muji

MUJI is a popular clothing, interior, knick-knack store all over Japan (and in some countries abroad).

I use the MUJI app, called MUJI passport, to keep track of shopping points.

You can also check-in to MUJI stores (once a day) and get 10 points (equivalent to 10 yen) per check-in as long as you are no farther than 600 meters (0.3 miles) away.

For the year, as your shopping points and check-ins accumulate they give you shopping coupon when you reach a certain amount, the higher the amount of points, the higher the amount of the shopping coupon.

When we take long train rides, I check-in at various MUJI shops when we stop at a station that has a MUJI shop nearby, if I remember to...

Recently they changed the type of check-in stamps we receive.

The stamps before were kind of boring, if I remember correctly, just a round circle that said "MUJI check-in".

Now, the stamps are fun...representing the areas that the shops are located.

For example, Osaka's stamp is of Tsutenkaku (the tower that is a landmark of Osaka and kinda looks like the Eiffel Tower).

Since MUJI also has shops abroad, I hope to be able to collect some check-in stamps, (if and) when we travel international.

line

Ever since Satoshi changed over to the iPhone, he and I have been using an app called "LINE".

It uses very little data and you can make free calls with it to others who have the app. You can also call people who don't have the app or to people who have land lines but the call will cost a small fee.

A bad thing with this app is that if you try to call someone who uses the app but the person doesn't pick up, you can't leave a voice message for them.

A nice thing about this app is that you can also chat (text) with someone who also has the app. It is good for Satoshi and I because we are with different carriers.

In Japan, if you are not with the same carrier they charge you different rates for texting, emails and calling another carrier.

So the other day, he texts me this...

S: "Are your email address and passwords okay?"
K: "think so why?"
S: "Big hacking happened"
K: "where?" then I try calling him but he is on the train, so we end the call
S: "Is it only in Europe"
K: in Japanese "I don't know what you are talking about"
S: he calls me

Turns out he was listening to a podcast and they were talking about the time when Internet Explorer was hacked and everyone was told to change their passwords.

I told him this was quite a while back.

So, he says, "oh sorry, I thought it was happening now"

Anxiety level rose a little with that one but at least all was well...sigh.

mindsnacks

I am always interested in learing a new language and brushing up on those I know too.

I read somewhere that Mindsnacks was a great app.

So, I uploaded Mindsnacks French for free, it comes with a free lesson, but for $4.99 + tax you can receive all 50 lessons, so I bought it.

Then, they went and had a sale on all their language apps for a one time price of $17.99 + tax...so I got all the ones on sale.

The lessons are in the form of games, most resemble flash cards, but it does keep your mind active and challenged.

So far, I've worked through French and am working through Japanese.

I've also tried a lesson in Mandarin and it is killer!

If you try them, let me know what you think.