Japan has a reputation of being an incredibly expensive country and over the past month or so I’ve done my best to give you money saving tips. Don’t worry there are still a few more pointers coming but for this post I thought I could write about other “options.” Therefore in order to save a few yen you just may have to call on a higher power. That’s right, I’m talking about God or whatever you may want to call Him or Her or That.
Now before you say, “yeah dude, I know what I’m doing, I know how to pray!” You have to remember that you are in Japan and in Japan, everything has a procedure. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! Now let’s do this!
1. Find a place where you can collect your thoughts – You need to find that quiet, happy place where communication will not be interrupted.
2. Assume the position – Notice how I’m doing it Gaijin(foreigner) style by having my heels up off the ground. (Japanese style would be to have all points of both feet touching the ground.) Either way is acceptable. However, if you are at home you may find that communication is more effective if you can be seen directly from Heaven above. (Notice this highly religious individual in the picture below.)
3. Now go to the nearest Pachinko Parlor to collect your reward! – In case you are unfamiliar with Pachinko, it’s basically the Japanese version of a slot machine. Actually it does take more skill than just feeding it money and pushing a button or pulling an arm on the machine but let’s not get in to that right now.
My name is Michael McKinlay and I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Although I was born here, I have lived in a few other places in Western Canada such as, Saskatoon, Regina, Medicine Hat, and Edmonton. I also spent time in Hong Kong and Japan. [
There’s also the God of Toto, the God of Keiba and the God of Takarakuji. But if you’re happy with the God of Pachinko, I won’t impose these alternative beliefs on you.
Don’t persecute me Nick! I want my religious freedom, just like the Constitution guarantees! Vote Ron Paul!
The guy in the picture leaning out of his house is obviously talking to a higher being of some sort. He seems to me to be a rather genuine character who has only pure thoughts!
My opinion only!!
Yes and I am sure that the Lord, God, Keiba, or whoever, is smiling down upon him.
Looks like the window guy’s about to take a dive – hopefully there’s a swimming pool below…
MMM that’s a good point and I hadn’t considered that… What I do know though is that there is no pool below. I hope someone saves him!
The window guy isn’t praying. He giving the window a good kancho!
Well then, the truth comes out, he’s is just a dirty pervert!
Who prays to Jizo statues for money?!
Michael McKinlay does, that’s who!
Why don’t they just put these prayer places right out in front of the keibajo or pachinko parlors?
Good question.
This is not the country you should try to save money in, as it goes against the grain … and we can’t have that. The standing nail gets the hammer, after all
Banks offer 0.0002% interest with a “high return” savings account, and employers pay people once a month, forcing many to survive on some weird combination of Cup Noodle and shrink wrapped onigiri. It’s almost like the market is telling us “if you want to save money, leave the country.”
That said, it’s not impossible to save a Yen here or there … but it sure as heck isn’t easy
And that’s why we pray Jason!