The article is talking about the executions in China and how the government is planing to change the policies in place about how they carry out executions and how China is declaring less executions per year. But this is not what grabbed my attention. What got my attention was the ending of BBC’s Article. Quoted “Are you in China? What do you think of the country’s ‘execution policy’? Send us your comments using the form below.”

Now China being under so much scrutiny for tracking its internet and forcing policy’s on company’s such as Google. As well as lashing down on public out cry. What makes the BBC think its a good idea to ask users in China to state their stance on this issue when saying so could put them in this very execution spot that they are writing on.

Now in no way do I think this was intended by the BBC, but I sent a email as well as a comment stating they should consider changing their writing and or place a disclaimer on the post as it could be seen in a negative light.

I enjoy the BBC and its articles but to ask a country’s people to write out about their government though it noble can end in a misguided situation which would be unseen to the rest of the world.

Being someone who’s been around oppressive governments  it might be a good idea to consider what you ask of your readers.
BBC please consider my stance.

Tell me your thoughts on this i’m interested in what you have to say.

Update : This morning I hoped on to check the site and I found that the BBC took my stance into consideration and has now removed the before quoted text.

Thank you BBC for considering your readers.

Hi! I am one of the many that will be moving to Japan in September to teach English.

Do you have any sage advice? I will also be living the the Tokyo suburb, Kokubunji- Are you familiar with the area?

Thanks!!

Answer

First off get out there and do everything. A lot of times people will come to Japan and get cooped up in their rooms because of the language barrier afraid to  communicate and learn a new cultures environment.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You might be comfortable with making mistakes where you are now but once you get to Japan often you will feel that if you make a mistake you will be looked down on and rejected. Yes this can happen but odds are very unlikely. Japanese are very forgiving and kind people if you respect them and their culture odds are they will respect yours.

Learn to understand that though some things are the same a lot of things are different. For instance its considered very rude to be loud in public now yes a lot of younger and sometimes older people still do it here but if you want to make a good impression don’t leave a tarnish on your own culture with Japanese people.

Really what it comes down to with people and the culture is treat people how you want to be treated ya i know its someone your mom or dad would say but its true. Leave people feeling that you belong in Japan and not with a bitter taste in their mouths.

Now about money Japanese financial market is finally increasing and Tokyo is one of the most expensive places in the world to live I believe its #3 at the moment. Manage your money well teaching doesn’t always pay the best but it can be steady money depending on where you work save that money. don’t blow it all away when you make it. I know it seems like common sense but once you see all the awesome things in stores you will want to start buying away.

Make copy’s of all your documents  passport alien registration card and what have you. You need to have copy’s of these documents you never know when something might happen.
If you decide to stay in Japan consider opening a Japanese bank account. After 6 months you are eligible to open one as long as you have a source of income and intention to stay. The reason I recommend this is you want to have a source of money close by having a bank internationally is a nice thing but you will need one locally in case of an emergency.

If you are interesting in places to visit I recommend taking a look at my galleries and see a place you find interesting If you see something you like i can make a guide on how to get their.

I hope this at least answers some questions you had in mind if not feel free to send an email with your questions HERE

Now keep in mind this might seem familiar as most the steps in getting a renewal are exactly the same as applying for the Spouse Visa.

Step 1

Your Japanese spouse will need to get a few Japanese municipal documents. First of which Is a form called a Koseki which lists your Japanese spouses family information including any children and you the spouse. Following getting the Koseki you will need to get another document called a Shotokushourmeisho If you are not currently employed your spouse will need to get theirs. This document lists the prior years tax information To the Japanese government. Both the Koseki and Shotokushourmeisho can be picked up at your local city hall.
The last municipal document Is a Zaishokushomeisho. This document shows all information about your current employer such as how long you have worked for them when you started what your salary Is. Once again If you are not employed your spouse will need to get theirs. You will get this document from you or your spouses employer.

Step 2

Upon completing the previous 3 municipal documents your spouse will need to print and fill out a letter of guarantee this Is To show they are willing to support you. The last thing you will need to fill out Is a Application for change of status. This form needs To be completed and turned In so that the rest of the paperwork can be processed. Gather up all the paperwork including your Alien Registration Card & Passport and head to your
local Immigration office In your prefecture.

Step 3

Once at your local Immigration office turn In all the documents stated prior the process will be similar such as when you applied for the original Visa. In my case we ended up going on a busy day so it took about 4 hours of waiting but after the wait we simply turned in the paperwork waited for about 10 more minutes as which point the Immigration Employee called my name handed me my Passport and Alien Registration Card and explained that I should come back between a certain set of days which he had posted on  a page he put in the Passport.

When you go back to get your new Visa head to a post office and pick up a Shuunyuu Inshi ( Revenue Stamp ) for 4,000 Yen. This Is used To pay for the Visa Renewal.

List of required documents

1. Koseki

2. Shotokushourmeisho

3. Zaishokushomeisho

4. Letter of Guarantee

5. Application for change of status

6. Alien Registration Card

7.Shuunyuu Inshi ( Revenue Stamp )

List Of Local Immigration Office’s

UPDATE:

AnnaTrouble from Budget Trouble made a good point that I hadnt really thought of or clarified in my post that everyone should bring the Shuunyuu Inshi ( Revenue Stamp ) upon first applying for the Renewal as they normally ask for it at that stage of the process.
I appreciate any advice and incite you have from personal experiences thank you for helping the site grow and giving your input.

Their is already so many sites that cover jobs in Japan. Gajin Pot and Daijob to name a few.
But these sites don’t tell you what happens in the process and they do not give you all the options that are our their. leaving people to think they are limited to English teacher or  high end Japanese company’s.

The option’s that these sites do not cover is US Government and DOD contractor jobs.
You would think these are far and few but with the over whelming amount of bases in Japan more and more jobs are opening up.

Ok enough blabing and on with the actual process.
head on over to NAF Jobs and select the base that best fits your location. upon selecting the base it will give you a list of available positions as well as pay grade. where you can then apply or view a better description about the job. You will be able to create an account and upload your resume. This is a official Government site and they will keep your resume on record so keep this in mind when applying for positions.
Once applied the HRO for the base services will contact you if you qualify for the job and ask you to come into the base you will need to inform them that you are not on the base and require someone to come to the main gate to sign you in. This is mandatory as you need a government ID and or someone from the base to accompany you.

If you get the job it takes anywhere from 2weeks to 2 months to start the job and you will have to go to immigration, their is a possibility that you will lose your visa and gain SOFA in its place.

SOFA is the agreement between the United States and Japan for american civilians to live and work on base In Japan.
SOFA is similar to a Visa as it allows you to live and work in Japan but the SOFA will only allow you to work for the US Government while you have it.

If you decide to leave the position you are allowed to keep SOFA for an allocated amount of time to get your visa back.
This does not always happen and I would not rely on that window of opportunity to much.
In my case I managed to keep my Visa while I had SOFA status but this is rare.

I know I am missing a lot in this write up I was hastily writing but its at least a slight overview. If you have any questions please feel free to ask away and I will answer anything I can.

I used to do trial and error because I wasn’t worried about making a mistake and getting on the wrong train but now that I have a family I use more planed methods.

First off would have to be 09 Tokyo Zuti This is a iPhone App where you simple type in the location you are heading and from what station they have all of the stations pre programed in in case of spelling errors or confusion.
It works Online as well as offline so it works wonderfully on a iPhone or iPod touch.

Built into this app also has a list of most popular destinations as well as airports and other useful places you simple click on one of them and you can find the best train from your location.

Now this program is pre destined trains and it cannot compensate for train delay’s or suicide’s on the tracks that cause lines to stop.

A website I often use before heading out is Japanese Train Route Finder I use this just to make sure that I’m getting on the best train and i use the Tokyo zuti to check for alternate trains and how long the train will take.

Step 1

Your Japanese spouse will need to get a few Japanese municipal documents. First of which Is a form called a Koseki which lists your Japanese spouses family information including any children and you the spouse. Following getting the Koseki you will need to get another document called a Shotokushourmeisho If you are not currently employed your spouse will need to get theirs. This document lists the prior years tax information To the Japanese government. Both the Koseki and Shotokushourmeisho can be picked up at your local city hall.
The last municipal document Is a Zaishokushomeisho. This document shows all information about your current employer such as how long you have worked for them when you started what your salary Is. Once again If you are not employed your spouse will need to get theirs. You will get this document from you or your spouses employer.

Step 2

Upon completing the previous 3 municipal documents your spouse will need to print and fill out a letter of guarantee this Is To show they are willing to support you. The last thing you will need to fill out Is a Application for change of status. This form needs To be completed and turned In so that the rest of the paperwork can be processed.

Now that all the above paperwork Is complete you will need to gather a few personal effects. This Is not required but It helps To make the whole behind the scenes process smoother for you. The personal effects should be a few letters that you and your spouse have previously written to each other over the course of your relationship and a few pictures of you together. If you don’t want to part with the letters photocopies are okay. Gather up all the paperwork, letters and pictures your passport, Alien registration card ” All you need Is the number If you have not yet received your card ” and head to your
local Immigration office In your prefecture.
Step 3

Once at your local Immigration office turn In all the documents stated prior as well as your marriage certificate along with translated copy. If all goes well they will have you fill out your name and address on a postcard to notify you later. When you receive the postcard In the mail about 1-3 months later head to a post office and pick up a Shuunyuu Inshi ( Revenue Stamp ) for 4,000 Yen. This Is used To pay for the visa transfer to a spouse visa.
Report to Immigration before the deadline stated on the postcard with your Passport, Alien Registration Card, Stamp and before mentioned postcard.

With all of that they should pop In your new shiny visa within a few minutes and your on your new life in Japan. In my instance I did not have to do a interview with the immigration office this is not always the case. I recommend not stressing about the interview If you do have one as you will make It worse for yourself. Just tell the truth and you will breeze by.

I do not condone getting married for only the intention of a Visa and I have NOT made this Guide for people to do so I am aware people will use this guide with that intent. All I can do Is state my regards and say their Is other options then fake marriage and you make It harder for real marriages To work in Japan.

List of required documents

1. Marriage Certificate
Translated marriage certificate

2. Koseki

3. Shotokushourmeisho

4. Zaishokushomeisho

5. Letter of guarantee

6. Application for change of status

7. Alien registration card ” Or # ”

8.Shuunyuu Inshi ( Revenue Stamp )

List Of Local Immigration Office’s

This is what was required for the Iruma City Hall and requirements might differ due to situations and places. Please contact your local City hall and ask for all document required as to make this process as simple as possible.

Step 1

For the American partner you will need to print out a Affidavit of Competency this must be filled out and notarized (Signed) at the nearest U.S Embassy This is required by the Japanese government to prove that you can legally marry abroad in Japan. Along with the Affidavit you will need to bring your U.S Passport and 30$ or the Japanese equivalent. Credit cards are accepted at the embassy however checks are not. Now the Affidavit of competency must be translated to Japanese for the Japanese Government this translated copy does not need to be notarized. next you need to get a Japanese municipal Government form called Kon-in Todoke which can be received at a local Japanese city hall ” You will also want to get a Alien Registration document while at city hall”. The Kon-in Todoke then needs to be signed by 2 witnesses over the age of 20 and any nationality. Long hand is okay but Japanese Korean and Chinese nationals may be asked for their Inkan (seal).

This next step Is only If you wish To live in Japan Skip ahead to Step 2 If does not apply.

Upon finishing the Municipal document you will now need to complete your alien registration document Requirements for getting this card are your passport and 2 (4.5cm by 3.5cm) passport pictures as well as the before stated document.

Step 2

Take the Affidavit of Competency and Its translated counterpart, the Kon-in Todoke and Alien Registration documents to City hall turn and all the papers that are before mentioned and they will need to make copy’s of your passport. After which they will begin the process for getting you your marriage certificate you have a choice between large and small and the only difference is cost. You will want to get 2 marriage certificates.
You will need to translate the marriage certificate for the U.S Embassy I have provided the Translation document’s ->(Large and Small)<-

Once the Translation is complete take marriage certificate and the Translation to the U.S Embassy as well as your passport and after a few minutes they will notarize it and send you on your way you are now married In Japan and America.

Soon I will Explain the process of getting a Spouse Visa and what to expect.

List of required documents

1. Affidavit of Competency ”

Translated Affidavit of Competency

2. Kon-in Todoke

3. Alien Registration Document

4. Passport

5. 2 (4.5cm by 3.5cm) passport pictures

6. Japanese Marriage Certificate

Translated Marriage Certificate Large and Small