The word しょうが無い or shoganai originated from the word 仕様が無い which is read shiyouganai. The meaning is It Can’t Be Helped.

The Japanese phrase shiyouganai is more commonly spoken as shoganai and is composed of the word shiyou meaning “way; means” and nai meaning “not; no”. This is a common expression that is used when there is nothing that can be done about something and that one should just accept what is.

This website is about something that is very interesting to me. That interest is Japan. Let me start from the beginning.

It all started when I was 15, my parents hosted a Japanese boy by the name of Tsutomu. Of course no one could pronounce his name so he became Tommy. Tommy was a funny boy, we got along great. He taught me a lot about Japan. I was always interested in Ninjas and martial arts but that was basically all I knew. Over the next few years we hosted a lot of students from Japan and my Mother even became a Teacher/Guide. With every student I became more and more interested in the Japanese language and life. I remember my friends used to bug me that I’m turning Japanese and tease me for liking Japan so much.

It wasn’t until I was 18 or 19 that I took an interest in Japanese women. I started dating them and had several steady girlfriends. At the 24, I found a job opening in Japan. I’ve been teaching since I was 19 so I applied. Within 10 days I had my passport, my visa and a job in Japan. The same day I got my visa I flew out about 3 hours later. I knew this trip would change me but I had no idea.

Everything I learnt about Japan was nothing close to how it really is. For example one big surprise was that Tokyo was not a city, it is a prefecture. A prefecture is their version of a province or a state. Where I was working was the suburbs of Shizuoka. The small town was called Mishima. The first month or so I think I had a permanent bump on my head from hitting my head on all the door ways. I enjoyed my life in Japan, I have a lot of fond memories. My biggest memory was meeting my present wife. I remember the first time I saw her, she walked into my class late with wet hair. I was amazed by her, she was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and I still think so today. I know it’s bad dating my student but the teacher didn’t ask out the student it was the other way around or so I thought…but that’s a different story.

I worked and lived in Japan for about a year. I really liked the Japanese culture and way of life. In Canada, I never had many friends and always felt out of place but amazing in Japan I felt that I fit in and that these are my people. I was told a couple times that they feel my atmosphere is the same as Japanese that’s why I fit in real well. I’m not sure but I really enjoy being around Japanese.

As of August 17, 2003, I married my beautiful Japanese wife. I am now currently living in Shizuoka, Japan and I will continue to live here a long time.

I am going to write stories, some common fact and have some pictures of Japan on this website. In Japan you really have to learn the word “Shoganai” because there is a lot to say it about. I hope you enjoy my site.

Joe Solberg