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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
Jun 28, 2011
Permanent residency, legal query, a lost friend
Mike has a question about applying for his permanent resident visa:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jun 21, 2011
Permanent residents, mind the 'gap years' in your pension payments
In response to our previous pension articles, "Japan pension answers often case-specific" (April 19) and "Pension 'gap years' and missed payments" (May 10), we've received several reader inquiries and comments regarding kara kikan, or "gap years."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jun 14, 2011
Support network backs Japanese-Filipino kids abandoned by fathers
We regularly receive emails from Japanese-Filipinos searching for their Japanese fathers. Many of these adults were abandoned as children, along with their Filipino mothers, while others were forced to leave Japan for various reasons.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 31, 2011
English magazines run gamut from poetry to prose, Kanto to Chubu
We received several additional English-magazine suggestions in response to our May 17 column, "Print is suffering, but English readers have never had it so good."
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 24, 2011
Pension payout query: to leave it or lump it?
Marc has a question about pension refunds for foreigners: "I was a resident of Japan for about 25 years and I paid into the system for about 20 years. Six years ago my Japanese employer transferred me to Vietnam. Since then we did an employee exchange with a South African company. This company has been...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 17, 2011
Print is suffering, but English readers have never had it so good
Returning to Osaka after several years, James wonders what became of Kansai Time Out, the magazine that served the English-speaking community in that region and beyond:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 10, 2011
Pension 'gap years' and missed payments
Responding to our April 19 column ("Japan pension answers often case-specific"), KW suggests that there are further conditions — aside from the special exemptions we mentioned — under which foreigners may be able to receive a pension without paying in for 25 years.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 3, 2011
Leaping the digital TV divide
Reader JC asked about the upcoming analog-to-digital TV changeover on July 24 and how to prepare for it. The available options are so varied that it can be overwhelming to sift through and try to understand exactly what you need, especially if you can't read Japanese. We did some searching, and here's...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 19, 2011
Japan pension answers often case-specific
JM has a question about the Japanese national pension system: "I am an American citizen and permanent resident of Japan and have been living and working in the country continuously since 1988. During most of this time, I have been employed as a "local" hire by my company, and contributed to the Japanese...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 12, 2011
Quake aid, local services
For relief organizations, groups or individuals needing translators, Taichi W. sent information about the Japan Guide Consortium Volunteer Interpreters, a group of translators initially formed at the request of the government. Four are working in Sendai with the Indian National Disaster Response Force;...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 5, 2011
Quake aid, pet predictions
Reader D.C. recommends the Japan Chernobyl Foundation as a charity for victims of the earthquake and nuclear disaster. He writes:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 29, 2011
Hosting, contacting survivors
Reader DB says: "I've created a Facebook group to provide Japanese victims with accommodation. Right now there are about 20 offers from different countries around the world. We need help contacting Japanese locals and/or organizations so people can actually get help."
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Mar 22, 2011
The relief effort: how you can help
A few readers have questions about donating supplies.
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Mar 15, 2011
All is not lost when 'carded'
Reader SW writes:
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.
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.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
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.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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By Kathryn Wortley

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