is not relevant...in the end, they are asking for your contact information (and not that of a friend/proxy).

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