I suffer from quite a few challenging mental conditions, but mostly ASD seems to be the issue. I have family over in Japan and really admire them, one being my uncle who moved there from Europe to study Architecture, and then my aunt who is fully Japanese and runs her own holistic brand. I've always really liked Japanese art and subcultures specifically being Jpop, folklore, architecture and fashion cultures like Gyaru, Harajuku, Decora etc. I have mixed feelings with anime for numerous reasons but that's not what this is about.
A few years ago my Uncle took my 20 year old (other) aunt over to Asia and she did an exchange program and really enjoyed it and for most of my life I've kind of hoped he'd offer me the same thing. I don't have any other connections outside of my home country so Japan has always been the most stable chance for me outside my own country. But a problem that often eats away at me is Japan not having the best feelings towards people with ASD or mental conditions in general (to my knowledge). Sometimes I feel like maybe I'm delusional for even admiring a country that probably wouldn't even like me. But I don't have much faith for a future or even much positive feelings about my own country for me to want to stay, and judging by cost of living I would at least wouldn't have to worry about things being more expensive.
I kind of feel like I'm being entirely braindead and running away with myself in fantasies that anything good could ever happen from me stepping foot in Japan, but at the same time I still love the pop/culture, history and environment no matter how much I try to stop. And ultimately, there are a lot of people in Japan that I admire but can't help wondering if they'd even approve of my existence. Is there anything I should keep in mind if I were to go, or am I just being really delusional and should abandon all hope before I get in too deep to save myself?
by T00wi