My name's James, I'm a
22 year old Computer Science graduate from Somerset
and I've just packed in my job as a software programmer in Stockport and traded it in for a one way ticket to Tokyo! I speak essentially no Japanese whatsoever and don't really have a huge idea of what to expect when I arrive... that said though, I have a work visa, enough yen in my wallet to last me a few weeks and a blind overriding self confidence that somehow, in some way, everything will work out awesome.

This blog will be a record of my experiences - good, bad, weird (from what i've read so far there'll be plenty of that) and wonderful. I'll be updating as often as I can with plenty of videos & photos and welcome any comments you'd like to leave.

One small step for man, one giant leap for emigration
I have an official residence in Japan!

Since when I first arrive in Tokyo my social circle within a 6000 mile radius will be somewhat limited, I've opted for a shared residence. It's essentially a bit like a swish student halls but targeted at young city workers; you get a private room and all other facilities are shared amongst the other residents.

So drumroll please... here's the new gaff!




 

some quick snaps of the living area & kitchen.








The company who run the apartment also have a partnership with a cocktail bar in Harajuku, which leads me onto (i wont lie) probably the main selling point for me for this place...


A free and continually restocked supply of wine and beer, straight into the fridges and draught tap in my lounge. Epic win :D

In terms of location, its kind of hard to give a proper sense of scale with Tokyo since its really a metropolis of several cities each massive in their own right rather than just one large city. My new home is in Edogawa-ku, a waterfront city criss-crossed by 7 different rivers on the easternmost side of Central Tokyo, with Tokyo Bay immediately below it. From here in East Central Tokyo though I can reach the main nightlife districts - Shinjuku & Shibuya - in around 30 minutes, Akihabara - the electric city, computer and general geek mecca - in 15 minutes and I'm just under 45 minutes away from the Pacific Ocean.

All in all, I'm feeling pretty lucky right now. A week tomorrow we're flying out.... AHHHHH!


14:37 | Category: | 2 comments

Stockport -> Somerset -> Shinjuku
That's the plan anyway.

One month to go now until the final part of that and with my first 'real' job resigned from (if anyone's going on a leaving do any time soon - lucky voice ftw, seriously) my swanky mancunian flat left behind and my ace neighbours babysitting the larger items of furniture I couldn't bring myself to chuck / sell; I'm now back in sunny Somerset visiting family before I leave. If all goes to plan almost the entire clan should be arriving across the time I'm here. It'll be odd to say bye but I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again.

With the majority of my debts paid off now (woo!) the only major thing left to organise is the search through tiny cupboards disguised as apartments online to find myself somewhere to live upon arrival. I'll be sure to post up some pics once I've sorted a place for definite.

In other news: after two rather nerve wracking interviews and about 20 hrs on Megabuses to London...


I have my visa sorted :D Been told I look like a Japanese pirate in the photo, while for others apparently I look like a terrorist. Not phased though, since either way its still a massive improvement on the 'ben from eastenders' passport photo of shame...

The list of things to do before the trip to Heathrow has now become eerily short and the reality of what I'm about to do still hasn't quite sunk in, but then to be fair, it probably won't until I'm sat on the plane :P
03:00 | Category: | 0 comments