My husband took a day off to do some life admin. We thought, why not combine that with my admin – going to immigration to apply for ‘application for permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted’ or 「格外資格外活動許可申請書」?

‘It won’t take long. Just nip in and out, then free for the rest of the day.’ Oh, how we laughed! We were there for 4 and a half hours! And my folder was taken! It was a nice green, Sumikko Gurashi one with sections. They said it’ll take between one and two weeks to process.

Then I was traumatised when I went to the toilet – I opened the door from the corridor into the toilet and a woman was stood with the cubical door wide open, pants down and frontally exposed, for all to see. She quickly shut the door, as I ran to my cubical and quickly shut mine.

We treated ourselves to Shakey’s in Shibuya – my husband absolutely loves that place. I saw something I’ve never seen before whilst in there (shock 3 of the day), some people (who weren’t Japanese) ordering off the menu – it was all too much to take for such a small amount of time.

Hope you’re well,
Emily