living and working in Japan...

[jcaliff]

I was in Kochi for three years. I loved it there, but it's a little far off the beaten track - getting any major city other than Kochi City took at least three hours, and overnight to Tokyo by bus. The people are really friendly though, and the food was great. I wouldn't want to live in a big city like Tokyo or Osaka - too many people, too loud, too dirty.

[jcaliff]

I only wanted to go there because it might be easier to adapt to, seeing its prolly more touristy and might be more accepting of foreigners and more commercialized and have more english speaking people and what not (im not fluent in japanese at all). But i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions and could help me out...it would be much appreciated.

Actually your original message made me think. You might have a better time adapting to Japan somewhere that isn't touristy and full of English-speaking people. It really depends on what you want to get out of living there. Is the only reason to go just to get anime stuff, or do you want to experience the culture and get to know the people? If you're only going over there to make some money, buy anime stuff, and bide your time until you come home, then it doesn't matter - you may as well just live in a big city. You could spend your whole life in Tokyo and barely need to know a word of Japanese. I know a lot of foreigners who spent all their free time with other foreigners, never interacting with the community, and after years in Japan could still barely get by with the language. I think you'll find that people are more friendly in general and even toward foreigners farther from the big cities, and your Japanese will improve dramatically the more you speak it and use it.

The best thing to do, IMHO, is to decide on an activity that you enjoy, whether it is sports, martial arts, a musical instrument, singing, shodo (calligraphy), tea ceremony, etc. it doesn't matter, join that group, and be an active member. Japan is very group-oriented society. Being part of a group is suddenly like having a large extended family. I had friends who did all of the above activities. One girl did taiko drumming, another did tea ceremony. One guy was in the local orchestra, another guy did judo and another did kendo. I had one person try to recruit me for judo, but I decided it was too dangerous after watching one session at a local dojo, and I ended up joining a women's chorus. Every one of the people I know who did some kind of activity found the same thing - the other people in the group would offer to drive them places, would make sure they were involved in the group activities, and it really made it much easier to make Japanese friends and to fit in with the town or village or area where they were living, instead of being the token foreigner who leaves work as early as possible in order to get home and get on the internet or hit the local forienger hang-out as early as possible each night.

[xKAKASHIx]

Every one of the people I know who did some kind of activity found the same thing - the other people in the group would offer to drive them places, would make sure they were involved in the group activities, and it really made it much easier to make Japanese friends and to fit in with the town or village or area where they were living, instead of being the token foreigner who leaves work as early as possible in order to get home and get on the internet or hit the local forienger hang-out as early as possible each night.

Thanx for the opinion, I definately want to interact with the culture and learn Japanese...joining a group I think is a really good idea my buddy there plays Go! every week and practices his japanese...I do want to buy some anime stuff as well but its more about me traveling experiencing another culture that I think I would enjoy.

I don't really want to live in the heart of tokyo or a large city but i wouldn't mind living a train ride from one...like to visit on the weekends and whatnot. Ive been told about Shibuya as a local hang out area which reminds me of a city "Royal Oak" which is like a local younger crowd to hang out in...Ive heard bands set up on the street and play (I play the drums...maybe ill find some taiko drumming) which would be awesome.

i dont just want to hide myself in my apartment and just make money I want explore the country....thats if i even get the job.


Thanx for all the good suggestions everyone