Americans moving to Japan for safety and affordability

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t groping a thing in Japan. I know for a fact that Japanese men have some pretty messed up views on women.

Yes. The metoo movement is way behind the US in Japan. Gender roles are a whole lot different in their culture. First time I heard the term "Christmas cake" was in Japan. It's the term for a woman over 26 -- she's unmarriable at that point.

[Anonymous]

I"ve been to Japan many times, and in many cities. There is a huge amount of xenophobia. Being white and male, I largely benefited from this -- I got free entry into some clubs while my Japanese colleagues did not, because I made the place look "cool". But there are plenty of establishments which have signs like "Japanese only" and they simply won't let you enter if you are not Japanese. It kind of reminded me of the "whites only" signs they used to have in the US.

I do have American friends living in Japan. You'll always be an outsider there, even if you integrate and speak the language. You're not Japanese.

But... if safety is your concern, Japan is indeed ultra-safe.

[Anonymous]

I've been groped in the US.

[Anonymous]

Interesting article on the availability of cheap historic homes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/realestate/japan-empty-houses.html

Japan Has Millions of Empty Houses. Want to Buy One for $25,000?
With a shrinking population and more than 10 million abandoned properties, the country is straining to match houses with curious buyers.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure you can’t just decide to up and move to most countries on a whim.

[Anonymous]

It’s not just mass shootings you have to worry about in the US that doesn’t happen in other countries. In Japan, S. Korea, parts of Northern Europe (maybe … not sure anymore), Singapore, etc. you can have your laptop, phone etc. out at a coffee shop, get up to go to the restroom or get something else at the counter or whatever, come back 5 minutes later and your stuff will still be there. All of it. No theft.

You won’t be aggressively panhandled to by the mentally ill homeless. People won’t be openly using drugs on the street and sleeping in tents. Not saying it’s perfect though because there are a lot of problems in Japan in particular with groping and sexual harassment on public transit. But you aren’t going to be wondering if that dude with the crazy eyes is about to push you in front of an oncoming train or pull a gun on you and steal your phone.

[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?

8500 yen is about $60

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no place in the world except maybe South Korea for safety, public transportation and food. We absolutely dream of moving to Japan. There are many, many other beautiful towns and cities besides Tokyo. Housing in Japan is very affordable. Everything is cheap in Japan for an American, but if you earn Japanese money it isn't cheap because their incomes are very low. You must learn Japanese, which is hella difficult, if you want a chance at having any job besides a lowly paid English teacher.

There is xenophobia and yes, you will never be Japanese no matter how hard you try to integrate. Those are small tradeoffs though to find asylum from illegal immigration, gun violence, crime, ridiculous health care and all of the other cancers plaguing the US.

I want to retire for a few years in South Korea.

Food is super cheap, and they aren't *as* xenophobic as the Japanese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t groping a thing in Japan. I know for a fact that Japanese men have some pretty messed up views on women.

Yes, that’s why their subway system has separate cars just for women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just mass shootings you have to worry about in the US that doesn’t happen in other countries. In Japan, S. Korea, parts of Northern Europe (maybe … not sure anymore), Singapore, etc. you can have your laptop, phone etc. out at a coffee shop, get up to go to the restroom or get something else at the counter or whatever, come back 5 minutes later and your stuff will still be there. All of it. No theft.

You won’t be aggressively panhandled to by the mentally ill homeless. People won’t be openly using drugs on the street and sleeping in tents. Not saying it’s perfect though because there are a lot of problems in Japan in particular with groping and sexual harassment on public transit. But you aren’t going to be wondering if that dude with the crazy eyes is about to push you in front of an oncoming train or pull a gun on you and steal your phone.

And does that make you wonder why???

Ever wonder where their mentally ill, addicted, and disabled are?

Ever wonder what happens to people *accused* of a crime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Japan is notoriously xenophobic.

Maybe xenophobia is preferable to overt sexism and potentially fatal racism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just mass shootings you have to worry about in the US that doesn’t happen in other countries. In Japan, S. Korea, parts of Northern Europe (maybe … not sure anymore), Singapore, etc. you can have your laptop, phone etc. out at a coffee shop, get up to go to the restroom or get something else at the counter or whatever, come back 5 minutes later and your stuff will still be there. All of it. No theft.

You won’t be aggressively panhandled to by the mentally ill homeless. People won’t be openly using drugs on the street and sleeping in tents. Not saying it’s perfect though because there are a lot of problems in Japan in particular with groping and sexual harassment on public transit. But you aren’t going to be wondering if that dude with the crazy eyes is about to push you in front of an oncoming train or pull a gun on you and steal your phone.

And does that make you wonder why???

Ever wonder where their mentally ill, addicted, and disabled are?

Ever wonder what happens to people *accused* of a crime?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-mental-health-patients/2021/06/18/e07334f2-c2a7-11eb-89a4-b7ae22aa193e_story.html#

Long story short: any deviation from the norm and you risk being carried away and institutionalized.

They don’t even tolerate anxiety or depression. Both demonstrate weakness, lack of self-control, and shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

And especially being a woman in America (or anywhere, really). It’s always shocking to me how different my state of vigilance is compared to men. Not really on point, sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just mass shootings you have to worry about in the US that doesn’t happen in other countries. In Japan, S. Korea, parts of Northern Europe (maybe … not sure anymore), Singapore, etc. you can have your laptop, phone etc. out at a coffee shop, get up to go to the restroom or get something else at the counter or whatever, come back 5 minutes later and your stuff will still be there. All of it. No theft.

You won’t be aggressively panhandled to by the mentally ill homeless. People won’t be openly using drugs on the street and sleeping in tents. Not saying it’s perfect though because there are a lot of problems in Japan in particular with groping and sexual harassment on public transit. But you aren’t going to be wondering if that dude with the crazy eyes is about to push you in front of an oncoming train or pull a gun on you and steal your phone.

I live in the Midwest and none of these problems are relevant. I don’t even own a key to my house, the house I have lived in for 15 years.

Blame DC and other major city governments, not the US as a whole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t groping a thing in Japan. I know for a fact that Japanese men have some pretty messed up views on women.

Yes. The metoo movement is way behind the US in Japan. Gender roles are a whole lot different in their culture. First time I heard the term "Christmas cake" was in Japan. It's the term for a woman over 26 -- she's unmarriable at that point.

Japan is based