Japan Life

For iPhone users, now you can enjoy having your My Number Card digitally on your iPhone. 😊

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/37609260

TOKYO (AP) — Japan ‘s Imperial palace said Thursday that it has fired an employee for stealing cash totaling 3.6 million yen ($24,900) from Emperor Naruhito and his family over more than a year.

Thought somebody who worked in such proximity to the Imperial family would have been thoroughly vetted……

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/34921262

The latest ruling by Osaka High Court is in line with those of the Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka and Nagoya high courts

I met this Japanese girl in some language forum few months ago and we started exchanging messages on daily basis (but only one message a day). I started liking her as I loved her personality and way of thinking and didn't seem like other Japanese girls (but maybe it is just me having the stereotype image). She is also my type. She studies in a neighboring country. She did come to my country for a visit and met her face to face. Before coming, I asked her if she is single and interested in a relationship and it was the case. So I suggested going on a casual date and she said yes.

When we met, we walked through the city and then went for dinner but nothing fancy or romantic. After that I told her that liked the time we spent together and would like to see her again and going on more dates. She told me that she's not sure but she would like to see me. From her answer, I understood that she wasn't interested.

I didn't bring that subject until we started talking about difference in dating between Japan and western European countries. For her going on a date is not something casual and happen when the relationship in an advanced stage, before that is hanging out. So I asked her if she misunderstood my previous messages and suggested meeting her and hang out and see. She accepted and asked me what made want to see her again. So I told directly that I like and find her cute. She told me that she wasn't aware that I was seeing her in that way. I was a little surprised and I thought it was obvious.

We will be meeting in a few weeks and we started looking for things to do. We will be going to watch a very romantic play she suggested and she even asked if we can watch something together in the place I will be staying.

So I am really confused, those seem like things you do in a second or third date in my country. Or something you just do with a friend. But I don't have too much experience in dating (neither her I think). On my side I won't make any assumptions and will spend time with her as planned, if things feel right I may ask her directly (I won't just hold her hands or kiss her).

I know every experience is different but I would like to know your thoughts on this.

I watched this recent video by Dogen about how immigrants should adapt to Japanese life etc.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_tXp5sFlHQ

One of the things I found odd was that he mentioned "eating while walking" as one of the offensive behaviors foreigners should stop doing. Many of the other examples made sense to me, but for this one - I never thought this was "rude", rather "odd". Thinking about it, I had a few conversations about this over time, but never got negative vibes for it (at least directly). Might be that people don't want to tell me it's rude, but I also got no negative opinions about it from people who lived abroad for a while (and thus are maybe better at communicating with foreigners) and/or are usually more upfront with me.

So my current understanding: It's odd but not rude. Thankful for any further insights.

Complementary coverage by the BBC and South China Morning Post

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17412546

Hospitals are stretched to their limits during unseasonably early heatwave, as medical authorities liken public health risk to a ‘natural disaster’

Medical experts in Japan are to add a “most severe” category to the current heatstroke index, amid warnings that the extreme heat is straining medical services and causing damage to public health comparable to that in a “natural disaster”.

The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine said it would add a fourth category to the three-level classification later this year in an attempt to reduce deaths from heatstroke.

The announcement came in the same week as authorities in Tokyo said six people had died from the effects of a heatwave that has sent temperatures as high as 40C in some parts of the country – well above the 35C threshold classified by weather officials as “extremely hot”.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/13104054

A Japanese high court ruled Thursday that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions.

The court does not have the power to overturn the current marriage law, which has been interpreted to restrict marriage as between a man and a woman. Government offices may continue to deny marriage status to same-sex couples unless the existing law is revised to include LGBTQ+ couples, or a new law is enacted that allows for other types of unions.

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/worldnews@lemmy.ml/t/797034

A group of Japanese citizens, including a man of Pakistani descent, is suing the country’s police, accusing authorities of racial profiling and discrimination.

Cross post from reddit that just got locked:

/r/japanlife/comments/18ycbqu/returning_back_to_europe_after_45_months_in_japan/

I have been on on exchange living in Japan and I must say I have been impressed and felt very very very welcome here. Have never felt this way in any country (maybe not even my own). I am heading back now unfortunatly.

Apart from all the good food, nature etc. The things that I have noticed and really appreciated was:

• Never had a conflict with anyone here. Not a single one (yes, it is obvious I am not Japanese, so I guess locals will be more accepting, but still).
• Everyone seems to be very mindful of others and things are so clean and orderly. No one is loud, take up space etc. And no one minds you (people dont stare at you or comment on what your doing).
• Japanese people would ask if I needed help on train stations etc. * Very kind people ! It has been very easy to meet locals and I have made good friends (maybe not on tatemae level?).
• Overall, sitting in the airport, I already feel the European/western loudness, taking up space, clumsiness etc. ... Very uncharming to observe actually comming straight from Japanese living.

I know I probably have some of the traits myself (as I grew up in it) but I am almost a bit affraid to return to all the random people creating conflicts, loud and obnoxious people etc.

Anyone who can comment on things that might help ? I have already tried to find Tonkotsu ramen places (hahah!) in my city and other Japanese things that might make me feel more at ease. Non the less, thank you Japan for an absolutely amazing experince here !

Canadian here. Most of our banking is electronic in Canada and I just don’t physical currency much. I mostly stuck with using paper currency in Japan this past summer.

I couldn’t find a quick and easy way to easily convert my coins back to paper yen before the flight home so used up some of my baggage weight allowance with a big sack of Japanese coins. Any tips?

I don’t mind paying a percentage to do it but don’t want to count myself. If there’s a shortage of coins in Japan right now it’s because all your yen are in my luggage.

Banks here used to have machines to do it with Canadian coins but with few people using coins now they all got removed.

Plan B was to pour my 2kg sack-o-yen into a temple donation box and reap the good Karma for years to come.

A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the country's central region on Monday.

Anyone else feel that? Strongest earthquake I've been in.

Changes in Japanese lifestyles are being reflected by the emergence of new types of kotatsu — traditionally, internally heated tables usually draped with a futon quilt to retain the warmth.

The dynamic pricing scheme allows the prices of vending machine items to be raised when demand is high and lowered when sales are low.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's ruling parties on Thursday approved tax reform plans for fiscal 2024 to support inflation-hit households and child-rearing fa

A Japanese court on Tuesday found three former soldiers guilty of sexually assaulting a female colleague, in a victory for the victim whose battle for justice challenged taboos in a traditional, male-dominated society.

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will start issuing new 10,000 yen ($69), 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen banknotes on July 3, marking the first redesign in about two d

The choice came as tax hikes and cuts were heavily covered in the news and discussed among policymakers.

Some people on social media expressed anger at the character's skirt being flipped and said it 'set a bad example for children.'

Internet references conflating the two films drew anger in Japan, which was twice attacked by nuclear weapons during the second world war

As such names have increased, so has attention to cases of people unhappy with them. But critics say new rules may infringe on the right to be creative.