misorano

OK I'm with you now. You could call it the "Yamakashi GyakuDeliHealth and Good time Emporium". A few of the studlier members of this forum may be keen for extra ski money. Big Will (He's big ladies) might be keen.

Gams: You forgot the good ole Reentry stamps all us lucky gaijin have to get to get back into Japan. Indo: As far as I know bank fees are tax deductable (keihi). I asked my wife about it (she does our books) and she gave me the "Zeikin Dakara" line. More I think about about it, it does seem a bit stupid.

Not meaning to be Bill Clinton, but aren't the "Pink Salons" more of a trip downtown, rather than a full on shagging service. My understanding is: Pink = lollipop time Health = Everything But Soap = The works

Opps! Maybe the NZ accent.

Sakebomb: What's your success rate like with the direct approach? Back when I was a young'un I found the yes/no type questions we no good (too easy to say no). Needed to be a little more subtle: NO GOOD: Shall we go to a love hotel? GOOD: Which Love hotel shall we go to?

Look at your watch and give a "chotto...sumimasen" like you have to be somewhere, and they should take the hint.

Yama: Do you mean a place where the women are serviced and not the servicers? Not a pleasant thought.

No hagiki in the mail today. Looks like a big batsu.

Hi Indo, How things? I don't think it is the purchaser that is the prob. It's the tax system. If they pay by wire transfer then there is a paper trail and they don't need a receipt. But if the pay in cash on the spot then they need a receipt. Receipts over 3man without a inshi on them are not valid when you do you taxes at the end of the year. Bank charges usually run from free (within the same branch or the same bank) up to 600 odd yen.

If you are working a bit like this then you may also want to start collecting receipts also to claim on your tax. Make sure you get as general as possible product info on the receipt. You can usually relate it back to your work somehow. Oh, and start taking business trips. Everywhere you go out of town becomes a business trip.

You don't want to get started on taxes mate. It's a bloody nightmare. It's just the same as the tax on reentry stamps. Only way I rationalize it that if I'm invoicing for more than 3man then I'm getting a good profit out of it anyway.

Hi Ug: He's right! All invoices over 30,000yen require a 200yen revenue stamp (inshi) on them. The person issuing the receipt has to provide the inshi. It is just another tax (inshizei). What we've started doing is accepting stamps and inshi as payment for small invoices we send (under 1,500yen), as the bank fees are so expensive.

Don't Japanese men have one of the lowest testerone levels in the world? Also sleeping with your children is pretty standard in Japan. We all sleep in one room (all 6 of us). But this is mostly to keep the heating costs down. In summer we only sleep with the 2 little ones.

Gams: How about this one: Not too many Japanese know it, but for some reason I've found it really easy to remember.

You'll be landing at CTS.

Domino: It's a blowfish. We must all be eating someting different. I've had it a few times (Sashimi) and it's great. Seemed a bit sweeter than other Sashimi. The Sashimi and Sushi in Nagano is a bit of a let down. Too far from the ports. Have to make a day trip up to Itoigawa for a good feed of Sushi

Kumamoto has real good Horse meat.

347yen for a can of Campbells Clam Chowder from A-Coop.(good for 3 lunches) 200yen or so for a loaf for french bread to dip in chowder. OR 800yen for the monster burger at Gusto.

O11: So, how do you like your human? BBQ style, fried, or smoked on the bone?

Unless you know the people well the weddings are boring as hell. The Japanese love having "kandou" momments, but every weeding seems to be exactly the same. 3-4 entrances and garment changes, fake cakes, candlelight sevice etc. One little trick I've learned is that they only use the bubbly for the inital Kampai, then most people switch to beer. There's usually 20-30 half full champaign bottles around the outside. If you a subtle you can spend the whole wedding drinking the good stuff. (Got to get in before the waitresses clean up though.)

INDO: Sounds like one stingy bugger. Once had to go up to Kyoto for a wedding. Got to the check in and handed over my 20,000yen, and then got an envelope back with 30,000yen as travel money. Nice suprise (sure had a long night that night). I have to give a speech at a wedding in Fukuoka this month. Not too sure on the protcol there. Best weddings: Early Kampai's so you can drink through the speeches. Worst Wedding: Anally retentive matchmaker wedings.

Veronica: Pretty standard rates. Big cities are prob a bit more. I disagree with Indo though. If you're gonna go, then pay the money. If not, then turn down the invitation. In most cases the bride/groom (family) are charged per guest, so if you don't pay, then it comes out of their pocket.

Brit Gob: I pay usually 20,000yen for an aquaintance, 30,000yen for a close friend, 50,000yen for a relative (not too many of them thank god). Worst is probably your employees, as you have to dump a truckload there. Oh, and there is usally another 5,000-10,000yen req'd for the after wedding funcation.

Results come out on Sat. Fingers crossed

Opps. Chose 2 sea pigs Isn't one of them supposed to be 蛸? How'd I do?