I’m from the USA and always felt I would end up leaving the country. Japan is a super interesting place and I’m curious as to if it’s got potential for me. I’m really making sure not to romanticize the country, and give it a fair evaluation by listening to others experiences while keeping an open mind. But I’d like to visit for a few weeks next summer, and really soak it all in myself.
This is just a general outline of my situation:
-I’m a 16 year old male, and I’m white
-I’m nearing the end of High School, and really interested in perusing acting/creative art forms. Getting a full-on degree has never been a major priority to me, more so just being able to work doing things that I enjoy
-I’m already bilingual, but I have started studying Japanese, not sure if it’s because I’m from the USA but compared to those around me, I’m definitely above average when it comes to foreign languages
-I live in a fairly safe place, but it seems Japan would be a big step up
-There’s no public transport where I’m from, and I don’t really enjoy driving
-I do really like the connivence of cities, but I hate the noise and the mess. I’ve been to NYC and I found it to be a nightmare, I’ve been to smaller European cities and I really preferred how much quieter it was
-Personally, I’m big on being on time, being really clean, showing politeness, things like not wearing shoes in the house is something I practiced for years without knowing it was standard in other places
-I really enjoy Japanese food here, even though I’m sure it doesn’t compare to Japanese food in Japan
-I’m not big on going out constantly, and doing loud things, I get a lot of joy in just taking walks, reading, and calling friends
-I don’t have anything really holding me here, my mother is very supportive of me going abroad for school, or even living entirely abroad
-I do have the safety-net of my mother being able to support me financially, but I also have a lot of talent with animating, video editing, and photo work which I’ve done online, on the side to make extra money
I know this is a huge choice, but the USA isn’t my favorite, I’m taking a fair look at multiple places, not just Japan, and I’ve just gotten good vibes from Japan. I know going there will be a culture shock, it will take time to adjust, I’m gonna miss things from the USA, Japan doesn’t seem to be as cheap as it’s made out to be, but I hope I can genuinely take a good stab at this. Even if I made the choice to move back eventually, I’d find comfort in knowing I’m not bound to any country, and I can move and adapt should I want to.
I know I’m very young and lack a lot of experience so I just want to make sure I give this I really thoughtful and comprehensive look.
I would really appreciate input from others who have moved to Japan and their experience. And please let me know if I seem to be forgetting/not concidering important things. 🫶
by Express_Risk_4581