Question Challenges living in Japan
- Thread starter Patata
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- in japan living living in japan
- 21 May 2003
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I have not been to Japan for a long time , but I think speaking and reading Japanese can sometimes cause problems. If you give this post a day or two , I'm sure you will get more good answers.
- 12 Oct 2013
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Reading, speaking, are for sure the biggest things, as they help you navigate through life. If you cannot speak or read Japanese, you tend to struggle, and you tend to blame your struggles on external things - so it can create a situation where you are liable to spiral downwards. If you want to excel and thrive in Japan (as opposed to just "existing" in Japan), learning to read, speak, and write will radically increase your chances of success.
- 6 Mar 2003
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In what kind of circumstances do you think you would be living in Japan? As a tech worker? As spouse of a tech worker? As service industry worker?
While the language is a barrier, if you have a strong support system -- friends or company -- then it shouldn't be a major impediment. Especially these days when all you have to do to read packaging or a sign is use your smart phone camera.
- 2 Jun 2005
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Another common problem I see with some foreigners is it is not like where they came from. The challenge is frustration at an unfamiliar culture or bureaucratic system that is very different than where you came from. That's stupid, it should be like where I came from we do it so much better! This of course is made worse by low Japanese ability. Rather than getting so angry at your new place try to adjust to it. If you want it to be like where you came from so much then go back where you came from is my opinion.
- 2 Jun 2005
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There is also the "excuse me can I check to see if this bicycle is yours", "can I see your residency card" (even I was checked once!), I suspect this is worse for people with more of a tan. Some landlords do not like to rent apartments to foreigners. They don't know how to live in a Japanese place or how to take care and communication is difficult, they can't even put their trash out right!
- 26 Sep 2015
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Short term or long term? A common trend (borne out by research) is an attempt for immigrants to try to assimilate in Japan followed by withdrawal or semi-detachment as they realise that they will always be gaijin-san regardless of their efforts to assimilate and contribute to the country. That and the fact that Japan's systems have become fossilised, making the country highly averse to changes so problems never seem to get solved, are two major challenges for long-term foreign residents.
