This week, we've got a huge column with Harvest Moon, two Ys games, more Egg Monster Heroes, and even a special report with pictures of a springtime Japan.  Come on down and have a World Famous JJ Burger.

Column is here.

I was looking at the pictures you have taken, and I must say, I envy you so f'ing much, haha. I also noticed in one of the pictures in the backgorund the house had some solar panels on it, thats pretty interesting.

Yeah those are nice pictures, you have a good eye. I live in Japan too and nothing around me but buildings made of cement, haha.

And to the guy who said he thinks Japanese guys look androgynous, 1;lk34j15*{ to you. That's all I have to say.

While waiting for an RPGamer staff meeting to kick off, I put together this wallpaper from Jordan's pics and some images of the kanji for "beautiful," "spring," and "garden." It's not a very professional work, but it's decent enough, I guess. ^^; I left space for desktop icons and a start bar (stuff covered up by icons and the start bar bothers me). Feel free to slap it on your own desktop.

Dynasy Warriors 4 is number one? Didn't 5 just come out?

Five tons of Flax,
Davis

I agree, you do have a good eye for landscapes, Jordan.

Yea it's probably a mistake. Dynasty Warriors 5 should be up there, not 4.

Oh and is it me or is the server down? I can't access the page or Alethea's wallpaper.

I think their numbering is different than ours.  We have one more than they do.  I'm not sure how that happened, but I remember seeing Shin Sangokumusou 3 and noting that it's the same game that we called Dynasty Warriors 4.  

A quick google search confirms that Shin Sangokumusou 4 is in fact correct.  It is the fourth major release in the series, and we managed to get an extra one.  

Sorry for any confusion.

Yeah, I believe the first Dynasty Warriors released in the U.S., which was a fighting game, was just called "Sangoku Musou" in Japan, whereas the subsequent action/strategy Dyntasy Warriors are called "Shin Sangoku Musou" (the first being Dynasty Warriors 2 in the U.S.) in Japan, hence the different numbering.

Hi,
At the end of my third year as a teacher on the JET program (at the bottom of Mt. Fuji), I find that I pretty much always have a different perspective than Jordan when it comes to things in Japan. Still, I greatly respect what he's doing with this column, and I hope he keeps it up.
Since I teach for JET, I'd like to respond to the question about long hair: it shouldn't be a problem*, so long as you are professional about the rest of your appearance. While you'll definitely won't make any waves if you have short hair, wild, anime-esque hairstyles are pretty common over here. A lot of young men in Japan have what I would term longish hair, even some who are in the business world (though usually not below the shoulders). About half of my male junior high students are sporting hybrid mullets at the moment. I know a few JET guys who have hair down to the middle of their backs.
Anyway, anyone with questions about the JET Program or who wants another view of Japan (with not much about games or anime, I'm sorry) can email me or check out my blog (below).

Jason

*Attitudes about hairstyles and attire would vary if you were placed with a very conservative region or if you were working for a private organization, so I'm not making any promises.

my email
My blog