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What's this? Book review of TOWNPAGE English Telephone Directory.

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Impressions: For English-speaking residents of Japan, NTT's English telephone directory is useful and essential. English-speaking visitors to Japan will also find it helpful with its sightseeing guide and maps section (but it's too big and heavy to carry around). Although the phone number listings pale in comparison with the Japanese phone directory, it has most of the business and government phone numbers you would want to call in Japan.

The directory comprises many sections listing businesses and government offices; telephone and utilities service information; post office information; subway and train maps; and tourist information for Japan's major cities including street maps. The directory used to have white pages listing private individuals, but not anymore. It's only yellow pages now. It also included URLs and e-mail addresses, but no more.

There are two versions of the English Telephone Directory. One covers East Japan and the other West Japan. East Japan covers Gifu, Aichi, and all other prefectures in the east (all the way up to Hokkaido). Listings for Tokyo dominate the directory. The West Japan edition covers the other prefectures west (and north) of Aichi and Gifu.

There are listings for photo agencies, photo studios, photographers, and model agencies. However, the listings are rather short compared to the Japanese phone book. Remember that all the entries in this English directory are included only by request (you have to send in a fax or e-mail). It's not like the regular phone directory where everyone's number is listed automatically unless delisting is requested. Since these businesses have especially requested a listing in this English phone book, it's probable that you'll be able to speak English with them.

To get a free copy, go to any NTT office. If you're in East Japan and you want the West Japan edition, they will charge 2,000 yen. The same applies to the opposite situation. Major English bookstores also sell the directories for 2,000 yen each. An online version is also available at http://english.itp.ne.jp/. (Reviewed by Philbert Ono)