Rick in Japan

The Lost Car Key

Sat, 30 May 2026 23:41:08 +0900

I did some posting...actually i did a lot of posting. Posting is putting ads for our business in post boxes, OR mailboxes. It is different here than in my native USA. Basically, it was fishing...trying to catch a few new students. The results were good, but I lost my car key in the process. This story gives some insight into our business, life in Japan, my determination as well as my stupidity.

The Lost Car Key

Sat, 23 May 2026 10:45:26 +0900

I lose things. I forget things. I misplace things. This has plagued me my whole life. I spend 30% of my time (rough estimate) looking for things and/or trying to remember things. However, when I teach most of what I do is on the fly... that is, I create lessons. That is who I am. That is what I do. And this missing car key is just one of many, many things I have searched for in my life. This story has a happy ending.

Nicholai Cathedral

Sun, 10 May 2026 11:11:02 +0900

There is a Russian Orthodox Church in Tokyo. It is the Nicholai Do. they hold mass every Sunday. I went there for my fourth and final time. It was 2.5 hours long, always standing. I survived and it was an unforgettable experience that I will never do again. But it was FANTASTIC!

Papa-san Chigasaki

Sat, 02 May 2026 21:13:43 +0900

While on Maui, and by luck, I made a connection in Chigasaki, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. That was with Gaiety at her Shonan English school. From there I made many new acquaintances. One was Imada Kenichi a.k.a. Papa-san. He was a prince of a man and helped me out tremendously. He owned and operated a family soba shop. He also loved dumb animals...such as me.

Say Goodbye to Michigan

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:43:12 +0900

I had to leave Michigan. I had done lots of damage to friends, family and even acquaintances. I had to get away...escape. At 25 i was still an adolescent at best. John provided an off ramp. I moved to Colorado to live with him. John understands dumb animals, and I was the dumbest. I can’t say it enough...Thank you John, and certainly to my mother and father...Always!

Up Down Kindergarten Routine

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:38:51 +0900

I use this original English Lesson at the kindergartens where I teach. I have been doing this since 1998. These kids are 5-year-olds. So, they are very Genki as the Japanese people would say. And it is good exercise for all. That means that I , too, have to be Genki. I feel it helps me stay young and is good exercise.

Gant Man

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:14:04 +0900

One job i had in Snowmass was as a Gantman. That was a hotel where I worked as a shuttle driver and Hotel handyman. I smoked a lot of grass in the empty rooms at night. I did earn the Title of Gant Man of the month ponce as I waxed the shuttle van. Whatttaguy!

Japanese Proficiency Test

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:31:12 +0900

Japan Proficiency Test. This test grades your skill in the Japanese language, concerning reading and listening comprehension. This was my second and final time. Most foreigners take it to get work. I did it to test my Japanese. My goal, N1, which is the top rank, fell short by one correct answer. Heavy sigh. I have to be satisfied with that as I will never take the test again.

Mel OR Richard

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:44:17 +0900

One friend I had back in Michigan growing up was Richard M. His last name was Polish and had no vowels in it. Handsome guy and happy go lucky. He knew what he wanted.... unlike me. We had many adventures where I was my typical foolish self. I share several here.

Four Maui friends

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:10:51 +0900

This is a story of four people I knew on Maui. "One that wants to own me, one that wants to know me, one says she's a friend of mine..." and one that passed away way too young. John always said "You gotta have friends." I never took that to heart, but it is true. I'm lucky to have one best friend now.

Jean in Snowmass

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:18:19 +0900

I found Jeans missing finger. That's right her finger! I was in Snowmass for 4 months and made a new girlfriend. Her name was Jean. It was cool for a month or so and then I got weird. We broke up after I hurt her as I usually do. There are also some observations about people that I made.

Uguisu junior

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:46 +0900

This uguisu bird is just learning how to sing. When he matures his song is wonderful!

Days of the Week explained via Japanese

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:43:00 +0900

Learning Japanese has taught me many things. Here I learned about Days of the Week in English. Pretty interesting.

Hiroyoshi to Nikko

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:33:41 +0900

Hiroyoshi and I went camping where he fished and I birdwatched. I tell a couple of our adventures here. Hiro knew what he wanted. Of course, I didn't and as usual I did some asinine things.

Kathy

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:42:43 +0900

One of the more incredibly awful episodes of my life back in Michigan. It was difficult to tell this story.

Hiroyoshi Car accident

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 21:00:58 +0900

i moved to Hasuda from Chigasaki with a new teaching job in Omiya. I also found a gent to be my Japanese teacher. We became friends. Here, I break my promise to Miwako which results in a miner car accident. Old dopey me!

RINRI Houjinkai Study group

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:20:54 +0900

The RINRI Houjinkai is a morals study group. It is for business owners. It helps them be morally correct in their business and personal life. I was a member for 5 years.

Busted by JR

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:09:10 +0900

I use my folding bike on the train. The JR staff caught me trying to sneak on without folding the bike. I've learned my lesson.

Names of the Months of the Year

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:14:47 +0900

The months of the year in Japan and most of east Asia are referred to as Number 1 Number 2, Number 3....very practical. So, where did the names of OUR months come from?

Mt Fuji the First Climb

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 04:52:44 +0900

I asked a friend, a professional climber to take me up Mt Fuji. He agreed and he and his 12-year-old son and did the climb. We stayed at the 8th station one night and planned to summit to see the sunrise. Instead, we met a typhoon.

Three telephone numbers

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:22:31 +0900

After more than four years on Maui I decided I needed a change. I tried learning the Japanese language. That didn’t happen so I went to Japan on a hope and a prayer. I assume it was the hope that padi off. I’m still in Japan with my own business and a lovely wife, daughters and grandkids. Somebody up there must like me.

Visit Grandpas graves 2006

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:37:35 +0900

I'll introduce you to a couple of Japanese customs. Then I'll tell the story of when Miwako and I took our daughters to Michigan to visit my grandfather's graves. It would be my first time and last time to visit them both. I did it because of the influence of the Japanese culture on me.

The Filth Brothers drive half the USA

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 01:20:04 +0900

Busted flat in Key West. John took to playing his guitar as i passed around the hat. That was midway through our journey. John and I drove from Snowmass, CO to Detroit, Mi, to NYC, to Key West FL, to Joplin, Mo, then back to Snowmass in just over one month in spring, 1979. It was some adventure with some hiccups.

Quit Smoking

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:29:18 +0900

I started smoking cigarettes when I was 13 or 14. It's a disgusting habit. I smoked a lot over the next 30 years or so. I finally quit when I got married and had our first child. It took a long time to quit but I had a plan. I explain that plan here.

Introduction to RAM in Japan Podcast

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:15:41 +0900

I was born Detroit, Mi 1952, I grew up arrogant, conceited, handsome, selfish, and lucky. That luck got to where I am today, in Japan. I moved to Colorado then Maui then Japan. I married Miwako and we run the RAM English Service. These podcasts explain how an ass-hole such as me survived and am living happily ever after... I hope.

Annual Physical Examination 2026

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:58:11 +0900

i usually get my physical in January. The kindergartens require it. I personally would like to know the results, too. This time my dementia caught up with me. But as it turns out all's well that ends well.

Dominoes with Crazy boys

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:48:41 +0900

3 wild and crazy boys Words

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:14:13 +0900

These three boys, 11, 13 and 14 enjoy English at my school. Occasionally we wing it and they can get carried away. This is one of those times.

Halloween in Snowmass

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:09:44 +0900

i celebrated one Halloween in Snowmass Colorado. Many people make their costumes and so did I. It was fun, I drank too much (So, what's new?) and paid for it in the end.

Trick or treat 4 year olds

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 07:27:01 +0900

It’s Halloween. The kids are trick and treating.

Rick & Kazu discuss English 1/22/26

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:20:50 +0900

Kazu is one of my adult students. Very interesting, intelligent retired gent. He recently had a major heart attack. He survived a very difficult operation. He has come back to the lesson welcomed by all.

Climbing Mt Fuji the Second Time

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 22:23:03 +0900

I climbed Mt Fuji twice. This, my second time, was when I turned 60. That is the age called KANREKI here in Japan. It is a time to restart your life. (I also quit alcohol for the whole year.) This climb was different from my first ascent. Fortunately, both climbs ended safely.

Wedding Minister OR Moguri Bokushi

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 09:53:04 +0900

Just by luck I got a job as the minister of weddings. It turned out to be a great parttime position for over one year. It was added income to our newly created RAM English Service and a wonderful gig. I could also practice my Japanese in front of a live audience even though it was always the same routine it was a good study for me. It is another example of how fortunate I have been over the years.

Wedding Reception MC Wannabe

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:49:31 +0900

I became interested in the Japanese tourists as more and more were coming to Maui. I saw this as a business opportunity if only I could s[peak Japanese. after an attempt at learning the language, I decided it would be best to come to Japan, learn Japanese then return to Maui. That was 40 years ago. I never went back.

Philippines Eddie Deguzman

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 08:01:24 +0900

I travelled to the Philippines to get my student visa. I met a gent named Eddie there. It led to some trouble and an unforgettable experience.

A Letter to The USA

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:22:22 +0900

I wanted to make a connection with high schools in the USA. I hoped to make a Pen Pal connection for my adult students. It turned out to be a failure, but it was worth the time, effort and the stamps.

YEG Young Entrepreneurs Group 大宮青年部

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 05:20:00 +0900

When I got employed by a language school i moved to Omiya, Saitama prefecture. There I met many new people. One was MAHA. He introduced me to the YEG.

Preacher

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 14:20:15 +0900

One character i met on Maui was Preacher. He was NOT a preacher. He was built like Dirty Harry. I believe that many people on the Hawaiian Islands are fugitives of a sort. I think Preacher was one.

Japanese Driver’s License

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 04:16:30 +0900

i got married and settled down in Japan. Miwako, my lovely wife, had her drivers license and a car. It was easy to se that i should get my license.

Stop a car with one hand

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 07:19:28 +0900

In Japan many, many people use bicycles to get around. They are everywhere. There are rules of he road but not all adhere to them. I explain here about one such rule.

Personalized Number Plates

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:07:35 +0900

I understand that now in the USA one can purchase a license plate that has a whole lot of different combinations of letters and numbers. In Japan we only use numbers. However, numbers can be read as Japanese reading characters also. So, they tell a story just the same.

St Albian Church Tokyo visited

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 18:11:09 +0900

I visited Zojo Temple, St. Albian church and Tokyo Tower. M and I married at this church in 1988. My mother and sister attended. It was fun and I even got a special blessing from the priest and made some new friends.

I volunteer as MC at Okegawa Citizens Festival

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:46:50 +0900

"Boys be ambitious." "Fortune favors the Brave." I took these wide saying s to heart as I volunteered to be the MC at a local event. They didn't immediately invite to be next years MC, but it was a great experience.

The Little Momiji

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 22:57:58 +0900

Some special gardening. Miwako’s mom and I raise this tree from just a seedling to this beautiful tree. Heartwarming story.

About Grandchildren

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:38:50 +0900

Several people gave us opinions about grandchildren.

Our Grandson Christening

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:54:12 +0900

Our third grandchild. This day was his “christening” at the Shrine. I love this…it’s surreal.

Emma In Tokyo

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:43:28 +0900

Love her accent. I met this lady and her fiancé in Tokyo.