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

K guys, I've always thought of myself as reasonably computer-saavy but this one's got me baffled.

I am running Windows XP on a (fairly) new laptop.

- WinXP: I have the ENGLISH version of the OS
- All my drivers are in English
- All my software is in English
- My IME is default OFF and set to EN (English)
- Control panel - Regional and Language options: Standards and Location set to United States (English)

- WHY THE HECK DOES GOOGLE DEFAULT TO .CO.JP? AND SOME PAGES COME UP IN JAPANESE WITH NO OPTION TO CHANGE TO ENGLISH?!?!?!?!?! THIS IS DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!!

I also have the same problem with iTunes (prices come up in yen and I get the Japanese version -- even though it's 90% in English)

Sometimes when I need to download or modify a plugin everything comes up only in Japanese.

Even many popup ads come up in Japanese. What's up with that? Where does it get JAPAN from when all my settings should indicate otherwise???

HELP!!!

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

What's your clock set to? What time zone? You can just click go to google.com too.

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

Hmm.. Never thought of the clock setting... It's set to local (Japan) time.... I'll give that try...

But if that indeed is the problem, how can I have BOTH accurate time WITHOUT the assumption that things should come up in Japanese?

Reisender · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 45

Unless you　obscure your IP address, it is available to any internet service you use and will be identified as belonging to the .jp block. Some services will default to the language version appropriate to that block. You can change these settings with most web pages for example. Google have an option somewhere where they ask you which top level Google domain you want to set as default.

Anyway, did you ever have any luck with finding out about opting out of pension contributions?

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

Yeh... Found out that if it were possible before, it ain't anymore.

I have a sneaky suspicion that an exception was made (for some reason) in regards to the person here who has done it.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

As far as the IP goes, I suppose I'd have to start going through a U.S. or Canadian proxy to change things then...

I'll give that a try too... The timezone setting had no effect.

JD

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:06 am Post subject:

Jim, I've noticed the same thing and the only thing that seems to help is to set the "accept no cookies" setting but then that messes up the functionality of lots of websites. I used to have this running battle where I always clicked over to English Google, but lately I just don't bother anymore.

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

Did you have a similar problem when you lived in the Middle East?

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

timezone wouldn't, really. parts of australia are in the same timezone as japan.

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:45 am Post subject:

Keith_Alan_W · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 121

If you want Google in English.

Use www.google.ca

Smooth Operator · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 140 Location: Japan

As was said before, your IP address gives away your location and allows advertisers to target you. Not much point going thru a proxy server for such a small thing like ads, especially as proxies are not usually free.

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Google.com will automatically go to the japanese site but if you use Google.ca then you will get good ol' Canadian Google Smile

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Try going to the MSN website! There's NO OPTION for another language! It's default Japanese! This is driving me crazy as I really want to sign up for those famous MSN spaces but all the signup's in Japanese!!! I can't believe there's no option! I emailed customer support and got no reply.

Crazy. I'm also getting tired of those MSN messenger Japanese ads. You'd think they'd USE the profiles that they force you to fill out for god's sake.

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

That's EXACTLY the kind of thing that I'm talking about!!!

Now if I'm using my home computer, or a computer that has a direct line to the net, I can easily pick up an anonymous (free) proxy which will redirect to a North American IP block, but if I'm at work, it's impossible as they go through a proxy script to get out to the world. The proxy script is tied into the DNS numbers so you need both working together to gain access... This is so the school board can filter out inappropriate material from being accessed on the net... Eg. Google Image Search (no joke)... Have you ever tried to get clipart from behind a Japanese corporate firewall??? NOT FUN!

I suspect that the way around this would be to go through an HTTP proxy service such as hidemyass.com but I know that these HTTP tunnels often have problems dealing with cgi scripts, javascript, encryption security and any interactive options you throw at it... Maybe some of the pay-services that you must subscribe to eliminate that problem. I don't know...

Hoser · Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 694 Location: Toronto, Canada

Well it must be a work thing because I just went to MSN.com and it was all in english and very North American. Does your firewall at work not let you visit Google.ca? You have to believe me-it's the exact same thing. Honest.