UP|Japan http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forums.html Sun, 11 May 2008 18:06:56 -0500 30 UP|Japan http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forums.html Tokyo in 1935
QUOTE (Neo @ Apr 4 2008, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
.... I wonder how much of what is seen in the video still exists in the city as it is today?

My guess is not much. Tokyo was pretty much leveled by incendiary bombs in the last year of WWII. (1944-1945) The destruction was comparable to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki except of course it took more than one bomb to do it.

Great video BTW. Thanks for posting. Imperial Japan looks remarkably modern in those photos and I would have guess that it was a 1950s city in the USA from the air shots. I really looks as if the citizens of that Tokyo were well off, comfortable, and enjoyed themselves.]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:02:35 -0500 monsoon Tokyo in 1935 Ah, thanks for posting that video! It is amazing how built up Tokyo was even in 1935. Great video quality for something like that too, especially for it to be so old. I wonder how much of what is seen in the video still exists in the city as it is today? Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:13:51 -0500 Neo Tokyo in 1935


]]> Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:47:12 -0500 pinetree221 Tokyo
QUOTE (monsoon @ Feb 19 2008, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The definition of the Tokyo metro is different than that in the USA and is simply an arbitrary circle drawn around the center of the city. Using the same definition of development NYC's metro would only include the 5 boroughs. The developed area above is known as the Kanto region and respresents an continuously developed urban area of over 50 million people. There is nothing like it in North America not even close.


shok.gif

I didnt know that! 50 million!? Good grief! I must have read the 30 something million as people living inside the wards or something. I was about to move to Tokyo before personal issues came up that prevented me from moving for the time being. I researched Tokyo for a long time and even halfway learned Japanese. Shinjuku has got to be the hands down best streetscape in the world. Oh wait, Shibuya crossing ties shinjuku.]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:15:44 -0600 Nashville_maestro Tokyo
QUOTE (Nashville_maestro @ Feb 19 2008, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
.......
Now that is a HUGE city. Needs to be though. Roughly 33 million people live in metro tokyo making it the most populous city in the world.
The definition of the Tokyo metro is different than that in the USA and is simply an arbitrary circle drawn around the center of the city. Using the same definition of development NYC's metro would only include the 5 boroughs. The developed area above is known as the Kanto region and respresents an continuously developed urban area of over 50 million people. There is nothing like it in North America not even close.

]]> Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:17:19 -0600 monsoon Tokyo
Seriously though. You can see tokyo from outer space with the naked eye! Granted, you can also see new york but it's not as big. Less than half actually.

Tokyo from space according to google maps (the grayish area around the green arrow):



Now that is a HUGE city. Needs to be though. Roughly 33 million people live in metro tokyo making it the most populous city in the world.]]> Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:49:00 -0600 Nashville_maestro Tokyo
Stupid me, I speak French and English, then learned spanish in High school. I want to learn an eastern language.]]> Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:37:15 -0600 cajun Japan: Land of the falling birthrate
Point being, we do an awful lot of buisness with japan and if they start hurting, so will we.]]> Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:06:57 -0600 Nashville_maestro jobs in japan
Also, it is very hard to get into Japan unless you are sponsored by a company. My company wanted to move someone to Japan who's wife was Japanese, and we still had to sponsor him.

Personally, I think most Americans would be miserable living in Japan. I could see it being a very lonely place if it were not for the fact that people *have* to watch over me and entertain me.

Singapore, on the other hand, seems like an ideal situation if you want to work in Asia. Booming economy, English is the official language and the Job market is *ridiculously* tight. And, every other car you see is a BMW or Mercedes. Things must be going well. wink.gif

Joe]]> Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:14:08 -0600 joeDowntown jobs in japan
QUOTE (orulz @ Jul 30 2007, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you want to go to Japan as an English speaker with essentially no Japanese language skills, essentially your only option - outside of a US military base - is to teach English, or be in a position somehow related to the instruction of English.


If it still matters I'd like to say that it's virtually impossible o get a job teaching english there simply because that every other forigner that moves there tries doing that so you REALLY have to luck out with a position opening to do that. More realisticlaly, your visa will expire before that happens.

If you really want a smooth transition there your best bet is to get a job here in the states that you know has offices over there and look for open positions available for transfer. Not only will your legality already be secure there but a lot of companys -especially the larger ones- will even provide you with housing until you get on your feet. Sweet deal...

I'd also like to say that its pretty tough moving there. It's hard to get in unless you have strings already pulling for you over there (i.e. a buisness, school, etc) and once your there, with the exception of tokyo, they are in fact pretty hostile of forigners. Tokyo isnt much better either. I've known a few people that moved there and one of them actually moved back because she was so fed up with getting discriminated against. I've also read some pretty bad stories as well such as people refusing to sit near you in the subway, calling you "ignorant forigner" in japanese thinking you cant understand them, etc. Not trying to discourage you though! I say go for it!]]> Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:49:17 -0600 Nashville_maestro Liberal Democratic Party to lose majority control of Parliament? Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:53:36 -0500 Raintree21 Liberal Democratic Party to lose majority control of Parliament? Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Wednesday he will resign. Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:52:24 -0500 Raintree21 Liberal Democratic Party to lose majority control of Parliament? Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:50:27 -0500 okinawatyphoon Tokyo
QUOTE(MikesLogic @ Mar 30 2007, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
people here just seem to be snubbing one of the most urban cities in the world.


Oh, who cares about new york? Really?]]> Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:57:12 -0500 Otenyuda Tokyo Tokyo is amazing! Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:53:10 -0500 Kamuda_Train jobs in japan
If you have moderate Japanese language skills (fluent, but not native-level fluent) you may be able to find a job at a Japanese office of a foreign company, most likely in some sort of position interfacing between the local office and the headquarters. If you are looking to truly integrate within a Japanese company, you need to have pretty much native-level fluency.]]> Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:03:16 -0500 orulz jobs in japan
QUOTE(ShapeShifter @ Jul 6 2007, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thats weird, I heard it IS easy for foreigners (that only speak English). I have two grandparents that live in Japan. The nice thing about working for a company in Japan is they can't fire you; only embarass you by repremanding you in public or giving you a lower position in the company.


It may be easy for visitors but for people working in most corporations in technical jobs they are going to need to know some Japanese. In addition, not only can foreigners be fired from a job there, when it happens the work visa also disappears and they have to leave Japan.]]> Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:20:17 -0500 monsoon jobs in japan their English with but when it came to business, fluent Japanese was a must.]]> Sun, 29 Jul 2007 15:20:31 -0500 Raintree21 Liberal Democratic Party to lose majority control of Parliament?

From The Charlotte Observer]]> Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:31:29 -0500 Raintree21 jobs in japan
QUOTE(El Norteņo @ Jul 6 2007, 09:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have not gone to Japan, but I can advise you , I have gone to china and language is very important. If you cannot speak the language at the level of an educated person, it will be very difficult for you. Also, japan is not easy for foreigners they say...but I do not know from experience... tongue.gif
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Yo no he visitado japon, pero si he visitado china, asi te aviso aprender el idioma muy bien. Para trabajar de profesional se exige hablar al nivel de una persona bien culta. Si no puedes, entonces sera muy dificil para ti, especialmente en japon, donde los extranjeros no son bienvenidos ...o asi se dice... pero, no he visitado aquel pais, tal vez estoy equivocado... tongue.gif



Thats weird, I heard it IS easy for foreigners (that only speak English). I have two grandparents that live in Japan. The nice thing about working for a company in Japan is they can't fire you; only embarass you by repremanding you in public or giving you a lower position in the company.]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:54:16 -0500 ShapeShifter Tokyo ----
excelentes fotos!]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:31:17 -0500 El Norteņo jobs in japan
QUOTE(Wild Style @ Jun 8 2007, 08:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am a network administrator with 7 yrs of experience, I also have a degree in computer info systems (bachelor). I want to know is it hard to get a job in the I.T. field in Japan and what pay I will be able to fetch over there.

I plan to take japanese for a year or two before I even think about moving over there.


I have not gone to Japan, but I can advise you , I have gone to china and language is very important. If you cannot speak the language at the level of an educated person, it will be very difficult for you. Also, japan is not easy for foreigners they say...but I do not know from experience... tongue.gif
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Yo no he visitado japon, pero si he visitado china, asi te aviso aprender el idioma muy bien. Para trabajar de profesional se exige hablar al nivel de una persona bien culta. Si no puedes, entonces sera muy dificil para ti, especialmente en japon, donde los extranjeros no son bienvenidos ...o asi se dice... pero, no he visitado aquel pais, tal vez estoy equivocado... tongue.gif]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:27:24 -0500 El Norteņo Commuting in Tokyo Sun, 24 Jun 2007 16:01:44 -0500 rbdetsport Tokyo


Joe]]> Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:06:29 -0500 joeDowntown Tokyo International Forum








Joe]]> Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:54:26 -0500 joeDowntown Tokyo
Most of the buildings are 10-12 stories tall with an occasional 40 story building. Big skyscrapers are more rare, and it is interesting because the major conglomerates kind of stay away from each other. I am staying in an area that is mainly developed by Mitsubishi (Tokyo Station / Marunouchi area) while my office is in Nihonbashi, which is developed mainly by Matsui.

I always get a "Miami Vice" feel when I am here as far as the low-rise buildings. But I should catch some shots of some pretty good architecture (the Merrill Lynch building is awesome, just need to download the pictures).

Also seems to be a lot of activity at Tokyo Disney, which strangely, sits right next to the expressway.

Joe]]> Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:05:42 -0500 joeDowntown jobs in japan
I plan to take japanese for a year or two before I even think about moving over there.]]> Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:44:54 -0500 Wild Style Japan is neat.
I can't think of a movie that really does. Not that it would be boring. Tokyo is an exciting place, especially if you know someone who could show you around.]]> Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:00:11 -0500 traal Tokyo
QUOTE(mistermetaj @ Feb 26 2007, 08:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Tokyo loses to NYC by over 2000 highrises. I refuse to believe emporis is that inaccruate. Maybe Tokyo has taller sprawl overall, but for major buildings and especially skyline, Tokyo doesnt compare to NYC. The only city in the world that contends with NYC is Hong Kong.

^ This is indeed true, people are comparing apples to oranges anyway. NYC specifically Manhattan is a skyline juggernaut. Tokyo is extremely developed, they have a continuous radius of buildings that just go on and on. Don't get me wrong I love Tokyo, people here just seem to be snubbing one of the most urban cities in the world.

]]> Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:34:37 -0500 MikesLogic Tokyo
QUOTE(monsoon @ Oct 1 2006, 07:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Emporis isn't exactly known for its accuracy. In any case, while Tokyo doesn't have a huge number of tall buildings because its in earthquake territory, its the scale of the development there that is mind boggling. Manhattan would simply be a single ward in Tokyo which stretches to the horizon, add in Yokohama, and the extended urban area and you are talking about constant uninterrupted development that seems endless. There is nothing like this in North America, and most westerners are quite taken back by Tokyo in how far behind NYC is in comparison.


Tokyo loses to NYC by over 2000 highrises. I refuse to believe emporis is that inaccruate. Maybe Tokyo has taller sprawl overall, but for major buildings and especially skyline, Tokyo doesnt compare to NYC. The only city in the world that contends with NYC is Hong Kong.]]> Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:19:27 -0600 mistermetaj Japan is neat. ]]> Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:40:49 -0600 zman9810 Japan is neat.





]]> Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:10:05 -0600 NcSc74 Mt. Fuji ]]> Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:00:22 -0600 NcSc74 Japan: Land of the falling birthrate
QUOTE(Aessotariq @ Jan 24 2005, 09:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Japan's other issue is that it's still a very closed society, immigration-wise. It's very hard to become a permanent resident or citizen.


And will remain so.

A simple solution is to subsidize moms in having more kids, and help on domestic issues. Mothers in Japan have a duty to literally slave over their kids (which is another reason the birthrate has decreased, as the demands on 110% literacy increased, it demands an incredible amount of time focusing on education. They have to organize a literal order of battle to ensure their kids get into those choice universities [otherwise their job prospects aren't good, or their kid may end up a suicide risk as pressure is severe to get into the top universities]).

Once moms have a needed break in that single focus stressed now, there's more time to actually have another child.

Immigration is out of the question, as Nihon is Nihon. With cases of Westerners immigrating to Japan and causing ruckus over domestic policies, more so.]]> Sun, 28 Jan 2007 10:08:51 -0600 GAOnMyMind Teach English in Japan
QUOTE(colonelteacher @ Sep 13 2006, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The only issue is that when you "teach" english here you have to cater to a lot of nonsense. I have to put up with a lot from parents that are really the customers, unlike public school, and will pull there kids out if you aren't teaching their child the way they deem best. It is pretty frsutrating at times.


It's the duty of Japanese moms to ensure their kids get the best education. It's literally shameful if their kid(s) underperform, as it's regarded as irresponsibility of the mother if they do. So it's not nonsense to them, it's very important in a society where you're judged by your rank in the community. Unlike in the US where pioneer independence is encourage, in Japan it's the community that endured it to survive hundreds of years of serf wars. Everyone pitches in to make things run as smoothly as possible. Buck it, and you're labeled an outcast and that's literal abandonment (few jobs, and living on the street with little sympathy). There's none of the Marlon Brando Rebel without a Cause stuff. Conformity is the standard, and mom's duty is the manage the purse strings and raise upright kids (they actually have more power in domestic life than the Western world understands - where in the patriach societies men ruled the homestead, in Japan it's the wives and they draw no quarter on it).]]> Sun, 28 Jan 2007 09:57:36 -0600 GAOnMyMind Japan is neat.
QUOTE(tSlater @ Sep 12 2006, 11:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I used to love watching NHK News Japan on NWI on Direct TV, but they stopped carrying that channel and replaced it with China News that I'd have to pay extra for sleep.gif


So NHK has to be picked up by a large dish now? Or via direct vendors? Know of a local business that specializes in getting NHK (because I don't believe local Direct TV carried it at all), but not sure if they just tapped into national Direct TV outlets.

Does anyone know if it's possible to get the real NHK, not the repackaged variety served in the US and Europe?]]> Sun, 28 Jan 2007 09:43:45 -0600 GAOnMyMind Tokyo-Haneda Airport/Monorail
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nb20070125a2.html

Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007

1.5 billionth rides monorail to Haneda

Kyodo News

Tokyo Monorail Co. celebrated its 1.5 billionth passenger Wednesday, some 42 years after the rail service opened between Tokyo and Haneda airport in 1964, the year Tokyo hosted the Olympics.

The milestone came when Masatoshi Kawahara, a graduate student from Sapporo, entered the ticket gate at Hamamatsucho Station, where the Haneda-bound service begins.

He was feted on the station concourse with a decorative banner that dropped from the ceiling and given a certificate confirming him as the 1.5 billionth passenger and two coupons for a two-night, three-day tour package worth about 200,000 yen.

"I was taken by a surprise," Kawahara said with a smile. "I will give these tickets to my parents."

The two passengers who passed through the ticket gate before and after Kawahara also got prices: airline tickets from Japan Airlines Corp. and All Nippon Airways Co.

Tokyo Monorail is competing with Keihin Electric Express Railway Co., which started service to Haneda airport in 1998.

The Tokyo Monorail averaged 127,000 passengers a day in the business year that ended last March, down 30 percent from its peak. It will start a nonstop express service between Hamamatsucho and Haneda airport this March.]]> Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:46:26 -0600 dpbaker Commuting in Tokyo
QUOTE(seicer @ Jan 22 2007, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Indeed. I have a friend in Japan and on his daily trips to the office, he'll literally be shoved into the train by the watchmen.

The lines are highly efficient and it is very rare to see one late by more than 20 seconds. Conductors and other train crewmen have committed suicide when a train runs late...


He, he, and that is one of the reasons trains run late.....jumpers.....

I've also had slowdowns or stops due to high wind conditions on some of the more "delicate" lines....]]> Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:40:27 -0600 dpbaker Commuting in Tokyo
QUOTE(monsoon @ Jul 15 2006, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Indeed. If you manage to get any part of your body inside the doors, it counts as a reservation and the conductors are obligated to "help" get the rest of your body inside the car. LOL.


Indeed. I have a friend in Japan and on his daily trips to the office, he'll literally be shoved into the train by the watchmen.

The lines are highly efficient and it is very rare to see one late by more than 20 seconds. Conductors and other train crewmen have committed suicide when a train runs late...]]> Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:39:13 -0600 seicer Tokyo those pictures are amazing, it is a never ending field of buildings. Sun, 10 Dec 2006 13:31:14 -0600 dgreco Japan is neat.
QUOTE(dpbaker @ Oct 15 2006, 02:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Japan is truly unique, a clash of cultures; the old and the new, where East meets West! Far from perfect, and I believe Japan is largely forgetting its heritage and history which is a shame, but I love Japan nonetheless. The large cities are great, absolutely love Tokyo, but people need to get away from these areas and see the more rural attractions and get around. There is really a lot to see.


Not just Japan-specific - I live in Chapel Hill NC, and have two good friends who respectively grew up in Masuda Japan and Bangalore India - all 3 of us are major film geeks (most of my friends). I grew up in the US and gradually got really burnt out on Hollywood film, and for the last 10 years or so have turned into one of those obnoxious foreign film people - IMO Japan, India, France, Italy, Russia all have these vast film histories and tons of great stuff to discover, a lot of which is making it out onto DVD. And those guys just laugh - they could care less about Kurosawa or Satyajit Ray or "classic" Japanese and Indian film and literature - both of them (and they're just as meticulous in their viewing of American film) comment that they grew up on a steady diet of Hollywood, and were tired of the "formulas" and "cliches" in their own national cinema. The "forgetting of heritage" is a global condition, to varying degrees in just about any country that isn't a "failed" state...]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2006 07:30:59 -0600 davidals Japan is neat.
The Japanese not only have perfected the automobile and captured a huge chunk of the market in the US, they really know how to move people in Japan too;

Perhaps you have not heard the Japanese now have a bullet train that exceeds 250 mph. The only problem is that takes a long time to slow down, so it doesn't reach Top Speed on every trip or stay at those Top Speed for very long. But its speed is what you need then this bullet train is best of breed.

The previous fastest bullet trains ran at 125 miles an hour in Japan between our Osaka and Tokyo. But the French with their TGV bullet train has run at a top speed of 218 mph. But this new Japanese bullet train runs consistently at 223 mph on a daily basis with a top speed of 250 mph.

Of course in Japan, you will have to slow down quick if there is an earthquake and the Japanese have already thought about that too. The bullet train has spoilers, which come out like giant Japanese fans to break the air and slow the train down as much as 10 mph per second and back down to 55 mph, when the brakes kick in hard.

The nosecone of the bullet train is over 52 feet long in order to shape the airflows so they will streamline along the body at those high rates of speed. Engineers say that the bullet train is even more stable at high speed due]]> Wed, 06 Dec 2006 06:01:13 -0600 Lance Winslow Tokyo
Maybe one day we'll get a USA Shinkansen - Florida to New England: East Coast Bullet Trains blink.gif

...Or a 21st Century Carolina Kurosawa (or Ozu) - working from Wilmington's studio complex, of course, crafting a series of epics steeped in the paradoxes of Southern history and culture, and dramas charting the paradoxes of the New South...]]> Sun, 05 Nov 2006 07:53:05 -0600 davidals Tokyo http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/post-a2963-tokyo-269.jpg
I love Tokyo. It is more multiracial than I thought. It is one of the best world cities I have visited. As a matter of fact it is my favorite world city. This pic is kinda of fuzzy but that is Yokohama in the background taken from the Tokyo tower.]]> Sun, 05 Nov 2006 04:55:40 -0600 NcSc74 Tokyo Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:25:55 -0500 Jerseyman4 Teach English in Japan www.gaijinpot.com. there are classifieds with all sorts of jobs(including ELT), plus it's pretty useful for a lot of other reasons.]]> Tue, 17 Oct 2006 05:08:59 -0500 tony speller Teach English in Japan Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:21:10 -0500 jdkacz Tokyo Sun, 15 Oct 2006 14:49:06 -0500 dpbaker Japan is neat. Japan is truly unique, a clash of cultures; the old and the new, where East meets West! Far from perfect, and I believe Japan is largely forgetting its heritage and history which is a shame, but I love Japan nonetheless. The large cities are great, absolutely love Tokyo, but people need to get away from these areas and see the more rural attractions and get around. There is really a lot to see. Sun, 15 Oct 2006 14:47:32 -0500 dpbaker Teach English in Japan
I worked for NOVA for two years. All of the large schools like AEON, NOVA, GEOS have their isues and problems, silly rules, etc., but the fact of th matter is that despite all of the complaints, nobody held guns to anyone's head and forced them to to teach there!! I always chuckle when I hear so much complaining. Sure, I had my share of issues with NOVA, but it wasn't THAT BAD. I mean, come on, we all complain about aspects of our jobs no matter where we go. The cultural experience for me was worth it. Two of the best years of my life. And if you don't like it.....quit!! Yeah, some people have an issue with breaking contracts, but you can quit if need be.

There may be some measure of culture shock that doesn't necessarily hit right away, could take a few months to settle in. Knew more than one teacher that was there one day, and simply gone the next. Couldn't take it. I'd say these folks aren't the norm though.]]> Sun, 15 Oct 2006 14:43:57 -0500 dpbaker