Welcome to a brand new new weekly column that will provide a forum for readers to help one another, and for myself and Ken Joseph, of Japan Helpline, to help you. We will be printing your letters, offering personal input and bringing in experts on a regular basis to help answer your queries on living in, and coping with, Japan.
Japan has changed beyond recognition since this newspaper first began offering advice to readers.
On March 17 1964, under the heading "Orientation," Jean Pearce was saying a "Farewell to Marti" -- one Ellen McGarry, who was returning to the United States with her family after a decade in Japan. "It's sure difficult for whoever takes over the column," Jean noted.