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Computers, the Internet &
Email in Iwate
Anthony Hand, ALT
Hanaizumi Town, 1993-96
This is just a brief article to help you out if you're considering bringing your computer with you to Japan but are worried about being cut off from the Internet and the world. The good news is: There are a variety of ways to stay connected, even from a place as seemingly remote and untechnological as Iwate. The bad news: It's expensive compared to access in your home country, especially if you were used to enjoying Internet access for free or low cost at your university.
Before I go further, let me ask, What kind of computer do you have? If you don't have one now, I recommend that you buy one in your home country and bring it with you, rather than buying one here. It'll not only be cheaper, but you'll also be able to comparison shop and ensure that your system software is in English. You can bring desktop models to Japan as unaccompanied baggage on the plane -- generally cheaper, quicker and safer than sending it sea mail.
The easiest computer to plug-and-play, even in Japan, is an Apple Macintosh. All you need to do is get a 2-prong power cord here in Japan, for only around US $10-15, plug it into the back of your Mac, stick it in a wall socket and you're in business. The voltage here is different from back home, but the Mac automatically adjusts internally. IBM PC and compatible users will have to buy an adapter which will adjust the 100V at 50Hz voltage that runs here in Iwate to that compatible with your computer. Laptop users of both flavors can also just plug into the wall.
And if you're agonizing over whether to get a laptop versus a desktop model, I heartily recommend you get a laptop. And make it in color -- your eyes will thank you for it, even though it's a little costlier at first. You'll be able to take it to the office or school to make team-teaching materials, adult English class materials, write an article for the Iwate AJET magazine, catch up on snail mail or e-mail, whatever. (But, do avoid playing games at school -- it looks bad for all of us.) I had a desktop Mac when I first got here, but I got a PowerBook when I went home in the summer of my second year. I'm glad I did! There were too many times when I'd had the free time to work on various projects or personal activities, but not the means since I didn't have my own portable computer.
"But, hey, isn't it a national law that children be given computers at birth in that technologically advanced land?" you may ask. My answer: Ha! Ha! Ha! Japan may be on the cutting edge of advanced computer chip technology, but it lags severely when it comes to using computers in offices and schools or providing infrastructure for national computer networks. In fact, the most common electronic device that you'll see your teachers and office colleagues use is a machine that looks like a laptop computer but does only word processing. It's call a "waapuro". And if you don't have your own computer, then you may occasionally have to use one of those puppies. Ick.
Connecting to the Internet isn't as cheap as back home, but it's more affordable now than it used to be. 1995 is widely regarded as "The Year of the Internet" in Japan because that's when the popularity of the Internet really exploded. Since the summer of 1995, a handful of Internet service providers and BBSes have started in Iwate, with more on the way. Their service fees vary widely, but good deals can be found and some are comparable to those in the US. There are access points around Iwate, so you are no longer forced to call Tokyo to connect. Look for the most up-to-date list of service providers and prices in the Iwate Handbook, which will be given to you after you arrive.
If you can't live without cheap, instantaneous communications via e-mail (I can't!), then have no fear! There are many options available for you to keep in touch with your family and friends back home via e-mail. You can get an e-mail account through Nifty-Serve (a cheap but some say unreliable Japanese company), CompuServe, America Online, and various Internet access providers. Whichever you choose, they're much cheaper than regular mail, considering that airmail postage for post cards are about US $.75/£0.50 and letters begin at US $1.15/£0.75. It's crazy! You could actually save money by using e-mail to send your correspondence instead of snail mail!
Of course, to hook up to the Internet and get e-mail, you're going to need a modem. Get a fax/modem that can send and receive faxes, too. They'll work just fine here and be cheaper in your home country to boot. If you're unsure what modems are good, check with a computer magazine, ask someone at a local computer store or ask a friend.
Finally, another thing you might want to check into before coming is getting a software mail order catalog. You could get your software here and pay 20% or more of the US price for it, or you could order the software from a mail order firm at very low cost. I'm not sure if these companies will send their catalogs overseas, but many firms will ship your order airmail to Japan at very reasonable rates. Take a good look through your favorite computer magazine and check out the mail order advertisements.
So, coming to Japan does not mean that you have to isolate yourself from the hi-tech world. It may be a little more expensive and not as convenient to connect to online services and e-mail, but it's certainly not impossible. As a matter of fact, nearly two dozen current Iwate JETs have Macs or PCs. They use their computers for everything from making team teaching plans to writing newsletters to publishing the Iwate AJET magazine to corresponding via e-mail (most of us with computers have e-mail accounts -- with a half dozen different companies).
If you have more questions, feel free to contact me or any of the others who have e-mail. Our e-mail addresses are given below. For more information about the JET Program(me) in general, check out our JET Program(me) Home Page on the World Wide Web. Another good place to start, is with the AJET Computer Special Interest Group's Home Page.
[Editor's note: I've included a bunch of JET Program- and Japan-related links on my Japan links page. Check these out, too! -- Anthony]