Job Discussion Forums

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

Hi, coming to Japan in March and have just been told that Japanese toothpaste is awful and will rot my teeth away. Any truth in this? Is it worthwhile bringing a load? What with all the Marmite, condoms, contact lenses, deoderant & books, I am not sure there will be any room left for clothes...

Edit: Also, are hair clippers available in Japan? That sounds like it could be a stupid question but I wouldn't want to be without them so I'm asking just in case.

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

Hair clippers are available. Japanese toothpaste won't rot your teeth away, but it won't do much in the way of keeping other things from doing so. I found one good toothpaste brand - Aquafresh. Best to just ship yourself an adequate supply.

DoctorPayne · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:09 pm Post subject:

What is Marmite?

They don't have condoms in Japan?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Captain Onigiri · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 103 Location: fly-over land

I can't believe I've been on the forum long enough to get to refer someone to a thread that I know about but...
freakishly enough, the relatively obscure topic of Marmite was discussed not too long ago and the definition of marmite and the merits of its competitors were given therein. Enjoy.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=20473&highlight=marmite

Celeste · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 12:16 am Post subject:

Some toothpastes have fluoride, some don't. I do belive that a different fluoride compound is used here than that which is used in N. America. If youhave heard horror stories about Japanese teeth, they are true for the most part. Interestingly, in expensive neighborhoods that I work in, all of the kids (and their moms) have great teeth. My husband has some dental work and has to use toohtpaste for sensitive teeth, and while that is available here (and has fluoride in it) it is a bit pricey. It costs 1000yen a tube. Other toohtpastes with fluoride are about 300-500yen a tube.

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Japanese dental health is NOT due to the lack of good products, but due to the lack of concern on the parts of most Japanese about proper dental hygene. Perfectly good and helpful products can be found - albeit they may be more expensive than what you are used to paying.

WWA

Nismo · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 520

DoctorPayne · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:23 am Post subject:

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

Speaking of STDs - I once had to get blood drawn (no, not for an STD) and I was quite shocked that the staff taking blood at the hospital was not wearing latex gloves. Shocking. I thought that would be standard for healthcare professionals...

WWA

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Indeed, SOME toothpastes have fluoride, others do not. A Japanese friend of mine who works in a dental clinic showed me what to look for on the box when I'm buying toothpaste, in order to ensure that there is fluoride in it. It's not a given. I've also tried at least one Japanese toothpaste that was fluoridated and wasn't sugary-sweet.

Otherwise, Aqua Fresh is available in most drugstores, and Colgate is available in many import-shops.

Japan, from what my Japanese dental friend told me, still does not fluoridate the water supply like they do pretty much all over North America. I don't know to what extent that impacts the general condition of teeth in Japan, but it was interesting to note.

As far as STDs go... I think attitudes are slowly beginning to change. But for whatever reason, despite my Japanese co-workers' claims that YES, they do indeed have sex-education in public schools, the recent study that showed 25% of all 1st year high school girls nation-wide having chlamydia is undenyable and difficult to attribute to those "dirty gaijin."

P.S. DoctorPayne: Marmite is awful stuff -- it's a foul-tasting yeast-based sandwich spread generally consumed by Brits. It's much finer-tasting Australian cousin Vegemite, on the other hand, is a wonderful thing to put on toast with some butter, to be eaten for breakfast or before you go to bed after a long bender to prevent a hangover...

DoctorPayne · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:41 pm Post subject:

25% of 1st year highschool girls have chlamydia?!? That can't be true. Do you have that report or a link to it? I mean, that's outrageous.

DoctorPayne · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

JimDunlop2,

I just read a paper that might be where you got your info. But, be careful to read these reports carefully, because the one I read said that chlamydia was found in 25% of the teens that reported to or visited a STD clinic. That's not the same as saying that 25% of all teens have it, not even close.

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

Every single one of those Japanese schoolgirls was special to me in her own way as well......