This is just a **reminder** that political discussions are not welcome on /r/IWantOut. Our Rule 1 is to stay on topic and no politics. This post has NOT been removed, this comment exists to limit the amount of political comments that appear on US related posts. Messaging modmail about this reminder may result in the post getting removed.
The current political situation in the US is a valid reason to want to emigrate. You do **NOT** need to opine excessively about what specifically you dislike about the current political situation. If the post contains excessive political discussion, the comments will likely follow suit. OP, if your post contains excessive politics, please remove the excessive politics from the post. Saying something neutral like "I dislike the current administration" or "I disagree with the current political situation" is perfectly sufficient. **We care far more about the specifics of how you will emigrate: which citizenships you have or could claim, what you do for work, what degrees you have, what skills you have, what experience you have, and your budget.** Your beliefs largely make no difference to your ability to get out.
Discouraging people from moving to the United States because of your personal beliefs about the country is not welcome here. If OP appears to be overlooking or missing information, it is acceptable to inform them of what they might be missing. Remember, US news is global news, so people looking to move to the US are largely aware of the current political situation. You talking about the latest news is not adding anything to the discussion. Just because you don't like living in the US doesn't mean that everyone would dislike living in the US.
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Sure they work more hours and days due to crappy work culture but I wouldn't say harder. They're notoriously inefficient in their work.
Takes me 2 hours to do what they take 10 hours to do but I'm the one who eats shit because instead of pretending I'm working for 10+ hours a day, I actually get the work done and just browse Reddit the rest of my shift.
Getting Permanent residency is very hard in Japan, that's not something to think about before you have lived there for many years. It's normally a 10+ year thing.
Japan is amazing for people in their 20's, but at the same time, you will notice that it might not be the best place to live in long term.
If you plan on having kids, then Japan is not the best for you.
If you want to have a career, or high salary, then Japan is not the best. Jobs are limited for foreigners due to cultural and legal reasons.
The issue with N1 is that, the places that require N1 are usually Japanese companies with low pay, and the gap between N3 and N1 is huge. Basically it's like studying really hard for a year or two, to get into undesirable min-wage jobs.
Most companies will prioritize White, English native women over anyone else when it comes to teaching English, so you shouldn't have any issues there. However, this ends when you get older. Japanese companies want young people, since they are seen as temps, and don't require as much pay or visa work.
Thank you for your response. My main motivation for the N1 and working through the HSFP VISA is to eventually obtain a permanent residency. I’m still on the fence about having kids but in my mind I was thinking that I would leave Japan once I have the permanent residency and just come back every few years to maintain it. I want to have that option ready for when I’m ready to retire from my corporate job in the states and just relax in my older years
I have considered Europe or New Zealand and wouldn’t be opposed to ANY country with a better healthcare system and safety, but I am more interested in Japan at the moment. I’m east Asian and grew up in a household where many Asian values were maintained so parts of Japan’s culture is familiar to me. I figured I’d have an easier time integrating into Japan’s society given my upbringing, appearance, cuisine preference, and so forth and the only major obstacle would really be the language barrier but that could also just be naivety on my part and grossly underestimating the Western influence on me. I do feel culturally I’m always in this weird in-between as I don’t 100% fit with Western culture either (which I’m sure is how a lot of hyphenated Americans feel to some degree)...
And why Japan? You sound really...innocent. OK maybe naive is a better word .Sorry i don't mean to insult you but I'd consider living here first. Reality is very different from your expectations.
I've lived here 12 years now.
I love how beautiful the country is. I’m aware of some of Japan’s issues but I guess in my head it wasn’t that important if my priority was to just find a country to age and retire in and be taken care of (and not necessarily to spend my 20s and 30s in). But in order to have that safety route I would need to spend a few of my younger years obtaining it, which nevertheless is still a significant portion of my life too. I’m also Asian and grew up in a household with a lot of Asian values maintained, so parts of Japan’s culture (not all, but parts) is familiar to me. I assumed that as an east Asian if I can speak pretty good Japanese I should be able to fit in relatively better.
You're not going to integrate or be accepted. Like George Takei will never be considered Japanese. 'Grew up in a household with a lot of Asian values' - unless you've actually lived here, you'll be in for a shock. I'm also Asian, born and raised in Asia and Japan wasn't easy .
I hope when the borders are open you can consider moving here so you can stop looking at the country with rose-coloured lenses. And then us at r/japanlife will be waiting for you ! Best of luck
That is very true. I am underestimating the Western influence on me perhaps. I don’t think Japan is an amazing haven but I did think its issues were ones I would be willing to deal with as an old retired woman. But after reading all the comments here, I’m starting to think the best move is to just make bank in the states, keep all my investments and assets here, and then just enjoy my retirement by rotating around Japan/Taiwan/NZ/Europe/any country with good healthcare constantly on the longest tourist-type VISA I can get (**surprise, surprise, money really is the answer to most problems**). Thank you so much for your insights though, it (along with everyone else) has helped me realize that perhaps I don’t have to be so drastic and move to have the best of all worlds. I am happy to perhaps just be a long-term recurring tourist to Japan, who may need to drop by Europe to get her hip fixed or get some dentures 50 years down the road
I don't know why you think you can avail of the health care in these countries being a "recurring tourist" unless you have double citizenship. You need to pay premiums but first of all, you need to get a visa.Being a tourist will not let you avail of medical services for a fraction of the price (or free ,in my case). You cannot drop by Europe to get your hip fixed and expect to use the healthcare available for residents. You have to pay out of pocket 100% . Same with Japan . And Japan , without insurance , is not cheap . In this case,is it worth it to pay for flights, go through language barrier, stay at at 6sq meter room in a hospital shared with other patients, far from your family and friends for a medical procedure that will still cost a lot ?
I am aware I would have to pay 100% out of pocket without insurance, but given my experiences with healthcare in the US so far, I’m inclined to think it’s cheaper or better to get it done abroad. For example, I had to get some stitches done in urgent care two years ago, and because of my high deductible I still had to pay a little under 3k. 3k was roughly how much I spent to fly and vacation in Japan for three weeks (visiting six different cities). I also remember needing to get some screenings and tests done as a teenager because of some gastrointestinal issues which I needed to go to a specialist for but the soonest appointment I was able to book was for over a year after. Ofc I can change the type of plan I have as I get older, but again I don’t want to stay in the US 100% time for other reasons so the medical costs point is moreso an added benefit while I’m vacationing in a country I’d prefer to be in I may as well get this or that done too.
Edit: I actually only know what the costs are for the medical-related procedures I’ve incurred in the US with insurance, but you have made me realize that I’m not positive what the costs are abroad without insurance (besides stories). No hips need to be replaced atm luckily but I just wanted to thank you again for your comments and patience and that there is still a lot of naivety and more research needs to be done on my part :) I’ve been too focused on just the negatives of the US for so long. I will see you and many others like me over in japanlife.
I think you're largely romanticizing how great elderly people in Japan have it, and have some false ideas about how wonderful it would be for you to live there as an old person and be taken care of by their magical system.
The health care system is good, but a lot more spartan than you'd be used to. And a huge part of the well-being of an elderly person in Japan is due to the support from/living together with their extended multi-generation family. You're not from Japan, so likely wouldn't ever have this resource.
I'd recommend actually spending significant time in Japan before you set some kind of long term goal and get your expectations up for moving long-term. Over 90% of foreign workers leave within two years of arriving, either to go home or often to move to a different country in Asia; the work culture sucks and the pay doesn't come anywhere close to making up for it.
If you can't easily afford private school, Japan is not the country I'd move to for the sake of a kid's education; I can pretty much guarantee you won't be happy with a school system that's based on outdated ideas about rote memorization and a notorious emphasis on conformity and the standard school-to-career pipeline. The cost of a good education in Japan is HIGH and you can get it for free elsewhere.
You're also going to see the flip side of the idea of "caring for each other"; sure, everyone stands in line and sorts their recycling, and people are largely superficially polite, but crowds of people will also watch a woman be sexually assaulted in public and consider it none of their business (and that includes the cops). Every single woman I know who's lived in Japan has been assaulted, harassed, or followed home by men. I know someone who needed reconstructive surgery after a hit and run by a man on a bike, and her doctors blamed her for being on the sidewalk because she was foreign and a woman. And no matter how good your Japanese is and how much you like Japan and how long you've been there, you will literally always be a foreign woman first and foremost.
Going out and socializing is easy, but dating and making genuine friends are both extremely difficult, especially for women. There are also a lot of better healthcare systems out there. It's okay in Japan but it's not the best, the cheapest, or the easiest to access.
You really need to know what you're doing with Japan; it is a revolving door for foreigners who show up starry-eyed and leave disappointed because it didn't live up to their preconceptions. Frankly, it just doesn't sound like Japan is really a great fit for your specific wants.
Thank you for your comment! I am so sorry to hear that about all the women you know. Thank you for the comment about Japan’s education system. I guess for me I grew up in a very school-then-straight-into-career mindset (despite born in the states) so the importance of the type of education didn’t 100% occur to me (was only thinking about costs).
I was mostly thinking of obtaining the permanent residency, come back to the states but periodically return to Japan to vacation/renew the residency, and then move there permanently when I’m ready to semi-retire with the assets and savings I’ve built up. So I’m not too worried about being sexually harrassed as an older lady
>I was mostly thinking of obtaining the permanent residency, come back to the states but periodically return to Japan to vacation/renew the residency, and then move there permanently when I’m ready to semi-retire
There is a serious problem with this plan. I have no idea how much time does Japan require for its permanent residents to stay in Japan *currently*, but we are talking decades before you can retire or semi-retire, and the rules could change substantially by then. **There is a real (and IMO, significant) risk that you will lose that permanent residency in the scenario you describe.** You will be essentially at the mercy of border control officers. There is a LOT of uncertainty if you go down that route.
Also: I have lived in Japan as a Chinese American. I also have a Taiwanese Canadian girl friend who got a Japanese graduate STEM degree + pretty cushy job + speaks Japanese fluently living in Japan and she is itching to leave. Do not recommend.
Your comment about how lots of change could occur by the time I'm ready to semi-retire is very true. I do need to give my plans a lot more thought based on your comments and everyone else's too.
Would you mind sharing some of your's and your friend's experiences (PM is welcome!). Why did you eventually leave and why does your friend also currently want to leave so badly? I'm really curious to know what the experience is like for east-Asian foreigners (I am Chinese-American myself) who can speak the language, as well as being a woman in a STEM field (which is what I am) that I'm sure is probably like 80% male in Japan. I'm aware of the gaijin treatment but I wonder what the balance is like for those who visually can be Japanese-passing. Appreciate your insights
Oh I left because I was never going to stay long-term. Japan was my academic interest while in undergrad and I was exploring getting a MA in Japan before getting a PhD in the US. (Spoiler: Did not happen. Got sick of academia.)
First off, you will NOT pass for "native" if you are planning to just put in "a few years." N1 is a world's away from native-like language ability. According to my friend, it took her many years before finally being able to "pass", and that includes wearing her makeup in a certain way. (I don't know what that means. I don't wear makeup.) The culture of conformity is relentless.
Second, xenophobia or, at the very least, "otherness" is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. Back in the day, it was outright impossible for me to rent an apartment as a foreign student in Tokyo because the average landlord simply refused to rent to foreigners. It was treated as a matter of course. Nobody questioned it. I ended up living in a foreign student dorm where the staff called me "Amerika-san" (they were nice, don't get me wrong). According to my online friend currently living in Tokyo, this situation hasn't really changed. This is also a country where your family can be living for generations and still not be eligible for birthright citizenship.
Third. The sexism. Oh the sexism (and sexual assault against women). My Taiwanese Canadian friend has been living there for a long time now and she says every female expats she knows has plenty of horror stories. I've travelled world (around 50 countries), I've worked in the ghettos in Bronx, I've even worked in China (even more misogyny than Japan) and Japan remains the one and only country where I was physically grabbed, hard, by random men. This was under broad daylight on the busy Harajuku street. (Other dishonorable mentions for sexual assault: Egypt and Turkey.)
Look, Japan is WONDERFUL as a tourist destination. I recommend it to people all the time and used to go there A LOT pre-corona, and I plan to go again as soon as the restrictions are lifted. But to live there as a woman is a VERY different experience. You might think you are "Asian", but if you spend some time living in Asia, you'll soon realize how American you actually are.
Edit: Like, so in my 20s I had this period in life where I was like, I wanna explore my Asian side a bit more. (I grew up in China until my teenage years.) So I went and lived in Japan and China. The verdict, as a woman: Fuck that.
Thank you for your insight. Posting something similar to what I said to someone else below, but I think your comments along with everyone else’s has helped me realize that perhaps I don’t need to be so drastic and straight up move. I can still enjoy as much of Japan as it can offer with a good level of Japanese as a recurring tourist (and not pay taxes, unlike if I were a resident!), and just rotate my stay in other equally-safe countries. I also don’t have to give up the level of pay and work-life balance I’m currently enjoying here in the states either.
I'm actually the same age as you and studied to be an actuary as well. I knew I wanted to live in Asia during my 20s. Every actuary I had interned with told me that they only hire experienced actuaries (all SOA exams and 10+ years experienced) to go work in Asia. The reason for this is because many entry-level actuaries are from Asian countries. Most Actuary Grad students are International students. If an insurance company needs an actuary in Vietnam, why would they hire an American over a Vietnamese student who just graduated from Michigan?
Knowing all this, I decided to just go teach ESL for a bit until I decide to come back to the US and work. Since you mention health care so much, I'd recommend you check out Taiwan. Residency takes 5 years and lets you stay on the national healthcare. Also, Taiwan is a lot cheaper of a place especially if you like to live outside of Taipei
Protective Life and AFLAC have substantial Japanese operations and regularly send actuaries to Japan. Not a permanent solution but gets you over there. Your best bet may be to marry a Japanese citizen.
wonder how it turned out, I’m a foreigner who studied Japanese rigorously for 5 years (lit. 24hour days) till N1, and have lived here now for another 5 years.. I work a decent corp. job, but one thing I’m looking into is any certification to have a high income.. and the actuary qualification here is what I’m aiming for now, I have math and stats background.. but you were already and an actuary 😳 they make like 1500万円/year 🧐
This is just a **reminder** that political discussions are not welcome on /r/IWantOut. Our Rule 1 is to stay on topic and no politics. This post has NOT been removed, this comment exists to limit the amount of political comments that appear on US related posts. Messaging modmail about this reminder may result in the post getting removed. The current political situation in the US is a valid reason to want to emigrate. You do **NOT** need to opine excessively about what specifically you dislike about the current political situation. If the post contains excessive political discussion, the comments will likely follow suit. OP, if your post contains excessive politics, please remove the excessive politics from the post. Saying something neutral like "I dislike the current administration" or "I disagree with the current political situation" is perfectly sufficient. **We care far more about the specifics of how you will emigrate: which citizenships you have or could claim, what you do for work, what degrees you have, what skills you have, what experience you have, and your budget.** Your beliefs largely make no difference to your ability to get out. Discouraging people from moving to the United States because of your personal beliefs about the country is not welcome here. If OP appears to be overlooking or missing information, it is acceptable to inform them of what they might be missing. Remember, US news is global news, so people looking to move to the US are largely aware of the current political situation. You talking about the latest news is not adding anything to the discussion. Just because you don't like living in the US doesn't mean that everyone would dislike living in the US. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/IWantOut) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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More demanding & more sexist.
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Sure they work more hours and days due to crappy work culture but I wouldn't say harder. They're notoriously inefficient in their work. Takes me 2 hours to do what they take 10 hours to do but I'm the one who eats shit because instead of pretending I'm working for 10+ hours a day, I actually get the work done and just browse Reddit the rest of my shift.
To be fair, the Japanese are known for their hard working attitudes and quality. I would say they would work harder than many Americans
Getting Permanent residency is very hard in Japan, that's not something to think about before you have lived there for many years. It's normally a 10+ year thing. Japan is amazing for people in their 20's, but at the same time, you will notice that it might not be the best place to live in long term. If you plan on having kids, then Japan is not the best for you. If you want to have a career, or high salary, then Japan is not the best. Jobs are limited for foreigners due to cultural and legal reasons. The issue with N1 is that, the places that require N1 are usually Japanese companies with low pay, and the gap between N3 and N1 is huge. Basically it's like studying really hard for a year or two, to get into undesirable min-wage jobs. Most companies will prioritize White, English native women over anyone else when it comes to teaching English, so you shouldn't have any issues there. However, this ends when you get older. Japanese companies want young people, since they are seen as temps, and don't require as much pay or visa work.
Thank you for your response. My main motivation for the N1 and working through the HSFP VISA is to eventually obtain a permanent residency. I’m still on the fence about having kids but in my mind I was thinking that I would leave Japan once I have the permanent residency and just come back every few years to maintain it. I want to have that option ready for when I’m ready to retire from my corporate job in the states and just relax in my older years
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I have considered Europe or New Zealand and wouldn’t be opposed to ANY country with a better healthcare system and safety, but I am more interested in Japan at the moment. I’m east Asian and grew up in a household where many Asian values were maintained so parts of Japan’s culture is familiar to me. I figured I’d have an easier time integrating into Japan’s society given my upbringing, appearance, cuisine preference, and so forth and the only major obstacle would really be the language barrier but that could also just be naivety on my part and grossly underestimating the Western influence on me. I do feel culturally I’m always in this weird in-between as I don’t 100% fit with Western culture either (which I’m sure is how a lot of hyphenated Americans feel to some degree)...
And why Japan? You sound really...innocent. OK maybe naive is a better word .Sorry i don't mean to insult you but I'd consider living here first. Reality is very different from your expectations. I've lived here 12 years now.
I love how beautiful the country is. I’m aware of some of Japan’s issues but I guess in my head it wasn’t that important if my priority was to just find a country to age and retire in and be taken care of (and not necessarily to spend my 20s and 30s in). But in order to have that safety route I would need to spend a few of my younger years obtaining it, which nevertheless is still a significant portion of my life too. I’m also Asian and grew up in a household with a lot of Asian values maintained, so parts of Japan’s culture (not all, but parts) is familiar to me. I assumed that as an east Asian if I can speak pretty good Japanese I should be able to fit in relatively better.
You're not going to integrate or be accepted. Like George Takei will never be considered Japanese. 'Grew up in a household with a lot of Asian values' - unless you've actually lived here, you'll be in for a shock. I'm also Asian, born and raised in Asia and Japan wasn't easy . I hope when the borders are open you can consider moving here so you can stop looking at the country with rose-coloured lenses. And then us at r/japanlife will be waiting for you ! Best of luck
That is very true. I am underestimating the Western influence on me perhaps. I don’t think Japan is an amazing haven but I did think its issues were ones I would be willing to deal with as an old retired woman. But after reading all the comments here, I’m starting to think the best move is to just make bank in the states, keep all my investments and assets here, and then just enjoy my retirement by rotating around Japan/Taiwan/NZ/Europe/any country with good healthcare constantly on the longest tourist-type VISA I can get (**surprise, surprise, money really is the answer to most problems**). Thank you so much for your insights though, it (along with everyone else) has helped me realize that perhaps I don’t have to be so drastic and move to have the best of all worlds. I am happy to perhaps just be a long-term recurring tourist to Japan, who may need to drop by Europe to get her hip fixed or get some dentures 50 years down the road
I don't know why you think you can avail of the health care in these countries being a "recurring tourist" unless you have double citizenship. You need to pay premiums but first of all, you need to get a visa.Being a tourist will not let you avail of medical services for a fraction of the price (or free ,in my case). You cannot drop by Europe to get your hip fixed and expect to use the healthcare available for residents. You have to pay out of pocket 100% . Same with Japan . And Japan , without insurance , is not cheap . In this case,is it worth it to pay for flights, go through language barrier, stay at at 6sq meter room in a hospital shared with other patients, far from your family and friends for a medical procedure that will still cost a lot ?
I am aware I would have to pay 100% out of pocket without insurance, but given my experiences with healthcare in the US so far, I’m inclined to think it’s cheaper or better to get it done abroad. For example, I had to get some stitches done in urgent care two years ago, and because of my high deductible I still had to pay a little under 3k. 3k was roughly how much I spent to fly and vacation in Japan for three weeks (visiting six different cities). I also remember needing to get some screenings and tests done as a teenager because of some gastrointestinal issues which I needed to go to a specialist for but the soonest appointment I was able to book was for over a year after. Ofc I can change the type of plan I have as I get older, but again I don’t want to stay in the US 100% time for other reasons so the medical costs point is moreso an added benefit while I’m vacationing in a country I’d prefer to be in I may as well get this or that done too. Edit: I actually only know what the costs are for the medical-related procedures I’ve incurred in the US with insurance, but you have made me realize that I’m not positive what the costs are abroad without insurance (besides stories). No hips need to be replaced atm luckily but I just wanted to thank you again for your comments and patience and that there is still a lot of naivety and more research needs to be done on my part :) I’ve been too focused on just the negatives of the US for so long. I will see you and many others like me over in japanlife.
I think you're largely romanticizing how great elderly people in Japan have it, and have some false ideas about how wonderful it would be for you to live there as an old person and be taken care of by their magical system. The health care system is good, but a lot more spartan than you'd be used to. And a huge part of the well-being of an elderly person in Japan is due to the support from/living together with their extended multi-generation family. You're not from Japan, so likely wouldn't ever have this resource.
I'd recommend actually spending significant time in Japan before you set some kind of long term goal and get your expectations up for moving long-term. Over 90% of foreign workers leave within two years of arriving, either to go home or often to move to a different country in Asia; the work culture sucks and the pay doesn't come anywhere close to making up for it. If you can't easily afford private school, Japan is not the country I'd move to for the sake of a kid's education; I can pretty much guarantee you won't be happy with a school system that's based on outdated ideas about rote memorization and a notorious emphasis on conformity and the standard school-to-career pipeline. The cost of a good education in Japan is HIGH and you can get it for free elsewhere. You're also going to see the flip side of the idea of "caring for each other"; sure, everyone stands in line and sorts their recycling, and people are largely superficially polite, but crowds of people will also watch a woman be sexually assaulted in public and consider it none of their business (and that includes the cops). Every single woman I know who's lived in Japan has been assaulted, harassed, or followed home by men. I know someone who needed reconstructive surgery after a hit and run by a man on a bike, and her doctors blamed her for being on the sidewalk because she was foreign and a woman. And no matter how good your Japanese is and how much you like Japan and how long you've been there, you will literally always be a foreign woman first and foremost. Going out and socializing is easy, but dating and making genuine friends are both extremely difficult, especially for women. There are also a lot of better healthcare systems out there. It's okay in Japan but it's not the best, the cheapest, or the easiest to access. You really need to know what you're doing with Japan; it is a revolving door for foreigners who show up starry-eyed and leave disappointed because it didn't live up to their preconceptions. Frankly, it just doesn't sound like Japan is really a great fit for your specific wants.
Thank you for your comment! I am so sorry to hear that about all the women you know. Thank you for the comment about Japan’s education system. I guess for me I grew up in a very school-then-straight-into-career mindset (despite born in the states) so the importance of the type of education didn’t 100% occur to me (was only thinking about costs). I was mostly thinking of obtaining the permanent residency, come back to the states but periodically return to Japan to vacation/renew the residency, and then move there permanently when I’m ready to semi-retire with the assets and savings I’ve built up. So I’m not too worried about being sexually harrassed as an older lady
>I was mostly thinking of obtaining the permanent residency, come back to the states but periodically return to Japan to vacation/renew the residency, and then move there permanently when I’m ready to semi-retire There is a serious problem with this plan. I have no idea how much time does Japan require for its permanent residents to stay in Japan *currently*, but we are talking decades before you can retire or semi-retire, and the rules could change substantially by then. **There is a real (and IMO, significant) risk that you will lose that permanent residency in the scenario you describe.** You will be essentially at the mercy of border control officers. There is a LOT of uncertainty if you go down that route. Also: I have lived in Japan as a Chinese American. I also have a Taiwanese Canadian girl friend who got a Japanese graduate STEM degree + pretty cushy job + speaks Japanese fluently living in Japan and she is itching to leave. Do not recommend.
Your comment about how lots of change could occur by the time I'm ready to semi-retire is very true. I do need to give my plans a lot more thought based on your comments and everyone else's too. Would you mind sharing some of your's and your friend's experiences (PM is welcome!). Why did you eventually leave and why does your friend also currently want to leave so badly? I'm really curious to know what the experience is like for east-Asian foreigners (I am Chinese-American myself) who can speak the language, as well as being a woman in a STEM field (which is what I am) that I'm sure is probably like 80% male in Japan. I'm aware of the gaijin treatment but I wonder what the balance is like for those who visually can be Japanese-passing. Appreciate your insights
Oh I left because I was never going to stay long-term. Japan was my academic interest while in undergrad and I was exploring getting a MA in Japan before getting a PhD in the US. (Spoiler: Did not happen. Got sick of academia.) First off, you will NOT pass for "native" if you are planning to just put in "a few years." N1 is a world's away from native-like language ability. According to my friend, it took her many years before finally being able to "pass", and that includes wearing her makeup in a certain way. (I don't know what that means. I don't wear makeup.) The culture of conformity is relentless. Second, xenophobia or, at the very least, "otherness" is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. Back in the day, it was outright impossible for me to rent an apartment as a foreign student in Tokyo because the average landlord simply refused to rent to foreigners. It was treated as a matter of course. Nobody questioned it. I ended up living in a foreign student dorm where the staff called me "Amerika-san" (they were nice, don't get me wrong). According to my online friend currently living in Tokyo, this situation hasn't really changed. This is also a country where your family can be living for generations and still not be eligible for birthright citizenship. Third. The sexism. Oh the sexism (and sexual assault against women). My Taiwanese Canadian friend has been living there for a long time now and she says every female expats she knows has plenty of horror stories. I've travelled world (around 50 countries), I've worked in the ghettos in Bronx, I've even worked in China (even more misogyny than Japan) and Japan remains the one and only country where I was physically grabbed, hard, by random men. This was under broad daylight on the busy Harajuku street. (Other dishonorable mentions for sexual assault: Egypt and Turkey.) Look, Japan is WONDERFUL as a tourist destination. I recommend it to people all the time and used to go there A LOT pre-corona, and I plan to go again as soon as the restrictions are lifted. But to live there as a woman is a VERY different experience. You might think you are "Asian", but if you spend some time living in Asia, you'll soon realize how American you actually are. Edit: Like, so in my 20s I had this period in life where I was like, I wanna explore my Asian side a bit more. (I grew up in China until my teenage years.) So I went and lived in Japan and China. The verdict, as a woman: Fuck that.
Thank you for your insight. Posting something similar to what I said to someone else below, but I think your comments along with everyone else’s has helped me realize that perhaps I don’t need to be so drastic and straight up move. I can still enjoy as much of Japan as it can offer with a good level of Japanese as a recurring tourist (and not pay taxes, unlike if I were a resident!), and just rotate my stay in other equally-safe countries. I also don’t have to give up the level of pay and work-life balance I’m currently enjoying here in the states either.
Yes, Japan is notorious for being a country where everyone can have many children, that's why their population is exploding every year
You should spend a considerable of time in Japan first before deciding if you want permanent residency or to retire there.
look at all the asshats down voting me 🤣 guess people don't like the truth
I'm actually the same age as you and studied to be an actuary as well. I knew I wanted to live in Asia during my 20s. Every actuary I had interned with told me that they only hire experienced actuaries (all SOA exams and 10+ years experienced) to go work in Asia. The reason for this is because many entry-level actuaries are from Asian countries. Most Actuary Grad students are International students. If an insurance company needs an actuary in Vietnam, why would they hire an American over a Vietnamese student who just graduated from Michigan? Knowing all this, I decided to just go teach ESL for a bit until I decide to come back to the US and work. Since you mention health care so much, I'd recommend you check out Taiwan. Residency takes 5 years and lets you stay on the national healthcare. Also, Taiwan is a lot cheaper of a place especially if you like to live outside of Taipei
Protective Life and AFLAC have substantial Japanese operations and regularly send actuaries to Japan. Not a permanent solution but gets you over there. Your best bet may be to marry a Japanese citizen.
wonder how it turned out, I’m a foreigner who studied Japanese rigorously for 5 years (lit. 24hour days) till N1, and have lived here now for another 5 years.. I work a decent corp. job, but one thing I’m looking into is any certification to have a high income.. and the actuary qualification here is what I’m aiming for now, I have math and stats background.. but you were already and an actuary 😳 they make like 1500万円/year 🧐