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"The Secret to Studying Long Hours in Japan?"

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By lylehsaxon (Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:07:25 PM EST) (all tags)

I've often wondered how some people stay up studying as late as they do here.... I think I've discovered the method - or more precisely, it has gradually dawned on me. Simply put, the method is simple - blast yourself with enough strong light that it's difficult to fall asleep in the middle of the light blast! .....

As evidence, note the design of typical students study desks here. The key Stay-Awake! feature is a bright florescent tube that not only illuminates the study material open on the desk, but also shines some of its bright light directly into the eyes of the person studying! No wonder they're able to stay awake!

The down side to this method though, is that (many) people get so used to having very bright light blazing away when they are studying/working, that they perceive normal lighting as "dark"....

Lyle H Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/

PS - I've posted some videos:

Shrine video #1:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8365984619424814418

Chichibu Line video #1:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-296285841480228000

Tokorozawa Station #1:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3505977181443144727

Shinjuku Station Morning:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7724306013959335419

Ebisu Yamanote:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8915490964299944191

Yamanote 11-car train:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4119683024352863759

Shibuya Walk to Hachiko:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=160408418748757660&hl=en

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"The Secret to Studying Long Hours in Japan?" | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

Was that some guy collapsed in the street? by Christopher Robin was Murdered (4.00 / 1) #1 Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:14:20 PM EST

In the final video, the thing everybody is gathering to look at?

Performer by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #4 Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:39:37 PM EST

It looks like that in the video - but I remember that as being a kid doing some sort of performance with a soccer ball.

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

RACIST by Rogerborg (2.00 / 0) #7 Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 05:47:51 AM EST

Apparently even Japanese are "people" now.

-
Metus amatores matrum compescit, non clementia.
[ Parent ]

: Say what? by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #8 Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 08:38:56 AM EST

What do you mean?
Lyle
The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

Liked the subway ones by R Mutt (4.00 / 1) #2 Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:23:15 PM EST

Good work in keeping the camera pretty steady while walking at commuter speed.

Looks pretty organized by comparison with London.

The annoying thing about one job was that the Tube station was Tottenham Court Road which is popular with tourists. So every evening had to barge through clumps of tourists standing aimlessly around blocking the way.

Damn tourists by ucblockhead (4.00 / 2) #3 Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:32:20 PM EST

I have that trouble at the main station I take in SF. You get these stupid clots of tourists right in front of the ticket gates trying to organize their tickets.

When I was in Tokyo I was astounded by the sheer scale of the subway stations.
----
_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Only One in 1948 by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #5 Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 12:45:32 PM EST

There was only one in 1948 (see map):
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/PDF/PDF_History/PH_01/maps/1948Tokyo.jpg

Since then, they have never stopped tunneling! They are still building new lines! The next one to open will connect the Tobu-Tojo Line with the Toyoko line - running parallel to the Yamanote Line.

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

That too by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #6 Tue Feb 26, 2008 at 01:42:19 PM EST

Though I meant more the scale of the stations. Ebisu station seems bigger than Oakland airport.
----
_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Ebisu, or Shinagawa? by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #9 Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 01:06:11 PM EST

It seems like every time they rebuild a station (and Ebisu is one of those rebuilt not too long ago), they go for airport-like high ceilings, but still... I wonder if maybe you're thinking of Shinagawa? Of all the stations on the Yamanote Line, that one is the most airport-like.... And I have video from 1991 when it looked more like a country station! I digitized it tonight (a two-hour tape I took at the time). I'll try to put a clip from it on-line.

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

Well, both by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #10 Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 01:55:18 PM EST

I was going back and forth between ebisu and shinagawa.

It mostly struck me when I went to ebisu from the hotel and I entered a long hall with a moving sidewalk which led...to a long hall with a moving sidewalk which led...to a long hall with a moving sidewalk which led to a huge open space with millions of people.
----
_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Ebisu Garden Place! by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #11 Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 07:28:06 AM EST

Ah! You were staying over at Ebisu Garden Place then! That used to be a beer brewery for Ebisu Beer (one of the labels for Sapporo Beer). The factory went way back, but they shut it down in the late 80's and developed the current complex of classy apartments, shops, restaurants, hotel(s?), and put in that covered moving walkway to make it convenient to Ebisu Station.

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

Yeah by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #12 Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 11:24:57 AM EST

I was staying at the Westin. I'll probably be there next month as well.
----
_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Drop a line if you like... by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #13 Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 05:56:09 AM EST

Drop me a line while you're here if you're interested in meeting for a beer.

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

ok by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #14 Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 11:20:13 AM EST

I don't know what my schedule is like, but hopefully yeah.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Tokyo by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #15 Mon Mar 03, 2008 at 01:54:58 PM EST

The trip was canceled (or, at least, my participation in it), however, there is a >80% chance I'll be going in June.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Okay by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #16 Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 11:34:16 AM EST

Okay - drop me a line in June then - I should be in town.

Lyle
The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

confusion by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #17 Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 05:07:22 PM EST

Now it turns out that I *am* going on the week of the 23rd. I'll send you a pm when I know my schedule.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Okay by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #18 Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 08:48:27 AM EST

Let me know. Is there anything you'd like to see in Tokyo in particular that I might help with, or are you an old hand already regarding Tokyo?

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

time by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #19 Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 12:06:09 PM EST

Not an old hand, but I'll be time limited. I'm flying in Monday and leaving Friday. I'll probably have a free evening or two, but that's it.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

Places by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #20 Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:52:33 PM EST

Have you been to that outdoor drinking place under the tracks in Yurakucho? Or to What the Dickens?

Lyle

The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

Nope by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #21 Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 02:16:34 PM EST

I've barely been anywhere.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

One or both might be good then! by lylehsaxon (2.00 / 0) #22 Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 10:15:54 PM EST

One or both of those might be good then. What the Dickens is in Ebisu, so that would be the easiest to work in time-wise.

How to contact... you could drop me a line at:
lylehsaxon@yahoo.com

Incidentally, the company I work is very strict about security, so personal e-mail is blocked - be sure to e-mail me the day before!

Lyle
The shortest way home is the longest way 'round....
[ Parent ]

: turns out by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #23 Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 10:50:47 PM EST

I'm staying in Shinagawa. I'll let you know once I have a schedule.
----
_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

"The Secret to Studying Long Hours in Japan?" | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback