Saturday, December 30, 2006

Oh Hatsuuri!


The banners are out. Perhaps the most significant sale of the year. In North America, this is called the Boxing Day Sale which starts December 26th and can last about a week. In Japan this is called Hatsuuri, meaning the first sale of the year. The origin stems from the notorious otoshidama, the money gift children receive from each of their relatives on New Year's Day. Also, year end is the time when most salary men and women receive their bi-annual bonus from work. The Hatsuuri, starting January 2nd and lasting only a few days, entices those with their newly replenished wallets to go on a spending spree. Not so honorable is it?
Most items will range from 20-50% off. However, 20-30% is probably the norm. This certainly doesn't match the 70% bargains findable in the Boxing Day sales.
Many girls in places like Shibuya line up during Hatsubuuri to buy bags of random clothing from particular stores. These bags range from 5000-10000 yen and are called fukubukuro. You can see examples of these bags in the picture above.
So, will you join the New Year shopping rush? My best advice: go early!
Happy New Year all!!!

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 6:24 PM 0 Comments

 

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

1 Day Left!

1 day left to get entered for the Fudocom Season's Greetings Contest!!!

Once again: All you have to do is send in a property inquiry and you will be automatically entered to win a 5000 yen (or currency equivalent) electronic gift certificate for Amazon in or near your area. The deadline is December 28, 2006 so hurry and get in there!

Click here to get information about the contest.

Click here to get entered!

Good luck!!!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 5:59 PM 0 Comments

 

Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas!!!!

Hello, and Merry Christmas!

Play Fat Santa Flash Game!!!


It's finally here! I love the season of lights, celebrations and special Christmas TV specials. A Japanese favorite is the seasonal showing of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas on the Disney Channel. Ah Disney. The commercial wonderland of the world. Observe.

What do you enjoy most about the holidays? For me it's the company of close friends and family. Let's face it, when you're a grown up the presents start to suck. All that's left is family and food. Aheh.

Most people are out and about traveling at this time of year. If you, like me, will be suffering the fate of staying in Tokyo this season there are several ways to make it enjoyable. Since most people leave at this time of year, you will find Tokyo to be less crowded and easier to get around. Enjoy it. It won't last long.

Holiday Suggestion #1

Probably the best thing to do at this time of year is have a party! Perhaps you have friends who will also be lonely in Tokyo. Why not be lonely together?

Holiday Suggestion #2
Go on a cruise. There are several companies throughout Japan that offer cruises off of the coast. In the Tokyo area, the best places to go are Asakusa, Odaiba or Yokohama. I rather like Yokohama for the night scenery. The cruises offered are about 2 hours in length and offer food and drink courses. A good place to take a date that is not too crowded. Here are a few popular companies.

Asakusa/Odaiba

Symphony Tokyo Bay Cruise

SuijoBus This is a short water cruise between various points in Asakusa and Odaiba.

Yokohama

Royal Wing (Japanese only) You may call 045-662-6125 and speak in English. Reservation is recommended.

Holiday Suggestion #3

Do something you normally wouldn't with or without friends. Join a 2 week salsa class. Go on a long train trip and exit at various stations to explore. You can do a little research beforehand or go completely spontaneous. Imagine all the interesting places to eat and people to meet.

Well, whatever you choose to do have a wonderful holiday and remember to check back for more updates on Fudocom!!

Video - Christmas in Japan

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 5:35 PM 0 Comments

 

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Season's Greetings Contest!!!

We'd like to wish a Merry Christmas to all Fudocom users and let you know about a current Season's Greetings contest we have on Fudocom. Let us give you a Christmas present! All you have to do is send in a property inquiry and you will be automatically entered to win a 5000 yen (or currency equivalent) electronic gift certificate for Amazon in or near your area. The deadline is December 28, 2006 so hurry and get in there!

Click here to get information about the contest.

Click here to get entered!

Good luck!!!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 5:29 PM 0 Comments

 

Friday, December 15, 2006

Nengawhat?


Possibly one of the most tedious tasks of the holiday season is the sending of the nengajo, or new year greeting postcard. In America the "season's greetings" card is something seldomly done, especially by younger folks. And if it is done, the recipient list can be choosy. In Japan, the nengajo is sent by all ages to friends, family, co-workers, customers, clients, etc. Companies even send them to other companies that are either clients or potentials. Kind of takes the meaning out of wishing someone well for the new year, if you ask me. Especially as I don't like to mass produce my greetings.
Generally, the nengajo is in postcard format and features the zodiac animal of the new year. Or, for the astute who print their own at home, perhaps they will contain personal messages about what they've done for the past year and what their new years resolutions might be. Recently, even the electronic nangajo has become popular. Who collects snail-mail addresses anymore, right?
Buying pre-made postcard nengajos are cheap and easy to send and the post office offers a special cheaper stamp price. They even have a lottery draw based on the pre-stamped postcard's serial numbers. I've been incredibly unlucky though. Apparently, all of the cards are collected to be delivered on January 1st but I've received them at various times.
If you're creative, this can be an excellent chance to display your talent. But if you're missing out, why not start the trend within your group of friends? Everyone appreciates a special message during the holiday season!


posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 5:56 PM 0 Comments

 

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Off-Christmas

For those already living in Japan, you may have seen the popular chain called Book-Off. They sell second-hand books, dvd's and cd's for a fraction of the retail price. While their foreign book section might be lacking, you may be able to pick up good dvd's and games for the Christmas season.

Book-Off is actually a part of a group company. The other portions of this company sell used goods in virtually every other genre. Let me give you a summary.

Hard-Off specializes in used computers, audio, visual, cameras, watches, games, and virtually anything else electronic. You can also buy parts for computers from their "junk area" and musical instruments. Most of their items are guaranteed to be working and come with a warranty. That's more security then buying from your friend's brother's friend. The only thing is, Hard-Off does not deliver. If you buy that huge copy/fax/scanner and can't carry it, it's up to you to find transport.

Off-House is a store specializing in used household goods like furniture, interior, clothes, outdoor, sports, hobby, gifts and baby/kids goods. They do deliver. If only Off-House and Hard-Off could collaborate their delivering methods.

Mode-Off specializes in used fashion for men and women and accessories.

Garage-Off sells items for man's best friend, the car. This includes used audio systems, navigation systems, accessories, parts and cars as well.

Box-Shop. Why not Box-Off? This store is completely devoted to boxes. RENTING boxes. I've never thought of renting a box, have you?

Junk-House features goods such as furniture, interior, electronics and antiques.

And last but not least, Hobby-Off. This store is devoted to hobby items like toys, models and collectors items. Good for the kids and adult alike.

Now, how to find an Off store in your area? Unfortunately, you will require Japanese. Please go to this page to view the map to choose your location. Perhaps even a kind store representative at your local Book Off can be of service. The other Off stores are not as easy to find as they must be in locations with a bit more space to display their wares, so be prepared for the transport. The price may be well worth the trip. Especially with Christmas crawling ever closer.



posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 6:54 PM 0 Comments

 

Monday, December 11, 2006

Video Crazy

Hello, hello. Just wanted to take the moment to let you all know that we've updated the photo album with....videos! Have a look at our video section for new and cool videos about Japan. And, of course, our photos are being updated frequently! Enjoy!

P.S. Cee-chan will update the blog tomorrow with one of her amusing tales of Japan-land. Please check back!

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 8:03 PM 0 Comments

 

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Christmas Shopping

Well it's that time of year again. Time to spend your money on everyone else but you. Though the religious meaning of Christmas has never quite existed in Japan, the true commercialism of the season does. With store displays going up from October (does anyone shop that early?), overpriced Christmas cake (which is the same strawberry shortcake selling for halfprice the month earlier) and best of all...Christmas KFC. Yes, KFC. In fact, there will often be a line outside and around the corner with "pre-ordering" possible. Yikes.

To get back to my point, where do you find your presents? Especially if those presents need a bit of a Japanese flavor for the people you will be visiting back home this season? Well, here's the Fudocom top 5.



Number 1 is Amazon Japan. This online shopping resource has gone so much farther than books. You can buy electronics, toys, DVD's and even the mundane things like bandaids! With easy service you can order items and pay for them at your door. They have an English section for foreign books and music only. If you do browse about the Japanese pages for other items and you have a limited English option for the item information. It's not perfect, but better than nothing. You can also go through the complete order process in English so there will definitely be no misunderstandings. The only real complaint I have about their service is that you cannot pick the date and time window for the delivery. That can be a bit cumbersome if you are a full time worker and have a gift deadline.



Number 2 is another online shopping giant. Yahoo! Japan allows you shop from the comfort of your chair, find and compare prices from a variety of vendors, collect points for discounts and select the day and time you want your object to arrive. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? Only problem, no English. But such a good resource that I had to mention it here. Get yourself a Japanese buddy to help you out. Will also require a Yahoo! Japan ID.



Number 3 is a good place to get little things for children and adults alike. Outlet is as it's name suggests, a little outlet store in various neighborhoods offering good deals on those stocking stuffers. The logo is usually on a large and painfully yellow background in blue writing. Definitely, hard to miss. I'm sure most people who live here have seen one at one time or another.



I know, I know. A 100 yen store is bottom of the barrel cheap. But it has good little gifts that have Japanese flavor, like Japanese style chopsticks, handkerchiefs, etc. Good for the presents back home. So the 100 yen store is a definite number 4.

Ever finish all your shopping and remember someone you've left out at the last minute? Perhaps one of the best places to get the cliched Japanese items is at the little trinket shops at the airport. I'm not talking Duty-Free. Does Aunt Edna really want that 2L bottle of overpriced whiskey they sell at the Duty-Free shops? No. But she might enjoy a Japanese geisha doll. Or a kimono. The prices are decent and you get to look worldly. Not bad. Airport shopping is number 5.

Got the idea? Give it a try!

posted by Fudocom - Celina @ 6:53 PM 0 Comments

 

Monday, December 04, 2006

Rubbish Rules

When I visited various areas in North America, I was pleased to abandon my garbage separation ways, adopt the single black garbage bag (because garbage IS private) and recycle happlily and easily with the sanitation folks routinely coming to my yard.

Unfortunately, Japan's garbage rules are strict and can be rather tedious. Whether you live in a house or an apartment there is a caretaker (often an older woman type) and sometimes even a security guard. Both of these keen employees will go to great lengths to ensure you are follwing every single one of the garbage rules. If this means they have to open your bag, they will. It's possible there might even be a camera installed to find the late night fling-and-run types.


Though collection is generally free, anything oversized (electronics, desks, tables or other things you can't fit into a garbage bag) will land you with a fee. Some areas of Japan are stricter than others demanding you use a certain color of bag for each day, but in most areas of Tokyo the conventional see-through white bag is widely used for every day of the week.
Each building or house area has a designated place to drop their garbage. From here, the caretaker will ensure they get to the proper place for pick-up. On a daily dasis, you must separate your garbage into combustible (burnable) and noncombustible (nonburnable) bags. Combustible garbage is usually picked up twice a week and includes items that are bio-degradable like kitchen scraps, paper scraps, wood chips, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, chemical rags, cigarette butts, etc. Noncombustible garbage is generally picked up once a week and includes metals, plastic items, rubber items, leather items, plastic bags, plastic wrap, gas cassettes for tabletop cooking equipment, etc.
Oversized garbage is also picked up once a week. Often you will have to pay the fee to retain a sticker to place on your items before placing them in your designated spot for disposal. If you forego the sticker, your caretaker will go to great lengths to hunt you down.
Of course there is dangerous and flammable garbage that is handled the same way as most countries where you must phone someone to safely dispose of the materials.
Recycling, unfortunately, doesn't happen as much as it should in Japan. It takes a considerable amount of time and inconvenience. Most people do recycle their cans and glass bottles. But it takes the astute recycler to run their cartons and batteries to a city collection point, and to deposit their bottles at a local convenience store or supermarket.

If your area does not provide garbage schedule/information in a language you understand, please contact your local city/ward office. They often have this on hand and can answer any questions you might have.

posted by Fudocom - Rei @ 8:04 PM 0 Comments