I majored in Japanese during my second college career. I added that degree to my collection of non-job-gettin' certificates.
I have been to Japan 3 times. The first on a short summer exchange in '96 and then again for recreational purposes in '02 and '03.
The last time I had the amazing fortune to spend 10 days living in a crazy swank house in the high rent district in Tokyo. (which is pretty high rent already) A friend of mine was doing a one year tour of duty over there designing shoes for Reebok. The company was renting this place from a famous Sumo to both house the American designers and act as a showpiece for publicity. It was awesome, I spent most of that time trying to explain to the American guys how nobody in Japan lives like that.
Before this turns into a book, I'll just say that if you ever get the chance to go, do it. I'd recommend it highly. Tokyo is like no place on Earth. (maybe Hong Kong, but I've never been there) As far as mega-cities go, NYC can't hold a candle to Tokyo.
