Why You Shouldn’t Move to Japan (And Conditions for Those Who Should)
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2024
- I often receive comments and messages saying “My dream is to live in Japan.” As a Japanese living in Japan, on one hand, I am happy and honored about it, but on the other hand, I have mixed feelings too. It’s because I actually hope to leave Japan in the near future. But how did a Japanese man like me end up thinking this way?
So today, I will talk about the three main reasons why I personally cannot recommend you to live in Japan. The three reasons will get more and more important towards the end, so I hope you can stay with me until the end. Lastly, I will also like to list the kind of people who ARE suited to live in Japan.
Before I move on, I need to make it clear to you that the purpose of making this video is not to lessen the number of people living in Japan. My life's goal is to try to make as many people happy as possible, so I wish that the information I share will be useful for anyone trying to plan their future. If there’s anything else you’d like to know more about living in Japan, please let me know in the comments!
In this channel, you can take a closer look at Japanese traditional culture, tips on traveling to Kyoto, and social problems in Japan. So learners and lovers of Japanese language and culture, be sure to subscribe to enjoy more content!
*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects
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▼Where you can meet me in Kyoto, Japan | Yushinkan Samurai Experience with Modern-day Musashi▼
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Thank you for the information. I hope your health is great and I hope you are doing well. I hope that your dream comes true and I support you. Do you have plans on ever visiting Germany?
Also Germany in the Summer is very warm to very hot. I do not know about the time Zone but some place are magical.
I might suggest Queensland, Australia. Warm tropical weather, 1-2 hours difference in Timezone, depending on the time of year, plus few natural disasters and a high standard of living. Alternatively, other parts of Australia.
I’m from Victoria, known for colder weather, which I prefer, but you have a medical reason not to.
Southern California is ideal on paper, but that’s a whole other topic regarding social issues.
Possibly New Zealand if you can cope with a chillier climate.
Does it need to be an English speaking nation?
You’d be popular in most parts of Europe.
I'd say move to Germany, it's absolutely horrible here because everyone's a pessimist and you def. should never use our train service, but we have a big love for japanese culture which will make it easy for you to find people willing to learn about it. We also have some japan-focused places like Düsseldorf (also knows as Little Tokyo), lots of conventions focused around Anime and Manga(e.g. DoKomi), lots of japanese gardens, and even some Onsen (not as cool as in Japan tho).
PS: if you come over, please bring me some A-One instant ramen, they're sold out for months now
In Vienna u have some Japanese areas even in my small city we have Majong evenings. Time differences are around 8hours which should be fine. Only bad thing for you might be that winter is sometimes stronger with around -5 -- -10C°.
Visiting a foreign country for vacation for one week, 2 weeks, or a month versus working and living in a foreign country long term wise or permanently are two vast completely different experiences.
Correction: it is different if you aren't able to keep up tourist-grade style of life whilst living in the country for a long time. I live in Russia, and often hear foreigners praising the thing for its beautiful architecture and nature. I feel confused until I realize that they only saw the downtown Moscow or Siberian forests.
@@kikosawa I moved to Russia (got married) and Im used to living here. In any place there will be ups and downs. It all depends you what you can and cant live with. Personally, I love living in Russia, I can't go back to the states.
Agreed. This is why people think it's such an amazing thing to live and work in Japan. I've worked in Japan before and the work culture in Japan is honestly terrible. I don't know how a society expects people to work super long hours, and sometimes not even be paid for it and expect to be happy when working all the time. The term "worked to death" is very accurate in Japan, because of the insane stress it causes and that's why suicide rates are so high in Japan.
@@kikosawa many people also thinking the same to Thailand.
Correct!
When I took Japanese classes in college about a decade ago, my teacher (who was a 70 year old Japanese woman at the time) said she hated how Japan's Educational System worked since it didn't excite or engage students and encourage them to learn. She occasionally returns to Japan to teach English and her methods are seen as radical and extreme by those in charge but her Japanese students love it.
They were radical cause they worked.
@@winnterk6569 I'm guessing by simply taking a western or more personal approach is already radical enough for the Japanese.
@@winnterk6569 Made learning games, made it fun, did something other than lecture and speak monotonously in a boring, uninteresting way that makes learning difficult.
Yeah japanese class set up is somewhat boring and funeralish to be exact.
If its not evident enough to you and to anyone, almost ALL educational systems' goal is not to educate students into capable and independent individuals. But rather, bake students into functional, obedient, and easy to control. Sometimes, to filter out divergent thinkers and leave the most obedient. Perfect tools for elites. I dare anyone to correct me.
I have to admit , this man's brutal honesty is very admirable. This man is a breath of fresh a air.
Just make sure you make that foreign currency and bring it to Japan if you plan on staying or even visiting they seem to like that especially to get in spend and get out. Super cool way of treating people.
Listening to shogo talk about japanese society explains alot of the anime namely the isekai genre. Wanting a japanese culture but with western style liberties; an idealized version of their society. This was an enlightening video shogo thanks!😁
Giguk: "You're Goddamned right."
There's probably some truth to that but I think it's just more a simple escape from reality that all of us do when we watch, read or play with our entertainment media so while Japanese people may look to medieval based fantasy stories of the Europe of old, we in the West look to stories of Japanese culture to escape the realities of our own lives. They're both similar cultures but with a vastly different back drop and so we understand the world presented to us while at the same time feeling new and alien with how it's presented and this allows for the perfect escape for people.
They're mutually exclusive, unfortunately. You cannot have both universal conformity and individual expression. There are pros and cons to both, but you do have to choose one or the other.
@@sigmascrub Finally someone who gets it.
@@rexhurne But there may be a healthy compromise. :) I believe, some European countries are close to such optimum. Though, they are vulnerable to external threats...
"You should have to suffer like I did" is an incredibly poisonous mindset and you'll find it everywhere. Here in the US that very way of thinking has squashed policies that would honestly help everyone, and it seems so spiteful and self-destructive.
After all, shouldn't it be the dream of a generation that those who come after them have it easier, have it better than they did? I just can't understand why someone would want someone to be forced to endure what they have. I'm in a wheelchair, but it would sound spiteful and insane if I were to go around saying that everyone else should have to suffer what put me here, too.
How would it be like without this mindset? What would need to be done for people to change?
Social activism: let's make things more handicap accessible
Social justice warriors: SHAME PEOPLE FOR HAVING FUNCTIONAL LEGS!!
Aka University Tuitions and Student Loans in the hundreds of thousands of dollar.
Thank you for this very insightful comment orbital butt
@@agentchaos9332 Short, but true. I wish more people in all political spectrum know the difference between both stances.
My Japanese parents left Japan because of many of the social and economic problems. I am grateful! Now in university, I work to talk about these things because in America, there is such a strong sense of Japanophilia that I want people to understand is misguided. No country is perfect. This is an awesome video! Not enough Japanese speak about these things I have found…
Yes I really wish this was more widely discussed. I'm tired of people wanting to move there because they enjoy anime.
@@a.s.1737 Japans soft power is too strong. Video games anime and such make people weebs before they understand that reality exists
I agree.
@@a.s.1737, might wanna add “strong style” puroresu to the list… at least for the people I tend to talk to
Part of me is grateful to have grown in an internationally aware environment in the US, but the capitalism here that's gone out of control is not where I want to place my future. Not to mention there is a lot of profit to be made here from violence. Politicians pit people against each other so that they're too busy to unite and deal with real socioeconomic problems (the same problems that keep politicians and their benefactors wealthy).
The most upsetting part is what happens when the youth of Japan get to take control of a project, they end up doing very very well. Take breath of the wild which was one of the first times Nintendo let the youth run the development of a game: you get what's often considered the best game in a series that's well beloved.
The youth played a bigger role in the development of Pokemon Sun and Moon, which I would argue are some of the worst mainline games.
@@Gamefreak924story is better than shitty as SwSh and XY at least
My favourites were alway Twilight Princess and Wind Waker, both of which were hated for literally no reason.
@@octogonSmuggler those are amazit
Best game in the series is a stretch buddy. Since it wasn’t really a Zelda game
I lived in Japan for half a year. Faced pressure from older people who forbade me to lead an independent lifestyle. Lots of restrictions and rules. I left for Spain. it's a huge difference. Here I can feel free and do what I love without violating the laws of the country.
What independent lifestyle is that?
@@skycloud4802 This means not being dependent on the guarantor. To choose where to go, what to do and what time to eat.
And how to eat 😉👌
Hah, you needed to assert yourself more, Japanese tried to guarantor me but I ended up being my own.
Living in Japan, apparently it gives the impression that you live in a huge military camp!!! A lot of rules to follow and quite a lot of "dont's"!
My friend who teaches English in Japan, and had been there for almost 10 years now. Has struggles with the hierarchical system Japan has professionally. At one of the previous schools he worked at the lead English teacher (English director?) Didn't even know any English he just happened to be the oldest teacher there.. so my friend left and went to where he is currently working and was actually promoted in this school to running the English teaching program. But the owner of the school lived abroad for many years and brought what he learned back to Japan with him.
Funny... I have a friend who has been their 20 years doing the same.
I'm thirty-six years old and I'm going to be working on becoming an English teacher over in Japan. I am also learning Japanese (over a year into studying). I, for now, only have an Associates Degree (I last went to school in 2007), so I'll probably have to go back to school, but I'm looking more into it to see what is required and appropriate. I wanted to teach English when I was younger, but I never followed through. Now, I've been thinking about living in Japan. It has been a dream of mine. Do you have any suggestions, perhaps, something you learned from your friend?
About the owner of your friend's new employer having lived abroad and bringing back things they learned with them: Things like that are why I hope more people are encouraged and able to live abroad at some point in their lives. Living in a small world bubble can often lead to small ideas when everyone around you thinks the way things have always been are how they should always remain and nobody knows any differently.
@@cynthiamontgomery1192 May I ask you? Do you think a career as an ESL Teacher (or English through various subjects such as Language Arts, Reading, Science, etc.) Is viable for 10+yrs in East or SE Asia?
@@BornAgainBerean2546 Seems to be.
As a 40+ year old who traveled for over a decade before settling down, I think the romanticisms of a new life and new country and culture can be very intoxicating. The reality is that life's problems will never be far behind and you must feel comfortable with yourself where you are if you are to truly be happy. Happiness is not a place but a lifestyle. It took me years to find this out and I will spend my life learning to follow it.
"No matter where you go....There you are"
If it all would be simple, than there would be no one having a problem. .)
Deep, I'm happy for ya.
i read this in the monarch's voice
Yes and no. Problems aren't a zero-sum game. Some countries just *are* objectively worse than others. Life in Pakistan is certainly not better than life in Singapore, for example.
Hi! I am a ski coach/ski instructor in Switzerland. I wanted to work a season in Japan. But I discovered that ski resorts are highly segregated, some are for foreigners (mostly Australians) and some for Japanese, and they don't mix. They told me that I could only get a job working with foreigners, and the pay was quite miserable. The pay was was so bad that I would have to leave immediately after the season. I gave up as I wanted to experience Japanese culture. Here in Switzerland, I work in at least 3 languages with people from all over the planet.
Awesome
That's because Switzerland and Europe in general is multicultural and overly globalized, while Japan isn't, as simple as that.
@@THESPATHARIOS That's your only comment on this channel and it's a completely superficial, piss-poor normative conclusion.
@@Nitidus Ah so you're working as a moderator on this channel's comment section? seeing who's new and who isn't? Get a life. Plus, dropping quasi intellectual terms won't make you smart kiddo
@@THESPATHARIOS All that being said, yes, you stated the obvious but what does that add to anything?
You can consider living in Singapore. It truly has no natural disasters - no earthquakes, no tsunamis (blocked by the small Riau Indonesian islands), no typhoons, no tornadoes, no bush fires, no major landslides, no major flooding. We have a diverse population of citizens and PRs and a native Japanese population living and working here. Singaporeans love all things Japanese Japan is a very popular country for Singaporeans to visit. English is the language of business, commerce and education. Singapore is very open and business friendly. I think it is number 2 behind Switzerland and ahead of the USA. It is well connected to the world and it takes 7 hrs to fly to Japan and so convenient and inexpensive to get to Thailand (2 1/2 hrs), Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia is just across the border. Singapore is organised and efficient. Singapore is also clean and very safe. Though in my opinion Japan is much cleaner as the Japanese people have been taught to practice tidying up and keeping their environment clean from a very young age. The cons about living in Singapore are, it is expensive (though eating out at the hawker centres cost on average $3-5 USD). Our weather is “boring”, so no 4 seasons, just 2 “seasons” for Singapore - hot, humid and no rain & hot, humid and rain. 😂 Singaporeans are generally shy, reserved and polite but not as polite and mindful as the Japanese people. So it is a country you can consider moving to if you would like an Asian and international experience outside of Japan. All the best to you and your family 🙏👍
One thing I would add is that Singapore is VERY SMALL. You literally can go from one end of the country to another in an hour or so. The amount of geographical destinations is limited if you lived in a larger country such as North America, or even Japan. In relation, things such as regional food is also absent, as in you're not gonna have special beef from Kobe region, etc. That being said, Singapore is extremely well managed and a great place to live nonetheless.
Singapore has no space. Only highrisers even for the dead. Singapore may be under water. It already buys coastal sand from poor Cambodia. The death penalty may be reason to worry when falsely accused.The only place worth visiting are the Botanical Gardens.
It is hot af though
SG seems great but the main problem I've heard others talk about is how hard it is to get permanent residency, even after living there for decades.
I love visiting Singapore as a fellow South East Asian. And this might be a nitpick, but my only complaint is SG is so small. I need to fly out or go to MY if I want to escape the city.
Shogo, you should teach traditional Japanese culture in Brazil. There are a lot of Brazilians of Japanese descent who would be interested in learning Japanese traditions. Also, in Peru, which is close to Brazil.
True
But does he speak Brazilian Portuguese or Spanish? Xd
I think there is a language problem
Brazil has the biggest population of Japanese imigrants outside Japan. There's also some small towns and cities that are mostly inhabitated by Japanese migrants, nikkeis and sanseis. So it's not far-fetched to say Brazil is as close to Japan a Japanese can get when outside its borders.
I also recommend Brazil. Our politics are a joke and the country is a mess, but it's a fun mess.
Shogo, if you ever come to Brasília (Brazil's capital), give me a shout, I can give you a tour!
Also, there is a LOT of people interested in japanese culture here.
@@samueldominguezlagos5735 I think a lot of japanese have the oportunity to learn portuguese in school and higher education as a secondary language.
I live in the DC area in the USA and have known a small community of young Japanese aupairs and staff from the embassy who are in their early/mid 20s. After having lived here for about a year or two, a common theme I had been noticing is that a number of them have had a lot of anxieties about returning back to Japan and living there again. I never pry too much, but when the common response was being socially “trapped in a box” (particularly in relation to elders), your video definitely sheds some light on that sentiment.
I also live in DC I've met a lot of Koreans here but Japanese are very rare. Do you know what their impressions of America or at least DC are?
I would also be curious if there impressions in DC. Or America in general
That's because there is a saying in Japan "if a nail sticks out it must be hammered down." Same with people. They need to conform in society so they don't stand out.
in Brazil it is already different, most Japanese descendants when they go to Japan already feel like going back to Brazil.
America is big and rich of natural resources. You can live there for $500 a month and feel happy making some extra money. And of course you can have wages from 2500 and 25000 and up and up, but you have choice of 50 states where to live or look for better living conditions. Japan isn't that big and rich with nature resources, so being a hobo somewhere in Alaska's woods is not an option for small JP.
One important thing Ive learned in life (being 43yo now) is that unquestioned respect for elders leads to so many problems both locally and nationwide. Respect is something that absolutely needs to be earned and this older generation just demands it flat out without having put in the work to earn it. As we can see, this mentality is strangling the youth of Japan and the whole country is paying for it.
It was Japanese boomers who contributed to Japan's economic growth from the 50's to the 70's. They made Japan so rich and they made Japan the second largest powerhouse in the world after the U.S. in the postwar. As a Japanese, I have a lot of respect for the Japanese old folks, but the Japanese zoomers are always complaining and accomplishing nothing.
It was also them that caused the 90´s downfall and the problems that the youth has to fix. They left the zoomers a dumpster fiere. Problems without end. It dosnt matter what you have done in one part of your life. What matters is what you leave behind. But i guess its not there problem as they will be dead and some lese has to pay the bill.@@ii4826
What are you talking about??
Maybe if you weren't blinded by your idealised one world view of prostituting human beings for commodity value then you would see that that is not true at all.
That was in response to ii4826 btw.. quite ironic considering the impersonalised name.
@@ii4826Great point, a lot of the young people in japan don't want to work hard anymore. Still the high amounts of student loan and a lot of the economic things should definitely need more attention
I currently live in Japan and I plan to retire here in the future, I really hope Japan stays a bustling country, so videos like this need to get around so more Japanese people can realize what’s going on.
It's just that japanese are so hostile to immigration while at the same time, people are getting older and nobody is getting any kids. Magical high tech robots will not solve this issue.
And since you can't force people to have kids and this kind of being a worldwide phenomenon in the developed countries, sooner or later they'll have to incentivise immigrants to come to japan. But with the society in Japan being as xenophone as it is (nice? yes. But fearful of foreigners. YES.) discrimination will be rampant. Japanese just have no experience in being a welcoming "multicultural" country and I don't see this ending well, if some smart people don't make some really smart laws right now.
And with the aging populace still having the voting power, while imigrants likely won't have to right to vote for many many years after living in japan, if ever, there is a not so tiny chance, that it will lead to fascist politics in like 20-30 years or some form of modern slavery as we can see it in some rich arabian countries.
on the decline
how can you stay indefinitely? i am retired with a US non taxable income.
You are honest , direct and outspoken .
Many older Japanese would be aghast.
But this is what Japan needed now.
The writing in the wall is very clear .
I sincerely hope you succeed wherever you landed . And Japan succeeded in averting the decline .
Forward thinking individuals are often silenced or kept down in East Asia. Hope you stay and help make Japan a more tolerant and open-minded place.
The west has phrases like, the squeaky wheel gets the grease but in Japan it's, the nail that sticks up gets hammered harder. Meaning you get forced to match everyone else.
Those who think themselves forward thinking can also cause havoc, look at the move fast and break things boys arrogantly ruining the planet. It's a matter of balance and humility and breaking down heirachy and supremacy.
@@MuddyPigg eastern philosophies find a way beyond these binaries, hoping wisdom prevails.
I hope not
@@Talentedtadpole For hierarchy I would argue it should not be breaking it down but flattening it. Having some kind of hierarchy can actually benefit society, as long as it is possible to move up and down and left and right because of your actual virtue instead of just because of age and/or heritage. A leader who appreciates those he leads and makes them strive is a positive, despite being higher up in the hierarchy.
But yeah, I agree that just because someone considers themselves forward thinking (or conservative on the other side) does not automatically make them a decent human being.
I have lived in a few counties now. I suggest if you want to move, you should do it now, the younger the better and not when in your 40s unless it’s part of a retirement plan.
The mind accommodates easier, physically body can do more especially if country you are going to is more geographically challenging, ability to earn is an advantage and taking up a foreign language at a younger age where necessary is also a lot faster.
Just my opinions based on personal experiences. Have fun and all the best in life. Love your info and channel! 😊
Visited Japan recently for two weeks. You can feel the "compliance culture" everywhere you go. It is a polite society for sure. But you can also feel the strict adherence to policies and customs. Very little room for individualism in Japan.
After being in Japan as a foreign official, I tried working there as a civilian. As a woman, I was treated horribly, all promises made verbally were conveniently forgotten. I lasted less than a year. So if you go, have enough passive income to support yourself before going there, and if you want to do something online, have the gig arranged and working before you go. There are official exchange programs in which you work as an official English teacher or in a local or prefectural government office. It’s called JET.
I heard that Japan 🇯🇵 is very boring.
@@treystephens6166 I mean it's just like anywhere else you'd live. America is boring too. Once the rose tinted glasses come off your face, you'll realize that it's not like becoming an ex-pat to live somewhere else is going to be a grand adventure all the time. You'll just get comfortable and live a regular life like most of the population
@@r.8902 I wish I was more like James Bond OO7.
@@r.8902 No, Japan is worse. It's so much harder to make friends there or even aquaitences because no one talks. They don't talk on the train, in the store, on the street, anywhere. In most other countries it's normal to chat with strangers, but not in Japan. A lot of my friends who live there, mostly natives, tell me it's soooo lonely to live in Japan right now. Outside of work and school you don't really meet new people.
@@octogonSmuggler Sounds great. Sign me up.
I know many foreigners here in Japan that came on the dream of living here... they suffer with depression & anxiety but feel stuck here in one way or another. Some people will also thrive here though so every experience is different. I have to admit, I'm terrified of the natural disasters & it feels like there's been a lot of earthquakes recently near Tokyo area 😖
Hearing this is helpful. Playing with living in different areas short-term.
I think every teacher I know here has a horrible experience. Only those with real paying jobs (IT, Marketing, Trade, etc) love it here for the most part. It's also super difficult to make friends and you're always a second class citizen...
Note, though, that some form of culture shock causing depression and anxiety can happen even e.g. within western countries. It is always quite blow to basically learn completely from scratch how to go about some basic aspects of daily life. When I moved to the US from Germany in 1999, I was baffled to each month have to remember to send sundry checks out for my bills and drop one off at the property management for rent. In Germany, all of that monthly stuff was automatically deducted from my bank account. The notion that the US was still using paper checks was mind-boggling. Add some more adversity with other things to that, and it's easy to have the whole floor pulled out from under you. And of course, if you don't speak the language and can't even have people explain things to you, it's that much harder to get your footing.
@@chinito77 it does seem like language teachers have a hard time. I think the wages are ridiculously low in Japan compared to other Asian countries, who are willing to pay double or sometimes more. Not to mention the amount of unpaid, expected extra work. In general, I think wages need to be upped as Shogo San touched on, but I agree those in specialty fields seem to have an easier time, especially if they work for a foreign or more open-minded company
Then there’s me, a geology student who wants to experience an earthquake for research purposes.
Come to Hawaii! Even though Japanese culture is already so engrained here, local people always want to learn more and LOVE Japan!
Hawaii isn't worth living there too. Expensive, culture there is dying. Homeless increasing, and crimes are increasing like the mainland. I'm a Honolulu Resisent
Sadly, I have to agree with everything you wrote. Live in Kapolei and the citizens of the state of Hawaii struggle to survive financially and spiritually as well. That's why a lot of the younger people move away. Lived in the states for 7 years but moved back. Don't regret moving back except for one thing I want a better future for my children and grandchildren. And I can't see it happening here for them.
Much of the issues with landslides are due to the fact that Japan has destroyed its natural forests or replaced native forest with industrial cedar which cause the forest bed to die off and leads to landslides.
Fuji is a basalt volcano, which means that its lava runs hot and fast (low viscosity). However, it is very UNlikely to explode like Mt. Saint Helens in the U.S. for exactly the same reason. The earthquakes are far more likely to cause mass casualties and property destruction.
Are you sure? Stratovolcanoes located over subduction zones (as is the case for Mt Fuji) usually produce viscous magma and thus extremely powerful eruptions.
@@samg.5165 Along this vein, Japan is practically sitting on top of a fault line (“the Ring of Fire”; called that for a reason). I agree with you, the Mt. Saint Helens eruption back in the 80’s wouldn’t even come close to how bad Mt. Fuji’s (impending) eruption will be.
@@SunflowerHeliotrope Yeah, and a lot of news outlets are going to overhype it, just like how the media is overhyping the Mauna Kea eruption, and that thing erupts all the time and we can predict these things.
You perfectly described Australia at the end there. Warm, little time difference, and enough young people interested in Japan's culture.
true
Yea Australia would be perfect for him
As an Australian this is very true, in many schools I move and the current school i'm in, I see so many of my friends who are from Macedonia, New Zealand, Jordan, Fiji and many more cultures, who are really interested in learning Japanese and their cultures even if the culture is far different from what they believe, they're still willing to learn and have fun with the Japanese culture
this does mean going from earthquakes to having to fight all kinds of scary animals but it does seem like it can be worth it.
New Zealand could also be a possibility. Northern NZ is still quite warm.
I remember when I was younger I wanted to live in Japan. After learning more about it, I'm glad I didn't pursue it. I would however, strongly recommend it to visit Japan, as it was one of the most amazing and unique place I've ever been. I can't wait until next time!
Thanks for the videos! Your honest information is second to none!
I enjoyed living in Japan, but it did feel like people were quite closed and it was hard to build a real friendship. Most of my friends ended up being other foreigners, who I’m still friends with years later. I lived in Sapporo though, so at least I didn’t need to worry about natural disasters!
I’m back in the U.K. now, but regularly think back to my time in Japan very fondly.
I lived in Japan for six years in the 1990s and it was the most meaningful experience of my life. However I eventually decided to return home because I knew at as a gaijin, I could never progress to being more than a curiosity. For someone such as yourself who is very dynamic and enjoys interacting with international people, I think Japanese society is too repressive for maximizing happiness or personal impact. I’m glad to hear that you do not want to abandon your country altogether. A life as a “roving ambassador“ for Japanese culture that allows you to make frequent visits home is probably your best bet. You are a refreshing paradox: a young man who is so deeply invested in traditional Japanese culture of the historic past while at the same time being so modern in your outlook. I commend you on your English, which is the best I have heard from a Japanese speaker who was not raised in an English speaking country. As for where you should go, the world is your oyster! Canada, Brazil and the west coast of the United States all have large communities of Japanese expats, and might have the greatest opportunities for making contacts with Westerners interested in your classes. There is a great deal of interest in Japanese language and culture at the university level and it’s a real challenge to find enough Japanese professors. If you could become a visiting lecturer that would be an excellent way to travel to different regions and get your message out. Gambatte! I hope your dream comes true and you have a new subscriber.
Yes, come to West Coast! Los Angeles just had a Nisei parade this year and I'm sure you'd be welcome!
Worth pointing out that he did spend some of his younger years (5-11 IIRC) in Michigan before going back to Japan.
@@sonicwave32 That’s why he is so fluent with English.😊 I look forward to hearing where he goes.
Yes, COME TO BRAZIL
I agree that University and Japanese Language education pathway is appropriate. Shogo, I live in London and recommend Oxford Brookes University. Does Teaching and lecturing to prepare students for 1 year study in Japan 🇯🇵 sound ok?
I lived in Japan for a couple years and I have a fiance there. The worst part for me was the work culture, but still, I preferred to live in Japan way more than the U.S. In Japan, my lifestyle was healthier, people were more friendly and helpful, the environments were quiet and clean and safe, also all the nerdy stuff you could want. I'm planning to move back ASAP.
My best friend is there. I dream of moving there for all the things you stated.
yes..
I agree with all of this! I lived in Japan for two years. When I moved back to the states I wasn't happy at all. The main thing that sticks out is safety. Violence of all sorts is on the rise in the US. I've never felt safe like I felt in Japan in my entire life living in the states. I felt...free. It was amazing. I definitely plan on moving back soon.
I am jealous I want to move to Japan so badly.
@@imonlyjesting8843 same I also want to get married to a wonderful Japanese woman.
I can relate to you about not finding anyone who wants to change society. In fact, it has become a common thing almost all over the world where those possessing powers always look down on people with less income than them.
I thought Japanese people were nicer. But now that you've mentioned it, I do not think I would consider moving myself to Japan ever again.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for your videos and educating us about Japanese culture in Japan so I’m very grateful for these videos because I have lost contact with my Japanese side and I kind of connect with my Japanese culture by watching your videos since I am so far away I hope to visit Japan soon and absorb it for myself. In the meantime, your videos are a blessing in many ways.
Malaysia has been a popular destination for many Japanese people over the years. We have a lot of Japanese conveniences right here in Malaysia, we have a time difference of about an hour with Japan, hardly at risk of natural disasters, and we are practically sunny most days of the year! Would be amazing for you to come here, many Japanese expatriates here! All the best finding a place Shogo!
When you decide to visit Malaysia, don't forget to collab with iChang RM.
Well Indonesia too, more than Malaysian have, mostly they are working here, but Japanese here are normally just jerk 🤣
The time zone being only an hour difference sounds perfect but the fact that you already have many Japanese people there doesn’t make sense with Shogo’s goal of spreading traditional Japanese culture. It would be better if there weren’t many or any Japanese people living there.
Malaysia is also culturally closer to Japan than the West but also have attributes of other cultures, as well. We are not perfect and our practice of multiculturism is still experimental (there is still some racial and cultural divide), we are hoping for things to only improve. There are plenty that Japan can bring to make our country better and I dream we will soon break out of the "first world infrastructure, third world mentality" rut.
Best way to find out is to experience it.
If ya don't mind the weather too much, Ireland is typically fine. No natural disasters and you're typically left alone to do your own thing in almost all towns
If I don't mind weather I would rather go to Norway
@thoremeinert Norway while amazing, is typically way way harsher than Ireland 🇮🇪. And is seriously expensive by comparison
Hmmm, maybe i should visit Ireland? They could be my backup country.
as a person who has lived in Ireland my whole life, imo i find it kinda boring(like there isn’t many interesting places to see or visit). Ik that’s probably because i’m used to living here but i love travelling and exploring new places and after while, everything kinda starts to look and feel the same
If you don't mind weather, Finland is objectively the best country to live in. Don't go there, though.
Dearest Shogo , I find so many parallels between the the reasons you might leave your country and why I left mine. I was twenty one when I left Italy, now I'm sixty eight. Just came back from seeing my brother after 15 years and as they say the more things change the more they remain the same! It was really great to see my brother and a few friends that are left and shedding a tear over my mother's place of rest. I do wish though that certain aspects of the culture could be changed and maybe improved. Best regards and best wishes to your whole family. Ciao.
I can tolerate and respect the hierarchical society up to a certain point, only enough to enjoy the positive aspects of Japan that are so many. The ingrained perfectionism, politeness and discipline are some of them, so admirable! On the other hand, people seem to be overly focused on their own individual routines, without any solid future goals to their country. Videos like yours are eyes openers, thank you for your hard work! I wish only the best to your country, today and tomorrow.
I'm a Nisei raised in America (Go Packers!). My cousins just entered the work force and are already complaining about how the elderly are suffocating the youth in Japanese society. I used to dream about going back to live Japan after graduation, but I'm starting to think that it might be better for me and my family in general if I set up base here in America.
Apparently the US isn't much better for the individual economy wise. Long hours, few benefits, no paid leave. Though the softer hierarchy may allow for more assertiveness in the workplace.
Aye GO PACK GO
@@StefanVeenstra yeah it's more of a social difference than economic
@@StefanVeenstra depends who you work for. Generally, if your education was more geared to working for in demand industries (accounting, trades, logistics, doctors, etc) you won’t have a hard time getting an entry to mid level job without much more than an associates degree and/or experience. Higher pay and career progression will pretty much require a bachelors degree at an accredited four year university. Of course, geography/polity is also an important consideration. Make sure you choose wisely.
@@StefanVeenstra unless you're working a lot level job, none of those are really true, and even most low level jobs, you have at least some paid leave
I lived 25 years only in Japan, and after that, traveled California and NY. I was amazed that I could be myself and to the diversity they have. After that, I realised how closed Japan is and got sick of it, and left Japan for Australia, Canada, and then now Berlin, Germany. I went back to Japan to see my family after 5 years. This time, I was amazed how clean Japan is and everything is super organized. People are extremely polite and it is super advanced. There is a problem with educational system which I was also teaching as a teacher, and felt the problem, but there is no other countries to offer the same thing as Japan offers.
Edited.
Other countries offers other great things.
I didn't mean Japan is the best.
Yes there are...
Switzerland 🇨🇭
The freedom of America. The freedom to get shot.
I've lived in Japan since 1988 and have raised 5 healthy, happy kids here. Moving to Japan from Canada was the best decision I've ever made. Something tells me Shogo isn't going anywhere...He's just pandering to his Western audience
germany is def not the place to feel relaxed as a foreigner, they seem like basically the european less organized version of japan
it's very brave of you to admit these things. thank you for your honesty, Shogo san
I lived in Japan for two years working for a foreign company. I was exposed to many people who worked under Japanese management and I couldn't imagine working under those conditions. It is no way to live. My time there was absolutely wonderful though and I have travelled back multiple times.
Australia, Singapore or Malaysia would be suitable for your criteria, because all these countries have English as their first languages so communication would not be a problem. The climate is warm, the infrastructures are well-developed, and you'll have no shortage of MNCs to work for. Malaysia and Singapore have many Japanese multinationals established there as well like NTT, the Matsushita group, etc. These countries are also located in timezones that are not far off from Japan's.
New Zealand is also a great country to move to, It's just North of Australia so it's practically in the same time-zone as Japan, English is the primary language so understanding shouldn't be a problem and it has better weather than Australia with far fewer deadly plants and animals.
Since when Malaysia first language is english although they can speak english?
@@OldHunters well although Malay is the national language but u can't deny that English is kinda usable and works basically everywhere, especially in working environment 🤣😂
I have a friend of my mum who married a Japanese guy, he said he love Malaysia so much more and doesnt even wanna go back to Japan now I know why 🤣😂
I’d disagree with Australia considering the issues they’ve had the last couple years.
i think is easy to say that "I want to live in xxx". But once you get to really know the country, the environment, the culture, it is only then you would know the pros and cons of a country.
Like for example, the work life balance is not really seen in Japan. When I was in Japan, staying a hotel that is opposite a office building, you could see people still working at night on weekend and weekdays. Also, like is mentioned in video, the hierarchy in workplace is strong.
Not that i dont love Japan. I love every countries but I think the sentence of "I want to live in xxx" should not be said easily not knowing what you are getting yourselves into.
Thank you for all that you do to educate and share Japanese culture with everyone! Arigatogozaimasu!
Glad to know all three of your recommendations at the end I had already thought to do from living in Vietnam for a hear and a half. Foreign currency is absolutely one of the best ways to live abroad and being self employed has always been the plan for me, I hope you're enjoying living abroad and I wish you the best of luck on your journey
It’s sad to see Japan going through all these problems. It’s also made me look at my own country’s problems. It must be hard being young in Japan. I hope it gets better
At this rate, it'll only get better once enough old people has died in Japan and is replaced by newer generation that is willing to make real changes.
@@robbieaulia6462 This. As someone who is trying to relocate to Japan, this, to me, is the time to do it. I mean no country is perfect, Japan has a TON of issues. But do not even get me started on Canada. You think Japan's economy is bad? Try getting a job in a country that rather have you become homeless so they can just import more cheap labor.
If I have to pick my poison, I'll take the poison that I like.
@@robbieaulia6462young people don't know squat though and think they have things all figured out because they read a lot online. They have zero life experience which is extremely important and can't be overlooked. Older generations have historically been in charge because they have many years of wisdom and experience to draw from which is irreplaceable. Social media and the internet has made younger generations extremely cocky and they think they know everything, when in actuality, they don't know anything about how the world works or how best to fix societal problems.
Memorizing a bunch of stuff online or going to college is not a replacement for life experience.
@@robbieaulia6462d I have news for you. At the rate the world is going ( especially Japan ) there are going to be much more older folks then there are younger. The birthrates are plummeting and Japan is far below the fertility rate required to keep a young population in healthy numbers.
@@cuckertarlson3037 then let's see how will Japan survive if there are not enough workforce to keep the country running.
People often ask Jesse Enkamp (The Karate Nerd) why he didn't stay in Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate. He said that he felt that living in Japan was just not a "good fit" for him. He shares many of your goals as far as spreading and preserving Japanese culture and history (as it relates to the martial arts). I'm sure he saw similar things that you see as obstacles to those adjacent goals. His moving BACK to his native country has allowed him the freedom to REALLY spread his knowledge and the TRUTHS that needed to be spoken.
I wish you the best in finding a place to live. I know little about the economic futures and freedoms of Asian nations. I've always thought Okinawa would be a good fit for your condition since it's so warm there and still close. However, it's still under Japan rule, even though they DO have their own unique culture and I'VE HEARD they are a bit more "forward thinking" but I can't say for sure.
I have watched his videos, and he is honest and respectful. He does not carry baggage, nor disrespect. Roland, thank you for posting.
I agree 100%@@andrewruddy962. I think Jesse is one of the most genuine people on UA-cam today. Amazing content.
Jesse definitely seems like a great guy!
Great video Shogo. It's enlightening nad well done. Your channel is one of the best I've seen.
The University of Warsaw in Poland has a branch dedicated to Japanese studies; we probably don’t fit your conditions the best but we’d honoured nonetheless if you decided to visit us one day!
All the folk here are very passionate about learning Japanese language, culture and history - and we do our best to also share the love we hold with others.
In NYC, st John's University has an Asian studies center since 1990s.
@@arfriedman4577 and that's about what? Japanese studies have existed in Poland much longer.
@@LMB222 it's a college/university in nyc.
@@LMB222 USA is better then Poland. Poland has Nazi's and Putin is coming for them.
Do you know Jacek Bartosiak? He's a great guy from Poland.
Hi Shogo, I think Thailand fits the bill for your preferences because it's warm, only 2 hrs behind Japan, very easy to find flights between the two countries, delicious food and relatively reasonable cost of living, and there are already huge Japanese communities in Bangkok and other provinces who can help you settle in. There are already a few Japanese UA-camrs who have relocated to Thailand and are doing quite well gaining viewers. Wherever you decide, best of luck!
Same here in my country Malaysia too. There are small pockets of Japanese community here too and I'm puzzles because our economy is said to be getting harder yet its one of the popular places they choose to move into.
You should consider that his wife is Chinese
I don’t know how the politics are currently but that could be a problem
But perhaps I’m seeing non-existent problems
But Shogo’s goal is to spread traditional Japanese culture. It’s kind of pointless if he goes to a place where there’s already communities of Japanese people living there. He should go somewhere where there aren’t many Japanese people.
You can start your life over in Brazil for New Game+++
I am considering Thailand for long stay as well but I heard the permanent residence can get annoying to get.
I am really glad to hear of your dream and I would love to be a part of that, as someone who loves Japanese culture but not the hierarchical regime. Best wishes to you and yours!
This was extremely informative and very useful to know. Thank you for making this video as it will really help people who want to live in Japan.
I'm not Japanese but I can relate. My country has this seniority culture. They seem to be always right. The management is centralized. Though they say that an employee's opinions matter, it just seems to be pep talk to me. So I often have differing approaches, outside my working environment and inside my working environment. At work, I act like I'm the grass or the dirt. I am but a mere representative of this prestigious office, an extension of the influence of my boss. I'm another cog in the machine. Outside of my working environment, that's where I can be competitive and smart. Make the outsiders say ohh wow did you know this awesome guy is from this company/office? Bosses love that since they help increase the prestige of a company. That doesn't apply inside the company tho since they always want to keep the young ones at the bottom while preaching about nurturing the young to one day take their place. I agree with the foreign paying job as well. The buying power of our currency continues to suffer. The only people happy are those that are able to generate income from outside the country
Sorry things turned out this way :l
Every company will say "Thank you for your valuable feedback, your opinion is very important to us!", and presumably a similar line to any employee who speaks up with a suggestion for improvement. Unfortunately, almost none of them ever mean it.
At all.
Nothing to do with age, rich people treat young and old like scum. It's up to governments to level the playing ground! I have had this all my life and I still have 4 years until retirement if I make it, then is when my life really starts without the shackles of the bosses. Take care. Stay safe.
life starts at retirement...lmfao ok@@KateJohn2013England
I lived in Hawaii for about 10 years. The weather would be warm and humid all year, the economy runs on tourism and I believe there would always be room for another business. Prices are expensive as many things are imported and housing limited, but I don’t know how this compares to Japan. The culture has definite influences from Japan and of course tourists. Things to consider: 1: the islands are known to give some people island fever or rather claustrophobia island style and want to leave the islands. 2: once you live there you will see tourists are everywhere. Definitely visit first and see how you feel about the place.
Definitely. And for the most part, Hawaii prices (at least with daily purchases) are higher than in Japan, but so is the salary for the most part.
Hawaii Business Magazine just said that Hawaii residents’ average spending per year is $60,884, which is higher than most salaries in Japan, even Tokyo. But cost for things are high and shipping and service is slow. It’s always a trade off unfortunately.
@Trinity M So tourism is the biggest industry, and you don’t like it. Got it.
I went to Hawaii this summer, and it was highly disappointing. Prices are ridiculously high for things like housing to even food. And the service was abismal, I had better service experiences in Mexico.
Since I’m living in Japan, I prefer to still live here than Hawaii.
@Trinity M Hawaii is only like 6% Hawaiian. I've lived on Oahu for decades. Hawaii requires non-hawaiians to function.
@@emilioperez6888 I probably would too (and try to earn USD). I’m giving it a shot to live in Hawaii for family and I’ll be back in Japan from time to time. But if you don’t have that, Japan is a fine place to be.
Shogo! I have to say I LOVE your dream and believe in it!! Please continue to spread knowledge of such a beautiful culture and history!! 🤩
This is very on point! The decline of the yen is really rough and one of the things making me reconsider my life here.
As someone who used to live in Shizuoka on the coastline for 4 years (in a super flat area), the fact that another earthquake is indefinite was my main reason for moving away. I find it frustrating that so many people put that out of their minds and continue to build houses there.
Australia might be an option, especially the eastern states due to your time difference requirement. We're only a couple of hours ahead, and the weather varies depending on which state you're in from tropical in the north, to cool temperate in the south. Many schools teach Japanese language and culture as LOTE subjects (Language Other Than English), so that could be in line with your goals.
I second the Australia option. They are open to immigrants, the climate and economy is great. One problem though is the deadly critters (like snakes and spiders).
and Australia doesnt have too many natural disasters execpt for fires and floods but those usually happen around the eastern reagion
I agree! Our universities are overwhelmed by the amount of students interested in Japanese studies. It is one of the most popular languages in terms of wanting to learn here. Cities like Melbourne or Sydney are already hotspots for international communities.
If he can find a rental with the rising homeless population and housing crisis. If this was pre-pandemic times I would 100% recommend Brisbane.
Come to my Australian state. I would love to connect with you!
The more I watch this video the more I realise how Japan and my home country(Italy) have sadly in common
Italy is a declining country too. The population is dying, the economy is bad for years. VEry similar
Female empowerment. That's how you fight over population and create in imbalance in the age of the population.
@@jayk3551 wealthy in terms of paper money or resources? Last I seen the economic migrants they have absorbed so far, dont seem to be working out to well.
@@jayk3551 point?
I know these places have labour shortages
My country, Philippines, is facing heavy issues as well, especially economy. I guess the economy problem is global for so long now
I think you have a very nice dream. I fell in love with Japanese culture at a young age and it would be nice to preserve it experience some of it overseas. I'm going to visit Japan next year. I'm looking forward to it, but I will always remember the societal issues that residents face. I hope that you are able to help people like you want to, and wish you best of luck.
I'm fascinated by Japanese culture, especially that related to Sengoku-jidai and Edo periods, but I always knew that simply being fascinated by the culture does not mean I should move to Japan. So, I'd love to visit as a tourist someday, but for now I'm happy to be a Polish samurai living in Poland for now. And if I move somewhere else, it would be based on whichever country would offer me the best conditions to live my dream, e.g. that of building my house to look like a miniature Japanese castle, with a courtyard and private dojo, where I could practice kyudo and other martial arts, etc. And also practice my other hobbies, like tinkering in a workshop, or making video games. I definitely want the place to be self-sufficient too.
So, I'd look for whichever country has the economic conditions to allow me to pursue my dream (i.e. things aren't too expensive, and income - either locally, or remotely - isn't too bad), as well as personal freedoms which aren't too restricted, such as laws and regulations that would make my plans illegal.
As someone who wants to try living and working in Japan in the future, I was already sort of aware of these issues but it was still very insightful. Tbh the thing that would piss me the most are the people thinking they're better than me just because they're older and the work culture that favors longer hours instead of the work done.
Once I finish my studies I'll be a computer science engineer specialised in AI so I have no doubt about finding a company that'll want me. However I was playing with the idea of making my own company (tho i have no idea what it would be yet) following the work culture that I know.
I'm from France so here we work 35 hours per week and everything over that is considered overtime and is paid at least 50% more and there's also a limit to how much overtime an employee can do to prevent them from overworking themselves (48 hours max in a week 44 hours max on average over any 12 weeks period). I'd like to try that as well as giving the pay and responsibilities based on what the individual can do rather than their age.
From what I could gather from various street interviews I've seen, a lot of younger people are frustrated with the current japanese work culture so maybe something like that could interest them and also empower them to defend their opinions and really start to believe that their voice matter just like everyone else's and that their life isn't just to work all the time
It's funny as i'm in a simmillar situation as you (and i'm also french). I'm an embedded systems engineer specialized in the automotive industry and while i don't want to live in japan forever i wanted to work there for 1/2 years to experience living abroad and pursuing learning japanese. But i'm worrying about theses issues. althrough in theses tech oriented jobs you can find some foreign compagnies implemented in japan where you might find better work conditions. Also since you are French check out the VIE (volontariat international en entreprise) it allows you to work for a french company abroad and you are still beeing paid in euros basically ! You have to be less than 29 tho.
@@Arksin21 oh i didn't know about the VIE at all thanks it could be very useful!
Rn i have a little over a year of studies left and my university as a partnership with Kobe's which has AI courses so I'm trying to go on a year long exchange next year
Lots of people in Canada are adopting the 35 hours week too and it does wonders to our work-life balance, and more and more companies are forced to accept that employees work better in these conditions. I hope it spreads to Japan eventually
@@deneguil-1618 oh amazing ! Yeah right now the offers on the vie website are a bit dry but around march to april there will be more as compagnies will be looking for people for september. I've graduated 2 years ago so i can't really go for universities tho unless i want to get a second diploma but in your case you might avoid some of the workplace issues by virtue of beeing a student. Btw do you need jlpt n2 for your university ?
ok, as someone who has lived there, if that bothers you: don't move there
Thank you so much for your work bringing Japanese culture to us ❤
Considering the disasters that can occur in Japan made me think twice as a young person who plans to live or study there. Since the biggest earthquake happened not so long ago in the country where I live, I have a fear since then. I still want to be an exchange student in Japan and decide whether I can live there. If not, then I can change my path whenever I want. I just need to decide quickly.
Me the same! 😊 Where do you live?
OMG SHOGO!!?!???! I leave for a few months and you already reach 1.45 million subscribers so quickly! WOW! You set out a goal and definitely REACHED IT.
Japan as a country and culture definitely has these negative issues (among many others). Tourists don't really experience any of these, and even if they do, they're only here temporarily and can simply leave them behind at the airport. And when you look at some of the foreigner youtubers who are based in Japan, you have to remember the fact that they make their money outside the traditional Japanese work system and often also have the money to throw around so that they have less issues (for example, pay immigration lawyers to apply for their visa, pay high-end real estate agents to deal with landlords). Plus a lot of their videos are sponsored by local governments, tourist organizations, Japanese companies/services, etc., so of course they will say praise Japan to the heavens.
You offer a more realistic and grounded view to balance that stuff out, so thank you.
Shogo, I applaud your inner strength to simultaneously to honor your heritage and choose to incorporate this for your future. You sir are a rock star!
If you visit Hungary anytime, let us know :) Japanese culture is appreciated, and there are quite a lot of Japanese already living here. The climate is nice but it tends to be dry (well the climate is changing so nowadays it's more like dry/wet alternating). There used to be 4 seasons but now it's only about 2 but it's still a beautiful country worth a visit.
Interesting to see a Hungarian comment here, I've also been watching Vereb recently who has been comparing the two cultures in his videos. As a disclaimer, while the country is nice for a visit, if you're escaping Japan for the reasons mentioned in the video Hungary is a poor alternative. The country is economically and politically completely stagnant with no improvements in sight within the next decade or so. I guess the weather is okay and we don't have natural disasters though, except for the odd flooding.
@@prothyyyi totally agree as a hungarian. Maybe worth to visit the capital and lake balaton but i wouldn’t suggest to anyone to move here. Ofc it would be nice to see this guy for few weeks and learn from him but who would consider moving here pls choose a better country
I have a high amount of respect of the elderly, but I would have a real issue with the elder hierarchy you described. But here in America, although there are protections, there is ageism and discrimination really bad against older workers rather than valuing their experience (its very hard for them to get new jobs unless they are CEOs or board members).
The problem is similar here. Our heirarchy is more based on money, and it just so happens a lot of older people have a lot of money, and they use that money to keep the same very old people in power politically.
yet they are the ones who lead the country and keep us from progressing.
I think in America it depends. There are many jobs that favor young people with new ideas there are definitely still professions that value experience more particularly the medical field. My dad was going to quit his job as an RN to become an NP but his hospital valued his 13+ years of ER experience and increased his paycheck by almost 25% per hour to keep him.
I think it depends on the industry and skill level of the employee. In the USA, retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot hire elderly people to work as greeters. I think East Asian cultures are a bit hypocritical in claiming to respect the elderly. In many fields such as customer service and retail they only hire young fresh faces and are obvious about it.
@@pappanalab Happy for your dad!
in my opinion, you are one of the most respectable youtubers on this platform, i respect the fact that you can talk openly about these types of things, and teach others about your beautiful culture. i wish you the best.
majority of Japanese are respectable and polite and I think they are very considerate of others and this probably one of the reasons why it's hard to live in Japan, whereas being yourself is celebrated in many cultures and societies I think Japan is not one of them.
That's the flaw...
I lived in Japan for 4 years and I loved it. I would go back anytime. You can move anywhere and there are risks. There are no real safe places on Earth. The fact that Japan has thrived even in disaster, is a testament to the people of Japan
4 years is nothing, really short time.
@@sanxxxx its enough time to experience all 4 seasons, change of politics, grow relationships with coworkers, neighbors, and a community. Its the same amount of time as someone going to college and that can be equivalent to a lifetime of experience, especially from a younger person's perspective. I would respect @furtherdestfinitions1 opinion much more than someone who has visited Japan for a couple of weeks or months. So I wouldn't say its _nothing_ .
Same, i did 4 years too and about to move back. When i compare the pros and cons, the pro list is longer by a mile.
People, especially foreigners, romanticize Japanese culture to an absurd degree. Visiting a country for a couple weeks to a month is drastically different than moving there and experiencing what living there is like. I would absolutely LOVE to visit Japan, but I also KNOW that I would never want to live there.
I must say, even though elders in german aren't THAT superior here as they seem to be in Japan, all the problems you talk about are the same in germany. The politicians mainly do what suits the older generation, wages are falling (or staying, but everything gets more expensive) and taxes are increasing aswell. Birthrates are dropping too and we are quite low on the "money spend on education" chart as you showed... So it's not a problem Japan has alone, although I agree it seems way more severe in Japan
Germany caters not to elders but to muslims
@@bunnylarese2161 no, not really
Had the same thoghts.
At 2100 there will be almost no germans anymore. We are dying out, fully intentional by our rulers. Estimated 12 to max 20 million germans. It will be still 90- 130 million inhabitants. But plans have changed since 2020. It will go a looot faster..
@@tiergeist2639 it will be. Muslim country fully sharia compliant.
On the outside, any country can look like a dream come true while it's a nightmare to people on the inside.
Its unfortunate that Japan's rigid structure and societal refusal to help the people who are supposed to be its future is stifling it's own growth and will actually put it's existence in danger in a real way soon.
Humanity in general seems like it doesn't seem to advance much no matter what happens as people who are comfortable refuse to help others in a society.
Right, and rampant capitalism, social inequalities and lobbyism keep everyone from evolving.
Visiting a foreign country for vacation for one week, 2 weeks, or a month versus working and living in a foreign country long term wise or permanently are two vast completely different experiences.
You need to be scrupulous in order to climb up the ladder, so no wonder our world is reigned by douchebags
Quite bluntly. People are obsolete and have outlived their purpose by far too much
Yooo you're that person who keeps appearing in every fate vid
I can understand your frustration, having to deal with one generation of outdated culture is difficult enough as it is in the modern world change in life and tech. I didn't realise how frustrating this might be until my friend went over to teach English and set up is own business and explained to me that half of what was requested for teaching was undoing comforming and self doubt from the Japanese education system and teaching independant thinking, problem solving and study.
My family are all from the UK and Ireland so it's hard to imagine what it's like worrying about those natural disasters but i wish all the best in finding a peaceful new place to call home.
Thank you for the valuable insight.
I am from Malaysia & based on my current experience & knowledge, State of Penang, both Island & Mainland & Kuala Lumpur is your gateway to check out if our country is suitable for you. the time differences between both countries is only an hour gap. if you plan to stay in state of Johor which borders with Singapore, better be prepared to work in Singapore as the people there loves to earn Singapore money. North Borneo side is less develop in terms of infrastructure but if it is tolerable for you, it could be an option.
I recommend Malaysia. Equatorial climate (natsu all year long), one hour time difference with Japan, and it takes 7 hours to fly home. And if you live in Malaysia, there so many Japanese mod cons that you can have Japan at your doorstep if you miss Japan when you are away from home (shops - we have Family Mart, a Lalaport mall in KL, AEON in a lot of towns etc)
Betul betul
I thought of Singapore, but Malaysia would work too
Imagine Shogo meeting Upin & Ipin
@@KusunokiSG47 Omg that would be cool 😭😎
and flood 😂 now my house have a reserve boat
SouthEastAsia huh ... well that means monsoons and floods
After seeing many videos, I can easily see why Japan has many of it’s biggest problems. Because of the great things I love about Japan, I will certainly visit and enjoy it, but I won’t move there permanently.
You should definitely consider Australia 🇦🇺
We're very close in timezones, only 1 hour ahead on the east coast (Sydney, Canberra) and 30 minutes ahead in Darwin, and it can be very warm, especially further north. We also don't have any active volcanoes and earthquakes are very minimal 😊
I moved to Japan with my family this year from Singapore. To say it’s been tough settling in is an understatement but we still look forward to enjoy our experience in beautiful Japan 🙂
i'm from singapore! what is the biggest challenge so far haha
@@LahLahLahification I had a hard time limiting to one challenge 😂 it’s just all the paperwork, many many steps to get one thing done, everything is built for Japanese only. If you don’t speak Japanese at all and you don’t have a Japanese friend it’s gonna be ULTRA hard but of course not impossible 🙂
@@LahLahLahification Well, maybe Singapore could be something for Shogo! It is said to be quite opened up towards foreigners provided they are willing to work hard.
I'm a non-Japanese and I lived in Japan for two years, one year in Chiba and one year in Wakayama. There were a lot of things I liked about living in Japan and a few things I did not. As a Westerner, you have to have a thick skin to stay in Japan for any length of time; you will always be an outsider and there will be things that are always off limits to non-Japanese. Also, Japan is not a country populated by flying robots and quirky anime cosplayers - most of the country is very rural, poor, and having limited access to technology. And, yes, as Shogo mentions, wages are low and everything is expensive. All in all, I really liked living in Japan - some of the best years of my life. But it's not a perfect place and definitely has some challenges for non-Japanese who are not visiting simply as tourists.
Yep! Everyone I know that ask me about Japan (having had multiple long stays in the country) are always surprised when I tell them it's not as high tech as they think it is. And overall, it's a very calm country, that's even outdated in a lot of it's technology. The thing is that the Japanese are very efficient, orderly, functional. I LOVE Japan but it's not all of what some Japanophiles may think it is.
@@danzena4059 Japan used to be high-tech a few decades ago. Back then you could get electronics that you couldn't get anywhere else in the world. But nowadays it's only the reputation that it is high-tech that is left...
Same goes for Japanese efficiency. They aren't actually efficient at all. According to studies, Japanese workers have one of the lowest production output in relation to hours spent on work. Their educational system is the same: students in Finland spend only one quarter of the time that Japanese students spend on studying, yet students in Finland achieve about the same results on knowledge and academical performance tests according to studies like PISA.
You could say the same for every nation on earth. They all have problems and their own dangers.
@@IsleNaK The problem is also like you're not suppose to stand out is the key. You have to keep pace with everyone else so even if you're a super talented and fast worker you have to purposely work slow. They definitely don't work smarter and just work harder, same with schools where kids spend SO much time studying and taking extra classes but they aren't creating all the genius in the world. The fact is there is only so much you can work/study in a day, its best to utilize that period of time rather than just do more.
They were in the 21st century back in the 1980s. Now, I'd say they are still in the 21st century and many other countries have caught up and Japan is in danger of falling behind. Theres a lot of technological innovation and Japan needs to take a bigger piece of it. I dont disagree at all but the ruralness or low wages. But the greater tokyo area is still a sight to behold. Disney land for adults and all things Japan. Perfect for holiday.
Living is another story and requires much sacrifice. Soiling your royal oats there is one thing. But living there for the rest of your life is what I'm talking about and that's a huge decision. As a foreigner, specifically a westerner, you will be a minority and treated differently. If that's the kind of life you want to sign up for, try it out. I'd only live in Japan on my own terms and if i was set for life.
Shogo for President! Thank you for your many educational video's. Wish you the best of luck in the future
Try coming to Hawaii. Oahu in particular is very safe from natural disasters. We have no serious local earthquakes so you have a ton of warning if a tsunami is generated elsewhere in the pacific. Hurricanes are significantly weakened by Oahu’s reefs and other islands before they can reach Oahu. Also, many residents have Japanese ancestry and would love to learn more about their ancestral culture.
Hawaii has a extreme housing issue for obvious reasons and according to some people I talk to when I visited, it's not uncommon to have two jobs ( 9-5 and Uber for example )
@@garyleija Plus there's the insane cost of living on top of the housing issues...
Hawaii's great if you have $$$, expensive cost of living and jobs mainly in the the service/tourism industry. From what I've seen most Japanese from a big city like Tokyo, eventually (quickly) find it too slow, boring, "inaka"
True. But spending a long time on an island got me stir crazy. Spam Spam Spam.
@@garyleijaalso the chicken problems
Thank you for your honesty and dedication to educating people, Shogo!
my whole family left Japan in 2012 i was in medical training and went through the Tohoku Earthquake in which my retiring executive father made the decision to go to the USA where some of our relatives live (Denver Colorado) I live with my husband in Albuquerque working as a Pediatric doctor. My husband is Ex-Military and co-owner of a private security contractor company. My father and mother are happy to live in the USA today because their money goes further. We do miss Japan but the USA is nice and land is plentiful.
✌️🇺🇸🇯🇵✌️👏👏👏👏
You should make some content about Japanese moving to the USA, it would be interesting.
depends where in america you live. If you are away from the major cities and far away from the blacks and crime then yea its fine. I live in the dc area and the blacks are outta control! daily murders, car jackings, robberies!!
Do you know walter white ?
@@calebokay9665 depends on where in the USA you live my family chose the southwestern USA because the wide open spaces and i started to look at the world the way my husband sees it.
we can defend the acres of land we purchased. My husband is very regimental and it makes my father happy. A warriors spirit in my husband that all my relatives love because he taught everyone im my family to shoot and tend to the land. My husband is South African Zulu and Japanese by his family heritage and his father is ex-military also. Japan was a wonderful place when i was growing up but it became harder to survive with a very crowded population. My father loves nature and he forfill his dream of having a traditional compound like ones found in Japan but in Denver Colorado!
Japan is in my heart but the land we live in today is also my happiness!
Thank you for your sharing.
Hello, shogo! If there are places you would like to move to in the future. Try to spend a two or three week vacation in the north east region of the US. The best time to come will be during the summer and the fall. Everybody can enjoy going to NYC or Boston for a day or two. But the best place I believe would be in New Hampshire. It has great history, wonderful outdoor activities, and over natural disasters it is the lowest risk factor involved. As a martial artist, I could always find peace when I am training outdoors. We have lakes, we have beaches we have a few mountains and lots of hills. I hope you’ll think about it because I believe you and your family will enjoy it. Thank you for reading. (arigato)
You really have given to us quite a bit of your own wisdom, and taken us on many journeys, learning about the reality of living life in Japan. I just wanted to say "Thank You!"
My husband and I were going to do a teaching job in Japan; the deal breaker for me is the sheer amount of times my friend who was in Japan was groped on the train… there were talks about many of the things you mentioned but that was finally tipped it. I don’t know if it’s always a problem but I’ve heard a lot about sexual harassment and groping on trains…
It has been a huge issue in Japan since forever. Now there are women-only cars on the trains in many of the lines.
Questions did you often use public transport in your original country ? My country might sound clean but it have similar cases like japan but since its a developing country those news rarely come up since the middle class just use car only the lower class use public transport and their voices get shutdown by the public transport company with bribes and most of em take it
So it appears clean but talk to a bus driver or 2 and the horror is there
So i think japan don't really have a groping crisis but since everyone use its public transport more are willing to speak out
Just a thought
@@satoriakihiro1283 I've heard of groping issues in Japan for years. I used to live in NYC and it's not an issue here. Most of the time trains aren't so crowded that groping can be gotten away with.
@@AB-py6jl I’ve lived in NYC for 14 years and I did hear about it every now and then. It’s not completely non existent, but you do hear about it more in Japan probably because of what Satori said.
Dw u will get used to it
Thank you for being so candid about Japanese culture. It’s very eye-opening, and on a personal note, it helps me understand why one side of my family is the way it is (my mother was Japanese and I have aunts and uncles there, all of whom are seniors ahem!). However, it’s sad to learn of what’s happening there overall. I completely understand wanting to relocate somewhere with less natural disasters. Your videos are very refreshing and informative - saikou desu! I hope you find a place that suits you, and wish you much success. Gambatte!
Best wishes to you Shogo-Sensai, and to Japan as well!
If you want to move anywhere else, come to Thailand. It's geographically safe zone from natural disasters. We are polite and reserved like you. Our culture is quite similar to some certain degree, but we value liberty over tradition a bit. We also love Japanese food, games and animes a lot, some even speak Japanese for works.
Dude, aren’t you guys under military control now?
@@clairechan927 that was 8 years ago. the current priminister sure is still the same guy that staged a coup, but he'll probably be gone in the next year election.
@@clairechan927 isn't that Myanmar
@@clairechan927 that's Myanmar
@@cyberking158 its both
Living in Japan for 6 years was an amazing experience. I loved the rich culture, the food and the wonderful natural world. As a foreigner I was free from the restrictions that beset my Japanese friends, since we were expected to be awkward outsiders. That was annoying sometimes, especially when praise was heaped on my small knowledge of Japanese ways, since I knew this was really a way of telling me to back off. The Great Hanshin earthquake happened while I was there, and that really worried me, but for all that, I would not change anything about my time there.
why did you leave ?
@@vfaitefor the National disasters i Guess
Why does it mean telling you to back off?
@@magnarcreed3801 When Japanese people seem overly ecstatic about your pronunciation, etc, it’s their way of mocking you with a smile, as if you’re say, a white person from the US like myself, you’re always going to be a gaijin, no matter how well you speak their language or follow their customs, etc. My wife is Japanese and I know first hand the dirty looks I’ve gotten and the outward mocking of me speaking the language.
@@davidgrenfell596
That’s silly of them.
Oh well I’m use to it even in my home country but for different reasons. At least their food looks tastier.
Thanks for your honesty information
As a thankful guest of Aomori for four years, I am alwsys grateful for your videos, they are all very informative.
Shogo, if you plan on travelling the US and find yourself near Wilmington NC, please reach out. My home would be open to you and your family or team. This region is full of a wide range of biodiversity. Some very unique plants, lots of wildlife, and a lot of great geological features. Plus it's a very historical port town, so history is all over, and it's also a college town. The weather year round is nice and warm, and the beaches are never far away.
That's nice for you to offer! However, after living in Chocowinity NC for 3 years, I found myself wanting more things to do. Also, unfortunately the politics there was another factor driving me away.
I was very impressed with Wilmington.
@@YumixNightmareI’m near Jacksonville, NC so I understand this one for sure.
What a sweet offer! Wilmington sounds charming :)
I have been in Japan for 14 years and have worked really hard to fit in. Now I mostly fit, but the things I have to do for it. I do not want to put in hours of overtime… don’t want to spend time pretending to work when it isn’t busy. Don’t want to spend eons on doing things the way they have always been done, even though that way benefits no one. Eventually, I will need to get out of the Japanese system, whether or not I stay in Japan. Being able to work outside of a company is a great point. Some day…
For me it was always a dream to move there and stay at there at some point of my life. I might not fit every single condition that make Japan “suitable” for me to live in, I will probably still move there, knowing everything that you continue to teach me every day.
But a lot of things can change in the next 5 years in my life, and I might actually fit those conditions so yeah. Thanks for the interesting and informative video, even if it was uploaded a year ago!
どうもありがとうございました！
I'm glad you were able to give us insight into the problems of Japan! I was hoping to live there as an aspiring fashion designer. I'm just very worried about the natural disasters that happen and could happen. I wouldn't need some insight on what to do. 😮
You should be more worried about violent crime, accidental injury, or problems resulting from poverty and homelessness, which Japan mitigates well rather than natural disasters.
Düsseldorf in Germany has a huge japanese community. It is celebrated here! Maybe, even if you don't move there, it's worth a visit :)
Or Cologne. Germany is great but getting a working visa or starting a company in Germany may be (very) difficult as a foreigner...
But too cold! 🥶
Das stimmt, die Düsseldorfer fühlen sich "ihren" Japanern sehr verbunden! Wenn Sie aber etwas Neues heranziehen möchten, empfehle ich eher, eine der vielen schönen Kleinstädte Deutschlands auszuwählen.
@@erikblau9150 It's too cold here for Shogo 🥶 Also the time difference is really annoying. When I'm working with Japanese companies, they want me to be available between midnight and 10:00 am. That's no to say there aren't valid reasons to be living here, but Shogo has other priorities.
@@maxiburger
Having worked for a Japanese company in Germany, we actually had the best spot. In conference calls with the HQ in Japan and our fellow subsidiary in the US, we got the best time slot. The folks in the US had to crawl out of bed early, the Japanese folks had to stay in late, for us, it was just regular work hours...