A Japan Guy Interview: Life in Japan, featuring Gareth Jones | The Japan Guy

A Japan Guy Interview: Life in Japan, featuring Gareth Jones

May 1, 2011
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I did an interview with my good friend Gareth Jones a little while back to get someone another take on what life in Japan is like. Because he’s been in Japan for nearly the exact same amount of time as I have, and because I worked with him for nearly three years, I figured Gareth would be a perfect person to share his thoughts and ideas with you.

As much as I love writing and posting everyday, it’s good to hear another side from time to time. I hope to do more of these interviews to make the Japan Guy even more useful for more people. Having a guest here on my blog, might even spark some questions you didn’t know you had. I may have said this before somewhere in my blog, but no two people are going to experience Japan in the same way. Gareth’s interview was both fun and informative. I hope you enjoy it.

If you have questions for Gareth, by all means, post them. He’s a nice guy and I’m sure he’d be happy to answer them:

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In the interview, Gareth mentions his former band. Check out the Great Defenders: Re Record on Youtube.

See you tomorrow,

Donald Ash

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  • devin

    When I think of Japan, I think of the video game culture and RPGS…which explains why I liked the nintendo ending of this interview.

    I’ve never thought of Japan and Ninjas I will admit.

    I love Gareth’s Wales accent.

    Otherwise know as “LAB”…hahahahahahaahah Time versus happiness values.

    “Maybe?” in concern to LAB? That darn skype!

    Yeah I like the BBC. Al Jazeera and RT is good too.

    I love Asian food…when I lived in Toronto all I basically ate was Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, and even Cambodian food! Yum Yum!

    hahah “What is your real #3?” :P Aww, Donald you knew you were the real #3.

    Oh my, why is a tech country using dangerous sensors…the image of a flattened Gareth with his nose pressed on glass is not good.

    Too much red tape in Japan? Beauracracy is alive and well I see.

    Interesting statement about the concrete landscaping…so where was this concrete landscaping when the tsunami came? If this had worked I might have put this in the “good” column of Japan.

    British English verus American English..gotta love it. Actually I heard it is easier in Euro countries to get an ESL job if you are from the UK due to the Visa requirments and a desire for British English. But Gareth’s accent is so awesome.

    Great jam session at the end… :)

    • Donald Ash

      Okay, British English…you win this round…but the war is far from over mwahhahahahahaha. :)

      But in all seriousness, thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts Devin.

  • Jay

    I was wondering why you did not ask about what the social life in Japan is for a westerner. Is it easy to date? Do you go to bed after the first date as often or as unoften as in the west? Etc. Are you very popular (desirable) as a westerner? Are the Japanese intriqued by a black american? Intrigued by a Welshman (UK) person? etc. do women reacte to you you both differently? Are social interactions between young people (twenty somethings) as easy as in the west? Is gay life hidden or open? Also, I found the Japanese to be amazing consumers. Cell phone shops had, what seemed like, hundreds of models and colors to choose from. Is that true?

    • Donald Ash

      Jay. SOOOO sorry for the late reply. I didn’t ask about those because I wanted to send my interview in another direction. I’m sure I’ll have another chance to do an interview(s) that focus primarily on the dating aspect of living in Japan. Am I popular with the ladies? Hmm…well, I think in some cases I am. Sometimes people are highly attracted to foreigners here. But I can’t make a blanket statement by saying that everyone is. I have definitely been in places where people are a little less open to it. But in larger cities I think people are a lot more welcoming. Yes people are intrigued. Kids more than anything. Kids try to poke me in crotch on a regular basis…sigh. Interactions between younger people…yep, just as easy I’d say. It’s a huge drinking culture in Japan…for some reason (from the outside looking in) beer really seems to lubricate social situations here.

      Japanese people are great consumers, but I wouldn’t say any more so than the U.S. or the U.K.. When it comes to cell phones though, I think Japanese is a special case. The amount of time people spend commuting on trains and such, they put a high value on their phones, and mobile devices.

      Thanks for coming by to post, Jay. I appreciate it.