Americans moving to Japan for safety and affordability

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, a whole 60k people per year

And an increase of 3,000 over 2 years, or about 1,500 a year, out of the 334 million Americans. Or about about 1 out of 220,000 people, which would be like 4 people in Washington DC.

[Anonymous]

Japan is notoriously xenophobic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody who can move to Japan for safety was probably going to be pretty safe in the US

not true. Random shootings at malls, churches, schools.. Sandy Hook ES is in a nice CT town.

I read another article like this, except it was a man who moved to Spain with his family.

Basically same story: it was about safety. They had been visiting Spain from MO, sitting in an outdoor cafe, and not once did they think about a mass shooter. He said in MO, mass shooter thoughts go through his head whenever he's at a large gathering. His wife is a school teacher, and they did not want their kids to grow up doing lockdown drills for shooters.

And I totally agree. We went to the UK last year, and not once did we think about mass shootings; whereas, when I now go to the mall, movies, even church here, I think about "what would I do if a mass shooter came right now". What a difference.

Why are people so terrible at estimating risk?

Maybe it's the specter of all those dead kids.

[Anonymous]

It’s a slight increase, but you’ll still find FAR more Americans/American retirees living in Mexico and Costa Rica. Japan isn’t really welcoming to foreigners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody who can move to Japan for safety was probably going to be pretty safe in the US

not true. Random shootings at malls, churches, schools.. Sandy Hook ES is in a nice CT town.

I read another article like this, except it was a man who moved to Spain with his family.

Basically same story: it was about safety. They had been visiting Spain from MO, sitting in an outdoor cafe, and not once did they think about a mass shooter. He said in MO, mass shooter thoughts go through his head whenever he's at a large gathering. His wife is a school teacher, and they did not want their kids to grow up doing lockdown drills for shooters.

And I totally agree. We went to the UK last year, and not once did we think about mass shootings; whereas, when I now go to the mall, movies, even church here, I think about "what would I do if a mass shooter came right now". What a difference.

I sit outdoors at cafes all the time and never worry about mass shooters. Your neuroses are going to follow you regardless of where you go.

[Anonymous]

I feel perfectly safe here in the US. I travel all over. What I fear most is a Home intruder, and my dogs prevent that. Also fear getting pulled over. That’s about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody who can move to Japan for safety was probably going to be pretty safe in the US

not true. Random shootings at malls, churches, schools.. Sandy Hook ES is in a nice CT town.

I read another article like this, except it was a man who moved to Spain with his family.

Basically same story: it was about safety. They had been visiting Spain from MO, sitting in an outdoor cafe, and not once did they think about a mass shooter. He said in MO, mass shooter thoughts go through his head whenever he's at a large gathering. His wife is a school teacher, and they did not want their kids to grow up doing lockdown drills for shooters.

And I totally agree. We went to the UK last year, and not once did we think about mass shootings; whereas, when I now go to the mall, movies, even church here, I think about "what would I do if a mass shooter came right now". What a difference.

I sit outdoors at cafes all the time and never worry about mass shooters. Your neuroses are going to follow you regardless of where you go.

NP

I'm traumatized. Make fun of me, if you wish. A man shot 26 bullets at an outdoor cafe in Maryland. Somehow, he did not shoot anyone but he left a lot of bullet holes. I do think about this while sitting outside. If they want to shoot each other over drugs, fine. Let's give them a zone where they can do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But the tradeoff is employment, housing, transportation, schooling, taxes, language, and a whole host of other factors that collectively don't really make it a good tradeoff to uproot yourself (and family) and move....all bc you feel safer and a mole removal cost 8500 yen?

Of course it’s really personal and people’s motivations for settling in different countries vary but I’m laughing that anyone would think that the US has better transportation than Japan. I miss the Japanese rail system almost daily, never mind my cheap apartment and reasonably priced food. Taxes were also cheaper.

That being said I’m raising my kids in the states because I’m too American to have good vibes about the Japanese educational system and also my company wouldn’t sponsor my visa to live in Japan. There are pros and cons for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-moving-to-japan-safety-affordability-2023-7

The number of Americans living in Japan has grown slightly from 2020 to 2022, from 57,214 to 60,804.
Some Americans cite Japan's cheaper healthcare and greater affordability as reasons for moving.

- She said a lot of the expenses in Tokyo, like groceries, are comparable to the US, but the safety — which was her number one priority — is priceless.

"One of my favorite parts about Japan is safety," she said. "I am honestly so appreciative of the ability to be able to live in this safe community."

- We have one insurance card and we go to the town hall and get it," he said. "You basically just show that you're a resident of that town and you get handed your insurance card."

He recounted a minor surgery he had to remove a cyst on his face. He said all in all it took about 45 minutes and cost some 8,500 yen.

- The quality of goods and services in Japan is exceptional," she said. "Japan's public transportation system, in particular, is efficient, clean, and punctual."

Isn't some (or a lot) of the increase attributable to the borders finally opening up post-COVID? I loved living in Japan many years ago for a work assignment, but outside of certain areas, people there were a bit xenophobic and I always felt like they were watching me closely when I was in stores, etc.

[Anonymous]

You do understand that when OP says "Americans", they are referring to White people. Blacks and other people, need not apply because they are not welcome in Japan.

[Anonymous]

It would be really nice not to have to think about potential shootings all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be really nice not to have to think about potential shootings all the time.

Then don't think about potential shootings. The overwhelming majority of Americans will never be anywhere near a shooting

[Anonymous]

I just came from a long stay in Japan. I never realized how much I thought safety until I didn’t have to think about it. It’s like a constant low level stress when I’m in America.

[Anonymous]

I live on the Hill and am near shootings constantly, to the point that I just expect it. It was eye-opening to realize that people can wander in cities at night and not worry about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be really nice not to have to think about potential shootings all the time.

Then don't think about potential shootings. The overwhelming majority of Americans will never be anywhere near a shooting

but it still happens regularly, way too often, and it's random. Why do American adults think it's fine that kids have to practice shooter drills in school? That's so sad.