I’m just another foreigner living in Japan. I live in South Tokyo just outside of the huge ex-pat community. I hope that what you find here in these pages will be useful, informative, entertaining, or some combination of the three. And, if you have anything you’d like to share, feel free. I, for one, enjoy learning new things and hope to learn something from everyone who has something they want to share here. So come on in, browse, and share.
The Daily J Interview - January, 2008
A blogger with too much time on his hands? - an exclusive interview with South of Reality
On January 20, 2008 in Interviews, bloggers
Hi All. Today I have a treat for you, South of Reality has given DailyJ an interview.
DailyJ: What motivated you to start South of Reality?
SouthOfReality:Too much time on my hands.
I wish I had that problem! 
Then I could contact more bloggers
DailyJ: Tell me more about your site. Why it excites you. What you love about it. Don’t hold back from telling us your story.
SouthOfReality: Well, it’s a chance for me to share information about Japan with other foreigners, who are either living in Japan or would like to come. I have made some friends through my site and have been able to offer others help. A lot of what I post seems to point out the negative goings on in Japan, but for me it’s a kind of therapy. I mean, I love the place; Don’t get me wrong. It’s just that when you live somewhere for awhile and you call it home, you tend to want to bitch about what happens in your own backyard because it significantly affects your existence. It’s hard for me to bring this stuff up with my Japanese friends because they either get defensive or just plain offended. And, when I’m out with my fellow ex-pats, we want to have a good time, not bitch about the shit that pisses us off.
DailyJ: What posts/content are your favourites?
Hard to say. I’d like to start posting more positive stuff, though.
DailyJ: Actually I kind of like the negative news stories (maybe I have a morbid curiosity). Part of me likes the focus on violent crimes committed by Japanese. I guess that is a reaction to the old “gaijin hanzai” magazine (I’m fairly certain that violence is Japan is mainly Japanese).
SouthOfReality: Supposedly, MacArthur called Japan a nation of 13-year olds. When watching TV here or chatting with people, I’m often surprised by the naivete. I know that I don’t know everything, but Christ! It’s unbelievable how shallow so many people I’ve met here are. I don’t know if it’s cultural or what, but I almost feel sorry for them when I consider how much paranoia and fear of the unknown they have to live with. Why they have to live with it is something I’m still trying to figure out. I guess it has a lot to do with the homogeneity of the people here.
This is just the first post, but I want to go ahead and thank SouthOfReality now for this interview. Drawing you out with questions and then listening to your answers (which have been really interesting) has been fun. And you were patient with me despite the delay, thanks for that!
I hope all of you liked the interview too. Be sure to click here and check out South Of Reality. And then stay tuned (subscribe via RSS) to hear what SouthOfReality has to say about Eikaiwa.
Next time
On DailyJ
What South Of Reality has to say about ESL and Nova - an exclusive interview
On January 22, 2008 in Interviews, bloggers
Smug little bunny.
Today were back with South Of Reality hearing his opinion on English teaching in Japan. If you’ve had your head in the sand and have not heard about the Nova debacle, this post ought to “enlighten” (translated disgust) you.
DailyJ: Can you tell us a bit more about your experiences with Eikaiwa?
SouthOfReality: I have several years of eikaiwa experience and have worked for two of the big-4 schools. The non-NOVA experience was thousand times better than the NOVA one.
DailyJ: Any comment on the NOVA blow up?
SouthOfReality: NOVA has to be the lowest of the big-4 eikaiwa schools. It was a shit system when I was there and I doubt that things were improved there after I left. The practice of signing students up for 3-year contracts and spending all that money right away to keep expanding was foolish and Nozomu Sahashi should f***ing burn for his part in driving that company into the dirt.
DailyJ: What advice would you give to someone living in their home country who wants to become an ESL teacher?
SouthOfReality: If that person was considering eikaiwa work, I’d tell them to browse the big Japan forums, like the one at Gaijin Pot. Dave’s ESL Cafe is good, too. Eikaiwa is a business and employees are required to work as hard as necessary to bring in the bread. This may include 6 - 8 lessons per day, assisting with sales, product recommendations, student counselings… It’s not a walk in the park. On the other hand, it’s not rocket science and the work can be mind-numbing. But, anyone who’s outgoing and likes people in general will do alright in eikaiwa.
ALT work was different. I spent half of my time just hanging out with kids during club activities or chatting with Japanese teachers. It was a great experience. I’m glad I got a chance to see what life is really like in Japanese public schools. I’d recommend ALT work to those who are interested in becoming real, certified teachers.
Join us again tomorrow when we will chat with SouthOfReality about why he started his site and how it can help you. (Click here to subscribe via RSS)
Have a great day
DailyJ
“Remember, this is Japan” - an intervew with South Of Reality
On January 23, 2008 in Interviews, bloggers
Today we’re back again with South Of Reality. Yesterday he gave us his opinions on Nova and ESL. Now let’s hear a little bit about his site and some advice he has for anyone interested in living in Japan.
DailyJ: What is the mission/vision of your site? What is your site all about?
SouthOfReality: Mainly for networking purposes. It just kind of evolved into a blog/information site. It’s just about living in Japan. Not much advice. Just various ramblings mixed in with information I wish I’d had when I first came to Japan.
DailyJ: Tell us more about that (”information I wish I’d had when I first came to Japan”). What kind of information do you focus on?
SouthOfReality: Things that could impact a person’s lifestyle, for example. Many foreigners have no knowledge about health insurance requirements in this country. Eikaiwa companies, as well as others, never inform their foreign staff that national health insurance enrollment is mandatory for those residing in Japan for a year or more. Some companies, like NOVA, make (made?) money off their foreign teachers by selling them insurance from one of their partner companies. Some foreigners, who were unaware of the mandatory public health insurance enrollment requirement have been required to make back payments for all of the time they were in Japan and not enrolled in the system.
DailyJ: If there was only one piece advice you could give to someone interested in living in Japan, what would it be?
SouthOfReality: Remember, this is Japan. There’s a different work ethic here… Lot’s of things are different. Be willing to adapt. And, leave your preconceptions at home.
DailyJ: If there is anything else you want to say, feel free.
SouthOfReality: よろしくお願いします。
Thank you SouthOfReality for the interview! I hope all of you enjoyed it too. Be sure to check out his site and say hello.
And to all a good day,
DailyJ
