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November 22, 2024
 

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Ashley Thompson

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Ashley Thompson
Ashley Thompson writes Surviving in Japan, a blog supporting expats living in Japan. She has been writing The Japan Times' Lifelines column since 2011.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 24, 2012
Will I have trouble re-entering Japan if I lose my gaijin card?
Rosie lost her alien registration card while abroad.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 3, 2012
Less-than-fluent foreigners may have trouble giving blood
Julian recently visited a Red Cross blood donation center in Kagoshima to donate blood, but was refused because he can't speak Japanese. They also told him he couldn't donate blood even if he brought along a native speaker.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 27, 2012
Suginami Ward 'informers' just doing their job
Several residents of Tokyo's Suginami Ward contacted us in response to C.W.'s experience, which appeared in our March 6 column, "Immigration 'informers' call on foreigners in Suginami Ward."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 13, 2012
Import tax: a complex, seemingly arbitrary minefield
Paula writes: "What are the rules regarding taxes placed on imported purchases — for example, a pair of boots? I live in Kobe and had to pay taxes of ¥5,400 for a ¥9,000 purchase. I paid more than half the cost of what I bought in taxes."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 6, 2012
Immigration 'informers' call on foreigners in Suginami Ward
C.W., who lives in Tokyo's Suginami Ward, recently received a notice about the upcoming resident law changes and was informed that an "officer" would visit him and other foreign residents in the area. He is concerned about the intent of these changes and wondering why "officers" are only visiting the...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 21, 2012
Ill-prepared schools put returner, family in tough spot
In response to our recent two-part series on education ("Rejoining school system in Japan after time away can be tough" and "Acceptance — social and otherwise — a crucial issue for Japan returnee kids," Jan. 10 and 17), Rosie decided to share the story of her daughter's difficulties entering the...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 31, 2012
Facing up to alcoholism in foreign land can help or hinder recovery
A reader has a query about alcoholism in Japan: "How is it generally perceived and what kind of help is available for foreign alcoholics who speak little to no Japanese?"
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 17, 2012
Acceptance — social and otherwise — a crucial issue for Japan returnee kids
Last week we addressed academic issues and the timing of school enrollment in response to Floyd's question regarding his son reentering the Japanese education system after living abroad for several years. In this week's column we look at potential social issues, being accepted to a good high school,...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 10, 2012
Rejoining school system in Japan after time away can be tough
Floyd hopes to move back to Japan but is worried about his 11-year-old son fitting into the Japanese school system and being accepted at a good high school:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 20, 2011
Replacing your alien card; blasts from the past
Anita recently lost her alien registration card and is planning to leave on New Year's Day for an overseas trip, so she needs a replacement right away:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 6, 2011
Buck stops with landlord of moldy apartment
Reader G.R. writes: "My apartment has a serious mold problem. The bathtub is built in such a way that there is a space between the tub and the wall and water can easily get underneath and does not drain well.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 22, 2011
More on carrying your gaijin card, and where to find Indian temples
In our Oct. 25 column,
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 15, 2011
Writing a will can take the uncertainty out of inheritance
Reader BM is worried about the inheritance of his house:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 25, 2011
To carry or not to carry your 'gaijin card' upon re-entry?
In our August 23 column (www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20110823at.html), we looked at whether foreign residents should carry their alien registration card on them when re-entering Japan. The official answer from the Immigration Bureau is that their officials will ask to see your ARC, or "gaijin card,"...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 18, 2011
How to avoid the trouble of paying double on return to Oz
Gina, an Australian citizen and permanent resident of Japan, is considering heading back to her homeland:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 27, 2011
Can the government change my name? asks 'Madame Spouse'
French citizen DTMV is concerned about the name listed on her alien registration card, which includes her maiden name, married name, two first names, and "epouse" (listed before her married name), which means "spouse" in French. As such, she is often referred to as "epouse," despite the fact this isn't...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 13, 2011
3/11: no excuse for skipping your re-entry visa
Shortly after the March 11 disasters, Hans left Japan without a re-entry permit. He came back on a tourist visa and is wondering if he can easily regain his previous visa status:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Aug 23, 2011
Legal help for those on a limited budget
Reader GR is seeking legal assistance:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 26, 2011
Where there's the will for a will, there's a way
Lee would like to prepare a will in Japan and is not sure how to proceed:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 12, 2011
Bye-bye to the gaijin card, welcome to the Juki Net in '12
Reader JG is concerned about the changes to the Immigration Law that were passed in 2009 and are scheduled for implementation in July 2012.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Russia fired experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine, Putin says
Ukrainian firefighters work on a spot following an airstrike in Dnipro on Thursday.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists
In Ko Shinjo's "Tokyo Swindlers," a group of con artists manipulates real estate giants into falsified deals within the highly competitive, quick market.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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