Wednesday, 31 December 2014
NISA open January 2014
The world's oldest population by age is taking drastic measures under the leadership of Prime Minister Abe to stimulate the economy, which is sinking under the weight of a national debt twice the size of its already massive GDP. This time, the initiative is called NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account). The selling point of this strategy, which is basically an investment account, is that all income gained from money invested into this account, up to 1 million yen per year, will be tax exempt for a five year period, every year, for five consecutive years beginning 2014.
This strategy directly seek to tap into liquidising the closely guarded savings of one of the world's best savers. According to the Japan times,
Japanese households held ¥1.645 quadrillion in financial assets as of the end of 2013, according to data from the Bank of Japan. Fifty-three percent of that, or ¥874 trillion, was in cash and bank deposits, while 9.4 percent was in stocks and 4.8 percent in investment trusts.
The aim is to encourage a large number of people to put forward a little bit of cash back into the economy.
Although all revenue gained from the stocks themselves are tax free, the price paid in getting your share of the stocks pie is not. You still have to pay the brokerage fees. This is where the investment companies and banks spring to action.
All the finance companies are competing for customers. They need to offer an incentive to prospective new account holders to open an account with them. The best offer I've come across so far, is to have the entire sum of brokerage fee, refunded back to you. This is where it caught my attention.
I was on the slow end in terms of jumping on the bandwagon, but before the year ended, I managed to get on board (yes even non-Japanese residing in Japan qualify). I opened an account with Aeon Bank, owned by Aeon group. Aeon returns the entire sum of brokerage fees paid, in the form of points that can be used as cash at any of their stores, which I frequent anyway.
From a consumer's point of view, I reckon NISA is a great initiative. From the government's point of view, the more stagnant money is liquidated, the better for Japan as a whole. So I thought I'd spread the word.
One disclaimer. Returns are not guaranteed. This is an investment, after all, and all investments carry risks, so do so being prepared to lose it all. However, very few things in life come with no uncertainties, and to me, this is a great way to increase my capital with controlled risk.
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Trip to Australia Day 8: Wedding
Congratulations, Darren and Anne :)
Today was the big day. I was on my best behaviour as groomsman. From the start to the end, we the bridal party accompanied the VIPs of the day.
To some people, the customary thing is for the bride and groom to not see each other on the day of the wedding, until the wedding itself. However, in Asian cultures, apparently it's customary to have a tea ceremony and invite all your relatives. I didn't know about the latter until today. It seems my friend Darren didn't know much about it either, being an ABC (Australian born Chinese). But he figured out what he needed to do quick enough.
The tea ceremony involved many greetings, much exchanging of red packets, and delicious lunch catered by Miss Chu.
After lunch, it was down to business. The photo shoots. Run by Linda Truong.
(The only) One I took myself.
mmmbeeautiful.
In the evening, was the ceremony itself. My highlight was the bridal party procession. Unfortunately, no video, at least from me. But I can say it was fun :) Before the exchanging of vows, we had a sermon preached by our pastor at ALLC. What surprised me, and probably most people in the crowd, was the passage chosen by the couple to be wed. It was Hosea 1.
A surprising passage to be heard spoken on at a wedding ceremony, but one that got my respect. It reminded us of the stark contrast between God's steadfast faithfulness to us, and our repeated betrayal of him. Within that is a reminder of how imperfect we are, and the image of sin that stains the wedding white and happiness. Weddings make people happy. But we know that married life will not always be. It was a refreshing call to reality, that two sinners are getting married, and that will inevitably lead to problems surfacing down the track. At the same time, we are reminded that behind these two sinners is a steadfast and faithful God who will not fail them. And on the darkest of days to come, with God in the picture, they can trust that God will carry them through to the end. Amen :)
Happy new wedded life :)
Trip to Australia Day 9: Flying back
I made my way back to the airport in the morning. After an action packed 8 days back, it's finally time to go back to Japan.
Breakfast on the plane.
Lunch on the plane.
Dinner on the plane.
I just wanted to say, after my experience with Korean Air on the way to Australia and back, I thoroughly loved flying with them. The planes ran on time, air hostesses were really friendly, the food was great, and on the flight to and from Sydney and Incheon, there was a built-in screen where you could watch more recent movies or listen to music (or play games, if that's your thing). Here's a little secret, they also give you free cups of instant Korean noodles if you get hungry between meal times.
After a long day of flying, I finally arrived back at Haneda Airport at 11pm. I realised that the last train that would get me back to my place on time was already gone. So I decided to spend the night at the airport, and set off for Tsukuba (and class first period at 8:40...) tomorrow morning.
Trip to Australia Day 7: Catchups old friends and a wedding rehearsal
The day began at the Grounds of Alexandria. This is the place where the wedding is to be held, but this morning, the reason for coming was brunch with a good high school mate of mine, and his girlfriend, whom I met for the first time. Good chat, good food, good first impressions.
Complimentary danishes. On our way out we were stopped by the danishes stall and the guy told us if we sang a Christmas carol, we'd get a free danish. So the three of us sang Hark the Herald Angels Sing. A couple of bystanders even videoed us singing. It was good to sing to the public about the real reason why we celebrate Christmas.
I had a bit of a kick back waiting for the afternoon, when the other people involved in the wedding tomorrow arrived at the Grounds. We had a quick rehearsal, going through what the ceremony would be like tomorrow. The groomsmen and bridesmaids properly met each other for the first time. It went well.
For dinner, I was the guest of another good mate from church. This one isn't getting married (yet). However, he did introduce me to his girlfriend. We went to a chic Italian restaurant called Vapiano. You order the pasta at the counter, and they make it in front of you. It was a nice experience. Sorry, so keen to eat that I forgot to take photos of the pasta itself :/
Photo taken with my friend, with permission, in front of where you order the pasta and watch the chefs cook it.
Monday, 15 December 2014
Trip to Australia Day 6: High school Bible study group
Having had such a fast paced program back in Australia, I took it easier during the daytime today.
From the afternoon, I met up with the guys I used to study the Bible with back at James Ruse. It was good to catch up once again, and to hear where everyone was at these days, and to see everyone staying strong in the faith.

For dessert we enjoyed a nice selection of gelato from the specials range at Messina. I had a great time.
Trip to Australia Day 5: church, shirts shopping, carols
The day after the retreat, and the bonding games, everyone was out cold. But, I really wanted to visit the Australian sister church in the same alliance as my current church in Japan, while I was back.
There was just one issue. We were in the middle of the country, and I didn't have a car. Who would have come to the rescue other than the man himself, my friend soon to be wed. He offered to drive me back, even though he had no obligation to, and though he was as tired as the rest of us from the day before. So much gratitude.
Unfortunately at the church as well I was too involved in the moment, and didn't think of taking photos. By nature I'm not really a photo kinda guy. But I try.
I couldn't stay back long at church, because we had unfinished business leading up to the wedding - purchasing matching white shirts for the groomsmen. Once again, none other than the groom to be himself came all the way to pick me up so we could look for a shirt together. There I met his fiance, and a mutual friend of mine, for the first time in maybe two years?
When I mentioned I hadn't had lunch, they offered to take me to the best burgers in town: Grill'd.
My first impressions were pretty good. The place had a sort of modern and stylish yet fairly laid back feel to it. I ordered the Summer Sunset Beef burger. Having heard this place being so highly spoken of, I had high expectations for my burger. Here's what it looked like.
So I gave thanks for the food, and dug in. And my first mouthful... was cold and ordinary. Quite disappointed really. I mean it wasn't a BAD burger, but just not the best burger I imagined I'd eat.
When I told my friend that, what did he do? He called the nearest waiter, told him the burger was cold, and took it back to the counter. And the shop, they brought me another burger, freshly made. That certainly went beyond my expectations.
My second experience was much better. I definitely have confidence in placing it up there as the best burger I've eaten. The bun was freshly baked and crisp, the lettuce was crisp, the meat was juicy (and warm), and the sauce oozed out just the slightest when I bit into it. It's not the biggest burger I've ordered, and it didn't have every single one of my favourite ingredients in it, but for quality, I rate it 9.5 out of 10. I give my friend the same rating. Anne, you couldn't have asked for a better husband.
So after that memorable meal, we met up with the others and went shirt shopping, and found a great shirt. What's even greater, is that the guy serving us is the friend of my friend's fiance. He gave us his members 40% discount ^^
On the way out, we were met by this Christmas tree. But it's no ordinary big Christmas tree.
This Christmas tree, and the decorations around it, are entirely made of LEGO.
On our way back I indulged in a $1 frozen coke at Maccas. This is something I've never seen in Japan Maccas before.
An interesting find at a sushi train restaurant in Hornsby. It's a dessert that looks like a mandarin, with attention to detail right down to the tiny depressions on the surface, and actually tastes like a mandarin too. In all the sushi trains I've been to in Japan, haven't seen one of these before.
At night, I was able to meet all my old church friends from ALLC at the carols service. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had become a join event run by three churches in the area. I had always hoped to see the churches uniting in their efforts for outreach. Speaking with the main pastor involved, it turns out the carols on the oval has been happening for the past seven years, and this has been the second year ALLC has joined in.
The big space in the bottom of the photo, was reserved for the fireworks. I was quite impressed. In a country where there is a total fire ban, they pulled off quite a spectacular display. And I came from a country where there are more fireworks each year than there are people in Australia. (It probably isn't an overstatement, if you consider the single units of fireworks that are used in total over the summer). They had the rural fire service on site as stand by.
Trip to Australia Day 4: Pre-wedding Retreat at Kangaroo Valley
Image taken from http://www.ytravelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Kangaroo-Valley-NSW-125.jpg
A great weekend away organised by the best man as a pre-wedding wedding retreat. Good bonding time. Had so much fun that I forgot to take photos :P
The highlight of the trip has to be the "bonding games" my friend came up with. So ridiculous, and so fun.
He organised three challenges, dividing the eight of us who went on the retreat into two teams.
The first challenge involved navigating a maze that he constructed using wooden pickets and string - with everyone blindfolded. The first team out of the maze won. Unfortunate to say the other team won this challenge.
The second challenge had two parts. The first, was to construct two coffee tables 50cmx50cm and at least 13cm high using planks of wood, nails, hammer and saw that each team was provided. The second part, was to navigate the maze from the first challenge (this time not blindfolded), but only standing on the two coffee tables we constructed. Note, there were four fully grown adult (Asian) men on each team. The first team to reach the finish line wins. However, if our tables break, we lose. Our teams finished the tables and started the maze navigating at roughly the same time, but not even 10 minutes into navigating the maze, one of the other team's coffee tables lost two of its legs, so we won. For the record, our team was ahead in the maze when they were disqualified.
The final challenge involved playing soccer, using the three intact and one broken coffee tables as makeshift goals. The catch: we could only use our left leg to kick the ball. None of us were left side dominant.
The game was meant to finish after two ten minute halves. After extra time after the second half, however, we were tied on two goals each. We were too into it to leave it at a tie, so we played on for the golden goal. Another twenty minutes later, the other team finally scored. Though on a points basis one team lost and one gained, but really, all of us gained. It required a really big team effort to fight till the end, and we did it. I was really happy with the outcome, and with my friend for coming up with the games. We were all so sore the next day.
Friday, 12 December 2014
Trip to Australia Day 3: Uni friends
It was good to catch up with my good old med sci buddies :)
We were planning on going to the beach, but it had been forecast rain that day. It's apparently been raining everyday for 9 days prior to me arriving in Australia, and continued to rain till yesterday. But today, it turned out to be actually good weather in the end. Oh well. We had a good time having a good ol' backyard BBQ catching up over a few snags.
Not having gone to the beach today means I don't think I'll be able to visit the sunkissed Aussie beaches this time round :( That's a bit of a shame. Definitely gotta go next time.
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Trip to Australia Day 2: ALLC, Kangaroo steak, Bondi Junction Westfield
For the first time in one and a half years, I went to ALLC to meet up with my pastor. It was a nice catch up,
Kangaroo steak and beef sewer with chips and garden salad on the side. It was a 110% satisfactory meal. Meat SOO tender. Forgot the name of the restaurant, but it faced the harbour and is next to IMAX. On the pricey end, but the experience was totally worth it. Cheers Daz for bringing me here.
Pearl milk tea and "cheese waffle" at a Taiwanese cross between Meet Fresh and EasyWay called ComeBuy. Wasn't bad.
Sneak photo taking of my sister during her shift at Bondi Junction Westfield. Exhibiting her expertise on men's underwear to a customer.
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Trip to Australia Day 1: Landing in Sydney, visiting a family friend with my sister
Dinner on the plane: Korean style. Btw the indistinguishable black liquid is seaweed soup in poor lightning. 

Breakfast on the plane.
Stunning view at dawn from the plane.
Lunch with sis: Time for Thai, Kensington
First time trying Masman curry, after having heard much about its renown. Having had it myself, I agree it's defs up there. But personally, butter chicken is still my personal fave :3
Pad Thai. Moist, and full bodied flavour. Very tasty.
Dinner with sis: Papa Rich, Chatswood
Nasi Lamak with curry chicken and prawn. Superb taste. The rice and the prawns were extra tasty. Would come back just for the rice and prawns.
After dinner we visited the home of a family friend who has been very hospitable to us when our family first arrived in Australia. Our visit was perfect timing; a couple of days later and they would have been gone on a family cruise. It was good to see that their family was doing well.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Trip to Australia day 0: Incheon, Korea
Once again, it's time to board the plane. It's been the end of a productive day, with many surprises and twists.
This morning I left Tokyo at 06:20 and arrived in Incheong at 09:05 (no time difference).
Breakfast on the plane, included in the price of the ticket.
My connecting flight to Sydney from Incheon would not leave till 19:05 the same day, meaning I had a whole 10 hours to figure out what to do with. I do have a considerable amount to revise for the upcoming end of sems, but I didn't want to spend a whole 10 hours studying...
Just as I was approaching customs, I came across this brochure...
Inside, I found this...
It's free, it enables me to see some of Korea, and I was allowed to make a reservation. So why not! And I'm glad I did. As the description says, we visited two places, Wolmi Park and Shinpo Market, by bus, and for free. (had to pay for my own lunch at the Markets though).
Cartoonised figure of the ancient king and queen of Korea. Around it, you can see there is quite a lot of recent snowfall. That in itself was a great experience too!
This is the culture exhibition museum in Wolmi Park. We took a glance inside...
Dress up as the king of Korea! :D Others on the tour seized the opportunity to dress up as queens and princesses too. For privacy reasons, I'll only be uploading the photo of myself.
Sinpo Internal Market.
A squiz inside.
It was delicious. And SO MUCH. For the equivalent of AUD11, I ate chicken and more chicken till I could eat no more... and took half with me as takeaway lol.
Also came across these cool colourful buns.
It was an excellent day. I highgly recommend this Incheon Transfer Tour ^^
Sunday, 7 December 2014
Trip back down under
I'm sitting back relaxing, nice and early in the morning at Haneda Airport, waiting to board my plane back to Australia.
It's been over a year and a half since I first landed in Japan as a foreign student. It's really no overstatement to say that so much has changed since then, both in Japan and back down under. Can't wait to see the people important to me once again.
My flight itinerary. Sorry to those who can't read Japanese. You can guess from the numbers and symbols. Or learn Japanese.
Here's my record of my time back.
Friday, 5 December 2014
Winter Illuminations in Tsukuba
We've truly entered winter here in Tsukuba. Not only the grass, but even the air seems to have developed frost. Even when I'm breathing through my nose, the air steams up.
Another sign that winter has come in Japan, is the appearance of illuminations. Here are some shots of Tsukuba centre at night.
Saturday, 29 November 2014
National Aikido Convention
Today at the Japan Martial Arts Stadium, the 2014 National Aikido Convention was held. I went with four other members from the Tsukuba University Aikido Club. Being a first year, I was involved backstage in directing the flow of people.
Here are some pictures from the day :)
The sign says "54th National Student Aikido Convention".
We received a bento and a bottle of tea as a sign of thanks for helping out on the day. I accidentally ate one onigiri before remembering to take a photo...
View from backstage
A demonstration by the current successor and guardian of the Aikido technique and son of the Aikido master.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)