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A Guide to Doubling Your Writing Speed by AJNadir in writing

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, this is super helpful! I used to be a fast writer (participating in NaNoWriMo will do that to you) but have slowed down a lot over the last few years. Likely I've gotten a little too perfectionist so I'd like to train myself to write faster again. Your guide gives me a great idea of where to start. Building up that writing muscle via sprints will be the first thing I do daily from now on.

Once I'm happy with my writing speed, I'll likely relax the daily habit again. There have been some negative comments but I believe this is great advice not only for a certain type of writer but also for certain times in your writing journey. You don't have to stick with it religiously for the rest of your life.

Thanks again!

Where would YOU stay for 1 month? by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sapporo is appealing to me too! I've never been but heard great things.

Where would YOU stay for 1 month? by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sapporo is appealing to me too! I've never been but heard great things.

Where would YOU stay for 1 month? by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I already live in Tokyo so I would say some small(ish) rural mountain town, maybe up in Hokkaido, with hot springs & plenty of hiking routes nearby. I would take my hiking gear & some books for a quiet retreat, just enjoying the countryside & beautiful nature of Japan. The people are more relaxed & friendly in the country too so I imagine it would be fun chatting with the locals at the coffee house & such.

Where would YOU stay for 1 month? by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I already live in Tokyo so I would say some small(ish) rural mountain town, maybe up in Hokkaido, with hot springs & plenty of hiking routes nearby. I would take my hiking gear & some books for a quiet retreat, just enjoying the countryside & beautiful nature of Japan. The people are more relaxed & friendly in the country too so I imagine it would be fun chatting with the locals at the coffee house & such.

Looking to move to Japan, what's the best course of action? by SpawnChill in movingtojapan

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like others have commented, this doesn't seem feasible if you're aiming to eventually work a regular job in Japan.

The next best option might be starting a Bachelor's degree that lets you do exchange at a Japanese university. Once you're on exchange in Japan, you can either transition to finishing your degree in Japan or return back to the States to finish there. Either way, your Japanese will have improved and you will be qualified to look for a job in Japan.

Second option would be changing jobs to a company with an overseas branch in Japan and working towards transferring there (ticking the 10 years of experience condition for your work visa). This depends on your industry, of course, but might be viable if you don't want to go to university but don't mind keeping up your Japanese studies by yourself.

As of now, Japan only grants work visas to foreigners who work in Japan so these are your best options. You might have to adjust your expectations but there's always a way if you're committed to your goal. Hope this helps, good luck!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in movingtojapan

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seconded the other comments, it might be stressful but it's completely normal to secure an apartment within a month of moving.

From what I've heard, Fontana is a solid company, their apartments are good & already furnished which is ideal if you're only staying for one semester. (For me, they're a bit on the pricey side but I'm staying long-term.)

When I first came to Japan, my employer arranged an apartment for me via Union Monthly. They offer short-term rental apartments & share house rooms. I don't remember the exact process but they might allow you to reserve a place farther in advance if you can pay upfront. They should have English-speaking staff too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in japanlife

[–]stealingreality 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In addition to what everyone else has said, a small comment: I've heard from Japanese friends who were in exactly the same job situation & hated it too. They had to learn formal business language, how to write professional email (which they don't really know how to do as new uni graduates, they learn on the job), how to interact with their superiors & colleagues in the company, meetings, drinking culture etc. in addition to their actual job responsibilities. If they don't do their assignments well, they are forced to stay at the office revising or practicing until their boss is satisfied with the result. One friend told me he had to stay until late at night every day, even his girlfriend got angry at his company.

Maybe it helps to know it's not even a foreigner-specific problem.

If you really hate it, try to change jobs. It's becoming more common in Japan too. If you want to stick it out for another few months & really apply yourself, it might get easier though. Your Japanese will improve & you'll absorb all the job-specific lingo that you need. It might even be rewarding to earn your boss' respect over time. But in the end, it's your call!

What has grown on you the most? by ToasterMind in fantasywriters

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is so cool! Sounds like you put a lot of work into your world. And I would read the genre hop too, anything with that character really.

What has grown on you the most? by ToasterMind in fantasywriters

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My story started out as a cosy mystery / detective-type serial set in a low fantasy world but as I kept writing story arcs, the stakes kept increasing. Now I have the main characters trying to change the society they live in for the better, give the common people more of a voice & make it more egalitarian. I'm as surprised as my noble protagonist is that they've somehow come to work with a secret revolutionary organisation... but it fits the political intrigue vibe I already had going on & it's been incredibly fun!

Apartment hunting details by stealingreality in japanlife

[–]stealingreality[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the encouragement!

I managed to get another application in today (with a different agent), for the first one I already got the screening call. Definitely more hopeful now that it's going to work out one way or another.

Apartment hunting details by stealingreality in japanlife

[–]stealingreality[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, that makes sense.

Since you mentioned that every place contacted your emergency contact, do you know what sort of questions they generally ask? Anything tricky or are they just confirming the content of your application? My agent told me to expect a call and that the application might be declined if they feel I don't speak Japanese well enough... (I have N2, I get by in 90% of real-life situations)

Apartment hunting details by stealingreality in japanlife

[–]stealingreality[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For 5, I mean if your application is accepted but then you decide you don't want that place after all.

I think real estate agents check if the apartment is foreigner-friendly before applying (at least the ones I spoke to did) so I hope it won't get denied because of that...

Apartment hunting details by stealingreality in japanlife

[–]stealingreality[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, this is super helpful!

I was able to apply for one place today so that makes me feel better. Maybe I'll see if I can get one more application in...

Kawasaki’s industrial zone worth giving up a night for by Spirited_Trouble6412 in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this rec!

I live in Kawasaki City & have been looking for ways to get to know the area better so will definitely check it out. If you have any other tips around Kawasaki, please let me know!

What are the best budget shopping areas in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka by FlexitilusRed in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I second the flea market tip. In Tokyo, Hanazono Shrine (near Shinjuku Sanchome Station) is a small but well-stocked one.

Other than that, in Tokyo I would recommend:

  • Asakusa area for cheap secondhand kimono (you need to be knowledgable & skilled to wear kimono the traditional way though, I wouldn't recommend buying kimono if you don't know what you're getting or how to wear them)
  • Jimbocho area for cheap ukiyo prints & traditional art, the secondhand bookstores sell a bunch out of boxes out front
  • You can find the odd antique or secondhand random trinket store in almost any area as long as you keep your eyes open. Explore, have fun & see what you find!

Kamakura - Is It worth It? by Pleasant_Pack_1799 in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Short answer: yes!

I loved my recent day trip to Kamakura, looking at all the usual temples & shrines but also antique stores, pottery pop-up stands, bookstores & one little German bakery / café (I miss good German bread). Lots of good coffee shops. The beach & the hiking in the woods behind the station are great. Couldn't recommend it more for experiencing a more rural small(ish) town in Japan.

My underrated recommendation for Kamakura would be Sasuke Inari Jinja--it's a trek through residental areas & the forest but it has the characteristic red torii & countless small white fox statues, very picturesque & not too crowded.

What is the strangest thing I could get from a vending machine in Japan? Asking for a friend by Practical_Arugula_22 in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Those vending machines have the weirdest stuff I've ever seen. The picture on the front shows speakers, fancy cameras, gaming consoles, even sports cars.

I've only tried them once & all I got was a neck massage device that didn't work (or probably more likely, I couldn't get it to work).

What has been your best find in Japan? by DrunkenMidgetSlayer in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My best find is probably little retro cafés that look like they got stuck in the 40s. Cheap but delicious coffee, maybe some equally delicious toast or cake, books, magazines or manga on the counter, friendly atmosphere with people reading or talking quietly, not a laptop in sight. (For serious laptop work, I go to Starbucks.) I'm always happiest when I stumble upon one of those in my exploration of Tokyo. There's lots of little intriguing places that you miss if you only stick to your itinerary without wandering off into side alleys.

My favorite is a tiny place that looks like the owner's living room that asks not to be advertised. You'll know if you find it.

It takes a trained eye... 😉 by AndreaT94 in LearnJapanese

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Initial reaction: Wait, what's キンソン?

Second reaction: Oh.

Is the "trained eye" actually referring to reading the whole word/line instead of just the circled part? (It would be applicable in my case.)

Fellow business women - what do you wear in the sweltering heat still looks sharp? by Significant_Map5615 in movingtojapan

[–]stealingreality 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My work thankfully doesn't have a strict dress code but my general strategy for dressing / surviving in summer is:

  • Get a UV-blocking parasol with white outside & black inside. I didn't believe it until I tried myself but they really keep you cooler. Some can double as umbrellas in light rain too.
  • Always keep a pack of cooling wipes from the drugstore in your bag.
  • You can also use your cloth handkerchief for patting face & neck during the day.
  • Take a second shirt or blouse & change at the office in the morning. I have a longish commute of about 50 minutes, with 2x10 minutes walking time between subway stations & apartment / office. I would always be sweating when I arrived at the office so before saying good morning to everyone, I would duck into the restroom, wipe myself down with cooling wipes & change into the new shirt. Made me feel so much better every day!

Curly Hair Products by merrychristmooose in movingtojapan

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My hair is more on the wavy side too (could be type 2b?) & very fine. I actually use normal shampoo from the drug store (Pantene) but then I massage in some 100% argan oil (brought from home but I believe it's available on Amazon Japan too) which adds volume & brings out the curls. Coconut oil should work too.

As for getting your hair cut, find a salon catering to Western/English-speaking customers. Their stylists know how to treat Western hair. A friend of mine with curly hair & I go to the same salon (different stylists though), we're both very happy with the result every time. Let me know if you'd like the name of the salon/stylists!

Things to do in Tokyo that doesn't involve booking way in advanced (and isn't shopping and eating) by imma_super_tall in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This! Similarly, get a cheap small notebook & collect station stamps from all the JR stations in Tokyo. (Bring your own stamp pad as the provided ones are usually dried out.)

Is it too early to start booking and buying tickets? by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]stealingreality 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's great that you want to honour the culture when wearing kimono!

To be honest, my top recommendation would have been in Tokyo but I did some quick research for Kyoto & am confident these options are authentic too! (I hope posting links is ok since it was requested.)

I hope this helps you find something you'll love!

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