by Vinnk - 09.19.07

Well, I made it to Tokyo! It was a long and not very interesting trip. Wanna hear about it anyway? Fantastic!

After a full day of teaching elementary school children I ran with my suitcase down to the train station. Running to catch various things has been a theme for the day, but hopefully won’t be for the rest of the trip.
I caught my train and sat next to a sleeping salary man. He was sleeping before I boarded the train and was still sleeping when I left. For all I know he is still in his slumber now, riding the rails in an endless loop around Japan. After leaving the train I moved briskly to the subway to take a 10-minute ride to the airport.
At the airport I ate a fast meal of curry and rice and boarded my plane. An hour and a half (of DS) later I was in Tokyo.

Of course my flight came in about half an hour late so I had to wave my arms franticly at an already departing bus. Luckily it stopped and I was able to meet Jools and check into my hotel on time.

This hotel has Internet connectivity but only in the lobby, so I fear this is where I will be spending most of my evenings. In this picture you can see me digging deep into the Internets for TGS info, and SeanOrange (from Powet.TV) digging deep into his nose for something else.
So no real info in this post. Just letting you know that 4cr is in Tokyo and we will have some great things in store for you tomorrow. Stay tuned. As for me, it’s 1:05am and I need to get some sleep.











I don’t get it…do you guys are like exchange student or something? why are you in japan? do you like there?
mcheddadi - 09.19.07 1:10 pm
I don’t get it…do you guys are like exchange students or something? why are you in japan? do you like live there?
mcheddadi - 09.19.07 1:10 pm
Sorry for the double post, but I made a correction in the 2nd one “do you like live there?”
mcheddadi - 09.19.07 1:11 pm
I want to know how to get to japan.
Elliott Miller - 09.19.07 1:20 pm
Whoa! How did you get Zach Braff to go with you?
rbelmont000 - 09.19.07 1:25 pm
Yes. I live and work in Japan. I’ve been here for several years. But I do live rather far from Tokyo.
Vinnk - 09.19.07 1:26 pm
duh theyre going 2 TGS! NAX FTW!!!
@ MCHEDDADI - 09.19.07 3:39 pm
Basically, if you want to live in Japan- the easiest way is to get a college degree. Then you can apply for jobs in Japan to English conversation schools (most don’t really care what your degree is in). You have to find one that will sponsor a new work visa. There are many sites on the web devoted to foreigner job listings in japan. www.gaijinpot.com is the one I used. I just got back from almost a year in Japan. I was only about 10 miles from Akihabara and I went to TGS last year.. this year sounds much cooler.. I wish I could go. :\
jwrose - 09.19.07 4:25 pm
Alternatively (if you’re British, Canadian, Australian & maybe a few others (NOT American)) you can just save up around £2000 and get a Working Holiday Visa. No degree required, but it only lasts for a year and you’ll probably have a bit more trouble finding work. But it’s definitely possible - I did it! I stayed for 18 months and went to 2 TGS’ so ner!! I was even in last years podcast.
Joel - 09.19.07 4:56 pm
Woah, blast from the past: the podcast hasn’t been seen in months! When are we getting that feature back? It was what I loved most about 4cr.
D~N - 09.19.07 6:09 pm
Zach Braff looks nerdier than the last time I saw him.
Donald - 09.19.07 6:14 pm
I live in Ottawa, Canada, and I was under the impression that you needed a College/University degree to be considered for an English as a second language teaching position in Japan.. If I’m wrong, please tell me why I’m in University desperately trying to get over to Japan as soon as possible.
RockSteady - 09.19.07 7:07 pm
Rocksteady: For something such as NOVA or the JET programme you DO need a college/uni degree but for a Working Holiday you don’t need anything except proof that you can support yourself for a while without a job. A bank statement showing you’ve got cash (£1500 + return ticket or £2500 without (for the UK at least)) should do it. However, you can only stay for 1 year, you can technically only work part time, and you can only have 1 per lifetime. They don’t check how much you work at all, but you will find it a little harder to find full time jobs. I got offered a full time teaching position at a junior high school but foolishly turned it down because it was too far in the sticks. I recommend having a friend in Japan to stay with/show you around when you get there, but that’s not exactly something you can just do . . . Lucky for me I knew Jools before he was a super-star journalist. I had 3 part time jobs and just about survived working for only 12 hours a week. Check out your local Japanese embassy’s website for the exact details for Canada though. And Stay In School! (Might be a good idea for a gap year. . .)
Joel - 09.19.07 7:26 pm
DESDE VENEZUELA HOOOOOOOOOOOOLA! TOKYO GAME SHOW I LOVE YOUUU”!
Esmilodonte - 09.19.07 10:46 pm
Thanks for the clarification, Joel.
I do plan on sticking it out with University for now. But I would only plan on staying in Japan for a year anyways. If I wanted to however, it would be a nice luxury to be able to stay longer. Legally that is.
Rocksteady - 09.19.07 10:49 pm
You live in Fukuoka? Man I envy you. I’d be down to Nakazu to eat at Ichiran’s honten every other day. Ichiran is just the best. When I was still in Kumamoto and had the time, I went there by train just for lunch. Now they’ve got a restaurant in Kumamoto, too, tho.
Opened the year I left, bollocks.
siro - 09.20.07 4:00 am
Rocksteady: When my visa ran out I went to Korea for three days and came back so I could go to TGS again. Then in three months, when it ran out again, I went to Korea for 3 more days. Unfortunately they dragged me into their office and said that that was the last time and I’d better go home in 3 months OR ELSE!!
A friend got away with it 4 times about 5 years ago & Tim Rogers managed 6 times . . . but it’s always a risk.
Joel - 09.20.07 6:51 am