Tuesday, October 31, 2006

October Fudocom Campaign Extended!



Hello! To let you all know, the October campaign is going to be extended! Please view the front page of Fudocom for special discounts on rent or move-in costs of a selection of our available property listings.

November will be a month of upgrades to both our site and our blog! Feel free to contact us with any suggestions or wishes!

As always, thank you to the growing number of inquiries and interest in our site and our blog.

Happy Hallo-bi (that's the Japanese Halloween) everybody!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 8:07 PM 0 Comments

 

Monday, October 30, 2006

Cellular Joy

Hihi!
Today I'd like to talk about a topic we've had a few questions about, cell phones!
There are three main cellular phone companies in Japan. I'll go through the pros and cons of each.


AU
AU
This is run by the phone company KDDI. AU has some great features and seem to be focusing currently on listening to music and watching television by phone. Unfortunately, they are not very foreigner friendly. Most of their phones are not bilingual and they do not have English customer service. As well, their mobile web, called EZ Web, does not feature sites or services in English.


Softbank
Softbank
This is a company who has gone through a lot changes. Beginning as the company J-Phone it was later bought by Vodafone. Under Vodafone they specialized in complete bilingual services which made it the easy choice for any foreigner. Vodafone's phone models, unfortunately, weren't anything special at the beginning but had been getting better in recent months. Other than that, the only real complaint is the lack of reception in many areas. In the recent weeks Vodafone was bought by Softbank, who works closely with Yahoo!. It will be interesting to see what developments and changes theare made with their new look.

DoCoMo
DoCoMo
This is run by the largest phone company in Japan, NTT. They focus on amazingly designed phones with the features to match. Mobile internet and gaming are also their focuses. They do have an English customer center, however, apart from at the airport, they rarely have English personnel in their shops. Instead, they use their call center staff as interpreters to ensure the conversation goes smoothly.

So, picking that cell phone company in Japan depends what you are looking for. If you are Japanese able or have a Japanese friend willing to help, the best and cheapest way to find a cell phone is to shop around the small cell phone vendor shops on the street instead of going straight to Company A, B or C. The vendors get paid based on contracts signed so can afford to give the phone away dirt cheap. If you shop around you could even find that you desired phone is being offered for free to sign a year contract. If you decide to break that contract before the year is up, you'll only generally incur a 3000-5000 yen fee. That's better than most countries.

A newcoming feature is the ability to take your phone number with you even though you change companies. This is expected to cause more competition between the mobile phone companies and may even mean a cheaper break for its customers. Here's hoping.

To start you'll need your alien id, passport, bank info (for payment), address and alternate phone number. You will usually be required to have at least 6 months to one year left on your visa. Some places even restrict the type of visas they will accept. It's a pain isn't it? Good news is that once you're in, the visa check will be unnecessary after that if you want to upgrade to the new phone model later on.

Feel free to post any of your cell phone yays and woes here. And we always welcome questions.

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 6:05 PM 2 Comments

 

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Things to Mention



Hi guys! I have been asked to post a little reminder to our blog question section. We have received many questions about living in Japan via email. But we'd love to see more of this in the posts. Fell free to ask anything at all Japan-related and we will respond as soon as possible. You can find the link to the question section here. You can also feel free to comment on any of our existing posts, even if they are older.

I'd also like to mention that Fudocom is currently offering a discount on rent or move-in fees on a selection of rental properties in Tokyo and surrounding areas. This will end at the end of October. So please send us inquiries if you are interested in a certain listing. Please view the front page of Fudocom for the October specials!

As always, thank you for looking at our site and our blog!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 10:10 PM 0 Comments

 

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Winter Thoughts


Well it seems that winter has finally hit us in Tokyo. Though the temperature remains reasonable warm, the wind was a bitter reminder of the forecoming winter. With the cold comes thick jackets and scarfs, christmas decorations (the store Tokyu Hands already has their decorations out and on sale!!) and the ever popular white mask seen in the picture above. Many countries used these in the SARS outbreak a while ago. But Japan uses these year round. There are two main seasons of "The Mask". 1) during spring to block the ingestion of pollen. Many Japanese people have a pollen allergy. Unfortunately, they tend to take the mask off at home and work, the two most likely places to be exposed to pollen. And, 2) during the winter to protect others from catching their flu.
The few foreigners who I queried remarked that they feel embarrassed to wear masks in public but will when they are at home and often at work. So they appear to do the opposite of the Japanese people. I wonder which is the best strategy. And I wonder why this "fashion" hasn't caught on in other countries. Perhaps they need to make a rainbow of colors and decorations to sweeten the deal.
Do you wear one? Tell us why you do or don't!

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 6:10 PM 0 Comments

 

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

The Dance Off


It was a dark and stormy night. The parking lot was dimly lit and crowded with cars. Three cowboys, each in their dueling stance, prepared for what could have been the biggest fight in dueling history. As I pondered over whether I should become involved, the dueling music began to play. Long woeful chords filled with sorrow and despair filled the night. I saw the three cowboys, guns drawn, advancing slowly and carefully toward each other, carefully plotting their next move. My eyes widened as one of them, the tallest one, grinned slighty before aiming his gun to fire. BANG!

I shook my head to clear myself from my reverie. The music remained but was somehow different from before. Is this.......Japanese Pop? I shook my head once more. The bouncy, cute waves that filled the air streamed from a tiny boom box affixed on the hood of a car. It most certainly was Japanese Pop and to my horror the dueling cowboys I had imagined were moving in sync to the music. It was a joyful dance of spins and twists with even a kick or two for effect. I had seen things like this with the young folk at my station or in front of the local community center but never had I seen three grown men choreograph for fun a dance and perform it in a pay parking lot. I found myself transfixed for several moments before being able to move on.

I love that instead of fighting and getting into trouble, groups of people get together to dance or go to one of the effervescent karaoke places that are sprinkled throughout fine Tokyo. It's definitely one of the special things about Japan. Well that and Japanese reggae....

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 2:38 PM 0 Comments

 

Friday, October 20, 2006

TV Just Got Better


Hihi. Yes, I admit that I am a snack addict (see 2 posts before) but I also can admit I like my tv. Recently, I've begun to like it even more!
In today's post, I'd like to introduce a new feature of SkyPerfect. For those of you who don't know, SkyPerfect is a company that offers satellite tv services in Japan. Possibly just to Tokyo and surrounding areas. I originally decided to get this as I was missing all the shows I could watch when I was living abroad. I think there are many foriegners who utilize this service and so SkyPerfect has an all English customer service center.
Anyway, they have recently decided to offer a DVR system that is compatible with their service. This system allows you to record any show and watch it when you want to later on. Perhaps it's a little like the TIVo system that I think is available in North America and parts of Europe. For me, this was great. I watch tv at such various times that it can become difficult to get into a series. Now all I have to do is select it and tell it to record. Super easy. But to not sound like a commercial, I'm going to tell you the bad things that I have encountered. If you already have SkyPerfect service and you switch to this DVR service, you may...well will probably encounter an interruption in service. You'll also currently be locked into having the system for at least one year (there is an early cancellation charge of about 10,000 yen). The approximate initial price is 10,000 yen. But I'd definetly suggest contacting SkyPerfect for the up-to-date details.
The DVR has a limit of about 90 hours (160GB) of storage replaces the normal tuner box that comes with the satellite dish.

Here are the main features as given in SkyPerfect's recent news release:

1. Users can set the DVR system to record their favorite programs on any SKY PerfecTV channel.

2. You can pre-program for the automatic recording of programs related to a selected genre or keywords.

3. By entering part of the series title, you can program the DVR to automatically record a series (for example, "24") whenever it is on.

4. Easy search function to search for programs by entering a genre or keyword.

5. If you have to be away for a moment you can pause the program live. While it is paused the DVR will automatically record everything after the paused point (up to 90 minutes) and, when you release the pause button, playback what you have missed.

6. Programs recorded and saved in the hard disk can be played back from the start of the program without having to wait for recording to finish.


Unfortunately, Sky Perfect's English Site has not been updated with the information about this service. But you can find it in Japanese (with pictures) here.
Does anyone else have SkyPerfect's DVR system? Please share your thoughts. As well as thoughts on any of our older posts. We read them all and respond too!

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 5:13 PM 0 Comments

 

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Got the weight blues?


Hello,

I decided to write about today's topic in light of Rei's colorful depiction of her favorite snacks in yesterday's post. Haha.

Most foreigners I have met here have mentioned that they have gained weight since coming to Japan. While the amount of weight differs, one question certainly remains. In the land of skinny folk, how can one get fat?

First of all, we should clear up the myth that all Japanese are skinny. It is certainly not the case. And I applaud the Japanese person who has enjoyed that one extra piece of cake. In Rei's case, 3 or 4, though she is one that annoyingly doesn't gain a pound.

Next, in my opinion, the reason that seems to be common with the foreigners I had questioned mentioned that they used to be fairly active in their home countries. Either by going to gyms or doing some sort of sport. But in Japan, time seems more restictive. Possibly longer commute to and from work are a large factor, laziness another. We seem to settle into the routine of work/eat, home/eat with the occasional side helping of exercise. So what to do? I've compiled 5 ways to maintain that healthier lifestyle. I've skipped the obvious things like joining a gym and eating healthier. There's many a book with that written so I don't think I need to include it here.

1. Get off a stop or 2 early. We have become so dependant on trains that we often don't realize just how close the stations are to each other. It may be worth the walk even just for the purpose of scouting out your area and finding all the back roads only the taxi drivers seem to know.

2. This goes somewhat with number 1. Invest in a bicycle. This can be used to ride to and from a station further away for adequete morning and evening exercise. Even 3 days a week can help burn those calories!

3. Use the stairs instead of the escalators and elevators. Live on the 40th floor? Why not try working your way up to walking up 10 flights. You'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it. Then you can increase your goal.

4. Go out dancing. If you're not a clubgoing fiend, why not try dance lessons? You'll still get your exercise while learning hip-shaking moves. Often community centers in each area have a number of available lessons that are sometimes free. Even if you don't speak Japanese, it can still be a fun experience. Take a friend with you!

5. Last but not least, if you are a snack addict and you make those late night combini runs, make your current combini (convenience store) off limits. Use one further away instead. This should either a) help you walk more or b) cure your snack addiction. Laziness can set you free!


If anyone has any other tips or doesn't agree with the ones I've included, feel free to post. I'm in the category of foreigners who could stand to lose a kilo or two and will happily welcome new ways to renew the battle.

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 10:01 PM 0 Comments

 

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Snack Withdrawal


Hi everyone!
Today I wanted to bring up a topic sensitive to me and possibly anyone who lives in Japan. Yes, you've guessed it. It's about food.
Japan is a place of constantly revolving food, snacks and drinks for each season. Often there are wacky new ideas tried that flop quickly (maple syrup pancake puffs - like cheezy puffs but not cheezy - come to mind), and then there are some that are immediate hits and sell well. You start getting hooked on the product only to see it disappear from the shelves. It can cause a sense of panic for any snack addict.
My new addiction is to jelly-in-a-can (pictured above) in both grape and mango that used to be found in Pokka vending machines everywhere. These machines are already hard to find, but now that the product is dwindling with the summer weather, it will make it even harder.
But there is an answer. Buy it in bulk! There are tons of websites for this very purpose. It's cheaper and handy, especially if you have an empty storage cupboard you are just dying to fill. Unfortunately, you will need a Japanese-able buddy to put in the order for you if you are not Japanese capable. The good thing is that you can often just pay at the door. The site I use most is Yahoo! Shopping. But there are several that may be more area specific or have delicacies from a certain area of Japan
Do you know a good site? Please feel free to post it!

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 10:35 PM 0 Comments

 

Monday, October 16, 2006

I can't find my movie!


Hello,

Ever encounter this? You recall this movie you really wanted to see that should be on DVD even in Japan. You rush over to your local video store to check the DVD aisle and are struck with...bum bum bummmmm.....name shock. As in, the movie you want to see has had it's name changed to something supposed to a) be easier for a Japanese person to say b) be easier for a Japanese person to understand or most commonly c) to play mind games with the common movie consumer.


Let me give you a few examples.

American Title - Japanese Title
Memoirs of a Geisha - Sayuri (The main character's name)
40 Days and 40 nights - Koi Suru 40 Days (Love 40 Days)
Napoleon Dynamite - Basuotoko (Bus Man)
Anger Management - N.Y. Shiki Happy Therapy (New York Event, Happy Therapy)

Now I think you see what I mean. How do you find what you're looking for? Here are your main options:

Option 1: Search every DVD on the rack until you recognize the picture of the DVD box.

Option 2: Think creatively of possible names it could be.

Option 3: Ask the video guy. They sometimes have a book for this purpose (though sometimes it is outrageously outdated). If he doesn't know it off-hand, you could describe it or who is in it (Japanese ability dependant).

Option 4: And perhaps the best (you'll need to be able see Japanese characters on your pc for this one). Go to Amazon Japan and type the English name in the top search box then press "Go!". Amazon conveniently will produce the Japanese version DVD. On the listed results the title of the product is in blue next to the pictures. This is what you need. If you can't read it, copy and paste or print it and take it into your ready-to-serve video guy or gal and they will pluck it out for you.

Happy Movie Watching!!!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 6:31 PM 3 Comments

 

Sunday, October 15, 2006

October Fudocom Campaign!


Ohisashiburi!! Sorry for the wait, everyone. This has been a busy week for changes and updates to Fudocom. We've added a few more apartments as well as a special October campaign on a selection of apartments and guest houses in Tokyo and surrounding areas. This campaign offers discounts in rent or the move-in costs on a selected number of properties. Please view the front page of Fudocom for the October special! If you are looking for an apartment and don't see something you like, please let us know and we can still see what we can do!

We'd like to thank everyone for all of the apartment inquiries and the participation in our blog. We will do our best to keep everything updated and answer inquiries as fast as possible.

Rei and Celina

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 6:46 PM 0 Comments

 

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Doggie Diapers?


Hello!

From my time in Japan I have witnessed the explosion of doggie fashion as Paris Hilton and her fashionable chihuahua have gained popularity. Everything from designer clothes and designer carry bags to flashing collars and *shiver* nail polish. I have seen dyed doggie hair, salon-styled doggie hair, doggie cafes and stores, as well as, my new favorite, doggie diapers. I tell you, when I first encountered a dog wearing a diaper I was taken aback. How does that work, I thought. It seems after he makes a mess of himself you'd still be left with the job of cleaning him. I understand not wanting to follow your dog around with a little bag for mess, but daily baths don't seem the answer. Riddled with my churning curiosity I entered a pet store to find out the answer to this burning question.

The doggie diaper, apparently only for urine and not for solid waste (can the dog read the package I wonder?), is to protect from light accidents. They can be used inside to protect the furniture, or outside to protect against embarrassing "mark the territory" accidents. It comes in a variety of sizes and you can get a cute little harness to ensure it stays in place. You can cover said harness with a fashionable booty cover to match any day's outfit. Perplexing.

After all my reading, however, I still found my question unanswered. Even if the dog can read the box and knows the diaper is only for urination, wouldn't there still be a daily mess to clean? Does anyone have experience with doggie diapers? Or does anyone have a pet peeve about the Japanese pet dog?

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 10:08 PM 0 Comments

 

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The Day of Sports

Hi!
Sorry my post is so late tonight. There's always lots to catch up with after a long weekend, isn't there?
One of things that busied me this weekend was the hubbub (that's got to be my fave English word) of the nearby school as they celebrated their Taiiku no Hi (Sport's Day).
Sport's Day is every year on the second Monday of October. It's generally celebrated by kids from kindergarten to high school performing some sports activity. It's not exactly all track and field. It can also include taiko drumming (in the photo below), dancing and cheerleading. The whole family comes down and watches. It can be a very fun day, or, for the non-athlete types, a dreaded yearly ritual.

Take a look at these videos I found.

Video 1

Video 2 - Longer

Has anyone attended a school's Taiiku no Hi in Japan? I think it must be very different. Please share your thoughts.

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 8:55 PM 0 Comments

 

Friday, October 06, 2006

Rain, Rain Go Away.....



Today is another dreary day in Tokyo. And with dreary days in Tokyo come what I like to call "The Dance of the Thousand Umbrellas". With this dance comes extra pushiness as people use their open umbrellas to navigate through crowds. You'll find fatal one-handed bike riders who weave their way through the crowd with one hand to steer and another for the umbrella. And last but certainly not least, the eye-pokers. This usually applies to the foreigner who may just be a teensy bit taller than the average female or male Japanese person. They'll be making their way along while facing the onslaught (or even sideslaught) of umbrellas with the pointy bits (why do they have the pointy bits?) at eye level.

One point of definite amazement is how the dance begins. Japanese people have the uncanny ability to forecast the weather beforehand. Yes, I know there are television forecasts but they just give you a general idea about the weather for the day or week. What I'm talking about is in the situation of it being a beautiful sunny day where no one is carrying one. If it starts to rain, even just light droplets, immediately everyone has one.

Before coming to Japan, I, like many other foreigners barely made use of the umbrella. And I'd have to say I'd still rather not use one. What's wrong with getting a little wet, after all?

Anyway, for you Tokyoites, according to Yahoo! Japan, the rain will continue tonight and will also rain on and off on Saturday. Sunday and Monday will be sunny sunny so you can enjoy the long weekend!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 2:45 PM 0 Comments

 

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Japanese English

One of the funniest things about living in Japan is seeing the use of English. Many companies insert English into their ads simply for the look. The English doesn't always necessarily make sense. But, regardless, it gives them a young hip flavor that is likely to catch the eye of the young generation in Japan.
This is not only used by companies. Singers and groups also have this strategy. For example,

Do As Infinity, Morning Musume (Daughter), Brilliant Green, Porno Graffitti, Tommy February6, Tommy Heavenly6, Berryz, Orange Range, Bump of Chicken...the list goes on and on.

I also see this in English-translated forms and documents. There are several online resources available to translate English to Japanese and vice versa. But Japanese and English have such different grammar that no electronic translator can perfectly attempt this. Sometimes you end up with a very comical version in English that some companies use to represent their very serious services.

Have you encountered any funny signs, shirts, bags in funny English that you'd like to share?




posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 2:54 PM 1 Comments

 

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Links Fixed!

Sorry!

Looks like we had accidentally posted wrong links for videos in the following two posts:

Train Warfare
Who is your favorite female Japanese singer?

It's fixed now so please take a look.

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 6:04 PM 0 Comments

 

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Train Warfare



Are the trains in Tokyo really convenient?
Today was a day like any other as I made my way across fair Tokyo. I was in such a good mood I even left early. As I hummed my way down the street and on to the train platform I expected my day to go on without a hitch. I looked up to check my train time. "The next train is at 8:50" said the computerized clock. I hastily checked my watch, "9:05" it said. I suddenly realized it was going to be a very long morning. Whether it's due to weather, accidents, suicides (an interesting article on this at Tokyo Suicides) or mechanical failure, it can be very very inconvenient for train riders. It can result in being cramped, crowded and stuck in a humid environment for however long it takes to fix the problem.
Now, honestly speaking, the train system in Japan is quite good. The trains more often come on time than not and conveniently weave through the city than around it. However the crowded trains in the rush hour morning and evening periods are less than desirable. Here are a couple of videos demonstrating:

Video 1

Video 2

So how to avoid the worst of it but still get to work on time? There's a couple of ways.

1. See if there are are multiple ways to get to your destination. So you could always jump out if things get sticky on your train.

2. Take a bus. Buses are the undiscovered cheap traveling treasure that most foreigners think too difficult to approach. Celina told me that during her first couple of years here, the only bus she took was to immigration. It doesn't have to be that way. Often the buses aren't very crowded and even if they take a tiny bit longer, you may not encounter the daily struggles of the train. It's not often a bus will be held back for 30 minutes due to an accident, etc. Buses can be confusing even for Japanese people. However, you can start by paying attention. Do you see buses in your area? Take note of their destinations which should be displayed in English as well as Japanese. Also take note of bus stops near your home and their destinations. On a free day when you happen to be at that destination point, you can check to see if there are connecting buses. Or if there is a simple short train ride the rest of the way to where you need to go. I know it sounds like an effort but it may well be worth it. Celina, who has taken 20 minutes off of her traveling time, is now a converted busser. Try it and see!

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 3:02 PM 1 Comments

 

Monday, October 02, 2006

What's your area really?


Hi there!

Interesting topic for today.

I have met several people currently working in a field completely unrelated to their studied profession at university. It seems a part of this is due to the job market for foreigners in Japan. Just the other day, I answered another blog on this topic at Checking out other Japanese blogs. Here's the content:



Checking out other Japanese blogs
September 6, 2006 at 3:37 am
It would have never dawned on me to check other blogs of expatriates living in Japan until now…duh. I found so many of these blogs most of them dedicated to the intricate details of their life in Tokyo or teaching English and drinking/partying during their off times. While this is all great information for its entertainment value, it doesn’t serve the purpose I am after. I couldn’t find any blogs that were dedicated to finding work or describing the job search or work life of a foreigner in Japan……at least not in significant detail.
I am finding more and more people saying that the best and most popular route to Japan is by teaching English. Had I just graduated from college, that may sound appealing, but I have been out in the work field for the past 8 years. Sadly enough the jobs that I had then and now have not brought passion to my life. The jobs are a mode of one thing that is endearing to me….a source of which to live. But to it I am a slave even though I may deny this verbally. Every piece of my life is dependent on this job. For such an independent person as I am, this rips at the fiber of my being.

Comment by Celina Shaw
September 14, 2006
Hello,
I saw your post and thought I would comment. I have been here for 4 years and think I can maybe help in this area.
During my time here I have religiously stayed away from the teaching area, though I had a couple of close calls, I must admit. Before coming to Japan I had a steady career and because of leaving said career could not foresee accepting a job as an English teacher, especially as it would not make me happy. I’m not saying being an English teacher is bad or that you can’t have fun doing it. But there are some people who shouldn’t be whether it be for lack of qualification in that field or if they accepted the job under less than favorable circumstances.
Looking at the job market here for foreigners who don’t have Japanese language ability, it can be difficult not to become a teacher as there are so many of this type of job available. Jobs utilizing only English and of a professional nature are definitely hard to come across. I struggled with this myself.
I’m not sure the type of person you are or what type of job would suit you but research before coming is key. Non-teaching jobs that are not large companies mostly do not do the interviews from afar. So I saved up to be sufficient for 3 to 4 months while I did my job search in Japan. This allowed me to be a bit pickier. At the time I came I could speak intermediate Japanese (so I thought) but refused to. It was the culture shock. My search was incredibly unfruitful at times as I had the strong requirement of really liking the company I was to work for. And I knew I could not be the 9am-11pm dedicated Japanese worker. I, too, am independant and couldn’t stand the thought of being a slave to the job. Life is for living after all, right? After my 3 month search I found a company offering to hire me freelance. Unfortunately, it required me to translate from Japanese to English, which was ok as long as they weren’t watching me. I learnt very quickly that the English speaking jobs are quite restricted. The reasoning for this seems to be for immigration purposes. A visa will not be granted if immigration deems you to be doing a job a Japanese person could do.
So my conclusion is this:Foreigners who are not Japanese speakers in Japan can usually be found in the area of teaching, sales, headhunting and IT (this might require Japanese language ablility). It’s possible if you have qualifications as a writer to be hired as such for an English newspaper, magazine or other such online English publication. In regards to where to look, I had more success offline than on. Be prepared and confident in your abilities. Best of luck.
If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer. And when you do make the jump to Japan, please have a look at my company’s web site. http://fudocom.com This is a site for searching for apartment, house and guest house rental listings in Japan


So what do you think? Do you think the job/career market is limited for foreigners in Japan? Especially to those who don't speak Japanese?

I am actually a psychology major. But I'm far from the padded chair, notebook and glasses type of career here in Japan. I would say part of my reasoning is I've changed what I want to do. And the second reason...well there doesn't seem to be a market here for it. I've also met an English professor with a business marketing background. So what area did you study? Is it related to what you are doing now?

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 6:17 PM 1 Comments

Happy October!!

Hi everyone,
Happy happy October.
This is the month of beautiful fall weather and beautiful fall fashion. My favorite time of the year!

This month for Fudocom we plan a few expansions. Please check our site and our blog frequently for new news!

One thing I'd like to point out is the search bar at the very top of this blog. With this, you can search our blog using any keyword you can think of. Simply insert your word or words and hit "Search this blog". There are also a few other features available for blog-savvy folks.

On the right side there is the link "CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION!" This link will take you to an area where you can submit your Japan questions. You can also click this link to view previous questions and answers.

Don't be shy! We'd love to hear from you.

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 5:53 PM 0 Comments