Radio There's always the net and (duh duh duuuuuhhhhhhh {ominous thirties horror music}) the RADIO! I will look a gift horse in the mouth and say that TV isn't all it's cracked up to be - regardless of whatever country you're in. There's also the video if you need the stimulation.   Books are good too - but having visited Japan I can imagine that the selection isn't always tops and the prices are a bit cumbersome. posted by DjangoAugust 20, 2003 at 0:35 [ e ]

bad tv Japanese TV is notoriously boring unless you are into soap operas (although they call them dramas).  So, I don't generally watch but lately, just to have more Japanese pracitce I sometimes put it on in the background and hope something interesting distracts me. There are a few programs I like though.  Probably the most interesting IMO right now is "Shaberiba" (Discussion Place).  10 college students and one guest discuss / argue over some topic. Radio in Japan is extremely boring.  50% of it is western music.  I'm in Japan, I don't want to hear western music.  The other 50% is J-Pop which I also don't want to hear.  I did check the radio just to see that it was not also being tested.  posted by greggmanAugust 20, 2003 at 5:47 [ e ]

good tv Fooly Cooly posted by ShhImnottellinAugust 22, 2003 at 0:53 [ e ]

hmmmm When I was a kid, back in Brooklyn, a lot of teens in my neighborhood would huff Carbona cleaning fluid, or model glue  (when it smelled kinda nice and gave you a buzz). I'm sure that helped them pass their time (and that most of them are now serving time!)! posted by DjangoAugust 29, 2003 at 4:17 [ e ]

there has to be good radio There is a station in osaka that rotates formates every few hours. I would listen and get euro dance music, samba, reggae, irish rock.... really fringe stuff. there has to be something similar in tokyo. posted by tetsuoxbAugust 29, 2003 at 17:00 [ e ]