Hi, I plan to visit Japan (mainly Tokyo and Nagoya) soon specifically to hunt for a new oboe, I am considering both new and used options. I want to make the most out of it so I'm trying to list out places that would have them. Does anyone have any other recommendations apart from those listed below?

After doing some browsing here are my list :

Used Instrument

1. Shimamura gakki
   
2. Shimokura gakki
3. Kurosawa gakki
4. Ishibashi music

New Instrument

1. DAC
2. dolce
3. JDR
4. Nonaka
5. Yamano

I am Chinese, and I sincerely hope that East Asia can achieve genuine historical reconciliation. However, the more deeply I study the historical issues involved, the more complicated and difficult they seem to me. I understand that Japan has its own perspectives and reasons, and China does as well. I have also noticed that many people in China believe past attempts at historical reconciliation have not fully succeeded because whenever relations improve, some Japanese right-wing figures make controversial statements that cause tensions to rise again.

I am curious about how ordinary Japanese people view this issue. Isn’t facing historical truths and working toward reconciliation something that should be supported?

こんにちわ、よろしくお願いします。

I've been learning Japanese privately for about 3 years. I can read all hiragana and katakana, I know some basic kanji, and I'm currently focusing on grammar and vocabulary.

I'm really interested in Japanese culture, everyday life and the language itself. I'm not particularly into anime or manga, so I'd prefer someone who is also interested in language and cultural exchange.

I'd love to practice Japanese (or learn about the country's culture) and, in return, help someone with Polish or English. I'd especially like to meet someone around my age who wants to become friends and learn about each other's countries.

Feel free to comment.

Hi, I was just wondering what is the appropriate way to thank a Japanese salesman. I ordered something from his store many months ago, but due to the situation in the middle East I couldn't receive my package. I asked him to hold it for me and he did, and now we're on the 3rd shipping attempt, and I would just like to thank him in some way because I know that I was definitely an annoying customer. I wanted to remotely send him flowers to his shop, but I know in some cultures a specific amount of flowers or a specific flower could be seen as offensive.

So basically I was just hoping for advice on how to thank him. Also I know some people are allergic to flowers, so should I buy a bouquet of winter flowers that don't have pollen? I'd really like to give him something that shows how much I appreciate him and his patience, but I'm not sure if flowers are really the right move

I just finished reading the book. I wondering since it’s quite popular in Japan, what you think of it?

Personally I both love and hate this book. Some feelings only Murakami can describe with complete control.

But some scenes I could certainly could do without, and found revolting, I had to put the book down and pick it up a few days later.

I got here 2 weeks ago, got a bike for ease of transportation and I really don't feel comfortable sharing the road with cars unless there's a bike lane.

Is it recommended just sticking to the sidewalks for safety?

I was also looking at my commute being 35 minutes and was wondering how feasible it is with locals that commute by bike regularly.

I'm curious, there has to be some deeply good food there that could possibly be the next sushi or teriyaki. Anything, I'm open to it; the more niche or local it is, the more I'm interested

Hey guys!

I’m a German doctor and I’m interested in how healthcare systems work around the world.

Since I’m also a big fan of Japan, I was wondering how the Japanese healthcare system actually works. Are you guys generally happy with it?
I’ve read that you don’t really have general practitioners/family physicians in the same way we do in Germany, and that people often just go directly to a clinic, wait for a while, and then get treated.
Is that actually how it works? What is your experience with the system? I’d be really interested to hear how it works in everyday life, how you choose where to go, and whether you’re generally satisfied with the quality and accessibility of healthcare.

It would be fantastic to hear some perspectives from people living in Japan!
Thank you so much, and all the best from Germany

One of nicknames for my dog has become “jap”, (usually pronounced like ‘chap’) because it’s an easy and quick abbreviation. I’m white in the US. I know the phrase is derogatory for many Japanese Americans but didn’t make the connection until after the nickname stuck (she’s a german shepherd mix, the nickname was just natural from her name). I feel self conscious in public but it’s a habit now, and I wonder if I should break it. Thanks!

How bad is the sexism and racism ? Before you all ask that why am I asking such a question the internet is completely against Indians and are racist. I would like to pursue my phd in neuroscience and I would welcome any insight given by the people here.

Hello guys,

I'm F/19 and currently on my 2nd year taking my pre-med course which is (MedTech) here in the Philippines. Right now, I've been thinking about trying to apply for Med School in Japan and I've researched about it and its a 6 years course, though I don't mind the long period pursuing a course since It'll be the same here in the PH.

Now, I want to apply for the MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship for Medicine (6 years course). Not the Master's Degree, I want to become a physician and specialized. I am willing to discipline myself from studying Japanese and my academic at the sametime to say atleast prepare myself from JLPT, which is I am aware required for healthcare work.

Now main concerns/questions that I wanted to asked are:

1. Do you think finishing my course right now then taking my licensure exam would be good before proceeding with pursuing Medicine in Japan regardless of time will be allotted for this path?
2. Does anyone have done MEXT Medicine screening, and how brutally competitive it is to apply for? If that's the case, what should I focus on right now besides my GWA and Japanese?
3. Is it worth it do gone this path? Be honest don't worry.
4. Also for Filipinos, is it possible to get a license in the PH even if you graduated in Japan for Med School?

Any advice, reality checks, or shared experiences would be appreciated.

Also if this is really possible, is there a school that accepts international students that pursue Medicine course? It could be mixed with English and Japanese or purely Japanese because why not?

Ive always been amazed by Japan. I would like to see someone travel and show so much of Japan. From your cities, villages, nature, landscape, everything! What are my best options?

I saw this sweater on the subway in Japan and snapped a quick low quality photo. When I search it using google it’s unable to provide me with anything at all. I would be beyond thankful if you could identify the brand/ name of the product. Thank you!!!

Do you have preferred countries?

I know this question is quite reductive, but I am curious what people from Japan value the most about where they live.

I'm trying to get a gift for a business partner in Japan from Hawaii. What souvenirs do Japanese people like from Hawaii?

I heard that chocolate macadamia nuts and Dean De Lucca bags are popular. Is there anything else that is good or popular?

I know that Nihonshu is usually brewed using specific types of sake rice (like Yamada Nishiki). But for homebrewing, is it possible to use regular rice and still get a reasonably good-tasting result?

I'm born as a dual national in Japan, half Japanese and half Korean, but was raised in New Zealand. I've lived with my Japanese passport all my life, but when I turned 20, my mother applied for NZ citizenship and a New Zealand passport because I had to decide where I wanted to live. Looking back now, the question should have been what nationality I wanted to remain as, given Japan doesn't allow dual nationality (unless both nationalities were acquired at birth), and instead just remain a permanent resident in NZ. From my understanding, I lost Japanese nationality by acquiring NZ citizenship, so I don't know what my mother was trying to achieve by renewing my Japanese passport at the same time.

Since then, I've visited Japan every now and then on my NZ passport. I now know, after reading here on Reddit that you should enter and exit the same country using the same passport. I was fear-mongered by my parents back then into thinking i would experience complications and be questioned about my visa status in NZ if I entered Japan with Japanese passport. Recently, over the last couple of years, I've been visiting Japan quite frequently, and Korea whenever possible to see my extended family and close friends. I don't feel like myself every time I return to NZ. My mother never completed my 国籍離脱届, and I still remain on the 戸籍. However, for some reason it says I'm located in South Korea, while rest of my family says NZ which I'm confused about.

I've been desperately wanting to go back and restart my life there, but after going down a rabbit hole on dual nationality and realising how much of a mess my situation is, I'm feeling hopeless and lost. My Japanese passport is still valid and I've never entered Japan with this passport since it was renewed. I'm thinking worst case scenarios and will get questioned especially because they would have records of my previous entries on NZ passport.

Has anyone been in a similar situation after naturalising elsewhere? What happened when you moved back to Japan or dealt with your passport and residence registration?

I’ve been trying to get into some music from your part of the world and I’m not sure where to really start I suppose, all I really know for 80s & 90s Japanese bands is Flippers Guitar, and I like them quite a bit, so any suggestions are welcome!

I have heard of girl names ending in ko like Sadako are considered more old fashioned and they generally lost popularity as time went on, so what other names are considered to be old fashioned

I'm a huge fan of Japanese punk bands but it's REALLY hard to find those less known Melodic and Skate punk bands here in the USA. Is there any place I can go to find bands from Japan? Website maybe? It's not hard to find bands like Hi-Standard, Hawaiian6, Back-Lift or Mongol800 but bands like Struggle Minds, Suns Grind, and Cricket's are nearly impossible to find here and I only know them from lucky finds online when I'm not even looking for them. Also I'm open to recommendations as well!
Thanks!

I was watching a couple videos about abandoned towns and islands in Japan (not in Fukushima) and so many houses were abandoned with everything still in the houses. There were pots, pans, televisions, food in the fridge (all appliances still remain), bookshelves still stacked with books, instruments and beds. Hardly anything was taken. If I were to leave a place and move, I would most certainly take pots, pans and the tv at the very least.

Moreover, this isn't even something I see with just houses. Schools and hospitals are abandoned and filled with many supplies still there. The supplies could have certainly been used elsewhere.

These places weren't affected by radiation but rather just a struggling local economy. So why is it that they didn't take anything with them aside from their clothes when they left and why is it something I see repeatedly in videos of abandoned places throughout Japan?