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[Oare]

And seemingly all the rest of Japanese tv consists of "What does gaikoku think about this aspect of Japan? Isn't Japan cool?" type shows. Either that, or "Let's go to gaikoku and be surprised and appalled because they do things differently than we do!" shows.

While I don't personally dislike Japanese TV, many people, especially in Japanese (written) media, have been pointing out that Japan's been plagued with an overzealous tendency to self-praise these past few years.
This phenomenon even has a name, "自画自賛症候群" ("jiga-jisan shokogun", the "self-praise syndrome"). And as you're pointing out, it's especially well represented in TV shows.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

While I don't personally dislike Japanese TV, many people, especially in Japanese (written) media, have been pointing out that Japan's been plagued with an overzealous tendency to self-praise these past few years.
This phenomenon even has a name, "自画自賛症候群" ("jiga-jisan shokogun", the "self-praise syndrome"). And as you're pointing out, it's especially well represented in TV shows.

They realize this? I'm legitimately shocked. I thought it was just foreigners who noticed.

 

[mujun]

While I don't personally dislike Japanese TV, many people, especially in Japanese (written) media, have been pointing out that Japan's been plagued with an overzealous tendency to self-praise these past few years.
This phenomenon even has a name, "自画自賛症候群" ("jiga-jisan shokogun", the "self-praise syndrome"). And as you're pointing out, it's especially well represented in TV shows.

Thank god! You see precious little introspection from the average person.

The one example I can't stand is the show on Thursday night about traditional craftsmen (people?).

You coming to Osaka EviLore?

 

[Jayhawk]

My friend and I are flying out to Tokyo, and we'll be arriving on Tuesday. It will be our first time there and we don't speak Japanese. We'll be there until the next Wednesday. I am super excited, yet nervous about knowing how to get where I want to go.

EDIT: I just noticed this isn't the travel thread.

 

[Zornica]

Healthcare here is cheap cheap cheap. You can get supplementary insurance, sure, but I don't know how necessary it is. For example, if you get sick and need antibiotics, expect to pay about ¥3000-3500 for doctor visit plus medicine. Maybe less depending on the medicine.

Edit: you know what... 3k is probably way higher than reality. I haven't gone in awhile but I'm always surprised how cheap it is.

My last visit to a doctor to see a specialist about a calf cramp cost less than $10. Ambulances are free. What sort of medical expenses are you expecting?

thanks for your responses. Honestly I didn't know what to expect, because as I wrote, I never had to deal with anything like that in my life. I'm used to "walking in, getting my treatment and walking out".

3k doesn't sound too bad compared to the horror stories I read on gaf, but to be fair, those were mostly about the US.

 

[Upsidedown Fuji]

thanks for your responses. Honestly I didn't know what to expect, because as I wrote, I never had to deal with anything like that in my life. I'm used to "walking in, getting my treatment and walking out".

3k doesn't sound too bad compared to the horror stories I read on gaf, but to be fair, those were mostly about the US.

The key is to enroll into the national healthcare system. As an exchange student, your school on Japan should be able to help with that. I had it when I was a poor exchange student. I never used it but it wasn't too expensive as it's based on your last year's income in Japan. Since you're jobless and new it won't be much to pay.

 

[matt360]

thanks for your responses. Honestly I didn't know what to expect, because as I wrote, I never had to deal with anything like that in my life. I'm used to "walking in, getting my treatment and walking out".

3k doesn't sound too bad compared to the horror stories I read on gaf, but to be fair, those were mostly about the US.

Yeah, cost of health care is a non-issue for the most part. The thing you need to watch out for is quack ojiisan doctors at private clinics who don't know how to diagnose anything other than a common cold. My good buddy had fucking bladder cancer and was pissing blood, but was diagnosed with a cold. I had pneumonia but was told it was just a cold. This kind of stuff happens ALL the time, so be careful. Find a doc that is thorough and that you feel like you can trust. If you find a good doc then I think the quality of care is more than adequate.

 

[Upsidedown Fuji]

Yeah, cost of health care is a non-issue for the most part. The thing you need to watch out for is quack ojiisan doctors at private clinics who don't know how to diagnose anything other than a common cold. My good buddy had fucking bladder cancer and was pissing blood, but was diagnosed with a cold. I had pneumonia but was told it was just a cold. This kind of stuff happens ALL the time, so be careful. Find a doc that is thorough and that you feel like you can trust. If you find a good doc then I think the quality of care is more than adequate.

Totally the truth! Care is cheap but finding the right doctor is the key. I've run into my own fair bunch of lazy doctors. I had a sinus infection for a couple of months that I was told was just seasonal allergies. If you feel the doctor's diagnosis is off, don't be afraid to get a second opinion. Either ask around for good clinic recommendations and you'll find a good local doctor. If you can self diagnose your symptoms, it's a good idea to just skip the general clinics and hunt down specialists. Most clinics here focus on three practices, gastro-intestinal, dermatology, and internal (generally respiratory). Private clinics for other focuses also exist as well and are generally not that hard to find. The biggest trouble you'll run into is filling out a form for a new patient card for every clinic you visit. If you have a social/national insurance card you'll still need to get a new clinic specific card every time you visit a clinic you haven't been to before. I have like 4 different cards in my wallet but it works.

Usually your best bet in those unusual cases is to head on down to a university hospital where younger doctors may be more open and brushed up on their English if you aren't confident doing it in Japanese. It's a mixed bag though. That and some of the older tech and practices physicians still use here.

I think why many newcomers get really sick here is either they think they can ride out the cold because they're afraid visiting a doctor will kill their wallet (Americans like me) or the doctor doesn't give strong enough medication or proper treatment. But really it's not as bad as it sounds.

 

[DCharlie]

Personal tale re: healthcare that maybe of use to those with other halves.

Short version :

Wife had a rough pregnancy - her body was basically attempting to miscarry but it was caught after one doctor thought she had already miscarried but the second opinion was that she was fine (we'd already lost two so we thought we were just out of luck)

Anyways, the problem was she had to be hospitalised for 4.5 months, then because the baby was going to be delivered at the earliest possible time and there were concerns regarding heart/lung dev then we would need a hospital with dedicated support.

The bill was substantial (2m +) and the shifting of hospitals added to that (we went from one-->another--> back to the first one), and for some reason for the insurance we had to pay up then claim back (though that still left a huge bill)

 

[Deleted member 17706]

They realize this? I'm legitimately shocked. I thought it was just foreigners who noticed.

Definitely not. You find lots of talk about it online in particular, but plenty of my friends also express their discomfort over these "Japan is great!" TV shows.

 

[Upsidedown Fuji]

Personal tale re: healthcare that maybe of use to those with other halves.

Short version :

Wife had a rough pregnancy - her body was basically attempting to miscarry but it was after one doctor thought she had already miscarried but the second opinion was that she was fine (we'd already lost two so we thought we were just out of luck)

Anyways, the problem was she had to be hospitalised for 4.5 months, then because the baby was going to be delivered at the earliest possible time and there were concerns regarding heart/lung dev then we would need a hospital with dedicated support.

The bill was substantial (2m +) and the shifting of hospitals added to that (we went from one-->another--> back to the first one), and for some reason for the insurance we had to pay up then claim back (though that still left a huge bill)

Oh man, I'm so sorry that you guys had to go through such a difficult labor. I assume the extended stay in the hospital is what really drove up the final cost of the procedure. I wonder how common this is.

 

[Kenshin001]

Yeah, cost of health care is a non-issue for the most part. The thing you need to watch out for is quack ojiisan doctors at private clinics who don't know how to diagnose anything other than a common cold. My good buddy had fucking bladder cancer and was pissing blood, but was diagnosed with a cold. I had pneumonia but was told it was just a cold. This kind of stuff happens ALL the time, so be careful. Find a doc that is thorough and that you feel like you can trust. If you find a good doc then I think the quality of care is more than adequate.

Can't say I've been impressed with the diagnosis I've received. The calf problem I talked about was originally supposed to be about my liver, but now the third doctor thinks it seems to be because of my spine. The nose and throat doctor I went to when I had a bad cold put it down to an allergy but wouldn't say what I was supposed to be allergic to, like it was a state secret. Rarely saw a doctor back home though so can't remember if it was the same there.

 

[Kazzy]

Hello, thread!

I've been meaning to post in here for a little while, though things always seemed to get in the way *shrugs* I just always assumed there would have been a longstanding thread of this sort - so I was little surprised to discover how new it actually is!

I need some general purchasing help, and I feel like here would be the best place to seek advice. Basically, I've been stuck for a while, whenever I want to buy something online. As. I don't have a credit card in Japan (and there being a lack of cash card alternative), it puts me in a tricky situation. I know there are the pre-paid 'cards' that you buy in convenience stores (Visa Vanilla, WebMoney, etc), but I'm extremely weary of actually trying them.

It's difficult to find anything substantive about them, which makes me somewhat hesitant about their reliability. There's also the question of who will accept them - do the likes of PlayAsia accept this payment? Any help is greatly appreciated, as it's something that has been bugging me for a while now!

 

[Hasemo]

Hello, thread!

I've been meaning to post in here for a little while, though things always seemed to get in the way *shrugs* I just always assumed there would have been a longstanding thread of this sort - so I was little surprised to discover how new it actually is!

I need some general purchasing help, and I feel like here would be the best place to seek advice. Basically, I've been stuck for a while, whenever I want to buy something online. As. I don't have a credit card in Japan (and there being a lack of cash card alternative), it puts me in a tricky situation. I know there are the pre-paid 'cards' that you buy in convenience stores (Visa Vanilla, WebMoney, etc), but I'm extremely weary of actually trying them.

It's difficult to find anything substantive about them, which makes me somewhat hesitant about their reliability. There's also the question of who will accept them - do the likes of PlayAsia accept this payment? Any help is greatly appreciated, as it's something that has been bugging me for a while now!

You can get a Visa Debit card (works perfectly fine online) in a week, no questions asked, if you have a UFJ account. I strongly recommend it.
http://www.bk.mufg.jp/tsukau/visadebit/

 

[ponpo]

Can't you just use another option? Bank transfer or COD or something?

I haven't been here long and still have my Canadian VISA so I just use that.

 

[Kazzy]

You can get a Visa Debit card (works perfectly fine online) in a week, no questions asked, if you have a UFJ account. I strongly recommend it.
http://www.bk.mufg.jp/tsukau/visadebit/

Shinsei...

Can't you just use another option? Bank transfer or COD or something?

I haven't been here long and still have my Canadian VISA so I just use that.

Eh, I could, but the one time I tried to transfer money back to my UK account, it failed the transaction, and I still got the service charge for that 'pleasure'. I'm not entirely sure why it didn't work, but my experiences with Japanese banking has never been particularly...favourable.

 

[Hasemo]

Shinsei...

It's an application to get a new card connected to your account, not the super long application for a credit card! I don't think there's a scenario where you wouldn't get it.

 

[ponpo]

Eh, I could, but the one time I tried to transfer money back to my UK account, it failed the transaction, and I still got the service charge for that 'pleasure'. I'm not entirely sure why it didn't work, but my experiences with Japanese banking has never been particularly...favourable.

No I mean a bank transfer as a way of paying for whatever you bought online. Pretty common.

 

[m3r4]

Have some アンジャッシュ！

げらげら笑おうじゃないか！

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaDJbrwi0gk

The ending is incredible...

 

[marimorimo]

Anyways, just needed to let that out. Japanese tv is garbage. Maybe some of you guys know how I feel.

Yes 100%. And I have to suffer through a lot of it because my hubby is big on watching TV. Can't even eat dinner without it blaring >_>;

I've learned to appreciate the gourmet shows a bit, although it depends on WHO is eating. I hate that show where they guess the price of the food.
ItteQ is fun because I like Imoto.
I can't stand ドラマ and the oh-so-fake acting.
I like Matsuko Deluxe (one of the rare irreverent personalities). Fat She-Man Yells at Cloud.
I like that show where the host discusses pressing current events in detail.
NHK documentaries are also surprisingly good. Although I'm not sure how much bias is in there.

So I do have my favorites, but the majority of what's on TV is trash. What irks me the most is how many shows end up being thinly-veiled commercials. I don't know how Japanese viewers put up with that one. The whole show is a freakin' product promoton, then you have to watch more commercials. I also hate how every.single.mundane.thing. is turned into some sort of quiz interspersed with lengthy commercials before they give you the answer.

 

[Kazzy]

No I mean a bank transfer as a way of paying for whatever you bought online. Pretty common.

If these cards that can be bought in stores are a viable option, then I'd rather use those.

 

[DCharlie]

h man, I'm so sorry that you guys had to go through such a difficult labor. I assume the extended stay in the hospital is what really drove up the final cost of the procedure. I wonder how common this is.

yeah, the cost per day was pretty harsh - ultimately it was worth every single yen (even if we'd have had to pay without insurance) and the quality of the care was fantastic.

 

[Upsidedown Fuji]

I had no idea UFJ had visa debit cards you could link to your account. Crap, that would've saved me so much trouble buying things from the US online. I just transfer money with Lloyd's now shinsei remittances to my US bank account and used my credit card from my bank back home.

My biggest gripe is that PSN, amazon, and Google play store prepaid cards are region locked. You can't use a Japan bought card on the US sites and vice versa. But I guess it has one benefit, it saved me from impulse buys.

 

[I'm an expert]

If these cards that can be bought in stores are a viable option, then I'd rather use those.

Why can't you just use furikomi.. daikin.. pay at a lawson.. or buy one of the prepaid cards you're weary of.. why are you weary..

And if you're talking about something like playasia why wouldn't they just accept your foreign card? Hell, sites like Nissen even accept PayPal.

 

[KuroNeeko]

yeah, the cost per day was pretty harsh - ultimately it was worth every single yen (even if we'd have had to pay without insurance) and the quality of the care was fantastic.

Is your child doing okay now?

 

[Aizo]

Have some アンジャッシュ！

げらげら笑おうじゃないか！

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaDJbrwi0gk

The ending is incredible...

I need to re-study the battle of sekigahara. I didn't know it ended up like that.

 

[Zornica]

[...]
Usually your best bet in those unusual cases is to head on down to a university hospital where younger doctors may be more open and brushed up on their English if you aren't confident doing it in Japanese. It's a mixed bag though. That and some of the older tech and practices physicians still use here. [...]

There's a university hospital attached to my... university. So I guess that would be the best place to start if something were to happen?
Anyway, from what I remember, japanese medicine is based on german medical terms (at least that's how it used to be), so insufficient english shouldn't be to much of a worry.

yeah, the cost per day was pretty harsh - ultimately it was worth every single yen (even if we'd have had to pay without insurance) and the quality of the care was fantastic.

Ouch. I'm glad it worked out in the end.

 

[Geobobfrank]

I have used the prepaid cards here in Japan. I used the vanilla visa one and it works just fine. Can't buy a airplane ticket for well lack of probeable id on the card with it but anything else including play Asiaay pal transfers of all sorts has worked for me. You set up an account online and each card you buy adds to your balance and you can transfer the balances each time you get a new card over. So you won't lose money in a leftover card.

 

[DCharlie]

Is your child doing okay now?

thanks for asking - yeah, he's fine. He's built like a wee truck as well.

There's a university hospital attached to my... university. So I guess that would be the best place to start if something were to happen?

wife transferred through a few hospitals one of which was Keio University hospital - which was great except for the room which was insanely depressing and cramped. The windows didn't open for, um, reasons. :/

 

[EviLore]

Thank god! You see precious little introspection from the average person.

The one example I can't stand is the show on Thursday night about traditional craftsmen (people?).

You coming to Osaka EviLore?

Yeah, probably. Osaka hotels are 96% (!!) booked so I airbnbed an apartment in Tokyo for the rest of my trip as a fall back, since I can always take mildly annoying day trips using my JR Pass.

I'll ping the thread when I get to Osaka, whenever that is, though, in case anyone wants to have a drink.

 

[mujun]

Yeah, probably. Osaka hotels are 96% (!!) booked so I airbnbed an apartment in Tokyo for the rest of my trip as a fall back, since I can always take mildly annoying day trips using my JR Pass.

I'll ping the thread when I get to Osaka, whenever that is, though, in case anyone wants to have a drink.

Make sure to do that, it'd be my pleasure to shout you a drink, lunch or something.

 

[Upsidedown Fuji]

Yeah, probably. Osaka hotels are 96% (!!) booked so I airbnbed an apartment in Tokyo for the rest of my trip as a fall back, since I can always take mildly annoying day trips using my JR Pass.

I'll ping the thread when I get to Osaka, whenever that is, though, in case anyone wants to have a drink.

Live it up! Osaka is better than Tokyo IMO. Nanba is where it's at. Grab some takoyaki and some fresh fugu.

 

[DCharlie]

The most fucked up 3 days of my life was an impromptu meet up with someone I thought was dead in Osaka/Kyoto and we went utterly fucking crazy - the Reggae club we ended up in was insane

 

[Ayumi]

Since I had so much fun hanging out with JapanGAF, I thought I'd go to a party I was invited to yesterday. I try to avoid ~the outside~ as much as possible for various reasons, and it didn't take long until I realized it's gonna be hard finding nice people like you guys, and then I started wishing I could go home. Yesterday was fun but I ran into someone rude who pretty much ruined my day. Not sure why I'm telling you all - probably just wanted to say thanks again for being so awesome. I'm not often comfortable around people but you guys rock. ｡ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼&#65377ﾟ｡

 

[ponpo]

fuk gafferz

Went to a kendama themed art gallery things in omotesando last night. Was fun. If only I drank ._.

Also walked by all those baseball / etc stadiums that are around omotesando and there was a game going on. It seemed kind of fun, maybe I should go some time. I don't care about baseball but being around drunk salarymen has always been entertaining.

 

[Desmond]

Odd question, but is it usual for someone to give you their card/Meishi after you buy something from their store? One of my Japanese friends is convinced it was 逆ナン

 

[ponpo]

What store

 

[Desmond]

What store

Yodabashi.

I just assume it's for if I have problems.

 

[matt360]

Yodabashi.

I just assume it's for if I have problems.

Nah, that doesn't sound normal unless you bought a fridge or a washing machine or something that might require maintenance.

 

[Desmond]

Nah, that doesn't sound normal unless you bought a fridge or a washing machine or something that might require maintenance.

I bought a wifi modem for 3000 yen lol

 

[matt360]

I bought a wifi modem for 3000 yen lol

逆ナン

 

[ponpo]

Yodabashi employee? Passu ~ ~~ ~

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Since I had so much fun hanging out with JapanGAF, I thought I'd go to a party I was invited to yesterday. I try to avoid ~the outside~ as much as possible for various reasons, and it didn't take long until I realized it's gonna be hard finding nice people like you guys, and then I started wishing I could go home. Yesterday was fun but I ran into someone rude who pretty much ruined my day. Not sure why I'm telling you all - probably just wanted to say thanks again for being so awesome. I'm not often comfortable around people but you guys rock. ｡ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼&#65377ﾟ｡

Sorry you didn't have a good time :/. We should have another J-GAF get together some time.

 

[bodyboarder]

Nevermind.

 

[sprsk]

Nah, that doesn't sound normal unless you bought a fridge or a washing machine or something that might require maintenance.

Ehhhhhhhhh not uncommon in a big electronics store like yodobashi. Was it the cashier or did someone help you out?

Cashier = weird
Helped you out = Not weird

 

[EviLore]

Should not have airbnbed an apartment in Tokyo. I just hit my head three times in three different places. ;b

 

[matt360]

Ehhhhhhhhh not uncommon in a big electronics store like yodobashi. Was it the cashier or did someone help you out?

Cashier = weird
Helped you out = Not weird

Yeah, that's true. I was assuming it was the person at the register because I didn't see why someone would need a floor salesman for a modem, but now I suppose it's totally possible. Granted, we don't have Yodobashi in Hiroshima, but the only times I've ever gotten a card from someone was when we bought our washing machine and fridge. And it was indeed from the floor salesman, not from the cashier. So yeah, I agree with the above that cashier = weird, floor person = not too weird.

 

[Parakeetman]

I bought a wifi modem for 3000 yen lol

ITS A TRAP

lol

yeah as mentioned usually only for larger stuff might floor staff give you their card. But anything else should be WAT?!

 

[Theodran]

I don't understand why people in this thread aren't using their home country credit cards if they don't have Japanese ones. I used my Icelandic credit card for all purchases I couldn't pay via bank transfer. I thought that was the norm?

If you need Japanese credit cards, Rakuten doesn't really rejected any applications, especially if you are a seishain. They love adding people into their financial enslavement roster.

 

[matt360]

I don't understand why people in this thread aren't using their home country credit cards if they don't have Japanese ones. I used my Icelandic credit card for all purchases I couldn't pay via bank transfer. I thought that was the norm?

If you need Japanese credit cards, Rakuten doesn't really rejected any applications, especially if you are a seishain. They love adding people into their financial enslavement roster.

I kinda doubt many of us here are seishain, especially those of us who are teaching.

That said, my US credit card gets frozen here all the fucking time (Bank of America). I find myself calling my credit card company every few months to get them to unblock my account. They've frozen it twice for adding fucking Skype minutes.

And ever since the great PSN hack, I can no longer use my US credit card on my US PSN account while living in Japan. If I want to add money to my PSN account I have to either ask a friend/relative in the states to buy me a card and read off the number, or go to Amazon and get one of those instant PSN cards. Pretty big pain in the ass.