Hello from Japan

[twopoint71]

I just got to Japan. As of this post, I'm still sitting in quarantine. I have some questions, so I searched for "Japanese Language Forum" and this popped up. My Japanese is terrible, so I hope this forum can be a great resource.

Thanks!
Bob

 

[thomas]

Hi Bob, welcome to the forum!

How long do you have to be in quarantine?

 

[twopoint71]

I have to be in quarantine for 7 days after testing negative for COVID at the NRT airport.

 

[Buntaro]

Hi Bob and welcome to the forum.

Is it your goal to learn Japanese?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Welcome aboard Bob ! Members & staff here are super knowledgeable and helpful . There is a ton of helpful info in old posts also so I hope you find JREF useful.

 

[twopoint71]

@Buntaro, I'd like to get better at Japanese. Would be most useful since I'm in Japan. @Uncle Frank, Thanks!

 

[Lothor]

Welcome Bob! What are you going to be doing in Japan?

 

[twopoint71]

@Lothor Hanging out with family.

 

[Buntaro]

Hi Bob,

Since you are a beginning student of Japanese, I would suggest you first learn the Japanese writing system called hiragana. Have you heard of hiragana?

How long do you plan to stay in Japan?

 

[twopoint71]

ひらがな I can read for the most part. Don't always know what I'm reading though. Am studying Katakana at the moment. I'll probably be here for about a year, unless I get a renewal on my spouse visa.

 

[Majestic]

You have work lined up here?

 

[okinawaholic]

I have to be in quarantine for 7 days after testing negative for COVID at the NRT airport.

Jeez! I hope it ends soon for you so you can finally experience Japan.

I'll probably be here for about a year, unless I get a renewal on my spouse visa.

I have never heard of anyone not getting a spouse renewal. I'm sure there are cases of fraud that are turned down, but that would be highly unlikely to be turned down. My first spouse visa (now a permanent resident) was scrutinized with a fine-tooth comb. They wanted to see photos of us together and other things to prove it wasn't a sham marriage. Soon as it was approved, I had no problem getting my 2nd, and I think 3rd and 4th, before being eligible to get permanent residency. Getting permanent is a lot easier now than before as I think it used to take 10 years of concurrent "visa" before being able to apply and now it's 2 years (I say concurrent because Americans can hop on over to SOFA and if they do that, the timer starts over when they hopped back to a spouse visa).

 

[Haruto Uzumaki]

Can you take a few pictures of what the airport is like and the place you are quarantined in? I'd like to see what it'll be like for when I get to Japan too

 

[Buntaro]

Am studying Katakana at the moment.

Bob,

I am more than happy to offer some ideas on how to learn katakana effectively. I am presently helping another member of this forum learn hiragana in another thread, so I will post some of those ideas here.

Here is that thread. (My posts begin from post #27.)

How to get an opportunity to produce (mainly anime) music in Japan?

I think he can find a Japanese language school (i.e. a school that will teach him Japanese language) that will sponsor a visa. So learning the language while trying to build up some connections here is not a bad idea. Coming here on a student visa and trying to find work is a bit problematic...

jref.com

First, I suggest you watch the following YouTube video, watch each katakana, pause the video after each katakana, and write each katakana ten times. Then go on to the next katakana.

But writing katakana is more difficult than reading it, so I suggest you try what I call 'dictation practice.' First, record yourself speaking single katakana. First record them in order, then record them in a random order. Next, play back the file and write down what you hear.

All devices (iPhones, laptops, etc.) have the ability to record sound, so you can record your voice on your device. If you need help on learning how to do this, please do not hesitate to ask.

Once you have mastered writing individual katakana, starting recording and then listening-and-writing groups of katakana in short words. As time goes by, you will be able to write more and more katakana at a single listening, until you can write full sentences just by listening to them once. (This is going to take a lot of work and practice on your part. Get started now.)

I can also give you a list of short katakana words to write, if you would like.

 

[Lothor]

Can you take a few pictures of what the airport is like and the place you are quarantined in? I'd like to see what it'll be like for when I get to Japan too

It will probably be forbidden to take photos of the area in the airport. For the hotel, there used to be lots of photos of poky APA rooms with that creepy woman who appears on their publicity materials on the Return to Japan support group.

 

[Haruto Uzumaki]

Darn... I have no idea what you mean by any of the last sentences, but oh well I saw pictures of the airport but I wanted to see a specific place to get an idea how it would typically be formatted in whatever airport I end up at

 

[nice gaijin]

Darn... I have no idea what you mean by any of the last sentences, but oh well I saw pictures of the airport but I wanted to see a specific place to get an idea how it would typically be formatted in whatever airport I end up at

Some things you're better off just experiencing without any preconceived notions. You really don't need to prep yourself for airport layouts, just follow the signs and ask anyone if you need help or directions. Get used to navigating transit stations; navigating through Japan is train stations, bus and ferry stops and terminals, and possibly airports. Familiarize yourself with place names and signage vocabulary, though the important ones will usually also have English or romaji. You can get around fine without a car, but they do have their place, depending on your situation.

Maybe for now the first order of business is to get to your quarantine box, which may be a hotel close to the airport. Pre-Covid, my goal whenever I touch down was to get my bags and find the train; it's at least an hour into Tokyo proper so I'd get moving, and I don't like making arrangements in advance so charge up the ol suica and off I go.

 

[Haruto Uzumaki]

Some things you're better off just experiencing without any preconceived notions. You really don't need to prep yourself for airport layouts, just follow the signs and ask anyone if you need help or directions. Get used to navigating transit stations; navigating through Japan is train stations, bus and ferry stops and terminals, and possibly airports. Familiarize yourself with place names and signage vocabulary, though the important ones will usually also have English or romaji. You can get around fine without a car, but they do have their place, depending on your situation.

Maybe for now the first order of business is to get to your quarantine box, which may be a hotel close to the airport. Pre-Covid, my goal whenever I touch down was to get my bags and find the train; it's at least an hour into Tokyo proper so I'd get moving, and I don't like making arrangements in advance so charge up the ol suica and off I go.

True, and I agree, but I still wanted to see what it was like specifically for the quarantine part especially because I don't know exactly how it works. I don't know if they keep you in an isolated room for 7 days straight, if there's food or water, if the room has a bed and stuff, all that, and it would tell me all these things and more with a picture of the quarantine space so I can understand how these things operate there. It'll just be useful so I know what to expect (although I know not to expect anything too big or specific). For example, I wouldn't know if I should pack 7 days worth of food and water with me so I don't die of starvation, or if it's anything like a hotel that would provide inclusive meals every day so I don't die... I know nothing about their process

 

[Haruto Uzumaki]

Maybe for now the first order of business is to get to your quarantine box, which may be a hotel close to the airport.

Do airports typically use hotels as quarantine spaces, or is this just certain countries like Japan? Here in the US I thought they quarantined people in containment centers of some sort which kinda resembled ICE or something... I don't know

 

[mdchachi]

Do airports typically use hotels as quarantine spaces, or is this just certain countries like Japan? Here in the US I thought they quarantined people in containment centers of some sort which kinda resembled ICE or something... I don't know

During the early days of the pandemic they had community spaces and cardboard beds but now they just use typical nearby "business" hotels. I don't think you're allowed to leave except to pick up bento or something. Here's a tour of one.

 

[Haruto Uzumaki]

During the early days of the pandemic they had community spaces and cardboard beds but now they just use typical nearby "business" hotels. I don't think you're allowed to leave except to pick up bento or something. Here's a tour of one.

Thanks! I'll check it out after I finish watching a stream of my friend making some music