OFF TOPIC

To anyone in the group who lives in Japan. Ihave a chance to become employed at a english language school in Japan Iam curious as to how they treat Gaijin and what to expect? Also Iwill be wanting to bring two swords into the country with me One is a mass produced katana type it is a copy of Mugens blade and the second is a pattern welded Han Dynasty long sword I have the makers letter to go with it. What if any restrictions will I encounter?

Well for one, You wont be able to get on a plane with any sort of weapon! Especially a sword! Next, I would like to know how you were able to go to Japan to teach English? I would like to do that as well!
 
As for how Japanese treat "gaijin" They ae the nicest people on the planet!! You have NOTHING to worry about!! Trust me! I am half Japanese and I know my relatives!
 
John

--- On Fri, 7/30/10, James <veritas.quest@...> wrote:


From: James <veritas.quest@...>
Subject: [samuraihistory] OFF TOPIC
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 4:47 AM


 



To anyone in the group who lives in Japan. Ihave a chance to become employed at a english language school in Japan Iam curious as to how they treat Gaijin and what to expect? Also Iwill be wanting to bring two swords into the country with me One is a mass produced katana type it is a copy of Mugens blade and the second is a pattern welded Han Dynasty long sword I have the makers letter to go with it. What if any restrictions will I encounter?








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You will not be allowed to take either of those swords into Japan, by mail, hand carry, or otherwise. Only traditionally made Japanese swords are allowed in Japan. It is the law. Particularly, as a non-Japanese you do not want to contravene this law. All Japanese swords must be licensed. Your swords do not meet the licensing requirements, so would be designated as offensive weapons.

> To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
> From: veritas.quest@...
> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:47:25 +0000
> Subject: [samuraihistory] OFF TOPIC
>
> To anyone in the group who lives in Japan. Ihave a chance to become employed at a english language school in Japan Iam curious as to how they treat Gaijin and what to expect? Also Iwill be wanting to bring two swords into the country with me One is a mass produced katana type it is a copy of Mugens blade and the second is a pattern welded Han Dynasty long sword I have the makers letter to go with it. What if any restrictions will I encounter?
>
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>
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> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi James,
I lived in Japan for several years as a Dept. Head for a college there. First, leave the swords home. There is nothing they hate more than armed foreigners. I heard (I never bought one there) that if you buy one at a souvenir shop that they must be shipped to your home outside Japan. I can guarantee they will  take them away at customs.
As for how they treat Gaijin, it varies. Some will really like you and want free English lessons or date you. Then others (like at my former job, mostly older people), will discriminate against you and cause problems. Discrimination is illegal in Japan, but like my lawyer told me when I tried to sue for an on the job injury, no Gaijin will ever win in a Japanese court.
All places have good and bad. Enjoy the good there and be careful with the bad. Times are changing in Japan, but nothing happens over night.
Good luck to you,
Mark

--- On Fri, 7/30/10, James <veritas.quest@...> wrote:


From: James <veritas.quest@...>
Subject: [samuraihistory] OFF TOPIC
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 30, 2010, 6:47 AM


 



To anyone in the group who lives in Japan. Ihave a chance to become employed at a english language school in Japan Iam curious as to how they treat Gaijin and what to expect? Also Iwill be wanting to bring two swords into the country with me One is a mass produced katana type it is a copy of Mugens blade and the second is a pattern welded Han Dynasty long sword I have the makers letter to go with it. What if any restrictions will I encounter?











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I do not live there now, but I recently returned to America after living in Tokyo for a while. As far as the swords go. The mass produced one you might be able to get in if you are a budoka. I did not try to take mine with me, but I have seen on a number of budo forums that others have without any problems. I would suggest you look into such forums to see how they did it. The treating of foreigners was in my experience generally pleasant and kind. I personally never really had a bad experience interacting with Japanese. Even with my bad Japanese they were very kind and patient with me while I tried to explain what I was trying to say. Just one time a police officer stopped me on the street and asked to see my passport and look into my bag. He was very polite about it though and he apologized afterwards. However, like anyplace, you will probably have bad experiences also. Someone I knew was waiting for her train one day and an old lady cut in front of her and yelled in Japanese "no foreigners". As far as your job, working for a language school is usually worse than working in a regular school. I have heard both good and bad, plus of course it depends on what company you work for. Many of them seem to over work their teachers with low pay and little benefits. Not to scare you off... just do not expect a relaxing vacation of sightseeing with having to work a little to make ends meet. You will probably be paid barely enough for living expenses. I knew many teachers, both language schools and regular schools also to be fair, that had to take second jobs and/or tutor in order to pay their bills, or to get extra money in order to do fun things. Plus it depends on where you work and live, some places are cheaper than others. If you will be living in Tokyo, like I did, it can be very very expensive. Learn where to save money as much as you can. But, you might be going into a really good company so it is hard to say such things will certainly happen, but do not be surprised if they do. However, in my opinion if you love Japanese culture and really want to live there then it is worth such sacrifices and I would do it if I had to in order to live there again.

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "James" wrote:
>
> To anyone in the group who lives in Japan. Ihave a chance to become employed at a english language school in Japan Iam curious as to how they treat Gaijin and what to expect? Also Iwill be wanting to bring two swords into the country with me One is a mass produced katana type it is a copy of Mugens blade and the second is a pattern welded Han Dynasty long sword I have the makers letter to go with it. What if any restrictions will I encounter?
>

Hi Paul. Happy to see you here. J



Da: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com [mailto:samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com]
Per conto di Paul Martin
Inviato: sabato 31 luglio 2010 12:17
A: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Oggetto: RE: [samuraihistory] OFF TOPIC






You will not be allowed to take either of those swords into Japan, by mail,
hand carry, or otherwise. Only traditionally made Japanese swords are
allowed in Japan. It is the law. Particularly, as a non-Japanese you do not
want to contravene this law. All Japanese swords must be licensed. Your
swords do not meet the licensing requirements, so would be designated as
offensive weapons.

> To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com

> From: veritas.quest@...
> Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:47:25 +0000
> Subject: [samuraihistory] OFF TOPIC
>
> To anyone in the group who lives in Japan. Ihave a chance to become

employed at a english language school in Japan Iam curious as to how they
treat Gaijin and what to expect? Also Iwill be wanting to bring two swords
into the country with me One is a mass produced katana type it is a copy of
Mugens blade and the second is a pattern welded Han Dynasty long sword I
have the makers letter to go with it. What if any restrictions will I
encounter?

>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> ---
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> Samurai Archives store: http://www.cafeshops.com/samuraiarchives
> ---
>
> Join the 2007 Samurai Fiction Contest:

http://www.samurai-archives.com/writcon2.htmlYahoo! Groups Links

>
>
>

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]