The Japan Thread

[Polident Hive]

Actually saw a pretty neat fold out sofa bed that minimalists are supposedly into. Some Australian company selling the rare memory foam mattress. Their sofas use the mattress as cushions and turn into a bed in 3 seconds. Notably, they aren’t terrible sofas unlike most.

Well there are other memory foam mattresses. But spending upwards of $6000 for a tempur brand is nuts.

[Polident Hive]

For better or worse I’m going to be in Tokyo for a couple years. Thankfully a quiet area, to the confusion of everybody I’ve talked to. On occasion I need to go to Shibuya for work stuff during the week, which to be blunt, makes me want to die. Otherwise a nice setup. Peaceful.

Really need to focus in on learning the language properly. Had a moment where I wanted to buy carrots and didn’t know the word. Then I remembered the Ninjin Loves You Yeah jingle from Macross Frontier and felt deep shame. But I enjoyed the shockingly large carrots they sell here.

[bork]

One of the first things I bought when I moved there was a pocket electronic dictionary- there was one for the Nintendo DS that was pretty popular among people I knew there at the time too.

But now you can just whip out your phone and use a translator!  Still worth studying the language if you're going to be there long-term though!

[Polident Hive]

Call it misplaced pride or whatever but I’ve only now used the translator app when making larger purchases to know I’m not messing something up. It’s easy to figuratively and literally eat the mistake at a restaurant. When I’m looking for a laundry machine, and typically refer to it as a washing machine, and get shown dish washing machines. Yeah. Not a headache I want to deal with.

One thing I’ll add. This came together somewhat sooner than expected. Initially the aims were August/September. Tried delaying it to avoid summer. Out of my hands. Still need to head home for a week or two to bring some stuff. But it’s mid May and already 28c. Trying to strategically plan when best to. Mid June last year was hitting 35c regularly…

[chronovore]

“Already 27°C…”

Buckle up, buttercup.

[Bebpo]

For better or worse I’m going to be in Tokyo for a couple years. Thankfully a quiet area, to the confusion of everybody I’ve talked to. On occasion I need to go to Shibuya for work stuff during the week, which to be blunt, makes me want to die. Otherwise a nice setup. Peaceful.

Really need to focus in on learning the language properly. Had a moment where I wanted to buy carrots and didn’t know the word. Then I remembered the Ninjin Loves You Yeah jingle from Macross Frontier and felt deep shame. But I enjoyed the shockingly large carrots they sell here.

Don't have anything to add other than this has been my go to online dictionary for 20 years:

http://nihongo.monash.edu/cgi-bin/wwwjdic?1C

[Polident Hive]

“Already 27°C…”

Buckle up, buttercup.

I’ve complained about heat quite a lot over the last year. Somewhat prepared by buying a new array of lighter clothes. Envious of the old guys I see comfortably wearing sharp three piece suits, as I’m in a t shirt looking like I stepped out of a sauna.

An aside. Rare times I’m around either Mikado arcade, I like to see what new stuff they added. One of them added Silent Scope Bone Eater. I had a vague recollection of reading about it ten years ago. It’s by tri ace of all developers. Kind of strange. More cinematic and rail shooter than the older Silent Scopes. The main screen is so zoomed out you can’t no scope. And I kept wanting to because the cabinet is so low to the ground you have to hunch over to aim. The other Silent Scopes and Golgo 13 are playable standing. Still, silent scope is really fun.

[Polident Hive]

A regular sight this past month: signs saying “please don’t sit on steps and block path,” in multiple languages, about two feet away from a group sitting on steps blocking the path.

[bork]

A regular sight this past month: signs saying “please don’t sit on steps and block path,” in multiple languages, about two feet away from a group sitting on steps blocking the path.

[Polident Hive]

Think Japan is the only place that would make corn flavored protein powder to go with their cheese cracker flavored protein bars.

[chronovore]

Think Japan is the only place that would make corn flavored protein powder to go with their cheese cracker flavored protein bars.

One suspects these two items could be effortlessly repurposed into NACHO PROTEIN by !Live Más! marketing endeavors.

[Polident Hive]

Going outside actually feels like this

[chronovore]

Yup, this is correct.
It's just July's first week.
August is worse, yo.

A haiku response for your Japanese summer.

I had a walk at 08:30 yesterday, thinking it would be the last good weather of the day. But after lunch, it still seemed pretty decent, so I went for a walk to the convenience store to get a snack — 500m out, I realized:

:ive_made_a_terrible_mistake.gif

The humidity is at 80% so any more than that and we will have to swim.

[recursivelyenumerable]

I need to remember to say "meccha" more, all the cool people seem to say "meccha" a lot

[Polident Hive]

When I overhear younger guys, I think you only need to know “magi” and “honto” to have full conversations.

Yup, this is correct.
It's just July's first week.
August is worse, yo.

A haiku response for your Japanese summer.

I had a walk at 08:30 yesterday, thinking it would be the last good weather of the day. But after lunch, it still seemed pretty decent, so I went for a walk to the convenience store to get a snack — 500m out, I realized:

:ive_made_a_terrible_mistake.gif

The humidity is at 80% so any more than that and we will have to swim.

I’ve spend extended periods in Italian coastal locals during peak summer. I don’t know how it’s more humid and sunny in the cities. Likewise, I used to feel like rain was a reprieve from the heat. Less sun and all. The intense humidity makes you feel heavy. The five minute walk to the gym, I’m already drenched. At least I don’t need to warm up. Silver lining is they finally turned on AC for trains and indoors.

[Polident Hive]

Accidentally got one of those new notes and hadn’t realized until a shop refused to accept it. I don’t know when the new 500 yen coins were introduced, but to this day I encounter incompatible coin machines. Also been told I shouldn’t bother paying with a 2000 yen note.

Takes me back to the growing pains of the euro.

[chronovore]

¥2000 notes are accepted, just unusual.
If a machine didn't take the new ¥1000 note, that's just adoption lag. If a register clerk didn't take it, that's a problem.

I've been exhausted for 2 weeks now. It's just so oppressive, thinking about going outside. I wish I had a good excuse to visit the west coast USA right now. Historically I could escape for a few weeks, these past few years. I don't even remember what 2020 and 2021 were like, when Japan was in lockdown. I guess it was like now, where I'm just hiding indoors with the A/C on.

[Polident Hive]

Wouldn’t say I’m okay with it, but I’m handling the heat. Think the gradual shift helps rather than jumping in like last August. At the same time, my body sensed I was doing okay and decided I needed allergies. That’s fun.

[chronovore]

Make sure you go to a doctor and get an actual allergy medicine rather than the bullshit over-the-counter stuff. I finally found the right meds for me, and there is no going back.

[Polident Hive]

Whining about heat again, but the humidity. Good lord. Days when it gets bad, even at home the AC can’t keep up. I’ve never used a dehumidifier before and now I understand why they’re vital.

It’s my understanding in places with tatami rooms, you have to contend with mold and silverfish.


Edit to prevent double post:

Had the misfortune of going to Shibuya after many, many months. Maybe it’s the heat, the overwhelming tourism, or some combination. The smell is aggressive. Like rotting garbage. I think even the rats left. And some areas were, no exaggeration, more tourist than Japanese. You’d see some go into stores for AC and sit on the floor.

Despite the reputation, first time I’ve felt people were cold in Tokyo. I don’t blame them.

[chronovore]

The tourist agencies for any group tour should be giving lessons before departure, during the flight, and after landing before being turned loose on the population. Even before the pandemic, Chinese tourists made American ones look like angels, but with the current raging torrent of incoming tourists, and COMPLETE and FLAGRANT disregard for local manners, they're managing to really test the limits of Japanese patience.

It doesn't take much: look around, and if no-one else is doing it, don't do it.

Don't sit on the floor in a shop.

Don't block the entire sidewalk.

Don't drag your check-in baggage around town with you.

Jesus fucking christ, they suck.

…as for the weather, we've got one more month, and then it'll cool off. We're looking at mid-september before it starts to wane. The humidity is nuts. I went upstairs from my airconditioned living room, and as I ascended the stairs, it felt like walking upward into an inverted bowl of soup.

[Polident Hive]

Is it controversial to say sweet potato and its seasonal flavors aren’t good? Savory, sweet, or plain roasted. Can’t find the appeal for my tastes.

America wins on sweet potatoes.

[chronovore]

I'm sure there are plenty of Japanese people who agree with you, but quietly.