Would you rather live in America or Japan?

[Jungle Boy]

Well, I live in Canada now and I am miserable. I can't see how living in the US would be any different. As a matter of fact, I am certian it would be worse.

Living in Japan is my dream. I walk the quarter mile up to the top of my driveway every night just to look at the setting sun and wonder what people are doing in Japan, how the weather is, ect. I don't think I could be happy anywhere else.

 

[StarCrap]

I rather live in....I was going to say Canada. >_< But since Jungle Boy said he is miserable over there. That proves to me, no matter where I live, things are not different. Except the language.

 

[ベ-ネ]

Japan would be nice! I never would go to america!

 

[sgt. Pepper]

I think that i'd rather live in Japan, i'd like to visit USA sometime but not live there.

But i want to live in Sweden the most.

 

[Jin X]

I say Japan over any country.

 

[ffrost_nova622]

go japan!

although i dont know really much about japan i think japan would be better because in america there is so much crime! (n bushy i dont like him) japan has much more things

 

[Timsan]

if i had a choice between American and Japan i would choose American IF i could live in Alaska, otherwise i would have to go with NIPPON

 

[Mishima_Kazuya]

I would be super happy in japan i could see japanese gurls everywhere i look and the jap gurl skool uniform waaa it drives me crazy i love it!!! jap gurls whering the skool unbiform is so good!!! and the kimono so cute also everyhing just sends me crazy like a 8 year old kid who wants somethin and cant get it outa his mind! kanojotachi GA kawaii desu

 

[Martialartsnovice]

i said Japan, because Im tired of all the BS wars we've fought. Im tired of the attcks plotted by terrorists.

@mishima Kayuza
I agree, Japanese girls are more attractive then american girls. I find them to more sophiticated on average than American Bleached Blonde wanna-be's. I really hate these posers.

 

[cyber ape]

Japan definitaly.

Japan:

Well, I've only been to Okinawa for a week and to Tokyo, well, for only one day, so I know little of Japan, but I do watch the little Japanese programming I receive here and everytime I watch it I just wanna cry. I'm like,"They treat it like life, I treat it like paradise." Seriously, although I was only 7, going to Japan was just great. Unfortunately since I'm not only HALF Japanese(which, I don't really look Japanese, but I'm still 50% and thus act it), so I look more like a gaijin, but since I've been here I've had to re-learn the language. Anyways, all I've ever seen is how great atleast Tokyo is. OK, so, granted it may be difficult finding work, mainly because my parents have no interest in going and don't know anything of the language, but even so. I just love my country.

America:

I live in Georgia, which should be enough right there, but to those who don't know, it's terrible. They still have Confederate flags everywhere! This is the kind of place where if you're Asian, you're Chinese, end of story. If you don't like football, you're a homosexual. If you like rap and you're white, you're a wigger. Too much pigeonholing. Sheer ignorance. Oh, and Bush. I'm not even going to start.

Anyways, I love Japan, and once I go back there I'm not coming back.

 

[GaijinPunch]

As someone that's spent quite a bit of time in both I can honestly say... I didn't vote.

Greetings -- new guy, all that. Nice to meet you.</formal greeting>

I've just moved to Hawaii. Not the worst place in the world, as we still work the Asian hours (1PM to 9PM) so I can surf/go to the beach every day if I really wanted to. It's a good gig, BUT...

Here's a very impersonal list of what I've found as pros & cons of both places.

US: Pro
-------
-Banks (ATMs are 24 hours -- no questions asked)
-Actually something good on TV. Yeah, I know it's "junk TV" but TV in Japan is so horribly laughable.
-A fraction of the cost (even Hawaii is cheaper than Japan)
-Much more personal (you can talk to people you don't know)
-Not everything is endorsed by a cute, fuzzy critter
-No language barrier (except for Hawaii, apparently)
-Pizza (and Mexican food in the South) done right

US: Con
--------
-Banks (remittance takes an act of God and $$ to do)
-Checks (2004 people -- time to get off the paper)
-EXTREMELY hard not to get fat
-The whole world hates us
-Loud Americans
-Agendas
-Chips on shoulders
-Professional laziness, for lack of a better word.
-Your wife might nag about living in a country w/ Dubya as the President

Japan: Pro
----------
-Banks (all bills automatically deducted from bank account -- you only get a receipt!)
-Safe (my wife can go get milk at 2AM, and I won't stop her!)
-Convenient
-No need for a car in most cities (you can booz up anywhere, and run 0-risk of a DUI!!!)
-No last call
-4 very distinct seasons
-Scantily clad women (real ones too -- not just drawn!)
-Work ethic (believe me -- you'll take this for granted)
-You will be profusely praised for your "great Japanese" even if it sucks
-Police really aren't that bad -- no Rodney King incidents yet.

Japan: Con
----------
-Banks (most ATMs are not 24 hours, and you can't use just any ATM)
-Prohibitively expensive. Not as bad as it used to be, but still pricey.
-TV is really bad
-The act of moving there is a multi-step disaster, especially if you don't know anyone, nor have a job...specifically finding a place to live.
-Limited job fields for non-Japanese (but there are quite a few jobs to had)
-Seniority-based pay scale (sucks if you're young)
-Recession

Wow... that got really long.
I guess for the next few years, the states.

 

[einbert]

Hi, I'm new to these forums so I guess I should introduce myself a little bit ^_^.
I posted my introduction in the appropriate forum at Hajimemashite!. It does add a little context to this post so you should consider reading it. Sorry for the inconvenience!

There are definitely some disadvantages to moving to Japan, but I mostly see those as temporary hurdles. I will have to learn the language, find a place to live and a job, and work hard to insert myself into the social network of my work and neighborhood (perhaps the latter is impossible but I'm going to do my best!). My feeling is that once I have made these steps toward life in Japan, I will have little problem with daily life there. The truth is it's a much safer place to live, and while the residents are fairly shy, I was able to make friends with so many of the young people I met both in the classroom and in various places like the arcades. The language barrier made things difficult but I find learning a new language to be an interesting task, rather than a tedious one.

While in Japan, I studied some writing on its social problems. It appears to me that the biggest problem is that women aren't nearly on equal footing with men in Japan (as compared to America, where I believe they pretty much are treated equally). It is a bit offputting to find that many of the students at Seinan Jo Gakuin would study for four years just to be an airline stewardess or even a mere housewife, but I feel that that area of Japanese culture is definitely improving.

GaijinPunch, you mentioned that Japan is a tough country to live in financially but right now America is going through its own financial crisis. It is difficult for many college graduates to find jobs right now in America and middle class Americans are really being stepped on by the upper class and the government.

 

[blade_bltz]

Right now, as an 18 year old, I would much rather be living in Japan. But when it comes down to it, in the long run, I'd probably stay in America for family purposes. I live in Boston right now, and it's been a great place to grow up, but I could definitely see myself living in San Francisco.

 

[wintersweet]

Right now I'd rather be in Japan, but long-term? I don't know. I noticed when I lived in Taiwan that places are rarely what you think. I started to miss things I didn't even know I cared about, like American food in general (which I always thought I didn't like that much), really good cheese, having a clothes dryer, etc. I think it's impossible to know how you'll fare in a place until you live there (and even then, people change their minds after a few months or even years). So please be careful about idealizing Japan, because that can cause all kinds of problems.

If I still lived in the central/southern US, I might be a bit more desperate, eh? Thank goodness for the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

[-]5pace.pirat3]+]

yay! more bay area people its a cute place.i come to love any place im in after a few years of hating it so i could probably stay in japan for a long time, and i dont have much family or friends but theres alot to potentially miss

 

[zeroyon]

If it were to be by myself, then in Japan.

I personally want to get out of USA SOOOO much, I want to study abroad in japan this fall instead of the fall after. Im just so sick of the USA.

...But if i were raising a family, then DEFANITLEY the US of A. Since Japan isn't even anywhere as close to as ethnically mixed as the USA is, i wouldn't want to put my kids through all the bullying, stereotyping, social exclusion, etc that would happen in the japanese schools. I personally think they would live in a much less stressful environment here than in japan... besides, my kids might not like japan as much as I do, and i dont want to force my own likes and dislikes onto them.

Im caucasian BTW...

 

[Suki-Yaki]

as for me..

Why does it have to be either America or Japan ?? It's a big world y'know ^^!

I had had a choice to go to America , but seeing where I am now ..

So i love living in Japan , however..

I sometimes wish japanese people would draw a little after Americans in the aspect of inter-communication. I have met many Americans and europeans. And they usually are nice and more interactive than the way Japanese are towards other nationalites.

I think it is a very asian thing , especially for chinese and koreans .. sometimes they are just hating to communicate with other "colours" .

Ofcourse that's just me ..

 

[ragedaddy]

If I could have it my way, I'd want to live here in the US for 9 months out of the year, and the remaining three in Japan. Of course I'm partial to my roots, but that's not the only reason. I love my space, and here in the US there is plenty of it. I love being able to drive on the wide open roads, but I'm not a fan of driving on the narrow streets of Tokyo. Here in the US, I've got my family, and also my group of close friends. The quality of movies, music, and TV are most excellent here in the US, although I do enjoy some Japanese programs. The Universities in America are pretty proper, so I'm happy with those.

My likes about Japan, is that they have a good selection of food in their convenience stores, you have many food choices within walking distance. I like that there are many karaoke boxes, because I love to tear up the mic. I like the pace in Japan, it seems to be more laid back than the US. There are many beautiful and historical places to see. The festivals are always an enjoyable thing. It hardly snows in Tokyo, so I'm happy about that. You can go anywhere by train, so that's a plus. The onsens and methods of taking baths are very relaxing. It's a wonderful culture there in Japan.

The main dislikes about living here in the US is the lack of respect that exists in our culture. The Japanese culture is very respectful, and I feel that is a good aspect to have in a person. I also like the fact you can get anywhere by train in Tokyo. Japanese food is very good, and I could eat that stuff everyday. We have like so much food that clogs up your arteries here in the US it's ridiculous. I'm sick of the tired political battles we have in this country, and so that's a turnoff. I don't like the fact that I could get gunned down by walking down the wrong street here in the US. I have never been scared to walk down any streets at anytime of day or night in Tokyo. I used to hate bars here in the US, because they were always had a million smokers in them, but now when the smoking ban takes effect that will all be changed. I also hate bars that are always playing really loud music, and it is nealry impossible to have a conversation without screaming at the top of your lungs.

My main dislikes about living in Japan would be working the schedule of a "Salary man". I can't see myself working 12-15 hour workdays everyday. Also, in the Japanese company you are more evaluated more on your age rather than your abilities, so it would take a long time to work your way up. My family is important and that would always take priority over work. I dislike the fact that many Japanese people don't even take you seriously, it seems almost like a novelty to them. It would be a little difficult to adapt to collective methods rather than being more individualistic. I think those people who blast their political views out of the megaphones on top of cars, and try to get support for being elected, those people should get smacked around for being absurdly annoying. I'm not a fan of trains in rush hour, when you feel like a can of sardines. I don't like the fact everyday shopping in Tokyo is like Christmas shopping in the US, it's really crowded.

Therefore, after living 2 years in Tokyo, I'd have to say I'd want to live their 3 out of 12 months, and the remainder back in the homeland, the US.

 

[Kamisama]

1. They have better education.
2. They have better sports.
3. They would test my mentality and physical ability.
4. I don't think they would be able to unleash my full potential.
5. They have kawaii nyonin.

However, living in Japan for the first 3 would have been a kool thing growing up.

 

[Ackmm7]

If I could find a nice job in japan after college I will defently want to live there more than america but america has more job opertuiites as of now.

 

[jspecdan]

i'd live in japan for tons of cars and parts that aren't available in the USA.

but i'd live in america for the 'huge tracks of land.'

 

[Martialartsnovice]

I agree Short term, but long term I dont know, Maybe I stay for a few years, but it would be different especially at Christmas, and Thanksgiving. I would miss my family on my Birthday, its 2 days before X-Mas.

@Cyber_Ape,

I know what you speak of, I live in Phoenix Arizona, I go to school here, and I remeber that last year when they had the class elections, they had 3 very disturbing candidates. One for the Neo-Nazi\Fascist movement, one for the Comunist regiem\Al-Qaeda, and the third was for the KKK party. To me the KKK was a bunch of homos running around looking for victims to terrorize just to excite their marbles. My dad has sad that he works ith a guy who is active in the Southern Arizona KKK branch, and hes proud of it. This guy brags about having dinner at the Grand Masters house a few times. or whatever they call their head leader.

I also lived in Wisconsin, for most of my life. I knew people who every year, lost livestock during halloween, to the KKK and the Pagan religion practioners. They had the county sheriffs investigate, but they never caught the people who did it every year.

 

[Apollo]

I would choose the US for long term, and Japan for short term.....I have lived in Japan for almost 7 years (Yokohama & Tokyo) and in the US for almost 2 years... (New York & San Francisco).

This conclusion is (realistically) based on a my field of work, which is important for me.......

However, it all depends on WHERE in the US and Japan of course....I need to be around civilisation and big cities....!!

 

[kirei_na_me]

i said Japan, because Im tired of all the BS wars we've fought. Im tired of the attcks plotted by terrorists.

@Mishima Kayuza
I agree, Japanese girls are more attractive then american girls. I find them to more sophiticated on average than American Bleached Blonde wanna-be's. I really hate these posers.

Sounds like someone's been burned?

I thought you sounded so well spoken and mature in misa.j's "Language barrier and acceptance" thread.

Some people have a lot to learn if they think only Americans can be 'posers'. When you're talking about most Japanese, you're talking about master posers.

 

[misa.j]

I agree, Japanese girls are more attractive then american girls. I find them to more sophiticated on average than American Bleached Blonde wanna-be's. I really hate these posers.

Umm, haven't you seen pictures of Japanese girls?
It's actually very hard to find a Japanese girl with genuine black hair that you think they have.

I'm not sure where you are coming from when you say Japanese girls are more sophisticated than American girls because a lot of Japanese girls do want to look like American girls.