However, the website administrator recently began enforcing a policy that, as he stated, a lot of people probably didn’t notice before. Essentially, JapanSoc will now enforce this policy:

• abuse the privilege to submit links to your own content, e.g. multiple, back-to-back submissions from your blog, submitting the same content from multiple sources, or re-submitting the same story multiple times

This enforcement will supposedly clear the clutter from the latest news story page and prevent “ego-socing,” the practice of users submitting multiple entries from their own website or blog. In order to prevent these violations, users must submit a story from a non-related source. I addition to preventing the above problems, I also assume that such a practice would “encourage” users to find new materials.

I disagree with this new enforcement, and will break down why this practice will damage JapanSoc over time.

Usability

As far as websites go, the most important factor in gaining and maintaining readership remains quality of content. If the New York Times reverted to a Geocities page, it would still be widely read because of its quality content. Following content, of course, is form. Especially with social news sites, it is of the utmost importance to have easy registration and effortless submission of stories. Dmitry Fadeyev says in an article at Smashing Magazine:

• User participation on your website is affected by how many barriers there are. Removing barriers such as registration will almost certainly increase user participation. Indeed, once users start using your website, they will more likely sign up, because they’re already involved.

However, JapanSoc has now inserted a barrier, not in registration necessarily, but in submitting. This morning I finished a rewrite of an article to help people prepare to return to their home country, and when I went to submit it to JapanSoc, I was informed that I would need to find another article from another domain in order to submit my own work. This barrier stopped me from submitting a unique article (unique in the sense that I am the author and draw from my own experiences). And now, to submit this article, I will have to hunt something, anything, down on the internet and submit that before I can submit this statement.

So, if content is the most important factor in running a webpage, you can be sure that more people will post uninteresting articles in order to get around this barrier. And if it’s important that your users not have barriers to submission of content, then it’s obvious that JapanSoc does not meet this requirement now.

Knowledge: Creation and Resources

There are all kinds of blogs about Japan out there. There are people who write life stories and provide insight into living in Japan (Locohama), there are people who write in-depth articles on a number of subjects (Gakuranman), and people who, for whatever reason, think they can write about Japanese science (ahem…that’s me…or at least *was* me until I got hacked in December). These blogs create knowledge. Locohama often weaves a story, and by the end the reader has learned something. Mike at Gakuranman, for just one example, lets us experience his haikyo adventures. I am currently working on compiling Japanese news sources to bring a Japanese response to worldwide news stories. This is all the creation of knowledge, and should be encouraged at all times, at least in my opinion.

Then there is treating knowledge like a resource. Finding an article on the New York Times and reading it, that’s using it as a resource. You can share it on JapanSoc and let other people read it, and that’s great. But what’s been lost is in this step is the realization of Web 2.0–the creation of user-generated content. There are people reading this right now who are so knowledgeable and qualified that they could write for a major newspaper. But they can no longer submit their own articles to JapanSoc, at least not until they’ve spent their time looking for other resources.

There’s a difference between ego-socing and having an author freely share their knowledge with JapanSoc. Egos require people to pay attention to them. The free sharing of information requires freedom from barriers. Why not just ignore ego-socing and take down the barriers?

So Why Don’t You Just Soc Something Else?

Speaking just for myself (but maybe others would agree with me), I spend a fair amount of time on my blog posts. Sometimes, I’ll spend days finding resources and articles, and by the time I write something and include all of my own content, another person has soc’ed on the same topic. That’s what happened with my recent article on whaling. While the community decided my article was clearly unique, I was still flagged for duplicating content.

There are clearly some people who are awesome at finding news articles, and you can see just how successful they are in the main page side bar. There are also some people that are great at creating knowledge. So, why is it that a user who submits every article that runs down their RSS feed gains rank in JapanSoc and has the freedom to post whatever they want, while a blogger who spends a day or two crafting an article cannot have the same freedom to share?

I don’t “just soc something” because it would be an obligatory submission. You’ll notice that there will be an obligatory post before this one, because I want this message heard. There will not be an obligatory soc after it, however.

Want Some Cheese with that Whine?

So yes, I could just submit something and be done with it, but as I’ve demonstrated here, it’s just bad practice. Doing an obligatory submission will lower the quality of JapanSoc, support the barrier to usability that’s been installed, and take away from being a creative blogger. Of course, there are people that discover JapanSoc and then submit their entire archive about feeding bentos to their cat while dressed as pikachu. That’s their problem. Warn them, ban them, do whatever you want. But to put a barrier in front of me offering advice to returnees because nobody soc’ed the article I wrote last week on the death of Nujabes? That’s just bad usability in my opinion.

Your Savings

I hope you saved up…

When I finished the JET Program in July 2009, I had about 8,000 dollars American in my Japanese bank account. It was gone by December. Not stolen, not taken by greedy uncles, not even given away to charity. Spent entirely on returning costs. The things I spent it on weren’t that unusual, and you might not even think to count up the costs until you realize that $8,000 is gone. So, let’s take a quick look at how I spent that money.

Traveling Japan

From July 27 until August 20, I traveled Japan with my fiancee on the cheap. Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, blah blah blah. Hostels, food, train tickets, ferry tickets, event tickets, souvenirs, all that stuff. No need to explain, traveling costs money. Gave $100 to my friend for letting me stay in his apartment for 10 days. Total cost: about $1,000.

Canceling Phone

When I went to Docomo to cancel my phone, I had a Japanese friend with me to handle all of the discussions. His mouth dropped when he saw the bill. July bill+pro-rated August bill (with inflated data charges)+cancellation fee=$400. Total running cost: $1,400.

Buying a Car

The sad fact about living in Midwest America is that you have to drive a lot. Upon returning, I needed a car and I needed it now. The car I had before I went to Japan was leased and returned, and my family doesn’t exactly have cars sitting around waiting to be driven. So I purchased a 2001 Saturn for $3200 cash. Plus basic inspection charge by a Saturn dealer ($100) and then a follow-up by my mechanic ($150) and an oil change ($30). Don’t forget insurance ($60/month). Let’s call all that $3600. Total running cost: $5,000.

Cribs

Gotta live somewhere, right? In my case, my fiancee had just bought a house, so I already had my living arrangements set up. I gave her $1,000 to cover some set up costs and then my share of the payment is $500 a month. The same could easily be said for an apartment–down payments are often one month’s rent. Total running cost: $6,500, +utilities, +rent per month.

Health Care

If you’re an American, get yourself checked out by a doctor and a dentist before coming back. Prices are ridiculous here.

Living Costs

Eating, drinking, the whole shebang. Adds up to that $8,000 pretty quickly, doesn’t it?

(un)Employment

The world-wide economy is in a rough state, and particularly in America, the job situation is difficult. You need to think outside of the box to land jobs, and try your hardest to find jobs that fit your specific need. I’ve had 4 jobs since I’ve come back, 3 of them part time or freelancing (working for a science exhibition, as a text book writer, and as a consultant to a technology company). I’ve made enough money to stay afloat, but it hasn’t been easy.

Resumes

Work, work, work on your resume. Remember this: your resume should explain your strengths and abilities in as brief a manner as possible. 1 page. Don’t include your job at McDonald’s when you were 17 (unless you’re applying to Burger King…). Don’t include a hobbies section.

You should have a number of resumes that cater toward a specific field. You should have a basic, MS-Word resume ready-to-go at all times. You can e-mail this to potential employers, and print it out to hand to anybody on the street. If you work in any sort of creative field, you need to have a personally designed resume. Research how web designers or graphic artists make their resumes to get an idea. If you’re an academic, you’ll need a curriculum vitae. Your CV can be really basic and look really bland, but you should have it ready on a moment’s notice for your academic job leads.

Applying for Jobs Online

A growing number of jobs are requesting applications online. The basic corporate jobs have lengthy applications and might call you back more than a month after your application. The small companies jobs often ask for a resume in an e-mail. For what it’s worth, this is how I would respond to a test grading job:

Dear Employer’s Name / To Whom it May Concern.

My name is This and That, and this communication is in response to the (job position) listed on (where you found the job). With 5 years of educational experience in public schools, I understand the importance of accurate and timely grading. As a self-starter, I can be trusted to handle a large volume of work in a short time with minimal supervision.

Skills:

• 5 years grading with XYZ Corporation

• 4 years professional communication with ABC Corporation

• Expertise with Microsoft Office, red pens, white out.

Education:

• Grad School, Undergraduate. Mention GPA and degrees conferred and major awards.

Relevant Work Experience:

• Put 2-3 relevant jobs in here.

I look forward to hearing from you. If you need to contact me, please e-mail me at XYZ address or call me at MNOP number. If I do not hear from you within the next business week, I will contact you again through the appropriate means.

With regards,

Me

Contacts

Unless you are applying for another English teaching job in another country, almost none of the contacts you make in Japan will be useful in getting you a job in your home country. That’s because they can’t be easily contacted by phone, so their identities cannot be verified. Nonetheless, have a list of contacts ready in your portfolio with names, companies, and phone numbers, and if you have it, an e-mail address and mailing address.

Graduate School

A lot of people plan to apply to graduate school upon returning to their home country, and here’s the basics about how to apply to grad school (at least in America). Generally, graduate applications are due in December. Here are some things you can think about now.

GRE

There are two schools of thoughts on the GRE: some schools think it’s an important qualifier, while others don’t even consider it. So, try and do well on it, but don’t get hung up on it. You can take it in Japan, but you can also schedule it in America and report the scores quickly to institutions. At the time of your test, you don’t need to know all the institutions you want to which you want to report scores–you can always have the GRE test people send the scores at a later date for a cost of $12 for each report.

Recommendations

This is arguably the most important part of your application. You should contact the people you want to write a recommendation for you sometime in August/September.

Statements, Samples, Application Packet

You have to worry about all of this, too, but I’m just giving you stuff to think about while you’re closing up shop in Japan.

Enjoy Your Return Home

Hopefully I’ve given you some concrete examples of what you face upon return home (particularly to America). The American economy died while I was in Japan, and I had to relearn everything I knew about job applications and resumes and revise my expectations of how people viewed the JET Program.

Let me say it this way: The JET Program was only somewhat useful in getting me a job in America. It did help me get into a Ph.D. program. Perhaps you’ll have a different experience!

Seba was renowned as a hip-hop producer in Japan, and is probably best known internationally for his contributions to the Samurai Champloo soundtrack. His music incorporates a number of influences and relies on sampled riffs and unique instrumentation.

Announcement From the Record Label

Available here: http://hydeout.net/hydeout/2010/03/_hydeoutproductions.html

＜ Hydeout　Productions から　緊急のお知らせ ＞

突然の、本当に突然の、悲しいお知らせをしなければなりません。

hydeout productions主宰nujabesは、2010年2月26日深夜
東京都港区内の首都高速を降りた地点で、突然、車の事故に遭遇し
救急車で渋谷区内の病院に搬送され、懸命の救命治療が施されましたが、
再びその心臓の鼓動を甦らせることなく、天空へと飛び立ちました。
36歳の誕生日を迎えたばかりの急逝でした。

葬儀は、nujabesの音楽とともに、家族だけの密葬として、しめやかに執り行われました。
ここに生前のご厚誼に深謝し、謹んでご通知申し上げます。
突然の訃報に接し、日一日と悲しみ、悔しさがさらに募っております。

nujabesがこれまで世に送り出した数々の楽曲は、音楽への深い愛情、
才能ある先駆者達への尊敬、自由な精神と独創性に溢れ、
聞く人の感情を揺るがすような最良の音楽の領域にまで高まっていたと思います。
彼は、自分の音楽を高めるために、自分自身の心と精神を極限まで昂揚させ、
ひとつひとつの音をやさしく紡ぎ、音楽の新しい地平をめざし、
日々懸命に努力を積み重ねておりました。

幸いにも、nujabesが紡ぎ織り続けた未発表の新しい音源が、スタジオに残されています。
hydeout productionsとしては、今後、このnujabesのメッセージを、
盟友のUyama Hiroto等と共に、多くの方に、一日も早くお届けしたいと思っております。

ファンの皆様、関係者の皆様には、これまでのご支援を深く感謝すると共に、
今後ともnujabesの音楽を大切にご愛聴していただけますことを心より願っております。

Translation:

Suddenly, really suddenly, we have to make an incredibly sad announcement.

The owner of Hydeout Productions, Nujabes, was leaving the highway in Tokyo’s Harbor Ward when he got into an accident. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he was given the best lifesaving measures possible. However, his heart could not be restarted, and he went to heaven.

He had just turned 36.

His funeral service played his music and was attended only by close friends and family.

Nujabes gave the world a number of great songs. He was a respected pioneer in the hip-hop genre, his freedom of expression in music that boiled over and affected other people. I think those that have danced to or been deeply moved by his music understand this.

He wanted his music to lift spirits to their highest point. One by one people listened to his music, and his fanbase grew through his eager efforts.

Thankfully, there is unreleased music still present in the studio.

From now on, Hydeout Productions will be releasing statements from Nujabes’ friends probably at the beginning of next month.

Fans and supporters alike, your well wishes are appreciated.

Now, it’s important that you let Nujabes live on in your hearts.

Further Resources:

Steel Closet quick summary

Shing02′s statement

My apologies for a rushed summary, but I’m preparing for a wedding soon. Since 2005, Nujabes is #6 on my list of artists that I listen to most often, so the news hits close to home.

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author with awesome prose, original story lines, and as I found out recently, an incredible hunger for physical fitness. Since around the age of 27, he’s been training and participating in at least one marathon every year, and within the last decade has fit in time for triathlons. While never seeking a blistering time, he pursues personal goals: maintaining a competitive speed, finishing strong, and never walking or being disqualified. In his 2007 book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Murakami discusses his innermost thoughts on maintaining physical fitness as a means to maintain creativity.

Creativity

Murakami himself admits that he felt he lacked the creativity necessary to produce a novel until around the age of thirty, when for no discernible reason, he wanted to write a novel. Murakami frames creativity as some unintelligible quantity that can just pour out of somebody like water from a bucket, and most often, it does exactly that. A person finds themselves with a bucket of creativity, uses it all at once, and never sees it again. This leads to an artists’ “prime,” after which they might still be productive, but many people will say they lack the originality of their earlier works. Often, artists feel depressed because they believe they will never match their most successful level of creativity.

Athleticism

Working out, of course, causes strain on the body. Specifically, lactic acid. When you regularly work out, you create a tolerance to the toxic effect of lactic acid, and your body gets better at ridding the stuff. Of course, the best athletes work out everyday and have tolerances far beyond the average person. Murakami likens being “athletically fit” to being “creatively fit.” Just as an athlete needs to practice everyday, so do artists. Artists need to build up a tolerance to their creativity, lest it consume them in a flash and abandon them forever. Such a tolerance will allow a high-level of creative output in the future.

Normalcy

When I first started biking some 6 years ago, a 5 mile ride was normal. Then I went a little further, and a 10 mile ride was normal. Then a 20, and then a 30. By the time I was doing 30 mile rides 3 times a week, doing a 10 mile ride meant nothing. My level of normal had risen over time, and as such, doing anything less than normal meant under-performance.

So think about this in terms of Murakami’s likening to creativity. People practice being creative everyday, and many of them build up their abilities, and thus their tolerance. They’ll do something spectacular, a personal masterwork, and anything after that seems less than impressive. For those that feel that their creative peak has passed, they can build up a new tolerance, like returning to the gym.

While Murakami admits this book is a bit of an afterthought and an anti-climax, it’s a fine read to see a writer at his most raw level of talent. The writing is basic, the pace is quick, and the insights very simple. But building insight upon insight over the pages, the reader comes away having gained a lot of knowledge about one way to view the world.