Annual Car Checkup/Service

Reader's question: "What's the round sticker on my car windscreen with a date on it? Shaken?"

Nope. Shaken is the square one in the middle. The round one is the 12ヶ月点検整備 (12 kagetsu tenkenseibi) - annual check and repair (shaken is every 2 years, or 3 from new).

Read on for what to do about it.

The Wipe: That Picture in the Corner on TV

Double wipe action!

You've probably joked with your friends about that absurd little picture in the corner of the screen during Japanese TV variety shows. You know, the one filled up with some mug of some celebrity whose name you don't know but whose face you're sure you've seen on just about every TV show ever?

That little picture has a name, and it's called the ワイプ ("wipe").

WS: Eigo Noto 2: Jobs (Elementary)

Lesson 9 of the elementary school textbook Eigo Noto 2 teaches the overly complicated "What do you want to be/I want to be..."

This is way too difficult for 6th graders, and most teachers I know only teach the job names and "I want to be...".

This is best taught over two lessons, as Eigo Noto 2 teaches 16 new words in this one page. Here is my lesson plan:

Banking in Japan #9: Investing

For our final banking-related segment, let's look at DIY investing.

Claiming Unemployment Benefit in Japan

You may not be aware that it is possible to claim unemployment benefit for up to three months in Japan.

Here's an overview:

Q&A: At Least ALTs Do Work in Korea

Typical 2channel ALT thread banter:

"JETs are a waste of tax money; they can even invite their spouses to live with them tax-free and then our tax money pays for medical care when the spouse gets sick...

WS: "Cluedo"/"Clue". All Ages (Past Tense)

You're probably pretty familiar with this game ("Mr Green did it in the Ballroom with the Rope").

I've been thinking for what seems like (and actually has been) years about how to make this into a TEFL activity, and I think I've finally cracked it.

Banking in Japan #8: International Money Transfers

Getting your money from place to place in Japan is one thing, but what about getting money to and from home? Lucky for you the laws have changed for the better in recent years and there are multiple options available.

AccessJ Recommends: JLPT N3 Textbooks

JLPT N3 is the exciting level.

Things will make sense!


You'll walk past 7/11, glace at a sign and have to do a double-take because you know what it says. You'll open mail and think about who you can get to translate it before slapping yourself in the face and doing it yourself.

All this is only possible with the right resources, however, so here are our (well, my) recommendations.

Q&A: Are ALTs Really Necessary?

For two years an anonymous Japanese female kept meticulous blog reports of the ALT(s) living in the apartment above her. Most of them are inflammatory. But whether you think that the blogger's entries are just over-the-top rage explosions (and they are), or that the ALTs she writes about have just made poor choices of action (and they have), this blog is a prime example of the negative image ALTs and foreigners in Japan garner.

Without further ado:

WS: "Did you... yesterday?" v2 JHS 1st G

Here's another activity to use for "Did you..." if you've already made use of our other worksheet.

Banking in Japan #7: Domestic Money Transfers

There are three main ways of transferring cash, all of which rely on automated inter-bank networks. That's not to say that cheques (kogitte 小切手) don't exist, they are just very seldom used outside of specialized business transactions.

Changes to the Alien Registration/Gaijin Card

You may already have heard that the Gaijin Card system is being overhauled.

What does this mean for you?

AccessJ's Nihongo So-Matome Anki Decks

Following the success of our JLPT Anki decks, here are some covering the entire N3 series of books in the Nihongo So-Matome series.

Q&A: Facts About Runaways

Remember when Q&A introduced a latent, once media-frenzied issue of teen country girls running away from home and going to live in the city? And you thought, "Yeah, that's not for real."? And so did one of the helpful answer people in the original thread? Well, you're probably right. But according to some random, very unscientific Internet survey with a questionable sample, there's still a less dramatic basis for these stories.

WS: What time is it now?

Time is a popular subject in both Junior High and elementary school. 

Here are a few games and activities which could come in useful for this topic. 

Finding the Best Price - Comparison Shopping Online

When it comes to shopping, a little research goes a long way. And Japan is no exception. Whether it be auto insurance or toilet paper, there are several good resources avaliable for the thrifty shopper looking to compare.

Hina Matsuri 雛祭り

Any recent visitors to a department store must have noticed the impressive and often terrifyingly expensive doll displays. If, like me, you were wondering what on earth they were, read on...