Hey I’m 19 and just moved to Japan about a month ago. My Japanese is still pretty bad (around N5). People say the best way to meet locals here is by joining group activities but I honestly just don’t know how. I don’t have many hobbies besides music and photography. I tried meetup.com but it was just a bunch of old people doing photography and for the music there was just nothing i was interested in. I often go to livehouses but it’s hard to talk to people there because it’s loud and you have to scream at the person sitting right next to you. Idk just looking for some advice.
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meetup
>I don’t have many hobbies besides music and photography […] but it was just a bunch of old people doing photography
You went to a photography meetup and there were people doing photography? Did you talk to any of them? Maybe you’re still too young but at some point you stop caring about peoples ages so much as long as you have the same interests.
Idk. It seems like you’re well on your way. Maybe strike up convos from people who clearly went to the livehouses you go to but just right outside so it’s quieter. Maybe talk to the old people who are at the meetup doing what you’re doing.
Your hobbies aren’t well defined but go to events and go to commonly photographed places. There’s very specific photography culture here. Some people like photographing trains, some will go to the best spots to photograph fuji. I’m sure you’ll see other photographers in well photographed places you can strike a convo with.
How did you make friends before you came here?
I’m just gonna be honest with you OP. I think for many people, the key to happiness when living here is to not rely on others and just learn to be happy by yourself.
It’s notoriously difficult to make “good” friends in Japan. I feel like it’s pretty much a game of numbers/luck.
So keep going out to meetups, bars(when ur a little older) etc. and putting yourself out there until you find people you can make a connection with.
Unfortunately a lot of the time that’s probably gonna be with other foreigners who will likely leave the country after a short period of time.
In my experience, you usually have a better chance of forming a deeper relationship with natives through coworkers, classmates, housemates, romantic partners, and their friends or family.
Unfortunately most of the people you meet in the wild will only be interested in you because of your foreign novelty factor. You will exchange Line or whatever and then never contact them again. It sucks but it’s just the way things are. I’m not convinced it’s a Japan specific problem either.
Japanese people make friends at school just like you made friends at school. It’s generally difficult to make friends as an adult, and this is not a problem unique to Japan.
The average Japanese person may not actively seek out conversations with people from abroad, especially if they don’t speak Japanese well. At least an N2 level of proficiency is needed to enjoy small talk with locals.
Now, imagine how boring it would be to converse with people who don’t speak your language well when you’re back home.
The best way to make friends in Japan is to get to know people who are interested in your culture and language.