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Deicide

I have never been to Japan and yet one day after a Masters degree it is an idea that I toy with....

What are the negatives of living in Japan? Are there things that irk you or you dislike? Or is Japan overall very positive? Your input would be appreciated! Very Happy

Gypsy Rose Kim · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

1. Small apartments is number one for me. Thin walls. Ugly concrete buildings with wires hanging all over them. General architectural ugliness, actually. Ugly neighborhoods and ugly views. (Don't get me wrong. I know there are beautiful details all around, but such a rich country really out to work a bit harder on making pretty buildings.)

2. I hope to never live in a place with tamami again. It's nice to visit someone with tatami, but I hated the dampness and maintenance and such. I always felt like there were little bugs crawling around in there. Plus, I have cats, nuff said.

3. Many will go bananas over this one, but I think it's bloody preposterous that I can't smoke walking down the street when there is nobody around (save for nosy obachans peering over their balconies or people who give dirty looks from their CARS). I'll just leave it at that, though I could fill a thousand pages with all the reasons why I think it is bullsh.

4. Freezing cold apartments in the winter. Funny that when I lived in Korea, where the temperatures are lower and the people have considerably less money, I was warm and comfortable inside.

I could live without the above nuisances, but I've said it before: I think Japan is far and away the best place in the world to live.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I hate the fact that I work so much....I also wish I had a bigger kitchen and more access to cheap food that I could cook. My kitchen and my job are about the only things that make me angry though.
I love the people and atmosphere and the fact that it is so safe. I also love to save lots of money...hehe...

Deicide · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:45 am Post subject:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Plenty of positives.
Plenty of negatives. (People b-itch all the time. Haven't you seen the threads here and elsewhere?)

Focus on the positives; see if they pertain to you.

Plan on the negatives, and before you make the leap, really consider how much of an "inconvenience" they would be for you, compared to the people who posted them.

Do not address either of these with rose-colored glasses. You have to be as objective as possible.

Deicide · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject:

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Kanto summers: hot and humid, with cockroaches.
Tiny kitchens.
Lack of jobs outside ESL.

But, the positives by far outweigh these minor things.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

AndyH wrote:

Sherri · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject: