Japan Saitama-ken (contiguous to/northeast of tokyo) Toda-shi postal code - 335-0023 jp yen conv rate: \ 129 - 135 = USD $ 1 + 5 feb 02 grocery 1 litre soda 198 2 roll paper towels 100 30 kitchen trash bags 228 1 snack cake 150 1 chicken soup stock (powder) 168 10 eggs 108 2 lbs sugar 168 3 ruby red grapefruit 270 1 pkg 1/2 kilo (1.1 lb) baby carrots 100 tax 5% 106 total 2244 + 5 feb 02 grocery 1 cake 700 tax 5% 35 total 735 + 25 feb 02 medical (national insurance plan) 1 doctor office visit for flu (child) 1990 4 different meds for four days 1000 total 2990 + 26 feb 02 grocery bacon - 175 grm / 10 slices 278 1 litre soda 198 20 round, soft rice "taco" shell 396 1 10 oz btl soy seasoning sauce 248 2 snack 298 2 pcs frying chicken (breast) 240 1 snack cake 150 5 disposable chemical heat pads 298 1 6 oz low alcohol natural sake 100 1 4 oz tobasco sauce 168 tax 5% 120 total 2532 + 26 feb 02 smoke shop 1 10-pack american spirit cigs 2800 + 27 feb 02 dental (national insurance plan) 1 xrays, pulpotomy & temp cap 11570 + 27 feb 02 grocery 3 bento box dinners 1740 tax 5% 87 total 1827 + 27 feb 02 household expense (20 mat = 400 sq ft) rent 73000 telephone (line & local NTT) 8842 telephone (long dist & intntl) 4946 electric 13860 gas 11223 internet ISP (ISDN - dion.ne.jp) 2152 slow 3k-5k download speeds + 28 feb 02 monthly subscrip english newspaper (JT) 3900 + 28 feb 02 grocery 1 snack cake 150 4 rice cakes 238 10 eggs 198 1 litre soda 198 1 pt strawberries 298 1/2 head cabbage 38 6 oz ground pork 298 175 grms bacon - 10 slices 278 3 servings yaki udon noodles 416 2 ruby red grapefruit 180 1/2 head lettuce 58 1 litre bleach 100 tax 5% 122 total 2564 + 1 mar 02 grocery 3 bento box dinner 1108 4 dinner rolls 300 2 rice cakes 200 3 85 grm cups yogurt 198 1 loaf bread (4 - 1 inch slices) 160 1 litre soda 198 1 pt strawberries 298 tax 5% 123 total 2585 + 1 mar 02 recreation - video rental 7 videos @ 370 (4 days) 2590 1 video @ 270 (4 days) 270 tax 5% 143 total 3003 + 1 mar 02 grocery 1 8 oz candy bar 95 1 12 oz pepsi 120 1 pt generic jp ice cream 300 tax 5% 26 total 541 + 2 mar 02 smokes & meds 2 packs generic cigarettes 560 1 btl ibuprofen - 40 tabs 980 tax 5% 49 total 1589 + 2 mar 02 food 1 large pizza - 4 items 3400 1 snack tray - 12 oz 1500 tax 5% 245 total 5145 + 3 mar 02 meds 1 btl bufferin - 60 tabs 1200 1 btl multi vitamins - 60 tabs 3300 1 2 oz btl decongestant nasal spray 850 tax 5% 267 total 5617 + 3 mar 02 food 3 take out hot pork curry dinner 1860 tax 5% 93 total 1953 + 3 mar 02 film developing 3 24 exp rolls 3305 tax 5% 165 total 165 + 4 mar 02 grocery 2 1-litre soda 396 1 loaf bread - 4 one inch slices 160 3 50 grm cup natto (ferm soy bean) 128 2 100 grm jars strawberry jam 300 3 85 grm cups yogurt 198 1 400 grm fried tofu 306 1 175 grm bacon - 10 slices 258 1 pt milk 128 10 eggs 108 1 pt strawberries 358 1 10 oz sausage - 7 links 268 1 pt shitake mushrooms 128 2 1 ft long jap onions - 1/2 in diam 78 tax 5% 172 total 3622 + 4 mar 02 toiletries 5 boxes generic kleenex tissues 258 1 bar face soap - cuticura 598 1 10 oz btl shave lotion - shiseido 1280 1 litre btl liquid laundry softener 195 1 litre btl liquid laundry soap 298 tax 5% 131 total 2760 + 5 mar 02 dental (national insurance plan + blonde hair & blue eyes gaijin discount) 1 xray set + pulpotomy cleanout + extraction + bridgework mold 1070 + 6 mar 02 grocery 1 terrycloth kitchen hand towel 100 1 box saltine crackers - 2 tubes 168 1 100 grm tub cream cheese 268 1 loaf bread - 4 one inch slices 160 tax 5% 35 total 731