| Videos |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|10:00 am] |
Japan is a great place for videos! The big places, like "Family Book" have everything from all the latest western releases (in Japanese Language, English with subtitles and bilingual), Japanese releases, old films, TV shows (some have "Night Rider"!) and most have their own, discretely secreted "porn" area.
All you need is your "Gaijkokojin/Alien Registration Card" and a few hundred yen to a thousand to join.
Please be aware that many American porn films will be nestled next to regular movies (the same goes for some of the pornographic anime in the Japanese sections). You might get caught 'accidentally' looking at porn by your students or teachers who patrol Family Book (to make sure they are not smoking and are home on time). Also, the sports videos are situated in the porn section!
Apart from that, most movies will be in a very logical order. There will be an "Eddy Murphy" section, an 80's Science Fiction section, etc. Great stuff!
Some places to rent your vids are:
-"Family Book" (Tel: 0270 707 309. Fax: 0270 704 319). Go past the Beisia (on your right), over two train tracks. It's on your left. It's near Isesaki station, too!
-"Paraiso Brazil". On the same road as Mets club. With the bar on your left, head towards the sushi bar. It’s on your right. A fair selection of vids. Most of the cartoons are Portuguese language only. Most of the films (old and new) will be in English, with subtitles (labeled “Legenado”)
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“La Bodeguita” (see above).
-“PAL to NTSC Video Conversion”. It’s worth noting here that the Halal Food store, near Shin-Isesaki station, will convert PAL (UK, Europe, Australia, etc) videos to NTSC (Japan, America, etc) for 2,000 Yen per video converted from. This is quite a lot of money, as it might be cheaper to import the USA version of some UK TV shows via Amazon.com for about the same price! You can also get your PAL videos/DVDs converted to NTSC video cassette for free at a building over the road and opposite the Kencho, in Maebashi (Tel: 0272-437271, and ask for the foreign CIR teacher). However, the Halal shop promises next day conversion, whereas the free service near Kencho takes a week or so. |
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| USA Cuts-(NOW RENAMED) |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:58 am] |
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One of two cheap places to get a cheap hair cut if you are a guy. Basic cuts start at 1,500 Yen. If you are asked for a shampoo or anything else apart from a hair cut, expect to pay a bit more. Head/neck massage is free. The staff speak only a little English, so a photo of yourself with the haircut of choice is a good idea! Please write your name clearly in the book on your right as you enter. On busy days, you can expect to wait a few hours for a cut, as it’s very popular with the foreign community. USA Cuts is next to La Bodaguita on the corner. |
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| Uniqlo (http://www.uniqlo.com/ http://www.uniqlo.co.jp/english/index_f.html |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:48 am] |
This discount clothes chain is Japan’s biggest and most successful clothes company. This is mainly due to the cheap price and availability of larger sizes. Although many young Japanese people may scoff at the name, the clothes have a similar style to “Old Navy” or “H and M”.
It’s interesting to note that, amongst all the imitated and overpriced pap that many Japanese consider cool, Uni-Qlo is now venturing overseas (like London http://www.uniqlo.co.uk), and selling!
Uni-Qlo is near Skylark and Ito Yokado. |
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| “Uechu” Junior High (Uehasu Chugako). |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:47 am] |
A great, LARGE school, run by an easy-going Kocho-Sensei. There are some fairly good English teachers (although the confidence of a few is not very high). Expect to be given hardly any time to prepare for lessons! Be on the look out for Fujiki-Sensei, the Art teacher, who's English is perhaps better than the English teachers' and is a very cool person! Uehasu had a reputation for not inviting AETs to Enkais, but that should have changed, recently. Also, there is only one western toilet for the men, on the third floor at the furthest wing of the building (on the 1st graders' floor). Happy hunting! Uehasu is near marche/100 Yen superstore.
Its also just down the road from a JA Bank and a Save-On on the corner that has an English-language ATM. |
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| Treasure Box (0270-406-485) |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:45 am] |
This is a grown man-child's wet dream come true. Second hand/used collectors’ toys, movie memorabilia, foreign/Japanese films and CDs, old and new videogame consoles, videogames, peripherals, air-guns, replica guns, bb-guns, electric guitars, model kits, porn, comics, books, electrical appliances, fishing gear, imported toys and much, MUCH more! Most people are simply amazed by the sheer volume of stuff here, if nothing else. It is possible to lose yourself amongst the stock!
Treasure Box is the English name for the place. They buy AND sell second hand collectors’ stuff, including any old toys or free collectible figures that you get with Coca-Cola bottles, gumball machines etc. Definitely worth at least one look.
Treasure Box is situated right next to the huge game centre with a rainbow on the front and just down the road from the London Bus Café-Bar on the opposite side of the road. |
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| Toys R Us (http://www.toysrus.co.jp/truj/english/stores/kanto/st_isesaki.html) |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:44 am] |
This one is just like any other branch around the world. It has loads of toys, and at a cheap price. Toys r Us Japan seems to do more exclusive toys than its International counterparts, but don't expect them to stay on the shelves for long (a limited edition Transformer toy had a shelf life of half an hour before it was sold out!)
Worth a look, if you are bored and situated on the way to Movix and Club Luv (so you can get an early workout). |
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| Too Cute - Restaurant and Bar (Tel: 0270 21 0014. http://www.toocute.co.jp/h_data/isesaki.html) |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:36 am] |
This attractively styled chain restaurant (there are a few in Gunma) deals specifically in “Tex-Mex”-style food. Non-authentic, and slightly over-priced(there is a seating charge), the Isesaki site is large and boasts lots a large video wall(playing hits from around the world) plus lots of miss-spelt quotes from western films (check out the "you will know my name is the Lord" speech from Quentin Tarrentino's "Pulp Fiction", it's a classic).
Too Cute is opposite Club Luv and can be the perfect partner for an expensive night out.
(TOO CUTE!2160 miyako-cho isesaki-shi GUNMA
open/11:30am, close/next day 5:00am, always open, seating charge: 260 yen per seat) |
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| Toilets |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:35 am] |
If you have to use them, don't despair. Simply squat down and face the pipes. Grab hold and let it flow! If you are in a small cubicle, you could try bracing your arms/hands on the walls surrounding you. If you are REALLY scared of getting anything in your lower garments, you could take them off before business begins. However, getting anything in them will be hard, so don't worry!
Most Convenience stores, restaurants, hospitals and your apartment are fitted with at least one western-style toilet, although most of the smaller train stations (like Isesaki) are not. |
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| Takasaki Station. |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:35 am] |
30 minutes from Isesaki by train, and you’re there! Takasaki is a hell of a lot larger than Maebashi. The locals are decidedly more street-wise and trendy/attractive than their cousins in Maebashi and Isesaki, so expect a lot more Yakuza and people with attitude. That said most people will still be friendly like in any part of Japan.
Takasaki, like many Japanese train stations, was designed to get customers to the in-built shopping mall that is right next to the station.
Leaving from one of the main exits (South, East or West) will get you to the shopping centre, where ladies can buy all manner of great clothes, and the men can see all manner of great ladies. Takasaki has its own Star Bucks, McDonalds and just about any other place you would like to visit. Here are some places of Interest:
- “Black Church”. A very popular club with the locals, where you can watch little Japanese boys and girls repeating dance moves and attitude that they learnt on MTV. However, its small, crowded and there is only ONE toilet for Boys and girls to use (although it has one latrine and one western style toilet for the ladies).
- “Star Bucks”. Situated in the first floor of the shopping centre next to the station.
- McDonalds. If you leave the correct exit, you’ll see this on the corner in front of on the road.
- “I Love You”. Part of a small complex, this Internet café can be joined for a few thousand Yen. Once you have, you can log on and surf for ages, with free, 24 hr soft drinks, toiletries, and peace. Some Japanese and Gaijin use Internet cafes to sleep when they can’t find any hotels for the night. “I Love You” has branches everywhere, but Takasaki is the nearest (the ones in Maebashi take ages to walk to). To get there, take the correct exit and walk past the big picture of Brad Pitt until you see it. |
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| Takara - Brazilian Restaurant |
[Aug. 21st, 2003|09:29 am] |
Although not its real name, this place has the biggest words of Takara on the front, hence the name has stuck with us JETs. This newly refurbished building, hosts a church, nightclub, restaurant AND supermarket.
Situated on “Hon-Machi-Dori” (Route 2), Takara is the ultimate greasy spoon in Isesaki (its nearest rival, the Peruvian "La Bodahagita" is on the other side of town). Able to serve all manner of fried/grilled/roasted meats in a sandwich bun or roll OR serve you with a bloody huge meat feast (plus free, all you can eat salad and rice meal additions), this place is great for that hangover that won't go away.
Many of the patrons are from Brazil and some come from Peru and Mexico. You will also see many familiar faces from Mets Club there on a Sunday morning and afternoon, chilling out drinking beer and perhaps eating the great spit-roasted chickens only on a Sunday. Vegetarians, beware.
They also give you mayonnaise with your chips/fries, unlike that bloody McDonalds down the road. |
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| Supervisor |
[Aug. 20th, 2003|11:36 am] |
In general, AET supervisors are very busy people. Not only do they have to look after you, but in most cases, they have to look after lots of other matters/people too.
( general info on Supervisors ) |
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| Subaru |
[Aug. 20th, 2003|11:32 am] |
World-renowned car manufacturer, Subaru, has either its main offices here, or it was founded here. What IS known is that some of the famous Subaru rally cars were designed/manufactured here. Subaru, it seems, has some sort of history in Isesaki.
Read a report in a top UK car magazine:
http://www.evo.co.uk/t/details/news-ae/peterlyon-1622003/id37354/story.htm
UPDATE: The Old Subaru Centre in Isesaki has been closed down. the new centre is in Ota, about 30 mins from Isesaki. Take the Tobu line train from Shin Isesaki and then go out the station, turn right and walk about 400 meters. Its easy to see (so we are told). |
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| Subhi - Indian Restaurant |
[Aug. 20th, 2003|11:29 am] |
(Phone/fax 0270 22 0906, mob: 090-8596-3576, email: bist-subhi.anand@docomo.ne.jp, web: http://www.0270.net/220906/index2.htm).
A fine Indian restaurant located on Hon Machi Dori (Isesaki's main road). It's on the right hand side of the road, just past the "7-11" and the "Fuji-Mart". The staff speak fairly good English and the menu (also online) is in English. A dinner set menu is about \1000. Starters start at \300. Lunch menu starts from 500 Yen. A great place. |
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| Shin-Isesaki Station |
[Aug. 20th, 2003|11:11 am] |
http://hisaai.tripod.co.jp/Tobu/01_s_eg.html
http://user.tninet.se/~bvl648v/tobu.htm
This small station will take you all the way to Asakusa, the very famous Shrine district of Tokyo. You can also go to Isesaki station, but you will have to change trains once you are there. This is because different train companies run the routes to different places.
If you want to go to most areas of Tokyo, you can either change at “Kita Senju” station and change onto the “Hibiya” (tube/underground) line, or go all the way to Asakusa and change there.
It takes about 2 hours on the Tobu limited express, but you could take the Shinkansen (“Bullet Train”) from Takasaki station (see “Isesaki Station”)
Shin-Isesaki station is near the “Beisia”, ”Church” and “Keitai shop”. |
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| Seiyu (http://www.seiyu.co.jp/business/english/company_e/) |
[Aug. 20th, 2003|11:07 am] |
Reputedly Japans’ most popular department store company, Seiyu is found just down the road from the Beisia. A little run-down looking, but perfectly adequate; it’s worth a look if you have time on your hands and are bored with the Beisia. |
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| School Guides (http://www.center.gsn.ed.jp/center/english/) |
[Aug. 20th, 2003|11:03 am] |
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There are many schools in Isesaki. Giving an in-depth guide would take absolutely ages to complete. However, hopefully by the time you read this, some or many will have been entered briefly. By the way "chu" means Junior High, "Sho" means Elementary, and "Koko" means Senior High(as an ending, its "koto", though); followed by "gako". Therefore "Ichu (gako)" is "First Junior High School (in Isesaki). |
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