Japan Newbie: Japanese 101 (Kansai-ben) App

Omedeto gozaimasu to Harvey over at Japan Newbie the JapanPage.com for their iPhone and iPod Touch App. I just purchased the app for my iPhone. I am sure that I will enjoy it, especially since I love manzai, Yoshimoto, Downtown and the Kansai dialect!

Harvey says: “Our iPhone and iPhone Touch Kansai-ben application is finally available in the iTunes Store! The full application name is “Japanese 101: Kansai Dialect.” You can read more about the application here, and also in the iTunes Store.” Click here for more information. 

Japanese Visa Rule Update

This in from the Mutang Frog Travelogue regarding Japanese visas and change in residency status:

Roy Berman writes:  ”According to the Ministry of Justice website, starting April 1, 2010, anyone extending their Japanese visa or changing their residency status will be required to show a valid health insurance card/booklet. The relevant portions are below.

平成２２（２０１０）年４月１日以降申請時に窓口において保険証の提示を求めることとしています。 

８. 社会保険に加入していること
社会保険への加入義務がある場合には，当該義務を履行していることが必要です。
なお，平成２２（２０１０）年４月１日以降は，申請の際に窓口で健康保険証の提示を求めることとなります。”

Click here for the rest of the story. Photo credit: R. Berman, Mutant Frog Travelogue website.