Job Discussion Forums

Joannda · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 43 Location: Japan!

Ew! Ok, roaches are gross!!! They are the worst, we get them here in NZ too... I would very strongly suggest NOT to squash them, as one other poster also mentioned... Their eggs will keep, and soon you'll have about a million more baby-roaches crawling around the place, so I would not suggest the shoe-method as suggested by Gordon (Especially on tatami I would imagine... as you can't wipe up the mess properly, and many bugs will smell their dead/injured mates and come to their rescue! You don't want that!!).
I'm guessing roaches are much the same everywhere, although I know there are different types... In the end they are all gross! In NZ, because the climate is quite nice and warm for them, they like it here... I tend to use bug-spray to daze/kill them, then flush them down the toilet. If you are game, the catch and flush method also works well (although one of you suggested they could swim... I don't think NZ ones can, and it's quite satisfying watching them suffer!!! hahaha (evil laugh!).
Anyway, how big are Japanese roaches anyway? NZ ones tend to be about 5cm if they're grown.... but you can get smaller ones too (the big ones are black and yucky and why do they have to be so fast???!!!) Good luck with the roach hunting! I hope I won't get too many when I move to Japan!!!

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

Posted without any guarantees, but worked for me.

Mix:

500 grams boric acid (from the drugstore)
400 grams onion grated
150 grams flour
3 T milk
3 T sugar

into a paste and put into little rounds of tin foil, flat on the bottom, maybe 2-3 Tb in each. Put around under the refrigerator, tables, in corners. They eat it and the foaming kills them. They sort of dry up so there's no mess, just throw outside or in the garbage.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I use roach hotels. They work generally.
Roaches are bigger in Texas, and in Siberia there are far more, even in January. In Russia, the Chinese poison worked but after some time, the roaches seemed at least partially immune to it.

All in all, roaches in Japan aren`t bad by comparison. I notice them in the summer months, only.

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 12:34 pm Post subject:

Eat them first, before they eat you. An excellent source of protein I believe.

Wink

king kakipi · Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 353 Location: Australia

I don`t think it is a Japanese myth about squashing them and the eggs being e-jaculated; I heard the same `myth` in Australia (where they fly too Smile

) and I never squash them for that very reason. I spray, chase, spray again and eventually, and EVER so gingerly, scoop them onto some worthless paper (like a lesson plan) and deposit them in the bin (whilst swearing at them; I am sure they don`t understand me cos I swear in English and they are Japanese aren`t they (oh and dead Wink

))

nomadder · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 3:03 pm Post subject:

Before squashing check to see if they're male first. To do this you first need a manga. Open to questionable page and...He won't even see it coming. Mr. Green

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

The most amazing spray to kill is "Goki Jet". Keep a bottle handy at all times and enjoy the hunting. I've used cleaning products, hairspray and shoes. I've even burned one alive with the scalding water in my bathroom sink, but nothing kills faster than Goki Jet. It comes in a green can.

Nomadder, that was funny.

Celeste · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:52 pm Post subject:

Do you think the "don't squish them" rumour could have been started by a poison marketer? I am pro-squish and anti-poison. If you are really worried about them coming into your bedroom at night, pin some packing tape sticky side up around your door frame. I use sticky traps, tape, and obsessive compulsive kitchen and bathroom cleaning. When I first lived in Korea, my apartment was infested. It was horrific, but within a few months we had pretty much gotten rid of them. Here in Japan, I saw a few in the first 3 months I lived here, but apparently there are better pickings in someone elses apartment. If you are having problems, I would definitely recommend drain covers. Oh, and rent the movie called Joe's Apartment. THough maybe you won't have a sense of humour about it if your apartment is currently overrun.

Joannda · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 43 Location: Japan!

BlueSky · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 13 Location: FUKUOKA

Vacuum them up. You can remain a safe distance, there is no mess, you don't even have to see them dead, and the vacuum tube can usually fit into the smallest of cracks. You have to remember to tape up the vacuum though, and make sure you turn it on before using it the next time or they will jump out at you.

I can only remember having seen a roach in NZ once my entire life. Under the piano at school when I was in standard four. Even when I was a student living knee deep in unwashed dishes for weeks I can't remember having ever seen one.

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

I really shouldn't, but I'm going to gross everyone out here...

When I was living in Saitama my roommate and I were drinking one night and there was a roach on the kitchen counter. I am seriously phobic of them (I live in a guesthouse now and run out screaming like a girlie in search of a Strong Man when there is a roach in my room; not too often luckily), so my oh-so-funny roomie caught the roach in his hand and brought it over to me to watch me freak out. Anyway...

I dared him to eat it...

AND HE DID.

Errrrgggghhhhhhh!

To the OP -- get some really strong roach spray and cover your apt in it. I did that on the recommendation of a Japanese guy in my guesthouse (maybe he was sick of my clinging to his arm in terror), and it worked.

Good luck!

L