The whole kawaii culture of Japan is so screwed, tbh. Moron. I agree! Or does examining those metrics not help your toxic narrative? Ive been having a difficult time adjusting to the culture here and work and social life with locals Its a great place to visit, but oh boy, with so many rules and narrow minded (in my opinion) expectations and perspectives, living here makes me feel suffocated. Thats all. I have quite often seen some westerners say things like I actually read a book about Japanese culture so I can understand how to deal with Japanese businesses.. To this I always feel like wow, do you think you can understand completely about another culture just by reading a book? There are many reasons to move to Japan. Read on to find out more. I should love Japan; I certainly thought I would. Certainly a city that is up in terms of being multicultural compared to racially homogenous Japan. : I would love to read a post about what you ate in Japan. Everyday (I mean it) you can read in newspapers things like XX District Public Prosecutors Office announced the non-prosecution of XX. Instead they end up doing illegal stuff like working too much while they were told not to work so much as they are a student. Instead they said Nora, we would really like to tell you youre wrong. The anime thing also repulses me, and I cannot believe how socially acceptable it is particularly in Japan. I think the vast majority of your gripes with the country is due to the language and cultural barrier. And the passive aggressive comments you mentioned gave me so much anxiety! Owen Kinnersly. Unfortunately what the employers do with the results of said health checks is a bit of a grey area. Those are indeed things you have to avoid. Coming on to Ok no litter but plenty of weeds.oh the weedsno grass just more concrete; over-rated Sakura in scrappy Ueno Park (better cherryblossom and parks Londons regular burbs); yet more carparks next to Hokkaidos lakes; monstrous USSR-style hotels left abandonedAnimals mistreated in Japans best zoo (they looked as hungry as I felt) which resembles a toilet in Grimsby for visitor appeal; brown bears in a UNSECO-listed Nat Park only you cant see them as theyve shut the electrified boardwalk as the bears were sighted (but hey eat Hokkaido ice cream!), even though thats what you fucking went there for..(I couldnt face Bear Mountain after the zoo). Oh well. Ugh, nope, that is just not how it works! You didnt mention, but all TV and Radios are full of similar discrimination (ex., young female as assistant). Japan is a wonderful country, and if you base your judgment on it because of ONE BOOK, then its not Japan, its you. But in reality, youre right, and I dont apologize for standing up for womens rights and equitable treatment. Many people would do this for 30, 40 , 50 minutes. But how on earth did you figure all this out in just a month? And then, as I settle into daily life and dig around a bit culturally, I often start to see the ugly underbelly of the place (and trust me, every place has one). But also, bad for you! I think a system and policies should be established so that people can rent an apartment as Japanese do when they go to other kind countries. But depending onhow bad the bad is,I start to change my stance. Then I visited in July 2018 and honestly after travelling many places in SEA It was a huge culture shock. A very high single parent rate and ~50% divorce rate, where divorces are expensive affairs that bankrupt all people Interesting news about what life in Poland is like! Browse below for inspiration: Interesting read on so many levels. 23 I actually had a couple of older women excitedly embrace me which I didnt mind; mainly obvious invisibility was conspicuous tactic. Sexism (against females) is definitely a rare case by case basis in the job force. But more than that, its about context. They have an ageing population Japan has one of the world's best life expectancies (nearly 84 years), which sounds wonderful. Reasons Not to move to Japan Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you. Women see it for what it is, disturbing and decrepit (and not somewhere you would raise kids even if you loved it). But this culture is a THE PITS AND A COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF NORMS, including their poor/lacking of responses to emails and communication. This is a very strong experience for you! i know this post is a little old but i really felt like commenting it. Thank you, Toru, for contributing your experience and viewpoint! Nobody was allowed in, or out, of the country. Everything is new! Its a sorry state of affairs. Indeed, the plastic packaging matter is also a big problem for me, especially now that I have made a commitment to myself to reduce/eliminate my consumption of all single-use plastics. I found it very curious that attack and defend is the common place here, instead of just accepting things as they are and not as we would see it. Youre absolutely right. First let me say this of course sexism and xenophobia are there IF YOU GO LOOKING FOR IT. You only barely scratched the surface of Japan and its people. Like the UK, Japanese companies can be obsessed with employees spending long time periods at work for the sake of it. I top up my identity card to use the gym, parking is Epay with travelcards. I can not say the same for the last 3 things since I returned to the US. Indeed one of my initial observations about Japan was how beautiful the women are, and how well most people dress. This, on the packaging for a whole line of makeup accessories: Good make-up goods will make you happier and cute.. Its time for Yankee to go home! Some of the reasons are easy to see, while others might surprise you. They suddenly became really cold towards me. this fad of political collect racism and clickbait will never stop. That in combination with japans team oriented, rule following never questioning elders or challenging the status quote has lead to decades of mindless sheep working till they drop dead or committing suicide out of pure desperation. Its interesting; my Mum was talking to a Japanese friend of hers about some of my beefs with Japan surrounding the exploitation of women, and her response was a simple and very dismissive Japan is very sexual. Thank you! please treat local people like real human. Hi Hana, Instead its all focused inwards. So if I am good with mom, I am good with dad. The poster you show Ive seen worst than those in America and Europe where the rape and women killing rate is much higher than in Japan. But like with anywhere,. I hated the experience so much, I ended up strangely fascinated and have done loads of internet research on the foreigner experience in Japan and its culture. If youre interested in reading more about the country, I definitely recommend this book. Thanks, Rob! ), nor Japanese women are not exploited. But there is no way that Japan is known for gross inefficiency and I feel offended and I dont know why you thought that way. Go find somewhere perfect for you, and tell us about it. What makes people want to move to Japan? - Japan Today I suspect I could spend a lifetime discovering Tokyo alone, let alone Japan as a country. Between the two of us, we've lived in two countries, two Canadian provinces, and four U.S. states. Many reasons are due to the fact that Japan is portrayed as the most wonderful place on earth. Its full of highly feminine women and society does not put women on a pedestal for just existing like in the West. That's an incredible feat for such densely-populated, major metropolitan areas. Yokohama. The cuisine in Japan is replicated all over the world, and for good reason -- Japanese food is delicious and extremely healthy. Better than home Depending on the country from which you hail, Japan can be a much safer, healthier and even cheaper option than home. You bring up an excellent point! Your comment is made of the same stuff than what is posted elsewhere on the web by Japanese propagandists paid to do so ! Some of the worlds favorite pop culture comes out of Japan, where theres a vibrant art scene and many young people. Lol Four practical reasons to live in Japan. Reasons to Move to Japan Besides the undeniable call of the East, or Japan, in this case, there are multiple reasons that people from the US choose to move to Japan. Bieis stripped flower fields consist of ONE field next to a carpark). And quite frankly, Im not interested in taking the risk. I havent noticed and disagree with what you said regarding nature. taking the train and making their way to school alone. Until then, personally I wouldnt even consider living in Japan since misogyny and all kinds of injustice make me extremely angry and I do not wish to see any ladies who might or might not be close to me being exposed to misogyny or finding herself forced to fight for the application of the most basic rights to her. So now people stress that they are not US citizen. I think any intelligent human, whatever their gender, is a feminist and should never apologize for calling themselves one. If youre sick, youre expected to use vacation time rather than sick leave, but using vacation time is also frowned upon and could negatively impact your ability to get a job in the future. In less populous cities, some bars and restaurants will go so far as to deny service to foreigners. Whether youre just a frequent visitor to Japan or youre ready to actually make the move and put down roots in the island nation, one thing is going to need to be addressed early on in your travels or move: your money. Thanks for the recommendation! Japan is a bustling, growing economic hub, as well as a popular place for expats. So lets be mature and respect different cultures rather than labelling them names. I now live in Korea and sure the work culture in Asia is alot of swallow, i mean i brush a 45 hour work week as a glancing normality.. but i can leave early on fridays without being mocked or looked down on, can take 7 weeks of vacation a year and the job comes with alot of perks. At best, if you are incredibly good at what you do, they may give you an opportunity to be exploited. My conclusion is that Western men end up in Japan either because they dream of a trophy demure Japanese housewife or they have extreme porno/paedophilic tendencies (people really move for anime?). I am a Japanese male and have two points. And the decisive dislike is its lacking of logic and emotion and common sense, incapability and reluctance of communication and poor language expression and etc. Japan is pretty boring. MODERN TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED no credit/debit cards accepted (not working at the International airport); perpetually diverting to find a 7-11/Lawsons that even takes international cards. The internet may help many live a far more balanced life but thanks to the high cost of living in Japan (no culture in the world uses space more efficiently than the Japanese! Work Culture. As for the 2011 disasters, you said there was NO crime ! Some people, including you, just dont get Japan. Hi Nur, Hi Louisa, Even Hokkaido has tonnes of land yet they live in little rusting prefabs. There are many reasons to move to Japan. How can one think it could be in another way, in a country where a part of the local population has been discriminated against so harshly and so long >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin. Interesting. Hi Kathryn, There are great opportunities for learning multiple languages in Japanese schools, and the universities in Japan are highly esteemed. So yeah, Ive had less than stellar experiences in other parts of the world. There are obvious exceptions but yeah. Indeed, its the circumstances of being anywhere that often dictate the experience. Its not just me. Please dont find my comment offensive, im kinda just expressing my opinion and worldview. Im not on an endless vacation. Its partly because people distinguish fiction from reality. Yes, Malaysians do NOT pay cash at tolls! Why even come to Japan if your not willing to change the way you live. This is why Akihabara is called Otaku place, and Otaku doesnt have a very good meaning either, as you probabaly didnt know. I dont know if youre asking Kazu above for their perspective (they obviously dont appreciate mine LOL), or if you want my perspective. However, Tokyo is the largest metropolis in the world, so one would expect to see things there that would only exist on a much smaller scale in other cities. Companies and institutions value people being in their place of work, for long periods of time for the sake of it, and it is just assumed that this must be a good thing, regardless of outcome. Then, they show you you mean nothing. That the whole thing that bother you right! And, as a world traveler I wonder if you encountered similar feelings , not necessarily the same, about other places you visited. 12 Reasons NOT to Move to Japan - YouTube The system is paid for through monthly premiums, and people pay 30% of their medical costs out of pocket. Growing up in 1980s Britain, I know racism when I see or feel it. RACIAL PURITY AND SUPERIORITY the biggest most ridiculous lie of them all for the reasons above a backward geriatric farm thats constructed the biggest urban disaster known as habitation, timewarped 50 years back and stuck. I always wonder why Western individual assumes their own ideology is superior to the opposite side (Dem vs GOP, pro-life vs anti-abortion etc.). I had a difficult time there, partially due to a long distance relationship, but lately Ive been wondering if I should give it another go. Japan threats its chinese, vietnamese & thai techincal interns like dirt. My understanding is that the working culture in American/European-owned companies or companies that have a significant western clientele are easier to work for. Japan is a country with a rich history and growing economy. Revoking citizenship is a big deal. If you enjoy working with kids, this could be an easy way to make Japan your new home. There were bags no mountains of crimes committed during this time and even months and years later: rapes, lootings and scams of any sorts occurred on a daily basis. Fundamentalist Religion Interesting that you shared similar observations and sentiments to me. After all, you can much higher quality of life in every other Western country bigger houses, better cars and pay for a start. Are you serious about it? Japanese think that weirdness is a relative thing and doesnt ban it as long as it doesnt pervade the public space (cultural zoning). Im literally about to leave Japan in a few hours, and have had some time to reflect on these positive characteristics of the place, which obviously werent showcased in this article. A bucket list entry for many. I hope you had equally wonderful experiences and observations. They know they shouldnt have worked illegally like that. The rabbit hole of travel runs deep. An expat friend of mine shared a story about an English student of hers (a Japanese fellow) who confessed that he was worried about how to hide his recent engagement from his boss. I have a small tattoo on my sternum. We get it, you wanted attention and the best way you could do it was through negatively criticizing someone elses culture or nation to seek validation or confirmation (even if its negative) on your low self-esteem needs without having to feel any repercussion so the best way was to criticize people of other culture, nationality or race. American netizens said that after hearing so many stories of mass shootings in their own lands, they decided that living in Japan was a much better option. I was much more upset in Jordan for instance. I abhor guns culture in media and shootings in the US, but I also try to understand the second amendment and its historical meaning, before saying I am disgusted and I hate the US. Ha!) There is no doubting at all that Japan is one of (if not *the* most in some cases) economically developed/successful country with a very strong economy backed up by very high levels of professional talent/hi-technology / very hard working people. Girl Power means something completely in different in Japan. I really like Japan, it's safe, comfortable with excellent service. 10 Reasons NOT To Move To Tokyo, Japan - YouTube Tokyo is undeniably Japan's most well-known city, so you'd think moving there would surely be a no-brainer. I tried to become passive and demure when the stares I received while teaching in Tokyo became too much, but I learned that as a foreigner you will never be seen as part of the group. I assume the prevalence of girl power would apply there as well. Although I would never have called myself a raging feminist, seeing the attitude towards women in Japan has made me reconsider my stance. Take it for what you will. A cosmetics commercial message is at its right place in a department store, while in Japan the injunction to be pretty and young and sexy and submissive is ubiquitous. CNN . Just do your research before you make that life changing decision to move to Japan. I dont like women with tatoos too does that mean your not gonna accept me as your guest? im sorry you are this close minded. Young good looking foreigners like Japan because they are worshipped and dont have to deal with the job culture. We had fences in certain areas of our school to prevent student suicide, which was very common. This is something that happened when I went by myself to look for a rental property at a real estate agents office. I felt like my personal values just dont mesh well with Japanese culture values. I accept every culture and country for what it is and what it represents. I spent a month there for work and absolutely hated it. You can't see anything anyway. Irksome values clashes are everywhere, home or abroad. Everyone is entitled to feeling uncomfortable, as long as they dont attack you. There are a lot of pros to living in Japan, such as: Japan is well known for providing a world class education to all students, whether they attend free public school or a private international school. The long-term expat is usually a man who would have left around the same time most women expats leave (1-2 years) if it wasnt for hooking up with a Japanese woman. Not being able to bush up the voices of those foreigners. Even though were western, european union and pretty much a liberal, developed country in theory, reality is quite different many people are obsessed with religion (i have nothing against religion, but im talking about obsessive religiousness) and this causes our society to be pretty conformist. Even though my friend was prepared to pay the full amount in a lump sum, (the owner) wouldnt do the deal. NO FOREIGNERS Perhaps that is the ticket to living in Japan as an expat, and is also a stumbling block for those who try to assimilate but find themselves forever marginalized. Have you ever thought about moving to a new country? Its always miserable people, usually poor, who are racist. Its almost like a defence mechanism. maybe one day we will be. So a lot of the work hours of Japanese arent being counted. Those foreigners who hate Japan dont get it, and yet not only do you understand Japan you also understand Southeast Asia and Singapore. Like an invasion of privacy. An extremely well written and aware article refering to some of the major problems that are also world issues about Japan. Make sure youve got some cash in the travel budget for this expense! Sapporo is distinctly pleasant. Hi Pushkar, Before going further and risking a backlash from people in love with and/or living in Japan outside of Tokyo, its worth noting that Ive spent the majority of my two Japanese months in and around Tokyo. No matter where Westeners go, they complain about the life style and how they would improve it. People are the closest to friendly in Japanese terms. etc. I have work to do every day (and a kitty cat to take care of which is the reason Im here to begin with). Problem is, its hit or miss as to whether theyll kick you out when you get naked to enter the baths and are found to have tattoos. He's 30 now, and settled in Poland (the magazine doesn't mention the city, oddly enough) - married, a father, and a member of a local soccer club. Platos allegory of the cave) and now we are both much, much happier than ever even if were still living in Japan. Expect long hours and an intense dedication to the job, even if it takes a toll on your personal well-being. Youre going to let one book put you off a country? I just took in the bizarreness of people giving me shady looks for the horror of my lapse in etiquette, but quite oblivious to the extreme hard core essentially CSA material publicly displayed next to/behind me. not dangerously, just people who are raised in such developed countries might have a bit of a different approach to other places. The Professional Hobo is about how to travel long-term and full-time in a financially sustainable way, as experienced since 2006 by Nora Dunn, former financial planner and current world traveler/writer/speaker/host. I lived in Tokyo for a year and often travel there but I could not live there full time for many of the reasons you say. 12 Reasons NOT to Move to Japan.where Pete and Chris go in deeper on his latest video-based opus! At best, its a response to and rebellion against the rampant exploitation of women. You are free to write your own blog and vent about the US as much as you want. Japans misogyny is also one of the most extreme in the world and definitely way more than any advanced countrys which is a shame and it runs apparently in a wider range than their marketing including in the form of sexual harassment in work space or elsewhere and even domestic abuse. However, I'm gaijin, my kids are gaijin and I feel . Every day a new rule is imposed, first to clean bachelors and then to clean families, the new rule for families, you have two children in a family you should go for two rooms or leave dubai, stupid rule, stupid law makers, uneducated people. I guess not, probably thats why most people in other parts of the world dont want to put up with people like you. I wish you live in Japan and express more opinions. Yet its not only limited to Japan. Regarding the tattoo taboo. I just decided to read this because a male Japanese gave reasons why you shouldnt move to Japan. We are escaping with our sanity and our marriage intact. Japanese TV: dogs and monkeys forcibly performing tricks (really as though it was the 1970s) and a woman clearly unwell or had disabilities (she couldnt walked well, was v nervous and blinked erratically) being ridiculed for entertainment (that clip was played at least x4 to continuous giggling by women and men). Though they are eschewing family and that is a huge mistake as 2 frugal people can live cheaper than 1 frugal person. The jail system is for profit and they use prisoners as modern slaves who work for minimum wage yet only get 75 cents per hour because the rest of the money goes for the jail Japanese feel that they are better than other cultures because of this pretentious behavior. I have a question, what were the reasons you decide to move to Japan? 3. One of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Thats usually the sort of thing I see discussed where Japan is described as inefficient. Im envious that you could leave. Many of them make life particularly difficult for expats from Western cultures, so you may want to pay close consideration to the cons, such as: Japan has a culture of working extremely hard. There were good moments though I am glad I got to see some of the countryside and spent some time hiking near Fuji and Kyoto but the big city life sure wasnt for me. On the one hand, the overt and public sensualization of underage females in places such as Akihabara and Kabukicho is repulsive from the perspective of most thoughtful Westerners. I believe my observations below arenot just isolated to Tokyo, either. Although some might think two months is a long time to spend somewhere, its not. Regardless of what country you end up in, good luck with your move and safe travels! . Buses, trains and subways in Japan are clean, fast, reliable and convenient. Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Move to Japan Another story. 3. This is also typical in London. My rude awakening surrounded the graphic and at times vile exploitation of women (and lets get it right more like little girls) in anime and video games. Americans Moving to Tokyo - Shyft Moving If there's a high-adrenaline activity, I've probably done it. Japan isn't perfect, that's for sure. Globalization has forced companies to be more efficient so nearly 40% of the population. You'd rather see horses in stables. In Japan the number of how most women wish their husbands dead and cases of sexual assaults even in public transport are also extremely high. I was shocked seeing Tokyo apartment blocks right underneath the motorway. Im currently reading the superb Alex Kerrs Lost Japan, first published in 1993, that has shed some light on the culture of the country. Hi, Im Japanese. Assuming I havent scared you off of visiting Japan, and assuming you dont have a house-sitting gig lined up, youll need to find a place to stay! Yes my mom has much more says than my dad on everything, she is powerful at home, she is the one who calls shots. But about a month in, I started having a crisis of dislike with the place. After the big earthquake there was NO crime, imagine that scenario happening in the US, or other places. While there are many, many great things about Japan, it also has its downsides. Hello everyone. 13 Reasons to Move to Japan - Just About Japan shame shame. Just look at your super democratical elections, such a shame! There are no feminists to blame for that in Japan though. This is her observation. I answered a question on Quora the other day about cities I wouldnt return to. Im not opposed to porn but what you see in Japan often has a very non-consensual element. The mens top five were Good looks, Good skin, Wearing make-up well, Fashionable and knowing the latest beauty trends, and Smells good.