Hello Everyone!
For some quick info about me:
I’m a 24 year old male.
I have a child (1F)
I collect a monthly check from the VA.
I’m learning Hirigana (Japanese) on Duolingo in preparation for a visit to the country.
Questions that I have since I am seriously considering relocating to Japan:
What resources does Japan offer, if any, for foreigners interested in relocating?
What would be expected of me, as a foreigner, to not disrupt the Japanese culture when I go to visit?
Are there different “dialects” of the Japanese language that’s drastic enough to where what I’m trying to learn might not be efficient?
I understand I could Google search this information, but I do MUCH BETTER hearing directly from a source who resides in the country.
Based off of a few comments on multiple YouTube videos from people who are in my boat that currently live there and have for varying amounts of time that:
I expect to be seen as an outsider.
I expect to find difficulty in work.
I expect to be lonely and/or alone.
I expect to have hardships for at least the first few years of life there.
I understand that as a foreigner, I will experience these hardships and that it will be more difficult for me, as an adult, to become accepted by other adults. (I say this in regards to my child, as kids are often more accepting of others.)
I sincerely apologize if any of what I’m saying seems outlandish and/or if I offend a native from there, I just want to make sure I’m as respectful as possible to a country that which I wish to live in.
3 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Questions about Relocation to Japan**
Hello Everyone!
For some quick info about me:
I’m a 24 year old male.
I have a child (1F)
I collect a monthly check from the VA.
I’m learning Hirigana (Japanese) on Duolingo in preparation for a visit to the country.
Questions that I have since I am seriously considering relocating to Japan:
What resources does Japan offer, if any, for foreigners interested in relocating?
What would be expected of me, as a foreigner, to not disrupt the Japanese culture when I go to visit?
Are there different “dialects” of the Japanese language that’s drastic enough to where what I’m trying to learn might not be efficient?
I understand I could Google search this information, but I do MUCH BETTER hearing directly from a source who resides in the country.
Based off of a few comments on multiple YouTube videos from people who are in my boat that currently live there and have for varying amounts of time that:
I expect to be seen as an outsider.
I expect to find difficulty in work.
I expect to be lonely and/or alone.
I expect to have hardships for at least the first few years of life there.
I understand that as a foreigner, I will experience these hardships and that it will be more difficult for me, as an adult, to become accepted by other adults. (I say this in regards to my child, as kids are often more accepting of others.)
I sincerely apologize if any of what I’m saying seems outlandish and/or if I offend a native from there, I just want to make sure I’m as respectful as possible to a country that which I wish to live in.
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1. You can’t just relocate to Japan. Read the visa wiki for more information: https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/wiki/visas/
2. You will get no assistance to help you relocate from the Japanese government.
3. Learn the standard Tokyo dialect. This is what is taught globally anyway.
There are 3 dialects that are the most common but if you know Standard Japanese you will be okay as you can learn Kansai and Hiroshima dialects later. They have language schools for foreigners to learn Japanese. If I were you I would start with a tutor online until you take the plunge and finally move there. Genki 1 + 2 (beginner n5-n4)and Quartet 1 + 2 (n3-n2) are the best textbooks for English to Japanese learners. When you move, focus on making friends with Japanese people.