Narita Airport Express Lane for Non-Japanese Residents of Japan

Well, I just got back from a holiday trip and lo and behold... Narita, at least
at terminal 2, has
instituted lines for people holding re-entry visas. So now there are 3 lines.
One for Japanese,
new entry foreigners, and now one (with about 4 or 6 windows to it but not bad)
for those
with re-entry visas.

It's basically back to the old days except getting to put the fingerprints into
the system.


Sisyphus

They have had that set up since they started the fingerprinting. The longest I have spent in line now has been under 10 minutes.

I have also had people from the other lines ask if I was in the wrong line with a look of jealousy on thier face, when they find out the re-entry line is so short.

C. Zanella


I don't recall this being the case at terminal 1 then. I remember only
the two lines. That said, I got preferential treatment when i went
there with my two kids. We got moved into the priority lane which is
almost always a no-waiting line. Time to rediscover that crick in your
back...


Sisyphus

How to Learn Kanji

Check out Jim Breen`s site which is free and hopes to
help you master this very difficult alphabet/

Jim Breen`s Learn Kanji Site

Odawara`s Annual Hojo Godai Matsuri

Annual Festival in Odawara, May 3
http://www.globalcompassion.com/gallery07.htm

Learn Japanese Easily - All It Took Was A Movie...

Pictured: Kanazawa courtesy of Fuji Film Staff

by: Suzanne and Paul Brown



My quest to learn how to speak Japanese began with the Anime movies, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, by the renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. These amazing movies were the catalyst that propelled my interest in the Japanese culture and hence, my desire to learn Japanese fast but in the most proficient way possible.

I was determined to learn a language that most of my fellow North Americans either have no interest in or find it too challenging. Why? Japanese not only sounds significantly different from English but the Japanese letters, (Hiragana) that represent the sounds that make up the Japanese language and is central to the Japanese writing system, are very different. Because of this, I was even hesitant to learn basic Japanese but I put my fears aside and proceeded to find the best way to learn Japanese. After weeks of researching the Internet and networking by word of mouth, I found an amazing course that teaches you to speak Japanese online. So, here's a brief overview of this course to help you in your goal to learn Japanese easily.

First, there is a 31-lesson Interactive Audio Course that covers everything that you need to know to learn Japanese quickly and to become part of a Japanese community. Second, their software: the vocabulary software is a word building game designed to help you learn about 1000 Japanese words and to cover 20 different topics. You can also use this game indefinitely because it allows you to add your own images. The audio software will help you overcome the most difficult aspect of learning Japanese and that is the comprehension. The Hiragana Software learning game helps you to easily recognize and memorize the Hiragana character set used in the Japanese writing and pronunciation system. Third, there are the Grammar Newsletter Series that provides you with 31 illustrated Grammar Lessons and examples. These are invaluable cultural informational tools with explanations of written Japanese and of popular Japanese grammar. The visual tools of this series are unique to this product and their value is priceless enabling you to learn Japanese easily.

Finally, there is also access to a Learner's Forum and Support system that is staffed with fellow students, natives and Japanese teachers. This provides you with extra free resources to further assist you on your quest to learn to speak fluent Japanese.

I am pleased to say that I am able to watch Miyazaki’s movies in their original Japanese and I look forward to visiting Japan one day. Thank you, Hayao Miyazaki for opening up the door for me to experience, acknowledge and respect the Japanese culture.



About The Author
Suzanne and Paul Brown

We are passionate about languages and life-long learning. To find out more information on Japanese you can visit, http://www.learnbasic-japanese.blogspot.com or http://www.speakjapanese-online.blogspot.com

Yamato Cup Street Hockey Tournament

The Tokyo Street Hockey Association (www.tokyohockey.com), will be hosting a pan-Asian (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc.) one day ball hockey tournament called the Yamato Cup (www.yamatocup.com) in Tokyo on October 11, 2008 at the Amazing Square arena in Kita Senju.



We would love it if you and your crew could put a team in the tournament, enjoy some fun ball hockey like we did when we were kids, get a chance at winning the Golden Godzilla, and party with other Canadians from around Asia after the competition is done.



The tournament fees are 7000 yen per player including a one day ball hockey tournament, a 2hr all you can drink awards party on the evening of the tournament, 1st and 2nd place awards as well as a bunch of individual awards for top scorer, MVP, best goalie etc. and water, referee, time keeper, score keeper, etc. Note that any leftover funds will be donated to Second Harvest Tokyo (http://www.secondharvestjapan.org/).



If you are interested please reply to this email or, go direct to our site and download the registration form for your team (www.yamatocup.com/fees.html).

Radio Controlled Plane Shops in Kanto

Some explanations contributed at various forums about where some
RC Plane shops are located in Akihabara, Tokyo:

One is very close to Iwamotocho. I can explain to you how to get there: When you get to the station, just get out using the lift (because I don't know the right exit number...). When you get out and face the street, just turn left and walk straight up. The shop should be on your left within 3 blocks maximum (it will probably be closer).

Here is a map to the shop in Akihabara:

http://diddlefinger.com/m/tokyoto/tokyo/384288/?ll=35.69577,139.773801&z=18&t=m

As you can see is almost next door to Iwamotocho, exit A2

If you go out
of Akihabara station and head across the main street and follow the overhead
Sobu sen tracks you will get to one major road. At that road, you take
a right and walk towards Okachimachi... it's down that way.

Games Convention near Odawara,Kanagawa

The picture of our home was taken in April would you believe!



Everyone welcome!
Saturday and Sunday October 25th and 26th, 2008
Starts: 1:30PM on Saturday
Where: Kevin`s House
Address: Iizawa 242-23 Minami Ashigara City, Kanagawa
Email: greatpowers@yahoo.com
http://www.eikaiwa1.com

What to bring?
Your shoes, games, beer to bribe Kevin (optional)
We have the house to ourselves for most of the day so we can
get a lot of game playing in and say four letter words eh! I love
4 letter words like: four, dice, damn!

There are a few beds available on a first come first served basis.
Email me if you want a bed. If not bring something to sleep on--sleeping
bag etc. We have a lot of room. We have a Canadian,
Victorian style home imported from Cloverdale,BC.


How to Get There from:
Tokyo, Fujisawa, Atsugi, Machida, Yokohama or Sakhalin:
Take the Odakyu Line to Odawara and be sure to get into one of the
first four train cars as the train splits. Take a Kyuko (express
train) it has red kanji on the side usually next to the door up top.
It takes about 90 minutes. Bring a good book!

Get off at Odawara Station and transfer to the Daiyuzan Line. Get off
at Daiyuzan Station, it takes 21 minutes from Odawara. Take the only
exit, walk straight out to the main street out in front and head left
down that street through the traffic lights (under the covered
pedestrian overpass). Over the bridge and you will see our green
roofed house with "Kevin`s English School" signs plastered all over
the place.

How to Get There:
From Shizuoka, Nagoya and other points South: Take the
Tokaido line or the Shinkansen and get off at Odawara. Transfer to
the Daiyuzan line and follow the directions above (for Tokyo).

**The Shinkansen also stops at Odawara. You take a Kodama Super
Express. It takes about 39 minutes from Tokyo. Costs a little over
3,000 Yen one way.

Take a break from the city and see some mountain views and breathe some fresh air.


Feel free to pass this on to interested people. Games of all kinds
welcome. Bring whatever you would like to play, chances are, others
will want to play it too. We have three guest beds and some futons.
Bring a sleeping bag if you`d like. It is a nice area as well.
A great break from wherever you live with a great bunch of people!

Kevin Burns
http://greatpowers1.googlepages.com/jigg%3Ajapan%60sinternationalgamersguild
http://www.jigg-greatpowers.blogspot.com