Recently started working in Japan

[synthomatic]

So I recently started working in Japan a couple months back, coming from the US. James, I read a lot of your blog over a year or so ago when I decided I'd try to come here, and wanted to say thanks for writing it. I feel like I should probably revisit it though, as it's become a lot more relevant. I'm still at the point where my Japanese sucks, and it's pretty frustrating.

I only have experience with working at one company here, but one thing that surprises me is the strict computer policy they have. Basically I was told we're not allowed to install anything on our computers. I wasn't sure if they were referring to small questionable applications and maybe professional commercial products were okay, so to clarify I asked if I could install Steam on my system. Well, the answer was no. Also, no one seemed to know what that was, which is okay, I understand it may not have proliferated here much. But as I spend more time here, I'm starting to think that, maybe aside from MMOs, there aren't a lot of PC gamers in Japan. For example I was talking to my co-worker (who can speak english) and telling him about a game, and he said it sounded interesting. So I brought the disc in a couple weeks later to let him borrow it, and he looked at the box for a while and such, and then gave it back to me. I clarified that he could borrow it to check it out. And he says that's okay, that he didn't play PC games. So things kind of started to click at that point. I never really considered myself any type of specific gamer... pc, console, etc... etc... But one thing I've always been able to do when working in the US is install games on my work computer. And then there were also the occasional multiplayer nights people would stay late after work to blow each other up.

So maybe I am a PC gamer, since I seem to miss that stuff. But it's a different culture here, I understand things are different, and this really isn't so much a complaint as an observation. After all, I didn't come to Japan because I thought it would be the same as the US.

BTW, my girlfriend loves Piczle Lines. I think she's played through everything, including the Halloween pack.

[James Kay]

Hey symthomatic,

Thanks for the kinds words. Your girlfriend has exquisite taste!

Though I doubt the strict data policies at your company are in any way related to PC gaming (it's rare but not unheard of for companies to be very strict with data transfer and installations!) it's true Japan isn't a PC gaming country in the slightest. A PC game selling more that 10k units in Japan is considered a "hit". So although LAN games after working hours are quite rare, a lot of companies will have a few people who are into multiplayer gaming on consoles and fun can be had. And though hardware can be pretty cheap, if you shop in the right places, I guess it's a space-thing that stops most Japanese households from being into PCs so much; I'm not quite sure.

Glad you made it over to Japan and yes, as you say, it's all rather different here. Hope you're enjoying it though!

J