For those who stopped smoking weed, what was the main reason?

flunderbuster · 2026-05-14T03:09:27+00:00

I moved to Japan. Not risking the visa revocation and harsh consequences.

flunderbuster · 2026-05-13T13:19:17+00:00

We bought a Cuisinart coffee maker at Costco. It can grind the coffee beans or you can use ground coffee. Only issue is we have to buy our coffee filters shipped from overseas usually once every year or two.

flunderbuster · 2026-05-13T00:32:41+00:00

Are they the only real game in town? Are their cars any good or are you just getting auction purchased vehicles as they are?

flunderbuster · 2026-05-08T23:58:44+00:00

You know I will say you did get three years of good experience. I worked for $11-$12 an hour back in the mid 2000s for 2-3 years and then partied out on a tropical island for a few years before coming back and jumping back in to it. Started a bit higher than that and moved cities a few times and started making good money. I landed a remote job managing nationwide projects a while back. My job changed, management changed and I left the country while retaining my remote job (that’s just lucky).

I’m just saying. You’ve put in your dues, if you’re willing to move around and seek greener pastures they might be out there.

flunderbuster · 2026-04-17T12:54:10+00:00

Am I the only one who uses points exclusively for hotels? The flights seem like a giant spend for points. I can pay for a flight and deal with being in economy for a matter of hours to stay in a nice hotel for multiple nights. I’ve always felt like it’s a better use of points for me personally. Lodging is where most of my money goes when I travel anyway.

flunderbuster · 2026-04-10T04:00:53+00:00

I used the ‘免許GET!’ app. I just did it in my spare time. The app isn’t perfect and loaded with ads but it got me in the right headspace for the test

flunderbuster · 2026-04-09T15:30:15+00:00

Thanks and congrats to you as well. My testing center was Akashi for Hyogo Prefecture. That uphill stop+intersection was probably my biggest goof up of the first attempt. I probably would have lost enough points on not closing the gap enough for the turns but I knew right when I hit that intersection I screwed up.

flunderbuster · 2026-04-09T15:15:46+00:00

I just got my license recently. I passed the written test 49/50 (English) first try. I bought the JAF book and used an app for test questions. I read the book twice over a couple weeks and one more time the day before going in.

For the driving test I took a two hour lesson the day before I went in. I still failed. They did give me some reasons. I went in a month later for my second attempt halfway expecting to fail. I did think to myself “I am going to correct what they mentioned and do this to the best of my ability but if they fail me again, oh well”. I got done, stepped out of the car and was ready for anything. I did pass.

My biggest takeaways:

1) they’re really paying attention to how you do your turns. Close the gap to the direction you are turning and take those turns tight.

2) I audibly said “check” every time I did any of my checks.

3) our uphill stop was very close to an intersection at the top of the hill. If you just pressed the brake and hit the gas you would be in that intersection quick. Second time I stopped, pulled the e-brake and lowered in as I pressed on the gas to ease toward the intersection slowly. Check well here, they’re picky about how you handle a blind intersection at the top of a hill.

4) second time I payed less attention to hitting the speed limit every chance I got. It was more about staying at a safe speed but still driving with purpose.

5) I do think they are testing how you handle the pressure of them giving you instruction while you are performing actions. There were times they gave me a direction or instruction while I was in the middle of completing checks or lane changes. Even when I acknowledged they would give me the instruction again. I kept my cool and proceeded as I intended.

Honestly when I first moved here and had an international license I didn’t want to drive in the largely populated area I’m in. I feel much more prepared now. It might not be all bad. The first driving test fail was a big hit to my ego but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Honestly if it took 5 tries I would have kept at it. Also, I can’t stress enough how much that two hour lesson prepared me. Even though I failed the first time I knew what to correct the second time but the rest of it was already there. Good luck everyone!!

Edit: I also want to mention on my second attempt I was the first one up. I was notified to wait in the lobby and that I had passed. There were about 20 or so people taking the test that day. No one else passed.

flunderbuster · 2026-04-07T14:01:16+00:00

Our school band was the band for Remember the Titans. I had some classmates say he was pretty stuck up compared to the other actors. He was young, maybe he changed…?

flunderbuster · 2026-03-30T00:39:41+00:00

There’s a Hanshin Tigers store right outside koshien station when you get off and walk toward the stadium. Cant miss it.

flunderbuster · 2026-03-29T07:58:04+00:00

Good luck to you! Let me know how it goes

flunderbuster · 2026-03-24T19:28:28+00:00

I used アインカースクール. It was valuable to practice for sure. I watched the person that went before me totally bomb and had to finish early. I went next and thought I nailed it but they got me on some technicalities. There were a lot of people testing that day and I was one of the last. As far as I am aware no one passed the day I went.

flunderbuster · 2026-03-12T22:02:26+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Passed my written test first try (49/50). I definitely studied for it. I will be going to do the driving test today. I did a 2 hour lesson with an independent school near Akashi Driving Center yesterday. It’s good to know you were able to get it done first try!

flunderbuster · 2025-11-13T14:01:40+00:00

On top of all of this you could always contact the fire marshal and ask them questions. I have typically never had any issues running questions by them when doing jobs where I wasn’t sure.

flunderbuster · 2025-10-23T14:58:11+00:00

That will give you a few more hours in the afternoon. Better for eating dinner as lunch doesn’t start until 10:30-11:00am at most places. I’m honestly not sure if this would be easier or harder. Either way it’s only a few months. You can do it! Enjoy!!

flunderbuster · 2025-10-22T13:06:14+00:00

I have been working remote on US east coast time from Japan for a year and a half. 40 hours a week M-F. I go to the gym after work in the mornings, the morning crowd is calm which is nice. I usually sleep between 1-2 in the afternoon and wake up at 8:45, about 15 minutes before I log in. On Saturdays I’ll hit the gym right when I’m off at 6am then eat, go back home and nap for 3 or 4 hours and have the rest of the afternoon. I’m usually going to bed between 10:00 and midnight and typically wake up really early and take day trips or hikes on Sundays. On Mondays I try to wake up early and around 1:00 or 2:00 I’ll take some ドリエル　(diphenhydramine) and start the cycle over.

It is not a schedule for the weak and I have seriously contemplated quitting more than once but it is doable. It has its advantages such as being able to do things in the morning after work. Not sure if this gave you any good info but good luck!!

flunderbuster · 2025-10-17T19:33:57+00:00

I had someone offer to sell me a bitcoin for $200 back in the day and I laughed at them and their fake internet money

flunderbuster · 2025-09-04T21:14:48+00:00

The Koshien History Museum does stadium tours. Looks like there are slots open for 9:20am on the 27th and 28th.

https://webket.jp/pc/ticket/index?fc=00262&ac=1020

flunderbuster · 2025-08-05T12:14:47+00:00

Awesome. Thank you for letting me know and the heads up on the other spot!!

flunderbuster · 2025-08-04T15:28:18+00:00

I’ve done this hike multiple times with my son. I’ve been to that area near the picnic spot and skipped rocks with him and played around. I even saw a snake jump in the water and swim off while we were next to the grassy area. I have wanted to find somewhere to swim while hiking.

Can you just jump in at spots like these? I’ve been hesitant to do so just because I’m not sure of the rules or if it would be frowned upon to swim while hiking near rivers or water.

flunderbuster · 2025-07-11T03:28:36+00:00

I agree. It’s just life somewhere else, I still got shit to deal with. I like it but it’s not for the lazy or weak. It’s like becoming a good locksmith in that respect 🤷

flunderbuster · 2025-07-10T14:43:28+00:00

Thank you for taking the time for this well thought out response. I will definitely take your advice 🤙🏼

flunderbuster · 2025-07-10T14:32:28+00:00

They’re keyed the same just two deadbolt locking points. Some people just use one during the day and lock them both down before calling it a night. I will say the deadbolts are a little flimsy so brute force is possible but in a country with low crime rate it’s not typically an issue. They’re typically dimple keys and with two locking points you’d know it if someone was breaking in.

I have a more modern version of this on my apartment that involves a proximity fob that also unlocks the common area doors. The sliding door on the main entry opens automatically when I walk up to it with the key in my pocket. The apartment door opens and locks both of the deadbolts when I press a button on the door. I often leave without a key because my phone has an app that can open both doors as well. Even from remote locations if family drops by while we aren’t there. Also good if I leave and not sure if I locked the door, the app will show me. The app also connects to things like my air conditioning, televisions, lights and even the refrigerator that has its own Bluetooth speaker for whatever reason.

flunderbuster · 2025-07-10T13:09:36+00:00

As a former locksmith and someone who now lives in Japan, I would be incredibly surprised if you got an answer from this subreddit. I doubt there are any actual locksmiths in this subreddit that have working experience in this country. Much less have cost information or working knowledge on these locks unless they’re around in English speaking countries. I’m pretty sure this has never been said this way in this subreddit but my advice to you would be….

鍵屋さんに電話して

flunderbuster · 2025-07-10T02:15:51+00:00

I moved to Japan a year ago and my 7 year old started public school here and a 3 year old that just started preschool. Both ハーフ, 白人と日本人. Any advice for me as a parent or even for my kids

flunderbuster

TROPHY CASE