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August 28, 2006

Job Huting...Fronting, Glunting

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My Recruit Suit posted from PhotoZou

The picture above is what's called a recruit suit. Everyone wheres one similar to it while job hunting, after all, you don't want to stand out in Japan while job hunting.

Job hunting is intense in Japan. The tedious process of trying to get a job is much likely unthinkable for those of you living in the US.

First of all, you apply online by filling in personal information, educational background, as well as your “thoughts on the company,” your part time job experiences, sports, interests, etc. If you are lucky, you get a mail and the next step is taking basic tests in the field of math, Japanese, and English which is nothing basic. Most people will fail this test but if you do pass then you move onto “group work”. About 5 to 8 people will do what is called “group work” where you get about 30 minutes to review a “real-life” problem. Interviewers will walk around the room and check to see if you are participating (but not overbearing), have communication/presentation skills, speaking well, have ideas, etc. Maybe 3 to 5 of these people will pass. Then it’s onto real group (5 people max) interviews where interviewers will ask you questions about leadership, what your dream is, what you most worked on during college, what sports you played, etc. More than half will fail here. And then you can finally move onto interviews where you go alone but beware of the multiple interviewers who will pretty much ask the same questions over and over. About 3 more of those “personal” interviews, one last CEO interview and you made it!

You must start your junior year in university and you get a job after about a year. On an average people apply to around 100 to 200 jobs. And maybe get accepted to 2 or 3 (if you’re lucky). Crazy isn’t it!!


July 27, 2006

Summer is the season of fireworks

In Japan, summer is the season of fireworks. Many places have Fireworks Festival.

Check the "Hanabi"(Fireworks in Japanese) tag page of PhotoZou to see the Pictures and Videos of various fireworks.

July 26, 2006

Small Houses, Tighter Families?

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Casa posted from PhotoZou

So supposedly, 80% of Japan is still occupied by trees and forests…meaning that only 20% of the land is used for living. Why is that? Why do we choose such a compact way of living?

Most of my friends are astonished to see my house in Japan because of its size, or lack of. My American friends couldn’t believe that I don’t get my own bathroom and shower/tub. Which would be the norm here in Japan though. Not to mention the size of my walk-in closet, this to them reflects as a shoe closet. Does a smaller house mean more communication and a closer family though? The stereotypical image that I have is that American families are more tightly knitted than Japanese families despite having a large quantity of privacy.

Maybe it’s the game room that keeps the American family together!

July 24, 2006

Rainy Days

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essential items posted from PhotoZou

Blame it on global warning, blame it on Japan. The rain has got to STOP just like the heat wave in the US must cease…at least that’s what a lot of people are hoping.


Tuyu (or the rainy season) usually starts around in early June around Tokyo and continues until about a month, month and a half. Usually, it never lasts as long as the weather anchors say that it will. Well, we’re at the end of July and the rain still keeps on coming. With rain come humidity, damp clothes, mold, and eau de damp. Not a pleasant time. And now the weatherpeople are stating that the rainy season will continue into August. I’m not exactly looking forward to a hot, humid summer but enough is enough!