Dean

AS O11 said if you tense the muscles dont allow the needle in and out cleanly, hency the soreness. If you get it in the arm, try not to tense up your wrist, it helps. (Goes the same for blood tests too) Oh sorry for the ones livng overseas and planning on going to Japn, you can ask your doctor which strain you need to be protected against and can order you some stuff in.

Was my local for the last 3 years and can only agree with all thats been said. Ski Patrol are Nazi's so watch for them. They have it in for us too as we were some of the only ones going off piste. Check the website for the snowdepth updates. If you can a lucky day (we had lots last year) we had beautiful waist deep pow and deeper in some places. But dont stay a week, you will get bored.

What I want to know 2 pints.......... Where did you find all that info about names. Quite an impressive list.

Actually quite a few things from Uniqlo are made in Japan. Although recently more and more is being made in China. the stuff made in the sweatshops for Japan is better than the stuff made in the sweatshops for Australia!!!! The clothes made in China for Oz are crap! Actually I have found since moving away, general food (taking out the obvious exceptions) is as cheap or cheaper than Oz. Things like chicken and pork I have found here $$$$$$. I was definitely eating cheaper in Japan than back here. Going out.......well thats a different story. As for the snow, Japan is pretty good agai

Yamakashi any chance of you becomming a pro bunny chaser??

Apologies if it has been done before!

Something other than are you in Japan or are you a skier or boarder. So I will start if people are willing to put some info up. Time will tell: Financial/Investment advisor

Have to get my head into those Japanese textbooks again. Although cant think of when I will actually use it!

How about a sloth?? Sleep almost all day and have a tendancy to just let go and drop to the ground when they need to get out of a tree.

O11 I suppose its a case of the 'bigger man' thing eh? I dont get offended so to speak, just shake my head and roll with it. Like someone said before you just take the good with the bad. I just wonder if there will ever be an 'education' of the true meaning of the word, even though it is not usually used to offend. Maybe except in FT case

I agree that there are many things in English we dont think about when we use. For example Australians calling English people 'POMS' I dont use it anymore because some of my English friends get offended. But surely it should be pointed out just how offensive it is a word to use to describe people. If I went around in Oz calling people Japs or something similar, I could be taken to court.

I agree they are the place to go in Osaka. Take a look at the sports professionals (I think) in namba parks when they have their gear out. At the end of the season they have big sizes for huge discounts. i picked up a 40 000 yen jacket for 7000. Same deal with pants.

easy..... when she farts cup your hand over her ass and bring it up to her nose and see if it wakes her up. If it doesnt, then burn a candle every night to absorb the methane.

Cant ask for much more than that!!!! What a nice guy! Helping out a fellow 'gaijin'

I am in Perth now. have to stay here a couple of years but planning on trying to find a job in Vancouver. Its my favourite city in the world. So other than going to the east coast for the most expensive skiing in the world, the next nearest option for me now is NZ.

I have a mate who is an airline pilot and the crews have contests to see who can nick the biggest thing from their room. Among those items I have heard of room pot plants and a full size ironing board!

Did anyone buy him a donught ring to sit on for a day or 2??

I HATE people I dont know saying gaijin blah blah. It is so offensive. Like FT said, we dont go round saying Japs blah. My friends and I call each other it but when strangers say it and bitch to your face assuming you cant understand............faaaarrrrkkkkk

Hi there, I lived actually in Fukuchiyama just up the road from you until about a month or so ago. I feel your pain not being able to get anything in inaka. There is a SMALL sports shop in Fukuchiyama that sells a tiny amount of ski stuff, but its better to go at the end of the season there for stuff as the guy there gives huge discounts. But other than that dont bother. (Its right near the train station) Other than that I suggest your next closest option is Mitsuhasi sports store in Kyoto. They have a big range of stuff and they have alot of last season skis that are not too ex

See you at Hachi Kita for some tree bashing!! Look for the Darth Vader mask

Anyone got any cheap suggestions of places to stay??

Great thanks, I just won a 6 pack. Pity you cant share them!!!! ROLL ON THE WEEKEND!!!!!!

not good snow day, and on the lifts my freinds said they dont worry about "closing the straps" when they store them, but I do...as I was told it was the best way to store them. Interested to see what everyone else does.

Im in Nagano this weekend but if you are up there next weekend, let us know

Well I get told I look like Tom Cruise so there!!!!!! I wish!!!!! I also had a student tell me I looked like Leo D'Caprio yesterday. I am the first to admit I look NOTHING like either of them. But then I also had half of my class convinced I was Mongolian and Asashyou (spelling) was my cousin........