HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: d-itasak@nmit.mt.nec.co.jp (Daisaku Itasaka)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Homebrewing in Japan
Date: 27 Jul 92 00:34:11 GMT
Organization: NEC Microcomputer Technology Ltd., Tokyo, Japan

In article <288207@mordor.com> root@mordor.com
	(Chris Mauritz - SysGod) writes:

>Is it legal???  The consensus at work among the older Japanese
>is that homebrewing is probably illegal in Japan.  However, I 
>thought I'd seek a little net.wisdom on the subject.  Having
>been an avid homebrewer since I was in college, I would hate
>to give it up while staying in Japan.

Well, as far as I know, it is illegal to brew at home.
But the liquor contains less than 1% alcohol, you can do it.
I know something like homebrewing-kits are being sold.
I guess you don't have to give it up as long as you check
the content of alcohol in the liquor.

-- 
A wrong guy in a wrong place at wrong time...
						 Daisaku Itasaka
				      d-itasak@nmit.mt.nec.co.jp
				NEC Microcomputer Technology Ltd.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: roy@raven.geog.ubc.ca (Roy Hourston)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Sumo predictions
Date: 24 Jul 92 00:51:59 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

In article <WPM.92Jul24075317@exile.is.morgan.com>, wpm@is.morgan.com (W. Phillip Moore) writes:

|> Moi> The next Chiyonofuji...  Musashimaru
|> 
|> No way -- Musashimaru is strong, but he has a *long* way to go before he
|> ever comes close to Chiyonofuji.  Musashimaru, like Okebono, wins matches
|> because of his superior strength, not always because of superior technique.
|> Both rikishi suffer from this, Akebono more so.
|> 

I agree ... a LONG way to go. Musashimaru and Akebono do great when they
are in a forward shoving match, but that's it. If their opponent sidesteps
or twists, M and A (and big K, for that matter) have trouble. They win on
strength (or weight in K's case), and not much technique.

I'd like to add another prediction:

Most undertall wrestler...  Mainoumi   :-)

His (few) matches they do show here on NHK's Today's Japan are very
exciting to watch.

--
Roy Hourston (roy@geog.ubc.ca)
Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
From: yoichi@milton.u.washington.edu (Yoichi Ii)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Dave Barry
Date: 24 Jul 92 03:20:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Jul24.032048.13683
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

This just in:

  From Article 1269 of alt.fan.dave_barry:
     According to the latest Advance Comics (which also lists a 
     fair number of upcoming books), Dave's next book will be titled 
     something like "Dave Barry Does Japan" (unfortunately my comics
     dealer works with a different distributor, so I only skimmed the
     AC in another store). The topic it covers should be obvious...

Can't wait to read it.
From: davidg@aegis.or.jp (Dave McLane)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: BBS available in Japan
Date: 25 Jul 92 01:44:33 GMT
Organization: Aegis Society, Kyoto Japan

tan_k@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz writes:

>Can anyone help wiht the addresses of BBS's in Japan or just in 
>HOnshu. Have a friend teaching as a Jeapanese Exchange Teacher
>who is trying to contactt ohter BBS's people there. Teaching in
>a pretty isolated community so needs any oust
>outside contact to keep reasonable sanity. Thanks.

I would say the best way to find out about BBSs in Japan is to get a
BBS directory from a computer store or bookshop. There are literally
hundreds of BBS but, of course most of them are in and for Japanese. 

Here are two numbers of English BBS in the Kansai (Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto).
JIX: 06-351-6074, Softworks: 0727-65-4410. Both are N81. There are quite 
a few more in the Kanto (Tokyo) but I don't have any numbers. Sorry.

If he's interested in a network connection, he might try one of these:

1) Join Aegis in Kyoto for a UNIX host + BBS-like front end. 20,000
yen/year, no charge for network mail within Japan, 20 yen/K to other
addresses. Access via direct dial-up or TYMPAS (TYMNET Personal
Account System).  Send mail to me, I'm sysadmn. 

2) Join TWICS in Tokyo if you want a VAX/VMS-host with PARTI/CAUCUS
and a USENET reader (sorry, don't know what kind). 15,000 yen signup
+ 3,000 yen/month, charges for mail within/outside of Japan vary
from free to 45 yen/K depending on volume.  Access via direct
dial-up, TYMPAS, DDX. Send mail to burress@twics.co.jp for details. 

3) Set up your own UUCP host and join Juice. 5,000 yen to join plus
1,000 yen/month, mail within Japan OK, not sure about international
but most probably via KDDlabs' Inet Club which is 30 yen/K.  Access
via direct dial-up. Send mail to juice-admin@juice.co.jp for details. 

Note that JUNET (Japanese University Research Network) site links
are becoming more regulated here with the formation of the JUNET
Society (10,000 yen/year) and Juice is also talking about
regulations and things like that. 

Hope that helps,

Dave

--
Dave McLane 
JUNET: davidg@aegis.or.jp (ONLY within Japan: post otherwise)
Nagaokakyoshi, Kyoto Japan Tel: +81-75-951-1168 Fax: +81-75-957-1087
From: tobac@ub-tky.UBSPD.CO.JP (Bach Frederic)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Reasons for rise in violent crimes? (Re: policewomen may now carry guns)
Date: 21 Jul 92 03:03:20 GMT
Organization: UBS Phillips & Drew Int'l Ltd., Tokyo

In article <1992Jul17.184659.5297@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:

>I think most police (actually, all on-duty male police in Tokyo) carry 
revolvers;
^^^^^^^^^

Just a minor correction. From what I can see, they are automatic pistols,
not revolvers. A revolver is what you play Russian roulette with. A(n automatic)
pistol is what enables you to fire up to a dozen bullets in succession
without rearming. John Wayne and Dirty Harry use revolvers. The Beverly
Hills cop uses a pistol.
-- 
 *  __  _  *    Fred "I'll be" Bach  (tobac@ub-tky.UBSPD.CO.JP (Bach Frederic))
 * ||_ /_| *                                             (Tel. : 813-3597-1595)
 * || /__| *    Arnold, who are you going to be when you grow up ? I'll be Bach
 *         *                Je suis athee, Dieu merci. -B. Bach
From: jfriedl@tubby.mach.cs.cmu.edu (Jeffrey E. F. Friedl)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Marriage Logistics
Date: 31 Jul 92 04:20:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1992Jul31.042035.89561
Reply-To: jfriedl@cs.cmu.edu
Organization: Carnegie Mellon / Omron Corporation

blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert) writes:
|> We should be careful, because I got
|> surprisingly large amount of email from people contemplating
|> marrying Japanese nationals. Looks like some kind of epidemic!

Maybe you should write a book Bill...
	How to Marry a Japanese Woman
and subtitle it
	(no, not *that* kind of guide)
(-:

For those that might not get it, there are said to be books for Japanese
women that instruct how to snag a foreign man (presumably one with
attributes which make him a good life partner... native English speaker,
good income, potential travel to cool places like America, etc.)

Mmmm, I bet one of those books (if they really do exist) might have a
chapter on formalities (if there are undue delays, he might bolt, you know).

	*jeff*

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl   jfriedl@cs.cmu.edu -or- jfriedl@omron.co.jp
Omron Corporation, Section RZE, Shimokaiinji, Nagaokakyo Kyoto 617, Japan
Visiting researcher to the Mach Project, Carnegie Mellon University
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: kanw@cae.wisc.edu (Kan Wang)
Subject: Re: USA vs Japan Men's Volleyball in Olympics
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: 31 Jul 92 01:48:08 CDT

In article <RSI.92Jul29144422@scf16.scf.loral.com> rsi@scf16.scf.loral.com (Rich S. Ishikawa) writes:
>What I didn't like were the attitudes of the American players.  They
>seem to think that they're so superior.  The game was really pretty close
>and I think the Americans were really lucky to have pulled it off.  I 
>also feel that Americans should learn to lose more graciously like
>the Japanese players (not the coach) appeared on TV to be able to do.
>

 Agree strongly, American seems like to blame other if they do not do
well.  Even if they did bad, they never appreciate the opponents, but
only hate and denounce the opponents.
 Hope that they know USA is not perfect, no one is perfect in this
world and no superior race in this world.  If they do, then enjoy
the fruit some time.

>At least after the defeat, the Japanese were able to shake hands with
>the American players and accepted the loss in a sportsmanlike fashion.
>
>I guess if I were part of the American team, I'd wouldn't mind too
>much if I lost to a team who played as well as they did, and show 
>their level of sportsmanship.  The game, afterall, is really between
>the players and not the coaches or the officials.
>
>This is the part of being American I don't particularly like--a
>very gung-ho attitude about everything.
>

 If American do not change their attitude, I think Bush' dream of 
strong America will be only a dream forever.




Ieyasu
------

Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: Info on Akihabara, Now Yen Exchange Rates
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 16:20:50 GMT

In article <3585@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda) writes:
>In article <1992Jul17.131953.2714@newsance.att.com> kimi@newsance.att.com (Kimiye Tipton;ball of confusion;net nemesis;407-660-6472) writes:
>>>(Kimiye Tipton) writes:
>>
>>Well, my Mom's already in Japan, and she got 122 and 117 at the bank
>>and some other place.  I got 123 and 124.5 on my checks (bought two
>>sets on different days), and I won't have to pay to exchange a 
>>traveller's check.  The rate in the paper today is a little over 125.  
>>I feel just fine, and I plan to have a great vacation!
>
>   There seems to be a significant difference in the yen-$ exchange rate 
>in Japan and in US.
>
>    I have two questions.
>
>[1] Is the difference in the exchange rate not specific to Japan? For
>    example, if I make a trip to France from US, is it better to
>    buy T.C. in franc than bring T.C. in dollar and changing in France? 

Couple of important things to be clear on: exchange rate and rate *you* get.
There is a difference. The official exchange rate will vary from market to
market, though it should be fairly close; otherwise people would (eg) simply
buy yen on the Frankfurt market for (eg) pesos and sell them on the London
market for (eg) francs. This happens whenever the exchange rates on the 
different markets get too far out of whack.

What you are interested in is the rate *you* get; the "official" rates are for
MAJOR customers and if you (or I) had enough cash to qualify, we'd have better
things to do than waste our time on posting to some bbs. The rate we get is
a little less favorable each way, and it is the exchange agent who gets a better
rate (note: you *should* get a better rate, the more cash you are exchanging).
In MY experience, for most exchanges (<~$10,000) you get a better deal each
way in Japan. For exchanges > ~$15,000, you can find a better deal in the US.

>[2] When I need to send or have someone send relatively much money - let's say,
>    $10,000 = 1,200,000 yen - from Japan to US, what would be the best
>    way to get the best deal including the exchange rate and the handling 
>    fee etc.? 

Most Japanese banks will put a BIG surcharge on a check, sometimes holding
the check as collateral until it clears (which in Japan can take a month). If
you can wire it directly into someone's account, you can probably save yourself
some commisions and other fees.

Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - These opiini^H^H damn! ^H^H ^Q ^[ .... :w  :q  :wq  :wq! ^d  X ^?
exit X Q  ^C ^? :quitbye  CtrlAltDel   ~~q  :~q  logout  save/quit :!QUIT
^[zz ^[ZZZZZZ ^H  man vi ^@  ^L  ^[c  ^# ^E ^X ^I ^T ? help  helpquit ^D  ^d 
man help ^C ^c help exit ?Quit ?q CtrlShftDel "Hey, what does this button d..."
From: masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Japanese language bible
Date: 28 Jul 92 17:34:43 GMT
Organization: Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center

In article <1992Jul27.180935.165211@cs.cmu.edu> jfriedl@cs.cmu.edu writes:
>|> snorthc@nswc.navy.mil (Stephen Northcutt) writes:
>|> 
>|> My family has agreed to host an exchange student from Japan for
>|> a few weeks.  I would like to be able to provide a bible.  Can 
>|> someone give me a mail-order pointer to a good translation?
>
>kerry@cs.UAlberta.CA (Todyruik Kerry D) blurts:
>
>|> Whoah!  The first question I have is "Did they ask for one?"  I am sick
>|> of people who think that their religion is the "correct" religion.
>
>Almost everyone is sick of idiots that fly off the handle, particularly
>when it's a result of their own asinine missunderstandings borne of
>(apparent) predijustice and self-righteousness.

 [Deleted.]

   As a non-Christian Japanese, I'd guess that most Japanese would be in favor 
of Kerry-san's response although they may not feel sick of the original posting. 
   If the exchange student is not a Christian and is sensitive to a religious
matter, giving a bible could be a good reason for him/her to ask the organizer 
to change the host family. It may not be a good idea to provide a bible
to a person whom you don't know very well or who doesn't know you well.

   I think the original poster is a faithful Christian and just has a sincere
intention to share his Christian experience with his guest whether the guset
is converted or not. However, in order for both of them, the host and the 
guest, to enjoy spending a few weeks together, it might be practical not
to bring up anything too religious. Of course, the host would be welcome to  
show how happy he is to be a Christian as long as it's not pushy, and the
guest would appreciate it as a part of American culture. In addition,
if the student is provided with a bible in "English" as a farewell gift at 
the end of stay, he/she will remember the host as a friendly Christian. 

   Although there are a significant number of Christians in Japan, I don't
think Christianity as a religion is prevailing in Japan. Nor is Buddhism 
or Shintoism. It's my impression that they are rather a tradition, a part
of life style or a general philosophy than a religion. We visit old temples
and shrines to savor the architecture and the arts and to know the history. 
We also enjoy visiting churches and other religious places in Europe and 
other countries for the same reason. 

   We also take foreign visitors to temples and shrines without any religious
intention, but if you feel it uncomfortable to visit there, you'd be welcome
to say, "No." It's not insulting.

Michiaki Masuda
From: David_Goldsmith@taligent.com (David Goldsmith)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Info on Chinese/Japanese/Korean character relationships
Date: 21 Jul 92 20:05:46 GMT
Organization: Taligent, Inc.

In article <23828@twics.co.jp>, sige@twics.co.jp writes:
> 
> harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom) writes:
> 
> >        Will Japanese companies use the original JIS ordering
> >        domestically and Unicode for the international market?
> 
> I think ordering isn't comparatively big problem.
> If market needs conversion, they will do. (If they can.)
> But, if UNICODE hasn't identical KANJIs of JIS, they can't convert.
>

Unicode was designed to enable full round-trip conversion to JIS. For every JIS
character there is a unique Unicode.
--
David Goldsmith
Taligent, Inc.
10725 N. DeAnza Blvd., Cupertino, CA  95014-2000
david_goldsmith@taligent.com      (408) 974-8116
From: blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Zen Story (6)
Date: 21 Jul 92 18:23:15 GMT
Reply-To: blamb@rodan.hri.com (Bill Lambert)
Organization: Horizon Research

*******************************************
One day a novice asked the Zen master *& %$,

"Paul Shih posts Zen stories in soc.culture.japan....
what is his purpose?"

The master answered, "Same as dog in yard."

*******************************************
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: cmr@world.std.com (Charles M Richmond)
Subject: Re: Reasons for rise in violent crimes? (Re: policewomen may now carry guns)
Organization: Integrated International Systems Corp. One Longfellow Place, Suite 3309, Boston, Ma.
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 21:17:35 GMT

fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:

>Thanks. I THOUGHT the Japanese revolvers looked a bit odd (only five chambers).
>As for accidental discharge, strange that they don't include a safety on the
>weapon.

>Mike
>-- 


A five shot cylinder is smaller in diameter than a 6 shot and is better
for a concealed weapon. I do not know why they should use these as
standard issue. A revolver with a safety is very rare and it is common
to keep the round under the hammer empty, although the gun has to fall
just right on a hard surface inorder to acidentally discharge. Bear in
mind that they are not carried around cocked, and are thus much safer
than a chambered automatic would be. 

Charlie

-- 
*****************************************************************************
*  Charles Richmond 	Integrated International Systems Corporation        *
*  cmr@world.std.com	(Temporary) crichmond@mr4dec.enet.dec.com           *
*  Specializing in UNIX, X, Image Processing, and Communications.           *
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: ikeda@vxcrna.cern.ch (IKEDA,M./EP)
Subject: Re: non-natives in Japan
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 08:53:00 GMT

In article <2102@aegis.or.jp>, davidg@aegis.or.jp (Dave McLane) writes...
>However, as far as I know, people born in Japan aren't citizens
>(or did I get it wrong again :-) and this is the rub. They been
>here for generations are still classed as foreigners.
> 
True, but they can choose to become Japanese citizens.  The situation
is similiar in Switzerland.  There are a significant number of foreigners
from temporary workers to permanent residents (permis C).  All children
born in Switzerland do not take on Swiss nationality automatically.  When
they become adults and if they are permanently residing in Switzerland,
they can then apply for citizenship.

-- Makoto
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: PAPAI@kcgl1.eng.ohio-state.edu (Jonathan Papai)
Subject: Re: USA vs Japan Men's Volleyball in Olympics
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 16:48:30 GMT

in Message-ID: <Bs1DzI.9nG@news.cso.uiuc.edu>Mon, 27 Jul 1992 07:26:04 GMT
kig9584@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kyoko Inoue )   says:
>
>I cannot believe what I just saw on the NBC coverage of the Olympics.
>Men's volleyball between Japan and the U.S. was so bizarre and infuriating
>that I had to throw in my own opinion about the game.
>
>Why did the Japanese coach just let the game go on after the obvious
>mistake of the judge at the end of the 4th set?  "Do-not-protest-the-
>judge, it-is-against-sportsmanship" type of attitude is so very much
>Japanese-like, but it won't lead you anywhere.

	Protest was filed after match and meeting was held Monday
morning between international volleyball governing body, US and
Japan team representatives.  Game was awarded to Japan based two
yellow cards in one set by the big bald guy, and the point that
should have been awarded then.

[stuff deleted]

>Two announcers broadcasting the game sounded very puzzled about the
>situation, but they did not want to admit the defeat of the American team
>and commented the "lucky" mistake the judges made as "controversial."

	That's a little rough on the announcers.  I'm willing to
ascribe the puzzled behaviour of the announcers to incompetence
rather than malice.  The one guy really had problems with some
Japanese names.  I'd like to hear what the Japanese TV announcers
did to try to pronounce the guy's name that began with 6 consonants.
(Ctvtrlik.)

>Kyoko Inoue

J.P. Papai
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: Re: non-natives in Japan
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 21:06:06 GMT

In article <516205@mordor.com> root@mordor.com (Chris Mauritz - SysGod) writes:
><1992Jul21.012236.23735@nevada.edu> 
><2118@aegis.or.jp> 

>Yes, this is somewhat unnerving.  About 7 years ago, I wanted to spend
>2 weeks in Japan as a tourist.  I was living in Hong Kong at the time
>so I hoppped over to the Japanese embassy for a visa.  I told them I
>only wanted to stay for a couple of weeks and in about 2 minutes they
>stamped a 5 year unlimited entry visa into my passport.  Recently, I
>went to the Japanese embassy in New York City to get a work visa.
>It was such a nightmare that I left (went on my lunch hour).  I was
>told that I would have to wait 1-2 hours just to receive the necessary
>forms. :-(  Does anyone have any tips on what to say to these guys
>for a "hassle free" visa?

"hassle free"? No way I know. It takes a minimum of a month to get a work visa
from Japan. In practice, it's usually closer to 3 months. Usually, the embassy
will mail you the necessary documents, if you're polite. 

This last is the key to dealing with Japanese officialdom; *BE POLITE*. Do NOT
insist that you have the right to do something. While you may feel you do, in 
practice they (Japanese consulate personal or immigration officials) have
tremendous leeway in what they can do to/for you. 

If you can find a job in Japan while on a tourist visa, you CAN go down to
immigration and apply for a change-of-status in your visa. What will happen then
is open to negotiation, though "officially" you must then leave the country.
The officer may decide to let you work without hassle, then pick up your
new visa when it comes in. They MAY let you work, and then leave the country to
pick up your visa. They may give you the official line (you can always come back
on a different day to try to get another official in a better mood). Or perhaps
some other line I've not yet heard. In any event, though the official line`
as I stated above, if you're obsequious enough, they'll usually help you out.

Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - These opiini^H^H damn! ^H^H ^Q ^[ .... :w  :q  :wq  :wq! ^d  X ^?
exit X Q  ^C ^? :quitbye  CtrlAltDel   ~~q  :~q  logout  save/quit :!QUIT
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man help ^C ^c help exit ?Quit ?q CtrlShftDel "Hey, what does this button d..."
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: BBS available in Japan
From: tan_k@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 02:20:43 GMT
Reply-To: tan_k@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: Wellington City Council, Wgtn, NZ

Can anyone help wiht the addresses of BBS's in Japan or just in 
HOnshu. Have a friend teaching as a Jeapanese Exchange Teacher
who is trying to contactt ohter BBS's people there. Teaching in
a pretty isolated community so needs any oust
outside contact to keep reasonable sanity. Thanks.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan