… and I’m not sure if it’s the right decision, just like many others in this sub! Insight or advice would be appreciated.
Context: I’m an Asian American female in my early 20s with a CS degree working in big tech in the US right now. I plan on hopping companies in a year once I hit 1-2 YOE because I’m not very passionate about our product and don’t really think I’m learning as much as I should be in my current role. Not very attached to the city I currently work in either. So, the world is my oyster in a year ish, and Japan is a potential destination. Never took the JLPT but my tutor says I’m about N4, hopefully it gets better in another year or two.
Also, disclaimer, I know going to Japan isn’t going to fix any fundamental unhappinesses in my life. I’ll probably end up working in Tokyo and it’ll be like any other big city in the world but more isolating. I’ve heard of the terrible isolation stories and know I have to put myself out there and even then, I’ll always be considered a foreigner. However, I’ve always wanted to live in Japan and don’t want to regret not doing it when I’m older, especially now that I’m young (no family or partner yet) and mobile (gonna switch jobs anyway). I don’t really care that much about “belonging” to a group though since I’ve never felt like I’ve belonged in the west (too white for the Asians, too Asian for the Americans) so I just appreciate that I’m able to see the world from different perspectives. I look for belonging in my local community rather than society as a whole.
So why Japan? I am extremely into Japanese culture, have visited there for ~3 week periods multiple times, have some friends there and just want to experience for myself what living there would be like. I hate driving and hate North American car centric cities with a passion so I’m also considering New York or Chicago for more of an urban lifestyle. But, Japan is just so much safer and cleaner and no cities here have a leg up on Tokyo public transit, or even Osaka for that matter. Most of my hobbies (jpop concerts, idols, harajuku fashion, learning Japanese) are so entwined with Japan that I feel I would really have a good time indulging in them there. My other social hobbies (volunteering, Buddhism if that’s a hobby, tennis and boxing) I feel I could definitely carry over to Japan too.
Also, I make way more money in the US in big tech here but I wouldn’t be going to Japan as an economic immigrant. Money is important but as a tech bro I’ll be compensated very well wherever I go in the world. I’m making peace with the pay cut. I think past a certain salary, increases in salary don’t bring more happiness. But of course, this is coming from a privileged tech bro perspective so take it as you will. I’m still exploring if there are any unhappinesses in my own life I’m projecting that I think moving to Japan will fix or if I genuinely love the country that much. I’m giving myself a year to think about it.
TLDR:
Pros: Big Japanese cities suit my lifestyle more (hobbies, love the culture). Work should not be a huge hurdle as I’m in tech (and hopefully don’t choose a company with no work life balance). Low COL so my tech salary should be enough to live well (in the country). Weather is way better. Oh my god the weather is shit here.
Cons: RIP the yen. Family is in North America. Not super fluent so adjusting will be hard. Make less money than in the states. Earthquakes. Probably gonna get discriminated against. Cultural differences can make it feel isolating. I’m an Asian American woman (dating will prob be hard bc I’m not a hot white dude plus cultural differences, also kinda scared of wearing short skirts in public).
Would staying in America and vacationing in Japan twice a year be better? Am I romanticizing Japan too much? Perspectives from other Asians who moved there in particular would be appreciated! Thank you!
by throwaway_4200103