{"id":6074,"date":"2017-04-08T07:41:25","date_gmt":"2017-04-08T07:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/?p=6074"},"modified":"2017-04-08T07:41:25","modified_gmt":"2017-04-08T07:41:25","slug":"enjoy-life-japan-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/enjoy-life-japan-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Enjoy Life in Japan (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does Japan have to offer expats that other Asian countries don’t? It doesn’t offer much bang for your buck. Even a position at a major, affluent international school in Tokyo can’t offer a salary that compares to Singapore. Nor will your salary take you as far as it will in a place like Laos or Thailand.<\/span><\/p>\n

So why choose Japan? <\/span><\/p>\n

The depth and breadth of culture in Japan is unparalleled in Asia. China might be older, but thanks to the Cultural Revolution and the current penchant in China for tacky modernity, you’ll have a harder time finding it. But in Japan you can easily find it, at almost any street corner. Japanese are proud of being Japanese, and will bend over backwards to show off their culture to foreigners. There’s a surplus of Japanese TV shows that capitalize on this theme. “<\/span>Why did you come to Japan?” <\/span><\/i>follows Japan-obsessed foreigners on crazy odysseys throughout the country. It starts by following gaijin as soon as they land at the airport, often with the intention of backpacking to some remote area, studying some obscure Japanese art, or attending something unique. More often than not, the locals take great care of these vagabonds, inviting them into their homes, taking them great distances, and generally honoring these guests. Japan is very hospitable.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"japan\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But not always.<\/p>\n

You’ll probably have a few experiences like this at first. But once the honeymoon wears off, you’ll notice that in daily interactions, especially big cities, Japanese are actually avoiding you. They don’t want to sit next to you on the train. No small talk at the bus station. They aren’t interested in talking about politics. You’ll hear the dreaded, “Ah, nihongo joozu, desu ne!” This means you speak good Japanese. It sounds like a compliment, but when you’ve heard it for the tenth time in one day, you’ll realize it’s an insult. A micro-aggression. Yes, they are complimenting you the same way you would a trained dog. Congrats, you can badly pronounce several words of our language, now piss off. You’ll discover you have few Japanese friends, and feel isolated from society.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you do? \u00a0How do you get past this hump and enjoy a long-term stay? <\/span><\/p>\n

Make Japanese friends. This sounds odd, but many people have difficulty doing this. Many expats don’t have any close Japanese friends, or even a loose circle of Japanese acquaintances. These are the people that have the most difficult time in Japan and leave the soonest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"japan\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is because most Japanese people generally won’t make friends on the street. Japan is a very group-oriented culture, and Japanese grow up learning to make friends within strict confines. From the moment a young Japanese child enters school, they are taught that the group membership is paramount, and individualism is not welcome. They spend all their school life dressing in uniforms and following tight regimes, only to graduate into the even more regimented world of work. Uniforms become unofficial dress codes, and the company they work for takes over their life. You strictly socialize within your company. You even vacation with them. Having worked at a Japanese company, I’ve had the weird experience of going on a company sponsored vacation with my co-workers. After many all-night bouts of drinking, we all literally took a bath together. (Google Japanese public bath etiquette after you read this.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Herein lies your hope. Once you find a group to belong to, you’ll never lack for want of social contact. You will be invited to do everything with your group. The Japanese, familiar with this way of socially orienting themselves, open up like flowers. Indeed, you may find that some get too personal with you, too quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"japan\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So how do you maximize your life in Japan? How do you truly experience the beauty of Japanese culture? Join a club, organization, social circle, team sport, or group activity. Find a special interest group. Go to those late night drinking parties. Go flower blossom viewing together. Join the cheesy group vacations. Learn ikebana (flower arranging). Practice chado (tea ceremony.) Choose any Japanese art, join the classes, let the group take you in. Join and become Japanese. You will not be disappointed.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article was submitted to us by an International School Community member guest author.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What does Japan have to offer expats that other Asian countries don’t? It doesn’t offer much bang for your buck. Even a position at a major, affluent international school in Tokyo can’t offer a salary that compares to Singapore. Nor will your salary take you as far as it will in a place like Laos […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2188],"tags":[323,2375,2376,1004,69,2377],"class_list":["post-6074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lessons-from-your-country","tag-japan","tag-life-in-japan","tag-living-in-japan","tag-teaching-in-japan","tag-travel","tag-working-in-japan"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Screenshot-2017-04-08-09.19.04.png?fit=1230%2C926&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2flVT-1zY","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5967,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/enjoy-life-japan-part-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":6074,"position":0},"title":"How to Enjoy Life in Japan (Part 1)","author":"ISCommunity","date":"February 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Japan is unique among Asian countries. Many expats, even those who have lived in Asia for years, struggle living in Japan. I've seen families leave after only a year. What makes Japan so difficult? Is it the culture? Some secret only known to the initiated? The answer, while it may\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Lessons From Your Country"","block_context":{"text":"Lessons From Your Country","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/lessons-from-your-country\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/sunset-129503_640.jpg?fit=640%2C441&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/sunset-129503_640.jpg?fit=640%2C441&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/sunset-129503_640.jpg?fit=640%2C441&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1989,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/traveling-around-japan-the-life-of-an-international-school-teacher-is-good\/","url_meta":{"origin":6074,"position":1},"title":"Traveling Around: Japan (The life of an international school teacher is good!)","author":"ISCommunity","date":"May 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Traveling Around: Japan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can you relate? \u2022 Traveling around on trains using the Japanese Rail Pass, and having unlimited access for the entire trip. \u2022 Enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms, called \u2018sakura\u2019 in Japanese. \u2022 Paying good money for a few pieces of delicious fatty tuna sushi. Worth\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Traveling Around"","block_context":{"text":"Traveling Around","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/traveling-around\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Screen Shot 2013-05-20 at 9.19.05 PM","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Screen-Shot-2013-05-20-at-9.19.05-PM-270x300.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":488,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/overview-of-an-intl-school-4-makuhari-international-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":6074,"position":2},"title":"Overview of an int\u2019l school #4 \u2013 Makuhari International School","author":"ISCommunity","date":"March 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"How great that each international school is unique! In this overview of an international school, by Tokyo Families, we would like to highlight Makuhari International School. \"Being the newest addition to the international schools in the community, TF asked its principal Paul Rogers to explain what MIS offers to children.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Overview of an Int\u2019l School"","block_context":{"text":"Overview of an Int\u2019l School","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/overview-of-an-int%e2%80%99l-school\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/03\/img_9985.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":643,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/recently-updated-school-profiles-15-nanke-intl-experimental-h-s-institute-of-applied-technology-horizon-japan-intl-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":6074,"position":3},"title":"Recently Updated School Profiles #15: NanKe Int\u2019l Experimental H.S., Institute of Applied Technology & Horizon Japan Int\u2019l School","author":"ISCommunity","date":"April 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Members of International School Community have written some new and informative comments on the following schools: 30 Apr\u00a0\u00a0Institute of Applied Technology (Abu Dhabi)\u00a0(8 new comments) : One of the new comments: \u201cThere are around 40% host country teachers that work here. The other 60% are 1\/2 from USA and 1\/2\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recently Updated School Profiles"","block_context":{"text":"Recently Updated School Profiles","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/recently-updated-school-profiles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/04\/screen-shot-2012-04-30-at-7-00-29-pm.png?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/04\/screen-shot-2012-04-30-at-7-00-29-pm.png?w=350&h=200&crop=1 1x, https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/04\/screen-shot-2012-04-30-at-7-00-29-pm.png?w=525&h=300&crop=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7065,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/top-10-things-to-do-in-japan-in-7-days\/","url_meta":{"origin":6074,"position":4},"title":"Top 10 Things to Do in Japan in 7 days","author":"ISCommunity","date":"November 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Japan is, due to its remoteness and quirkiness, a dream destination for many Westerners. Common opinion is that, to fully experience wonders of the land of the rising Sun, one should plan for at least a ten-day long vacation. However, I still think that a week-long trip to Japan is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Traveling Around"","block_context":{"text":"Traveling Around","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/traveling-around\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/DSC_2824.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/DSC_2824.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/DSC_2824.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/DSC_2824.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/DSC_2824.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":357,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/great-resource-want-to-work-at-an-international-school-in-japan\/","url_meta":{"origin":6074,"position":5},"title":"Great resource: Want to work at an international school in Japan?","author":"ISCommunity","date":"July 18, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Directory Listings of International Schools for Japan Wow!\u00a0 There are many international schools in Japan.\u00a0 Actually, a high number of visits to International School Community each month are from Japan.\u00a0 So, it is no surprise that there are many expats in Japan wanting information about the international schools there. Also,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Great Resource"","block_context":{"text":"Great Resource","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/great-resource\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/japan1.gif?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}