Difference - Long & Short Term Residents of Japan
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
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How dare you disparage MY JAPAN experience of eating egg sandos from Lawson and traipsing around Akihabara for toys! Surely, no one has ever experienced that before me! Per usual, great stuff, man! Keep it up!
I don't know, you captured YOUR JAPAN in a pretty damn cool photo book. Not many people have done something like that. ;)
The first JAPAN based UA-cam content creator that doesn’t make me dry heave. Tokyo has been my home since 1997. I’ve never been particularly obsessed with Japanese culture or history, I’ve simply enjoyed a comfortable personal and work life here. I rarely think about it anymore. It’s just home. Newcomers NEED to see this. Arigato ne-
My coworker client and company communication has been 100% Nihongo for decades but Im still spotty. Private life is about 50/50. Recently I see newcomers arriving with Nihongo better than mine. Good for them👍
I’ve done quite well. Are you struggling?
My Japanese is fluent not perfect. Always improving. That said I’ve met foreigners who’ve lived here run businesses raised children and done very well who can barely speak a word. To me their lives were essentially crap as they never broke free of the highly transient largely dysfunctional foreign community. There is a saying, the more Japanese you speak the less you earn. Salaries in Japanese companies are lamentable relative to what you can earn in the west so endeavoring to work as a Japanese person in a domestic company is a fools errand. Working in a foreign company is usually a much better option. My case is unique as I’m a consultant who was recruited from abroad. At first I utilized a translator. After two years of language, school I was leading seminars mostly unassisted. That was 20 years ago. I wouldn’t recommend attempting to live here without language ability. You can get by, some condescending Japanese will even tell you “you don’t need Nihongo” but the reality is you’re a helpless nobody with zero access to 95% of this society without conversational Japanese. These days I have little to no opportunity or interest in interacting with foreigners. Life here is so much smoother this way.
It 100% depends on your personal motivation and aptitude. I’d say anywhere from 2yrs to a lifetime.
I snowboarded Mt fuji back in 2019, and I had the chance to work for a year before i turn 31, but everything you say rings true.
I don’t want to be overworked and seen as a lesser person because i’m not from there, and all these novelties with overcoming language barriers ultimately just becomes mundane and an unnecessary hurdle.
While i may regret not taking the chance later in life, i can always return as a tourist.
I think like a lot of things in life, the magic comes from interpretation, suspense and your own grasp on things.
A lot of my anxiety comes from influencers living my dream, yet it’s their ability to churn out content that i’m envious of, they just also happen to live in a very cool country.
What kind of content are you most interested in making yourself?
@@ExJapTer I enjoyed making vlogs and travel content, but as you say when looking behind the curtain the magic is lost, so these influencers are just putting on an act.
@@LukeE94
So you learn the language
Thank you for another insightful video
Glad you found it useful!
A story in regards to Japanese being detail oriented: We were leaving Japan (Japanese wife and I) to go back stateside and we were checking in our small dog and bags for the flight. My wife, being very detail oriented, had purchased a dog kennel that was advertised as being within flight measurements and we were able to come to JP with our dog. As our bags were being checked in for the return flight, an AP employee pulled out a tape measure and started measuring the kennel, eyeing hyper closely the measurements and starting shaking his head. Everything freakin stopped as all the employees sat watched this guy, who now seemed to wield the power on whether we could return home with our dog. This went on for about 10 minutes. My wife, being overly westernized, finally put a stop to it and shooed the busybody away.
ua-cam.com/video/H0d-fOjcJ64/v-deo.html
Now I'm a bit worried. I arrived in Japan about 18 months ago with my 5 lb. Yorkie who flew in-cabin with me. I'll be here another 2 years before returning home to Southern California, so I'm wondering what airline you flew back to the states. (I flew United because JAL and ANA do not allow pets in cabin).
@@mattsoca1 United. I think if you are forthright and tell them this is a Kennel within official measurements, they will back off.
@@zmanthemercenary5378 Thanks. I'm also somewhat obsessive compulsive and quite detail oriented. I only use a Sherpa Pet Carrier (I even always carry a new unused spare in my luggage should the one I'm using fail) that is presumably the only pet carrier with a guarantee that it is acceptable with airlines allowing a pet in-cabin. Plus, the model I use is apparently endorsed by Delta Airlines, with their name stamped on the outside of the bag. I don't like taking chances where my yorkie is concerned. So, I will also print out both the official pages from the airline specifying acceptable measurements and the dimension details from Sherpa, then pull it out should I run into an officious airline employee.
Really awesome video. I really enjoyed the topic, well covered and amazing background 🙏
Thank you for watching and the kind comment!
All very good stuff in this video, but the MY JAPAN part ... that really struck me (I wonder if you could do a web-series, sort of a drama-comedy, based around the idea). I'm planning to visit Japan this November, for the first time, so I'll see what My Japan looks like ... for a little while anyway. Thank you for taking the time to make the video. I've subscribed and am looking forward to watching your other videos.
MY JAPAN is definitely a source of constant inspiration - Japan lovers want to prove their love is special and that their experiences prove their love and understanding. And the cool (funny?) thing is the fact it has history and a certain gravitas. You would be hard pressed to find an old-timer here who hasn't experienced this phenomena or witnessed its' manifestations.
I once commented on a 'famous' Japan youtubers video implying that I had had a similar experience as well, and got a really passive aggressive and snarky reply. MY JAPAN is alive and well even amongst those who should know better... ;)
I'm moving to Japan from Hawaii on July 15. Love the insight.
Best of luck! Coming from Hawaii, you are probably more familiar with Japanese culture than most.
i've been in japan for 15 years. the only foreigners i talk to in japan nowadays are colleagues or ex-colleagues who have been in the country for about as long as i have. other than that i don't think i've met any new foreigners who are fresh off the boat anymore. the novelty factor with me wore off long ago. i'm still living here mainly out of convenience and because japan is still safe and clean, despite all its shortcomings.
This is true as well, I rarely meet new residents anymore due to the circles I spend time in. Far more likely is a long termer who decides to leave Japan. Lost a few too many friends to this. (Remote communication just isn't the same as seeing them, of course.)
@@ExJapTer good points. Ironically, everything was reversed when i was a uni student in japan. Almost all my friends were japanese and very few were foreigners because they would eventually all go back home after 1-2 semesters, so i didn't spend much time befriending them
@@lullemans72 I was lucky in that many of the foreigners I met as a JET ended up staying long term as well, so the friendships lasted. Must be something in that Mt. Fuji water...😂
@@ExJapTer nice, glad to hear that. Are you based around yamanashi prefecturei or something?
@@missplainjane3905 come again?
Thanks for spelling out the exact same (ir)rational fears with the tax office! LOL
Always appreciate your nuanced perspective!
Hopefully irrational. Thanks for the comment!
Great Video! 👍 may I ask if Kanji name that you are getting is based on your personal priorities and your character that Japanese people gave you or you decide about it?Thank you so much❤
If you take a Japanese family name, it needs to be a real existing name. For example, if I became a citizen the easiest thing would be to take my wife's name. First names can be much more creative, but they still must follow some rules.
In over 40 years here, I've never had a problem writing my name in katakana, or very occasionally in hiragana, on a Japanese form. However, I often have problems trying to fit my long Kyoto address onto American online forms.
I have rarely had trouble writing on forms either, the issue really arises with what websites often allow. For whatever reason, the problem arises most when I have tried to order shoes from small business retailers. But, at least when it's a simple business transaction I don't have to worry about using my middle name!
From Yusho(twilight) bridge to Seto(cove gate) bridge along Hirakata(calm cove) bay Paul is walking. Some fishing boats, and some pleasure boats are moored. We can enjoy the appearance of the top of Mr Fuji far behind the hills near here. Some high school baseball boys practice running through besides him. 9:50~ You can see the black car left side of this movie. There is a monument near the tree. It was built for the Meiji constitution compiled by Hirofumi Ito who is the first prime minister of JAPAN. In early Meiji era, 1860~1880 in this area both Japanese and western important persons visited. Now Paul is walking. PEACE❤
I need you to walk along with me and narrate!
Ha, ha! Thanks for your reply❤ I’m just a native kanazawan. My ancestors were raised up where you walk around. I’m very much surprised you walk around my hometown and give lectures on Japan at the same time. Maybe I can run into you someday. Peace ✌️
I’ve lived in Japan most of my life. I would say the tile on this video is basically me 😂. People I have known who travel to Japan for some particular reason, anime, martial arts and recently Akiya tend to leave quite quickly- the reason being that they aren’t in Japan because their life is here, it’s more of a fetishized reason that tends to wane. I’ve stayed in Japan basically because my life is here- my friends, family, work and personal history.
I think that is the case for a lot of people. Yet, it's hard to put a finger on exactly why some people stay and some people don't. There are a few things that seem consistently true, for instance, if you are miserable and move to Japan, you will probably remain miserable just with a change of scenery. But I also know people here who did come for the sake of a hobby and ended up staying for the long term.
I have had this conversation with a number of people, and there always seems to be disagreement when it comes to trying to make generalizations.
@@ExJapTer Yes I see what you mean. It may very well come down to the individual
I've visited japan 7 times. Each time 10 days at least. This time I will be here for 3 months. And yes, no more excitement and romantic bubble. Just pleasant and normal.
That actually seems a bit unfortunate tbh. The romantic phase is kinda nice while it lasts.
I really enjoyed watching this video, and also your earlier one on overtourism. I spent 37 years in Japan, 2/3 of my life at the time, up to 2021 when I moved back to NZ, so a lot of what you said clicked. People would say to me, "Being so long in Japan, you must like the place" but after 15 or 20 years (I forget when now), my answer would be more like, "I don't know now. It's not a matter of liking Japan or not; it's just home."
The other point you brought up, names on forms, well that is a pet peeve of mine. There are so many problems tied up in this. In Rōmaji or Katakana; Surname first or given name first; Need to write middle name or not; Can only Katakana be written without Kanji; and of course the last one, is there enough space provided? This all differs depending upon company, and also governmental organization. I tried to register an ownership deed for the condo that I had bought in Sendai, thinking that the name as shown on my passport is official, but the Judicial Affairs Office (Hōmukyoku) rang me a few days later to say that they could not accept Rōmaji.
The other one is signing documents. I have been asked to sign documents again with a signature that is legible. Illegible signatures are not acceptable in many cases.
Yes, it really is a pain. Many times people have told me to leave out my middle name, and then called me up a day later to say "Yahari...." If some other form doesn't match the name on your bank book....forgetaboutit. I am used to it, but it isn't any less annoying.
@@missplainjane3905Boring.
@@jw841
In what way
Visiting Japan in 2015 and 2016 with my Son,I finally was Left on my Own for over 2 months,from January till March,that year.I was Completely on my Own and back home I realised that all that 3 Phases what foreigners go through: Honeymoon,Complane,and Accept: I running very Intensely through in that short period of time, because I was Completely on my Own.❤ Thank you very much for your Work.
The stages of culture shock are pretty well represented in most peoples experiences here. Too bad honeymoon cant last forever!
I completely agree that the shine most certainly wears off and you just adapt.
The weird thing is that, like you said about the complaints, I feel that the "complaints" we still have - while not identical - would be round about the same volume of complaints we had living wherever we were before this.
For example. I was born and raised (for the most part) in Southern California. I certainly had my complaints about SoCal people and SoCal culture and a whole list of junk I didn't like, because no place is perfect.
I have about the same number of complaints living here. This, as you said, just became home. The complaints aren't registered in some "ah, the odd foreign land!" bank. It's now just my home and I love it and hate it about as much as I ever loved/hated living in California. The complaints just have a different flavor now.
PS - I'm with you on the train. If no one wants to sit next to me, I get to man spread with zero feelings of guilt :)
Right - it just becomes home. No different than if I had moved from Wisconsin to New Mexico, it just becomes your normal existence. Some might think that moving to Japan would change that dynamic, and while it may take longer for everything to become normal (compared to New Mexico), it will still do so in the end.
Nice thoughts as always.
The gushing about Japan (both online and 'my japan') is always kinda funny. As you note in the video, eventually the country stops being special and simply becomes normal, as you would view your own home country/home area (etc). Japan seems to be the only country with such gushers, I really don't think I've seen as much 'gushing' for any other country but Japan. Even this small channel's success piggybacks off of general 'gushing' for Japan, I doubt you would've gained as much traction if you were a long-term foreign resident of another country.
I suppose then the interesting question is why is Japan so 'gushed' over vs. literally any other country, though technically it's a unique country in various ways. Is it soft-power (anime media, etc.) that makes people interested in the country? It seems like Japanese media has slowly been gaining traction these past 10 years in the West (anime, etc.), that may be helping generate interest in Japan over any other country. Or maybe simply it's because it's an eastern country which is very different to what we Westerners would consider normal (I say this as an American, though I know that English speakers are a diverse audience globally).
Either way, that's how it is.
That is a really good point. There is a wider fascination with Japan that I agree helps bring viewers to my channel that wouldn't happen if I were living in, say, France, or Australia. This channel is super niche so I have no expectations that it will ever grow really big (since I will never do videos like "5 things to do in Shinjuku" to capture the tourist boom). But even so - clearly people show up here "Because Japan".
That said, I think there are some countries other than Japan where youtubers can get the same boost - for example, the youtuber that inspired me to start my channel was doing this in China, and he had a quite successful run.
Perhaps I am completely out of my mind, but I feel that the Japanese visual aesthetic is more profound than most, if not all Asian countries, excepting perhaps China. Van Gogh, Frank Lloyd Wright and other western masters have long recognized Japan's sophistication. Anime' came from Manga; Manga grew out from the Japanese woodblock. And Mt. Fuji is arguably one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Many westerners have copied Japanese gardens. Minimalism and elegance resonate deeply in all humans.
Because since post-modernity and a globalised urban culture. The world has become kinda boring. I travel a lot for a living and most cities once you get past the touristy bits are all the same and people generally all do they same stuff. Almost no point in travelling anymore. Japan is still interesting because alot of the premodernity culture still exists. Where the old is mixed with the new. This holds a lot of fascination to westerners who have all but disregarded their own history, culture and identity. Also Japan is interesting just as a island nation with great scenery and wildlife. I've lived in Japan over twenty years and I'm still not bored. But then again I'm a high earner with more free time than most. I also made it a point never to work for a Japanese company as that is almost guaranteed to keep you poor and stressed in Japan.
There is an expression, "Familiarity breeds contempt". That's not to say I, or you, have contempt for Japan. What I'm saying is that when one immerses in a new environment, there is, initially, some level of 'culture shock', both 'good' and 'bad'. Over time, one gets used to the new environment and, for that matter, the new environment gets used to you. When I graduated from grad school, many years ago, I moved from Kansas to Arizona. At first it was "Ah, palm trees! Ah, mountains! Ah, deserts! Ah, no snow at Christmas Ah, the summer heat is deadly! Ah, the cacti are sharp!". It didn't take too long, though, for those 'novelties' and 'disappointments' to become commonplace and mostly accepted. I also adapted and changed from being the 'newbie' to the 'seasoned resident'. Of course 'MY ARIZONA', was different than anyone else's.
I can't say that I'm either a long-term or short-term resident of Japan, yet. I've been studying Japanese since August of 2022, although I still feel like a newbie. I guess MY JAPAN is currently my language studies and enjoying great UA-cam videos like yours! どもありがてうございました！
There is a side of me that still wants to have a really out of the way and unique experience here in Japan, but now it's more for the richness of the memories than wanting to be "special" somehow.
@@ExJapTer Ah! That is the desire for 'adventure'. That is something that seems to be bred into us Westerners. Adventure can be obtained in many ways, with variant intensities, in one's life. Taking 'the road less traveled', whatever that 'road' is, leads to some sort of adventure.
@@maccody8022 ua-cam.com/video/H0d-fOjcJ64/v-deo.html
I usually just write my name up to however much characters the form support, and if it truncates, it truncates. Some also don't support spaces in names, but wordsstickingtogetherisn'tabigdeal also.
I guess I got used to it too fast, but then I also didn't came from as far away as the West.
I have had too many mishaps happen due to name mismatch that it has made me paranoid...
@@ExJapTer that's unfortunate... Maybe by me coming later Japan also grown less sensitive to name mismatches
I never watch Anime or read Newspapers about Japan. Visiting so many Countries i do Admit: Japan is Unique.Its Values ...and Philosophy made it so Unique .( Just my own opinion:).Its tranfered and adopted till now in daily life and strongly remain there.❤Thanks
@@missplainjane3905 edo
Art.Daily life of that period.
@@missplainjane3905 Ainu. Geisha's.Art so calligraphy. Music.
But if you disagree,it seems you are very critical about Japan in many concepts .
@@missplainjane3905 you country so political,economical ,cultural so demographic weather in it seems be better I'm not trying to convince you.Thank you.
@@missplainjane3905 you are not asking the questions,if you know the Answears
Why is the open spot right next to me in the sauna so unlike the open spot next to me on the train???
I am not sure what you mean...
in 30+ years here, I have NEVER experienced empty-seat-syndrome.... in fact, people often speak to me, on trains, or anywhere. must be my magnetic personality LOL. one thought on 'the syndrome' though.... I see A LOT of foreigners, not least the obviously resident ones, who are walking about frowning or scowling (at nothing or no-one in particular).... my guess is that many are just stressed from living in an 'alien' culture, not really assimilated..... and it shows. when I encounter people like that, even I find it disconcerting.
There might be something to that, and I have found that people sit next to me more readily when I am wearing casual clothes rather than my work attire.
I just assume they are intimidated by my dashing good looks! (lol)
Why not adopt a Japanese name. Many people people adapt or outright change their names when moving to foreign countries.
As someone in his same position, 1 - that is an incredibly long and complicated legal process that would require us to complete the paperwork with the US in order to get our passport name legally changed because, as he pointed out, all your legal documents in Japan need to match your legal documents in the US. 2 - Cultures and countries where names are Romanized (meaning, using the roman alphabet) might be one thing. Doing that with Kanji is a different level of attempting to adapt. The few people I know that have done that have always had a reputation both among the foreign residents (meaning the non-Japanese people) and the Japanese people as a going a bit overboard in trying to "assimilate". In other words, they end up becoming part of neither tribe - accepted for that action neither by the Japanese people, nor the foreigners. Long story long: it's more problematic than it's worth.
I think in some countries you can legally register a version of your name and just use that, but in Japan it has to be what is on your passport, so as stoneblack says, I would have to legally change my name in the US first. No way am I going to go through that hassle just to buy some sneakers online.
I also feel most long-term residents are married to a Japanese national compared to short termers so that adds to a different mindset. You are lucky you have an American name, just think how it must be for the people from Eastern European and Russia. LOL
ua-cam.com/video/H0d-fOjcJ64/v-deo.html
Difference ?
@@missplainjane3905 When you are married to a Japanese, they can handle a lot of the bureaucracy, get past the foreigner biases. you don't need to use Google translate for everything compared to a same nationality couple or a single person.
@@Mwoods2272
I think it depends on the individual.
@@missplainjane3905 You can that anything and everything.
Political and demographic changes in the West finally reach Japan.I do hope that Japanese Society will remain their Own Religion.So us Culture. I do hope they remain Strongly against those changes that Western Societies go through.❤
Can you be more specific?
@@ExJapTer I mean Only one religion in particular,what many Japanese start to converted into it lately....I can't be more specific.(Wimen more than Man). THANKS 👍🙏
@@elenakursteiner4729 You don't know the real Japan and Japan is not becoming the west.
@@23Lgirl nonsense keep for your self,please
@@elenakursteiner4729 You clearly a troll.