Mark from CA

[Mark.B]

That's Mark from California, not Canada btw!

I found this site through Google when searching for some other information. Seems like this site is new and I love getting involved with new sites. Not often is there a new English based site about Japan though.

To be honest up front, I usually hang around at Gaijin Pot but I have grown overly tired of the advertisements and spam bots. NOt to mention the sensoring and attitudes of some of the folks over there. There are number of helpful people, but you really have to dig under the mud to get there.

Well - I have a number of things to add here and I hope this will be a fun experience.

Yoroshiku!

 

[TAG Administrator]

Mark,

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for registering and I look forward to hearing more from you. Your comments about other sites is understandable. We are going to attempt to remain advertisement free as much as possible. We certainly will not be going the route of having ads on all pages or taking up a large percentage of your screen. We may eventually ad some specific advertisements for certain areas, but those ads will be paid for by people that would be private clients and not part of an ad network. We also will attempt to keep the forum free of censorship unless problems arise from people abusing that privilege.

-Eliah

 

[Xeryu]

welcome mark, nice to meet you.

 

[TokyoSpirit]

Welcome to the forum Mark. How often are you Japan? I see you are in LA.

 

[Karen]

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiya Mark from LA!!!!!!!!!!

You'll have to forgive me; it's 1:15 am and I'm high on sugar and can't sleep.

.....yes, of course, I have work in the morning.

Welcome to the currently small family here at TAG!

<3

 

[Mark.B]

Welcome to the forum Mark. How often are you Japan? I see you are in LA.

Thanks everyone.

I make it to Japan about 4 times each year, usually at the end of each financial quarter. Usually try to stay two weeks for each trip, one week for work and the rest for vacation.

 

[Karen]

I make it to Japan about 4 times each year, usually at the end of each financial quarter. Usually try to stay two weeks for each trip, one week for work and the rest for vacation.

Which area of Tokyo do you work in while you are here?

 

[Mark.B]

Which area of Tokyo do you work in while you are here?

Sorry for the long delay in replying. I usually have a place to stay in Shinjuku and work in the Akasaka & Toranomon area.

Also, what is the requirement for using the private message system here?

TY!

 

[Karen]

Hi Mark...

The private message feature becomes enabled after 10 posts. We do this to prevent spam bots from registering and sending users junk mail through the PM system. This is kind of common on other message boards. Our registration process needs to be updated to reflect these kind of things, so you don't have ask these kind of questions. Sorry about that!

btw, does your company own apartment space for when you come to Japan or just a hotel? We have a room that the company pays for and whenever we have someone come into Tokyo, they can use that space instead of staying in a hotel. Sometimes we have people bring their families with them, so it is a really nice fringe benefit.

Happy weekend to you!

<3 Karen

 

[TAG Administrator]

Karen is correct about the private messaging feature.

@Karen, I am changing the registration process to include this note for new users both in registration process and the welcome message. This will be all a part of the new upgrade that is soon to come.

Mark, I apologize for the neglected detail.

-Eliah

 

[Mark.B]

Thanks for your information on the private messages. It's no problem...

As for my stays in Tokyo, the company has a regular suite at a hotel that they keep on reserve for visiting staff. That's where I stay most of the time. Rarely do I stay anywhere else except when going to Osaka or Nagoya. With the enconomy changes, we're all flying business class or less with no family travel option. We can bring family with us but we have to pay their way 100%.

I'm still aiming for a trip to Tokyo near the end of the Japanese financial year. Can't wait to get out of New York for awhile.