Nova handed suspension order over tuition fee practices
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Wednesday ordered major English-language school operator Nova Corp. to suspend part of its business operations for holding back money from students who canceled their contracts, ministry officials said.
The ministry issued an order prohibiting Nova from soliciting customers or accepting applications for contracts exceeding one year or new contracts exceeding 70 hours. The suspension will be in place for six months.
It is the first time for the ministry to issue a business suspension order to an English language school under Japan's special transaction law. People who are currently taking lessons at the language school will not be affected by the order.
Ministry officials explained Nova operates a system in which students buy points enabling them to take lessons. When they buy a large number of points in advance, they can take lessons at a cheaper price.
However, when people canceled their contracts before finishing their courses, the company lowered the amount of lesson fees it returned to them. In addition the company didn't inform people about the procedures for canceling contracts. (more)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Nova in trouble again
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
met up with an old friend in NYC
Look who it is:
Charlie, Megan, Kazumi, and I being the tourists that we are, stood in line for over three hours to finally arrive on the top (technically not the top) observatory deck on Empire State Building.
I look forward to the day we Niihamans can reunite under one roof (in Ohio, it's pronounced ruff)!
Thanks Charlie again for driving all the way from the red state to our blue state. ^_^
Charlie, Megan, Kazumi, and I being the tourists that we are, stood in line for over three hours to finally arrive on the top (technically not the top) observatory deck on Empire State Building.
I look forward to the day we Niihamans can reunite under one roof (in Ohio, it's pronounced ruff)!
Thanks Charlie again for driving all the way from the red state to our blue state. ^_^
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
We got married
TODAY!
We went down to the city hall and got official!
not an actual picture of us: (getting married in Japan is uneventful, I mean at the city hall. no congrats, no "now I pronounce you..." no "kiss the bride." no well wishes, no nothing, serious. but I'm not complaining! all that comes a little later.)
We went down to the city hall and got official!
not an actual picture of us: (getting married in Japan is uneventful, I mean at the city hall. no congrats, no "now I pronounce you..." no "kiss the bride." no well wishes, no nothing, serious. but I'm not complaining! all that comes a little later.)
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
NYC + KW pics
We were down in Key West for four days. It is located at theat the tip of Florida, the southernmost point of continental USA, 90 miles above Cuba, 1000+ miles to the north is New York. My friends and I once did a road trip between NYC and Key West raking up 5000 miles in a single week.
The temperature was perfect right around 70-78F (21-26C). The ocean glittered under the tropic sun. We got a free upgrade from Hawk's Cay where we stayed at. You'd wonder if they ever read your special request and I know for a fact this time they did. We mentioned it was our honeymoon and we got a villa, worth $519 to $1400 per day during high season!
hawkscay.com
Ours is the one to the far left, with the best view!
From here on these are our own pictures:
views from our villa
from the second floor; one of Hemingway's house cats
tropical fruit "horned melon" we'd never had before, tastes sour; boat sailing by our back yard
dolphin experience with a price right at the resort; ordering catch-of-the-day lunch
complementary champagne; master bedroom
sunrise sunset we were too excited to sleep; key west in a dish right inside the villa
a sailboat going to an exclusive island cocktail party I imagine; Hemingway's bed
the resort's lagoon; golf cart the preferred means of transportation
another view; sunrise
From here on are pictures taken in NYC:
cherry blossom in central park; the world's largest blue sapphire: link
the big tree in my sister's yard. it's BIG(!); view from top of Empire State Building; it took THREE(3) hours to get up there, the line was loooooooooong, or was it 4?
Kazumi (the wife) punching a boxing ball in the garage; my old work place
R2D2 post box invding NYC
The temperature was perfect right around 70-78F (21-26C). The ocean glittered under the tropic sun. We got a free upgrade from Hawk's Cay where we stayed at. You'd wonder if they ever read your special request and I know for a fact this time they did. We mentioned it was our honeymoon and we got a villa, worth $519 to $1400 per day during high season!
hawkscay.com
Ours is the one to the far left, with the best view!
From here on these are our own pictures:
views from our villa
from the second floor; one of Hemingway's house cats
tropical fruit "horned melon" we'd never had before, tastes sour; boat sailing by our back yard
dolphin experience with a price right at the resort; ordering catch-of-the-day lunch
complementary champagne; master bedroom
sunrise sunset we were too excited to sleep; key west in a dish right inside the villa
a sailboat going to an exclusive island cocktail party I imagine; Hemingway's bed
the resort's lagoon; golf cart the preferred means of transportation
another view; sunrise
From here on are pictures taken in NYC:
cherry blossom in central park; the world's largest blue sapphire: link
the big tree in my sister's yard. it's BIG(!); view from top of Empire State Building; it took THREE(3) hours to get up there, the line was loooooooooong, or was it 4?
Kazumi (the wife) punching a boxing ball in the garage; my old work place
R2D2 post box invding NYC
Thursday, April 26, 2007
back from NYC and Key West, FL
Sorry about the late post. We got back a few days ago and are busy with other things: among them, starting a new school under my own name. There are more than meet the eyes of course, contract details, shopping for textbooks, furnishings, etc.
Getting the Interweb proves to be an obstacle in our new apartment. After waiting for 2/3 of a month the phone company just told us we can't get their ADSL without a phone line. But we have no intention installing one because "owning" the right to a landline costs a small fortune in Japan. We both have our cell phone so that's out of the question.
Getting the Interweb proves to be an obstacle in our new apartment. After waiting for 2/3 of a month the phone company just told us we can't get their ADSL without a phone line. But we have no intention installing one because "owning" the right to a landline costs a small fortune in Japan. We both have our cell phone so that's out of the question.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
NYC + FL
Getting online has been a little more difficult.
Away notice:
(We'll be away for 10+ days to go to the US to say hi to family and friends, as well as a pre-wedding mini-honeymoon.)
April 13th - 19th (NYC, NJ, PA)
April 19th - 23rd (Miami, Key West)
Away notice:
(We'll be away for 10+ days to go to the US to say hi to family and friends, as well as a pre-wedding mini-honeymoon.)
April 13th - 19th (NYC, NJ, PA)
April 19th - 23rd (Miami, Key West)
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