About | The Japan Guy

About

August 15, 2010
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TheJapanGuy.com is a website is a compilation of my experiences, pictures, videos, thoughts (and more) while living in Japan.   The aim of this site is to use my experiences to show what life is like here in Japan, from a foreigner’s perspective. Inside of this blog you will find:

  • An archive of articles discussing life in Japan from a foreigners point of view
  • Japan Videos & Photo libraries
  • Interviews and audio recordings from people who have lived or are living in Japan
  • Weekly Updates (So please come back regularly)

This is by no means an exhaustive list; as the site develops I hope to provide more and more useful content.

Who is the Japan Guy?

My name is Donald Ash and I am the creator of TheJapanGuy.com website.  I am from Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. and am currently living and working in Ibaraki, Japan as an English teacher.  The majority of my professional work has been in the educational field, having taught both karate and middle school in the United States.

I was inspired to write this blog after having lived in Japan for over two-and-a-half years.  I realized that my life in Japan so far has been so many things: fun, confusing, beautiful, challenging, interesting, frustrating, captivating, and peaceful…among other things.  I sincerely hope that this blog will do the following:

1) Serve as a resource for those currently living in Japan or coming to Japan

2) Provide some insight into the Japanese culture/lifestyle

3) Show that Japan can be downright fun!

Living in Japan has been a truly rewarding experience for me and maybe…just maybe…my writing, my thoughts…my blog can help make life easier for someone else.

SOME OF MY JAPAN PHOTOS

This is a picture from the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan, standing in front of the robot from the Ghibli anime “Laputa.”

This is me, standing next to one of my co-workers, attacking that very same robot!

Being choked by some Japanese friends at Tokyo Disneyland in Chiba, Japan. The Happiest Place on Earth?!?

A photo with women wearing traditional yukatas. This was taken during a short cruise on Tokyo Bay shortly after my birthday.

Just before a Halloween Party in 2009.  This was my coworker’s outfit, but I had to try it on.

Me and one of my co-workers at the Matsuri Tsukuba Festival 2010

  • Mira

    Dude, loved this site. its fun and informative.

    I’ve always wanted to work and learn about diff cultures, at the same time. so I can imagine how awesome it might be for you.
    And even though there are those imp things we have to give up on like our kinda food and our ways of life, there always is a trill of stumbling upon somthin new everytime. God bless.

    - Mira

    P.S.
    Oops, your an english teacher, let me go back correct my spellings and grammer .. Lolz :D

    • Donald Ash

      I’m really happy to hear that, Mira. It does my heart proud to know that people get something out of the site. It’s posts like these that make me want to do more and more. Visiting Japan has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I never would have imagined that I’d be living here, totally immersed in the culture!!

      Thank you so much for stopping by, and an EXTREME JAPAN GUY THANK YOU for posting. I’d love for you to come back again.

      Donald

      p.s.-I may be an English teacher, but I make my fair share of spelling and grammar mistakes, too ;)

  • Hayes

    GREAT website!.. thankyou for sharing your life experiences in Japan. I have been wanting to move to Japan with my wife and daughter for a while now, and this site is a perfect intro for a foreigner! thankyou!

    keep it up!

    • Donald Ash

      Hayes,

      It’s no problem, really. I am just happy to hear that you find the site useful. Living in Japan can be challenging, but it’s been a super-rewarding experience for me.

  • http://www.wdevn.tv James Thomas

    Hello Donald,
    You have a very interesting site here about living in Japan. I’ve learned a lot over the hour at this site. I teach as well, but in Taiwan and I travel a lot between Taiwan and Japan. Occasionally, I assist some companies related to TV media in Japan.

    I found this site via a comment you made on the Time.com site concerning the suspension of an English teacher in the States posting comments on a blog. I can agree 100% with the comments you wrote concerning teacher professionalism.

    I would like to know if it’s possible for me to interview you live on-line via Skype for a web based video cast I do at my web site wdevn.tv. I think it would be interesting to share and compare our thoughts on teaching in Japan and Taiwan Let me know if you are interested.

    Thanks

    James
    WDEVN Host

    • Donald Ash

      Taiwan, huh? That’s great! Taiwan is actually one of the excursions I hope to make while I’m living here in Asia. Thank you so much for the positive feedback, I sincerely appreciate it. I would love to do a web interview. I’ll be visiting my family from February 28th to March 10th, but after that, I’m good to go. If you could just let me know the date and time, that’d be great. Also if you can let me know about any topics you want to discuss, that would be helpful, too.

      Thanks for reading, James

      • http://www.wdevn.tv James Thomas

        Great! It would be nice to compare teaching in Japan and Taiwan! Please send me yor email via the address I used here. I looking at doing the interview on a Sunday morning so people in both Asia and the US can watch…

        Talk to you later and enjoy your trip back home.

        James

  • Rita X Stafford

    Well, we know what’s happened so far…!

    Terrific blog, excellent writer. My sister lives in Atlanta, so I get to visit there sometimes. Be well, be safe. With you 100% during these difficult, heart-wrenching times.

    • Donald Ash

      I really appreciate you, Rita. Thank you :)

  • http://www.wdevn.tv James Thomas

    Hello Donald,

    I’m glad to see you are dong well. Will you be available for an on-line interview anytime soon.
    Take care,
    James

    WDEVN Host, Taiwan

    • Donald Ash

      Hi Mr. Thomas,

      I am truly sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. Things have been a little crazy lately. I have to see about the time difference, but Friday night (my time), Saturday, or Sunday would work well for me. If at all possible, could you send me a copy of questions or topics that we would be talking about? Talk to you soon :)

      Donald

  • http://firechan.com Nanami

    Heya! I wanted to say I’m enjoying your site! There are several interesting pieces. I am (like many of your visitors) looking into teaching in Japan. Thanks for the great info.

    • Donald Ash

      Nanami, thank you for visiting. I’m sorry my reply is so late, things have been extremely busy. But I appreciate every single person that reads this blog, readers like you. I even appreciate those who have negative things to say…not everyone will agree with what I’ve written. I’m enjoying having you as a reader.

  • Kathleen Hubert

    Hello,

    I was wondering if you accept guest post for your blog. If you do, I would like to submit a few. I’m a recent college graduate, with an English major, looking to build out my portfolio. I can write on a wide variety of topics and am sure you would be happy with the quality. Please email me back if you are interested. Thank you for your time.

    - Kathleen Hubert
    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002374243662

    • Donald Ash

      That sounds awesome, Kathleen. What would you like to write about? I am completely open to guest posts. As long as I can take a look at it before I post, it’s no problem at all :)

  • http://www.abubbleshooter.info/ bubble shooter

    About | The Japan Guy has been stored as a favorite :) , I like your blog!

    • Donald Ash

      I’m really glad to hear that. Please come again.

  • JF

    I very much enjoyed your blog about the AKsomething48 band. I can’t believe they have concerts for hologram performers. wow.