Reformulating your Vitamin J
On March 14, 2008 in Announcements, Blog Improvements, Community building
I’m excited about some new possibilities for DailyJ.
Likely every project reaches a point, as it grows, where it needs to be re-evaluated and a decision has to be made. The options usually are quit, stagnate, work to death, or change.
I’ve never been one to quit (yes, I’m very stubborn). I understand (somewhat) that knowing when to quit can be a good thing. Unfortunately I don’t know when to quit, if I did I would probably be quitting now. But as it is I think there will be plenty time for quitting when I’m dead.
So that leaves the other three and only one of those is acceptable. It’s time for some changes (with any luck they will be good ones).
Work load and etiquette
The delays in posting interviews and replies to comments have really been bothering me. I don’t want to neglect any of you.
So I am thinking of ways to better handle the interviews. Up to this point I have been contacting more than one website at a time for interviews (and offering interviews to bloggers I happen to meet).
That worked well for awhile (especially at the launch) but now it is just too much. The result is delays and I am tired of being disrespectful to upcoming interviewees by taking too long to send them interview questions or failing to post their interviews quickly.
More brainstorming out loud -
Privately I brainstorm different ideas about DailyJ and other projects. Going forward though I want to open up that process by posting any ideas I have and getting more feedback about them.
Focus -
At first glance a website about Japan-related websites might seem a little silly but I think focus is the key to building a great site so I want to stay focused. So interviews are still the key ingredient of the vitamin J mix. But I’d like to have some multi-participant discussions with the people behind different web projects (a sort of “team interview”).
More discussion -
There is a lot happening around the Japan-related web and it seems to me all of that action demands more discussion and maybe even a little debate. Regular discussions about happenings and topics on the J-web might be a good permanent feature on DailyJ. Anyone could suggest a topic for debate and would become a post/discussion. Or maybe I should start a forum (?), a Japan-blogger’s forum.
Also, as some bloggers have mentioned to me, often ideas are passed back and forth in email when it might be better to discuss them with a wider group of people. Three heads are better than one. I think this goes back to that Japan-blogger’s mailing list idea.
My thoughts on a Japan-related web community are that such a community could be modelled after the open-source software communities. That is what I would love to see. How that will come about I will have to leave to smarter minds (though I offer any support I can provide), but that it could come about excites me.
The communal wiki at http://jproject.wikia.com would probably fit somewhere in that mix. And it seems from feedback that “Japan Labs” should be the name for it. I really like the idea of a laboratory for all sorts of Japan-related web experiments! (That was the atmosphere I was going for all along)
Well, there you have it. I’ve given you lots of ideas to discuss, tear apart, etc.
Renewing DailyJ
On March 11, 2008 in Blog Improvements
Over the next few days I am planning to post some little ideas I have for improving DailyJ.
Back to the basics: relationships
On March 08, 2008 in Community building
Limited time and chasing after too many projects? Yes.
Solution: Go back to the basics.
DailyJ (any blog really) is all about relationships. Talking is important but listening can be even more important. I want to “listen” to (read) past interviewee blogs more diligently.
So I have decided to put a little google feed reader widget on DailyJ that shows recent posts by interviewees! (I will put it on the left sidebar later)
Check it out -
If you want to add the DailyJ crew to your site too (or iGoogle, etc) here is the script for that:
Chit-chat, Japan-related projects, and begging for feedback
On March 05, 2008 in Blog Improvements, Community building, Suggestions Please
Reminder: If you missed it I’ve been asking everyone for feedback about an upcoming discussion I hope to have here on DailyJ (and possibly elsewhere as well).
Chit Chat
Okay. Now that the reminder is out of the way, I just want to update you guys about some of the things I’ve been doing on the Japanopedia wiki.
But before that, Let me say to any newbie people that are reading: I’ll be mentioning names of people that you might not know (here on DailyJ we are kind of close knit) but you can always jump in and join the conversation and we’ll welcome you to the group.
There have been some good comments lately from some new people like Neil and Mike so it’s good to have them drop by and leave their 2 yen and hopefully they’ll stick around as readers.
Also, I just want to say sorry to a couple of people for slow replies. I’ve been talking to a lot of different people by email. I have some interviews that are really backed up, especially one great interview with certain podcasters. I interviewed them a while back and they got all the answers to me really quickly and I’ve been so slow. But I’m getting to it, and I am working on better organisation.
Japan-related Projects
The main thing that I want to do in this post is just talk about some of the upcoming projects on Japanopedia.
I am making a new project page for JapanSoc. It’s a page that lists video tutorials made so far for the project. There are 2 video tutorials currently: One that I’ve made which isn’t very good quality, the sound didn’t work. And another one that Nick made which is quite good.
Hopefully, with this page, somebody else might join in and make a tutorial too, to help out the project. The next project after the JapanSoc is NihonHacks. I have been talking to Thomas about a project to help brainstorm new NihonHacks and problems we want NihonHacks for.
So I’m putting both of these projects on the wiki. They are not done yet but hopefully they will be good once they are upI will let you all know when these pages are ready.
Begging for feedback
* Changing the name of the Japanopeda. Shall we change it to “Japan Labs?”
* Many emails between bloggers. Would some of this dailog be better in the open. This is the old mailing list idea.
Just some ideas I had.
Have a great day!
DailyJ
Convenience store hire heralded as a victory for all foreigners
On March 02, 2008 in fun
In what many activists are calling a major victory for the rights of foreigners in Japan, Gabriel (left) reported for his first day of work on Saturday, January 19, at Lawsons Shibuya #998. To many his employment paints an optimistic picture for the future of equal rights in Japan. Gone will be the days of Japanese-only minimum wage jobs, some say.
“For too long the fast food and convenience store industries of Japan have denied applicants with Western faces equal opportunities for quality employment,” has been the cry of Michael Fitzgeraldson, member of A3F (the Association for Foreigners-workers in Fast Food). Now, with another hire under their belt, the association feels its voice is finally being heard.
Experts predict that by late 2009 a variety of previously inaccessible jobs will begin to open up to foreign workers like Gabriel. “We will see foreigners in many new roles. From greeters in stores like Takashimaya to street sweepers, the possibilities are very exciting,” gushed Prof. Nakagawa. “Foreigners and Japanese are really breaking down walls and entering into a new era of mutual understandingness.”
This is truly a proud moment in the chronicles of non-Japanese/Japanese relations. We owe it all to the brave forerunners who worked so hard to get where they are today. This reporter tips his hat to you, Gabriel, and the other strong gaikokujin who have paved the way. Thank you!
Disclaimer:
The preceding article makes no claim to factuality or truthiness. All names and situations are fictional even if in fact they are based on real facts, but they’re not. The editor of this blog was bored, or possibly drugged/sleep-deprived at the time of this posting and therefore does not represent the viewpoint and opinions of DailyJ and its associates (of which the editor is the sole member). Some of the inspiration for this article came from the New Gabriel Times, a nice blog if I do say so myself (which I do and you are obliged to agree). The editor wishes you all a good day and hopes you will find happy employment heating nikuman and oden at one of Japan’s fine convenience establishments. If you still hunger for satirical silliness check out Gaba Teachers Association
Video Tutorial of the JapanSoc Social Bookmarking Button - helpful guide for Japan-bloggers
On March 01, 2008 in Community building, Helping Japan Bloggers
If you haven’t yet be sure to leave your thoughts on the discussion about the Japan-related web!
Just a few days ago I posted a video I made in an attempt to guide people in putting a JapanSoc voting button on their blog (blog posts). The video didn’t turn out that great (and the audio didn’t work), but I will be making a second attempt soon.
But, the video did inspire Nick to make his own tutorial for another JapanSoc gadget, the social bookmarking button. And I must say he did a better job! Here it is:
I think it would be great if video tutorials like these became more and more common on Japan-related sites. There are many possibilities. We could have tutorials that teach newbie readers how to navigate the site or give them a simple self-introduction. For all of the Japan-related tools available it would be great to have screen-capture videos that explain how to use their more difficult features.
What do you think? Once I gain a little more skill with the software I might go on a tutorial making rampage.
“The Japan-related Web” Revisited
On February 28, 2008 in #The Japan-related Web Debate, Suggestions Please
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds.” — Samuel Adams
I’ve always loved a good quote. Maybe it is time we set brush fires in some minds! 
If you have been a DailyJ reader for a litttle while now you probably know that last month I guest-blogged a series of posts about “the Japan-related web” on RisingSunOfNihon.com. If you missed that discussion you could read/skim through the series or just stay tuned for the discussions to come.
The series wasn’t perfect but hopefully it laid the foundation for a larger discussion about our community, the community of Japan-related sites, forums and blogs.
My hope is that the idea of a community (and by necessity communication) will be “stolen” and talked about by others on their websites. (”stolen” because I don’t need any credit. It is our idea not mine anyway.)
To review the series, I want to go back through your comments and the best parts of the posts and bring them forward again for real discussion.
So the goal is for us to have a more in depth discussion about them, but first I want to hear from you guys about how we should do this. What can we do to make the conversation livelier than it was the last time?
(It seems like it started off lively and then technical problems killed it)
Also, what kind of topics do you want to discuss (that were not covered) or re-discuss?
One thing I definitely want to do with this review is have Japan-site makeovers. So, if you have a Japan related website and want the community to give you feedback and assistance with improving your site, we have an opportunity for you to do that with Japan site make over. I’ll be giving more details about this later, but if you want in early on the list you can contact me at eaglelandgrace [atto] gmail [dotto] com. 
Have a great day
DailyJ
How to win $50 in BaBiBuBeBo’s Japan Photo Contest
On February 26, 2008 in On the J-web, fun
Hi there all you photography enthusiasts! I have a fun opportunity for you.
Evan Pike from Japan Photo Guide (also known as BaBiBuBeBo.com) emailed me and asked me to post something about his contest. Evan was a schoolmate of mine at Jyochi U. but I would have posted something for him either way. DailyJ is all about Japan-related news. Friendship just lubricates the process
The contest will only run until March 17th so you’ll have to hurry! Anyone can enter and the details are all on his blog in the post Contest: Easy Way to Win $50 from Japan Photo Guide
And hopefully we will be hearing a lot more from Evan soon
(as soon as I stop being lazy and send him those interview questions)
Life Hacks for Japan-bloggers?
On February 26, 2008 in Community building
As some of the regulars (and upcoming interviewees) might have noticed I have not been as quick with responses and as daily with DailyJ lately.
Between the guest blogging last month about the Japan-related web and the increased workload at my day job, I am feeling the burn. I’m sure it is good for me though, so I’m not giving up.
If you haven’t received a reply to your comment or email yet I apologise and I’ll make every effort to reply very soon.
I received some comments that made my day though and I just have to highlight them now. SouthOfReality just got a promotion (dinner is on him 
) and Chris might be franchising his English school! If that is not exciting news I don’t what is!
Now back to the handling comments and emails and posts and the-rest-of-life…
That is a lot to deal with, in other words, a problem. So like any good techno-geek I turned to the internet for help and found a solution on lifehacker.com. I love lifehacker!
They have an excellent article on organising your email. It talks about separating your To-Dos from email by taking emails-you-need-to-take-action-on and putting reminders about them in your to-do list (or calendar).
Probably most of you know (or should know) about NihonHacks but I wonder how many knew about sites like lifehacker.com (or lifehack.org)?
How is everybody? + Up and coming
On February 24, 2008 in Announcements
Work has been busier lately and it is affecting my blogging 
Anyway,
I’d love to hear how all of you are doing.
Up and coming
An interview with podcasters and a couple of surprises
