HIGHTECH
Checking out future toilets at the CES 2021 online event
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held every January, is the world’s largest technology trade fair. At this event new products are exhibited and innovative technologies are demonstrated, so it attracts attention from all over the world. Though it was held without any problems in 2020, in 2021, due to the influence of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it was held online.
Hello, Yoshimasa here.
The world is still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Japan still has not gotten it under grips. The yearlong battle with the coronavirus has led to enormous changes in Japan’s way of doing business.
Hello, Yoshimasa here. In my last column, I offered an intro to the Python 3 Certified Engineer Basic Examination that I and my colleagues administer. I also discussed the Zen of Python, which serves as a basic style guide for coding in Python, and the pythonic philosophy.
WORK
When we look at Srikar's story and how he ended up working and living in Japan, it goes back to the adventurous Straw Hat Boy aiming to become the Pirate King. In this interview, Srikar will share with us his journey of moving and living in Japan.
Being a freelancer has its ups and downs. Personally, getting to work from home, with my own hours as long as I meet deadlines, being able to turn down work (you know, hypothetically, if I have that much work) if I need to, and — if we're being honest here — cutting down on the face-to-face parts of work are all very good for me, since I'm not really sure I could handle a 'normal' job.
Interview with Henrique, a network engineer from Brazil, who wanted to step out of his comfort zone came to Japan. Now employed as a voice engineer by Human Resocia GIT.
Working for someone comes with a whole mess or unspoken assumptions and rules (or business etiquette, if you’re trying to phrase it nicely), especially in a Japanese workplace, and the consequences for missing those rules aren’t generally something you want to deal with.
LIFE & RESIDENCE
The idea of bento (obento vs.bento is a matter of formality, 'obento' is more formal) is nothing unusual — boxed lunches exist just about anywhere. The main difference in Japan is how widespread it is, and how ingrained it is in the culture. Packing lunch happens everywhere, but it's an entire class of meal in Japan, partly because of the amount of time people spend away from home at work or school.
STUDY
Kanji, rather infamously, has a lot of characters to learn (or Hanzi, or Hanja, but I'm using Kanji for specifically the Japanese use of it). The
So you've learned standard, formal Japanese from classes or textbooks, and not long after, you've run straight into a brick wall of phrases that weren't in there at all.
Self-study is key if you really want to get ahead in your Japanese language studies. Fortunately, there are a lot of great websites available offering free online study materials that can help keep you motivated. Here’s a run-down of some of the best.
CULTURE
Japan's animated television programs and movies have spread outside Japan to find fans all over the world, a fact that many Japanese.
Today’s Akihabara is a town of subcultures and electricity.
The district is filled with stores selling anime, manga, various associated merchandise and video games, and maids can be seen in the streets, but that’s not all. If it’s machine parts you’re looking for, you can find that in Akihabara as well.
The reason for this is that a few decades ago, Akihabara was a district filled with parts shops selling radios, wireless machinery components, vacuum tubes and more.
There are a number of reasons why you might want to take up a martial art in Japan. The regular physical practice can help you keep fit, build confidence, and let off steam. A martial art can also be a gateway into Japanese culture.
Japan has a generous number of annual public holidays. There are 16 annual shukujitsu (祝日, national holidays) peppered throughout the year during which schools, public institutions, and many businesses are closed. By law, if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will also be a holiday.
TRAVEL
If you ask just about anyone in Japan, you will hear that Japan has four very distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
This is the second part of a two-part article on Japan’s most beautiful traditional gardens. In Part 1 we introduced gardens from Himeji, Hiroshima, Nara, Tokyo, and Kyoto. In Part 2 we return to Kyoto to visit two truly unique landscape gardens and then finish with the three most famous gardens in Japan.
Mountains cover around 70% of Japan and as hiking is a popular pastime in this country, its hiking trails are well-maintained, clearly sign-posted, and very easy to access. Even if you are based in one of Japan’s major metropolitan centers you are never more than a short train ride from a scenic mountain trek.
