Could you hack it for life in the salaryman world?

It comes as no surprise that Tokyo is a city of extremes. Being one of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo can be gentle as a baby’s behind or as a wild as a bobcat. If Tokyo were a woman, I would have to spend years putting much effort into understanding her odd nature. This city has the unique ability to change its overall vibe like day and night; literally!
During the day time Tokyo is one of the mellowest places in the world; as far as international jewel cities …

Living abroad isn’t always easy. Culture shock is one thing, but finding a place for yourself in a strange land can prove difficult at best.

A big issue that is rarely addressed in Tokyo, as well as all of Japan, is looking at how much we drink. Anyone who spends any amount of time in Tokyo will notice that there are a hell of a lot of bars here. You can get a drink at any time day or night in Tokyo. It is very easy to have a stiff shot of Jack at four in the morning; I know because I have done this. It would seem that getting drunk is a way of …

One of the best things about living in Japan is having access to the world’s best (of course) sushi. However, the following AP article makes me a little nervous, not only about high levels of mercury in tuna, but also about the attitude of your average Japanese man or woman on the street, as well as some health officials.It’s one thing to know that something is bad for you, and still eat it (which many people in countries all over the world do), but it’s another to think that the …

Will the 2016 olympics be held in Tokyo? Here’s the lowdown on the good, the bad, and the ugly of a Tokyo olympics.

On the surface, Tokyo is overwhelming at first. Avenues lined with neon-clad buildings give the major areas a futuristic look while back alleys and shotengai give the place either a run-down look or a local feel. During rush periods, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro Stations take most foreigners, even those of us from big cities, to a new level of survival-of-the-fittest living; We learn quickly that nobody stops for anyone else. I’ve gotta get to my train so don’t get in my way or I’ll run your ass down. Finding your way …

Jason at j2fi.net posted something recently about overly negative foreigners living in Japan and it reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend over some beers last year. I remember commenting on how lucky I thought he was for thoroughly enjoying his working stay here in Tokyo. It’s not that I wasn’t enjoying my situation at the time; it was just that he seemed so much more jacked-in as far as having a fulfilling Japan experience. Anyway, upon hearing my comment, he replied with a question. “Which Japan …

Back in the late spring of 2004 I went to Shimoda to do a little surfing. It was beautiful and a lot of fun and immediately overtook Togane, Chiba as the place in Japan I wanted to move to. The place is green, has great waves, and has the best sushi I’ve ever had (but I didn’t pay for that dinner so I’ll bet if I dropped more money I could find good sushi just about anywhere in Japan). Talking about this makes me regret not getting down there again.

I …

For those of you who’ve been kind enough to visit 7:10 to Tokyo and return, I thank you. I’d like to say that things have run smoothly at 7:10 thus far, but that would be a lie now, wouldn’t it? A problem with 7:10’s web host has left things in disarray to say the least. But, on the positive side, it’s time to take 7:10 to Tokyo in the direction it was meant to go in the first place.
I had always intended for 7:10 to be a blogazine; that is, …