Should I answer any even remotely personal questions from such a clumsy and 
awkward author? Disk preparation is finished, so briefly:

The ISP? Asahi-Net, but I think their direct contribution is negligible, 
around 500 yen/month. They offer some solid services and very good English 
support, and are even leaders in ISP customer satisfaction in Japan, but I 
feel they are primarily a marketing operation now. They evolved from a very 
different position, and are currently only focused on certain aspects of 
telecommunications. My goal is optimization of the entire package.

Japanese? Know thyself, and I know that I am not good at that kind of 
applied linguistics. Notwithstanding, I do continue to study the Japanese 
language, including paid classes, and I'd even speculate that I've already 
spent more time and money on Japanese study than any of the currently active 
participants of fj.life.in-japan. I may not like it, but I accept that my 
Japanese skills will never be in the same ballpark as my English skills.

declan_murphy@hotmail.com wrote:
<snip>
> b) I am somewhat impressed that you can keep all telecoms to 8,500 yen
> a month or thereabouts. Perhaps you could mention the ISP's name? At
<snip>
> problems you have with the Japanese language (ie a copy paste of your
> request for more English language deadtree newspapers in your local
<snip>