Quite a bit has happened in the past few weeks, but you've not been reading about it. And you won't be for another while.
Tomorrow I finally start work again, roughly 2 months after I was given the job offer. The day after that, we are moving into a new place and that means we'll have no internet connection at home for about 2-3 weeks. That will make posting a bit trickier, but I may be able to do some during my lunch breaks - I'll see what I can do.
Of course I'll be writing about the ordeal that goes with renting a flat in Tokyo, possibly some musings about what it's like for me at a Japanese games developer, and maybe, just maybe I'll show you some more Happy Mascots....OK, definitely.
See you in a few weeks!
videogamesartist.com
2007-01-25
Third first interview in Japan
Quick recap: With quite a bit of luck I had found a Japanese games developer who was willing to hire a foreigner with a limited ability in Japanese. I was offered a job a few hours after my second interview, and decided to accept. Just a few days before I had that second interview, I had however received another invitation for a first interview. Of course, I didn't cancel the upcoming interview and decided to have a look.
This interview was at one of the big companies, to which I had applied at the beginning of October. Shortly thereafter I received an e-mail saying that it would indeed take about 6 weeks before I'd hear from them again. After a few weeks, I got a call on my mobile from them. It was with quite some difficulty that I was able to understand that the positions I had applied to weren't available, and I was asked if I was interested in another position. Of course I said yes to that, and a few weeks later I was called again to agree a date for an interview. This was far easier for me to understand and communicate about.
So like I said, this interview took place after I already had an offer, so there was little reason for me to be nervous. As usual I arrived early. The reception area was truly impressive, displaying boxed games, merchandise and a few games running on monitors. The two receptionists wore matching yet stylish uniforms.
The interview itself went pretty well. I was interviewed by one Japanese developer and one foreigner to handle the translation - a relatively low headcount! The position we talked about was at a department that's not even listed on their website, and a rather interesting one at that. The questions were numerous and deep, and I think I answered them well, albeit mostly in English. The interview also lasted longer than the usual 30 minutes, although I don't recall the exact length.
A few days after this interview, my portfolio was returned with a rather glossy rejection letter. It didn't take me by surprise, but the interview had given me a fair amount of hope. I certainly didn't regret going to the interview, as it has pointed out to me a possible way of how I might try to profile/market myself in my upcoming job, which starts -- tomorrow!
This interview was at one of the big companies, to which I had applied at the beginning of October. Shortly thereafter I received an e-mail saying that it would indeed take about 6 weeks before I'd hear from them again. After a few weeks, I got a call on my mobile from them. It was with quite some difficulty that I was able to understand that the positions I had applied to weren't available, and I was asked if I was interested in another position. Of course I said yes to that, and a few weeks later I was called again to agree a date for an interview. This was far easier for me to understand and communicate about.
So like I said, this interview took place after I already had an offer, so there was little reason for me to be nervous. As usual I arrived early. The reception area was truly impressive, displaying boxed games, merchandise and a few games running on monitors. The two receptionists wore matching yet stylish uniforms.
The interview itself went pretty well. I was interviewed by one Japanese developer and one foreigner to handle the translation - a relatively low headcount! The position we talked about was at a department that's not even listed on their website, and a rather interesting one at that. The questions were numerous and deep, and I think I answered them well, albeit mostly in English. The interview also lasted longer than the usual 30 minutes, although I don't recall the exact length.
A few days after this interview, my portfolio was returned with a rather glossy rejection letter. It didn't take me by surprise, but the interview had given me a fair amount of hope. I certainly didn't regret going to the interview, as it has pointed out to me a possible way of how I might try to profile/market myself in my upcoming job, which starts -- tomorrow!
2007-01-10
Happy Mascots: Random Encounters #6
Papillas are the bumps on your tongue, and by the root of a hair. Papilla-kun here is the Happy Mascot of hair implant company Reve21. Makes sense, right? 
A boy riding a scooter wearing a large red safty [sic] helmet.Finally, to answer the question "What kind of home would an elephant build?":
Two purple elephants promoting a catalogue show-home.2007-01-09
Happy Mascots: Random Encounters #5
One of the Happy Mascots of TV station TBS, whose body shape is most likely derived from the kanji for "person", goes for a stroll.
Dining and shopping area for ferrets up ahead.
Elephant-sized dungarees are apparently easier to find than elephant-sized construction helmets. What kind of home would an elephant build, anyway? Find out tomorrow in Random Encounters #6!
2007-01-05
An evening in Yokohama
The day before yesterday we made a short trip to Yokohama. We arrived in the late afternoon, looked around the shops a bit, and headed East to the Yokohama Passenger Terminal. We had seen it from a distance a few years ago, but decided to have a closer look this time. The simplest description for it is that it's a large futuristic pier for cruiseships with an enormous wooden, steel and grass landscape deck, but that doesn't do it justice. The photos below don't really give a good idea of the sheer size of it, either. I can recommend anyone visiting Yokohama to take the slight detour and go for a walk on this pier. You get to see some fantastic architecture up close and a great view of the Yokohama harbour front.
After darkness had completely fallen, we went ice skating at an outdoor rink next to the orange-lit warehouse-turned-shops in the top picture. Some, though not all, of the rental skates had flashing lights attached under the shoes which reacted to the skater's movement, lighting up the ice - a very nice effect. Although crowded (possibly because it was still in the New Year's 3-day holidays), the rink was a decent size and the price wasn't bad either. We concluded the evening with a ride on the Chrono Clock, the 5th largest ferris wheel in the world.
2007-01-02
Seal of approval
When settling in Japan, you will find that there are certain things you will truly need you didn't expect. One such thing is a personal seal, roughly the size of a AA battery, officially called an inkan or more commonly referred to as a hanko ("stamp").
The inkan serves the same purpose as a signature does in the West; it is used to mark your agreement, and so all Japanese have their own inkan. Many banks require you to have a inkan, and it is used for signing contracts and official documents. Before buying real estate, a car or a house one must have their inkan registered at the town hall. A registered inkan is known as a jitsuin. For foreigners the jitsuin must contain their surname, which may be written in katakana or the Roman alphabet (romaji).
Inkans for common Japanese names can be bought for as little as 105 yen, but foreigners will have to get one custom made and that will cost around 4000 yen. Thankfully, shops where you can get them made are plentiful, and there also plenty of suppliers online. These inkans are clearly a big business here, and customers can choose from an enormous range of sizes, materials, fonts and carrying cases. Check out the extensive website of hankoya.com, with its sub-domains for women's and titanium inkans.
A few weeks ago I was bought my inkan as a birthday gift. I decided to have my last name put on it in katakana. My last name is quite long, so the resulting inkan has some of the narrowest katakana I've ever seen crammed into the 13.5mm diameter. I've not actually used it yet, but I'll be opening a bank account in the near future and of course there's the job contract I look forward to signing - I mean, stamping soon.
The inkan serves the same purpose as a signature does in the West; it is used to mark your agreement, and so all Japanese have their own inkan. Many banks require you to have a inkan, and it is used for signing contracts and official documents. Before buying real estate, a car or a house one must have their inkan registered at the town hall. A registered inkan is known as a jitsuin. For foreigners the jitsuin must contain their surname, which may be written in katakana or the Roman alphabet (romaji).
Inkans for common Japanese names can be bought for as little as 105 yen, but foreigners will have to get one custom made and that will cost around 4000 yen. Thankfully, shops where you can get them made are plentiful, and there also plenty of suppliers online. These inkans are clearly a big business here, and customers can choose from an enormous range of sizes, materials, fonts and carrying cases. Check out the extensive website of hankoya.com, with its sub-domains for women's and titanium inkans.
A few weeks ago I was bought my inkan as a birthday gift. I decided to have my last name put on it in katakana. My last name is quite long, so the resulting inkan has some of the narrowest katakana I've ever seen crammed into the 13.5mm diameter. I've not actually used it yet, but I'll be opening a bank account in the near future and of course there's the job contract I look forward to signing - I mean, stamping soon.
2007-01-01
Happy New Year!
...or akemashite omedetou: "congratulations on the beginning of a New Year"!
New Year is one of the most important holidays in Japan. Like Christmas in the West, celebrations are a mixture of religion, visiting family, watching TV, gift giving and of course lots of food.
Following a tradition dating back to the Edo-period (17th-19th century), on New Year's Eve we ate Toshikoshi soba ("Going into the New Year" buckwheat noodles), and on New Year's Day we had Mochi. We didn't watch the yearly Kohaku Uta Gassen on TV, a 5-hour singing "contest" featuring countless Japanese musicians of past and recent fame. Right now however, we're watching actor/director Takeshi Kitano doing some tap-dancing on another famous New Year TV show. This afternoon we visited a nearby shrine, where we made our prayers for the year ahead. This year is the Year of the Boar according to the Chinese zodiac, in case you're wondering what it's doing in the picture above.
Happy New Year!
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