[Sangetsu]

Don't use Skype. Use Yahoo Messenger Voice. I like Yahoo because even though I'm in Japan I can set my preferences so it seems like I'm still in the US. That way if I make a call to America through Yahoo voice, it is charged as a domestic call, and not an international one. I call home to America every week, and it costs me less than $10 a year to do it. The call quality is excellent, I have no complaints at all about it.

BTW, if you want to call America from Japan, just dial +1 and then the area code and phone number; example +1 (213) 555-1212, or +12135551212