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ISSUE: April/May 2003 |
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Don't forget to check out the Gaijin's |
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This Month's Topics: |
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Hey, it's spring and even though the rainy season and ultra-high humidity of summer are on the horizon, at least winter is apparently over. I was able to enjoy 2 hanamis (cherry blossom viewing parties) this year, both in the same place but a week apart. In line with revered tradition, I remember the start of both parties very clearly but the endings are a little fuzzy. Strange, I know, but such is life. Talking of strange, can anyone explain why a cable TV station, which serves the Tokyo Ward with the largest foreign population, would dub an American film? When they dubbed the excellent 'World at War' TV series, I was able to put that down to plain, old fashioned censorship, but 'Awakenings'? I've tried emailing 'Superchannel' (the world's worst misnomer) but maybe they can't read English -- the homepage is only in Japanese, after all! Aren't subtitles cheaper, or am I being too logical? Anyway, a lot's been filling the media here over the last few weeks and with thanks to you, dear reader, for dropping in, let's get on with the news, as seen through the eyes of yours truly . . .
Now some of you may recall me writing about the planned new Immigration department on Tennoz Island here in Tokyo. Well, wait no more, for it is upend running. What's more, if you live in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Niigata, Nagano or Yamanashi, you are going to get to know this building very well. You see, the local Immigration offices in those prefectures are closing and so every gaijin in those areas will gave to journey here for their visa renewals, re-entry permits or whatever. Thoughtful, ah? A few years ago, they opened Immigration offices all over the place, making it so easy for us to do the paperwork they insist upon. However, now they have changed their mind and spent ¥18 billion on this new 'centralised' facility. You can read all about this new way to spend taxes in an article in 'Metropolis' magazine -- a publication that started well but seems intent on self-destruction by concentrating on the weird and yuppy markets, as the old 'Tokyo Journal' did! Oh, and just in case you don't think it is worth coming all the way down to Shinagawa, please bear in mind that the new Immigration HQ includes 5 floors of detention cells holding around 800 folk awaiting deportation. That is one Tokyo sight you miss!
You would think that with Japan's economy shrinking and the news being mostly bad, the local media would leap at good news when it became available, right? Well, Japan's rugby team is on a tour of Australia and in their first game, they beat Queensland 'A' 44-19. However, most newspaper readers and news viewers might not know this, as there was scant mention in print and virtually none on the TV. Why? Simple, most of the local media tycoons are heavily involved in baseball and soccer, and so to protect their profits, they sportingly make pretty sure that rugby rarely gets a mention. However, the Gaijin will not let this victory pass unnoticed, especially as this game was played in Townsville, where Japan will be playing a number of its Rugby World Cup games later this year. This victory, in which Japan ran in 7 tries to the 3 of the Australian side, was watched by the Australian national coach Eddie Jones, who told the Australian Associated Press that he impressed with Japan's showing, saying 'They're coming off an off-season, most of those guys wouldn't have played since January or early February.' As the true cognoscenti here know, rugby is surprisingly popular in Japan, and with a new, more professional premier league-type set-up being introduced very soon, it is to be hoped that the press will eventually be forced to give it fair coverage. Hoped, but not expected.
Some folk have been worried about Japan suffering a terrorist attack due to its support of America in the Iraq War. However, according to what I recently read, we have our own home-grown terrorists here already! A Japanese newspaper recently received a statement issued by the 'revolutionary army' claiming responsibility for firing projectiles at a US base and the Self-Defense Force HQ, which it called 'revolutionary guerrilla attacks'. (2 projectiles were fired at the US Air Force's Yokota air base and 2 wired metal cylinders, believed to be projectile launchers aimed in the direction of the Defense Agency, were found in the grounds of the nearby Tokyo Chinese School.) The group also claimed that it would block Japan's dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces abroad and a US-led war against Iraq. They may be nuts but at least they're ambitious! Anyway, the point is that things like murders and wars have a habit of bringing out the weirdoes, like rain brings out the worms. No-one should doubt that Japan has plenty of wannabe terrorists, some dangerous. Remember the Tokyo subway gas attack? Anyway, the local cops do seem to be taking terrorism seriously -- at least, officially. The government recently announced an urgent package of security measures, like extra guards at US bases, nuclear reactors and the prime minister's office. It seems that special anti-bioterrorism squads, under the command of the Ground Self-Defense Force, are ready to rush to any site of a possible incident nationwide within an hour. That is all very reassuring but let's hope that these special security people will not limit their attention to foreigners. After all, there are only a few Islamic folk here, and it is well known that many police might be more than eager to slap the cuffs on any dark-skinned types, but let's just hope that no-one overlooks the wood for the trees!
On a related topic, it has always been reassuring that what crime there is here generally doesn't really touch the foreign community. However, it sadly seems that Japan's muggers are getting less racist! A recent issue of the underground style mass-circulation monthly 'Jitsuwa Knuckles' reported that more than a few foreigners are being picked on by 'young guys ... who strut around and pick fights.' A Shinjuku nightclub host said 'Those kind of guys like to go around starting fights. I could tell they're not from around here, 'cause they didn't post a lookout to watch their backs, thinking, 'This guy's not human anyway.'' Does this trend mean that Japan's young punks will switch from their favourite sport of 'oyaji gari' (mugging middle-aged men) to 'gaijin-gari' (foreigner hunting)? The writer seemed to think that it might. Anyway, it gives me one more reason to avoid Shinjuku's Kabukicho or Roppongi -- not that I shall miss either of those rat holes!
Talking of Japan's liberal, freedom-loving police, they recently released the crime figures for 2002, but the part that hit the headlines was a statistic that might seem out of place in many western nations but is sadly normal here. The report concerned crimes committed by foreigners and if that sounds slightly racist, well, judge for yourself. The report said that the number of foreigners arrested or facing prosecution in 2002 rose 10.6% over 2001. What's more, the number of crime cases involving foreign nationals (excluding us permanent residents) also rose, by 25.2%. The most 'popular' crime for foreign crooks was theft, followed (unsurprisingly) by immigration violations. According to the National Police Agency, the 'best represented' nationality were the Chinese, who accounted for 40% of crimes by foreigners, followed by South Koreans ( 10.7%)and Brazilians (7.3%). The same report contained a rather worrying detail, especially for those of you who still believe Japan is full of 'Madame Butterfly' types. Stalking is a crime that is becoming increasingly common here, with 12,024 cases being investigated during 2002. Not surprisingly, women accounted for 88.1% of the victims, 40.3% of these being in their 20s. However, the NPA said men were responsible for 89.6% of the alleged stalking violations. This means that 10.4% of those stalkers were female. Be afraid; be very afraid . . .
Japan's political parties seem to spend most of their time picking on each other, being unable to debate policies as what few policies they have are ridiculously similar. Now we hear that -- surprise, surprise -- over 50% of the Japanese have no party affiliation. The bad side of this painfully unsurprising news is that the apathy it represents is likely to make sure that Japan will keep the same system for quite some time. Sadly, the 'throw the bums out' movement that helped German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and British Prime Minister Tony Blair come to power seems highly unlikely to catch on here. Not only do Japanese people very rarely complain about the politicians who are ruining this country, but they rarely seek to punish them at the ballot box. The sagacious words of Edmund Burke, that 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing', seem especially true in Japan.
Like many people around the world, many Japanese have a touchingly deep, if somewhat naive faith in the medical profession. However, this faith might have taken a knock when Tokyo's High Court recently fined 4 doctors and 2 nurses from Yokohama for operating on the wrong patients. and you thought that only happened in the West? However, forget the multi-million dollar payouts in US malpractice suits. The fines imposed on these careless medics varied between ¥250,000-¥500,000 (app. US$4,168). Prosecutors had sought prison terms for the 6, but the court decided prison was not appropriate as the hospital had structural problems. Pardon? The case dates back to January 1999, when they mistook an 84-year-old man with lung disease for a 74-year-old man with heart disease. (I am not making this up!) They therefore implanted a heart valve into the former and removed part of a lung from the latter. The patients didn't die, fortunately, but they did suffer, as can be imagined. Reminds me of the joke about the over cautious chap who didn't trust doctors (hard to believe, I know) and had his name tattooed on his torso. Maybe I should consider doing the same thing -- in Kana, of course!
Having worked for one of Japan's large stand most 'traditional' (= old fashioned) companies, I know that local sex equality laws are pretty much restricted to law books, with many working women getting a consistently raw deal. However, I recently read about something that might be considered a promising sign of change. The giant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co has announced that it will set up next a new consulting company run by women. Not just any women but those who had to quit their jobs due to such reasons as child bearing. The new consultancy, to be called Women's Frontier, is being set-up as part of the company's in-house programme to encourage employees to create new businesses, which is a highly laudable idea on its own. The boss of the new venture, Naoko Goto, has said that any women with suitable working skills can apply for jobs at the consultancy no matter where they worked before having to quit their jobs. In line with its founding principles, the new firm will strive to make it easy for employees to continue working, using such ideas as the work-at-home programme. For future clients, the ladies will offer advice on management and business operations from a woman's viewpoint, something many Japanese firms surely need. Ms Goto has said that she hopes to achieve annual sales of ¥300 million within 5 years, and also aims at getting the firm listed. I for one surely wish them well, and hope that other companies follow Matsushita's example, not just in helping women workers but also in encouraging any entrepreneurs that might be hiding within their workforce!
Say That Again . . .
With 'son of' Gulf War now filling TV screens worldwide, some Japanese have been reflecting on the support this country gave during the first Gulf War. One Japanese military expert rather succinctly summarised America's lack of acknowledgement of Japan's ¥1 trillion+ contribution by pointing out that
As I have indicated more than once in this column, murder is indeed pleasingly rare here but is becoming less so as times goes by. For example, we have the recent case where 4 people were found dead in a bar in Itabashi, northern Tokyo. The bodies all had stab wounds to their necks and a police spokesman, who somehow managed to keep a straight face, said that it appears to be a case of murder. How do you do it, Holmes! Amongst the murdered folk, who all died from loss of blood, were the 42-year-old owner of the bar and 2 men and a woman, thought to be customers. They were found by the owner's husband. The strange aspect of the case is that although it 'may be' murder, the small bar's only door was locked. There were no signs that anything had been stolen, a fact underlined by the discovery of an untouched envelope with more than ¥100,000 inside. There was also cash in the purses and wallets of the 4 dead, they added. If this keeps up, we social drinkers may have to be very careful where we imbibe -- especially as I frequent a Japanese bar, rather than one of the many fake pubs! We have been warned.
In a related story, it often surprises some visitors that a safe country like Japan has armed police on almost every major corner. Well, not only do the local cops carry guns, they are using them more and more. The NPA has reported that the number of incidents involving the use of police firearms rose from 26 cases in 2001 to 54, the highest for 5 years. Of those, police officers actually fired their guns in 30 cases, with the other incidents involving their pointing their firearm at a suspect. In the cases where they opened fire, 2 suspects were killed and 9 injured. One reason for the increase might be a change in the guidelines covering firearm use; previously, regulations said police could use firearms 'as a last resort,' whereas they are now more specific. This change was a reaction to a surge in the number of police officers killed on duty which some folk said was due to firearms guidelines being too abstract, leading some police officers to hesitate using firearms even in self-defence. This sure has changed, with even the NPA admitting that of all the above incidents, only 3 involved police officers being confronted by armed suspects, with 32 involving police officers being confronted by motor vehicles and 11 involving knives. The 2 slayings both occurred last April; in one, a man was killed in Shiga Prefecture after a police officer fired at a vehicle trying to flee from police questioning, and in the other, a police officer in Niigata Prefecture fatally shot a man who tried to steal a police car. Seems that 'shoot to wound' isn't a phrase they use much in police training here.
This war and related threats of terrorism may frighten some citizens, but what has me a lot more worried is this latest Hong Kong sickness, what they're calling 'SARS'. Don't go thinking Japan is a safe distance from HK, as it is known that at least 4 people infected with the highly contagious pneumonia have already entered this land of the gods. However, as I am sure some conservatives will happily point out, all 4 were nationals of other countries — this disease is undoubtedly a gaijin thing, like AIDS and democracy. There were a total of 209 people aboard the plane (including 106 Japanese) which brought the infecteds to Fukuoka from HK, but although this was over a week ago (the incubation period of SARS is believed to be around a week), there have been no reports of suspected infection among them so far. Nonetheless, the government is preparing for the inevitable cases. The Health Ministry has announced that anyone diagnosed with SARS who refuses to seek treatment will be forcibly hospitalised. Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi has said he will ask local governments to prepare low air-pressure sickrooms to prevent the outflow of viruses -- there are only 22 beds in low air-pressure sickrooms at present. The Foreign Ministry has issued a travel warning urging Japanese to postpone visiting Hong Kong and China's Guangdong Province. It is also considering adding Singapore, China's Shanxi Province, Taiwan, Macao, Vietnam and Canada's Toronto to the list. Now sadly, I am not planning any travel in the near future, but maybe SARS is planning to visit Japan instead. Now I don't want to sound paranoid but with planes arriving from infected areas every day, those surgical-like face masks Japanese wear when they have a cold seem very practical. However, the best mask for this sort of situation is known as a N95 surgical mask, which can filter out 95% of microparticles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or larger. Now believe it or not, there is a supply shortage of these masks, as there is only 1 producer in Japan. To try and ease this shortage, the health ministry has called on the public to refrain from purchasing such masks, saying there is no need for the general public to wear them at this point. Why doesn't that reassure me?
Japan's government, especially the Prime Minister, seem to have a great talent for upsetting neighbouring countries and then acting surprised as to why they are not universally loved. Well, they've done it again. The country that probably has the best reason to dislike Japan has to be China and now they have responded to Mr Koizumi's controversial visits to Tokyo's 'militarist' Yasukuni Shrine by announcing that the new president, Hu Jintao, would not meet with the Japanese premier, not even on the sidelines of international conferences. Koizumi had discreetly suggested holding a summit meeting with the new Chinese leadership but China soon pricked that bubble. Similarly, Tokyo had hoped that Koizumi might be able to meet with Chinese leaders on the sidelines of the Asian Forum, due to take place in southern China next month. Now that China has also pooh-poohed that notion, Tokyo has said that Koizumi might not even attend the Asian Forum. Hint taken! However, the 2 nations did agree to Japan's Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, visiting China in early April, and guess what one of the things on the agenda will be. No-one in Tokyo should be surprised at this reaction, as their plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries had to be cancelled when Beijing made it clear that Koizumi would not be welcome. Now when a dictatorship with a lot of blood on its hands like China says you are not good enough to visit them, then maybe it's time to take a look in the mirror and work out just why people don't like you.
N
ow this may seem distinctly odd, but for some foreigners here, it is often easier to get Japanese citizenship rather than permanent residence. Sometimes, even Immigration officials advise you to try for a passport instead! This may become increasingly common if proposed changes in the nationality law actually go on the books. The Diet has decided to continue deliberating a bill that will permit Koreans, Taiwanese, and other zai-Nichi (Asians living in Japan from pre-war times and their descendants) to gain citizenship without changing their names to Japanese ones. At present, there are about 500,000 or so such zai-Nichi living in Japan as 'special permanent residents'. However, if they want to become Japanese, they not only have to go through a set of complex procedures but they also have to adopt a family name that uses one of an official list of commonly used kanji. For most folk, even Taiwanese, this means changing your name, not something most nations require of new citizens. However, there are a few Westerners who have acquired Japanese citizenship, which isn't that difficult. According to the Ministry of Justice (which controls Immigration), applicants for Japanese citizenship must a) have lived continuously at Japanese addresses for 5 years, b) be over 20 years of age 'in terms of mental and legal capacity', c) behave well (no criminal record of any kind), d) have sufficient means to support their family, e) be willing to give up the citizenship of your native country if Japanese citizenship is granted, and f) respect the Japanese Constitution (i.e. don't plot against or advocate destroying it, or associate or join a group or political party which does). But that's not all. You also need to produce your birth certificate, Proof of Citizenship, your parents Marriage Certificate divorce and remarriage papers, papers showing relations to siblings or lack of siblings, and your own Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificates for children. Then, you need to complete a Naturalization Permission Application Form (with picture), the names and addresses of all members of your immediate family, a list of all your addresses since birth, an outline of your means of livelihood, proof of your employment, proof of your earnings, tax records from the local tax office for your family and business (to show you've paid), records, contracts showing your land ownership and house ownership, and snapshots of your family, home, and workplace (I kid you not). There is no 'acculturation requirements" like the US INS Test, but you are expected to have knowledge of the Japanese language equal to an 8-year-old Japanese child. They also check on your 'level of assimilation', including checking on your Japanese friends, the interior of you house interior, and how well you along with your neighbours. Now that may sound a bit much for folk with a useful passport, like Americans or EU folk, but if you're from a dictatorship or third world country, these might well be considered steps worth considering. Then again, if you're a criminal or a wanted man trying to escape extradition, a Japanese passport can be very useful. Read on for more on this . . .
This 'column' has previously mentioned how easy it is to avoid extradition -- just get a Japanese passport. The most public proof of this law which makes Japan a haven for the wanted is the case of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who is hiding (with his millions) here in Tokyo. However, it was recently reported that a coalition of human rights groups have launched a campaign to press Japan to extradite him to Peru, where he faces charges of corruption and human rights abuses. Representatives of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Washington Office on Latin America recently announced that they plan to try and convince Japanese public opinion that he should be extradited, whilst also trying to get other governments to force Tokyo to comply with the Interpol international arrest warrant. Fujimori, 64, (who resigned the presidency by fax from Tokyo) claims that the arrest warrant is part of a 'campaign of political persecution' by his enemies, but then, he would, wouldn't he! Now as you can see from the above, getting citizenship isn't that easy but it wasn't too difficult for him. He fled to Japan in November 2000and was granted citizenship the next month. Nothing to do with his very healthy bank balance, of course! It has often seemed that Japan's politicians have no pride or sense of shame, and as Japan becomes a crooks haven, this image seems to be reinforced!
Nice to see that Japan's education authorities are keeping the kids up to date with recent happenings. we all know they have this mental block about pre-1945 but at least they are not so allergic to modern atrocities. I am prompted to say this following the announcement that as the education ministry concluded its annual textbook screening, it announced that the '9-11' attacks on the United States and the ensuing Afghanistan war have been included in most Japanese senior high school textbooks. However, there may be signs that despite the efforts of people like Tokyo's newly re-elected governor, the censorship of school textbooks may be easing. Details of the recently approved textbooks showed that with regard to the Nanjing Massacre, the stated number of victims varied from 'a good many' to 'more than 200,000 people' and '300,000 people according to the Chinese government.' That may seem pretty mild but in a country where many fools still claim the massacre never happened, it is real progress!
Many folk here have been worried that events in the Middle East might make the West forget the guy who makes Saddam look a freshman at dictatorship school, old fuzzy head in Pyongyang. As if to underline that this is the sort of neighbour nobody wants, North Korea recently criticised Japan's attitude towards it and warned Japan that it is 'within striking range.' The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said 'Japan should behave with discretion, clearly mindful that it is also within the striking range of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)'. Don't worry, I for one hadn't forgotten that! What has so angered those crazies over there is Japan's recent launch of a spy satellite and the decision to deploy more Aegis warships off the Korean Peninsula -- which Japan did in case North Korea 'test-launched' another missile using the war in Iraq as cover. With their usual gentle and diplomatic vocabulary, the KCNA went on to say 'The Japanese reactionaries have long worked hard to revive militarism through the world's 2d biggest military spending. They are now keen to make a good use of the Iraqi war and the situation in its surrounding countries for seizing an opportunity to reinvade Asia ... Japan's attempt to contain the DPRK will only precipitate its self-destruction'. Now there are plenty of folk here who do still remember the days of occupying Korea with nostalgia, and I don't just mean the loonies in the big black sound trucks. But re-invade Asia? Take a look at the 'Ground Self Defence Force' and you'll see how very unlikely any invasion of anything larger than a rock truly is. However, North Korea is not exactly the sanest gang on the block, so you might ask if announcements like this has any effect. Me, worried? You bet your life I am!
Talking of Japan and the Iraq War (see here if you've forgotten), a few misguided Japanese went over to sunny Iraq to act as human shields to protect a man accused of planning to use the nuclear weapons Japan claims to hate! Now more than 1 hurried home as soon as the shooting started, and now another 6 have come back claiming that their job was done. They went over to stop the allied attack, which is now almost over, and that's what they call a job that's done? Am I missing something? Another, less puzzling claim made by these short-sighted pacifists is that they want to tell the Japanese people about the reality of war. Let's hope they really mean that, and not just the 'reality' of evil America attacking harmless Iraq. One of them said 'I'm proud of myself for doing my best by placing myself in the same place with the Iraqi people suffering from war'. I'm sure the locals were really impressed! As a kind of 'sayonara party', the 6 spent their last day in Baghdad by participating an antiwar rally, joining people in chanting, 'Wake up, America!' Maybe it's them who should wake up . . .
Lastly, the Sunday before this went online was election day for many of Japan's prefectural governors. However, here in Tokyo, many were disinclined to vote as everyone predicted a landslide victory for the incumbent, Shintaro Ishihara -- the field of 5 candidates in was the smallest ever, compared with the record-high 19 candidates 4 years ago! Sadly, I have to report that they were right, as the 70-year old won a 2nd 4-year term, defeating 4 challengers. Seems like someone who does little to ease Tokyo's ills and upsets everyone he can is just what the locals want, which is worrying. Some see it as a reaction against the sorry state of the big political parties (which, to his credit, Ishihara-san avoids) but I for one would prefer a governor who never forgets he isn't prime minister. However, despite a low turnout of 44.94% (despite warm, sunny weather), Ishihara won a record-high 70.21% of votes cast. There was some speculation that he was planning to launch his own political party and return to national politics, and although his re-election probably means that he is unlikely to do so for the time being, don't rule it out. If he does improve things here in the big 'T', then I shall be very grateful. However, the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating, and I am still hungry!
Oh, and before I leave the subject of the recent elections, there was an even stranger result in one of the non-Kanto elections. Up in Iwate prefecture, about 450 km north of Tokyo, a professional wrestler has been elected to the local assembly under his ring name and wearing his trademark black and white full-face mask. What's more, he has vowed not to remove the mask even after he enters politics. The Great Sasuke, as 33-year-old Masanori Murakawa is known, told the press that 'I won support from voters with this face, and to take it off would be breaking promises.' Now what he's planning to do is bound to raise a few eyebrows in what is a very conservative area, but those opposing the idea have a problem. 'There is no law specifically forbidding it,' one prefectural official was quoted as saying. 'But now that he has won, we must look into the issue.' On a closing note, it was noticed that the Great Sasuke had to limp up to the polling box with one ankle in a cast. However, this wasn't because of wrestling -- he hurt it stumbling over a curb during the election campaign!
'I recently visited my local bathhouse and if you feel like sampling that most Japanese of pleasures, here are a few tips on how to proceed. Step 1: After removing your clothing, discretely cover the front of your body with the washcloth provided before entering the main chamber; Step 2: Fill the basin provided with water and soap down completely before rinsing; Repeat several times; Step 3: Once clean, enter the water but remember -- it will be VERY hot indeed so ease yourself in slowly.'
(Taken from the 'Gaijin's
Guide to Living in Japan')
'The Gardens of the Imperial Palace in Central Tokyo are well worth a visit and while you're there, why not pop in and see the Museum of the Imperial Collection. This is a display of gifts given to the Imperial Family by foreign VIPs and ordinary citizens, including numerous works of art, etc. It's open from 9.15-5.45pm daily and like the gardens, it's free. Nearest subway is Otemachi. For more details, call 3215-1177.'
(For more suggestions, check out the 'Gaijin's Guide to Enjoying Tokyo')
Miss last month's 'Empty Seat'? Not to worry.
You can check
out the Gaijin's previous ramblings as easily as clicking below.
Well, the collection of Japanese holidays known collectively as 'Golden Week' (April 26-May 6) will soon be here, even though with only 2 real days off, it doesn't seem too golden to me! However, for those who are planning to get away, the timing could be right. Remember the old proverb about 'It's an ill wind that brings nobody any good'? Well, what with the war in Iraq and the SARS epidemic , travel agencies specializing in discount tickets have been rushing to fill empty seats with real bargains. How about a round trip to New York for ¥39,000 (US$323) or a weekend in Seoul for ¥38,800 (US$321). Why Seoul? Because South Korea has so far reported little if any SARS activity! Hong Kong's loss is Korea's gain! If you prefer somewhere more beachy, try a 3-night, 5-day trip to Hawaii for ¥39,800 (US$330), almost half what it would normally cost! and the best may yet be to come, for one travel agent was quoted as saying 'If many seats are still unsold just prior to Golden Week, prices may drop even further. If you don't mind waiting until the last minute before leaving, you may be able to get your hands on even cheaper deals.' Hmm. Suddenly, the prospect of calling in sick between the holidays seems much more likely! However, never fear -- the Gaijin will be back in time for next months discourse, and if you'd care to join me, that would be just fine. Pop in, why don't you, and until you do, may the wind be always at your back.
The Gaijin
Don't forget: If you want to know when the next 'Empty Seat' is online, or just want to contact the ol' Gaijin, you can use the Guestbook link below or drop me an email. I'll read it all, honest, and then . . . Well, we'll see!
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| * | Regular travellers on Japan's buses and trains know that the seat next to a foreigner will usually remain empty, even during the rush hours. This can rankle at first but should really be seen as a relief in a place where space is hard to find. It is also amusing to see a tired 'salaryman' torn between sitting next to a foreigner or remaining on his feet! |
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since 03/04/15 !
