It's more like radicals give you the letters "GDO" and you can either spell god or dog with them, though it helps since you can't really spell anything else with just those letters.
If anyone has any questions about the country itself, I've been here for 4 years and I'm a permanent resident (in Kanagawa). Happy to answer any questions, those I can't answer I will happily pass onto my wife.
How did you first get there?
[QUOTE=FalconKrunch;40452950]It's more like radicals give you the letters "GDO" and you can either spell god or dog with them, though it helps since you can't really spell anything else with just those letters.[/QUOTE]
Or more appropriately, like receiving the letters "CAURITELA" for the word "articulate".
In Japanese you might see 議（ぎ）, which means 'deliberation' or 'consideration', but good luck figuring that out via the radicals. And it's not like it's obscure either, it's taught in 4th grade in Japan.
[QUOTE=DEG_fan;40456171]How did you first get there?[/QUOTE]
US Navy, I'm getting out in a few years and working as a civilian. I met my wife at a train station (Aoto) and she is from Chiba.
[QUOTE=Ta16;40457599]US Navy, I'm getting out in a few years and working as a civilian. I met my wife at a train station (Aoto) and she is from Chiba.[/QUOTE]
Friend of mine spent some time over there as well. Tells me the current government system (for all of Japan) is pretty incompetent and people vote for the same party/people because they're either not informed, their parents told them, or because other people are. Is this still the case?
[QUOTE=Ta16;40452982]If anyone has any questions about the country itself, I've been here for 4 years and I'm a permanent resident (in Kanagawa). Happy to answer any questions, those I can't answer I will happily pass onto my wife.[/QUOTE]
You're a permanent resident from your marriage right?
[QUOTE=l l;40460347]You're a permanent resident from your marriage right?[/QUOTE]
No, because I have a visa. Having a japanese wife does not ensure a right to live here. The government does not allow dual citizenship unless you are the child of a japanese and non. Even then when you turn 20 you must choose between Japanese citizenship and your other one. If I hold my alien card long enough I qualify for Japanese citizenship but my american citizenship is forfeit if I apply.
The Japanese immigration laws are still a tad xenophobic honestly.
[QUOTE=Vaught;40459995]Friend of mine spent some time over there as well. Tells me the current government system (for all of Japan) is pretty incompetent and people vote for the same party/people because they're either not informed, their parents told them, or because other people are. Is this still the case?[/QUOTE]
Never been the case. People here see the status quo as acceptable, corruption is not. Alot of officals are fairly incompetent I will admit, the Yasukuni Shrine visits are a perfect example.
[QUOTE=Ta16;40460875]No, because I have a visa. Having a japanese wife does not ensure a right to live here. The government does not allow dual citizenship unless you are the child of a japanese and non. Even then when you turn 20 you must choose between Japanese citizenship and your other one. If I hold my alien card long enough I qualify for Japanese citizenship but my american citizenship is forfeit if I apply.
The Japanese immigration laws are still a tad xenophobic honestly.[/QUOTE]
As far as you know, are there any particular benefits of moving from permanent resident to naturalized citizen other than being able to vote?
You get a cool passport I guess. Other than that, not that I can think off the top of my head. I'm staying because I like it here, its safe, quiet and I get left the fuck alone. Erina wants kids and I'd rather they get raised here, only 90km from their grandparents with good schooling in a relatively safe country. Not that I'd mind raising them in America, but when you marry a Japanese girl you'll learn that families like to live relatively close.
[QUOTE=Ta16;40460875]
Never been the case. People here see the status quo as acceptable, corruption is not. Alot of officals are fairly incompetent I will admit, the Yasukuni Shrine visits are a perfect example.[/QUOTE]
Even with the slight downturn in economy or have they (the person who went over) been misinformed?
[QUOTE=Vaught;40461102]Even with the slight downturn in economy or have they (the person who went over) been misinformed?[/QUOTE]
Regardless, there's no way a resident or traveler could make that kind of sweeping statement.
Though, as one example, public support for the new conservative (LDP) government was polled at 65% about a month ago. However, it's not due to some incredibly trustworthy officials, most (56%) people's reason for their support had to do with policy rather than the prime minister or his cabinet members.
[url]http://mansfieldfdn.org/program/research-education-and-communication/asian-opinion-poll-database/listofpolls/2013-polls/asahi-shimbun-regular-public-opinion-poll-3252013/[/url]
Been studying and practicing Hiragana for about three days now, not as hard as I expected, though some of them (Namely: れand に) certainly give me a hell of a time on hammering them into my mind. Must say I definintely prefer learning (And am much more interested in) Japanese compared to the variety of samey European languages that my family encourages me to learn. That, and I have much more motivation to learn this anyway.
Any resources you guys use that I should know about?
[QUOTE=certified;40461246]Been studying and practicing Hiragana for about three days now, not as hard as I expected, though some of them (Namely: れand に) certainly give me a hell of a time on hammering them into my mind. Must say I definintely prefer learning (And am much more interested in) Japanese compared to the variety of samey European languages that my family encourages me to learn. That, and I have much more motivation to learn this anyway.
Any resources you guys use that I should know about?[/QUOTE]
There's a handy tool that's been linked a few times in this thread called Rikaichan:
[url]https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/rikaikun/jipdnfibhldikgcjhfnomkfpcebammhp?hl=en[/url] (Chrome)
[url]https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/rikaichan/[/url] (Firefox)
With it, you can just mouse over kanji and it'll give you a reading as well as definition of it. Very useful for familiarizing yourself with at least the basic look of certain kanji, and help you connect it to the definition as well as the pronunciation.
[QUOTE=Vaught;40461102]Even with the slight downturn in economy or have they (the person who went over) been misinformed?[/QUOTE]
The Economy isn't really as bad as people think, especially not anymore. When I arrived the exchange rate was 82 JPY to the USD, within months it became 76 JPY (That's bad for Japan) and stayed like that until a few months ago and is now almost 100 (which is much better). Japan's Economy, like all economies, is reliant on exports. If the yen is over valued, it becomes to expensive to trade and acquire goods from Japan such as electronics, rice, auto parts etc, as it would be from say PRC or Taiwan. Japan has however had far less problems economically than the US or EU.
By the way, I've touched up the OP a bit with a new banner as well as the links to Rikai I posted, and would like to put together a list of people with a decent amount of Japanese experience (as well as their Steam information) as an additional resource.
I'm putting my name on there, and feel free to let me (or the OP of this thread or of future threads) know if you'd like to be listed as well.
Oh yeah me totally :v:
Go ahead and put me up there for incountry questions. Steamid is `Angry'
[QUOTE=Ta16;40462158]Go ahead and put me up there for incountry questions. Steamid is `Angry'[/QUOTE]
Do you speak Japanese?
[QUOTE=Megafan;40462316]Do you speak Japanese?[/QUOTE]
My Nihongo is... So-so. I was talking more about in country information, you don't expect me to believe you people are picking up Japanese and aren't going to visit or move here do you? I can help with that, anything regarding Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures I can help out, places to go, things to do, pricing information etc.
If your looking for assistance in getting better at Nihongo, Erina could answer questions. I don't mean to derail the thread or anything, just trying to help.
[QUOTE=Ta16;40463838]My Nihongo is... So-so. I was talking more about in country information, you don't expect me to believe you people are picking up Japanese and aren't going to visit or move here do you? I can help with that, anything regarding Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures I can help out, places to go, things to do, pricing information etc.
If your looking for assistance in getting better at Nihongo, Erina could answer questions. I don't mean to derail the thread or anything, just trying to help.[/QUOTE]
It's no issue, I'd just like to specify language speakers and people knowledgeable about the country itself.
Hey might as well bump this thread.
I'm learning honorific speech now.
I think it's interesting how there is a VERY clear divider between honorific/humble/casual in the Japanese language; it fascinates me.
How is everyones study going?
[QUOTE=Megafan;40737867]すごいってはちょっとエロいでしょうか？「面白い」と「楽しい」とか使った方がいいさ。　[/QUOTE]
:O
今ちょっとへんと思いますよ。ごめんなさい。 :/
[editline]22nd May 2013[/editline]
でも、メールで話すことが楽しくて面白いですね。
[QUOTE=Se1f_Distruct;40739522]:O
今ちょっとへんと思いますよ。ごめんなさい。 :/
[editline]22nd May 2013[/editline]
でも、メールで話すことが楽しくて面白いですね。[/QUOTE]
そうでしたね。
やったね！
僕はJBSD(Japanese Business Society)から奨学金をもらった！＄３０００USDです！！！ファック　いぇあ！！！
８月から４月まで日本に留学する！多分ギルマンの奨学金をもらってといいんだけどね！
[url]http://chatpad.jp/room.htm[/url]　このサイトはいい練習すると思うけどこれの日本人はぜんぜｎ英語をしゃべれる。
僕の勉強はいいと思う！スアキプで毎日日本人と話す。
留学のために準備してる！
[QUOTE=peterson;40745330]やったね！
僕はJBSD(Japanese Business Society)から奨学金をもらった！＄３０００USDです！！！ファック　いぇあ！！！
８月から４月まで日本に留学する！多分ギルマンの奨学金をもらってといいんだけどね！
[url]http://chatpad.jp/room.html　このサイトはいい練習すると思うけどそちらの日本人はぜんぜｎ英語をしゃべれる。[/url]
僕の勉強はいいと思う！スアキプで毎日日本人と話す。
留学のために準備してる！[/QUOTE]
I would rate you winner as well, but the ファック　いぇあ！！！ made me laugh.
[editline]22nd May 2013[/editline]
がんばれ。
[editline]22nd May 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Megafan;40742153]そうでしたね。[/QUOTE]
まだ勉強しなければなりません。
[QUOTE=peterson;40745330]やったね！
僕はJBSD(Japanese Business Society)から奨学金をもらった！＄３０００USDです！！！ファック　いぇあ！！！
８月から４月まで日本に留学する！多分ギルマンの奨学金をもらってといいんだけどね！
[url]http://chatpad.jp/room.htm[/url]　このサイトはいい練習すると思うけどこれの日本人はぜんぜｎ英語をしゃべれる。
僕の勉強はいいと思う！スアキプで毎日日本人と話す。
留学のために準備してる！[/QUOTE]
でもまあ、それよりももう少しお金が必要でしょうか？３０００は高いけど、日本に住むのも本当に高いと思うよ。
