I Speak Japanese

Cool video it is one of the most insightful videos i have seen that discusses the end of the year traditions thanks for posting and you guys have a safe and wonderful New Years.(^_^)V

Great video! I loved hearing just how crowded that restaurant was. Loved hearing about the truck (very interested in waste management in Japan). I also understand there is a tradition of watching sunrise on new year? Keep up the good work and uh… akemashite omedetou

Thanks guys keep up the great work with the video’s so insightful and inspiring, you’ve got me all wound up with crazy ideas about moving there >_<
I’m planning a trip in March for Sakura season, will this be about the right time? maybe when it comes round you could do a feature on the hanami parties? Well all the best for 2010 from the UK.
Akemashite Omedetou!

Thanks for the info on the celebrations and holidays that the Japanese celebrate in. I’ll be looking forward to it next year when I plan on going abroad there next year! Akemashite Omedetou!! XD

Hey guys; love the series so far keep it up.

Just wanted to ask a question which ive come across with a few of my friends too and that’s, what sort of job oppertunities are there for people who have gotten to a level 2 or 1 Japanese other than teaching English in JET etc? I myself learning japanese can’t help but wonder because i know there are alot of people that have been to japan, are learning the language, want to move there or stay for awhile but don’t want to teach or they didn’t make it into JET- what else could they do over there?

Thanks guys, hope your settling in okay Kevin あけましておめでとう!

kevin :
Thanks for all of the comments and compliments everyone!
@Vin
To answer you question about job opportunities….

Thanks for the reply Kevin, I’ll be sure to have a good luck through the sites which you included; i personally want to go for the JET as soon as i finish my degree but i just wanted to see my other options just incase i didn’t make it into the programme- and thanks for the tip on the JLPT; ill keep that in mind.

Hope you’re well.

I just got back from my week long vacation in Tokyo, Japan for New Years celebration. It was very much like your videos have described. I wish I saw this video before I went there, but it was a great experience finding out on my own. I was under the misguied American ideals that New Years in Japan was not as big and family oriented as Christmas. I was mistaken, but in a positive way. It made my trip even better than just some regular new years party. I also saw a guy who looked very much like Aaron on my Delta flight December 26 to Tokyo (Narita Airport).

Akemashite omedetou!

Another informative video, Guys!
Happy New Year of the Tiger! 明けましておめでとうございます!
Food and beer looks delicious!! おいしいそ！
Looking forward to more great Japanese language and cultural programs from you this year!
どうも! どうも!
タロー

Hi, Vin! はじめまして!
In response to Teaching English in Japan, if you are not accepted into a JET or JLPT type Japanese government program and you still want to teach English in Japan and you have no degree in the field of education or not a certified English teacher with some EFL or ESL teaching experience in your home country and you want to teach English at some private English conversation school (えいかいわ) in Japan, I would highly recommend investing some money and time in taking a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) or TESOL, ESL or EFL Course before coming to Japan. These basic courses are not long or very expensive and can be taken in almost any country, online and even in Japan . (Check out various online sites for what suits you best.)
Such a fundamental course will at least give you a basic certification and understanding of teaching your native English language to non-native speakers. Looks good on your resume, too! So, many foreigners come to Japan wanting to learn Japanese and culture but are ill prepared to teach their native language with any quality. The job market for English language teachers is very competitive in Sushiland, especially in urban areas. It`s prudent not only to focus on learning Japanese language and culture, but also the techniques and methods of how to teach your own native language if you plan to teach it in Japan.
がんばってね！
タロ−

@Taro Starbuck
@Toro

はじめまして!どぞうおねがいします！) thanks for the great advice; ill be sure to look into the things you suggested failing to make JET or JLPT- i was actually currious to see if there was any programs to prepare Teachers-to-be on how to teach their native language so thanks for clearing that up if i have the time and money within the next few years ill 100% put it on my list of things to do- it would only boost my chances of landing a stable job.

But saying that ill be sure to get my degree before hand; is good to have the Eikaiwa School as a back up though

ありがとうございます！

@Sally
Hello, Sally! Nice to meet you! はじめまして！
I read your comment about coming to Japan in spring to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms (さくらばな).
Spring is a great season to visit Japan. The Cherry Blossoms Season (はなみどき) peaks in various areas at different times, as the warm spring weather starts south and works it`s way north.

My wife and I live in Himeji City in Hyogo, about a 45 minute train ride from Kobe. Himeji is famous for it`s International Heritage Himeji Castle (姫路じょう）. This is a very popular cherry blossom viewing (おはなみ) place with as many people enjoying their sakura-picnics (はなみのうたげ) as there are cherry trees. Many tours from abroad are offered during this season in Japan with groups traveling from Kyoto, to Himeji and other prime cherry blossom viewing areas.

If you come on a package tour (パッケージツアー), then everything will be taken care of for you.
But if you come on your own, then some advance planning is necessary. There is some good information about historical sites in Himeji you would want to see at: http://www.himeji-castle.gr.jp/index/English/index.html. Also, http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/index.html.
There is a Visitors Information Center at Himeji Central Station with a lot of free pamphlets, maps etc. in various languages, and the friendly staff there speak English as well as other languages.

On a one day tour I would recommend seeing Himeji Castle (currently under some renovation),
(http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/spot/ss001.html. Adjacent to the Castle Park is a traditional). Japanese garden, Himeji Castle Nishi-Oyashiki-Ato Garden Kokoen (http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/spot/ss002.html). These are just a 15 minute walk from the Himeji Central Train Station. Another site worth seeing is Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, for which you would need to take a bus (http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/spot/ss014.html). This is a site where there was some filming for The Last Samurai.

If you are interested you can view my poorly made video of “Sakura Season at Himeji Castle” in April on YouTube: (SushilandExpress) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxsBOMRcWtY.
Hope you and your friends can come to Sushiland to enjoy はなみどき!
Should you or any interested persons visit Himeji, please contact me, maybe we can meet briefly.

じゃーね!
Taro Starbuck

Yo Kevin! Was that last clip from the Suizoukan in Sunshine City Ikebukuro? LOL…I looks a lot like it. I took my girlfriend there on our first date last spring.

Anyway…Just wanna introduce myself. My name is Jonathan (ジョンでいい)。 I have graduated just recently and have been studying Japanese Language and Asian History and cultures for quite some time now. I have also been to Japan three separate times for study…which was 10% studying and 90% partying lol.

I have caught up on all your vids from the beginning and really love them. I am aware of most of the things you talk about so it is nice to relate. It also helps cure my home away from home sickness when here in the states. I just applied to JET so if that goes well then I will be in Japan by the end of July this year.

Keep up the good work. If I get into JET I will count on you for guidance. よろしくおねがいします。

ジョン

I dont know witch one im more interested, learning japaness or you!..Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!..i notice a ring in your finger..LOL..the funny thing is my husband name is kevin..