Job Discussion Forums

[markle]

I haven't been on the board for a couple months due mainly to the fact that I've secured a position in Nagoya starting towards the end of the year and I wanted to put it out of my mind for a couple months or the antipication would kill me.
So I've saved a few questions for you good people.
1. What are hospitals like in Japan (especially maternity)? Expensive? Competent?
2. Has anyone done or heard of someone having a little side business not necessarily to do with teaching like a little stall at a market or such.
3. Are there many casual markets ( I went to one in the Sapparo at the Town Hall but I'm not sure if it was a regular thing) and would a gaijin be able to set up a stall there?

Thanks in advance.

[april]

I've seen gaijin with market stalls in Harajuku (Tokyo). Well, if you consider jewellery on a blanket on the footpath a market stall.

[shmooj]

Okay, I know Nagoya well so here goes.

1. Hospitals are generally pretty good (but I'm coming from the UK!) IF you want a good one for maternity then the Holy Spirit hospital in Irinaka is where my USAnian friends had their first son. They said it was fine. BTW, if you are on Japanese health insurance and you conceive here you will get 300,000 yen (= a lot of money) provided the pregnancy goes to at least 14 weeks even if you lose the child. However, please leave your joy at home because even on the national health insurance it will cost you 300,000 yen (= a lot of money) just to have the sprog. Not to mention all the stuff after the birth and as your child grows.

2. I have hardly ever seen even Japanese doing market stalls in Nagoya. If you really want to do this then I suggest setting something up near, or if you are really plucky, actually in Kanayama station which has over the last few years attracted a lot of buskers and the like. Often there are concerts of some kind e.g. drumming or S. American music groups and these draw crowds which would be a good source of trade. However, be prepared for hassle from the law. I'm not saying it's illegal but most things are in Japan

3. There are flea markets around "furi- ma-ketto" in Japanese. There is a huge one once or maybe twice a year in Nagoya called Mamosu (Mammoth). One is in Golden Week (early May) and there may be one some other time. I've got a feeling anyone can have a stall there. There would be local stuff going on but it is hard to know where these are until you get here and get yourself out in the local area. Try to pick up a copy of the local rag for the area. Usually a free paper or something published by the city hall. These kinds of things would be in there but you are going to need Japaense in all these situations above (including hospital) so bear this in mind.

Don't put it out of your mind! This is one of the few times in your life when you will be anticipating coming to Nagoya. Enjoy it while it lasts

[Gordon]

Good to hear the maternity hospitals in Nagoya are good. They are not here in Takamatsu. Generally speaking in Japan, they don't believe in anaesthesia during delivery. Women do it all naturally and doctors don't care to much about the comfort of women during the birth. A friend of ours had a caesarean without anaestestia too.

In bigger cities in Japan, you may find American trained doctors or American doctors which is what you will want to find regardless of the cost. I wish we had that option here.

[Brooks]

I see Israelis selling jewelry in and near Tokyo. They do this near train stations, or not too far from them. I hear they have to pay off the yakuza to "protect" them.
In Machida I see signs saying that it is illegal to be selling stuff on the street but it happens. They are also people selling used manga that is taken from recycle bins.

[shmooj]

Gordon, I was talking about ONE hospital and that is was "fine" and no, they don't give anasthetic for normal births - just like the majority of births around the world. My friend had a C-section anyway and had anasthetic with that.

One issue was that she wanted to breastfeed the child immediately but they wanted to take the child away for a while. SHe fought for and got this. Again, polite Japanese helps in these situations.

[Sherri]

Gordon
Are you sure the woman had no anesthesia for her C-section? I find this very hard to believe! That is major surgery! I've had 2 kids here in Tokyo, did plenty of research and I have never heard of this happening. Japan is a big place, if you shop around you will find a doctor, a midwives clinic, a hospital, that will try to follow your birthplan.
Sherri

[Gordon]

Sherri, I think you are in another world in Tokyo (one in which we wish we were apart of). Our friend was given anaesthesia but then given a caesarean immediately after before it took effect. She told the doctor but was ignored. This traumatic event has caused our friend to never have children again (can't blame her).
My wife also had major surgery where she was operated on before the anaesthesia took effect. There is not one English speaking OBGYN doctor in our city (Takamatsu pop. 300,000).

[Sherri]

Gordon
To be fair in your original post you said without anesthesia, she was given anesthesia, they just didn't wait long enough--that is a different story and of course one I can believe.

Tokyo is another world I guess, I chose to live here for the facilities and other advantages of being in a big city. I guess it's the same anywhere in the world, if you live in the sticks, you'll have fewer choices. In any of the larger cities (and smaller) here you will find English speaking OB/GYNs.
Overall though I have very little faith in the medical system here--you have to be very careful about picking your dr and hospital.
Sherri

[Gordon]

Sherri,
When I originally posted I thought she wasn't administered any anaestesic (man I hate the spelling of this word), but then my wife reminded me otherwise when I posted the last time. Didn't mean to make it out I wasn't being truthful. The end result is, she didn't feel any painkiller for the C-section. Truly barbaric and one which I'm sure you can sympathize with as you have 2 children.

[viddy]

[Sherri]

In Japan 300,000 people means a small hamlet.