MAJOR ISSUES IN JAPAN

10 comments

1. This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.

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   **MAJOR ISSUES IN JAPAN**

   This question is aimed at those who have moved/are moving to Japan. I would very much like to move to Tokyo as a Software Engineer in the future, and I have already calculated my possibilities given that I have informed myself about the various visas available, however I recently became aware of the fact that Japanese demographics are in sharp decline, threatening pensions of those who are retiring or those who already are and beyond that I know that many people find it difficult to make friends there or make them very slowly. Has it been a problem for you who have already moved/are moving? Or have you simply not considered these issues seriously?

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3. I mean demographic decline in Japan is not exactly hot news. Can’t really expect to live comfortably off of my regular retirement payments when I turn 60. So you have to put money away. It’s the same in many western economies, but Japan is a decade or two ahead with that problem. As a SWE in Tokyo you have the potential to earn well above average, so if you are in your 20s and want to make Japan your long term home, you will be in a good position.

   Finding friends can be a bit difficult if you are not an outgoing personality. If you speak Japanese and have any particular hobby, you should do just fine. Tokyo is a big place and basically everything can be found. If you can’t speak Japanese , most cities in Tokyo offer cheap Japanese language courses. Helped me make some friends in my area outside of work.

   Edit: some of the fancier sharehouses promote a terrace house (tv series) like culture. Also a good to get to know people quickly.

4. Considering you’re Italian, the problem with demographics isn’t that big of a deal. Yes Japan has a big problem there but so has Italy and many other western countries. Yen has been falling sharply lately, that’s bad and will affect you more if you were here, especially considering that wages here are comparatively lower than the US and probably Germany too (and in Japan days off are ridiculously low compared to Europe).
   As for the friends part, maybe you’ll be lucky and will make some international friends at work, it also depends on your level of japanese if you’re keen to meet japanese but… se ti aspetti di fare il classico aperitivo con gli amici il venerdì e festazza il sabato… no, il Giappone non è l’Italia.

5. Population decline is an issue that pretty much all developed countries are facing in one way or another. Japan may be on the leading edge of it, but its happening everywhere.

   Making friends outside of work as an adult is also rather difficult pretty much anywhere. Most of my non-work friends here came as a result of hanging out with the parents of my kids friends. I suppose if I had any hobbies or did anything other than work and wrangle my kids I’d probably have more friends. But I’m also rather a-social anyway so I’m happy with how things are.

6. If you enjoy social interaction with people are not a dick then making friends is easy. If you are very shy and do not like interacting with people you will struggle to make friends… like how it is everywhere in the world.

7. Tell me which country doesn’t have an issue?

   see canada?

   you just need to adapt.

   or just forget about it.

8. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/ageing-global-population

9. I don’t 100% rely on my Japanese pension. I put a good chunk of income into mutual funds in my home country, USA. Rural Japan will be very cheap to retire in, but I’m also looking at other countries like Thailand.

   Finding friends can be a slow process. Just be patient. I join Japanese language classes, meetups and just about any social event where other foreigners will be. I’ll also talk to any foreigners around my apartment complex.

   I also attend English sharing meetups for japanese that want to practice English, but for several reasons the relationships I have with Japanese friends aren’t as relaxed and casual. About once a week a random Japanese person will initiate a conversation with me so I’ll be as friendly as possible.

10. That’s an issue even a lot of European countries are facing not only Japan. Our generation just won’t get anything from pension system.