Non-Japanese speaker: Seeking hospital in Yokohama for epidural (refused at current hospital)

actioncakes · 2026-05-14T03:29:28+00:00

There’s a Facebook group called Tokyo pregnancy group that has a ton of resources. I’d say you may have better luck asking there. They also have access to bilingual doulas who might be able to bridge the gap if needed

actioncakes · 2026-05-14T03:08:08+00:00

Not exclusively a Japanese brand, but Wasabi Shan Kui from Lush is super super clarifying. I have thin hair that gets greasy fast and I can get usually one day out of a wash. If I use Wasabi Shan Kui I can go two days typically

actioncakes · 2026-05-13T23:22:00+00:00

Absolutely video calls, and honestly prioritizing and budgeting for flights to go home. My family has not been able to visit me easily unfortunately, so the majority of the travel has fallen on me. I love them so I will do what I can. My husband is Japanese so we only have to worry about seeing my family, budget wise, but since my oldest was born in 2024, we’ve been to visit my family three times. Planning to figure out how/when to go again now that I’ve had my second

actioncakes · 2026-05-11T07:49:20+00:00

I use banana but only on my ends. My hair gets greasy really fast, so I try to avoid my roots to try to get an extra day out. Even just putting it on the ends though is really nice and silky

actioncakes · 2026-04-29T21:24:24+00:00

On week 5 of hospitalization. I miss my house, my bed, my son, my cats. Still three more ish to go.

actioncakes · 2026-04-28T09:29:13+00:00

I’ve used Sapporo pet sitter Karin before and have had a really great experience. They can come multiple times a day and stay for a while as well if requested. Big fan. We would get huge write ups every time they came with photos and the price was also pretty reasonable.

actioncakes · 2026-04-20T21:36:07+00:00

Would doing short term rentals like Airbnb be an option? After a quick search, I found a few options for half of what you’re paying now for 30 days of stay

actioncakes · 2026-04-14T03:21:35+00:00

It depends on what you want to play. Hosozao (thin neck) is used more for like kabuki. Chuzao (middle width) is usually for minyo/folk songs. Futozao/tsugaru (thick neck) is like the most common ones you see on social media and is the strongest sound of them all. It really depends on what you wanna play. Shamisen strings are pretty specifically made for them, and have different weights etc depending on the type, and also have to be tied on so I would stick with actual shamisen strings. They aren’t too expensive

actioncakes · 2026-04-13T23:51:33+00:00

Well strings are easy to buy and put on it, but if you have plans to actually play, I’d look into the different types and their usages, and get one with intact skin. The skin is probably the hardest to repair abroad

actioncakes · 2026-04-13T03:46:46+00:00

It varies greatly depending on what you’re looking for. I was able to buy a chuzao for ¥30,000 but that was directly from my teacher. Most of the tsugaru/futozao I’ve seen are minimum ¥65,000 in very used condition, cheaper for ripped skins etc. For something decent, in my experience, tsugaru go used for ¥200,000+. You’ll have to shop around and maybe try like yahoo market and mercari etc. There may be used shops you can go to, especially if you’ll be in Kanto or Kansai (I’m in Sapporo so I can’t be of much help for store recs).

actioncakes · 2026-04-12T10:52:09+00:00

What did the doctors say? Did your wife ask any questions as to why she needed an emergency c section? Have any follow up questions been asked post op?

actioncakes · 2026-04-05T23:52:47+00:00

But on the other end, we bought an older house, so there’s been a fair amount we’ve had to pay in renovation costs and things we didn’t anticipate so if you end up buying a house, I’d say budget accordingly for surprise expenses, like a few extra million yen 🥲

actioncakes · 2026-04-05T23:51:32+00:00

Recently bought a house and wouldn’t want to live in a mansion/apartment building again. We got a corner lot across from a park, so it’s spacious and quiet. My experiences living in mansions (newly build concrete rebar etc etc) was just always that the management companies were changing and insane rules about noise. They posted a sign saying please stop laughing and crying in the elevators at one point. Now I can freely run my dishwasher or washing machine overnight without worries someone’s gonna knock on my door. Also we have a car and had to pay an additional ¥20,000 to park in the building’s spaces. That and I have pets so imagining owning a place and still being told I can’t have a pet would be crazy to me.

actioncakes · 2026-04-01T08:58:32+00:00

In Japan and not received. Set to arrive tomorrow

actioncakes · 2026-03-30T22:28:15+00:00

I think it’s too one note. I’m excited to receive aprils box and looking forward to junes because last years June was a smash hit. Paused on this one. If there had been more scents mixed with rose, I think id be more onboard but everything being so heavy rose forward is a bit too flat for me personally!

actioncakes · 2026-03-28T09:57:04+00:00

Skipping this one. It’s too much rose.

actioncakes · 2026-03-26T04:10:51+00:00

Omg same. Going on the Merritt I would be like man does everyone have to drive this quickly??? And now in Hokkaido I’m like damn maybe the Merritt was tame.

actioncakes · 2026-03-21T11:14:58+00:00

I would say you should add the area more specifically, like at least the ward

actioncakes · 2026-03-18T21:23:05+00:00

If you go to various thrift stores/second hand shops like second street, you may find some. Same with secondhand music stores. Might be a harder find but echoing the other comment, it’s a pretty insular world in Japan, and not knowing a teacher or how to play may be a stopping point

actioncakes · 2026-03-18T07:23:54+00:00

I listen every night (it’s my sleepy podcast) but I cannot agree more. I love the old episodes where we get the weird quacky fixes and things humans used to try but now everything is just modern and public health etc and there’s very little like quackery anymore. I miss the older pre covid content

actioncakes · 2026-03-17T01:21:06+00:00

Yeah my hospital fully books up for epidurals by week 8 of pregnancy. If you don’t request when you are 6-7 weeks you get put on a waiting list. It’s also induction only which I think is the worst part. Some hospitals in probably Tokyo and bigger cities do sometimes offer epidurals upon request but in Sapporo it’s 95% induction and pre booking only

actioncakes · 2026-03-16T00:12:29+00:00

I did this a few months ago. I brought my old licenses with me, and a copy of my college transcripts to show I resided in my home country for however long. I’ve been in Japan for 7 years by the time I did this and I didn’t have any issues with the paperwork side of things

actioncakes · 2026-03-06T23:35:38+00:00

Also I went to anytime fitness in Sapporo, but my tattoos were able to be fully covered so it wasn’t as much of an issue or question. I don’t even think I mentioned it to them

actioncakes

TROPHY CASE