My TV interview on Nihon Terib(Japanese TV Channel)

My relative had come down from US and I was taking him around Tokyo. We went to Ginza one of the most expensive places on earth. It is a place where you find all the branded merchandise and designer stores. As we were walking through the street I met guy who introduced himself and asked if I can speak in Japanese. I said yes and he then said that there is a program which is being held on Nihon terabi channel called "Zumu in Saturday"　＆ would I like to participate in it. I casually said yes as I had nothing to do on that day.

I was called for the Hanko shop or Inkan shop where the interview was held. Along with me two other foreigners were also called for interviewing. We had to wait for the camera team who were coming from Asakusa after interviewing few of the foreigners. It was a long wait. Once the camera crew came I was asked to speak about my favourite experience in Japan. My favourite was the bullet trains which I travel the most. One of the fastest in the world. It is like going in a plane which goes on the tracks.

I was also asked to speak on presents which foreigners take to their friends and family. The usage a foreigner does with Inkan/Hanko etc. In the video the hanko person speaks about how foreigners make presents to their friends and family. Then I was asked on what is the reason I have come here. I told them that I have come to make inkan of shinkansen/bullet train. It is something which I like the most in Japan as it is the fastest and the travel time is the least. So I usually go on shinkansen to save time even though they are expensive. I also told them that I have farthest till Hiroshima .

It was a good experience but actually speaking most of the interview is edited and other things which I spoke have been edited and a very short version of it is being shown... :-(.

The shaking experience of japan

As I sit here on my comfortable cot I just can't imagine the sudden jolt I went through yesterday. It was really a great experience or i should say a pain experience. I felt I should share this with everybody.

A day before I was at my desk at office. I felt bit weird like my head is reeling. Then I saw around the metal curtains were shaking and making sound. I saw that everybody were also experiencing the same. It lasted around ten seconds or so. Everybody took it casually as it was just another earthquake which is common in Japan.

Next day 11th march I never new it would be a very awful day for me. It was just a routine day and had returned for my lunch. Around 2.45 I started feeling bit dizzy. I thought this time I am really not feeling well. This was a quake and was properly shaking and I stood up to take video and the quake was increasing unlike the other day. We could see all the hanging things were actually swaying very vibrantly. I was enjoying it as a roller coaster ride. This time I really surprised that nobody was going out. I felt that this is also a normal quake. Suddenly an announcement was made and asked to gather at the evacuation area. We waited there for sometime and some colleagues were able go Internet and find that at Miyagi there was a major earth hit and was around M7 and at Ayase where our office is was around M5.

We went back and we started with our work. I was again getting the dizzy feeling and was very uncomfortable. I could again see the metal curtains sway. There was one long hanging plastic sheet which was slowly shaking. This long quake was making me uncomfortable. Couple of our colleagues thought we will leave. I was confused on whether to leave or stay. It is a 50/50 of risk on both. Atlast I decided to leave. Japanese colleagues did say that the trains aren't running and still we went on as it wasn't comfortable.

We started walking towards the Ebina station. We started hearing the shaking of the shutters. We saw a bus terminal where out of service buses were parked. We were unable stand straight as the land was shaking. I was feeling very dizzy. We saw all the parked buses shaking. Luckily we were standing opposite to a bus stop and also the bus came within two minutes. On the way to station the bus stopped at a traffic signal. The bus was also shaking unevenly due to the quake.

We reached station and saw that there was huge crowd waiting for the bus. There was lot of foam near the station and supermarket workers were cleaning it up. I got to know that the fire extinguisher had fallen and cause the havoc.

At the train station there was only one announcement that due major earth quake the trains have been temporarily stopped. The trains were stopped all over japan at around 2.45pm. The phones were useless as the network was clogged with calls. I wasn't able to call my wife about her whereabouts and neither could she. I felt how helpless we are in front of mother nature.

We waited at the station and expected the trains to resume. Then I suggested that we go to some food joint as it was getting cold. We then moved on to a supermarket and stayed there for couple of hours expecting the trains to resume. We took some snacks and went on planning for contingency plan. Not much was there!!! Taxis not available as roads are all blocked. No direct bus as it is on other direction. As we were having our snacks we experienced couple more tremors. We had nothing more than each other and patience to test us.

We got out of the supermarket as it was making us gloomy and the tremors dizzy. So we went to the station and saw that people were sitting in the train and felt that there is a ray of hope. The trains Might start any moment. We went into the train and again started the long wait. Nothing but the announcement was made saying due to the earthquake we never know when we would start train. Outside temperatures were really cold around 5•C. Good that the heaters inside the train were kept on. We found out that there is a major tsunami expected due quake. It was around past seven and there was no signs of the train being started.

I felt there is no point in waiting for the train as buses were plying. So I checked at train station of any availability of buses to Yokohama which is nearer to our place. The station master gave three buses which we had to take. 1. Chougo ==> 2. Taneba ==> 3.Totsuka ==> Yokohama. (Don't ask me why I didn't take call. It is during such disaster ur thinking becomes very limited.) We then went out for the bus. The queue was very long and buses were crowded. Again the patience was with us.......

We got onto the bus and reached chuogo station. Then we waited long for the next bus. There was some confusion among some on how to reach yokohama. I could help them by directing. A funny thing happened in the bus. A guy was sitting on a two seater chair and was keeping his rucksack on the seat next to him. He wasn't allowing a lady who was requesting him to allow her to sit. He was very reluctant!!! I felt bad and asked the guy to allow her to sit. After some words of exchange he gave in and allowed the lady to sit. The bus started and we were on the way to tateba. As we were on the way, the bus driver made an announcement that the sotetsu line connecting to Yokohama has resumed. We all were rejoiced as it was the fastest way to Yokohama.

We were dropped near Izumi cho station. I was very happy as I could reach home in an hour or so. Announcement was being made that the train would be running slow. I was not sure how far I was from station. I got into the train and saw the route map. I was almost at starting point. The train was stopping at every station for five or more minutes to pick as many stranded people as possible. I at last reached Yokohama with full excitement only to find that this just a start, there is lots to come.

At Yokohama I found that JR trains have been complete stopped due to tsunami. These trains run along the coast and chances of them being washed out are high. I and my colleague were confused. We went around and checked there were lot of people stranded in the station and had planned to stay overnight at station. NTT had started free phone service to call their loved once. We then went on to check the taxi only to find that there is a huge queue, may be around 200+ people. Then we got to know that subway trains have started.

So we asked the volunteers who managing the taxi queue. They told us that there is no direct trains but you can get down at nearest station and either get a bus/taxi if lucky or walk down. My colleague took the subway train and bid good bye. Now for me there wasn't much option either to get a taxi or take chie subway.

I went to subway entrance and saw a station personnel was guiding people. Asked him whether the subway would take me near to Isogo (my area). He told me It is way off for me if I travel on this route. I asked him whether it is possible for me to walked down to Isogo. He told me that he himself came walking to Yokohama in the afternoon and it took him around two hours. I really got surprised with his dedication to work and the enthusiasm with which he was helping people out. He was around fifty plus and if he can, I am being younger I can also walk down. He gave me a warning you can try if you only know the direction. Unfortunately I can't as I am very new and iPhone is low on battery. But really hats off to that guy who was relentlessly helping that person. I first dropped the idea of walking due to directions.

I decided to wait for the taxi. Started following the long endless queue and reached the end of the snake's tale. The line was moving at 10cm for fifteen min. It was quiet cold and felt very useless to stand in the queue. So I thought of going on one of the running subways and reach the nearest station and then walk down.

So I returned to the station and saw the Minatomirai line had started. So I decided on taking it and reaching Motomachi Chugai station. This station is almost ten floors below the earth surface. Well no other go or else have to walk 30 kms. Took the train and got down at last station. From there it was new challenge of finding direction to my place. Station personnel was not aware of the direction as well.

I got out of station and felt so lonely. I saw people were coming to pick their loved once. Had it been in India I would have so many to help me out. Well measured the length of the station twice as I couldn't find people who knew the direction. I found the map board and found a place which direction I need to go. I started to go in a direction I felt I was right. Then I went 100mts and I felt I was wrong. Many buses marked as Yokohama st were going to Yokohama the station from where I came. Then I asked a gentleman who was on coming from opposite direction. He was aware and guided properly.

I started my long Japanese concrete jungle trek. On the way I met guy who was walking down from Tokyo. It took him 7 hrs to reach the Minatomirai st. !!!!! He told me it is a long way for me and felt that I will be able to reach. He came across his destination and I bid him good bye. I continued my long walk. I saw that there were lot of buses plying to Yokohama from Isogo. I was happy and asked the one of bus driver whether the buses are going to Isogo. He did confirm that buses were going but there is no guarantee on time. I could stand in the opposite bus stand. I thought I will walk on the opposite side and if I would stop the bus and get on. I went on for nearly for an hour. On the way I saw few of them were walking. One guy was dragging his leg due to fatigue. I felt really sad for them. My walk went up pedestrian bridges and highway for an hour. Later on there was nobody on the road expect me. It was like going through the woods with wild animals (cars one or two jst drifting away). I saw a taxi put his parking light and wait at a distance. I felt a ray of hope so I quickly went towards it. Before I could reach, the taxi dropped somebody and left. So my walk continued with a song going in mind "yuhi chala chal rahi" (a Hindi song Go on traveller).

Well for my loneliness god gave me company. I saw a guy coming on opposite direction. I asked him the direction only to get a major shock. He told me that I was in the wrong direction and I need to go in the direction I came from. Also he was going towards the same place. I was first shocked but later I saw a beer tin and realized he was drunk. I told him he was wrong and convinced him to join me. He told me that past three hours he has been walking in opposite direction. He was reconfirming whether I was correct. We had nice chit chat on the way. I asked him to read couple of boards which made me realize his eyes were bad. Due this he was wandering in opposite direction. We found taxi parked on the highway and the driver was sleeping with out of service board on. I asked my companion to ask the driver direction. He woke the driver and convinced him to take home. Atlast we reached home safely at three am.

Next day I checked with others their well being and couple of them had similar experience. Later I had realized that I was walking along the coastline. Some in other parts had no electricity or gas connection. All ended well and I should thank the station personnel, people who helped me along. My wife was very bothered and I informed her as soon as i reached. She was safe at her friends place at mishima. Next day there was lot of panic about tsunami and nuclear reactor. My colleague also had reached home safely. This was one of a kind experience for me

The hosptial Visits.

The experience of my roommate's stomach ache.
It was a usual morning and my room mate had a stomach ache and diahorrea so he wanted to go to the doctor. As usual he went to the hospital got the hospital membership card and got a check up done. He got medicated with some powder. Even after taking the medicine for two days the stomach ache had not mitigated at all.

So I and my roomy went again to the same hospital, since his history was already there with the hospital. This time the doctor was a different guy.... Lucky that he could speak good English. Not all doctors are comfortable in English. So my roomy and told him the problem and he asked us to get the Ultra sound to be done. After all the analysis. He gave the same medicine

My roomy had the same problem and he went with a different colleague. This time he got an X-ray done. We were surprised. He is having a stomach ache and in the end got the same medicine.

Still his stomach ache had not stopped. This time again I and he went to the doctor who was a gastro. He analysed and told him to get the CT Scan and blood test which was the heights of it. So we had to go the next day get the CT scan done and then wait for the reports. The doctor saw the reports and found that there were no abnormalities. In blood test report some WBC count was high. This was due to some bacteria. So we ourselves told him that when he had come for the first time, the anitbiotics which was given was working fine. If he prescribed the same once again for a longer duration he will be ok. In the end he prescribed the same medicine. My roomy was feeling better after a week or so.

Thus was the story of my roomy who spent around 30000 on the medicine, consultation and travel. It was really a nice experience. Luckily he had the national health insurance so he paid around 30% of the bill only. Else he would have spent around 100,000yens...

The Tremor

As strong as the title so was my experience last night. The last nights tremor was awesome. I am a weird guy who enjoys the dangerous things to the core and this was one of such kind.

Let me tell you my first experience of the Tremor in Japan. It was early in the morning around 7.00 or so... Now dont tell me it is not early, I only come out of my bed at around 9.00 on weekdays. The house started shaking and just opened my eyes. I could see the hanging lamp above my head just swaying and the house also shaking. My room mate also got woke due to the erratic movement of the house. He started scolding me "hey why are you jumping around" thinking that I was doing some excercise. The first tremor was a nice experience.

Last night was much more aweful. I hardly wake up in the middle of the night. I am a sound sleeper not that I snore but I usually never get woken up by voices. Last night it was different. All of a sudden I woke up around 3.30 am and saw that the whole house was swaying. I could also hear the other apartment also shaking. That was really frightening. First I thought it was the air and I was imagining things or it was my late night nightmares. Fortuantely or unfortunately I was really experiencing the tremors. The lamp shade which hangs down the ceiling was swaying and to add to this experience the air outside was also blowing hard. It was making all kinds of sound which was good for the bollywood movies.

Today I woke up and saw the papers. The tremors were around 5.2 richter scale and it was awesome experience. The best part is all over the Japan you need not bother much about the tremors. As all the houses have to meet the mandatory Japanese standard of withstanding the tremors of rictor scale of 6-7 .... Which is too high back in India. I think very soon I will get accustomed to tremors and it would be as though it is raining.

Experience at Nagoya airport

I was suppose to board the flight at Nagoya airport. I reached there early in the morning as it is quite far from my place around 5 hours journey. At airport I had my breakfast and then checked in my baggage at the airport counter. The flight crew informed me that the flight has been delayed by an hour due to heavy snowing. I didnt mind it as I thought I will enjoy the snow.

So I started roaming in the airport and found a lounge where I could see the snow fall and also feel it. This was my first experience of the snow, as back India it never snows. So I started taking snaps and also looking at the aeroplanes which were delayed due to snowing. I roamed around the airport and then planned while returning back how I will come etc.

Later I went into the place where I had to board the airbus. I finished the security check and started waiting at the respective gate where I have to board the airbus.

At the waiting place I met an Indian from Delhi. We just started chatting about the usual stuffs and also the whether etc. Even after the scheduled time of departure the flight had not reached the airport. I asked the airways what is the status. They said that the flight are going to be canceled. Then I got really panicky about it since I was on leave for only 8 days and in that if I loose a day lots of my work would be posponed or cancelled. I tried my best whether I could board from different flight and unfortunately I couldnt do so as there would be longer wait time for the connecting flights. In the mean while I met two people from Laos one was a Pop singer and a violinist and her mother. The Indian from delhi, two from laos and me became really good friends by then.

The flight had been postponed by a day and was scheduled for the next day. We all had a major issue pending in front of us. We had no place to go. I couldnt go back home since it is quite far and returning to the airport was really difficult. For others they had come on a visit to Japan or come on the company visit. So they cant afford the hotel stay as it was really costly. So all four of us decided to stay at the airport and board the flight the next day. We all had lunch together and were really thing what would we do all night and it would be dam cold.

We sat at the waiting lounge where the seats were put and thought we could sleep on the chairs at the night. We also heard that the heaters would be switched off after 12 as it is a system out there. We were really terrified with the cold at the night and it was snowing really hard. Mean while we met two more Indians, one was Shraddanjali ji from Orissa a state in India and the other was her son who is studying in tenth. We start chatting and then I asked casually where do they stay. They said, they were staying very near to the airport. Around one and half hour away from the airport. I was really surprised with this and asked why are they not going home. They told it would be a problem coming early in the morning the next day. I told them if I was in their place I would have really went home and slept on the cozy bed. To my horror they offered me and the delhi guy to come over to their place and we could come early in the morning to the airport.

We just could say no to the offer and we were about go with them. We realized that we are leaving back the friends from Laos just because we got an offer. So our conscience didnt allow and we dropped the idea and told no. When we told the Lady and the boy also said they would stay back with us. The boy, me and the Indian guy thought we better check if any rooms would be available at the airport atleast and we went on a walk. Unfortunately, we didnt find any.

When we went back to our seats we saw that Laos people had got acquainted with Shraddanjali ji . Again she offered all of us to go over to her place and come the next day. This time since all of us were offered we all said yes and then we went over to her place. We all spent really a good time there, had our dinner and slept on the warm bed. The next day we came back to the airport and boarded our flights. Now we all have become really good friends.

If I just call back that day I just imagine what would have been my state if she had not called me to her place. This particular incident I would be remembering for my life time. We were total strangers and this particular incident made us really good friends and we had a nice. I was really happy I am healthy without any sickness due to cold. Thanks to that Shraddanjali ji once again.

My First Contact

It was long since I have blogged. As soon as I came over to Japan I thought, I will put my experiences in Japan. As the saying goes, Chaitanya Proposes and God Disposes. That is what is happening with me. As soon as I landed at the office (Toshiba) I was loaded with tons of issues. These issues should be resolved and I was working almost 12hours to 18hrs, sometimes I was leaving early in the morning. Today is one such days where I am able to spend some time for myself.

I thought to begin with let me put My First Contact with Japanese in their world itself. Well it is a first contact because this is my first foreign country and everthing I see here is different. I started observing a lot of things. The difference in people, the facility which is provided to the citizens etc. I had only heard humbleness of Japanese and also known through there language. It is so humble you just cant imagine. I will put across some of my experiences and some of my friends.

To start with let me tell about the airport. At the airport (mars for me) everything was new and I had to reach Mishima a small town in Shizouka ken(prefecture). I was not able to reach my friends numbers and then I had to reach their else it will be too late. So I went over to the Shinkansen(bullet train) counter. There I had no clear idea of what to do and I didn't know their language very well. I new so called Japanese language as much as a 4year old kid could talk or something I think. The lady asked me where do I need to go and then I then she gave me the ticket to Mishima. I was confused where to go how to go etc. On my way to the station I asked a person by showing the ticket. The person accompanied me and took me to the bullet train told me where to stand also. That was one of examples of Japanese humbleness.

The next example was of my friend. He had come to Japan for the first and didnt know a word of Japanese. He was suppose to return to hotel from his office. He called the taxi but after calling he realized he had only 1200 Yens. It costs around 1350 yens to his hotel from the office. When the cab came over he tried to explain the same to the cab driver in English. In Japan almost all cab drivers dont know English. So when he explained the same, the driver didnt understand. In the end the driver asked him to sit in the cab and then he took him. When the meter showed around 1150 yens or so the cab driver switched off the meter and then took him to the hotel. He took 1150 from him and went. This was really surprising.

The other example was with me and friends. We usually go to Mini Stop a combini stores nearby our office during our lunch or for snacks. It was quite cloudy that day and it was about to rain. We reached there and it started raining. The rain had not stopped even after our lunch and we had to come to the office. In Japan if it rains it is just like standing beneath the shower with full speed. We were just thinking how to return, then the lady in the shop came over and asked us how are you people going. She enquired do we have an umbrella and unfortunately we had not taken the umbrella. So she gave us two umbrella to me and my friend. I was really surprised. The humbleness doesnt end here. We reached office and then we saw two of our collegues not drenched to our surprise!! We asked them where are you coming from. They said they had gone Aspen a small restaurant and the lady out there had dropped them by car. That was one of the most surprising thing.

This way I keep listening different stories about the helping attitude, humbleness etc about Japanese. This is the softer side of the Japanese. Sometimes have also seen effrontery shown by them also. This is very less compared to the softer side. I would always say it is good place to stay provided you know the language. You will find it really difficult starting from food to travel. At least travel you can some how manage since the train managers or ticket collector are all really helpful and also most of them can understand English .

Yes, I remembered one more incident about the train station which my friend had experienced. As usual he didnt know Japanese. He wanted to go to some place in Japan and so he approached the train manager or ticket collector. Unfortunately, the ticket collector didnt know Japanese. My friend tried to explain him what exactly he wanted to do in English and the collector couldn't understand. So the collector called up his daughter who new English and asked my friend to explain her the same. She translated the same. At last my friend got the correct tickets and reached his destination.

This is for all for today. I will be updating my blog as and when I find time. I will be telling about other places like disneyland, Fuji-Q highland etc etc. Keep watching this blog. Also I will be putting some photos so that you can enjoy as I describe them.