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Japan/Questions Answered by Expert Steve Battisti
| Subject | Date Asked |
| hi | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: .. can you tell the distance between Meguro-ku and Chuo-ku in tokyo..and also time to travel and ... A: Well, it's somewhere around 8-10 miles, I guess. They're both kind of broad areas, so cost and time ... | |
| japanese culture | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I am currently researching Japanese literature alongside english literature. I was wandering if we ... A: I'm a little unclear on what your question is regarding Haruki and Ryu Murakami... Regarding your ... | |
| Japanese dinner guests | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: Steve - My husband is working on a project with Japanese engineers on building an airplane. He has ... A: Wow, this is a tricky question. :) Of course, at the end of the day, it's a largely personal thing. ... | |
| Japanese culture | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: This question might be beyond your experience, but I will take a chance and ask it. I would like to ... A: Hmm, that's a pretty tough question. I'm sure you realize this is just my opinion, and that there ... | |
| Is Japan for everyone? | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: Is traveling/visiting Japan for everyone? Will Japan appeal to everyone? Would one be missing much ... A: Well, it's tough to be non-biased since I love Japan. :) I'm not sure there's a great answer to ... | |
| Kyoto Temples | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: The last time I was in Kyoto, I visited Silver Pavilion, walked the philosophers' path, saw the Gion ... A: Joanne, Well, as far as choices go, I've been to all of them, and I think they're nice to visit! (I ... | |
| japanese food art | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: i have noticed that a lot of food in japan is really cute. there are cakes, bentos, and even fruit ... A: I'm not sure that there is any particular food that is preferred, but Japan has a LONG cultural ... | |
| lookong for my japanese father | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: i was born on October 18,1980 here in Philippines. My father's name is Kenji Shinohara. When i was 3 ... A: In general, I cannot offer to help with "lost people" issues. (I don't know whether this person ... | |
| Housing Advertising | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a large executive home which I am planning to place in the market in Dallas Texas. ... A: Jose, I'm afraid I don't have any easy answers for this one. One possibility is to contact the ... | |
| Japan concert agencies | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: I'm looking to contact any Japanese concert agency to perform in Japan, particularly, one that will ... A: Gotcha. I can't profess to have any contacts in this specific area, but a quick Google search ... | |
| Japan concert agencies | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: I'm looking to contact any Japanese concert agency to perform in Japan, particularly, one that will ... A: David, I'm sorry for the delay in responding, some personal matters got in the way. Can you give me ... | |
| Manga schools | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: I just love manga, and someday I want to become a manga artist! Could you please tell me about some ... A: Well, it's tough to tell you about manga schools when I have no idea where you are. ;) But the truth ... | |
| Possible readings of a katakana name | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: This is the name in katakana: エクルマータ. The "official" ... A: Honestly, it's pretty much impossible to "reverse engineer" a name like this. :( You're correct that ... | |
| translate Japanese symbols | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a WWII Japanese cloth from the Solomon Islands with the Rising Sun symbol in the middle and ... A: While it's hard to see / translate exactly what was written on this flag, most Japanese soldiers ... | |
| living there | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: i plan on moving to japan, im starting to learn the language so by then i should be fluent, but what ... A: Alice, This is a very difficult question. For of all, you mentioned that you're starting to learn ... | |
| chinese or japanese marking on bottom of vase | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this symbol. It appears on the bottom of a vase ... A: Unfortunately, I don't have any expertise in art pieces like this (as it mentions in my profile :) ... | |
| Japanese Vase | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: Steve, This vase has been in my family since the early 1920s. I am just wondering if you have any ... A: Unfortunately, I don't have any expertise in art pieces like this. In this case, I would strongly ... | |
| japanese vase | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: steve could you tell me anything about this vase it was given to me by a aunt in canada thank you ... A: Unfortunately, I don't have any expertise in art pieces like this. In this case, I would strongly ... | |
| missing persons | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I am looking for someone that lived in tokyo japan (koto-ku) his name is yuji hirasawa .Is there a ... A: In general, I try not to get involved in "people finding," because I really have no way of knowing ... | |
| find a lost father of my child | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: i was working before as an intertainer in takaoka japan last 2004,then i met the father of my ... A: I'm very sorry to hear about this. :( Unfortunately, I don't have any magic answers. In general, I ... | |
| kanji | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: .. i jus needed to confrim tht the attched symbols mean tne translation i have obatined. hoping u ... A: My problem with your second picture is that I don't think it's actually a word, at least in Japanese ... | |
| kanji | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: .. i jus needed to confrim tht the attched symbols mean tne translation i have obatined. hoping u ... A: I think the first (top) one, "shin-sei-katsu" is pretty much correct. However, I've never seen the ... | |
| New Year in Japan | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: My husband an I are planning to visit Japan between the dates 20.12.2009 - 04.01.2010. We are flyig ... A: I apologize for the delay in responding. It's been over a decade since I spent a New Year's in ... | |
| Japanese-themed gift | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: As the Christmas season rears its festive head, I'm panicking over a gift for my boyfriend. I would ... A: Hmm, this is a very interesting question. The non-perishable thing really limits what you can do. ... | |
| Road signs in Japan | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in South Florida. Where 1/2 the language is spanish. A lot of stores are bi-lingual. But ... A: It's hard to say, really. The safest answer is "tourism." Japan gets a large amount of income from ... | |
| japanese citizen | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: im 18 yrs old. my dad is japanese while my mom is a filipino. i was told to stay here for 6 months ... A: Tissuechan, Thanks for your note. Unfortunately, I'm not really an expert in immigration. You also ... | |
| Japanese public records | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering how to go about finding my mother. My american father married her while he was in the ... A: I suspect, in a case like this, your best option would be to get in touch with a private ... | |
| Difficult Kanji | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I am working as a volunteer archiver and cataloger for the National Parks Service and due to my work ... A: I'm sure you realize, it's pretty difficult to decipher without seeing the actual kanji, but having ... | |
| Train travel | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: Upon arrival at the Osaka Intl Airport, how easy is it to by a ticket to Hiroshima? Understand you ... A: Cindy, I'm very sorry for the delay in responding to this, it somehow got stuck in my spam filter! ... | |
| Kanji word/phrase translation | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to translate the following: Josh, live, laugh, love, John. I want to get a tattoo to ... A: I'm a little bit torn about how to help you out here, and here's why. Generally, foreign names are ... | |
| Particles | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about particles. When is ga used? And please don't go all active subject or object ... A: Heh, if I could answer this question any more clearly than anyone else, I could make a bundle ... | |
| Vampires in Japan | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: Okay, so I''m writing this novel, and I can't find enough information on vampirism in Japan to even ... A: I'm hardly an expert on Japanese mythology, but I'm not sure I agree with whatever web site you ... | |
| visa to enter japan | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: how's it going steve? i'm planning to live and work in japan for a few years. i'm too old to be ... A: Hmm, this is a tricky one. Honestly, it's tough to just "find a job" in Japan. One choice would be ... | |
| Fishing | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me which rivers within a couple of hours driving from Tokyo would be good for "IWANA" ... A: OK, this is way out of my realm of expertise, but it's my understanding that Japanese trout ("iwana" ... | |
| National Geographic's Fight Science | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: While doing research, I stumbled upon your previous answer to someone working on a Discovery ... A: Weird that you grew up in Framingham! I was born there, but only lived there for two years, then ... | |
| trying to identify the markings on the bottom of a vase | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: i am not sure if the stamp on the bottom is japanese or chinese.but any help would be highly ... A: Alright, that helps! In this case, I believe it's Chinese, not Japanese. Specifically, it seems to ... | |
| Missing Person | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: Hope everything is great with you. I am wrting you to please help me out to locate a person as he ... A: I suspect, in a case like this, your best option would be to get in touch with a private ... | |
| Travelling/Honeymoon/18mth Child | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: We are thinking of having our honeymoon in Japan this november and i need some help. We have a ... A: Well, a few things. First off, I must admit, when I lived in Japan, I didn't have kids, so I don't ... | |
| Japanese Translation of 'A Tangled Web' | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: What would the Romaji and Kanji translations of 'A Tangled Web' be? I tried using Wiktionary to ... A: Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure what would be the best translation of this phrase would be. ... | |
| Kanji translation | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: I have found the kanji symbols in the attached image and would like to know what its translation ... A: Yup, your source was right. :) It's pretty much "live for the moment." This is pronounced "setsu ... | |
| Word translation | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: I got this beautiful tetsubin that belonged to my grandfather and I know nothing about it. It has on ... A: That definitely IS a beautiful piece. Unfortunately, I must admit my knowledge of art is very ... | |
| Information | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: Hey steve, I would like to know more about ninjas, samurais, warewolves and vampires. I'm writing a ... A: Howdy, I'd try some of the following: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/japan.html ... | |
| Information | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: Hey steve, I would like to know more about ninjas, samurais, warewolves and vampires. I'm writing a ... A: Lily, This isn't quite my area of expertise, but I'll do what I can. The obvious difference here is ... | |
| Boss going to Japan with Family | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: My boss and his family are going to Japan and will be flying into Narita airport for a family ... A: Yvette, Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I think pre-paid is probably the way to go. Here are ... | |
| Japan | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Why did Japan pick those colors 4 their flag A: Quintavious, Are you referring to the "hinomaru," the Japanese flag currently in use with a red ... | |
| Using a Foreign Credit Card | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: I recently came across a Japanese website that I would like to be a part of. Unfortunately, I need ... A: This will probably depend on the web site, but in general, Visa is pretty widely accepted in Japan, ... | |
| Japanese translation questions | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: I have 2 questions that I need translated: 1. ... A: It's pretty much this, although the Japanese seems pretty "stilted," like it wasn't written by a ... | |
| Word Translation Please | 3/6/2008 |
| Q: can you tell me the Japanese word(s) for baby birds? Also for the word mama bird?Also, if you could ... A: A baby bird is a "kotori". "ko" means "child" and "tori" means "bird." The pronunciation would be ... | |
| Japanese language correspondence in Japan for foreign workers | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: I'm thinking of working in Japan in 2009. I've been studying Japanese for a number of years, ... A: Brett, I've done some searching, and I must admit I haven't come up with much. Kumon ... | |
| Japanese Flag | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: Who created the Japanese Flag and when? A: Asad, Sorry for the delay in responding to you. In this case, I think the best I can do is refer ... | |
| Shimo Koshiki Shima | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: "In the 1950s, I was stationed on Shimo Koshiki Shima, a small island off the In the 1950s, I was ... A: Sorry for the dealy in getting back to you. I noticed that some of the other experts have already ... | |
| wedding speech | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: I randomly found this site by googling, and read that you'd previously answered a question on ... A: Danny, First off, the white tie thing isn't critical. As a foreigner, you catch a break anyway. ... | |
| Rural Japan | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: I am a student in England and I'm very interested in spending some time in Rural Japan as part of a ... A: Charlie, Sorry for the delay in responding to you. Well, I guess you have a lot of opportunities. ... | |
| Rural Japan | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: I am a student in England and I'm very interested in spending some time in Rural Japan as part of a ... A: Well, this is an interesting question. I certainly think rural Japan can potentially be far more ... | |
| finding a missing person in another country | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: My sister has been working in Japan for 4 years. We have had contact till 6 months ago. There have ... A: Lorie, I'm very sorry to hear about this. :( Unfortunately, I don't have any magic answers. I ... | |
| hi..is it possible to find my lost friend from english language in boston.. | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: . i came to USA in 1997 and attended EF language school. There i met my friend Tatsuya Gake...now i ... A: Well, I'm afraid I probably can't be of much help to you. Generally, we aren't allowed to help in ... | |
| vegetables | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: i'm an Indian . i stay at Atsuki, whwere can i buy utensils and vegetables. A: Piggy, "Atsuki" is a pretty general term. I believe there are multiple places named "Atsuki" in ... | |
| japanese guests | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: tomorrow we are having the japanese mother (who we know) and her two children (we do not know yet) ... A: Cathy, Well, the short version is "I don't know," because just like in the U.S., everyone is ... | |
| ask about culture in Japan | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: How custom and tradition of marriage in Japan?? And How etiquette and habits doing business?? A: Agret, Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, it's a very broad topic that I can't really answer ... | |
| how long? | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: how long does it take to get to sapporo from tokyo, and what is the transportation?? A: Jacqui, There are a number of ways to get from Tokyo to Sapporo and vice versa. The most common ... | |
| Hiroshima | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I will be in Japan August 1-13th. August 6th is my birthday and having heard the same news story ... A: OK, back again. There's definitely a river near Kyoto that you can take a cool raft trip on. It's ... | |
| Hiroshima | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: I will be in Japan August 1-13th. August 6th is my birthday and having heard the same news story ... A: It's certainly possible, especially if you're doing OK with money. :) The bullet train (shinkansen) ... | |
| Japanese culture | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: What are the norms in the Japanese culture??? A: Monique, Thanks very much for your question. It's a little too broad for me to give you any sort of ... | |
| general questions in preparation for teen traveler | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: (this is my 2nd request for information. My graduating HS senior, plans to travel to Sapporo to ... A: Good God! That's a lot of questions. :) I'll see what I can do. Q. Relative recommends that we book ... | |
| japan money | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: What is the difference of cost in Japan? I've been told it is very expensive in Japan compared to ... A: Kara, It's true, it is very expensive in Japan, in general. Of course, it depends where you are ... | |
| martial arts | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: I'm looking for places where I can learn and/or practice martial arts in Kansai (preferably Osaka). ... A: Hmm, this is an interesting one. I think my first suggestion would be to contact these guys: ... | |
| Where to stay in Tokyo? | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: I will be going to Tokyo for 3-4 days. Where to stay in Tokyo? I' am a college student so I can't ... A: Kin, Well, it's pretty difficult to stay in Tokyo at all and call it "inexpensive." You don't have ... | |
| Can you help me? | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: I'm not sure how willing you are to help me in this field, but i can try. I want to learn how to ... A: Eryne, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Well, this is a pretty complicated question. I ... | |
| translator | 3/10/2007 |
| Q: How much will it cost to hire a translator to accompany us in japan for businesses purposes A: Unsurprisingly, the costs for interpreters can vary widely, and also depends on the languages ... | |
| Travellers Cheques | 2/26/2007 |
| Q: I'm off to Osaka in 2 months and am wanting to know which is the best currency to take in travellers ... A: Stephen, Honestly, neither! Traveller's Cheques are a huge pain to use in Japan. They're difficult ... | |
| cultural shock | 2/17/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me anything about cultural shock and how bad it is? I know some people must suffer ... A: Culture shock is an interesting phenomenon. Unsurprisingly, "how bad" it is can vary widely. When I ... | |
| what do these names mean? | 2/14/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to figure out what these three names mean. Hopefully you can shed some light for me. the ... A: Matt, Well, this is a tough question. Japanese names are made up of characters that have meanings ... | |
| How to get date??? | 1/18/2007 |
| Q: I have two question first one is the sentences I post down. Does it mean that Japanese treat ... A: Fu Sen, In a general sense, I think the statement you mentioned is pretty accurate to me. In ... | |
| How do you ... | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: Is japanese similar to Siamese at all? How would you answer the same question in Siamese, or will I ... A: Shari, Well, technically, there is no such thing as "Siamese". We (in the U.S. at least) refer to ... | |
| How do you ... | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: How would you spell ‚©‚í‚¢‚¢??— phonetically, using the English alphabet? A: Well, it's not official phonetic spelling, but the romanization of that phrase is "kawaii shoujo" ... | |
| Music business | 12/31/2006 |
| Q: I Johnson from Malaysia.I'm a peformer and I travel around the world.Well,getting tiring travelling ... A: This is a difficult question, and unfortunately I don't have any knowledge in this area. I also ... | |
| japanese retailers | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: Clothing stores or furniture stores would be great (again not a chain that is in the US like ... A: Sorry for the delay. Retail isn't quite my area of speciality. Well, for what it's worth, here is ... | |
| japanese social norms | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: what are the social norm of japanese people? Their conventions, mores and laws? A: Unfortunately, it's not something that has an easy answer that I could write in this response. There ... | |
| japanese retailers | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: What are some names of big japanes retailers or chains? preferably ones that don't have stores in ... A: I think I need a little more information. What kinds of retailers or chains are you referring to? ... | |
| Bussines/Tourist Visa to Japan | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: I am curerntly in japan and want to call my fiancee here on bussines/tourist visa. how it can be ... A: Sorry for the delay in this response. In many cases, no visa is needed for short-term tourist ... | |
| I wanted to visit my Boyfriend | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: Do i need VISA to visit my boyfriend in Okinawa Japan A: Well, it depends on your nationality. If you're from the U.S., you won't need a visa if you're ... | |
| Glasses in Japan | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: I was in Alook, a Japanese megane store yesterday, and I have been trying to figure out what "hard ... A: Ah, the joys of "katakana kotoba." Well, I'm no expert on glasses, but my guess is "maruchi" in this ... | |
| Japanese for the otaku-wannabe | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: I have 2 questions, so I'll go with the easiest one first: what is the translation, if any, of ... A: I'm going to answer your first question now. I'll get to the second one a little later, OK? ... | |
| living in tokyo | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how to figure out the cost of living in Tokyo. I am looking ... A: Well, it's tough to really calculate, but there's no doubt it's very expensive to live in Japan, and ... | |
| Ninja Culture | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: are you from Medfield, MA? Also, I am working on a show for Discovery and I am trying to find out ... A: Nope, not from Medfield, although I have lived in Hopkinton and Natick. I'm in PA now. I do have a ... | |
| INFO ABOUT VISA | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: HI IM MEXICAN AND I WANT TO KNOW IF I NEED VISA TO GO TO TOKYO OR JUST THE MEXICAN PASSPORT? A: Gregorio, I'm sorry for the delay in answering your question. I believe that Mexicans can enter ... | |
| Price of Alcohol in Japan | 10/19/2006 |
| Q: We are going to Tokyo for 2 weeks and are curious as to where to buy alcohol and the cost ... A: Apologies for the slow response, it's been kinda crazy around here! Well, regarding alcohol, it's ... | |
| pre paid cell phones | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: i have been in japan for 3 weeks now and cant find a single shop that sells them, can you please ... A: Your best bet for prepaid cell phones in Japan would be the airport. There's almost certainly ... | |
| cultural visa | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: i am currently in japan on a tourist visa and need to change it a.s.a.p what do i do? will they ... A: Alex, I think you may be in a tough position. I believe that you cannot change your visa while in ... | |
| 3 days in tokyo, what to do, buy and stay. | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: i just love it. I am heading home to Norway from Tonga in Desember and sice it is kind of far i have ... A: Sorry for the delay, there have been some problems with the site, it seems. Obviously, there is a ... | |
| where can i buy a japanese uniform strait from japan | 9/30/2006 |
| Q: konnichiwa. boku sazuki desu. i am living in houston texas and i stoped by to ask what better web ... A: Hmm, that's a good question. Are you looking for a boy's uniform or girl's? The problem with looking ... | |
| Dining protocol for professional woman | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: My best friend has a recent problem w/ walking and bending. She frequently travels to Japan on ... A: Hmm, this is a tricky question. By "require her to sit low in a position...", it sounds like you ... | |
| Japan. | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: At Japan, is there a school called Kuma Junior High school? If so, I can't find it on the ... A: Actually, there's probably a number of them, since "Kuma" is a pretty commonly used name/word. Do ... | |
| business visa in Japan | 8/25/2006 |
| Q: I am holding a passport which is not in the exempt visa category for Japan visit. However, I am in ... A: This may vary depending on your nationality, but unfortunately I do not think it is ever possible to ... | |
| Weddings | 8/21/2006 |
| Q: My son is going to marry a girl from Japan and we do not know about who pays for what. ... A: I'm very sorry for the delay in responding, it's been a crazy week! In a traditional Japanese ... | |
| traveling tokyo | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: I STEAVE, FIRST LET ME THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ANSWER ME. WELL TO REPLY AND TO GIVE YOU ... A: Well, unfortunately, this may be much more difficult than you think. It will be VERY hard for a ... | |
| Fishing Village in Japan | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: STeve: I have been looking for informatuion on Tateyama, Japan for a long time. I can not find ... A: William, why don't you just e-mail me at steve@battisti.us? It's kinda silly to keep doing this ... | |
| traveling tokyo | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: My son is living in september for a trip in Japan, TOKYO. i AM WONDERING HOW MUCH MONEY SHOOULS HE ... A: Well, money is always a tough question, since it depends so much on what he'll be doing. The cost of ... | |
| Fishing Village in Japan | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: We are sorry, but Peter wasn't able to answer yourThe fishing village of Tomosaki, Japan lies on the ... A: William, I can see from searching online that you've been looking for this information for a while. ... | |
| tourism | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: sir Robert i am aperson from syria would please tell me about best places in tokyo to visit thank u A: Rawa, Let me ask you a question instead: what sorts of things are interesting to you? Tokyo is an ... | |
| Grieving | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: I am aware that in Japanese culture, expressing emotions freely is looked down upon. This is the ... A: Well, Japanese or no, most human beings react in the same way. Certainly, Japanese men do grieve, ... | |
| Tomonori Mizoguchi | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: Steve; I worked with a man about 30 years old when he was in Tokyo. His name is Tomonori ... A: Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to help you out with this, for a few reasons. First, ... | |
| The sight of the kyoto | 6/20/2006 |
| Q: It's nice to send you e-mail. My name is Ayaka,and I'm a university student of Japan! This is my ... A: Ayaka, Thanks for the question. Well, I'm not sure exactly what you want to know, but I love Kyoto. ... | |
| Birthdays | 6/20/2006 |
| Q: A Japanese friend we have known for about two years (he lived with us as an exchange student for ... A: Linda, Hmm, this is an interesting question. Certainly, Japanese birthday celebrations aren't the ... | |
| Japanese Youth Culture | 6/13/2006 |
| Q: Hi, I'm 15 year old Korean Australian student. Iam currently learning Japanese at school and we had ... A: Unfortunately, at AllExperts we are not allowed to answer questions related to school assignments. ... | |
| Birding in Japan | 5/29/2006 |
| Q: i have always wanted to study birds, mainly Japanese birds and i was thinking of moving to Japan to ... A: Hmm, I must admit, I've never gotten this question before! This is pretty far out of my area of ... | |
| Japanese correspondence course in U.S. | 5/20/2006 |
| Q: Do you know of any reputable correspondence courses in Japanese in the U.S.? I have survival-level ... A: Kat, Thanks for the question. Actually, I unfortunately don't know of any good courses. But, I will ... | |
| searching for a person | 5/17/2006 |
| Q: coincidently i came to this website because i try to help my american friend to find his girlfriend ... A: Sandra, Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I'm not able to help with this. There are a few ... | |
| Markings on a Japanese Vase | 5/5/2006 |
| Q: Steve, I was wondering if you could translate the markings on the bottom of a Japanese vase that I ... A: I'll give it a shot. Although, often that sort of thing is very difficult to translate. It could be ... | |
| Japanese Wedding | 5/1/2006 |
| Q: A freind of our is marring a japanese women (27 years old) in a civil court next weekend here in ... A: Jacques, Je suis desolet for not responding sooner. :) I've been having trouble with my e-mail. ... | |
| Vagueness of Japanese Businessmen | 4/28/2006 |
| Q: I read an article that said Japanese businessmen are vague when answering difficult questions, often ... A: Unfortunately, there are entire disserations written about that topic, so I doubt I'm going to be ... | |
| Sumo | 4/8/2006 |
| Q: Recently I've read, and seen a lot about Americans becoming Sumo Wrestlers in Japan. I've read that ... A: Mike, I've tried to find some more information for you. It's certainly a hard road. Most sumo ... | |
| Golden Week | 4/3/2006 |
| Q: My girlfriend and I are travelling to Japan from 27 April - 10 May. I know that it's generally not a ... A: Ugh. You're asking for trouble. :) There's no question, travelling in Japan during Golden Week can ... | |
| common business customs in Japan | 3/27/2006 |
| Q: are workers allowed to take one 15-minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon? Do workers ... A: Esmerelda, I'm sorry if my answers will be a little vague, but the answer to most of your questions ... | |
| help for missing person! | 3/24/2006 |
| Q: I have a friend in the philippines who's married with a japanese guy and they a daughther. Her name ... A: I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your question. It probably depends on your friend's ... | |
| Staying in Japan. | 3/20/2006 |
| Q: I was looking to travel to Japan for vacation in August for 2 weeks. I was wondering what would be ... A: Having traveled Japan alone in my 20s, I'd be happy to help you figure this out, but there are a lot ... | |
| language | 2/12/2006 |
| Q: when the japanese say McDonalds in their language, does it sound like McDonalds in the English ... A: The answer is "Yes and no." The Japanese use the same name, McDonald's. The problem comes in the ... | |
| Trip To Japan | 1/5/2006 |
| Q: As a budget-student (age 17), I'm looking to go to Tokyo. I have travelled before, however, only to ... A: Byron, OK, I have a minute to write. Japan is an excellent place to visit. It's also a ... | |
| Quick phrase translation | 12/20/2005 |
| Q: I've just got a quick translation prob.. and unfortunately most of the friends I would ask for this ... A: Laurindo, Well, I don't think I can say that the second part of the sentence is "positive". The ... | |
| defense in japan | 12/6/2005 |
| Q: do you think the US should continue our milatary in japan . i need suporting answers quick A: Colette, I'm sorry, we're not allowed to answer questions related to school activities, and without ... | |
| Japanese shopping | 11/19/2005 |
| Q: I'm currently stationed in Okinawa. I have the usual problems finding products in the local ... A: Sorry for the delay, I was gone for most of the weekend. Well, that's a tricky question! If the ... | |
| Politics and Goverment | 11/18/2005 |
| Q: I am doing a school project n Japan and I would like to know a little bit of what kind of goverment ... A: Meg, Sorry for the delay, I was away for most of the weekend. Unfortunately, we're technically not ... | |
| a quick translation | 11/9/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could do a quick translation of this phrase: "All things are transitory" ... A: In the translation world, typically translators only translate into their native language. For ... | |
| non-chinese derived janji characters? | 10/28/2005 |
| Q: and thanks for answering my question! first, i want to know if there is any kanji characters that is ... A: and thanks for your question! I believe that all Japanese Kanji are derived from Chinese. However, ... | |
| Any ideas about genkou youshi for homework? | 10/25/2005 |
| Q: I thought I'd try writing my Japanese homework vertically for a change. I'm taking a Saturday class ... A: I haven't been able to talk to as many people as I'd like about this, but from what I can tell, ... | |
| Bowing | 10/24/2005 |
| Q: If you can answer this question in whole or in whatever part I will love you. I can't find a single ... A: Luke, I do have some information for you. As I expected, I just don't have any good resources to ... | |
| Language | 9/12/2005 |
| Q: From your profile, I assume you can speak Japanese to some degree. My cousin purchased a ... A: John, I can certainly help decipher anything you can get me a picture of. Unfortunately, I believe ... | |
| city or peninsula? | 8/31/2005 |
| Q: Is Tsugaru a city or a peninsula of Japan? A: Tsugaru is the western portion of Aomori Prefecture. Prefectures in Japan are roughly equivalent to ... | |
| Hosting a Japanese Client | 8/29/2005 |
| Q: My company here in America will be bringing in a client from Japan to work on a project in our ... A: Devon, That's a very interesting question! On the whole, I'd say you're pretty much on the right ... | |
| Meaning of words | 8/21/2005 |
| Q: I study Karate from Americans and there is a form called: Taikyoku Sono Ichi. I know the first is ... A: Sophie, While there isn't really a direct translation of "sono" in this case, it's closest to the ... | |
| Is Osaka worth visiting? | 8/8/2005 |
| Q: At the moment, I am planning my summer holiday vacation. A Japanese friend of mine recommended me to ... A: Kammasit, Well, of course, everyone has their own opinion of different places. But, you asked for ... | |
| business in japan | 8/4/2005 |
| Q: I have a few weeks yet, so waiting until Monday is no problem. Thank you for your help. Kym ... A: Kym, Here are a bunch of additional links that may help in your research. I hope this works out for ... | |
| business in japan | 8/3/2005 |
| Q: Battisti, I am working on a group speech for a class in college about Americans doing business in ... A: Kym, A quick response, because I'm not sure what kind of a hurry you are in. I'm having computer ... | |
| Japanese Culture | 6/14/2005 |
| Q: I have a question regarding Japanese Culture and Personality. I am Filipino-Chinese, and I am ... A: Well, I'm not sure what your question is, but to be honest, I think the guy is a jerk. There is some ... | |
| Japanese vegetables | 6/9/2005 |
| Q: Can you please tell me how I might go about getting the Japanese root vegetables, satsumaimo, ... A: Well, I think you have several options. 1. Most large metro areas have many Asian food markets. ... | |
| Kanji Label | 5/26/2005 |
| Q: Steve, thanks for your prompt reply. It's a bit confusing. It's 100% wool & yet it's also 50% ... A: It does not say "Made in Japan" anywhere, although it clearly is (Japanese isn't used anywhere ... | |
| Kanji Label | 5/26/2005 |
| Q: I have a coat with a label in Kanji. Can you tell me what it says? Thanks. ... A: Label one says: "Wash briefly with an oil-based soap. (Dry-cleaning also OK) Outside is 100% wool" ... | |
| Currency Exchange in Tokyo | 5/17/2005 |
| Q: I am travelling to Tokyo next week for the first time. Where is the best place to exchange currency ... A: Larry, I'm sorry I'm so slow responding. I'm suddenly in the middle of buying a new home. Tokyo is ... | |
| Business Tour - What to wear? | 5/10/2005 |
| Q: ^.~ For the most part, the extent of the travel study will be to Nagoya (2 nights), Kagawa (3), ... A: Well, that's a few areas you're visiting there! With limited time, you probably want to choose a few ... | |
| Business Tour - What to wear? | 5/10/2005 |
| Q: I will be traveling with a college travel study class to Japan for two weeks, during which we will ... A: Wow, this should be a fun trip. Ahh, to be 21 again! Anyway, to your question. Women in the ... | |
| japanese wedding | 4/28/2005 |
| Q: our son is getting married to a Japanese girl in Japan. Mariko is very nice, but much too polite to ... A: Samara, Thanks for the question. I've attended a few Japanese weddings in my day - they vary pretty ... | |
| How to market music in Japan | 4/1/2005 |
| Q: I am currently involved in marketing a music CD and wonder what avenues are available to advertise ... A: Wow. I must admit, this is a very interesting question - and one with which I have ZERO experience. ... | |
| slurping | 3/31/2005 |
| Q: I am an editor for an English teaching textbook in Taiwan. Our writers keep writing that Japanese ... A: Jeff, What a very interesting question! Unfortunately, I don't think there's one definitive answer ... | |
| japanese mealtimes | 3/30/2005 |
| Q: What time do the Japanese eat breakfast? Lunch Dinner? (ex: 9:00 a.m.) A: Japanese mealtimes match pretty closely with U.S. mealtimes. Breakfast is typically early in the ... | |
| quick translation | 3/19/2005 |
| Q: Could you do a quick translation for me? How do you say "Dead Dragon Sect" in Japanese. I know ... A: Jade, As you can imagine, that's not something I get asked very often. =) Also, usually if you ... | |
| Japanese language words and/or gods | 3/4/2005 |
| Q: Is there any english or japanese word the means "many forms" a word for something that is ... A: Mike, I apologize for the delay in responding, especially since my response is lame. Can you give ... | |
| translation | 2/20/2005 |
| Q: i have some fabric that says it has a japanese love poem on it. i'm not sure if it's true but if it ... A: Hmm. Well, I suppose the best way would be if you have access to scanner somehow, you could scan the ... | |
| Learning japanese | 2/2/2005 |
| Q: Right now I'm trying to learn Japanese and I was wondering if I have to learn all 3 of the alphabets ... A: Well, if you're going to learn Japanese, you'll definitely need to learn all three eventually. A ... | |
| 4 unrelated questions | 1/28/2005 |
| Q: 1) Under what circumstances is it polite for me to bow? 2) I know it's frowned upon if you kiss in ... A: Some more good links: http://www.how-to-bow.com/ http://www.gate39.com/jreference/bowing.aspx ... | |
| Museum in Imari? | 1/26/2005 |
| Q: ..I have long been a huge fan of the film films of Akira Kurosawa and read about the possible ... A: Walter, Thanks for your note. Although I enjoy Kurosawa films, I'm far from knowledgeable about all ... | |
| Kanji: Chinese and Japanese | 1/9/2005 |
| Q: When reading kanji characters, how can one know when to use the Chinese reading and when to use the ... A: good question! Well, like many things, the answer is a definite "it depends." (^_-) But, there are ... | |
| J Universities offering correspondence courses | 1/3/2005 |
| Q: I'm living in Yokohama and working as an ALT, but I want to study part time at a Japanese ... A: Ah, the good old days of hanging out with ALTs. (^_-) Brings back good memories. Anyway, regarding ... | |
| looking for my father | 12/3/2004 |
| Q: My name is Yvette Dingal. I am 29 yrs. old. I was born in 1975. I'm a japanesse daughter. But ... A: Sorry for the slow response. Unfortunately, finding a person is very difficult, especially when you ... | |
| Japanese language | 11/23/2004 |
| Q: I was wondering what "Soshite, nani yori mo" meant since someone told me it means "above all else". ... A: Well, that's about it. Actually, it's just the "nani yori mo" that means "above all else". ... | |
| Quick Language Lesson | 11/18/2004 |
| Q: I'm considering getting a tattoo and incorporating my new baby boy's name into it. I was thinking ... A: Well, Japanese characters certainly look cool as tattoos, except for the little touch of "gang ... | |
| Which language | 11/10/2004 |
| Q: Alright, here's my thing (could've put this in one of three categories, but I chose this one). I ... A: Neat question, but not so easy to answer. Ultimately, it's going to be a matter of preference for ... | |
| About... | 10/31/2004 |
| Q: Good day.I'm 23 years old male from Serbia & Montenegro.I whant to know anything about Japanese ... A: I'm so sorry for the delay, I completely missed the notice that you had asked me a question! ... | |
| sakura trees (aka cherryblossems) | 9/19/2004 |
| Q: would a sakura tree survive in the united states if you brought one back from japan? A: Well, I'm hardly a horticulture expert, but cherry trees are notoriously delicate. My guess is, ... | |
| Raising Kobe Beef | 9/18/2004 |
| Q: Steve --- Thanks for the quick reply. I managed to find a listing of stock photo agencies in Japan ... A: Craig, I'm sorry, I spent some more time on this today, but I just haven't been able to come up ... | |
| Raising Kobe Beef | 9/17/2004 |
| Q: I am looking for photographs of farmers raising Kobe beef in Japan. I have found exactly the type ... A: Craig, Ugh, talk about difficult questions! Well, in terms of photo banks, I found a few: ... | |
| what are those guys asking? | 9/13/2004 |
| Q: i recently visited Japan and was at Ikebukuro at night shopping. there were many japanese young men ... A: Well, this is a little too vague to know for sure. It sounds like perhaps you are female. Ikebukuro ... | |
| Japanese Culture | 8/31/2004 |
| Q: I'm wondering if the phrase, "I want to meet you" has a colloquial meaning to the Japanese along ... A: This is very strange, because within 10 minutes I received almost the identical question from a ... | |
| Translation | 8/12/2004 |
| Q: http://www.animelyrics.com/tests/bh20/image.gif Could you translate for me in English? Thanks! A: Sorry for the delay on this... Here's a quick, rough translation: Top right Panel Girl #1: I can't ... | |
| student or cheap accommodations | 8/3/2004 |
| Q: I have a young man (18years old) who will be backpacking in Japan for two weeks. This is his first ... A: Yes, yes, yes! Japan, in my opinion, is a very backpacking-friendly country. The people are very ... | |
| Lost in Translation | 7/17/2004 |
| Q: In the film "Lost in Translation" there is a part where Scarlet Johanson's character takes a train ... A: Well, I saw the movie, but I can't for the life of me remember what place it was. I think it may ... | |
| Japanese Youth Culture | 7/13/2004 |
| Q: My name is Josh and I'm an 18 year old living in The US. I am very interested in the Japanese ... A: Great to hear that you're interested in Japan. It's still fascinating to me after many years. It ... | |
| bento | 7/10/2004 |
| Q: I have another question. Can you please tell me how much bento lunches are sold for in public ... A: I'll answer this question first. Bento are usually in the range of 800-1500 yen. Depending on the ... | |
| phonetics | 7/10/2004 |
| Q: Salam, I'm a teacher, I need to know the pronounciation of these Japanese words. It's great help of ... A: Mr. Zahiri, I'm sorry, but something came through incorrectly in your question. The characters next ... | |
| Itami Airport | 6/18/2004 |
| Q: Itami Airport in Osaka is a domestic terminal. Are passenger services there in Japanese only? A: I must admit, I've never been to Itami. However, that being said, Osaka is the second largest city ... | |
| Looking for a missing person | 6/14/2004 |
| Q: My name is Ovia Narita. I am 28 years old. I was born in 1975. Recently I found out that my father ... A: I'm sorry for the delay in responding. I honestly have never received a question like yours. I'm ... | |
| Names | 6/11/2004 |
| Q: As silly a question as this is could you help me? My name is Michelle with means " who is like God" ... A: Hmm, that's a difficult question. Are you asking me how to say "who is like God" in Japanese? Or are ... | |
| tokyo accomodations | 5/24/2004 |
| Q: I'm tring to find a place to stay for a few nights in the Tokyo area, I've found many hostels, but ... A: So sorry for the slow response. I'm normally much quicker than this, but my son has been ill. ... | |
| diminutive forms | 5/20/2004 |
| Q: I've tried to found out how one can build diminutive forms in Japanese i.e. dog -> doggy, bird -> ... A: Hmm, well, you have a few options: -chan and -kun are two diminutives that are commonly used for ... | |
| Japan | 5/6/2004 |
| Q: Followup To Question - I was wondering if you could tell me what this means 'Nyuun ryu kousonshou' ... A: Daniel, I'm sorry to say that I have been unable to find an answer for you on your Japan question. ... | |
| Japan | 5/5/2004 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me what this means 'Nyuun ryu kousonshou' . Is it a name, place, ... A: OK, that information is very helpful. I'll try to track something down, but I want to be upfront ... | |
| Prerequisites for enforcement of foreign judgments in Japan | 4/14/2004 |
| Q: I would like to know if you can tell me what are the requirements a foreign judgment needs to comply ... A: William, OK, I'll admit it, you've stumped me completely. I'm not sure of the answer to this ... | |
| Translation | 4/9/2004 |
| Q: I was recently answered a question with a Japanese answer... Is there any chance you can translate ... A: Well, I have to say that it's either incorrectly written, or it's written in some kind of slang, ... | |
| No Toilet Paper? | 4/5/2004 |
| Q: Is it true that some Japanese restrooms don't provide toilet paper? If so, how do we get around ... A: Yep, it's true. It's most common in extremely public and low-maintenance places like subway ... | |
| Japanese Culture | 3/26/2004 |
| Q: I am a writer with a interest in writing stories set in Japan or with a Japanese flavour. This had ... A: Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. It's been quite a week. I must admit, though, ... | |
| would like to go to Kyushu, Japan | 3/22/2004 |
| Q: How's it going, hope you well. My name is Rakesh and I am a 30 years(young) chap who is very ... A: Wow, I think I'm going to disappoint you here. You have some very specific questions that I probably ... | |
| Japanese Language | 3/17/2004 |
| Q: I have a Japanese ex-change student coming to my home in two weeks time. It would be great if you ... A: OK Stephen, Well, it's going to be rather difficult to get you entirely up to speed on all things ... | |
| Tokyo housing | 3/12/2004 |
| Q: the avalibility and how to find it, and the quality of housing, and yeah basically what it's like ... A: OK, well, that's pretty broad. I'll see what I can do. First off, living there is pretty neat. ... | |
| Tokyo housing | 3/12/2004 |
| Q: I was just wondering what you could tell me about housing in Tokyo? If there are any other web sites ... A: I wonder if perhaps you could give me some more detail about what you're looking for? Are you ... | |
| do you think I'll ever go to Japan | 3/12/2004 |
| Q: My Mother and Father are very overprotective.... which means they don't want me going off American ... A: Well, let me give you a few thoughts. First, let's focus on Japan and ignore your parents. First ... | |
| "Hanzo" revisited | 3/2/2004 |
| Q: I'm sorry. What are the origins of the name (e.g. the name 'Hitomi' roughly means "eye")?What does ... A: Interestingly, there was a historical figure with that name, a ninja from the Tokugawa shogunate: ... | |
| "Hanzo" | 2/15/2004 |
| Q: What does this name mean? It is not listed on ANY site except in reference to Hattori Hanzo. A: I'm sorry. I don't think I quite understand your question. Have you found the name "Hanzo" ... | |
| business/travel | 10/7/2003 |
| Q: We are working with a company introducing new science technology. We have business meetings set up ... A: Well, it sounds like it will be a fun trip! Nagoya is a neat city, as is, of course, Tokyo. I must ... | |
| Modern Culture Question | 9/16/2003 |
| Q: I want to know, if there is a weekly boxing magazine in japan, if boxing is popular at all. Oh yeah, ... A: My understanding is that boxing is pretty popular, especially the lower class weights like ... | |
| Kyushu | 4/11/2003 |
| Q: my name is Hanifah from Indonesia. I got a scholarship for master degree in Kyushu University. I am ... A: Congratulations on your scholarship! Kyushu (or more accurately, Kyuushuu) is a fantastic place. ... | |
Steve Battisti
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I`m always willing to give help, or at least my opinions on things related to Japan. I think I'm especially strong at helping out non-native Japanese speakers with the language. Also, helping others understand the culture, such as U.S. businessmen who have to do business with Japanese. I'm not doing translations right now, unless it's just a phrase or a word. More of a language and general Japanese culture guy than a travel/history expert.
PLEASE NOTE: I cannot answer questions about the following:
- Pottery or art object - I strongly recommend you take these to an antique specialist
- Finding people - I can't answer these. I just have no way of knowing if the person you're looking for WANTS to be found, and I'm just not willing to risk it. I recommend you contact a private investigator if you desperately need to find someone.
Sorry for the inconvenience!
Experience
10+ years of studying Japan and Japanese language. I lived there for 5 years, one as a student, four as a businessman. Most importantly, I lived there because I wanted to live there, not because someone sent me there!
Education/Credentials
BA in Japanese
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