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Angela Jeffs
After 26 years in Japan, Angela is currently test driving the Scottish winter. Describing herself as a “people person,” she wrote weekly profiles and features for The Japan Times between 1987 and 2011. For writings since 3/11/2011, see www.embrace-transition.com/. Her first book, "Chasing Shooting Stars – A South American Paper Trail into the Past," was published in paperback in January 2013.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 12, 2011
Bye-bye to the gaijin card, welcome to the Juki Net in '12
Reader JG is concerned about the changes to the Immigration Law that were passed in 2009 and are scheduled for implementation in July 2012.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 17, 2011
Print is suffering, but English readers have never had it so good
Returning to Osaka after several years, James wonders what became of Kansai Time Out, the magazine that served the English-speaking community in that region and beyond:
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Apr 12, 2011
Quake aid, local services
For relief organizations, groups or individuals needing translators, Taichi W. sent information about the Japan Guide Consortium Volunteer Interpreters, a group of translators initially formed at the request of the government. Four are working in Sendai with the Indian National Disaster Response Force;...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Mar 12, 2011
Tomioka Silk Mill ranks as Meiji Era industrial gem
In his youth, Shinji Takahashi was a featherweight boxer. Today, working with his two younger brothers in a family legal practice based in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, he is a heavyweight lawyer and committed activist.
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Feb 15, 2011
Seeking advice on U.K. taxation; returning wartime photographs
British tax advice wanted MS in Kamakura wonders if we know of any consultants who advise individuals on their tax status under the U.K.-Japan Tax Treaty.
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Feb 8, 2011
Mental health advice, cash card blues
Empty nest syndrome K'ko is suffering from what she calls "empty nest blues" — that is, being without husband or children.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jan 25, 2011
Carnet crucial when doing Japan in a van
Diana and Peter were pleased to find the column "How to do Japan — in a VW camper van" (Lifelines, Nov. 16) on the Japan Times website.
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Jan 11, 2011
Landlords have right of entry — the roaches don't
Back in summer, the owner of AB's rented apartment wanted to spray the property for cockroaches (gokiburi). AB was far from happy.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 14, 2010
Doing Japan in a van: highs, lows, dos, don'ts
Oh, the pros and woes of responding to your queries. Great advice, personal experience — even the odd wakeup call. Here are some responses to our Nov. 16 column on "How to do Japan — in a VW camper van":
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 30, 2010
Bothered by night flight racket from Futenma air base
Reader M.A. lives next to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa and is bothered by the noise from the airport.
COMMUNITY / LIFELINES
Nov 16, 2010
How to do Japan — in a VW camper van
Reader M.T. has lived in Japan for over 20 years and his brother is planning a visit, with a twist: The brother, his wife and two children are hoping to travel around the country living out of their Volkswagen camper van.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Nov 2, 2010
Driving test tough to dodge if your license lapses
A.M. has a big problem. Having had a driver's license for over 30 years, he got busy and suddenly discovered that it had expired — more than a year ago!
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 19, 2010
Barking mad over canine commotion
FF in Tokyo has a barking dog next door that just won't stop!
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 5, 2010
Kids' camps; more on Baha'i
Baha'i outreach MN thanks us for writing about her community (Lifelines, Sept. 21).
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Sep 21, 2010
Expecting death for 36 years; connecting with fellow Baha'i
Death row record ST is a member of Amnesty International. Now back in the U.K., she spent several years in Japan, and was horrified to read in a recent issue of Amnesty Magazine (issue 61, May/June 2010) that a Japanese man is believed to be the world's longest-serving death row inmate.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Aug 31, 2010
Seikatsu hogo : help for those in dire straits
Reader KS is having a hard time and doesn't know where to turn.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Aug 14, 2010
Detroiter puts golf on his English, boosts students' lie
Detroit-born Bob White has been in love with golf since he picked up one of his father's clubs at the age of 8. There were no kids' size clubs in the late 1950s, he recalls. You just did the best you could with what you had.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jun 22, 2010
Daughter finds long lost mom after 40-year separation
Judy Mintze, who contacted us in search of her long lost mother, is on cloud nine.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 25, 2010
Nova visas; seeking U.S. citizenship
Reader SB was working for Nova and his visa runs out next fall.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
May 18, 2010
Still waiting for that last paycheck
Reader TS writes: "I return to the U.S. next week and I was supposed to receive my final pay check from a really bad ALT company . . . last week, but did not receive payment. I've called them but the secretaries say that the people in charge are not in the office. I called my direct contact and he has...

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Capsule hotels were created as a way to deal with the amount of overwork employees tend to do in Japan. Can't commute home? Then spend the night in an tiny, affordable sleeping space.
Japan wakes up to the market for a proper sleep