Golf in JapanAfter reading all those comments it would seem gold here in aus is rather cheap. There's a course nearby that costs $15AUD for a 9 holes, although that place is a tad boring. Some of the nicer places cost about $30-40AUD for 18 holes. It doesn't real...
Japan StrikeI thought some governments have a separate tax code on importation of oil and petroleum.
Well at least petrol is still cheaper than bottled water.
Bargaining in JapanWe have 10% GST on most purchases in Aus.
I remember when i went to USA a few years ago the sales tax there really confused me. I noticed that some shops displayed the base price on items so when i tried to buy something with what i thought was cor...
Tokyo Train AccidentMost serious accident i've been in is probably car accident 15 years ago. Our car got t-boned by some idiot who ran a red. Those were the pre-airbag days too.
Most rain accidents here involving people on the tracks are usually due to heavy drinking....
Hourly Wage in JapanMy first part time job was at a printing centre when i was 17. Got paid $22AUD (approx $20USD) per hr and on weekends it was $44AUD (approx $41USD) per hr. I even got superannuation of around $150AUD per week(retirement fund money). Currently doing a...
A Week in Tokyo 9The thing i love best about most asian business capitals is how all the shopping centres seem to be open till late. Over here as soon as the clock hits 5pm everything is closed. It's so annoying.
Startups in JapanI've got the same problem with wires. I've been trying to go as wireless as possible (within reason) but those damn power cables are still flying all over the place.
I have a 22" Samsung 226BW which back 4 months ago seemed quite big... although no...
A Week in Tokyo 8Ikea has become remarkably expensive over here and yet the overall quality hasn't changed a bit. Like my table and bed which is falling to pieces. Ikea here is probably more of a gimmick or for people who prefer the quirky design rather than real sav...
Japan ProprietorshipHere we have a lot of trusts / discretionary trusts which tend to work better than sole prop in terms of tax and in particular if the business starts finding itself in debt.
Broadband in JapanIsn't ADSL2+ up to 24MBps in Australia? I'm still waiting for service to start in my area which hopefully is this year. Still stuck with 8MBps...
I was always under the impression that Korea had the fastest broadband, something along the lines of ov...
Japanese HomeworkWe have libraries in every suburb here in addition to school and university libraries so it's not like there's no space to study. I usually study in between classes and a bit at night. Working makes it a tad harder.
Japanese PensionI'm actually quite happy with our system. The employer contributes 9% of superannuation to your salary. For every dollar you contribute after tax, the government will 1.5x it up to $1000. So i put in $1000 and the government gives me an extra $1500....
PS3 Beats WiiPS3 looks nicer with my home theater setup. If Wii started selling a polished black unit with chrome or gold trim, then maybe i'd reconsider.
DS TV TunerAustralia is still doing trials on the DVB-H spec. So i guess if devices like the DS Tuner or the PSP Tuner are ever released here in the future it'll have to be for DVB-H.
The one major problem i have with these tuner devices are the antennas. Why...
Traffic Accidents in JapanMany European car manufacturers are starting to help in the battle against dui. Like Volvo have those keys which double as breathtester immobiliser units. Also a lot of these european cars are being designed with pedestrian collisions in mind. I know...
Pets in JapanI hate dogs for the simple reason that the dogs living at the house left and right to mine are like hellspawns. They just will not shut up. And why is it that the loudest dogs always have rude owners? I swear to god i'm almost at breaking point with...
Japan CameraDSLR's are heavier than compacts, with the lenses and everything they cost more, and when taking a pic with them you tend to be more pedantic about taking your pics. That said i don't think any compact camera could make me want to live without my dsl...
Japanese DoctorsI've never had any problem with doctors here. They only prescribe medicine if it's really necessary and that's only happened to me on a few rare occasions. I usually just get told what's wrong with me and what to do to get over the illness (usually r...
Japanese TeachersStudent union/council usually keeps teachers in line. And if by chance teachers go too far then they have to deal with courts. Here it's not so much a problem where teachers harass people, it's more that most of them aren't qualified enough in their...
