Been living in Japan for 2 years now. As a European, don't really feel the easiness in Japan. Life back in Europe was a lot easier and more relaxed. I work in Tokyo, and working culture is hell....
Been living in Japan for 2 years now.
As a European, don't really feel the easiness in Japan. Life back in Europe was a lot easier and more relaxed.
I work in Tokyo, and working culture is hell.
Everything except work (Food, games, anime etc.) balances it out..sometimes.
I remember seeing a Tumblr post about the Japanese "window-sitters" phenomenon where someone just replied "a few italians could bring this country's labor system to its knees" lmao
I remember seeing a Tumblr post about the Japanese "window-sitters" phenomenon where someone just replied "a few italians could bring this country's labor system to its knees" lmao
Work culture is probably going to be one of the bigger sticking points for most moving in from Europe or North America. I imagine that someone who's working for the Japan branch of a foreign...
Work culture is probably going to be one of the bigger sticking points for most moving in from Europe or North America. I imagine that someone who's working for the Japan branch of a foreign company or is working remotely would have a much more positive experience.
Exactly. I honestly can't imagine someone from Europe/North America preffering work in Japan. It is also the reason I started looking for a new job, with one of my requirements being that the...
Exactly.
I honestly can't imagine someone from Europe/North America preffering work in Japan.
It is also the reason I started looking for a new job, with one of my requirements being that the company has to be foreign. And flexibility regarding working from home. lol
Like anything, there are pros and cons. It may work for you or someone else, but there are many trade-offs that don’t become apparent until you’re on the other side. If you’ve got the time and...
Like anything, there are pros and cons. It may work for you or someone else, but there are many trade-offs that don’t become apparent until you’re on the other side. If you’ve got the time and resources to try, though, you might as well. Japan makes it easy to come, to stay, and easiest of all to go.
As an American who’s lived in Japan in the past and visited several times since, there’s a good chance I’ll end up moving there in the coming years and potentially live there long term. It’s...
As an American who’s lived in Japan in the past and visited several times since, there’s a good chance I’ll end up moving there in the coming years and potentially live there long term.
It’s difficult to properly convey, but I feel at peace there to a degree that I haven’t anywhere in the US. There’s this weird ambient sense of unease and antagonism in the US, the small chance of getting shot while out at the mall lurking in the back of one’s head, etc that grind you down more than may be possible to realize until you’ve lived without that. Japan’s generally higher level of cleanliness, organization, and access to livable neighborhoods and transportation help too, and for me personally the way society there skews more introverted gels with my own personality better than the overwhelming extraversion of American society.
It’s not a utopia and has its own share of problems, but as a whole I think it’s a better fit for me than the US is.
I left the United States for Japan after Columbine but before Sandy Hook (and Trumpism). Would you say the uneasiness you’ve described above is what it’s like for most people in the U.S. these...
There’s this weird ambient sense of unease and antagonism in the US, the small chance of getting shot while out at the mall lurking in the back of one’s head, etc that grind you down more than may be possible to realize until you’ve lived without that.
I left the United States for Japan after Columbine but before Sandy Hook (and Trumpism). Would you say the uneasiness you’ve described above is what it’s like for most people in the U.S. these days? I’d really like to hope not…
Edit: I can’t offer anything useful in reply, I just don’t think anyone should have to deal with what’s been described below. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
It will depend on the degree of which people pay attention to the news/their surroundings, but yes. It's not as bad as the news will have some believe, but is worse than more developed nations...
It will depend on the degree of which people pay attention to the news/their surroundings, but yes. It's not as bad as the news will have some believe, but is worse than more developed nations with some areas better or worse off than others.
I've recently moved from Texas to Colorado and there's a weight lifted simply by being here. Since being here, and during my many visits prior to moving up, I haven't:
been purposefully run off the road...
had a gun pulled on me (or seen it pulled on someone else) in traffic...
watched a fight on public transit...
been approached to either sell me drugs/prostitution or been asked if I had any drugs to sell...
had to go through metal detectors at local events...
heard or been an unwilling participant in a drive-by...
played a middle-of-the-night game of was-that-gunshots-or-fireworks...
...things I'm sure still happen to some degree here, but were each monthly (if not more frequent) occurrences in Texas.
It's difficult to say. I think many people feel it to some degree, but I don't consider myself particularly representative of the average person so I don't know how capable I am of gauging that in...
It's difficult to say. I think many people feel it to some degree, but I don't consider myself particularly representative of the average person so I don't know how capable I am of gauging that in the larger population, and in my experience it's not the kind of thing that comes up in discussion all that often. It may be that the majority perceives no uneasiness or antagonism at all and I'm the oddball (it wouldn't surprise me).
As noted in the last post though, I believe that living outside the US for a significant period of time lends perspective that one otherwise wouldn't have. Sometimes issues with one's situation/environment aren't fully evident until they're no longer in the midst of it.
EDIT: Just for clarity, the feeling I'm describing is less of an active doom and gloom kind of thing and more like a set of invisible weights dragging you down a bit and a slight bit of tension/anxiety nigh-imperceptibly tinting everything. It's difficult to describe.
I moved to Europe in 2018 (and am young enough that Columbine happened when I was 2 years old) and I don't feel that same sense of unease here or in the US, but I've definitely noticed it from...
I moved to Europe in 2018 (and am young enough that Columbine happened when I was 2 years old) and I don't feel that same sense of unease here or in the US, but I've definitely noticed it from some friends and extended family when I visit. It's definitely not ubiquitous, but it's something that has been increasing over time for those who feel it, I think.
I guess I'll chime in as well as another point of view to the affirmative, it is very much a real thing in my day to day. I have been in formal treatment for anxiety for about a year now. Anxiety...
I guess I'll chime in as well as another point of view to the affirmative, it is very much a real thing in my day to day. I have been in formal treatment for anxiety for about a year now. Anxiety is something that has been with me for at least 20 years, if not life long. I have distinct memories of being in elementary school and feeling uncomfortable around the armed resource officers (one shot himself in the foot accidentally in a school). I regularly have intrusive thoughts about people with guns, and mentally plan out what I would do in case of an emergency when I am in a new place. I do this silently, in my head, and it is not apparent to others that I am anxious, it is just a way of life. Working with my therapist, it's unclear so far if this is a symptom of something out of the ordinary (ADHD is possible but the testing is taking a long time). CBT has been effective in helping me recognize that I do this and stop the rumination, but it still happens and likely always will. I can definitely say that I would personally feel more comfortable in a country with gun control.
I would also make the argument that there are many, many people in this country who can not feel safe in their own homes without a gun. I personally think that is the other side of the coin, and that many gun positive Americans are equally if not more afraid, even if they hide it better.
I feel like this when I’m in the city, I moved about an hour outside of the city because of it. For me its kind of just everything that comes with existing where theres too many unorganized...
I feel like this when I’m in the city, I moved about an hour outside of the city because of it.
For me its kind of just everything that comes with existing where theres too many unorganized people. Traffic sucks, public transportation is straight up dangerous sometimes because of drug users, theres lines for everything and no one is happy to be in them. Restaurants are loud, people make a ton of noise in the movie theatre, theres always some concert or event going on around the corner. Homeless people begging on almost every corner. Everything is dirty. Its just not for me.
I find Japan fascinating. I have never been, but I have watched countless documentaries, travel vlogs, food videos, and other cultural tidbits about Japan. I know plenty of people who went there...
I find Japan fascinating. I have never been, but I have watched countless documentaries, travel vlogs, food videos, and other cultural tidbits about Japan. I know plenty of people who went there for travel, both work and recreation, and I hope I will be able to visit myself someday. But even so, the country feels lonely and awkward. It's a weird feeling I can't seem to shake. Does anyone feel the same?
A good friend of mine lived there for a number of years, and I would visit him often from Korea. Living there really wore on him. The lifestyle was nice for a while, but then it became very...
A good friend of mine lived there for a number of years, and I would visit him often from Korea. Living there really wore on him. The lifestyle was nice for a while, but then it became very monotonous and bleak over time. He does say he would move back if he could get a place and make a living in the country. I think it depends on who you are and what you are doing there. Hard to generalize, but that form of culture stress is not uncommon, especially if you work in an office, or perhaps also if you are not from a densely populated city.
I always enjoy visiting Japan, but it has always felt kind of uptight to me. I was baffled the first time I visited, wondering where the party was at. In that sense, I feel like I maybe know what you mean about it feeling lonely and awkward. One thing that always bothered me about Japan (which is true of Korea too) is the way sexism and gender norms are so inflexible. That is true of anywhere I suppose, but the pater familias type mentality manifests in awkward ways. Sexuality is just a difficult topic in East Asia generally, I guess.
Honestly I think a lot of this is less of a particular issue with Korea or Japan and more of a general issue many people confront when moving abroad. Korea and Japan do have particular problems (I...
The lifestyle was nice for a while, but then it became very monotonous and bleak over time. He does say he would move back if he could get a place and make a living in the country. I think it depends on who you are and what you are doing there. Hard to generalize, but that form of culture stress is not uncommon, especially if you work in an office, or perhaps also if you are not from a densely populated city.
Honestly I think a lot of this is less of a particular issue with Korea or Japan and more of a general issue many people confront when moving abroad. Korea and Japan do have particular problems (I wouldn't move to either country bc of the work culture issues, personally), but a lot of this is similar to what I felt after moving to Germany, which is much better on that front (the better work-life balance was a big motivator to moving here tbqh). Once the honeymoon period wears off, you're in a place where you lack a support network and struggle with things that were easy back home.
You don't notice how smoothly you glide through daily life in your native language until you experience the constant friction of living somewhere where you don't speak the language well. And unless you're very purposeful about developing connections with people (even if it's all other foreigners due to shared experiences and often less of a language barrier), it's very easy to become isolated. These problems are all surmountable, but they're also non-trivial.
The 2000s were great though. I do kind of wonder if we’re judging them unfairly - like, we know that the way we’ve designed our economy is not sustainable. What if theirs is? We’re all having the...
The 2000s were great though.
I do kind of wonder if we’re judging them unfairly - like, we know that the way we’ve designed our economy is not sustainable. What if theirs is?
We’re all having the same issue with the birth rate, what if 2050 comes along and Japan actually makes it out on top?
In the medium term, the US is more likely to come out on top as long as it remains an attractive destination for immigrants. In the long term, of course, birth rates should fall globally, so even...
In the medium term, the US is more likely to come out on top as long as it remains an attractive destination for immigrants.
In the long term, of course, birth rates should fall globally, so even that may not be sustainable.
Been living in Japan for 2 years now.
As a European, don't really feel the easiness in Japan. Life back in Europe was a lot easier and more relaxed.
I work in Tokyo, and working culture is hell.
Everything except work (Food, games, anime etc.) balances it out..sometimes.
I remember seeing a Tumblr post about the Japanese "window-sitters" phenomenon where someone just replied "a few italians could bring this country's labor system to its knees" lmao
Yeah, window-sitting with a well-paid job sounds like a dream. lol
Work culture is probably going to be one of the bigger sticking points for most moving in from Europe or North America. I imagine that someone who's working for the Japan branch of a foreign company or is working remotely would have a much more positive experience.
Exactly.
I honestly can't imagine someone from Europe/North America preffering work in Japan.
It is also the reason I started looking for a new job, with one of my requirements being that the company has to be foreign. And flexibility regarding working from home. lol
I'd take life in Japan over life in any western country personally.
Like anything, there are pros and cons. It may work for you or someone else, but there are many trade-offs that don’t become apparent until you’re on the other side. If you’ve got the time and resources to try, though, you might as well. Japan makes it easy to come, to stay, and easiest of all to go.
As an American who’s lived in Japan in the past and visited several times since, there’s a good chance I’ll end up moving there in the coming years and potentially live there long term.
It’s difficult to properly convey, but I feel at peace there to a degree that I haven’t anywhere in the US. There’s this weird ambient sense of unease and antagonism in the US, the small chance of getting shot while out at the mall lurking in the back of one’s head, etc that grind you down more than may be possible to realize until you’ve lived without that. Japan’s generally higher level of cleanliness, organization, and access to livable neighborhoods and transportation help too, and for me personally the way society there skews more introverted gels with my own personality better than the overwhelming extraversion of American society.
It’s not a utopia and has its own share of problems, but as a whole I think it’s a better fit for me than the US is.
I left the United States for Japan after Columbine but before Sandy Hook (and Trumpism). Would you say the uneasiness you’ve described above is what it’s like for most people in the U.S. these days? I’d really like to hope not…
Edit: I can’t offer anything useful in reply, I just don’t think anyone should have to deal with what’s been described below. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
It will depend on the degree of which people pay attention to the news/their surroundings, but yes. It's not as bad as the news will have some believe, but is worse than more developed nations with some areas better or worse off than others.
I've recently moved from Texas to Colorado and there's a weight lifted simply by being here. Since being here, and during my many visits prior to moving up, I haven't:
been purposefully run off the road...
had a gun pulled on me (or seen it pulled on someone else) in traffic...
watched a fight on public transit...
been approached to either sell me drugs/prostitution or been asked if I had any drugs to sell...
had to go through metal detectors at local events...
heard or been an unwilling participant in a drive-by...
played a middle-of-the-night game of was-that-gunshots-or-fireworks...
...things I'm sure still happen to some degree here, but were each monthly (if not more frequent) occurrences in Texas.
It's difficult to say. I think many people feel it to some degree, but I don't consider myself particularly representative of the average person so I don't know how capable I am of gauging that in the larger population, and in my experience it's not the kind of thing that comes up in discussion all that often. It may be that the majority perceives no uneasiness or antagonism at all and I'm the oddball (it wouldn't surprise me).
As noted in the last post though, I believe that living outside the US for a significant period of time lends perspective that one otherwise wouldn't have. Sometimes issues with one's situation/environment aren't fully evident until they're no longer in the midst of it.
EDIT: Just for clarity, the feeling I'm describing is less of an active doom and gloom kind of thing and more like a set of invisible weights dragging you down a bit and a slight bit of tension/anxiety nigh-imperceptibly tinting everything. It's difficult to describe.
I moved to Europe in 2018 (and am young enough that Columbine happened when I was 2 years old) and I don't feel that same sense of unease here or in the US, but I've definitely noticed it from some friends and extended family when I visit. It's definitely not ubiquitous, but it's something that has been increasing over time for those who feel it, I think.
I guess I'll chime in as well as another point of view to the affirmative, it is very much a real thing in my day to day. I have been in formal treatment for anxiety for about a year now. Anxiety is something that has been with me for at least 20 years, if not life long. I have distinct memories of being in elementary school and feeling uncomfortable around the armed resource officers (one shot himself in the foot accidentally in a school). I regularly have intrusive thoughts about people with guns, and mentally plan out what I would do in case of an emergency when I am in a new place. I do this silently, in my head, and it is not apparent to others that I am anxious, it is just a way of life. Working with my therapist, it's unclear so far if this is a symptom of something out of the ordinary (ADHD is possible but the testing is taking a long time). CBT has been effective in helping me recognize that I do this and stop the rumination, but it still happens and likely always will. I can definitely say that I would personally feel more comfortable in a country with gun control.
I would also make the argument that there are many, many people in this country who can not feel safe in their own homes without a gun. I personally think that is the other side of the coin, and that many gun positive Americans are equally if not more afraid, even if they hide it better.
I feel like this when I’m in the city, I moved about an hour outside of the city because of it.
For me its kind of just everything that comes with existing where theres too many unorganized people. Traffic sucks, public transportation is straight up dangerous sometimes because of drug users, theres lines for everything and no one is happy to be in them. Restaurants are loud, people make a ton of noise in the movie theatre, theres always some concert or event going on around the corner. Homeless people begging on almost every corner. Everything is dirty. Its just not for me.
I find Japan fascinating. I have never been, but I have watched countless documentaries, travel vlogs, food videos, and other cultural tidbits about Japan. I know plenty of people who went there for travel, both work and recreation, and I hope I will be able to visit myself someday. But even so, the country feels lonely and awkward. It's a weird feeling I can't seem to shake. Does anyone feel the same?
A good friend of mine lived there for a number of years, and I would visit him often from Korea. Living there really wore on him. The lifestyle was nice for a while, but then it became very monotonous and bleak over time. He does say he would move back if he could get a place and make a living in the country. I think it depends on who you are and what you are doing there. Hard to generalize, but that form of culture stress is not uncommon, especially if you work in an office, or perhaps also if you are not from a densely populated city.
I always enjoy visiting Japan, but it has always felt kind of uptight to me. I was baffled the first time I visited, wondering where the party was at. In that sense, I feel like I maybe know what you mean about it feeling lonely and awkward. One thing that always bothered me about Japan (which is true of Korea too) is the way sexism and gender norms are so inflexible. That is true of anywhere I suppose, but the pater familias type mentality manifests in awkward ways. Sexuality is just a difficult topic in East Asia generally, I guess.
Honestly I think a lot of this is less of a particular issue with Korea or Japan and more of a general issue many people confront when moving abroad. Korea and Japan do have particular problems (I wouldn't move to either country bc of the work culture issues, personally), but a lot of this is similar to what I felt after moving to Germany, which is much better on that front (the better work-life balance was a big motivator to moving here tbqh). Once the honeymoon period wears off, you're in a place where you lack a support network and struggle with things that were easy back home.
You don't notice how smoothly you glide through daily life in your native language until you experience the constant friction of living somewhere where you don't speak the language well. And unless you're very purposeful about developing connections with people (even if it's all other foreigners due to shared experiences and often less of a language barrier), it's very easy to become isolated. These problems are all surmountable, but they're also non-trivial.
The 2000s were great though.
I do kind of wonder if we’re judging them unfairly - like, we know that the way we’ve designed our economy is not sustainable. What if theirs is?
We’re all having the same issue with the birth rate, what if 2050 comes along and Japan actually makes it out on top?
In the medium term, the US is more likely to come out on top as long as it remains an attractive destination for immigrants.
In the long term, of course, birth rates should fall globally, so even that may not be sustainable.