Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Brew Lab
want to meet at fmd_good Vintage Avenue
want to meet at fmd_good Local House
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Tokyo International University, Should I Stick it Out or Move?
The anxiety about TIU's reputation is understandable, but you'd be surprised how many mid-sized Japanese companies recruit from there specifically for the English-taught programs. I've seen TIU grads land solid roles at places like Recruit and Rakuten, though it's true you won't see them at the trading houses or big banks. The real question is what you want to do after graduating, because a master's at Waseda or Keio won't automatically fix weak Japanese or a lack of internships, and it'll cost you around 2 million yen a year in tuition alone. If I were you, I'd spend this year grinding on JLPT prep and getting a part-time job in Shinjuku or Ikebukuro where you're forced to speak Japanese daily, then decide on the master's in your third year when you have a clearer picture of what doors are actually closed to you.
tbh the TIU reputation thing is overblown for certain industries. if you're aiming for big foreign companies or startups they barely care about the school name, it's more about your japanese level and internships. the real issue is whether you're getting decent support from the career center in takadanobaba - that campus is convenient for part-time work in shinjuku but the actual job placement stats are what matter. i'd check where alumni from your department ended up before deciding to jump ship for a master's, because that's another 2 years of tuition and time you could spend building experience
honestly if you're worried about prestige, transferring now might be harder than you think. most japanese unis have strict credit transfer rules so you'd prob lose a year or two. i'd just finish at TIU and focus on nailing your japanese and getting a solid internship, that matters way more than the school name for most jobs here
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
load 2 more replies