Job Discussion Forums

[coraminta]

Hi!

I have recently recived my placement from Peppy Kids Club. The city I have been placed in is called Komatsu City located in the Ishikawa Prefecture. The captial is Kanazawa. While I can get alot of information on Kanazawa, the only information that I can get about Komatsu is that they have a popuation of 100 000 (not to large eh?) and they appear to have an airforce base or at least host military airshows a few times a year. Komatsu doesn't ususally even appear on maps of Japan or sometimes even the prefecture.

This is my first trip to Japan and while I have enough Japanese to squeeze though I would like to know what I'm heading into. If anyone here has any information on this city it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot
Coraminta

[taikibansei]

[coraminta]

Thanks for the reply

Geographically it sounds great to me - kind of like a Vancouver type setting with WAY less people.

As to my Japanese language ablity - while I can carry on a basic conversation and get myself understood I havn't learned any Kanji really. Thus, I'm not literate. I suppose I'll pick it up along the way, or try and get involved with a community league or something that teaches Japanese as a second language.

Just a quick question - What are the living expenses like in the area? Lower/higher then more metropolitatn Japan? Also, what of the weather? I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - really cold winters for 6 and a half months of the year with the rest of the seasons smushed into the remaining 5 months. Just wanting to know if I need to bring a winter jacket with me or if I should actually go and invest in some more summer clothing.

Anyway thank you alot for your reply - I still havn't really been able to find out anything about this place through google.

Coraminta

[taikibansei]

Coraminta,

It's not as cold as Canada. However, do bring a winter jacket--especially if it's also water proof. Average temperatures from late November to early March are -1 to 5 C highs, -4 to 1 C lows. I.e., it will almost always be around freezing--and you will get a lot of precipitation. (Typically, rain/sleet in the day, turning to snow--sometimes heavy--at night.) Summers are HOT (35-40 C) as well--especially late June through early September--so be prepared.

Living expenses are comparatively cheap--especially food and housing. Depending on your size requirements, clothes can be surprisingly inexpensive as well. Make local friends and ask around for the best deals--you should do fine!

[pnksweater]

[johanne]

I lived in Kanazawa for 14 months and it was very nice - the food was fantastic - but it's not at all like Vancouver, where I live now. I've never been to Komatsu, but drove alot around Ishikawa. The countryside is lovely and it's easy to get to. The beaches of Noto Penisula are great in the summer and there are plently of mountains for hiking all season throughout Ishikawa. However, Japanese cities themselves are not very picturesque even if the surrounding countryside is. There are very few city parks for example unlike Vancouver where they are everywhere and in Japanese cities there will also be more grey, squat building than anything else.

On a positive note, if you like seafood you'll love eating in Ishikawa as the food is fresh and well prepared at almost every restaurant I went to and I went to many as I don't really enjoy cooking. I would definately take the advice given above about learning Japanese. In a small town like Komatsu you'll need it. Very few peopple will speak English and the faster you can pick up conversation Japanese, regardless of you Kanji ability, the better off you'll be. Anyway, enjoy you stay in Japan and get your co-workers at Peppies to give you all the ins and outs about Komatsu.

[coraminta]

Alright. It sounds like something that I can definatly hack. I hope. I don't know about the weather - no winter and a summer that looks like it tries its hardest to make the human body evaporate into a cloud of steam... But we have hot summers in Edmonton too. Just not THAT hot. But the living expenses sound good to me. I've never lived in this small a community so it should be an experiance.

Its too bad about there being little to no public parks or gardens around. I know where I live now we have a huge river valley and other land locked parks in walking distance of pretty much anywere. But as long as its easy to get to the countryside, as you said, it should be fine.

One more question - With PKC I have to set up a Japanese Bank account and thus bring my money over with me. Travellers Cheques or Cash, if if cash, Canadian dollars or Japanese yen or even American dollars? Oh and on that note, do I need a hanko? I've heard about them, but I don't know if I need one or where to get one.

If you have anything elso to add, please, do - I'm probally forgetting to questions that are actually important. Thats me for you.

I really apppreciate all of your responses, thanks alot.

[matcauthon]

You can study Japanese at the Komatsu International Center. I would recommend doing this as the lessons are so cheap - 700 yen an hour for a private lesson cannot be beat!!!

Night life is lacking tho although there are some good Japanese restaurants.

[johanne]

If you bring cash or travellers cheques it's best to go with Yen as you will only lose out once on the exchange rate. Canadian travellers cheques are not accepted many place, as least they weren't 6 years ago.

By the way, although city parks as we know them are hard to come by in Japan, there are often gardens which charge an entrance fee (the equivalent of $3-4 cdn) and are a haven away from the concrete and neon. Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is rated as one of the 3 most beautiful gardens in Japan and is a very large one which is in fact gorgeous.

Anyway, I hope you have a great experience and that, at first at least, you met some friendly English speakers (native or otherwise) you can show you the rope. When I first went to Japan over 10 years ago I was befriended by this lovely Australian woman who worked at my school and she basically took me around with her to all her haunts the first month and introduced me to everyone she knew. She also showed me all I needed to know about groceries, shopping, banking, etc. It made all the difference.

You will need a hanko - a stamp - to open a bank account, but you can get one in any name. You don't need to get one especially made for you name. They're about 500 yen. Your school should help you out in opening you account. It's quite straitforward, and it's probably a good idea to get direct bill payment set up on your account as this cuts down on any dealings you have to have with the bank in Japanese.

Good luck and enjoy!

[coraminta]

I would just like to thank everyone who helped out. Your advice is extremly appreciated I'm leaving on the 13 of June for training in Nagoya and will be moving to Komatsu a few weeks later. I'm really glad that there is an international centre that I can take advantage of. REALLY glad.

Again, thanks for the help!
Minty