Updates, D&D and Ask me a question

**Remember to ask a question if you have one in the comments section.**

This one rambles a bit, but I hope you enjoy my digressions.

Info about author Alex Kerr and his books:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Kerr

Look for the new (and possibly last) iJapan vid to be posted by the end of the week and the Dogs & Demons vids should start next week.

Any other movie besides Avatar that you're excited about seeing this month?

Thanks for watching!
-Jason

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[YokosukaPatrick]

You sure like raising that book up to the camera. I would have to say that my biggest gripe of living in Japan (for the last 5 months) would have to be the hardships of making friends. Sure, the language is an obstacle, but most people seem to intentionally avoid gaijins. That's the vibe I get where I live, but people are just starting to warm up to me. I didn't start meeting my neighbors until 3 months after moving into my apartment. Question: By the way, what happened to Noah's Ark?

[myargonauts]

Noah's ark got covered up by the posters you now see behind me.

[crocodile200]

Haruki Murakami ; Dance, Dance, Dance. Is well worth a read, as are most of his other books, but his books are exceptional. " Generally" speaking though Japanese novels aren't that good, and are full of elaborate imagery and over flowery language. Ok if you like that kind of thing, but because of this highly stylised tradition it mainly caters for a very specific taste. Most modern Japanese authors seem to be cheap Murakimi imitators. Please correct me if you know any other good writers.

[myargonauts]

in my #2 answers video (just posted) I mention some other authors I enjoy and give some links in the sidebar

[myargonauts]

OK - It's 6pm PST on Sat and I just printed the 66 comments below and will be filming my response vid later tonight.

Thanks!

-Jason

[ZlatkoGoldman]

Hey, Can you just clarify how the school year works in Japan? Are there semesters, specifically? I understand the school year officially begins in June?

Thanks Jason!

P.S. Do they celebrate Christmas at all and do you have Christmas Day off? :)

[myargonauts]

The Japanese school year starts in April (usually around the 8th or 9th) and continues until March the following year.

Most schools follow a 3 term system, with first term (ichi gakki) being from April to July, then summer break (5 weeks) then 2nd term from Aug to Dec, then winter break and then 3rd term from Jan to March. There is a two week spring break before the start of the new school year.

Xmas day is just a regular day - I usually just worked. Xmas eve is a big "date night" in Japan.

[Tenraiden]

Hope this is not too late to make it into your next videos, but my question would have to be; what're the, say, 3, most positive, and the 3 most negative, differences that immediately strike you when comparing living in Japan with living in America?

Thanks!

[Kane98969]

Yes, don't listen to the people making negative comments about Japan. Of course there are good and bad parts of every culture, but why dwell on the negative?

[MTassarion]

damnit :P i thought Dungeons & Dragons hahaha..

[cornelioushuxtable]

Hi, Jason fellow San Diegan here. Since this is a question blog, a couple questions..

1) when in Diego what restaurants remind you of Japan- Tajima, Sakura, Masa, sushi Ota..Wa Okan dining.. or do you actually prefer Western food? (curious how these places compare to japan Japanese)

2)how long is the flight from So Cal, really- and how bad is it? How do you "deal" the longest I ever spent on a plane is 6 hours

Thanks

[Saitoko7]

There's plenty of negative trash talk out there already about Japan. It seems to be the cool new thing to do, sadly. It's nice that you're not one of those who buys into that attitude! I have found that for any negatives that pop up from time to time about living here, there are so many more positives that always make it rewarding and worth staying positive about! :) Great job as always, Jason!