The reason we seem to think that they are carrying around stupidly large
amounts of cash is simple.  comparitive pricing and the ecconomy.  Yes,
5000 yen is worth roughly 50 Dollars.  However there is a difference that
is not seen just in the exchange rate.  In japan they hvae much higher
salarys than we do in the US.  However the salarys work out to the same
standard of living because the prices are higher.  So while if you go to
exchange 5000 yen to american currancy you will get close to 50$  if you
go to the store you will be able to buy only around 20$ worth of poducts
compaired to US prices.  We could consider it an inflated economy or the
prices you get when you move to the east coast :)

(mind you I've never been to the east coast, just japan.)

On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 thermopyle@tds.net wrote:

Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 3:17:04 +0000
From: thermopyle@tds.net
To: ffml@anifics.com
Subject: [FFML] Re: that hp/ranma thing


Okay...I'm going to reply to the story and to a few different email
comments here, so I'll just start from the bottom of the thread.

To start with, directly from the fic:

"Akane held a hand out with a pair of 5000 yen notes, frowning as she
reached for the tape."

I don't think it's likely that Akane would be carrying a hundred dollars
(greatly rounded) on her.  MAYBE she'd have it stored in her room
somewhere, but she wouldn't have it on her, especially when she wouldn't
be carrying a purse at the time.

A quick note on this one....
 My friend was in Japan 2 weeks ago and was blown away by the stupidly
large amounts of hard cash people seemed to be carrying around.

the fact that a convienence store owner changed a 10000 yen note (or
something else stupidly large) without batting an eyebrow..
but credit cards are only infreqently used and INTRAC is pretty much
unknown.


Neil


                             _____________
            Seraphim, the Restless Angel with a (borrowed) sword.
                               ________

         Nene, Ami,
       Girls with glasses. girls with computers. Pink hair. blue hair
                       _______________________
                 Robyn, Duke of Amber. Agent of Chaos.
 ***************************************************************************


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