| Expect a lot of vending machines Expect that you will be labelled as "Gaijin" or Foreigner - you're already stereotyped by them once they know your a foreigner. Doesn't matter though, most of them are nice. Most Japanese in cities can actually understand english, and most of the stores knows english. So don't worry about not being able to speak Japanese. Clothes are expensive - its cheaper in S.Korea and they look the same. Some Japanese visit S.korea and spend most of their money on clothes rather than visiting sites and stuff. If you want to pay bills and such, you can go to the nearest store and pay for it - its really convenient. They use their phones to pay for stuff, use the bus, trains and so on. You can still do it the old fashion way, but most people do it with their phones. Don't worry about speaking Japanese. Once you're in the country, you'll eventually learn how to speak and understand their language. Like they say, its better to learn a new language by being surrounded by the people who speaks it. You'll be fine in Tokyo, its a city after all - its just a matter of whether you experience a culture shock or you automatically fit in. I moved in a more rural-ish area of Japan, so it was harder for me to fit in. TV sucked - no cable, super fast internet though. Japanese TV really sucks. Also, some Japanese girls are cute only when they're not showing their teeth. You'll find out eventually. |
| If you could get a random Japanese girl to call you Onii-chan on a random street, I'll call you god. And yes, most Japanese people are nice and friendly despite you being a gaijin. johnkx said: Also, some Japanese girls are cute only when they're not showing their teeth. You'll find out eventually. Those are nasty... had a bad experience with those Japanese exchange program students. |
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| Yeah, I've heard about the gaijin thing haha there are gaijin hunters who are obsessed with foreigners and they can be all creepy and stuff, cousin was over there for a month a few years ago and he was saying he had 2 girls stalking him. |
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NicoleB said: DJIzzyIzzyHitler said: what makes you think they hate blacks? if anything they ironically hold more of a grudge against caucasions, i mean really anything not asian gets the msot hate, but caucasions are just like the plague to them Friend of mine has lived in Japan for around 2 years ago~, sheis a caucasion and has never had a problem, if anything they said that people are too polite and she often has to deal with people being too friendly (not in the pervy sense, although that is someone you'll have to deal with if your unlucky). From what my sister has said, it seems that the Japanese tend to use over-politeness as a way of maintaining distance with those they don't like, as well as showing utmost respect to those they do like. I imagine it must get very confusing not knowing which applies to you. |
| My advice: stay in Australia You don't know japanese, what are you going to do there? What future do you see in Australia to a person that can't write english? The same applies for you there ^^ ...Let's assume that you will spend two years in intensive japanese courses, then what? In the labor market you are going to be a foreigner with only jlpt n5 vs native speakers with college degrees, why someone would hire you? What can you offer that all those japanese can't? =o In the foreigner level you have to consider the proximity with China, chinese are more fluent in japanese due to language approximation and work for less money xD If you want to teach english in private institutions that don't ask for a teaching degree, in Japan there are already 90.000 foreigners from native english countries and private institutions prefer people from England and USA The foreigners that most quickly find a middle class job are engineers with jlpt n4 or n5, and we are talking of six months, a year, imagine someone without a degree Anyway, if you work with your parents you can solve those problems, good luck |
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zeneevee said: Yeah being able to speak Japanese is almost a requirement if you are to live there. I can't imagine living in a foreign country for any amount of time being unable to speak the language. Its funny you say that, because I am from Australia, and a lot of people who come over here to live can't speak the language. I work in customer service and its a bloody pain in the ass. |
Eyes always lose their fire |
Sashface said: zeneevee said: Yeah being able to speak Japanese is almost a requirement if you are to live there. I can't imagine living in a foreign country for any amount of time being unable to speak the language. Its funny you say that, because I am from Australia, and a lot of people who come over here to live can't speak the language. I work in customer service and its a bloody pain in the ass. Funniest shit I've read tonight, that is so true ... I worked a year ago in a warehouse in north sydney and the hole thing was full of Indian's I was the only Australian, I couldn't understand a word. |
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| the worst |
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"I will close my eyes and let the darkness be the light that guides me through the path of chaos"    Call me the Jelly Factory. I'm the world's largest producer of jelly. |
100kitty said: BloodRequiem said: Perverts on the trains. Vending machine selling panties. Sex toy shops. Everything expensive as hell. Lol So true I agree, they are too 'forthright to this stuff. |
| Surprise buttsecks by invisible ninjas |
Bernd said: Surprise buttsecks by invisible ninjas Forgot to mention this. |
 Steam: Zeemanhuismerk |
| Well I haven't lived in Japan, but I have lived in south-east Asia for most of my life, and I'd say expect a lot of stereotypical judgement's and opinions about you. It's probably worse in Japan than what I experienced from what I've heard of Japan's racism. |
 If you really want to fit in, just put Legend of the Galactic Heroes in your top 5 and have it be the only 10-rated anime in your list. |
| Good for you. Careful with "average" highschool kids, they may look normal, but who know what they're hiding. |
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Bloodcalibur said: good show sir .. good show. |
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ParaParaJMo said: I have lived in Japan for 3 years and have lived in 5 cities (Sakaide, Matsuyama, Hiroshima, Shibata, and Warabi). I dont know why your family is moving to Japan but Tokyo is a more foreigner accomodating city compared to some places. The trains in rush hour are way more crowded than you see in pictures or videos. It is hard to breathe at times. During those hours, women can ride in their own trains. Japan is a very safe country and one of the safest in the world, but the shitty thing is that it is one of the most expensive places in the world right now and it is really worse if you are an American because of the exchange rate. If you are coming to Japan from America, your money will get violated like a school girl because of that. But if you are an anime fan, going to Akihabara I am assuming is a lot of fun for you. I live less than half an hour away from there so I go every other weekend. It is funny I have never seen any vending machines with used school girl panties. I recommend you and your family go to the Skytree. It is incredibly fun. Do you know which part of Tokyo you are moving to? Like Shinjuku? Shinigawa? Taito? Meguro? Toshima? Kita? Itabashi? I live pretty close to Itabashi and Kita. If you plan on driving, and if you have a license prepare a document that says you have been driving for more than 3 years so you can get the Japanese license. Thankfully Australians and other citizens of commonwealth countries dont have to take the stupid ass driving test to get the licesne. Just the written test. The license test is the most stupidest thing I have ever done in my life and taking it, I now began to realize why minorities call standardized testing racist in America. And most of all, be prepared to become an AKB48 fan That you ! that is heaps helpful advice ! no specific destination yet I'll have a place setup in a month ish. Thanks for that license tip also, really helpful :D and yeah I've heard the trains are pretty bad, they have specific carts for females cause they get groped.. oh well see how it goes, thanks for all the helpful advice guys, I'll probably continue to update this when I dig deeper in whats going to happen ! |
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ParaParaJMo said: And most of all, be prepared to become an AKB48 fan Damn it, there's no way I'm moving to Japan now. |
| GO TO THE BEACHES!!!!! I used to live there for 10 years. Don't bump into anyone!!! |
JavierR said: akira1998 said: GO TO THE BEACHES!!!!! I used to live there for 10 years. Don't bump into anyone!!! why not? Nice boats. |
Steam: Zeemanhuismerk |
| Last time i was there. I bumped/ran into a guy.... hehehe not the best... he got mad so i ran away and he ran after me...... |
| Just go and have fun, im sure 90% if not all of the people in here wish they were in your shoes for that matter. |
| I'm pretty sure that K-On is the equivalent of Naruto amongst the otaku over there. Just be aware that they will probably still look down on you for your hobbies |
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| Agree. English is totally useless there. |
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| Be careful, you're gonna see a lot of Japanese looking people. |
XeroCleaths said: Be careful, you're gonna see a lot of Japanese looking people. Holy shit, what do I do though? do I talk to them or kill them? I'm so confused :p |
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| elevens everywhere |
| they dont have an eyepatch?? |
Create said: elevens everywhere |
JavierR said: get called onii-chan and you win the game. enyoeos said: the first girl to call us onii-chan~ she is the one you just know she is the one. |
| もののあはれ。。。 |
| Amusing topic. But something serious for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL7E4HRY_zU Check out the guys channel, he tells you a lot about the country. |
| A lot of people staring at you if you aren't Japanese looking. |
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BloodRequiem said: Sounds like Amsterdam.Sex toy shops. Everything expensive as hell. ParaParaJMo said: Is that similar to being a AK47 fan?And most of all, be prepared to become an AKB48 fan I think you should be prepared that it's a different culture then the one you came from and some things will definitely be different from the things your used to. In Tokyo the most common way to travel is by train and from what i can tell it's best to avoid those during rush hour since they get so crowded that you would just feel uncomfortable. I heard they even have people that are hired to push people inside of the train to make sure everyone can get on. It's also wise to set your cellphone on silent mode when using public transportation and don't pick it up when it rings calling on the train is a major taboo in Japan, text messages and browsing the internet is fine tho. Also in train stations almost everything is in Japanese so make sure you plan ahead when traveling around Tokyo since it can save you allot of trouble, off course learning Japanese is the best option to avoid this problem. |
| akb48 iirc was some theater group right if op is a guy op will probably hear of them |
| ~"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands." (Pirsig) |
BlueOni said: JavierR said: get called onii-chan and you win the game. enyoeos said: the first girl to call us onii-chan~ she is the one you just know she is the one. Ahhahahaha.... So true xD |
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| MAL is probably the worst place to ask this question because everything these people know about japan, they learned from watching anime |
Allah said: Except for the people on this site that live in Japan or have.MAL is probably the worst place to ask this question because everything these people know about japan, they learned from watching anime |
     Short of the day: Monotonous Purgatory(MAL) ✰Public Domain Club | One Piece Club✰ |
IntroverTurtle said: Allah said: Except for the people on this site that live in Japan or have.MAL is probably the worst place to ask this question because everything these people know about japan, they learned from watching anime 1 or 2 %? |
Bernd said: There have been a couple people just on this thread that have lived in Japan, and there have been multiple people who provided links to serious websites about getting used to life in Japan. I still don't see how it's the worst place to ask a question about it.IntroverTurtle said: Allah said: Except for the people on this site that live in Japan or have.MAL is probably the worst place to ask this question because everything these people know about japan, they learned from watching anime 1 or 2 %? |
Short of the day: Monotonous Purgatory(MAL) ✰Public Domain Club | One Piece Club✰ |
Bernd said: IntroverTurtle said: Allah said: Except for the people on this site that live in Japan or have.MAL is probably the worst place to ask this question because everything these people know about japan, they learned from watching anime 1 or 2 %? You don't have to live in Japan to know anything about that country -.- there is a lot of ways to find out, not only manga/anime. And to understand them, if you really feel like knowing their culture you can just go and sight-seeing, talk with them [ I know it's not so simple, they aren't so welcome to starngers, but hey, not everything is simple in the begining ]. |
ParaParaJMo said: So as someone from as a Western person we really stand out in Japan.as for percentages, keep in mind that the foreign population of japan is 2% and amongst that 2% more than 90% of them are from neighboring asian countries like china and korea Tho i did hear that Japanese people tend to be more open towards Western people then those of nearby Asian countries. However i don't know whether this is true. |
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