about Moving to Work in Japan
 

Hi,

In less than a month I will be moving to Japan to work for a Japanese company. They are bringing me over and giving me a place but the budget will be tight for the first 3 months.

I am a little overwhelmed with it all and wanted to know if anyone in a similar position (of any nature) could give me their view on the most important thing to do before leaving the states (nyc)

things you forgot? so I may not! Things to buy before I come over, etc. etc.

Most Japanese don't use deodorant (they don't stink, apparantly) so bring as much deodorant as you are going to need.

Really? I always heard that they have like spray deodorants as opposed to the other types.

Those are more of a spray perfume. Pretty useless in the very humid summers.

So pretty much no anti-antiperspirants, for the most part. I was always told this myself, to bring over lots of deodorant...I now understand why.

Deodorant/antiperspirant ranks in the same category as condoms and tampons. It`s something "private", sort of tucked away out of view, that people don`t really make it obvious that they`re buying. But it is indeed sold in drugstores - and not just the perfume like spray type. You can find stick antiperspirant quite easily if you know what you`re looking for. It`s the knowing bit that is the wall.

I have noticed that it is indeed true that body odor is, in general, not all that strong here. There are a few people who seriously stink when they sweat, but in general people don`t have that sweat smell to them. I only personally know of two people here who have body odor issues - one smells like SWEAT and the other smells like... moldy bread (I have no idea why) when he sweats. Everyone else is pretty neutral.

I was able to find antiperspirant at a drug store in Japan, but I don't even sweat that much, and this stuff did absolutely nothing. I have smelled a few stinky people, but nothing like the gaijin stench...I don't know what it is.

I have to say it`s definitely a diet aspect. I was never particularly stinky to begin with, but after living here for so long my sweat is virtually odorless. My husband actually smells vaguely sweet (and not the sickly sweet type of sweetness either.)
I`m sure that bathing habits also contribute. An actual bath does a lot more than a shower to clean out the pores.

I barely sweat in the summer, even with the humidity... but sweaters kill me - inside it`s warm enough that I sweat, only to freeze once I go outside - so I always use antiperspirant during the winter.

Rexena stick type is the best.

From my personal experience, buy a new laptop if your current one is rather old.

Japan offers some of the best consumer electronic goods but they are not cheap.

To tell you the truth, it is much cheaper in the US and you should take advantage of it before leaving.

Medicine is also another things that you should make sure to bring some.

There are local brands but at first you may have difficulty choosing one and if your Japanese is not strong, you would have rough time finding it.

If you are still in the early stage of learning Japanese, maybe you should buy some textbooks in the US so explanations are in English rather than in Japanese.

Graphic calculator might be useful as it is harder and expensive to buy one in Japan.

Other than that, make sure to buy your favorite liquor at the duty free shop cos in Japan, you don't see too many foreign liquors at the regular stores.

What company are you going t work for and what do you do ? :)

the hell did they delete my post for and not the guy calling MMM a fag? oh well screw the mods then :punchbear: I didn't type all that for no reason

You clearly haven't been on the Yamanote loop in August... some of the salary men smell like they wash in pigshit during that month

I take it you haven`t been in a tour bus full of foreigners in August either then. Or on the packed NY subway *gasp and choke*.
I don`t know what it is, but it`s a completely different and much more unpleasant nose burning odor.

There are always people who stink, and being in a cramped space just amplifies it. Once foul odored person can make the whole train smell horrible.

But seriously, those tour buses gave me nightmares. I did interpretation for a bunch of them around the expo... They`d be saying "Japanese people smell like sushi! Harharhar!" while they often smelled like they`d been slathering themselves in vomit or something, then sprayed a squirt of perfume to cover it.

I have a number of horror stories from that experience, and, well, urgh. Being in another country doesn`t relieve you of the responsibility of keeping your body clean.

lol, I try to stay clear of tourists to be honest...sounds like it might be the best after reading that :eek:

I'm not sure if it's the humidity, but people smell waaaaaay worse than back in UK during the summer months

I`d say it`s probably more the number of people. You`re way more likely to run into someone who has a serious body odor issue when there are more people around.

ETA; Given a little more thought, it`s also probably a sort of pile up effect.
In general, body odor here does seem to be much less pungent - on an individual basis. Therefore, people are less likely to attempt to cover a mild natural scent... Which is fine, as you probably wouldn`t notice any odor unless you shoved your face in their armpit. However, when you`re on the train or in a very crowded location, each little bit sort of adds to an overall smell. When you have enough mild scents, well, it turns into an unpleasant stench.

But... I`ll be honest - I prefer unpleasant natural smells over someone slathered in perfume. That REALLY makes my eyes water, and after a few minutes even gives me a headache.

antiperspirant/deodorant is abundant especially during summer. you can easily find them in drugstore. Ban,Rexena,8x4 are just few of the brand available. Unfortunately most of this products are targeted to women ( generally ), there are deodorant for men too but not as easy to find ( I think ).

Those always felt like perfume to me. You can go to The Body Shop or another international chain if need be.

Don't forget deodorant!
 

If you are a guy and use deodorant (stick type), make sure you bring a few months worth because it is not sold in Japan - only the spray type.

You can find good deodorant at the American Pharmacy stores in Ginza or Marunouchi. The one in Marunouchi is located in the B1 level of the Marunouchi building (Maru-Biru) adjacent to Tokyo Station.

Yea, that's what ossan smells like.

Kareishu (加齢臭) is the correct term and there's not much you could do about it.

Japanese Summer is very humid and for those who work in sales have to walk around for whole day.

I think someone could seriously make money selling Western deodorant over the Internet or something since so many people feel like it's hard to get in Japan.