My favourite season in Japan by far
Spent today at one of Miyagi’s 自然の家s. These are public facilities for schools, groups, families, and others to spend time in, learn about, and enjoy nature. They are wonderful.
The one we visited was quite old, but well maintained. It has dorm rooms for about a hundred and extensive camping facilities. And it was in a forest, so lots to explore.
These really are a wonderful resource, and one of the things I really like about Japan (the funding and provision of this kind of facility as a public good).
Hope you were able to get out and enjoy the lovely weather this weekend.
Your First Ten Million Yen
Our flagship personal finance course returns in November! If you want to get your finances in order but never seem to get round to it, or it seems a bit difficult or off-putting, this course might be just the thing to get you unstuck.
The course is now open, and you can sign up here for the fourth cohort (starts Oct 28th and runs until Dec 1st).
YouTube
Thank you for your support of the RetireJapan YouTube channel. We reached a significant milestone this week:
Hopefully that is not too foreboding an omen. New video coming soon!
The Forum
Speaking of which, the Forum is doing well (37,896 posts so far). The forum rules are here. In essense, they are:
- Be nice
- Ask any question you like
- Only answer questions when you have relevant knowledge or experience
Here are the latest active threads:
Throwback forum post of the week
Reread this forum thread this week about postponing taking nenkin. Really interesting stuff, especially if you are close to making that decision.
This week’s books
Still reading Burn, by Herman Pontzer, about metabolism and calories, and Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland, about marketing. Both great.
Also read I just want this done: how smart, successful people get divorced without losing their kids, money, and minds. It’s kind of interesting, basically a how to book written by a divorce lawyer (I am not planning to get divorced, just found the topic interesting).
This week’s links
- Not the best look: PM Ishiba’s Electionomics
- Great explanation of opportunity cost, sunk cost, and marginal cost from Seth: Everything costs
- Nice chat about pensions and retirement in Japan (YouTube), although some of the details are wrong: How much money do you need to retire in Japan? Japan’s national pension Part 1
- Derek is still awesome: At the National Diet today
- I did this a few years ago (got a fully kanji legal alias): Yesterday, I became Japanese
- As a grandparent (to six!), I approve this message: The age of the grandparent has arrived
- Quietly, quietly, progress happens: A Little Money Perspective
- Wonderful article about Japanese railways: Trains from the past, trains to the future
- Completely agree. Ill thought out tax incentives created these things, and government policy should get rid of them. They are becoming more common in Japan, which I find very unwelcome: Monster pickup trucks accelerate into Europe as sales rise despite safety fears
- This was a fascinating and slightly mind-blowing lecture (YouTube): The Coming Global Depopulation
What do you think? Anything interesting in there?
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#8 is a great article that weaves together many different things.
Agreed – very well researched and written. A really nice find!
#9 I despise these large trucks but I also believe that people should be allowed to buy what they want to buy so long as the externalities are priced in. Thus tax the hell out of them, ensure they are classified as large vehicles for licensing and insurance purposes and that they meet stringent emissions standards.
I don’t have a problem with that! Pricing in the externalities would multiply the price by a factor of quite a bit, and requiring commercial licenses for heavier vehicles would mean the vast majority of people would not be allowed to drive them ^-^
#8 Before coming to Japan I used to like train travel for the view, but unlike in the US, Europe and Britain, the scenery doesn’t change here. Look out the window and you could be anywhere in the country (unless there’s Mt Fuji or snow).
Just out of curiosity, as you have an Irish surname, was your grandfather (or any other grand parent) born in Ireland? If so have you considered applying for an Irish passport to facilitate your entry to any EU country when travelling? My Great Grand Father was born in Ireland, so my mother is eligible to apply, but that eligibility does not apply to myself.
Thanks for the suggestion! Yes, we have Irish roots but only up to my mother’s generation. All my uncles and aunts were able to get Irish passports, but unfortunately I am not eligible.
Was born in Germany but that doesn’t qualify me for a German passport either. Very frustrating.