"Larry Fitzsimmons" <larry_fitzsimmons@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ecd56b51.0307191109.45543905@posting.google.com...
> "Ryan Ginstrom" <ginstrom@       .   > wrote in message
news:<bfaogt$cokg0$1@ID-101276.news.uni-berlin.de>...
>
> > What kind of martial art?
> >
> I am particularly interested in judo, aikido, bujinkan budo taijutsu,
> jujutsu, ryukyu kempo, and just about anything else.  I have almost no
> background in any of these, but having read a great deal about them, I
> would be interested in any of these.

Judo:
If you want to give judo a try you can't go wrong with the Kodokan
(http://www.kodokan.org/). It is located in Bunkyo-ku, which is fairly close
to akasaka.

Aikido:
Aikido is fairly easy to get into as an adult (most people doing judo start
as kids). A couple people on this list do/have done aikido, so if you're
serious about it maybe they can tell you where to look.

Bunjinkan:
As for bujinkan, you missed a very informative thread here about ninjas a
while back. Perhaps a search of the archives could be illuminating.

Jujutsu:
Probably better off with judo IMO.

Ryukyu Kempo:
You'd probably have better luck learning ryukyu kenpo here in Okinawa.

> > Who's nickel are you coming on, what kind of job, and how much hand
holding
> > can you expect from your employers? How about Japanese language ability?
>
> I'm coming to Japan on my own nickel, but I have a professional job
> with a respectable firm, and I can expect no hand-holding from my
> employer.  I can speak a little Japanese, but am hoping to learn a
> great deal more.  I am hoping I can find most things in English.

I think it is pretty odd that your employer would not assist you in your
housing search, but if that is really the case then the links John W.
provided should be valuable. Additionally, there are agencies that will act
as your "guarantor" for a fee, if you have no other contacts here.

-- 
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom