We have contrasting ideas when it comes to work in NZ and Japan. In NZ, there is a high minimum wage, I believe it will be $20 in April, which is about 1350 Japanese Yen. In Japan, the minimum wage varies by prefecture, but in Yamagata it is currently 790 yen, about $11.20NZ. That’s almost …

Who is the company for? Read More »

If you had the ability to turn off your dreams at night, would you? It would depend on how often you have nightmares, I guess, but because you have dreams that might give you pleasure, would you give that up to stop nightmares?

3.11 taught us a lot. Basically, that there is more to life than worrying about ongoing disasters. By no means am I saying this to be insensitive, but when you’re pummeled with sad news nonstop for days on end, it gets a bit repetitive. 3.11 taught me that it’s ok not to be on top …

Lessons from disaster Read More »

Words can be spoken in different ways, different tones, different stress, different volumes, different accents, different pitches, different combinations, different statuses, and each different way includes a different identity. This identity is something that you can’t just make up by stringing words together, and it’s this identity that both makes languages human, and languages culture. …

Languages aren’t just words strung together Read More »

This was a goodie. The Coffee Skill Australians Think They Know But Really Don't. When it comes to coffee, beans matter. But if you're drinking anything with milk in it, generally the flavour of the beans is muted to the point of being non-existent. I actually feel the same way about espresso though, such as …

Beans matter Read More »

Before you buy a new tool, like a guitar or a camera, make sure to take your old tools to the limit. By doing so, you reduce the potential for buyer regret because you can truly understand just how much you need the new tool. This also helps you appreciate the new tool more when …

Take your tools to the limits Read More »

Otaku would be defined as a person entirely obsessed with one specific thing. They are very common in Japan, you can find people conversant in a variety of fields, and because they are so obsessed, they are extremely interesting to talk to, if you have an interest in their field that is. At the same …

If you’re not an Otaku, you are simply a consumer Read More »