���� and Haruki

This entry will lacks pictures, so unless you enjoy reading my drivel, you might as well head straight to the lively discussion board. That’s the only thing *I* read on this site anyway.

Heh.

I just started working in Japan recently. Technically, I am working for an American company, but the section of this company I work for was just ‘recently’ (like, 3 or 4 years ago) acquired, and the original company was a totally Japanese one. I guess there have been a lot of changes since the old company was bought out, but a few things seem to me to be pretty Japanese.

Of course there are tons of Japanese employees, most of the emails fly around in Japanese, and other things, but a few things surprised me.

There is actually a smoking section on my floor of the office. Not like so you can just sit down and smoke while you work, but you can get up, go into a *tiny* little room, and smoke away as much as you want during the day. This room is actually a room connected to the ‘break/meeting’ room, so some of the stink leaks in to that room, but it’s not detectable in the office.

Hrm. I know there is a company in Japan with a no smoking policy… I thought it was called ‘Red Fox Inc.’ but I can’t find a link. I did find this however.

Another thing that caught me off gaurd at the office, is that we have all you can drink HOT green tea! Instead of a coffee maker, there is green tea at the push of a button. I thought I heard somewhere that green tea had more caffeine than coffee, but I guess not.

The office is also organized interestingly. It is just one incredibly wide floor, with lots of… cubicles? However, the partitions for the cubicles are all green (okay, I guess that’s not important) and the partitions are very, very low. There really isn’t any privacy there. I guess that it’s normal though. It isn’t quite like this, but you get the idea.

Ah yes. I’m also in the middle of reading a book my Murakami Haruki called Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. I’m reading it in Japanese, and in English, one chapter at a time of each, so it’s taking me like months to finish… but my slow reading style is another discussion… anyway. The book is cool. Go read it.

Next time, I’ll take pictures of some summer fireworks gatherings in Japan. Fireworks are a big deal here… and I think these crowds might even rival the soccer match. Actually. I’m sure they will.