Comments on: Pure Love Renaissance : The Budget Otaku

By: Wakaba

Wakaba — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:07:50 +0000

Can’t believe you never mentioned the classic, tride and true for fifty years, Mormon missionary approved cheapest possible eat in Tokyo: the cut-off ends and crusts of bread (mimi-pan) which you can buy at bakeries, usually for 100 yen for a bag the size of a whole bread loaf (or that was the price when I was there some years back). Slop curry roux onto them and you’re good to go. Add mung bean sprouts if you absolutely must have roughage.

By: Garry

Garry — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:00:39 +0000

A friend of mine from my early college days did a year’s study in Japan. He took about ten grand with him, spent $8000 in Akiba over the course of a weekend and took the Shinkansen to his college town.

He subsisted entirely off rice for a year, staving off scurvy by shoplifting bags of dried veggies.

By: F. Lobster

F. Lobster — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 20:17:12 +0000

learn to love pasta.

By: SDS

SDS — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 13:02:55 +0000

While living in Japan, my chosen method of saving money was a semi-rigorous diet of rice and nattou.

Admittedly, it’s not for everyone but it gives you a far more nutritious and equally cheap alternative to vacuum-sealed curry and ramen from a 100-yen store.

By: Sydney2K

Sydney2K — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 03:23:50 +0000

I actually know someone who flew to Japan without a skerrick of Japanese and proceeded to live in Japan, finding a place to stay and everything. I think though she actually shared with someone so that’s not quite the same as doing it by one’self.

But having said that I do know that in Ikekuburo there is an English language expat office where one can find accommodation and jobs, etc., so if you knew where that was that might alleviate the accommodation problems somewhat.

Also, if you got a job as an English teacher, with most of your immediate requirements looked after by the company, that might help to.

Of course this is all hearsay, and I haven’t actually experienced this firsthand.

By: Shipon

Shipon — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:40:10 +0000

Sydney2K>>
I would assume if you were taking out a lease on a concrete shoebox and living in Japan you would have some modicum of Japanese ability.

By: Sydney2K

Sydney2K — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:45:02 +0000

You forgot the lack of Japanese language skills. Ordinarily you can’t buy without some basic ability to speak the local lingo, so to speak. How about this: when you have to pay, check the price tag or cash register display (for multiple items), and fork over the right amount of money, collecting the change. If at a fast food restaurant point at the item you want. No exchange of conversation is necessary.