O_o You actually bathe next to yakuza?

Do you say anything? "Hi, I'm teaching your children, please don't cut off my fingers."

This is an uninformed question, but you mentioned getting stares from people who've never seen a foreigner. I guess maybe I was under the impression that yakuza are violently xenophobic. Am I wrong?

Don't most onsens have rules against yakuza entering anyway? I.e. they don't allow visitors with tattoos, or something.

Speaking of tattoos, if you were to get one, and presuming it's Japanese-related, what would you get? Certainly not kanji, but perhaps the circular tri-teardrop, or some other symbol? Or maybe some other cultural aspect, like a nekomata or other youkai.

-Nathan

Yeah I bathe next to Yakuza when they come in. It's no big deal. They seem like nice enough fellows, but I don't talk to them. I don't really talk to anyone unless they talk to me. Although some of the people have recognized me as a regular and chat with me often.

I know it comes of as a shock, but I'm not scared to be bathing with Yakuza at all. Not like there's much he can do in the nude, and they're not as overly violent as Americans would believe. They helped out a LOT with the Kobe quake. I just sit on my stool and do my thing, and he does his.

As for the tattoos, many places including most public baths and swimming pools do not allow them. The onsen next to me is an exception to this rule. And if I got one, I'd actually get kanji. I'd probably get a 'jyoudan' on my shoulder or something, and yes, I know that it means 'joke.' I could also get the kanji for 'young' and 'respectful' because those are the ones I use in my name kanji. Took me a couple hours to find that combination to fit my name, but I'm glad I did. But if I didn't get a kanji, I'd have to go for a Maneki Neko. I have a love for lucky cats and just cats in general. Surprising that I'm allergic to them...

Thanks for writing!

Just out of curiosity, what does GEOS stand for?

Jeff Walker

Glad to hear from you Jeff! It was a pleasure working with you during E3. As for GEOS, it stands for Global Education Opportunities and Services. We used to be combined with AEON under the name AmVic for Ambition and Victory, but we split off and retained the global view that GEOS holds. Thus, we have schools all over the world.

Thanks for writing, and take care, my friend.

Lali-Ho! I hope your vacation was a good one.

I was wondering if you could tell me more about 'the sign of the girlfriend' and 'the sign of the boyfriend' (you know, sticking up your smallest finger or thumb while speaking). What sort of context is this used in? And does it have a stigma attached to it (ex. a lot of people will think you're a hippie for flashing the 'peace' sign)? Also, you wouldn't happen to know what 'Futabari Taize' means would you? I know someone who keeps saying that over and over at me and I haven't been able to translate it (curse my lack of better Japanese schooling!). Oh, and since pocky = good and your column = good, does that mean that your column = pocky? Gasp! If that's true then given that bishonen = cool and you = cool, YOU = BISHONEN! Wow... insightful.

Thanks!

Sparkle for us!

Kyrie

First of all, I want to say that I like your math. Me = Bishounen. I suppose that would have to be true, now wouldn't it? But as for your question, it JUST came up in two of my classes. Flashing the thumbs up for boyfriend or the pinky out for girlfriend would come up in conversation among friends. If you were talking about someone and you gave that sign, it would mean that you are officially a couple. Or if you talked about a trip and you flashed it, it would mean you took it with your boyfriend/girlfriend, and as far as I know, there is no stigma attached to using it.

For your second question, I have no answer for you. I don't know that phrase either. My translator says 'Cover Beam', but I'm not so sure. I hope that can be of some use to you.

Thanks for writing, and I'll do my best to *sparkle for you.

As far as the prize goes lol I dont really need one ^^ winning is enough!!! God winning feels good lmao ok my rant is over!!

Oh and since I have this email open already I might as well throw in a Japandemodium question. My Grandmother is very culture oriented and has lived almost anywhere in the world, including Japan. I was discussing some stuff with her the other day and the word Gaijin (sp?) came up. She explained to me that the word technically means foreigner, but really isnt a good word to be spoken. Its very insulting and racial, apparently. Now the reason why I bring this up is because I hear you refer to yourself as an Gaijin so whats the deal? Are you insulting yourself or is my granmother wrong or what? Thanks for the neat japanese info and keep up with the excellent column.

As for 'gaijin' it is technically rude. The proper term is 'gaigokujin', but it all depends on how it's used. Gaijin is something like 'gringo' in spanish. If it's said with the right tone and in the right context, it isn't really offensive at all, but if you say it meaning to be offensive, it's pretty obvious. It's pretty common to call foreigners that, and we don't take offense to it. As you pointed out, we call ourselves gaijin. I guess it's just because it's easier to say than gaigokujin. But yeah, don't worry. It's losing much of its stigma. There will always be people that misuse the word, but it's not so bad anymore.

Thanks for writing and sending in the awesome sig!

Hi Jordan,

I just found your site, and I have some questions about working for eikaiwa in Japan. I am starting work with Aeon in October in Tokuyama (in the Yamaguchi Prefecture). What have you heard/experienced about Aeon? Also, do you have any insight into life in the Yamaguchi area?

Arrigato!

Mary

AEON has a pretty good reputation here, so don't worry. You'll either love it or hate it, and it's all going to depend on you and your individual situation. I wish you luck.

As for the Yamaguchi area, sorry. I don't know it. But shoot me another email sometime and I'll swap contact info with you. I'd be willing to trade tips on teaching you learn. I'd be happy to give you some of the ideas I've learned in 11 months.

Thanks for writing!

Konnichiwa Jordan.

Thank you for answering my e-mail a few months back about the "image of Black people in Japan".

This time I have a question about the relationship a gaijin teacher may share with her/his students.

I have read some interesting editorials about being an English teacher in Japan which describe students and sometimes teachers.....umm.....unusual behavior to say the least (see this link and you'll know what I mean http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html ). Are the stories of Kanchos and marriage proposals from students true?.....say it ain't so. And if you have any whacky stories about students or co-wokers it would be great if you could share them.

p.s. I hope you are are having a great time with your fiancee.

from: Marcel

Hehe, I have to say that a lot of what he puts on his site is dead on the money. Luckily, I've never had a student attempt a kancho, but I'd be forced to kill them if they did. I think they realize this. One of my middle school ninensei mentioned the word and I threatened her the same way Az does. It worked.

As for marriage offers, I haven't gotten any of those, but I've had more than my share of offers for dates or more, and I've turned down every single one of them. I'm a one girl kind of man. But yeah, most of what he puts in there is more true than you'd think. It's scary.

Oh, if you want to know MY wacky stories, read my lj.

Thanks for writing in again, and feel free to send another!

Dear Sensei:

I remembered that once you talked about the difference in Japanese house's voltage, and how it could affect electric devices. You said something that it does nothing to videogame consoles, and that we should buy over there our alarm clock, but what about American cell phones, iPods and PSPs and other rechargeables? Also, how is piracy, if any, handled in Japan? Those pictures of Japan were very good, keep 'em coming. Finally, whats your take on the Fire Emblem and Xeno series (Xenogears being my favorite RPG of all time)? Have you played the Game Cube Fire Emblem yet? How good is it?

Arigato gozaimasu,

rocker-otaku

All of your other electronics will be fine, it's just that alarm clocks use the frequency to tell time. If you change that, it'll slowly gain or lose time depending. I have an American and Japanese PS2s and Gamecubes side by side and they work just fine. I also have a US DS and a JP PSP and no problems there. I also have a US computer. Only thing to worry about is there is no third grounding prong. You'll need a two prong adaptor for anything like that.

As for Fire Emblem, I've only played the first one that came to the GBA in America, but I loved it. I'll pick up the GC version if I ever get through my backlog of games. And I also love the Xeno series. Xenosaga was the only game I ever paid for overnight shipping, and I have US and JP XSII. Two solid series if you ask me.

Thanks for writing!

Hi J,

I've been considering taking one of the "Teach Abroad" opportunities, to have a chance to visit a new country while teaching English and making some money. Some of the hottest locations are in Asia, and I was wondering if you know much about the Teaching situation in Japan? What I'm mostly curious about is if you know if there is any kind of abundance of English positions in Japan, if I am better off trying to find a position from Canada or by trying to communicate with some people in Japan, if I should find my own place to live or try and find a work placement that will help me out with that, what the work life is like... vacation time, sick days, hours/week... and pretty much anything you think you know that might help me choose whether or not Japan would be a nice place to come work at for some time. Sorry for the long winded question, I'm just not sure what you know and don't know :)

Thanks for your time,

Marshall

When you first go to Japan, you need to go with one of the established programs. You COULD come to Japan and get a job by yourself, but you'd be taking a big risk. What's better is to spend a year with one of JET or the larger schools then move to a smaller school if that's what you're after. Another option is to search the web and try to find a small school and apply that way, but I don't know what kind of luck you'll have. I'd say stick to the big eikaiwa or JET.

As for benefits, with GEOS, I get 10 paid holidays, a week off around New Years (no Christmas though) and a week off in May. Sick days just count as a vacation day. Oh, and as for my place, they found it for me. I live in the apartment that the previous teacher lived in. GEOS owns the lease, but it's in my name. If you have any more questions, feel free to shoot me another email. I think I can answer most questions about the differences in one program vs another now.

Thanks for the letter!