Living Japan

Second edition release of my ESL book for intermediate learners. This release includes: -edits/revisions -a whole new look -nearly double the exercises, with over a 120 questions in total! 第一版をご購入いただいた方に、感謝の気持ちを込めて、第二版を出版いたします！ -全編見直しによる新改定 -デザインリニューアル -練習問題が約2倍の120問に

Hey there, it's been a while. I have been very busy with my latest ibook. It is now available in the iBookstore in 51 countries worldwide. This is a children's book with audio narration and sound effects. It's a fun book you and your kids can enjoy over a few nights of bedtime reading. Full of laughs, you might just find yourself trying to do all the crazy things Timmy tries to do, Enjoy!

Great news for all you reading my blog in Japan, my book is now available in the newly established  Japan iBookstore. ESL: A Collection of Warm-Up Activities  is an interactive textbook complete with: -12 chapters containing some of the most commonly misunderstood grammar points -over 150 review questions -a complete glossary with over 100 example sentences -Interactive animations for all grammar points -explanations for ALL review questions -video, audio, and much more

It's been a while since my last post. I have been very busy with family related business and haven't had the time to post anything for a while, my apologies. But to be honest, I really don't write unless I have something to talk about. I see many bloggers that make a point to post every week, or even every day. But most of these blogs contain a whole ton of uninteresting posts because more than likely the authors are forcing themselves to write. As the saying goes, If you don't have anything to say, then don't say anything at all. A note of caution: I will be making some broad sweeping generalizations about Japanese only because it's what I hear every time I have a conversation with a Japanese about coffee. So if you are one of the few Japanese who knows what great coffee is, this is not directed towards you. For those of you who think I am smoking crack, go ahead and leave a comment, but I ask you be respectful. Without further ado~ Today's blog top...

     For those of you who haven't had a peek at my About page, I am from the U.S. of A., and my experience of bath taking is pretty much summed up in my embarrassing childhood photos; stark-naked playing with GI-Joes.       Bath taking is generally thought of as a kid's thing to do in the U.S. In fact, it's almost a right of passage to adulthood to graduate from the bath to the shower. Not to mention, having to take a bath with mom or dad isn't exactly a family bonding experience for a 12 year old.       This is why when I came to Japan taking a public bath (温泉) wasn't exactly a relaxing a moment in heaven for me. The prospect of having to take a bath completely naked with a bunch of other dudes I don't even know (without any GI-Joes, for that matter!) wasn't my cup of tea. Needless to say, I made the leap and entered my first public bath in a small resort town in Japan.       There was only one other...

Aside from all things Japan and Apple products, reading about and discussing politics are a few of my favorite pastime activities. I am passionate about politics but I am not the type to turn an ear away simply because you affiliate yourself with a specific party. I have my opinions of course, but generally speaking, I am very open-minded when it comes to political discussions. So with that, think of this as an open-minded discussion as you are welcome to comment on the issue as well, but please, be respectful. Healthcare is one of the hot topics in U.S. politics these days. Is it constitutional? This is the number question being asked right now. While I agree this is an important question, I think an equally important question that is not being asked is: How will a universal healthcare system fit into a country that takes pride in its individuality? The healthcare debate in the U.S. is much more about social issues than it is political, for the foundational arguments on both ...

*This article addresses private sector jobs, not government sponsored jobs like the JET program. In its over 100 years of practice, the previously, highly romanticized dream job for many who held an interest in the culture and people of Japan has taken a back seat in the nose bleed section of dead-end jobs. Or has it? Starting in the late 80's to early 90's, English teaching in Japan was considered a hot job. It paid nearly twice the annual salary it does now and job security was much more stable as the business was booming at that time. It was one of, if not, the best jobs a native English speaker could get if he/she wanted to make a living in Japan with minimal effort (20-30 hours a week tops). However, as the global economy tanked, and China's economy began to grow at an exponential rate, the market began to show signs of struggling. Like the housing boom in the U.S., the market grew faster than the demand. Schools were popping up on every street corner in all ...