Why foreigners FLEE from living in Japan

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  • čas pƙidĂĄn 26. 01. 2023
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    Hello everyone! Some of you probably have a dream of one day moving to Japan and living here for the rest of your life, or at least for the foreseeable future. I’ve met many foreigners who move to Japan with the same dream, but were so excited to leave after a short time living here.So why do most of them LEAVE Japan??
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Komentáƙe • 1,1K

  • @MrsEats
    @MrsEats  Pƙed rokem +61

    Try Rosetta Stone free and save BIG on lifetime plans! tryrosettastone.com/mrseats-1
    For only $179 (down from $299), unlimited access to all 24 languages, and a free 30 day trial, you'll definitely hit your language goals this year!
    We're so excited to be back! What reasons do you think would make you want to leave Japan?

    • @screwthenet
      @screwthenet Pƙed rokem

      OUr state department, like most of our country here in America is DUUUUUMB. take what they say as their categorizations of languages based on difficulty to learn with a "grain of salt" lol Good video.

    • @Doppelsoeldner
      @Doppelsoeldner Pƙed rokem

      What would make me want to leave japan? Short answer: If I can't find a worthy opponent for 1on1 Kancho Deathmatches anymore.....just thinking about that makes me sad.
      - thank you for your great content! かたじけăȘă„ïŒă€‚

    • @bx895
      @bx895 Pƙed rokem +1

      Rosetta Stone hasn't figured out how to teach language in decades. Never rely on the government to tell you what is best..

    • @SLOBeachboy
      @SLOBeachboy Pƙed rokem

      All I can say is it sounds like English teacher’s salaries have dropped dramatically since I lived there in the 80’s and 90’s. After all, before I left I was making the equivalent of about 60 dollars an hour in today’s money as an English teacher in Tokyo.
      As for not being able to make friends before learning Japanese I would completely disagree with this. I made a ton of Japanese friends in Tokyo before I learned the Language - not to mention all the western friends I made. I would also disagree that the spoken language is particularly difficult for Westerners to learn. I think the reason that it is ranked amongst the most difficult languages to learn is because they are including the written language.
      As for why I ultimately left Japan, there are basically two reasons. The first reason is that the economic bubble had burst and even my School, which was the second largest in Japan, was laying off the experienced teachers right and left and hiring new inexperienced teacher at lower salaries to replace them. They were also closing down some locations. Anyway, I saw the writing on the wall and I figured it was a good time to go home. The second reason was the awful weather. Being from Southern California I’m just very spoiled when it comes to having nice weather all the time, but in Japan its always either to cold, to wet, or too hot and humid. In fact, October and April are about the only two months of the year with pleasant weather. Also, the previous year we had had record rainfall totals. Those were still some of the best years of my life however and I was glad that I was able to live there during what I consider to be the best years to be a Westerner in Japan.

    • @The_Gallowglass
      @The_Gallowglass Pƙed rokem

      "Japanese companies value loyalty but they aren't loyal to you--aka they won't pay you well."

  • @FSAPOJake
    @FSAPOJake Pƙed rokem +501

    Japan has so much going for it. But the extremely toxic work culture and limited space along with culture shock in general is a big wake-up call for foreigners that want to move there.

    • @scintillam_dei
      @scintillam_dei Pƙed rokem

      Darwin wanted all Japanese people exterminated. I plan a video on that.

    • @TsugMt
      @TsugMt Pƙed rokem +54

      But for us people that for example come from even more toxic working cultures and limited space (due to violence and poverty in big part) like Mexico, it oddly enoigh can be a game chamger for us and a country that has waaay better quality of life haha

    • @kawaiidoll4
      @kawaiidoll4 Pƙed rokem +29

      True but most foreigners who move to Japan don’t go there to work in the normal jobs lol they usually do social media, modeling etc which gets them their main income

    • @victoriazero8869
      @victoriazero8869 Pƙed rokem +1

      I think there's no such thing as toxic-free work culture, as capitalism is inescapable even in communist countries. It's just a matter of picking yer poison. Adopt and adapt.

    • @elizebeths.8880
      @elizebeths.8880 Pƙed rokem +22

      @@kawaiidoll4
      Even "normal" jobs aren't the only ones there naturally. Craftsmen do make a living. If you do translating on the side, you could pursue art as a career much more realistically than in other countries like the US. I plan on apprenticing in an art there after solidifying a translation degree. It'll be a bit (time and study,) but that's what I truly wish to become.
      My country disses art at a career level, and Japan sees the importance of it continuing as a career.

  • @brunoyudi9555
    @brunoyudi9555 Pƙed rokem +318

    can`t speak for other foreigners, but for ME it was because of the work culture in Japan.
    i used to work on a bentoya factory while studying Japanese AND art, i had to work between 10 to 12 hours a day, every day, pushing a +100kg cart full of rice, standing, with a single break and no resting time, and once a week i was obligated to work from 2 to 4 hours of overtime.
    At first you think you can manage things through, but this routine slowly starts to erode your mental health, by the end i was having heavy panic attacks from the amount of caffeine and lack of sleep

    • @gary9933
      @gary9933 Pƙed rokem +34

      No moderation. And imagine doing this for 40 years and having some sort of retirement on the super low pay with 62000 yen a month nenkin..no chance.

    • @brunoyudi9555
      @brunoyudi9555 Pƙed rokem +36

      @@ii4826 its not that easy because for many factory workers the company owns the apartment you live in, so you better be sure you already got another job set in or an apartment for yourself, and for many gaijin is hard getting a job outside of factory work because of prejudice

    • @bigguy7353
      @bigguy7353 Pƙed rokem

      The caffeine wasn't needed. Dozens of studies show it dehydrates you and tires you out quicker.

    • @o0hotoko0o
      @o0hotoko0o Pƙed rokem +30

      That's one of many reasons why the suicide rate in Japan is so high. I mean they have a whole forrest unintendedly dedicated to it. Theres lots of good in that country, but like with everywhere else in the world, there's bad too.

    • @brunoyudi9555
      @brunoyudi9555 Pƙed rokem +4

      @@bigguy7353 the long term effects wasn't much of my concern at the time, the only thing that mattered was staying awake and alert enough to keep up with studies

  • @gundampharmacist7348
    @gundampharmacist7348 Pƙed rokem +549

    Lived in Japan for four months in Osaka prefecture as part of a study abroad program, and I have to say, yes, while Japan does have an issue of earning a lot less than someone in America might, the disparity between what it means to be poor in Japan and poor in America cannot be denied. Having even a poor wage in Japan still means being able to afford an apartment, afford public transit, afford food, all the necessities and being able to get by even with a couple hobbies frugally, and hopefully have a career path you won’t have to upend your life every couple years to get ahead. I won’t lie, you won’t bring in the big bucks, but it’s very easy to live within your means in Japan.
    Being poor in America depends on what part of America you’re in, BUT from where I live, it means being priced out of studio apartments, it means having to constantly shift living circumstances whenever you need a new job, it means living on government and/or family assistance, it means needing a bloody car to get everywhere, it means living on a knife’s edge whether or not you can pay the bills. Sure, you might get ahead, but it’s just as likely for someone in the situation I’m describing to be trapped in that situation with no chance of upward mobility.
    If you want to live an opulent, rich, wealthy lifestyle, you’ll likely have a better chance as a non-native Japanese in America. However, if you’re just looking for a decent, humble but dignified living, then IMHO you’re way better off financially in Japan than America - especially if you’re able to work for a multinational company or an organization that pays you in dollars instead of yen.

    • @jessip8654
      @jessip8654 Pƙed rokem +101

      Also, the fact that you can get healthy, tasty, high quality meals out of any Japanese convenience store for like three bucks is huge. Here in North America, our low income food choices are basically greasy, sugar dense, deep fried, nutrient deprived garbage.

    • @peterzheng1068
      @peterzheng1068 Pƙed rokem +39

      Yeah we must take the cost of living into consideration too, and they are often higher in western countries where you can earn more.
      After everything is calculated, the "pay cut" might not seem as bad as it initially appears. Things balance out a bit.

    • @sekaijin8193
      @sekaijin8193 Pƙed rokem +19

      Earning in dollars in Japan instead of yen? That sounds nice but I think I have a better chance of getting hit by a wild boar like in the video 😆

    • @bigguy7353
      @bigguy7353 Pƙed rokem

      Because Japan isn't run by globalist and socialist scumbags.

    • @toodleloos
      @toodleloos Pƙed rokem +22

      yea being a minimum wage worker in america now is barely enough to find you housing, and if you get sick, say goodbye to housing!

  • @Mimi-mx4sk
    @Mimi-mx4sk Pƙed rokem +292

    I have lived in several countries, but when I lived in Japan I felt so incredible lonely. I had friends, but once there is conflict, Japanese people ghost you, instead to talk about the issue. The pressure about a good reputation, can make you sick. I was excluded from social events, because I was "a Gaijin".
    I worked 12+ hours on heals, whilst the male coworkers where allowed to wear comfortable shoes. A person tried to cut my blond hair in a train. Somehow my boobs were touched on a busy train ride (several times). I also got followed a lot.
    I had a lot of positiv experience as well. But the constant pressure of a good reputation, overtime, loneliness made me move. My mental health improved so much.

    • @lifeinjapan1592
      @lifeinjapan1592 Pƙed rokem +34

      I was born somewhere else, but I was kind of raised in Japan too. I am fluent in Japanese. I also feel the same with Japanese people. Although this varies by prefecture and region but I also have experienced same thing. I don’t have a friend. It was all good till elementary school, but when I came back to enroll in technical school, I experience the same ghosting stuff. I can’t think of any reason for them to do so neither I have asked any other Japanese about this, but gaijin gets excluded in Japan, whether be a small talk of 2-3 people in group or a large event

    • @rabbit251
      @rabbit251 Pƙed rokem +32

      I've lived in Japan for 20 years. After this time, I have only 1 close Japanese friend.

    • @madmax8620
      @madmax8620 Pƙed rokem +2

      So you were ignored and lonely...YET you were touched and followed... so which was it then ?!?? whatever, liar .

    • @trinity4827
      @trinity4827 Pƙed rokem +61

      @@madmax8620 Never heard of sexual harassment? It is quite common unfortunately in Japan, there is a creep culture out there.

    • @sachikoiwamoto6366
      @sachikoiwamoto6366 Pƙed rokem +21

      That's not because you are a Gaijin. These are the things we Japanese also face every day in this society. I lived in several Asian countries. I had friends there, but once there was conflict, they left me out and backstabbed me without asking for my explanation. It wasn't because I was a gaijin there.

  • @TZMurakumo
    @TZMurakumo Pƙed rokem +54

    As someone about to leave Japan after 14 years here, if I can make a couple of additions:
    - Onerous amounts of paperwork
    - Contingent employment (not special to Japan within education, but massively growing within Japanese society as a huge portion of people are limited contract employees)
    - Bureaucracy (and its unproductive work)
    ... which leads to a focus on working hard (often through deliberately making the work more arduous and less efficient) over efficacy
    - The lost decades (3 going on 4 now) in which wages haven't risen and the yen is becoming weaker, meaning it falls farther and farther behind costs to travel/visit other places (home and family in my case) over time
    - Intransigence in the face of change and a lack of agility in business and education (cannot react in time to changes)
    - Vertical hierarchical structures that remove agency from many people
    - Rules often supersede ethics and moral action or outcomes in helping others (and thus politeness is often confused with kindness; though there are many kind people too)... part of this is an avoidance of culpability (see the following point) and people avoiding taking responsibility for making a decision, ("*I* wasn't an asshole--it was the rule. You can't blame me for following a bad rule... in fact, I was a good person because I followed the rule, even if it was obvious bad or injurious to others")... While this can also be seen in foreign businesses too, it is likely more widespread here, and part of this avoidance of taking responsibility for a decision is slow and ineffective decision by committee (my father had to deal with this for years at his engineering firm in the states and it drove him mad... we obviously see this often in politics as well, whether in the US or Japan).
    - Cultural focus on prevention regulatory focus (avoiding "misses" rather than seeking hits) that often selects against those with a promotion regulatory focus (Avoiding errors of omission rather than avoiding all "mistakes") to the extent that many people, businesses, or other institutions are so afraid of making an error that they don't try, thereby guaranteeing their eventual failure (I have seen this many times with language students who don't feel confident enough to try using their English and practice it, and so never get the practice and natural feedback to build the skill, thus leading to their inability to pass an exit exam at the end of their studies as English majors at the end of 4 years at a university... the same concept applies to many other places and interactions).
    There are many things I love about Japan, and I don't mean to complain for the sake of complaint, but see myself as a "defensive pessimist," which really means an optimist at heart, who wants to see actual improvements through identifying issues in the hopes that things can be improved--if you can't identify the correct problem, there's no hope in finding the appropriate solution (e.g. The gov needs to take economic and social considerations, lack of daycare access, etc. into account in figuring out ways to get people to have more children, rather then just yelling at them that it's their duty, "women are baby making machines," and hey young people, go get drunk more to support our taxes on alcohol to take care of our old people. If you don't address the pain points for people who would potentially want to have kids but feel it's not a viable option for them, then you aren't going to get them to bite the bullet and make the decision; or if they do make that decision despite lack of support and viability, you're going to see a less healthy populous and [even] more childhood poverty.)
    There was a generation of critical thinkers who proved to be a thorn in the side of established, old guard politicians (Japanese university riots in the late 60s), but they were stamped down incredibly hard and later, there was subsequently a new focus on "moral education" in schools with a strong focus on respecting authority and positions of power rather than critically questioning... and after decades of this we see a society and higher education system which on the surface recognizes in some areas they need more creative and critical thinking, and wondering how to engender it while failing to observe that there was a whole system dedicated to educating young people out of it during their formative years. =/
    In the end, my decision to move back is grounded in the feeling that there is no opportunity left to make any meaningful difference in my work, and that given, I don't have enough close friendships or family here--meaningful the rest of life--to get me to stay (in part because of, again, the limited contracts and musical chairs that keep shuffling university educators around to different institutions so I am separated from the people I become close to every few years). Staying in Japan does not feel like it will lead to a meaningful life for me out here, and as time goes on, increasingly precludes my ability to spend meaningful time back home with friends and family as the economy and pay fails to move (over 3 decades now) whilst the yen weakens. I simply can't afford to visit back on breaks regularly anymore, even before trying to do something like amass some savings (and this all without having to pay for a family/children).
    There are so many things I love about Japan, too, and so I really hope it will see some productive change in the future. For now, I feel like I need to get on with my life instead of wasting it out here in limbo. I'll probably come back to experience some of the things I love, but it'll be as a tourist sometime out in the future. =/

    • @narugi93
      @narugi93 Pƙed rokem +5

      Thank you very much for your comment. I’m also living in Japan and have been thinking about going back.

    • @TZMurakumo
      @TZMurakumo Pƙed rokem +4

      The best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do! \o/
      I'm currently 3 weeks out from my move and trying to sell of things and take care of all the paperwork, etc. is pretty stressful and dominating my life right now, lol.
      I'm going to be poor AF when I move back, but if I can crawl through the dark tunnel of that transition, I'll have more health, a career where I can help people with meaningful progression, a lot more financial stability, and proximity to friends, family, and other supports.
      Deciding to move back can be a lot of work, but again, whatever you decide, I wish you a fruitful journey!

    • @infinitecurlie
      @infinitecurlie Pƙed rokem +2

      I feel you. For a long time until recently I wanted to really learn Japanese and tried to keep up with Japanese culture, folklore, traditions, etc but...Some things I just can't especially when it comes to the sexism (I'm a woman and already feel unsafe in the US) or as an outsider looking in how I can see that there are a lot of problems in Japan (such as the aging population) that the government and many of it's people seem unwilling to talk about and fix which will only make the problem worse and it's not going to be worked on until it's too late (if they even work on it then).
      It's really disheartening. I thought about how great it would be to try to get a job at Nintendo or try Nintendo Of America but now I'm just like I think I'll just go as a tourist lol.

    • @TZMurakumo
      @TZMurakumo Pƙed rokem +3

      @@infinitecurlie
      I'm back on the US side now, and I feel so much less stressed. It's a new adventure about to begin, and even though I feel like I'm restarting near the bottom with a new career, I'm excited because there is opportunity for growth. When I left Japan, it felt like being in an RPG stuck in a zone where the mobs give little money for gear and no exp. Now it's like being back in a new zone that is much harder, and I don't have enough gold for everything, but there's a range of quests and mob levels that allows me to be excited to move forward again!
      There is certainly more sexism embedded in the workplace in Japan, and sexual harassment is certainly a thing, but I think violent crime is lower at least, so hopefully you wouldn't need to feel that unsafe, say, walking around in the evening as a woman, so it's kind of a mixed bag; maybe worse in companies but better outside alone. I'm not sure which is better or worse, and I wish these weren't issues people needed to deal with--it's like trying to pick the least sad of a couple bad options. T_T
      I'm in the same boat with going as a tourist. I think if I visit every once in a while, I can enjoy all the things I love and miss about Japan without the frustrations I had living there for such a long time. Japan can be a great place to visit, especially if you know the language and systems to an extent.
      If you're a fellow Washingtonian or Pacific Northwesterner, Nintendo of America is right over in Redmond, across the water from Seattle, next to DigiPen, and not far Microsoft Xbox group stuff. I've known a number of people who worked at Nintendo over the years, and I think most of them were pretty satisfied with it overall.

    • @yoon2519
      @yoon2519 Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci +1

      I agree. I love Japan and Japanese friends. But I don't belong there. Now I'm happier living, working and dating in Korea. I'm happy about being myself. Best wishes for you in US!

  • @Spoon89803
    @Spoon89803 Pƙed rokem +20

    Japanese people genuinely like it when you make an effort to start a conversation with them when you’re speaking in Japanese, it’s not the rush hour period when people are headed for work or school, or when they aren’t tired after a long day of forcefully smiling at work; the best times are on weekends or during trips, made a lot of connections this way.

  • @hermeticbear
    @hermeticbear Pƙed rokem +425

    My bff lives in Tokyo. He's been there for over a decade. He was quite fluent in Japanese before moving there. He worked for many years at a company doing graphics for video games before leaving and joining a temp agency. Last year he came back to visit because he had gotten a job offer from one of his temp employers. From what I understand it has better pay and more benefits and it is because he has a high tech skill set for graphics design for video games that isn't common. He is pretty much the success story off all the reasons you listed . The only thing that sets him apart is that he looks foreign and is 6'4". He is a giant. Because he is fluent he has some hilarious stories of Japanese people making rude comments about him within earshot which he waits until he is about to leave them and then says something to them in perfect Japanese. Every time the rude people turn deep crimson and usually run off.

    • @bigguy7353
      @bigguy7353 Pƙed rokem +21

      Try being 6'8". But I was just a tourist and usually became an attraction wherever I went. And I know enough Japanese to make it fun for them. Everyone wanted a picture with the American giant. You said he was fluent BEFORE moving there. Was he not AFTER? That was confusing.

    • @jlife9092
      @jlife9092 Pƙed rokem +32

      @@bigguy7353 I think he meant to say '... ALREADY fluent before moving there.'

    • @ChickensAndGardening
      @ChickensAndGardening Pƙed rokem +1

      But there are tall Japanese these days, are there not? I have heard there are (or were, 20-30 years back) lots of young guys over 6' tall. But maybe not the majority.

    • @edamameme1789
      @edamameme1789 Pƙed rokem +17

      @@ChickensAndGardening very few. If you're 6 ft or above, you can spot each other across the Shibuya crossing and wave because the rest of the crowd is several feet below you. lol (avg women height is 4 ft 9 if i remember correctly)

    • @xOmniCloudx
      @xOmniCloudx Pƙed rokem +10

      @@edamameme1789 Average is 5'2 but 4'9 is not rare either. Also at 5'11 same thing happened. I would say 5'10 and above gets you that experience in Japan

  • @irregularmana6216
    @irregularmana6216 Pƙed rokem +15

    I worked with a guy who knew Japanese, lived there for 2 years. He said you either fall in love with it or the constant "gaijin this or that" gets to you and you want to leave asap.

  • @POTATOSOOPS
    @POTATOSOOPS Pƙed rokem +21

    Because the work culture is soul crushing, the social system is soul crushing, the legal system is soul crushing. I didn't move to Japan because I had a dream to, but it just happened. And after many years of living in Japan, I had to leave, because it was killing me. It was destroying my mental health.

    • @pachjo123
      @pachjo123 Pƙed rokem +3

      Glad I am not alone in this the work culture is the worst I have ever experienced and is extremely unprofessional it’s getting worse to nearly every job requires native language skills and most companies are no longer hiring foreigners even if you know the language. Because of Covid the racism and xenophobia has gotten significantly worse in the last 2 years and from a business perspective we just do business better than everyone else and why everyone is leaving I can do the same job in usa for 60% more money and not have the power abuse micromanagement crap on top of everything else it gets mentally exhausting after a few years and it gets to everyone at some point. Including being freezing cold in my own home or boiling hot in the summer because of terrible construction. Mike Holmes would have a field day in Tokyo and honestly the Japanese government should hire him as a consultant to show the Japanese how to build energy efficient safe homes that can last for decades

    • @alexandrebenois7962
      @alexandrebenois7962 Pƙed 2 měsĂ­ci

      @@pachjo123 You lived in Japan, but you don`t think about the humidity nor earthquakes.

  • @JustEndah
    @JustEndah Pƙed rokem +35

    My family and I moved to Tokyo in 2010.
    Because I am a peaceful introvert, Tokyo is paradise for me.
    I have lived and been to several countries in four continents, but Tokyo is where I feel home.
    I looove Japan and its people. ❀❀❀

  • @FSAPOJake
    @FSAPOJake Pƙed rokem +96

    "Japanese people learn English in school! But most of them forget it within a few years of graduating"
    That's basically how it is for American kids learning French or Spanish in middle and high school. The way foreign languages are taught here is archaic and needs to be changed.
    I forgot basically all of the French I learned in middle and high school... That's 4-5 consecutive years of French classes. Meanwhile, 7-8 years after I graduated, I spent a month doing Pimsleur and learned more French than I ever did in school and can speak it pretty well now (I continued to do Pimsleur after that and would practice with native speakers).
    So, basically, the grass can be the same color on both sides sometimes.

    • @Truecrimeresearcher224
      @Truecrimeresearcher224 Pƙed rokem +5

      The only thing I can remember in french is I don't speak french. 7-8 grade and a month in 9th and I was done. If they gave us a choice of a few languages to learn we might remember more

    • @zm6947
      @zm6947 Pƙed rokem +1

      Same, I studied French in high school but I forgot it all. If you don't keep using the language, you forget it eventually. I regret not choosing German instead. It would be more useful than French to me.

    • @kaakrepwhatever
      @kaakrepwhatever Pƙed rokem +1

      When I was substituting in public schools, I learned that American middle school students would sometimes say "I speak French" who had an hour of instruction once a week for a month.

    • @veladarney
      @veladarney Pƙed rokem +1

      It's pretty normal, though, to forget a foreign language you learned in school when you're not constantly using it. Same with me and French (I'm from Germany). Even took my Abitur in French. But since I never use it, my French skills these days are rudimentary at best (more like barely exsistent).

    • @blablup1214
      @blablup1214 Pƙed rokem +3

      The brain needs to be stimulatred like a muscle....
      Everything that is completly useless will be thrown away.
      It is completly normal that you forget about things that you didn't use for the last years....
      I think the basic problem with schools is that you don't learn the language because you need it.
      And for me as a Germany I didn't even learn the language because I wanted to. I had to learn 2 foreign languages to get my degree. My school offered only English and French. English is good. I need it everyday while surfing in the internet. But French , I just had to do it, although I would have prefered Spanish or Japanese or no third language at all....
      Although learning it for 5 years. I had not a single conversation on French. I also ever used French since leaving school....

  • @brianc21324
    @brianc21324 Pƙed rokem +16

    I lived in Japan for 2 years, I would say most foreigners leave because of the work culture. It can be extremely strict and you can be working for a black company (a highly corrupted company). Other than that Japan was a really great place to live.

    • @mr_ozzio5095
      @mr_ozzio5095 Pƙed rokem

      Apart from trying to rent anywhere, Japanese landlords mostly steer clear of Foreign tenantsâ˜č

  • @crowofcainhurst
    @crowofcainhurst Pƙed rokem +52

    I lived in tokyo for almost 2 years for work. As much as I love the country and how kind and polite everyone are, I just don't think I could ever feel the sense of belonging there. Definitely will go back for travelling but for another work opportunity? I'd think twice for that. Japan especially Tokyo is perfect for travelling but for work it can be depressing.

  • @DavidCruickshank
    @DavidCruickshank Pƙed rokem +15

    I always appreciate content that gives people a more realistic view of a subject. Keep up the awesome work!😀

  • @lordbafford640
    @lordbafford640 Pƙed rokem +26

    Imagine moving to Japan and fighting all the odds, earning good amount of money, finding true friendship, a safe place to live and you end up being effed by a wild boar who just doesn't like you 😭

  • @JenniferNg0529
    @JenniferNg0529 Pƙed rokem +39

    finally a new video! there wasn't a new video since october. i was really worried that something serious happened. i can't wait to see another hilarious and educational video about japan! mrs eats is the best!

  • @davler2000
    @davler2000 Pƙed rokem +9

    I guess I am the exception, ..I have Lived in Japan now for 12 years, from the moment I got off the plane, it felt more like home to me than the USA, and have been homesick for the USA for about 45 seconds in total.
    I went back to the USA for about 1/2 year about 9 years ago, and had reverse culture shock
and couldn’t wait to get back to Japan. The moment I got off the plane again, it was such a relief to hear the japanese announcements. And use my pasmo to buy a oolong tea from a vending machine.
    It was really awesome to see the clean streets, eat yakitori, and soba noodles. It felt so great to be in a place where it was the norm to “don’t make trouble for others”. It was really good feeling also, to ride on an on-time quiet train where every one was quiet, nobody talked on the phone, and minded their own business, and prioritized another’s needs over their own. I really missed seeing the clean and colorful construction equipment, and the hello kitty road barriers.
    I really enjoyed riding in a clean taxi, where the driver opened the door.:
    I have never had a teaching Job, but think it would be awesome to inspire Japanese young people to have confidence in themselves and not be worried if they can’t speak English all that well, after all, here is japan.
    Most everything that most foreigners hate about japan. Are the same things I like the most.

    • @avocado8952
      @avocado8952 Pƙed rokem +2

      You know your pension is going to be about 15% of your salary right? For a long term career I wouldn’t change the US for Japan.

    • @davler2000
      @davler2000 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@avocado8952 thanks for taking the time to comment, on my comment
 even so, I’ll take japan


    • @cristianhcm1914
      @cristianhcm1914 Pƙed rokem +1

      ..perfectly said my friend

  • @TroyBrophy
    @TroyBrophy Pƙed rokem +6

    I live in Japan. I have been trying to learn Japanese for a decade and still can't speak it and can only understand about 10% of what I hear (but I'm still trying). I'm an introvert most of the time, and I'm happy with just a few foreign friends to hang out with every once in a while. I bought a house on a mountain in Saga. I work remotely for a US company. I'm fine here and have no plans to leave.

    • @adamlee2550
      @adamlee2550 Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci +2

      Some people are better at being alone.
      If you are happy then I am happy for you.

    • @KantoCafe715
      @KantoCafe715 Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci +2

      Saga is absolutely gorgeous . I’d happily live there

  • @fosterfuchs
    @fosterfuchs Pƙed rokem +13

    Net payout isn't everything, compared to the U.S. Japan is a country with universal healthcare. In the U.S., even people with a well paid full-time job pay a lot for health insurance premiums. Iff they get seriously sick or injured, there are high out of pocket expenses that insurance doesn't cover. In some cases, people have gone bankrupt. Even with insurance.

    • @jamesp7399
      @jamesp7399 Pƙed rokem

      I pay very little for my insurance. It's about a 100 a month from my paycheck. It's Kaiser. Not a huge fan of some of the visit fees, but I know that I'm covered in the event of an emergency.
      It does suck that some people with expensive illnesses cap out their coverage, but for the majority it works well.

    • @randjgudel
      @randjgudel Pƙed rokem

      I can completely understand Mr Eats when talked about being a minority in a small American town. My family always referred to me as their little token (not trying to be mean as they were a bit ignorant back in the 70’s). I was adopted from S Korea in 75 and in our small town near Spokane Washington I was the token minority. My born and bread NY hubby had a rude awakening when we went back up their in that area a couple of years ago. I was still the only minority he saw for 2 weeks.
      I love watching the two you. You two are so cute together. ❀❀❀

  • @Tramelle
    @Tramelle Pƙed rokem +3

    You rock Mrs Eats! Keep up the great work!

  • @formershadow
    @formershadow Pƙed rokem +5

    Teaching English in Japan was soul-crushing. Yeah, I was in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, but I was broke. With that being said, I had health insurance and still got to travel a bit. But I was so depressed for so very long. I had to leave. I have a skill set that, while it isn't that specialized, I can make more and be comfortable even in a larger city like Los Angeles or NYC as long as I am not too close to the city center. I wouldn't say I like teaching, and that is the only visa that you can get for Japan with relative ease.

  • @onhian
    @onhian Pƙed rokem +5

    You guys are my favorite youtube couple. Keep up the amazing work, i've been binge watching your videos đŸ˜”â€đŸ’« very funny, informative and entertaining 🙂

  • @limelight58able
    @limelight58able Pƙed rokem +2

    New video! This is one of my favorite Japanese CZcams channels! Thanks for the content, Mrs. (and Mr.) Eats! 😊

  • @mgrzx3367
    @mgrzx3367 Pƙed rokem

    thank you so much, this was so nice to hear. Arigatou🌾

  • @Sxomie
    @Sxomie Pƙed rokem +4

    My parents and I have visited Japan 4 times and I loved it!

  • @JavaPROx
    @JavaPROx Pƙed rokem +3

    I love your videos! I'm making my second trip to Japan in a couple of weeks!! I went last week it was so much fun. I can't wait to go back!

  • @splicer0
    @splicer0 Pƙed 4 měsĂ­ci +1

    All of those things with people not interrupting others sounds wonderful. People scheduling time to hang out sounds so much nicer.

  • @dolaward
    @dolaward Pƙed rokem

    glad to see your back

  • @MundoYui
    @MundoYui Pƙed rokem +3

    That king of the hill sketch was GENIUS, truly these 2 have some of the most production value from all Japan content creators

  • @khonable
    @khonable Pƙed rokem +10

    My daughter just graduated university and wants to teach English in Japan. She will need to watch this first, thanks for the heads up!

  • @brianbenthall2739
    @brianbenthall2739 Pƙed rokem

    Glad you guys decided to come back.

  • @jamesgrimm9121
    @jamesgrimm9121 Pƙed rokem +13

    Loved this episode, especially the teacher skit. I showed my wife (Japanese), and she also enjoyed it. Have lived in Japan for about 18 years, and my Japanese is not that great, but I have been in foreign companies (IT work) for that entire time with most of my team overseas. I agree with and/or have experienced many items you listed. Thank you for an entertaining and educational video. Also, please learn the language for those who wish to come to Japan. It has been hard for me sometimes without being fluent. I imagine living alone would be even more difficult with lots of frustrations (especially dealing with the ward offices :-) )

  • @Ashstix
    @Ashstix Pƙed rokem +4

    Thank you for this video! I have been living in Sapporo for 5 years and before that Niseko for 2 ski seasons. I love Hokkaido for its proximity to nature, relaxed people and amazing food. But since joining the workforce I've been questioning my resolve to stay here. A lot to think about. It's nice to watch this video and feel like I'm not alone in some of my stresses

  • @lucerodj11
    @lucerodj11 Pƙed rokem +6

    g. Life is so hard everywhere in Earth even in your own country.. you can't dodge the hardship of life..

  • @notch7751
    @notch7751 Pƙed rokem +1

    New Mrs Eats content, hell yeah! đŸ«¶

  • @OneKillQuota
    @OneKillQuota Pƙed rokem

    This is the first video I've seen from you two. Found you while looking at videos in preparation for my visit in a couple of months. The humor alone warranted a follow 😁

  • @dr_davinci
    @dr_davinci Pƙed rokem +2

    OMG ! The example depicting what Japanese student's English is like was hilarious AF, loved it. 😂😂

  • @siaoliao
    @siaoliao Pƙed rokem +5

    I had a pretty cushy job as a lecturer in a university teaching English. However, the 5-year contract limit had me thinking about my long term career. Moving positions/universities every 5 years was not something I wanted in the long run (together with the weakening yen), so I left. It was a great step up for my career though so I'm grateful. Also, to note, I had a much better experience here than many of my peers because yes, I could speak Japanese. Not perfectly but it helps so much.

  • @MegaHogzilla
    @MegaHogzilla Pƙed rokem

    Welcome back, y'all! Missed ya.

  • @drewmcdonald4082
    @drewmcdonald4082 Pƙed rokem

    Love this channel, you are both so fun to watch. Your meme cuts are hilarious! You both have the best sense of humor.

  • @sojolly
    @sojolly Pƙed rokem +3

    I loved visiting Japan but i was staying in the Ritz in Osaka, i know life is hard. The hospitality was amazing.

  • @ChickensAndGardening
    @ChickensAndGardening Pƙed rokem +35

    As an Asian Studies major in college, I spent some time in Taiwan. Friends who were specializing in Japanese studies spent time in Japan. But the idea of moving to China or Japan just to "live there and experience it" is really an entirely different experience from being there to study the language and culture. When you are a student, you have a strong purpose to be there. But I met ex-patriots who were just living there, teaching English or similar types of work, and it was unclear why they were there. I guess that was the bias of being a student; we felt everyone should have a purpose. Anyway, to sum up this rambling post, it helps to have a purpose in life -- "I am here to study the culture and master the language, for future work" or "I am here to get married" or "I want to learn how to cook Asian cuisine" - all are valid reasons. From what I have seen, people who think "I love anime/manga/ramen, so I want to live in Japan" are likely to be disappointed as Mr. & Mrs. Eats describe -- those simply aren't strong enough reasons to be there, especially when living there will involve a pay cut, permanent social ostracism, loneliness etc. Just my humble opinions :)

    • @komlat253
      @komlat253 Pƙed rokem +5

      Lol yea definitely good to half a purpose. I went to China because my best friend invited me years later. I made many good friends. Live a simple life .make more than enough money, no bills and when ever I want to go do something with friends, I can take the time because usually english teachers don't work that much and China loves their holidays which means many free days off .being an expat in China is easy not like being a local..u can hop on a train and go anywhere for cheap and be back for work the next day.many locals want to be friends and just hangout. One thing I Iike as a southern guy from the states is that anyone is just willing to chill with u if they not doing anything. Get a drink or go to the mall or just sit outside. I wish people in Seattle were like that.. and it's funny they will even want to hang with u if u guys can't communicate even one word together.. only down side is that they are on the impulsive side . They don't plan head no matter how much u ask

    • @ChickensAndGardening
      @ChickensAndGardening Pƙed rokem +1

      @@komlat253 Yeah that's interesting and I noticed that in Taiwan, too. People will sit and talk to you for hours. When I got back to the U.S., no one had even 10 minutes for a coffee; so busy. Mind you that was in the Northeast...

  • @iamsam8446
    @iamsam8446 Pƙed rokem

    Hey, I haven't seen any new vids from Mrs. Eats in a while. Good to see new content and I hope all is well! I enjoy the type of humor on this channel! Kan-CHO!

  • @tonydevos
    @tonydevos Pƙed rokem

    Love Mr Eats. He's a natural at this youtube thing

  • @claymore2of9
    @claymore2of9 Pƙed rokem +5

    have missed your videos so much, i was getting worried

  • @ChrisDragon531
    @ChrisDragon531 Pƙed rokem +3

    I enjoyed my time in Japan whenever I was there! I have been to Japan three times at this point.
    The first time I was in Japan was in 2016, where I attended a Japanese Language School for three months.
    The second time I was in Japan was in 2017, only for a few weeks to visit some friends.
    The third time I was in Japan it was for two years from March 2020 to 2022. The first year I was there (2020-2021) I was taking Intermediate Japanese classes at a Japanese Language School. The second year (2021-2022), I taught English to Elementary School Children, I really enjoyed teaching.
    I would have been in Japan longer, but a family emergency brought me back to the United States. I do plan on returning to Japan in the future. As my mom says: "You left half your heart in Japan" and she's right.
    As someone who is also shy and introverted, I didn't mind the quiet trains. But I enjoyed the times when an Obaasan struck up a conversation with me while waiting for a bus. I have only had good experiences with Japanese people.

  • @magi2
    @magi2 Pƙed rokem +1

    Yeah!!! It's good to see you back, and how is Mr Ears doing

  • @lynnkihara2323
    @lynnkihara2323 Pƙed rokem +2

    Loved the classroom skit! Mr eats was hilarious 😂😂😂

  • @solarguy1702
    @solarguy1702 Pƙed rokem +5

    When I lived in Japan and ran into another foreigner, resident, not a tourist, it always seemed like " hey! What are doing in my corner of heaven?". Consistently. 50 years on November 1st.

  • @Save.the.legends
    @Save.the.legends Pƙed rokem +8

    Great video! I taught English in Japan some years back, returned to the U.S to get my Masters and though I’d love to return to teach in Japan, I wouldn’t want to work for a dispatch company again due to the significant pay cut. I’d rather travel there a couple of times a year and wait until a comparable salary job opens up or I retire and am okay with making less money. Japan is an awesome place but it has its problems too. I’ve been to about 30 countries and it’s still the only place I’d repeat time and again cause there’s always more to see, do and eat! â€đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”

  • @sablgrl01
    @sablgrl01 Pƙed rokem +2

    Thank you for this video! The emergency onigiri are delicious! I know they’re for when u don’t have power but they really are a great purse snack.. I put water in one and throw it in my purse/diaper bag and it’s so convenient while I’m out or in the car for a long time.. and the Demon Slayer edit made me smile ! Hope you guys doing well ! ❀

  • @otaku_senpai_ex6196
    @otaku_senpai_ex6196 Pƙed rokem

    I learn so much from this thank you

  • @KaitenKenbu
    @KaitenKenbu Pƙed rokem +4

    Woot they're back! I plan to live in Japan part time each year, I could never stay permanently as I love where I'm from. Japan is wonderful though and I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I've spent there. Great homogeneous society who like and preserve their culture, I'm glad I've been able to experience it. Nice people, extremely polite. And I like the idea of being an outsider who is well thought of, it can open so many opportunities if leveraged properly. I will be staying longer this next time so I can attend a language course to remove that barrier and have smoother interactions with the natives.

  • @Hispandinavian
    @Hispandinavian Pƙed rokem +3

    I wanted to be a fluent Japanese speaker growing up. Somehow, I ended up being a Russian speaker. At this point in time, I would be happy just to visit Japan and make an old dream come true.

  • @pdraggy
    @pdraggy Pƙed rokem

    BRO.. Sis, your skits are so awesome lol.

  • @johnnysmythe7767
    @johnnysmythe7767 Pƙed rokem

    This was such a great vid! đŸ„°

  • @theshigingaijin1985
    @theshigingaijin1985 Pƙed rokem +6

    I've been here a decade. I've gone through the ALT route until finally finding my job at a nursery in Tokyo. I get low pay, but I'm a æ­Łç€Ÿć“Ą, with annual bonuses, and I get full advantage of videography and editing skills. I also find the language and cultural barriers a blessing. It forces me to learn how to navigate these differences and at the same time it teaches me to get closer to myself. Living here can get lonely and being at peace with yourself can help get through those lonely points.
    Also, I recommend jumping into Japanese culture. Something like Koto, Shigin, or arts. Actually, it can be anything that attempts to break down those cultural barriers. In my case, it opened up so many doors for me because it showed that their culture can truly be embraced and appreciated by non-Japanese.

    • @jamesherman3750
      @jamesherman3750 Pƙed rokem +3

      Do you speak Japanese? Most foreigners who stay for 'decades' can only hold basic conversations. And I feel this is the main issue when it comes to foreigners. 'I cant make friends' But also, ' I didnt put any effort into my language learning skills'

  • @EsquedaDouble
    @EsquedaDouble Pƙed rokem +13

    The "don't bother others" thing would make me want to stay through a job that refuses to promote or raise my salary. I'd learn Japanese right now, just for that alone.

    • @glenngriffon8032
      @glenngriffon8032 Pƙed rokem +4

      Yeah I often wish that america would have more of that kind of introverted attitude.
      I've never enjoyed making small talk with strangers.
      I used to take a book with me everywhere I went but that doesn't always stop people bothering you, when i was a teenager I'd have a portable cd player and headphones and just drown out others. Now I have a phone and portable game systems. It still cracks me up when someone is trying to get my attention for small talk, then whines about "kids" being on their phones.
      Uhh excuse me? I'm 42, I'm an old lady now and I'm well past the age of caring about the opinions of strangers.

  • @AdrienneFortinGarimbao
    @AdrienneFortinGarimbao Pƙed rokem

    Very informative. Thank you!

  • @CatieChapman
    @CatieChapman Pƙed rokem

    I love you guys’ editing 😭 THE WILD BOAR ATTACKS

  • @janicielle
    @janicielle Pƙed rokem +5

    I was stationed in Japan for 5 years at Yokosuka. I was a bit unsure about what my experiences would be there. But after a year, I didn't want to leave. I think the cost of living allowance played a big part in that. I also felt comfortable there as an introvert. Eventually, I had to transfer though because staying in the same place is not good for one's military career. But out of all the places I've been assigned, being in Japan was my favorite. My only hardship there was the fact that all of the LGBTQ clubs were off limits to us. As a queer person serving during "Don't Ask Don't Tell," that meant I had no place I could hang out and feel safe to be me. I hope that's no longer an issue now for any military personnel assigned there.

  • @lymancopps5957
    @lymancopps5957 Pƙed rokem +3

    I worked for an American company in Japan for 2 years. They paid for my upscale apartment in central Tokyo and I was able to sock away quite a bit of money the time I was there. Loved living in Japan and would have stayed longer if they let me.

  • @corycook370
    @corycook370 Pƙed rokem

    You two are absolutely ridiculously OnPoint I love it

  • @neonkaiju
    @neonkaiju Pƙed rokem

    I appreciate how authentic you guys are with this. I've seen this same topic a million times with others and it's almost always clickbait.

  • @Momo-qo7is
    @Momo-qo7is Pƙed rokem +41

    Living in Japan is like a heaven when you can earn a lot of money from overseas. However, a small number of the foreigners sacrifices their original characters to blend in to the Japanese society and live many years in Japan. It’s not too expensive to live with overcharged items and the final prices are quite predictable. People respect privacy and time of each other.

  • @coaster6777
    @coaster6777 Pƙed rokem +26

    Having lived now in Japan for 5 months as an German exchange student, I had problems with Japanese teachers because I am used to hug people (students, not teachers!) as greeting and for farewell but although the students consented with hugging, some teachers of the school wanted me to leave school because of this. So I changed school to a language school. I didn't know first that hugging is regarded is embarassment in Japanese. So I changed school to a Japanese language school a few months ago I didn't have problems there. Despite of the aforementioned problems, I am happier in Japan than in Germany because I have made many friends in Japan since I learned Japanese before. Secondly, I have a host family who still supports me.

    • @silverchairsg
      @silverchairsg Pƙed rokem +1

      Is it the norm for Germans to hug? I was under the impression that they don't, and it is the more "warm" and passionate Southern European cultures like France, Italy etc that do this.

    • @blablup1214
      @blablup1214 Pƙed rokem +1

      Hmmm but I would say hugging isn't that common even in Germany. At least where I grew up as a male...
      I know hugging as greeting only for close friends.
      The normal way in school would be to greet a person with no psyical interaction. Since the evil C this is no more but before you would also use a handshake as greetings, especially in bussiness.

    • @gundalfx
      @gundalfx Pƙed rokem +1

      @@blablup1214 I can confirm that hugging people outside your close friends and family is very uncommon in Germany.

    • @ahillmann
      @ahillmann Pƙed rokem +5

      I'm surprised you weren't aware that Japanese people don't like to be hugged. You must have researched Japan before travelling there, since it's culturally so different from Germany. When looking into Japanese customs, one of the first things one learns is that people don't like to touch each other. Friends might do it, but greetings are in general all about the bows, and Japanese don't want to have their personal space invaded.

    • @JHarrysP
      @JHarrysP Pƙed rokem +1

      In which Germany did you grow up? Here in DĂŒsseldorf people barely speak to you. Hugging? Maybe the dog if you have one.

  • @colebertram8482
    @colebertram8482 Pƙed rokem +1

    Today is a good day because we get a new Mrs Eats video

  • @davidmalecki3272
    @davidmalecki3272 Pƙed rokem

    Oh, ありがべう for getting back with new content! It's great to see you again, and I hope Mr. Eats will contribute more in the coming videos!
    I've been trying to learn some basic Japanese for several weeks now. I don't find it as difficult as I was scared it would be. At least for the time being, it's quite... enjoyable. Although I'm not aiming at becoming seriously competent or fluent. It's just for fun. ;)

  • @numberwunsaifu2575
    @numberwunsaifu2575 Pƙed rokem +3

    I'm an American who lives in japan. The huge loop hole these two have forgotten is remote work. I work a remote job at an American company and I get paid in USD. So I'm doing really well.

    • @stargaze5768
      @stargaze5768 Pƙed 8 měsĂ­ci

      And how many jobs like that do you think there are? Try a broader perspective than your just your own.

    • @FurryNuggets
      @FurryNuggets Pƙed 2 měsĂ­ci

      how did you get a visa?

  • @DavisMoto
    @DavisMoto Pƙed rokem +14

    When I was in Japan for 3 weeks I noticed when it comes to starting conversations, the best way is to simply talk to em first. Even if you know just SOME of the language, the fact that you’re putting that effort impresses Japanese sometimes. I found myself talking to random ppl all over and sometimes THEY would approach me and start a convo (especially when they’re drinking lol).

  • @gn7867
    @gn7867 Pƙed 22 dny

    Japan is the BEST country ever!! Been here for 25 years. Love it more EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”đŸ‡ŻđŸ‡”

  • @gabrielfuret4852
    @gabrielfuret4852 Pƙed 9 měsĂ­ci

    interesting video! thanks for the great work

  • @sonoftheredfox
    @sonoftheredfox Pƙed rokem +6

    13:50 - The relief on Mrs. Eats' face when Mr. Eats reveals that he's not planning on ever leaving Japan.......
    I missed you guys!

  • @NaomiTru
    @NaomiTru Pƙed rokem +6

    Here I am laying in bed listening to this and feeling blessed to be living in Japan. I love the people, the culture, the food, and the majestic beauty to name a handful of things. We did have a nice 4.8 earthquake a few nights ago and let me tell you
I was almost ready to pack up and go home. I’m just joking I’m not leaving that easily. I am studying the language and trying my best to fully emerge into learning basic communication skills. Thank you for sharing this informational video. I’m in love with Japan but I completely understand why some people aren’t able to adjust and end up leaving.

    • @JohnDoe-pt7ru
      @JohnDoe-pt7ru Pƙed rokem +6

      You sound like you're still new to Japan in the honeymoon period. Give it some years.

    • @naoyot2777
      @naoyot2777 Pƙed rokem +2

      That actually applied to anywhere you live in.

  • @MitWS
    @MitWS Pƙed 3 měsĂ­ci

    Mr Eats' facial expression while transitioning into the sponsor ad was well worth watching the whole ad alone. I felt that 😂

  • @mkshffr4936
    @mkshffr4936 Pƙed rokem +2

    Thanks for the very interesting video. I think I would also have trouble with the urbanization and over crowding.

  • @Orcael
    @Orcael Pƙed rokem +39

    I hear it's hard to make friends in Japan as a foreigner all the time, but, as an American, I kind of want to pipe in and say that that concept really applies to any place to you live. I live in Minneapolis, MN (US), in the Midwest Region. The US is a large country and even though we tend to agree upon basic cultural norms from coast to coast, there are enough regional variations to create distinctions. For example, we have what we call the "Minnesotan goodbye," where, when you're leaving a large social gathering, it's normal to spend a long time saying goodbye to the hosts and other guests before you leave (in fact, it feels a little bit rude to just stand up and leave, so these long goodbyes feel almost like an obligation). Anyway, I moved to Tucson, Arizona for work for a couple of years as an adult, and making and maintaining friendships was an absolute nightmare -- the social differences within the same country, just between basic borders, was so intense that I had no idea now to navigate them even though we shared the same exact language (well, I called it "pop" while they called it "soda" lol). I was so incredibly lonely and homesick. Of course, it must be worse when there's a massive cultural and language barrier involved, but learning to adapt to new societies as an adult I think is something *everyone* can experience, internationally or not.

    • @elizebeths.8880
      @elizebeths.8880 Pƙed rokem +2

      Agreed! Also a US person, and I got lucky growing up in different places around the states. Michigan and Kansas were the main two, with some Arizona and Tennessee as family reunions (that side's matriarch was apparently rich, so she helped us with everything on those rare but wonderful trips. Very thankful to her.)
      Even with so many different kinds of socialization habits, speech patterns, and habits of locals, one place threw me off. Florida! Went there once as a houseguest to a close family friend to meet their family. It was either flippant tourists, or "I gave up, don't talk to me" locals. Especially on the main streets! Not one even looked at people they didn't know, almost as if they trained themselves to see out of their peripheral to recognize anyone? Michigander and Kansas folk are super outgoing when in comparison... Tennessee? Oh boy the gap is even bigger, even if they're just bein' polite. Central-ish Florida wiggs me out...
      Arizona people are just more task oriented. 😅 Living in the desert does change the culture to, "Do what you need quickly, and only what you need. If you see something you want? Plan for it next time," even if it's a developed area. If you ever go back, I highly suggest visiting Sedona. People there are a little more lax because it's a mesa environment, and reasonably cool even in summer mornings and evenings. Beautiful sights, and lots of watering holes and places called Slide Rock. Totally worth the drive.
      Kansas and Tennessee are much more like how you described your home state, especially Tennessee. You WILL get stopped around 6 times at least by people offering you more food and to "stay a while."
      Kansas and Michigan are more "meandering" parties and are laid back with no pressure to go get more food by the cooks, haha! (Mostly...)

    • @junrosamura645
      @junrosamura645 Pƙed rokem +3

      True but the key thing is location. I lived in NY, impossible to make new friends who were not pretentious. I also lived in DC and it was super easy to make friends due to mostly everyone being from out of state and wanting to make friends. Same can be said about Japan. I lived in the country side and made many good/real friends whom I still keep in contact with. However, Tokyo has been a nightmare to find friends. It took about 3 years to meet one person who was not flaky. Everyone else has false intentions, typical of the tokyo life style. Which is why you see every foreigner sticking to their own kind, for the lack of a better word.

    • @cadydae1781
      @cadydae1781 Pƙed rokem

      I feel what you're saying there! I grew up in Georgia and later in life moved to the DC area, and lemme tell ya, I missed that southern hospitality đŸ„Č ha

    • @hmswrites1133
      @hmswrites1133 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@missplainjane3905 Why do you always make this same comment on Japan related videos? Are you a bot?

    • @hmswrites1133
      @hmswrites1133 Pƙed rokem

      Do you actually live in Japan though? I’m from TN and also lived in Atlanta (very pretentious) as well as Denver and Taos. While there are big differences between Southern and midwestern or southwestern culture, city vs small town, none of that compares to how insular and ice cold Japanese culture and people are. If you’re in a major city in Japan maybe there are events and groups to join, but otherwise you’re out of luck. I have a Japanese friend here of 15 years that I’ve been living near and hanging out with regularly (for the recent 3 years). It took that long to realize that she does care about me even though she never contacts me. I always contact her. I never had friends like that in the US, Middle East, South Korea, Taiwan, or Italy who left me hanging and ghosted me as much as Japanese do. So I really don’t get it when people say it’s just as hard in the US as it is in Japan.

  • @ojyochan
    @ojyochan Pƙed rokem +15

    I did JET and it was like $16/hr. And required a bachelor's degree.
    Japanese people aren't unfriendly; they aren't going to think you're special/interesting just because you're a foreigner which a lot of gaijin seem to think ought to be the case...

    • @gary9933
      @gary9933 Pƙed rokem +2

      Your lucky I've known people from places like the Philippines that end up teaching for 900 yen an hour after they arrive.

    • @jamesp7399
      @jamesp7399 Pƙed rokem +2

      Yeah that's brutal. That's way less than even a starting warehouse job in California. Eff that. Wake up weebs, the grass is not greener on the other side.

    • @victoriazero8869
      @victoriazero8869 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@jamesp7399 Yeah but 1000 yen an hour is perfectly livable in Tokyo. You'd be poor a shit, but still live and probably not homeless.
      Try living on 8$ an hour in Cali...

  • @BookNerd4Music
    @BookNerd4Music Pƙed rokem

    Welcome back!

  • @nobodys2358
    @nobodys2358 Pƙed rokem +1

    Watching the English teacher skit. xD Thank you for the laughs!

  • @karriek.3429
    @karriek.3429 Pƙed rokem +24

    I think I prefer Japanese-style socialization 😂 I like at least 3 days warning if I'm going to leave the house đŸ€Ł
    Great video!! Thank you for the premier, too!!

  • @Shayla_MOON
    @Shayla_MOON Pƙed rokem +7

    As an English teacher in Japan, the skit was very (unfortunately) accurate😂😂 but this video has so much truth to it, I came here thinking I’d live here forever but now I’m playing parkour in my mind whether or not I should move back to the states

    • @M-ANTONY-888
      @M-ANTONY-888 Pƙed rokem +2

      If you are below 50 dont go back to America, enjoy Asia whilst you can. Many other countries here. Good luck

    • @Shayla_MOON
      @Shayla_MOON Pƙed rokem

      @@missplainjane3905 what?

    • @Shayla_MOON
      @Shayla_MOON Pƙed rokem +3

      @@missplainjane3905 sorry I’m confused why you’re asking but I guess it depends on what you define as fluent. yes enough where I can be independent and do daily tasks. No if you’re talking to me about the economy but even in English I’m not well versed in it either

    • @Shayla_MOON
      @Shayla_MOON Pƙed rokem

      @@missplainjane3905 oh! I mean when I first came here my Japanese was trash. Lol but I could get by. It is quite necessary since unlike a lot of other countries, people can’t speak English that well here. But I’ve never tried speaking English to anyone so I can’t really comment on that but some of my friends speak zero Japanese and are able to survive.

    • @Scion141
      @Scion141 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@missplainjane3905 "but it would useful to learn the local language."
      They don't really have to. A lot of people live in Japan for years with their Japanese language being just good enough. In the comment section of this video, I saw one person reiterate something that I've seen other people say, that they've lived in Japan for over 10 years, married a Japanese and their language skills are just okay.

  • @lawrenceyeung3381
    @lawrenceyeung3381 Pƙed rokem

    Moving to Japan and spending one to two years as an tourist. Yes the experience must be wonderful

  • @kodyblack6366
    @kodyblack6366 Pƙed rokem

    That damn Mr. EatsđŸ€ŁđŸ€ŁThat's my boy.

  • @bufordmaddogtannen
    @bufordmaddogtannen Pƙed rokem +84

    In a nutshell. Moving to Japan without knowing the language and without having any skills is akin to moving to - for example - the UK without knowing English and then complaining about only being able to wash dishes in a restaurant's kitchen.
    EDIT: My suggestion is:
    - get a college degree (it makes getting a visa easier)
    - take a sabbatical year
    - travel (and live for a few weeks) to countries you may want to move to
    - come back to your home country
    - learn / start learning the language of the country you want to move to
    - get a job and gain marketable skills for 3 to 5 years
    - THEN pack your bags and move
    Having a plan with a set goal should help pursue the dream. If you can't do it, maybe it was not your dream after all.
    If you are lucky you may even move country courtesy of your employer.
    Unless you find appealing the prospect of teaching English (like everybody else), getting white monkey jobs and scraping money together to just get by pretty much until you can't take it anymore.

    • @blablup1214
      @blablup1214 Pƙed rokem +5

      Yes. And it is also hard to extend your visa if you don'T know the language and have no important skills.....

    • @jloflo958
      @jloflo958 Pƙed rokem +2

      SPOT ON!!!

    • @omi4470
      @omi4470 Pƙed rokem +1

      But what if you’re a college/high school dropout??

    • @jloflo958
      @jloflo958 Pƙed rokem +6

      @@omi4470 in any developed or even developing country education is the key to a better life


    • @bufordmaddogtannen
      @bufordmaddogtannen Pƙed rokem +1

      @@omi4470 very few countries will give you a visa without a college degree. When they do, they will either be looking for specific skills/workers they are lacking locally (e.g. Could be plumbers, as well as IT engineers) or you will have to secure a job before travelling to that country.
      So even without a degree it's possible to move abroad, but you will still need skills. I can assure you that going through college (or high school) later in life is a lot easier than when you are young.
      If "you" are from the US, a cheaper alternative could be to attend college abroad.
      For anyone wanting to try the thrill of teaching English for peanuts, this could be done during the sabbatical, assuming your knowledge of the local language is good enough to do that.

  • @jonathansakura
    @jonathansakura Pƙed rokem +3

    Japanese are surprisingly outgoing when i went
    The Yokohama Gundam Factory guy at the top called me sexy lol 😆
    Many girls helped me get around in the subway and went out of their way to lead me to the right station too
    Everyone was friendlier than where i live in Korea

  • @jeremyn4397
    @jeremyn4397 Pƙed rokem +1

    Love you both! I'll just stick to being a tourist who gets the 䞊手 response everytime I make a failed attempt to communicate hehe

  • @Katsurenjo15
    @Katsurenjo15 Pƙed rokem

    I agree. I tried it. I lasted about two months. At least I was able to drink and eat quite well.

  • @specialk9999
    @specialk9999 Pƙed rokem +8

    In terms of comparing salaries between the U.S. and Japan, you also have to take into account how much more expensive it is to live in the U.S., at least in the major cities. That Family Guy thing was on point with what Americans ask. Lol

    • @jloflo958
      @jloflo958 Pƙed rokem +1

      EXACTLY!!! I live in Japan and cost of living here is soooo low. Inflation is like 1% here and in the West it’s like double digits.

    • @specialk9999
      @specialk9999 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@jloflo958 exactly! Hope you are enjoying your time in Japan!

    • @jloflo958
      @jloflo958 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@specialk9999 thanks! Been here 5 years already and don’t see myself moving back to the U.S. (ever) â˜șâ˜ș

    • @specialk9999
      @specialk9999 Pƙed rokem

      @@jloflo958 glad you are enjoying it. I’m hafu. Born in the U.S., moved to Tokyo when I was 3 and lived there until I was 16. Then back to the U.S. and been living in the U.S. since then. I have been wanting to go back to Tokyo the last couple years.

    • @jloflo958
      @jloflo958 Pƙed rokem +1

      @@specialk9999 highly recommend it. Having a simple, peaceful, and comfortable life here is so easy. I think the same lifestyle I have now in central Tokyo, if I wanted this in another comparable big city like NYC or LA-I need to make like $125k min. But I only make like „7.5 million đŸ€Ł

  • @NoFuqinIdea
    @NoFuqinIdea Pƙed rokem +10

    Personally speaking: My GF (who is half japanese living there) and me decided to relocate to my home-country in Europe, when we couldn't meet each other in person for 2,5 years, during the japanese gov'ts unnecessarily long and strict Covid-Border-Lockdown. It's not like we're Covid-Deniers or anything, in fact we still wear a mask when leaving the house in Japan but the whole experience was just really alienating. No one can guarantee that an event of this scale wont happen again in the future. So... Kind of a dealbreaker.
    Just to clarify: We still love Japan, it's culture and it's people. Just not so much the politics ^^'

    • @yo2trader539
      @yo2trader539 Pƙed rokem

      Obviously, we won't be risking the safety of our own people for the convenience of some random foreigner. I recall a pregnant NZ reporter who was wait-listed to return to her home country under COVID. She was forced to take refugee in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.

    • @yo2trader539
      @yo2trader539 Pƙed 7 měsĂ­ci

      @@0crakhadshizzakizza0Japan doesn't need you.

  • @SplitDecision11
    @SplitDecision11 Pƙed rokem +2

    Lived in Japan for 8 years. I am going back once I wrap up school in America. Truth is, it’s hard to make friends anywhere unless you put in the work.
    I am proud to be gaigokujin. I would rather stand out than fit in. Still in love with Japan after all of these years

  • @hoodedneko
    @hoodedneko Pƙed rokem +1

    Welcome Back! Missed the videos 😊 I'd love to visit Japan one day but I don't think I'd want to live there or only live there for a short stint.

  • @pherja
    @pherja Pƙed rokem +8

    I haven’t left yet. 10 years at this point


    • @Truecrimeresearcher224
      @Truecrimeresearcher224 Pƙed rokem

      Not everyone will leave. A few foreigners I follow have lived there since 2008 and maybe left for a short time but came back
      I would love to live in Japan. Their culture is very interesting to me and I wanna see the cherry blossom

    • @canaldecasta
      @canaldecasta Pƙed rokem

      Renting room? I dont use much space
      I can stay beneath the stairs too 👌

  • @fayescarlet
    @fayescarlet Pƙed rokem +7

    Even though I've lived in Anchorage my entire life, I'm TERRIFIED of even the tiniest of quakes. @_@ And knowing Japan has WAY more than we do here, I know that's why I could never live in Japan. It's a beautiful country, though, and I do plan to visit at least once or twice.

  • @elliefors6006
    @elliefors6006 Pƙed rokem

    All great points in the video! Another thing to add to mother nature is the extreme weather. In Saitama last year it got up to 115F+ (real temp feel). I Literally was about to have heatstroke and still had to go in to work. Due to the last of insulation in buildings, inside can feel like an oven. In winter it feels like a freezer box. It makes daily life uncomfortable tbh (as someone coming from the U.S.).

  • @PaulGoins
    @PaulGoins Pƙed rokem +1

    I did English teaching on the JET Programme for 2 years, which was overall a great experience. Then switched to software engineering for 2.5 years. But, when I moved back to the US, my first job made about twice as much what I made in Japan.
    I think I prefer living in Japan overall, but the income difference in my case simply cannot be ignored.

  • @masterjay4992
    @masterjay4992 Pƙed rokem +3

    People move to Japan thinking they're going to a Anime fantasy land but end up in the reality of Japan. Get disappointed then leave.

    • @narugi93
      @narugi93 Pƙed rokem

      Sounds harsh but true.

  • @Rebecca-bz6ph
    @Rebecca-bz6ph Pƙed rokem +5

    After 8 years of being an English teacher i moved in to a job in a Japanese company and yes the pay was worse than it was when I was teaching. I had worked hard and was good at Japanese and working in the heart of a big city. I went on cool business trips all over Japan and was treated like a special member of staff. But in the end I couldn’t see a way to financial freedom so I left that company and Japan after 2-3 years. That company also happened to be a recruitment company and part of my job I would sometimes sit in with foreigners when they came in with their resumes looking for work. Invariably it would come down to lack of japanese ability or if it was there they didn’t have any extra special skills. As this was not Tokyo there were even less options for them. I saw every kind of foreigner from ex JETs to Vietnamese exchange students with N1. It’s tough to get accepted in to a Japanese company. And in the end the salary isn’t worth it most of the time.

    • @komlat253
      @komlat253 Pƙed rokem

      Well, I guess as a Westerner it's not worth it. Korea or China are probably the best paying Asian nations if u from the states .
      I'm in China if u can get used to disorganized business then it's great . Higher pay and less ours most do like less than 30 hours a week and like15 teaching hours or less and still get paid full time

    • @Rebecca-bz6ph
      @Rebecca-bz6ph Pƙed rokem +1

      @@komlat253 you’re right. I’m in Korean now 😂

    • @komlat253
      @komlat253 Pƙed rokem

      @Rebecca yea thought so. I've thought about Thailand but the currency is too weak and when I was applying to jobs ,they said they don't give free housing really like in China. Because currently I only pay for a phone lol. I saw that the other places don't give enough of a reason to go there of u don't plan to retire there . Only Korea or China is worth the work abroad for how ever many years then take it back home . It takes like 40 thai bait to make a dollar but only 6 Chinese RMB to make a dollar so and plus I'm not saying for anything here

  • @GaryAa56
    @GaryAa56 Pƙed rokem +1

    I love your videos!