Job Discussion Forums

[bc2rlh]

Hiya,

I'm just wondering why all you lovely people chose Japan to work in? I'm interested in Japan but when I've recently started telling family and friends my plans to move the general reaction is 'Why Japan? It's so far away!' and that's all they say. So it got me wondering what motivated everyone here to take the plunge and move there?

Thanks.

[goman72]

Hi, it sounds like your friends and family have never travelled, or travelled far...

Japan is just so exciting, it's old yet new at the same time. The people are really nice and if you go and teach in the countryside you are treated like a celebrity (and stalked like one too!!).

I am waiting to hear back from the JET programme where I had my interview back in Feb, but there are many ways to go to japan aside JEt.

Keep searching in these forums, check out the Internet and libraries for info on Japan, get a copy of Lonely Planet, go to your local consulate or embassy and get loadsa information, maps, etc... satisfy your curiosity.

personally i love the language, the people, the hectic and quiet aspects and the culture (theatre such as Kabuki, Noh, Bunraku, etc.).

CG

[JimDunlop2]

I hate it when people remark, "Why Japan? It's so far away." I usually have to bite my tongue to avoid responding with the first thing that comes to my head: "Yes. The further the better to help me get away from people who think like you." As if geographical proximity had anything to do with my decision.

Plain and simple, my wife and I have travelled in North and Central America, Europe, but never Asia. Japan seemed like a nice place to settle and live for a while as the standard of living is high and the country is fairly well "Westernized." Hence we would not be giving up our modern lifestyles: going out to movies, surfing the Internet using ADSL, electronics shopping, etc.. etc.... I guess you could've then asked, "Why not Taiwan or Korea then?" Well, all things said, I still think Japan is more Westernized than these countries, plus the job prospects seemed better here at the time (from many standpoints such as: job availability, salary, working conditions, etc...) In the end it wasn't just one thing, it was many little reasons that just all added together and surpassed our reasons for going anywhere else.

When Japanese people ask me why I came here I give an entirely different response. I usually answer them by asking whether they have ever climbed Mt. Fuji.... (Where I live, MOST people I've spoken to have)... I ask WHY. After I listen to their various responses, I usually respond with, "So, I guess it's fair to say then that you did it for the experience..... Well, that's the very same reason why I came to Japan -- for the experience."

That too is no lie.

[canuck]

Because I like it here.

[worlddiva]

[Synne]

Money my friend.

You'll find Japan has many of the same problems as most economic countries do.

You live in a city, or even a small area at that, and you'll probably get the feeling like you're on the sidelines of the Japanese social mainstream most the time.

Tradition and the whole aspect of a huge cultural experience in Japan is pretty lost admists this Neon/Hello Kitty driven/Disney/Karaoke after an Izakaya drinking bash society.

[worlddiva]

true...true!

[JezzaYouBeauty!!]

Because it's not Korea.

[Gordon]

for the self-motivated students and cheap inter-travel rail system

[denise]

Because I found a good job here.

d