Thoughts on Japan

[dirtyblueshirt]

So I've been in Japan a couple days now and here's a quick rundown of my thoughts.

First. Cars. We Americans make fun of the little toaster boxes that are the Scion xB, the Kia Soul, and the Nissan Cube. We think they're odd and quirky. Yet here in Japan, that profile of vehicle is literally EVERYWHERE! there's countless different models from Toyota, Honda, Dihatsu, Nissan, Suzuki, and Subaru (to name a few) that are all those little boxes on wheels. it's mind boggling how prevalent they are out here.

Second. Cell Phones. After three days and $40 in roaming (which I'll expense most of it) I broke down and picked up a prepaid mobile from SoftBank (one of the two major carriers in Japan). The phone was ¥1850 ($24) and I got a ¥3000 ($39) phone card fort in Japan and a $20 card for calls to the US. The phone is worlds more advanced than the prepaid crap you get in the states. This phone, a flip phone, has a large hi-res OLED display, 2MP camera, a front facing camera for video calling, a 1SEG TV tuner (yes! OTA Digital HDTV!) and the usual assorted features (and some apps in Japanese that I have no idea what for). And you can even record the TV to a Micro SD card.

821SC | SoftBank

[BondiBlue]

They do keep the good stuff don't they? The non-smart phones we have here are terrible.

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by BondiBlue

phones are terrible.

Grumpy phone crumudgeon fix.

[BondiBlue]

Nice.

I have a contract (non-prepaid) LG Wine II and it's a heaping pile o' feces just waiting to be put into a sock. Traded a smart phone in on it because I didn't think I needed the features. I'm due up again in November....

btw DBS- Met any hot Japanese ladies to spend some time with yet?

[sirheck]

For the cars, i kinda figure in big cities like Tokyo or New york smaller cars
would make more sense. I can see some one living in New york going to work waking up in the morning leaving their appartment by taking the
elevator down 10 floors, walking across the street then taking the elevator
again back up another 10 floors and going to their cubicle not even
needing a car. (man do people actually live a life like that?)

If they do have a car it would probably be a small cheap car that mostly sets
in the parking garage with a dead battery and stale gas in it

As for the phones, well japan sends us all the second hand El-cheapo
shistuff.

[psi chick]

Originally Posted by sirheck

For the cars, i kinda figure in big cities like Tokyo or New york smaller cars
would make more sense. I can see some one living in New york going to work waking up in the morning leaving their appartment by taking the
elevator down 10 floors, walking across the street then taking the elevator
again back up another 10 floors and going to their cubicle not even
needing a car. (man do people actually live a life like that?)

If they do have a car it would probably be a small cheap car that mostly sets
in the parking garage with a dead battery and stale gas in it

As for the phones, well japan sends us all the second hand El-cheapo
shistuff.

actually most people in manhattan do not have cars, but it's not quite that short of a commute. typically it's anywhere from 30-60 minutes by subway to get to work. some are lucky and it's shorter. the areas that people work in are generally different than the residential areas.

zip cars have become very popular here, as well as vespa's and now electric bicycles are the new thing. traditional bikes will always be a great way to get around though.

[Flagstang]

I want pics of japanese girls! now you have home work!

[dirtyblueshirt]

(ubiquitous drunk post at 12am)

homework accepted.

[Audrey]

They go through cell phones like some people go through shoes. The cell phone industry has been trying to make phones more fadish in the US for years, but with 2 year plans being the norm it doesn't work too well.

Why stop with pictures of strangers, find one of these: Panty Vending Machines « Gakuranman – illuminating Japan

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by Audrey

They go through cell phones like some people go through shoes. The cell phone industry has been trying to make phones more fadish in the US for years, but with 2 year plans being the norm it doesn't work too well.

Why stop with pictures of strangers, find one of these: Panty Vending Machines « Gakuranman – illuminating Japan

I would like to see a sock vending machine (not for poop either). The last little overnight trip we took my silly self forget to pack a pair for the next day. You know how NASTY re-wearing socks is so I ended up buying a 6 pack at Walgreens.

A sock machine would rule.