Japan GIS/Mapping Sciences Resource Guide

(Third Edition)

Handy References

"Have Computer Will Travel"

by

Erik Kassebaum
erikkass@rpnet.net

Note: Article appears with the generous permission of the author, Erik Kassebaum.

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HANDY REFERENCES
Paper Sizes
Japanese Year Conversion
"Have Computer Will Travel" by Erik Kassebaum
Glossary/Punctuation Guide: English - Japanese (Romanized)
Japan Time and Business, Banking, and Government Office Hours by FinDat.com

Front Page | Table of Contents
DIRECTORIES | GEOSPATIAL DIGITAL DATA | IMAGERY
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED MAPS

Moving is one of life's most stressful experiences. Oftentimes it's the little things which are the most aggravating. Things like not having the right electrical adapter or being chastised for putting one's trash in the wrong color bag have a way of accelerating that first fall down the "W-Curve" of sojourner adjustment. When computers are introduced into the equation, it's possible to go from "Honeymoon" to "Hell" in an afternoon.

Where to Buy Your Computer

Whether you should buy a computer here or in Japan is a difficult question these days since computer prices in Japan are much more reasonable than they were just a few years ago. On slightly older systems, it's often possible to find deals that are very attractive-provided you can use a Japanese-language operating system.

Unless you need a really powerful desktop system, you should consider buying a laptop computer before going to Japan. If you buy a laptop, don't ship it-carry it with you on the plane. PCMCIA card modems range in price from $100 to $250, so buy one when you get the laptop. Many new laptops have built-in CD-ROM players. If you get a set of powered speakers, you'll be able to use your laptop as a stereo. Don't skimp on RAM-if you plan to use Windows 95 or a Macintosh system, make sure your computer has at least 16 megabytes of RAM.

The computer should have a warranty specifically stating that your machine is eligible for worldwide service. Most computer makers will not service your equipment unless you have such a warranty. Always check the fine print before you buy.

Shipping a desktop system to Japan is an expensive and risky proposition. If you decide to do so, keep in mind that shipping your desktop system out of Japan will cost more than a one-way ticket back to wherever you came from. For those of you who do decide to ship desktop systems to Japan, think about the possibility of making the trip "one-way" (i.e., sell it in Japan).

Phone and Electric Lines

In terms of electricity, half of Japan's electrical current is almost the same as that in the US (100 volts AC at 60 Hz)-the other half is not (100 volts AC at 50 Hz). The split in current is East/West and the dividing line is in the Tokyo area. If your computer or electrical device does not have a universal power adapter and you live in the East, you will need to buy one. Macintosh computers do have universal power adapters-all you'll have to do is find a wall socket.

Tip: Don't forget to ground your surge suppressor.

Speaking of wall sockets, you won't find too many in your home or office, so take a pair of good multiple-outlet surge suppressors. Grounded three prong wall sockets are nonexistent so bring a few grounded three-prong-to-two-prong electrical adapters. By the way, most computers in Japan are not protected from electrical surges and are hooked up to stacks of plug extenders which are so overloaded that they actually radiate heat. Avoid these "electrical octopuses."

Standard American market analog modems work just fine with Japanese phone lines. American-market ISDN modems (ISDN terminal adapters) are generally not compatible with Japanese ISDN lines. Many areas of Japan do not support "Tone Dial" so you might have to set your modem software to "Pulse Dial." Japanese phones use standard RJ-11 jacks, so you won't need any special adapters.

• If you're on the road in Japan and need to go online, look for a gray ISDN pay phone. They have modem jacks for both standard Analog and ISDN lines. Use the analog port.
• If you're at an office or school and need to get online, look for the office fax machine. In general most fax machines in Japan use regular analog phone lines.
• Beware of phones that are connected to switchboards: digital phone lines can kill your modem and computer. Look for the fax machine and use its line.

Choosing an Operating System

For those who need to work with English and Japanese, the consensus of opinion is that the Macintosh OS offers the best multilingual support. If you buy a Macintosh and wish to process Japanese text, you can either install KanjiTalk (the Japanese version of the Macintosh OS) on your computer or you can install Apple's Japanese Language Kit (JLK). Maintaining a multiple language system on a WINTEL computer is more complicated. If you have an English version of Windows 3.1/95, you can buy kits which provide some of the functionality of Apple's Japanese Language Kit. The integration is not as tight, and reliability with respect to the use of Japanese-language Windows applications is spotty at best. The situation would be very different if Microsoft had decided to enable support for the processing of double-byte scripts such as Japanese.

If you want to stick with a WINTEL-type platform and are comfortable using a Japanese operating system, then my advice is to buy the Japanese version of Windows 95. Ironically, the Japanese version of Windows 95 offers good support for English-language Windows 95 programs.

1. Macintosh computers are the same wherever you go-aside from the keyboard, the primary difference between a Japanese-market Macintosh and an American-market Macintosh is the operating system. You can convert a Japanese Macintosh into an English-language Macintosh by simply installing the English version of the Mac OS.
2. WINTEL hardware in Japan can be very different from that found at home. At present you need to be aware of the fact that Japanese-market NEC machines use a proprietary version of Windows, and that if you are going to install a Japanese version of Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 on a computer you've brought from America, make sure that you buy the version designed for IBM PC/AT computers.
3. Before you switch operating systems, decide whether or not you want to have a dual-boot system.

With a dual-boot system you create two separate operating systems and choose which you want to run during startup. On a Macintosh this is relatively easy to accomplish. On WINTEL systems your best bet is to purchase a program called System Commander (http://www.v-com.com). System Commander lets WINTEL users decide at startup which OS they want to use.

Printers and Peripherals

Printer and peripheral support for bilingual computers can be a nightmare if you don't have a Macintosh. On the WINTEL side, most printer and peripheral problems relate to the availability of "software drivers" which work in mixed language environments. It is not reasonable to expect that a Japanese-market printer will work reliably with a WINTEL computer running an English version of Windows 3.1/95. If you are running the Japanese version of Windows 3.1/95 then you should probably buy your printer in Japan. People do manage to make these things work, but it's rarely " plug and play."

Peripherals (printers, scanners, monitors, etc.) are available in Japan at prices which are fairly competitive with those in the United States. Remember, before you go out and buy this type of equipment, you should think about what you will do with it when it's time for you to leave Japan.

Choosing an Internet Service Provider

Internet Magazine is one of the better Japanese internet magazines available. This magazine is worth buying even if you have difficulty reading Japanese. If you are unsure as to where to start your search for an Internet service provider (ISP), check out the maps in the back of each issue. In addition to the maps, there are charts with contact, service, and contract information about Japanese ISPs.

One of the neat features of Japanese computer magazines is that they often come with CD-ROMs full of useful programs. Though the indices are in Japanese, most of the programs are in English. In addition to freeware, shareware, and demo programs, you'll find system and application updates. Be prepared to spend a lot of money to use the internet in Japan.

Generally, your ISP will charge you from ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 yen per month for an unlimited amount of connect time. Many ISPs now offer the option of buying a year of service for between ¥20,000 and ¥25,000. Thus far, the charges are close to what you'd pay in the United States for a good ISP. The hidden charge has to do with what you will pay NTT for time spent online-there is no such thing as a free local call in Japan.

When you shop for an ISP, remember that geographic proximity to your connection point is more important than the monthly ISP charges. Recently NTT created Terehôdai, a series of discount plans for computer users. The monthly fee for Terehôdai ranges from ¥1,800 to ¥3,600, depending upon the distance between your phone and the ISP you are dialing into. As a subscriber you will be able to access your ISP for as many hours as you want, provided they are between 11 PM and 8 AM. Basically, Terehôdai is a flat rate-plan which allows otaku (computer geeks) to surf the Internet while everyone else is asleep. There are Terehôdai plans for ISDN users, but they are more expensive.

Be Prepared!

If you are going to buy a computer and take it with you to Japan, make sure that everything works before you get on the plane. Assume that you will be the new computer guru and buy a few books relating to the Internet and the programs that you plan to use the most. Sign up for a subscription to your favorite computer magazine. Locate FAQs relating to the programs you own. Also, make sure your internet software works before you go to Japan.