Version 2.0 - Tokyo is coming soon. Please excuse the construction and let me know if you have any problems.

Japanese Hanko's

Saturday, February 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)


In the West important documents are signed by hand. This is true sometimes in Japan but not always. In Japan people often pull out a case with a small stamp called a hanko that is used in place of a signature. For my time sheet at work there are two columns. I use my hanko for one and the principal uses his for the other one.

I learned recently that if you hold the hanko with the indentation facing up then the stamp will be in the right direction.

Peace,


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Picture of the Day - 500 yen lunch, Nagoya, Japan

Saturday, February 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)



See http://zreflections.blogspot.com/2008/12/us-dollar-to-japanes-yen.html for the value of the yen.

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New YouTube Video - Osu Kannon Temple

Saturday, February 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

I recently uploaded a video of the Osu Kannon Temple in Nagoya, Japan. Hope you enjoy it!

Peace,

Popular Chain in Japan

Saturday, February 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)




This store is popular with the junior high school kids and couples. I have only seen people eating the ice cream which is yummy.

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Picture of the Day -Sapporo Ads, Tokyo, Japan

Friday, February 20, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Picture of the Day - Cute Little Boy

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Picture of the Day

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Free

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

A Little Bit About Me

I have a one bedroom apartment and live alone.

I don't have a mortgage, house, car, dishwasher, dryer, children, girl friend, or home phone. I have an i-pod, a sophisticated cell phone, good friends, wonderful parents, and am in love with photography.

After the rat race in Chicago and awful decisions I made last year, I am pretty happy where I am at now.

Peace,

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Picture of the Day - Standing Out from the Crowd

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)

What is a Jet Coaster?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Americans say Roller Coaster and the Japanese say Jet Coaster. As far as I know the Japanese are the only ones that say this. I agree with my students that Space Mountain is a great Roller/Jet Coaster.

Peace,

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What is a CV?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

I don't think we are in Kansas anymore Dorothy...

Americans say give me your resume. In Europe and Japan they say give me your CV, or Curriculum Vitae. I never realized how beautiful the word resume is until I heard of a CV. To me it sounds like it should be a car part of something.

Peace,
-Zackary

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That is 10 doll---, I mean Yen

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Yes, in Japan the currency is the Yen. As an American how long does it take to stop thinking in dollars? I have been here almost two years and I still think in dollars. I met a guy from Kansas several months ago that has been here for twelve years. Yep, he still thinks in dollars too.

This is probably because it is so much easier for example to say ten dollars then 1 thousand yen.

See my previous post on the value of the Yen.
http://zreflections.blogspot.com/2008/12/us-dollar-to-japanes-yen.html

Peace,

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Why the Japanese Wear Masks

Monday, February 16, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (2)

This is in response to my last Picture of the Day where there is a girl wearing a mask. One of my loyal readers thought it was because of the smog in Japan.

In China people wear masks because the smog is atrocious. In Japan they have a different reason. In Japan I have not noticed smog at all, even in Tokyo the city of cities. You don't get that fresh country air people love and which makes my allergies go crazy. Japan has some of the most beautiful country side you can imagine and the air is fresh.

People in Japan work hard and they work long hours. When they are sick what do they do? They go to work of course! If they are really sick they go to the hospital and skip work. The national health care system pays for their days off if they are under a doctors care. Children also go to school if they are sick. So all over Japan you see children to senior citizens wearing white surgical masks. Not all of them are white, Disney has a whole line of masks for children. You can buy masks in any convenience store and there are many different styles and types.

Have I worn a mask? A friend asked me to wear one once but it kept hitting and steaming up my glasses so I was not very happy. I have not had a cold for some time so I have not tried again.

I was here at least a year before I got used to seeing people wearing masks. If you want a challenging experience, try to teach English to someone speaking through a mask.

Peace,
-Zackary

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Picture of the Day - Sleeping Japanese Girl

Sunday, February 15, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)