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Well, I guess I have a real job now...

This has been one of the most dizzying, confusing, exciting, and intimidating days of my time in Japan. I thought that reading manga or watching anime or even talking to other adults about their jobs had given me some idea of what the working company world in Japan is like, and I did have an idea to a small extent, but the full-on company inundation was rather overwhelming.

Let me start at the beginning.

I had a late start today so I wasn't expected in the office until noon. I took the time to admire the very offical-looking office building:


This is the third largest building in Kanazawa and houses the Hokkoku newspaper, a hospital, a performance hall, and a golf club, among other things.

At noon I was met by my liason, Mr. Yasuda who took me around the building and generally put me at ease. At two we drove to the Ishikawa prefectural government building where Zoey and I had a very formal meeting with the head of the government.



I had a three minute speech, mostly thanking the prefecture for the opportunity, that I then gave (Zoey has her turn at the closing ceremony) and fortunately didn't bungle.

When I returned to the office, I was presented with: *ahem*
1. One company issued iPhone 6, to be used for work
2. One company issued computer (which stays at the office)
3. One company issued massive camera
4. Random notebooks and pens
5. A desk
6. Business cards
7. An ID card


The view from my desk is very intense.


And those are my very official business cards. I've been told I need to go purchase a business card holder to hod both my own and the countless others I'll doubtless receive.

Throughout the day I was gradually being introduced to various people (whose names I definitely don't all remember) and at the end of the day (6pm ughhhh) I had to stand up in front of everyone and give a brief self-introduction.

Tomorrow, as far as I know, I arrive at the office at 10 and follow around a senior reporter to various locations and practice taking photos, conducting interviews, and at the end of the day I write a brief article or writeup about the event (of my choice, I think, but unclear). What happens with said small article afterwards I cannot yet tell you. I think they get edited...let's hope my grammar lessons don't fail me!

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