A Practical Guide to Working as a Scientist in Japan

Robert W. Ridge

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Copyright Ridge, R.W. 1992

ISBN 0 646 14522 3

	Assoc. Prof.  Robert W. Ridge
	Department of Biology
	Division of Natural Sciences
	International Christian University
	10-2, Osawa 3-chome
	Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181, Japan



Network Publication: Ridge's Mac at ICU, Japan (from August 1994)

Printed version (softcover, 83 pp) available from the author. Free-of-charge to university academics and students, and posted to anywhere in the world. Others please enquire. SORRY, BOOKS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, I NOW NEED SPONSORS TO HELP ME PRINT THE SECOND EDITION - PLEASE!.

Table of Contents

• Index
• Appendix of Useful Information

• Prologue
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Arriving and Settling In
  • Arriving
  • Accommodation
  • Signing on
  • Hanko
  • Meishi (business card)
  • Alien Registration
  • Local information
  • Special services for the foreign tourist
  • Health insurance (kenko hokken) and medicine
  • Officials
  • Driving and driving licence (menkyosho)
  • Salary
  • Return of expenses
• Structure of Academic Institutions
  • State universities
  • Private universities
  • State research institutes
  • PERI, RCIUMO and OBI
  • Comparison to industry
  • Students and the education system
• RIKEN, ERATO and the Japanese View of Basic Research
• Working in the Laboratory
  • Welcome party
  • Interactions with colleagues
  • Joining in
  • Friendships
  • Koza
  • How do Japanese scientists think?
  • Students learn passively, not actively
  • Women in science
  • The checking of manuscripts
  • There is no such thing as technical support
  • Conferences and travel money
  • Laboratory supplies and central services
  • Health and safety
  • Mini Essay: Cake and Cockroaches in a Japanese Laboratory
  • Omiyage (souvenir)
  • Working hours
  • Dress
• Getting and Managing a Research Grant
  • Mini Essay: Research in Arrears
• Interactions with Administrative Staff
• Everyday life, Culture and Language
  • Gifts
  • The Japanese home
  • Food and goods
  • Flea markets, bazaars and sodai gomi
  • Shopping hours
  • The Japanese Co-operative
  • Eating out
  • Commuting
  • Cycling
  • School
  • The electronically amplified voice
  • A passive people
  • Body language and other things
  • Banking and money
  • Using the telephone
  • Gas, electricity and toyu
  • Rubbish and recycling
  • Things people don't do in public
  • Public baths
  • Smoking
  • Getting around in Japan
  • Getting around locally
  • The police
  • Dates and the Emperor system
  • The weather
  • Earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, typhoons and other interesting events
• Language
  • Getting to grips with the basics
  • Understanding Japanese pronunciation of English
  • Teaching English
  • University-related words
  • Words for hello, goodbye etc at work
• Epilogue