Job Discussion Forums

kellicopter · Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 1

Hi

Im coming to japan in a few months.Due to the application procedures I need to decide where i want to live now.I lived in Taiwan for a few years and stayed in big cities ( Taipei and Kaohsiung)-- Although I enjoyed these experiences, this time Im looking for a smaller, more "spacious" place. I dont mind rural areas as long as they are close( 1-2 hrs) to a 'big' city.
So far I have narrowed my search down to Shikoku Island, Tokushima in particular.

Can anyone give me some comments\ideas about Shikoku.
If you have any other advice on where to live I would really appreciate it
Thanks
Kelly : Smile

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I like Shikoku, it's a quiet place. Tokushima is a nice city, I've been there a few times. I've also heard Matsuyama is a good city (the biggest on the island). I live in Takamatsu and really enjoy it here, has everything I need and it's an easy 4 hr boat ride away from Kobe, if I want to go to a big city (or 3 hour bus to Osaka). There's more of a natural surrounding than many other parts of Japan and traffic is never all that bad, even on long weekends.

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

is the bus from Kobe to Takamatsu faster than the ferry?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I'm sure the bus is faster, but the ferry is more fun and relaxing, especially with kids. Just relax on the floor and have a picnic and it's only 1700 yen each way.

nomadder · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2003 3:11 am Post subject:

Any idea why there are so many job posting for Shikoku these days? They seem to make up the bulk of them here. Wondering why as there are so many other places in Japan that could be looking for teachers. Is it growing alot?

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

Gordon, how long does the ferry take to Kobe?

I went to Tokushima in January, and I will go to Kagawa Ken next month.
I thought Tokushima was the real Japan. In Tokyo, life is just about work, money, and shopping. Tokushima is real and Tokyo seems fake.

I think that many foreign people think that life in Tokyo is the way Japanese culture is but it isn`t true. Japan is very regional, and there may be as many dialects as there are in Britain.

What was strange was how slow and quiet Tokushima ken felt. Tokyo doesn`t ever slow down.

Let me give you an example. My girlfriend`s brother-in-law is a doctor in Tokushima shi. He used to work in Osaka for years but he felt that he was in the rat race and at the Osaka hospital he used to really get grumpy.
He decided to move to Tokushima. He prefers to work there, He works hard but he is not stressed out. He prefers Tokushima.

In Tokushima I felt that the people were proud of their culture in a positive way. By that, I mean the Awa Odori, puppet theater, pottery, etc.
I was really impressed with traditional music (shamisen, drums, and flute).

I don`t think I would like to live in Shikoku, but I think it is a good place for a vacation. I prefer medium sized cities.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

The Jumbo ferry from Takamatsu to Kobe takes 4 hours and is 1700 yen each way.

I also like the feel of Tokushima. It almost has a European feel to it (I shudder at the comparison).

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I was in Ehime Ken for the JET program a few years ago and love Shikoku.

If you don't have a compelling reason to be in a large city, then Shikoku's small cities, such as Matsuyama, Uwajima, Kochi, Takamatsu, are wonderful. I understand where Brooks' girlfriends bro in law is coming from - I'm living in Chiba Ken, working in Tokyo and going slightly mental with the fast pace of life, pushiness of Tokyo train passengers, mad rush at the schools to get the kids into big universities.

I'm guessing that fewer foreigners want to live on Shikoku because the big cities, like Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka get hyped more. That's probably one reason why there are so many more jobs available there.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Another possible reason for the seeming high number of job postings for Shikoku, is that there are few foreigners living here. When someone leaves, there is no one to replace them, so the employer must look overseas. Referrals would not occur as frequently here.

One school I know in Takamatsu advertises here every month or so and should be avoided like the plague. They have an illegal inclusion in their contract that states that if a teacher leaves before the end of their one year contract, they have to pay the school 1,000,000 yen! No wonder no one will work for them.