Hi,
My SO works for Toyota. He is Japanese and a native Japanese speaker. He has been chosen for an ICT position that could last 2 years.
I could possibly be moving with him. I say possibly because I am in recovery from an eating disorder. I am doing well and winning but am still seeing a therapist and dietitian who specialize in ED. From my research there are only a handful of people centered around Tokyo who are bilingual and s specialize in Ed. When I say handful I mean literally less than 10, who have trained in the US.
Adding to this, as far as I know the general attitude toward eating disorders via the national website for eating disorders in Japan is that the behavior is encouraged and the obsession with thinness is prevalent in Japan.
I know this is also heavy in the US, but we also have several more treatment options here.
I would like to know from people who actually live in Japan, what the general attitude towards weight and shape is. As I said, I am doing well in my recovery. However, I do not wish to jeopardize it by going to Japan if the attitude toward disordered eating behaviors is encouraged.
Edit: I don't speak Japanese but can understand some. The thought of being reduced to a dependent person who can't communicate also worries me. I'm not sure I would be able to work while there.
by Misc-555
2 comments
As a foreigner, very few Japanese people would push that culture onto you. I go to Japan all the time and it’s never been an issue for me (I have a Japanese wife too).
First, you won’t be moving with your SO to Japan without a visa. There’s no visa for being the SO. First you need to consider what the visa options are for you. It’s either getting married, and having a spouse visa. Having a student visa going to school there, or finding a job that will sponsor you.
Then on to your eating disorder, and do be aware ED in medical lingo in japan has a different meaning that men have to deal with. Eating disorders are medically known as sesshokushougai / 摂食障害. This kind of a blanket statement covering anorexia and bulimia. Finding english counciling for this will be few and far in between. And if your SO works for toyota, I’m going to assume that he’s going to be at the toyota hq, and not in Tokyo. ( It’s in Aichi.) Which makes your situation less tennable.
As for what people think? People wont be shaming you in the streets. Generally people dont care, and you wont be going around with a big sign over you saying you have issue you’re working through. There’s thin people and fat people everywhere. That being said, there’s not a lot of midwestern 350lb fat in japan, and in general most people will gasp and gawk at people that size, but it wont be chastising or event noticeable. People wont force you to binge eat, or binge drink. And you’ll most likely find that going out to eat will result in weight loss as food portions are smaller.
But visa.