[This is an edited version of a discussion required for my technical writing class. As I rather like my own analogy, I thought I would crosspost here as well]
As a full-time student, I do lots of persuasive writing on a nearly daily basis: I complete my work for class.
Of course, this is more or less expected of most such students, but do not be fooled by the myriad topics of your homework- in the end, they are all just variations on persuasive communication. The trick is that you have to correctly identify whom you are persuading, their attitude, take into account their likely reactions just as you would in any other form of persuasive communication (say, as in writing a business memo). As I'm sure all of you are intimately familiar with homework, let me review a few key concepts of persuasive writing, interpreted through the analogy of homework.
Being cooperative: If you want a good grade from your teacher or grader, being cooperative is always important for setting the tone of the interaction. This is especially important in writing assignments, because whoever ends up reading your assignments likely would rather be doing more interesting things (as opposed to figuring out why you didn't follow instructions). If you complete the assignment in the incorrect format, or submit it to the wrong place or in the wrong manner, you are being uncooperative. This gives the impression that you do not value the time of those who read your writing, and you are less likely to be given the benefit of the doubt.
On modesty: Invariably, once in a while you think that you deserve exception. In school, this can take many forms- I deserve an extension, I deserve reconsideration, I deserve leniency, and so on. However, stating that you deserve any of these things to your teacher is a quick way to be ignored or worse. The best way to compromise on a potentially troublesome request, idea, or argument is to express yourself with modesty. Explicitly adding that “you may be asking quite a bit” to your exceptional requests acknowledges that you may be inconveniencing someone else, and have the thoughts of others under consideration.
Exemplifying fair-mindedness: Chances are very good that your teacher has been studying the topic of your coursework for much longer than you have. Thus, when making arguments it may be helpful to show that your line of thought has considered alternative opinions and viewpoints. To do otherwise insults the intelligence and background of your teacher by doing nothing to allay their likely questions and concerns. More importantly, relating your idea to other ideas demonstrates that you have a deeper understanding of the topic at hand. In the same vein as being cooperative, avoiding logical fallacies and disingenuous arguments also demonstrates the fair-mindedness of the student.
As one moves in either direction between school and work, keep in mind that the rules for communicating persuasively are largely the same, but the environment and audience differ.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Figuring out how to complicate my semester
Over the past week or two i've been getting serious about narrowing down the fellowships I plan to apply for later this year. I started off looking at quite a handful:
Fellowships for study in the UK
Of these, many of them are for 1-2 year tenure of study in United Kingdom institutions. To narrow down the field, I looked at departments to see who has the greatest number of possible advisors, and surprisingly Oxford does not have a computer science department quite nearly as impressive as my two top picks, Imperial College London and Cambridge University. This rules out the Rhodes, which is specifically for study at Oxford. Similarly, while the Marshall fellowship recipient can study at many tenable universities in the United Kingdom, sadly Imperial College is not one among them. Thus, I am left with a choice between the Churchill, Gates Cambridge, and the Marshall scholarship; since the Marshall does not have as good of a stipend as either of the other fellowships, I might as well not apply (since there will be much competition among Marshall applicants to attend schools other than Oxford/Cambridge).
At this point I'm going to concentrate on the Churchill Scholarship; explicitly concentrating on the Gates Cambridge is not possible, as it is part of the normal application to Cambridge graduate programs. There are only 10-15 Churchill Scholars per year, but I think I have a decent chance, considering my attempts at research thus far and the awards it begot; at least half of the Churchill scholars have previously received the Goldwater scholarship. Moreover, it is definitely time for a Computer Science major to recieve- the last time it happened was in 2003.
Were I to be awarded either distinction, it would fund up to 2 years of graduate study in a MPhil program (like a Master's degree), plus a decent stipend for living. The likely plan of study is split into two options: the first option is 10 classes and a small report/thesis, and the second is 6 classes plus a substantial research project. There is also the advantage of being at one of the best institutions in the world, and being in very close proximity to Microsoft Research Cambridge. Without the award, the chances of studying at Cambridge for a year are slim due to financial considerations (especially if someone is coming with me).
Fellowships for the United States (Doctoral)
The considerations for normal doctoral graduate fellowships are not completely understood yet, due to the inherent uncertainty involved in concurrently considering a PhD program in the United States and a MPhil program abroad (followed presumably by the PhD program in the United States). Many doctoral fellowships cannot be taken abroad, nor can they be deferred for a year as many graduate admissions can be. This will require a lot of flow-chart diagrams and tough decisions, but as the deadlines are in the later half of fall semester, I have some time to figure out my options.
While almost all doctoral students in Computer Science receive tuition waivers and research or teaching assistantships, recieving a graduate fellowship can significantly increase your options. I have heard many stories of automatic grad-school acceptance following the announcement that the applicant has a multi-year fellowship funded by an external agency. Furthermore, you are not limited by the availability of grant funds in choosing your advisor or thesis/research interests. Probably most exciting is the permanent honor of listing a fellowship on your CV :)
At the outset, there is the Hertz, the NDSEG, and the NSF fellowships, which are listed here left to right according to prestige. The Hertz is an ultra-competitive national fellowship similar to the Churchill, Rhodes, and other non-acronym fellowships; however, it has an infamous reputation for a grueling and masochistic 2-round interview process. I believe my application is probably quantatively similar to others who would apply for the Hertz, but it may not be in my best interests to pursue it. For one, it would be extremely stressful to apply for the Hertz and the Churchill (and others) at the same time, and if I do end up going to Cambridge for a year, then I cannot use the Hertz there.
The NDSEG and NSF are still quite competitive (about 100 and 2000 awardees a year, respectively) but may be a better probabilistic use of my time. Furthermore, they are due in November and January, so by that point I will have my personal statement polished to a diamond, my GRE scores satisfied (hopefully), and I will be nearly done with my graduate school applications anyway.
Any way you look at it, I still have a mountain of application work to do this coming fall, so I am already in June beginning to plan and triage all of the myriad statements, prompts, reference letters, and so on. Here's my top-level list so far:
Churchill Scholarship Application
Cambridge Graduate Studies Application (required for Churchill and Gates Cambridge)
NDSEG Application
NSF Application
CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Application (again)
Senior Awards at Purdue
(tentatively) 5 Graduate school applications
Each of the above involves a personal statement (of varying lengths and foci), at least 3 letters of reference, mundane form-filling, official transcripts, statement of research plan, and in some cases GRE scores.
...I suppose I should start thinking about how I can thank my recommendation-writers if I actually win any of these things :)
- Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship ('the Hertz')
- Marshall Scholarship ('the Marshall')
- Churchill Scholarship ('the Churchill')
- Rhodes Scholarship ('the Rhodes')
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- 'the NDSEG' (National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship)
- 'the NSF' (National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program)
Fellowships for study in the UK
Of these, many of them are for 1-2 year tenure of study in United Kingdom institutions. To narrow down the field, I looked at departments to see who has the greatest number of possible advisors, and surprisingly Oxford does not have a computer science department quite nearly as impressive as my two top picks, Imperial College London and Cambridge University. This rules out the Rhodes, which is specifically for study at Oxford. Similarly, while the Marshall fellowship recipient can study at many tenable universities in the United Kingdom, sadly Imperial College is not one among them. Thus, I am left with a choice between the Churchill, Gates Cambridge, and the Marshall scholarship; since the Marshall does not have as good of a stipend as either of the other fellowships, I might as well not apply (since there will be much competition among Marshall applicants to attend schools other than Oxford/Cambridge).
At this point I'm going to concentrate on the Churchill Scholarship; explicitly concentrating on the Gates Cambridge is not possible, as it is part of the normal application to Cambridge graduate programs. There are only 10-15 Churchill Scholars per year, but I think I have a decent chance, considering my attempts at research thus far and the awards it begot; at least half of the Churchill scholars have previously received the Goldwater scholarship. Moreover, it is definitely time for a Computer Science major to recieve- the last time it happened was in 2003.
Were I to be awarded either distinction, it would fund up to 2 years of graduate study in a MPhil program (like a Master's degree), plus a decent stipend for living. The likely plan of study is split into two options: the first option is 10 classes and a small report/thesis, and the second is 6 classes plus a substantial research project. There is also the advantage of being at one of the best institutions in the world, and being in very close proximity to Microsoft Research Cambridge. Without the award, the chances of studying at Cambridge for a year are slim due to financial considerations (especially if someone is coming with me).
Fellowships for the United States (Doctoral)
The considerations for normal doctoral graduate fellowships are not completely understood yet, due to the inherent uncertainty involved in concurrently considering a PhD program in the United States and a MPhil program abroad (followed presumably by the PhD program in the United States). Many doctoral fellowships cannot be taken abroad, nor can they be deferred for a year as many graduate admissions can be. This will require a lot of flow-chart diagrams and tough decisions, but as the deadlines are in the later half of fall semester, I have some time to figure out my options.
While almost all doctoral students in Computer Science receive tuition waivers and research or teaching assistantships, recieving a graduate fellowship can significantly increase your options. I have heard many stories of automatic grad-school acceptance following the announcement that the applicant has a multi-year fellowship funded by an external agency. Furthermore, you are not limited by the availability of grant funds in choosing your advisor or thesis/research interests. Probably most exciting is the permanent honor of listing a fellowship on your CV :)
At the outset, there is the Hertz, the NDSEG, and the NSF fellowships, which are listed here left to right according to prestige. The Hertz is an ultra-competitive national fellowship similar to the Churchill, Rhodes, and other non-acronym fellowships; however, it has an infamous reputation for a grueling and masochistic 2-round interview process. I believe my application is probably quantatively similar to others who would apply for the Hertz, but it may not be in my best interests to pursue it. For one, it would be extremely stressful to apply for the Hertz and the Churchill (and others) at the same time, and if I do end up going to Cambridge for a year, then I cannot use the Hertz there.
The NDSEG and NSF are still quite competitive (about 100 and 2000 awardees a year, respectively) but may be a better probabilistic use of my time. Furthermore, they are due in November and January, so by that point I will have my personal statement polished to a diamond, my GRE scores satisfied (hopefully), and I will be nearly done with my graduate school applications anyway.
Any way you look at it, I still have a mountain of application work to do this coming fall, so I am already in June beginning to plan and triage all of the myriad statements, prompts, reference letters, and so on. Here's my top-level list so far:
Churchill Scholarship Application
Cambridge Graduate Studies Application (required for Churchill and Gates Cambridge)
NDSEG Application
NSF Application
CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Application (again)
Senior Awards at Purdue
(tentatively) 5 Graduate school applications
Each of the above involves a personal statement (of varying lengths and foci), at least 3 letters of reference, mundane form-filling, official transcripts, statement of research plan, and in some cases GRE scores.
...I suppose I should start thinking about how I can thank my recommendation-writers if I actually win any of these things :)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
These shoes rule, these shoes suck!
I have only worn the new shoes for a week as of this writing, so these are only my first impressions.
So far, I have had a lot of fun wearing my VFF KSO's for only a minor amount of pain and inconvenience. As i'm breaking them in (as well as my feet), I have tried to wear them wherever possible. My favorite places to wear them in the second half of my American vacation:
-running up the lawn part of The Gorge amphitheatre
-driving the car (basically barefoot)
-jumping up/down banks near a river
Places that didn't work as well:
-long distance walking on pavement/sidewalk (although it's probably just that i'm not used to it yet)
-airport security
-carrying heavy things in dicey places
-while dancing
In general they work great for me on slopes or places where I need good, lightweight footing. They are not the best idea when carrying or lifting heavy objects in uncontrolled environments; in other words, they would work fine for weight lifting in a gym, but not for lugging around 50lb suitcases through public transit. This is mostly because of the damage 50 lbs can do when landing on a single toe with less than a centimeter of material between luggage and toe.
Unfortunately, the story for TSA is not terribly clear; while I have read reports of TSA screeners waving off the shoes as harmless or not shoes, that was not the assessment I was given at Sea-Tac Airport earier today. I actually went through the scanner with them on, then as I was collecting my bag and laptop another screener got curious about my wierd looking shoes. It wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that I was not wearing socks and I haven't washed my shoes (yes, you can and should wash them) since buying them a week ago.
While dancing, bouncing, raving, or otherwise gyrating, it is unnerving to have no 'bounce' or cushion on your heels, and doing all your ups and downs on the balls of your feet is very tiring. Just as with luggage on public transit, wearing these shoes on a crowded dance floor is not recommended. Especially in the presence of intoxicated or otherwise mentally altered people, playing chance with someone stepping on you toes is not something I would advocate any more than walking through a city sidewalk (or festival campsite!) without any protection.
We'll see in the next few weeks how the shoes (and the wearer) fare up in more normalized everyday use. I also hope to try some short runs in them to see whether it works or not.
So far, I have had a lot of fun wearing my VFF KSO's for only a minor amount of pain and inconvenience. As i'm breaking them in (as well as my feet), I have tried to wear them wherever possible. My favorite places to wear them in the second half of my American vacation:
-running up the lawn part of The Gorge amphitheatre
-driving the car (basically barefoot)
-jumping up/down banks near a river
Places that didn't work as well:
-long distance walking on pavement/sidewalk (although it's probably just that i'm not used to it yet)
-airport security
-carrying heavy things in dicey places
-while dancing
In general they work great for me on slopes or places where I need good, lightweight footing. They are not the best idea when carrying or lifting heavy objects in uncontrolled environments; in other words, they would work fine for weight lifting in a gym, but not for lugging around 50lb suitcases through public transit. This is mostly because of the damage 50 lbs can do when landing on a single toe with less than a centimeter of material between luggage and toe.
Unfortunately, the story for TSA is not terribly clear; while I have read reports of TSA screeners waving off the shoes as harmless or not shoes, that was not the assessment I was given at Sea-Tac Airport earier today. I actually went through the scanner with them on, then as I was collecting my bag and laptop another screener got curious about my wierd looking shoes. It wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that I was not wearing socks and I haven't washed my shoes (yes, you can and should wash them) since buying them a week ago.
While dancing, bouncing, raving, or otherwise gyrating, it is unnerving to have no 'bounce' or cushion on your heels, and doing all your ups and downs on the balls of your feet is very tiring. Just as with luggage on public transit, wearing these shoes on a crowded dance floor is not recommended. Especially in the presence of intoxicated or otherwise mentally altered people, playing chance with someone stepping on you toes is not something I would advocate any more than walking through a city sidewalk (or festival campsite!) without any protection.
We'll see in the next few weeks how the shoes (and the wearer) fare up in more normalized everyday use. I also hope to try some short runs in them to see whether it works or not.
Friday, May 29, 2009
How to buy wierd shoes
I've had my eyes on these shoes for quite a few months (hat tip to some reply in an Ask Metafilter post). Unfortunately, they are neither marketed nor sold in Japan, at least according to manufacturer's website. Luckily, Michigan had the most retailers of any state I was planning to visit, so I was feeling lucky about my chances of snagging a pair.
Until I remembered that I was visiting WEST Michigan, where everything is closed early on Saturday and all day on Sunday. Unfortunately, we were about 30 minutes too late to get fitted at The Outpost of Holland, so the next day we drove to the Gazelle Sports location on the east side of Grand Rapids (where stuff is kinda-open on Sundays). I got my size fitted and everything, but they unfortunately only carry the classic model, and I want the KSO (keep stuff out) model.
And now, a brief aside on classic versus KSO models of the FiveFinger shoes. The choice between the two is mostly a matter of taste: ostensibly the KSO, with a covered mesh shoe-top can keep stuff out (that's where the KSO name comes from), but I mainly avoided the classic model because it looks like a ballerina slipper. Judging by how much attention my muted solid black KSO's attract, the constant sideshow afforded by classic model may be just too distracting to get used to.
Still determined to get shoes while in a country where they retail, I returned to the Outpost on my way out of Michigan and they thankfully carried the exact color and model I wanted. Unfortunately they did not carry size 43 (which is probably my real size) so I got a 44 instead. This would be a huge problem for classic model, since there is no strap to keep the shoe from flying off your feet. Fortunately, the slightly too big size has not been too much of a hassle yet, aside from more frequent friction (more on that later).
If you live in America but your nearest store does not carry the exact model that you like, I recommend fitting for a classic model and then ordering online direct from the manufacturer. This way, you can be sure that it will fit fine without extra-tight straps, and Vibram (manufacturers of the shoe) has a generous return and exchange policy should you find that the sizes do not work out to your favor.
If you live in a country without an official retailer, your options are a bit more limited. Over at Birthday Shoes, there is an effort to collect data on VFF shoe size and how it correlates to actual foot length and US/UK "normal" shoe sizes. Also, used pairs of shoes do show up on Ebay from time to time, so that is another option which may work out in different countries.
Above all, make absolutely sure that you have the right size, because it may be difficult to exchange them later. After using them for a few days, they will begin to mold to the shape of your foot, and whoever sold them to you may be hesitant to take them back after they adopt the shape and smell of your feet.
Until I remembered that I was visiting WEST Michigan, where everything is closed early on Saturday and all day on Sunday. Unfortunately, we were about 30 minutes too late to get fitted at The Outpost of Holland, so the next day we drove to the Gazelle Sports location on the east side of Grand Rapids (where stuff is kinda-open on Sundays). I got my size fitted and everything, but they unfortunately only carry the classic model, and I want the KSO (keep stuff out) model.
And now, a brief aside on classic versus KSO models of the FiveFinger shoes. The choice between the two is mostly a matter of taste: ostensibly the KSO, with a covered mesh shoe-top can keep stuff out (that's where the KSO name comes from), but I mainly avoided the classic model because it looks like a ballerina slipper. Judging by how much attention my muted solid black KSO's attract, the constant sideshow afforded by classic model may be just too distracting to get used to.
Still determined to get shoes while in a country where they retail, I returned to the Outpost on my way out of Michigan and they thankfully carried the exact color and model I wanted. Unfortunately they did not carry size 43 (which is probably my real size) so I got a 44 instead. This would be a huge problem for classic model, since there is no strap to keep the shoe from flying off your feet. Fortunately, the slightly too big size has not been too much of a hassle yet, aside from more frequent friction (more on that later).
If you live in America but your nearest store does not carry the exact model that you like, I recommend fitting for a classic model and then ordering online direct from the manufacturer. This way, you can be sure that it will fit fine without extra-tight straps, and Vibram (manufacturers of the shoe) has a generous return and exchange policy should you find that the sizes do not work out to your favor.
If you live in a country without an official retailer, your options are a bit more limited. Over at Birthday Shoes, there is an effort to collect data on VFF shoe size and how it correlates to actual foot length and US/UK "normal" shoe sizes. Also, used pairs of shoes do show up on Ebay from time to time, so that is another option which may work out in different countries.
Above all, make absolutely sure that you have the right size, because it may be difficult to exchange them later. After using them for a few days, they will begin to mold to the shape of your foot, and whoever sold them to you may be hesitant to take them back after they adopt the shape and smell of your feet.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Shoes Experience Update: DDR
Last night I attempted a round of DDR while wearing my KSO's. At first, there are a number of things which take some adjusting to. Since there is basically no shoe sole, the timing of the note hits is slightly later. This is due to it taking less time to move my foot and depress the direction arrow. I'm still not sure if this makes the hit timing closer or further away from the actual beats in the music, since I was playing on a new machine. Next week, I'll try again on a machine I am well-acquainted with (the DDR X machine at 仙台駅 Taito Station).
Another change that I noticed (again, may just be machine peculiarities) is that I have to push down fairly hard on the floor buttons in order for them to register in the correct instant. If I step lightly like I normally would while wearing FiveFingers, the pad hits register late or not at all. I think this is just engineering by the pad designers to compensate for people wearing heavy shoes (and slamming the pad way too hard).
Another change that I noticed (again, may just be machine peculiarities) is that I have to push down fairly hard on the floor buttons in order for them to register in the correct instant. If I step lightly like I normally would while wearing FiveFingers, the pad hits register late or not at all. I think this is just engineering by the pad designers to compensate for people wearing heavy shoes (and slamming the pad way too hard).
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Introducing my new shoes
Near the midpoint of my vacation in America, I began to seek out a new and exquisite shoe: the Vibram FiveFingers. Unlike most shoes which help to pad your feet and dampen any vibrations from locomotion, these shoes are a far reach in the other direction. In fact, there is very little difference between these shoes and walking around barefoot, except for the protective rubber sole. Essentially it is a glorified watershoe, with a better rubber sole and articulated toes and heel (a la the toe socks of yesteryear).
Maybe I should say that more bluntly: it looks like a rubber foot. This is the aspect which probably matters the least in the functionality of the shoe, but is most noticed by anyone else. In both America and Japan (even as i'm riding back to Sendai on the Tohoku Shinkansen as I write this), total strangers and friends alike manage to work up the courage to talk to me about my shoes. The little attention whore inside of me just loves all the excitement aimed near the lower half of my body.
The more important aspect of these shoes from a functionality standpoint (pun intended) is that there is no support at all. None, nada, zilch, zero. Neither is there any padding to speak of: while wearing the shoe, I can quite readily tell apart whether i'm walking on concrete, pavement, marble, or a grooved escalator step. This is intentional, and the only thing you are paying for with this shoe is a protective glove around your foot. Things that make barefoot walking dangerous, such as metal scraps, nails, broken glass, and so on are not able to penetrate the rubber sole. Like normal shoes, stepping on a big nail or sharp rock may very well bruise your foot, but at least you won't bleed to death or get an emergency tetanus shot.
Speaking of bruising.. that is what will happen to your heel if you walk heel-toe barefoot. Accordingly, the new wearer of the FiveFingers shoe will need to adjust (and probably unlearn) their ambulating style and gait to be appropriate for barefoot walking. In general, the strategy is to use the ball of your foot as the main impact absorber, since that is how your foot is designed to work in the first place. Walking only on the balls of your feet is basically tiptoe-ing, and is not sustainable for long distances unless you have extremely well-conditioned feet/legs. For a smoother gait, I roll through with all of my toes (its much more productive when your foot is wearing a glove instead of a mitten).
Next.. how does one buy such exotic footwear?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Shipping luggage to/from the airport in Japan
UPDATE: added headers, more details on picking up at the airport, and how to find the booths
On my travels involving luggage in Japan, I am acutely reminded just how crowded the country can be (and how big the foreigners are in comparison to everyone else). It is nearly impossible to take any non-carryon luggage in the subway or highway buses, and difficult to carry more than one checked baggage on the Shinkansen. Many people utilize various delivery services which can deliver luggage directly to or from an airport.
For airport delivery, you can both send and receive your luggage at the airport.
Sending Airport to Home (or other destination)
When I fly into Narita International Airport, I eventually work my way through customs, and end up on the first floor arrivals lobby. From here, at the end of the large hallway are the booths of various delivery companies (look for signs indicating delivery companies or 荷物宅配サービス). One of the most well-known companies is Kuroneko Yamato, which has the trademark black-cat-on-yellow logo; I have used this company several times. At the booth, you fill out a little delivery form, decide what time the next day you would like your luggage delivered, hand over 1500-2000 yen per bag, and leave the airport much lighter. For much of Kanto (near Tokyo), same day deliveries are possible for luggage received in the morning; next day delivery is standard to most other areas of Japan (some parts of Hokkaido and islands like Okinawa take longer). Now you can proceed lightly to your destination!
Sending to the Airport
Shipping to the airport is a bit more involved and requires more planning, because the bags must be sent two days prior to departure. In my case, I sent my bags on a Thursday for my Monday flight. Collection is also varied; in general you can call a delivery driver to make a pick up at a specific time and place, or you can take your luggage to a store that deals with the delivery company. For Kuroneko, most Seven-Eleven stores are able to send and receive packages and luggage, along with a smattering of other (usually smaller, independent) stores and shops. The forms can be obtained from participating stores before you hand over money and send the bags, which is helpful if you know the store from which you want to send but are unsure of other details (or want some time to pick apart the kanji on the form).
On the airport end, you pick up your luggage in the departures check-in lobby of the appropriate terminal and wing. After that, you can walk across the floor to your appropriate airline check-in station, and only end up carrying all your bags at once for the 5-10 minutes it takes to traverse the huge departures lobby. Also, you can stuff anything into your bags at this time that you forgot/deferred from shipping; for example, toiletries, おみやげ (souvenirs) that you forgot, or evening out the load between checked and carryon luggage.
I have found this service invaluable, especially if you have more than one piece of luggage or are travelling to the airport by bus. Even with the roughly $16-20 per piece of luggage, it is still cheaper to take an overnight bus and pay for luggage than take the shinkansen. Even with the shinkansen, the lightened burden may make your travels more relaxed and stress-free. After a neverending day of travel and a flight covering a dozen timezones, shelling out a few bills is often a very tempting proposition. Since my flight departed at 10:45, I would be traveling through Tokyo around rush hour; the thought of swimming through the sea of commuters with 100lb of deadweight was enough motivation for me to figure out how to ship my bags to the airport.
Helpful links
Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) - Airport Takkyubin (English)
On my travels involving luggage in Japan, I am acutely reminded just how crowded the country can be (and how big the foreigners are in comparison to everyone else). It is nearly impossible to take any non-carryon luggage in the subway or highway buses, and difficult to carry more than one checked baggage on the Shinkansen. Many people utilize various delivery services which can deliver luggage directly to or from an airport.
For airport delivery, you can both send and receive your luggage at the airport.
Sending Airport to Home (or other destination)
When I fly into Narita International Airport, I eventually work my way through customs, and end up on the first floor arrivals lobby. From here, at the end of the large hallway are the booths of various delivery companies (look for signs indicating delivery companies or 荷物宅配サービス). One of the most well-known companies is Kuroneko Yamato, which has the trademark black-cat-on-yellow logo; I have used this company several times. At the booth, you fill out a little delivery form, decide what time the next day you would like your luggage delivered, hand over 1500-2000 yen per bag, and leave the airport much lighter. For much of Kanto (near Tokyo), same day deliveries are possible for luggage received in the morning; next day delivery is standard to most other areas of Japan (some parts of Hokkaido and islands like Okinawa take longer). Now you can proceed lightly to your destination!
Sending to the Airport
Shipping to the airport is a bit more involved and requires more planning, because the bags must be sent two days prior to departure. In my case, I sent my bags on a Thursday for my Monday flight. Collection is also varied; in general you can call a delivery driver to make a pick up at a specific time and place, or you can take your luggage to a store that deals with the delivery company. For Kuroneko, most Seven-Eleven stores are able to send and receive packages and luggage, along with a smattering of other (usually smaller, independent) stores and shops. The forms can be obtained from participating stores before you hand over money and send the bags, which is helpful if you know the store from which you want to send but are unsure of other details (or want some time to pick apart the kanji on the form).
On the airport end, you pick up your luggage in the departures check-in lobby of the appropriate terminal and wing. After that, you can walk across the floor to your appropriate airline check-in station, and only end up carrying all your bags at once for the 5-10 minutes it takes to traverse the huge departures lobby. Also, you can stuff anything into your bags at this time that you forgot/deferred from shipping; for example, toiletries, おみやげ (souvenirs) that you forgot, or evening out the load between checked and carryon luggage.
I have found this service invaluable, especially if you have more than one piece of luggage or are travelling to the airport by bus. Even with the roughly $16-20 per piece of luggage, it is still cheaper to take an overnight bus and pay for luggage than take the shinkansen. Even with the shinkansen, the lightened burden may make your travels more relaxed and stress-free. After a neverending day of travel and a flight covering a dozen timezones, shelling out a few bills is often a very tempting proposition. Since my flight departed at 10:45, I would be traveling through Tokyo around rush hour; the thought of swimming through the sea of commuters with 100lb of deadweight was enough motivation for me to figure out how to ship my bags to the airport.
Helpful links
Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) - Airport Takkyubin (English)
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