The unexpected reality of living in Japan as a foreigner

[@takashiifromjapan]

TOKYO GUIDEBOOK takashifromjapan.com/tokyocompleteguide

[@fruitspunch]

My man enjoying "Tokyo Drift" A man of culture indeed. And also he's spitting truth like a fire hydrant. Normal people living a normal life.

[@Cheepchipsable]

You would have to be 12 to not realise life in another country is not like in a movie.

[@fruitspunch]

@@Cheepchipsable I totally agree! Yet, I see a lot of folks dreaming about their anime-esque lives in Japan. I've been in Japan for my studies and it was wonderful and the people there were amazing. I learned a lot about their culture and in turn reflected on my own upbringing. It was truly a transformational time in my life and I gotta say, the pictures of the scenery and the temples don't do them justice. They are breathtaking!^^

[@thewhitene9746]

I'm one of those anime escapes and now having withdrawal symptoms of going back to reality​@@fruitspunch

[@yossarincatch6051]

@@thewhitene9746high animie is this. Let me try that drug

[@dekabrother]

Rom rom ji kya mauj aa rhi hai, aa bhi rahi ki waise hi waqt kat rhi hai😂😂😂

[@tylerdurden6882]

“I love my normal life” Damn, do I envy that statement. That’s the dream.

[@RiversJ]

Far too many people take decades to realize that is a live goal worthy of effort and work to achieve all on its own! Took me long enough and I'm very close to living it fully now

[@saraghenheoo1189]

@@RiversJ Are you talking about living in japan ?

[@agnishom]

Living a normal life is so underrated

[@MrShem123ist]

The American dude who said to read Kanji and work more on speaking and pronouncing rather than writing characters is so spot on. I actually made that mistake because I tried so hard on focusing more on writing rather than speaking. But yeah, at least now I know how to study the language more effectively and smarter. Nice video, Takashi san! 素晴らしい！👌

[@silveriver9]

There is no harm in learning to write Kanji. Writing it is art in itself, and you appreciate and understand the language and culture on a deeper level. Many foreigners can live abroad for decades yet hardly scratch the surface of the local culture.

[@Shadow-ashlad]

@@silveriver9 Yeah but the main point was that most people who are just moving or going to Japan shouldn't bother with learning to write Kanji if they can focus on improving their speaking and reading instead.

[@silveriver9]

​@@Shadow-ashlad Writing helps reading and memorization.

[@MrShem123ist]

@@silveriver9 yep, nothing wrong learning to write it. I'm just looking through a more practical side, depending of course in the case of every learner.

[@sboinkthelegday3892]

Americans literally treat Latin America as a backyard where all the exploitable labor comes from, while telling them to go back from "the home of Americans". While they don't HAVE a written language, they stole LATIN letters. The big reason most Japanese will not learn English is because Americans can't write THEIR OWN pronunciations like Shavian might allow. But Americans refuse to invent when they may steal. Doctors and lawyers write medicine and law In Latin because it's a real langauge. English is the backyard where people are deliberately dumb.

[@AndIwandermuch]

The Indian guy is spot-on. Living in Japan is just a regular life and not an anime.

[@chinavirus841]

It’s an anime

[@toonyandfriends1915]

me surprised when anime has a literal genre called slice of life

[@fireaza]

No one who actually moves to Japan genuinely believes it will be like an anime. You'd have to have do zero research and not watch ANY videos about life in Japan to manage a feat like that. No one who is making a serious decision like moving to another country would do that. This is purely the domain of teenagers. I don't know if you've ever met a teenager, but they're equal parts stupid and naïve. Thankfully, they don't let teenagers move to foreign countries.

[@AndreaAustoni]

why wouldn't it be normal?

[@R3IMU]

@@chinavirus841 Absolutely is. The aesthetics, the way people talk and act, the conversations you have with Japanese people. It is anime af.

[@mattxgill]

The Brazilian guy who mentioned the “three languages” thing is interesting. I’ve never heard anyone else say that and I feel it’s super important/helpful.

[@Aoiavalon.]

Yeah specially with the elders you need know how to be polite to be respected

[@mariaj6551]

100%. My Japanese tutor and I actually discussed this. With friends you are informal, business is formal, and strangers is kind of in between. There's different formalities for sure and ways of speaking.

[@marcos-ll2yr]

He was on point indeed

[@fuschiacandy]

What the Brazillian said applies to a lot of Asian culture and is not specific to Japanese. There’s no ‘three languages’, it’s just mannerisms are important and distinct, depending on who you’re communicating with, and even little sounds can mean a million different things.

[@perfectfit04]

Most languages have formal and informal. Spanish for example, I have made much better impressions with partner's parents knowing to use usted as a white American. I think a key difference may be the expectation of adapting to Japanese culture. Many other cultures are more lax, like where I am people are just happy I speak Spanish at all.

[@locusstandi8329]

There's a reason Rom Rom Ji is in the thumbnail. He's the second most popular youtuber in the video after Takashi with nearly 600,000 subscribers. He's also appeared in Japanese news quite a few times. I might be biased but Rom Rom Ji's content is the best among all the youtubers interviewed. It's the perfect blend of Japanese slice of life with Indian heart.

[@djoetma]

He's third from the people in this video (in terms of general popularity lower if we include tiktok) and Takashi isn't the most popular one. Also, Rom Rom Ji is only for Indian viewers. Pity, I checked out his channel, he seems interesting, but the translation tool doesn't work well for the way he speaks.

[@locusstandi8329]

@@djoetma Do let me know what mental illness you suffer from since his subscriber count and views exceed that of all other youtubers interviewed in this video.

[@djoetma]

@@locusstandi8329 Pity this is the level of decency you have. Yamil has 6,72 mln subs. But it's probably my mental illness that tells me that 6,72 mln is more than

[@locusstandi8329]

@@djoetma LOL you edited out 'youtube' and changed 4th most popular to 3rd in your original post instead of admitting you're wrong about Rom Rom Ji being 4th most popular and my comments clearly mention second most popular youtuber in the video after Takashi and most popular youtuber interviewed . You said Rom Rom Ji mostly caters to an Indian audience which is mostly true and yet you mention Tiktok which is banned in India since many years. Yamil has 6.72 M subcribers supposedly but barely 1% of his subscribers watch his videos. Rom Rom Ji consistently gets far more views than Yamil.

[@locusstandi8329]

@@djoetma BTW kindly explain to me how Yamil/Japon4K has 1.7 billion views despite him having much fewer videos and much fewer views on his videos than Rom Rom Ji? You can do basic arithmetic right? Yamil/Japon4K's views and subscribers are FAKE.

[@joshuatall8134]

I was stationed stationed in Yokosuka in 1993. I am an XL black man and it was interesting getting all of the stares. I realized early on that they are not rude, but that most people don't see 6'5" 300lb Americans every day. I loved that everyone saw me, but no one paid attention to me. The people are insanely polite and willing to help, all you have to do is ask, respectfully!

[@Thaddeus-ml8if]

Unlike in America where your ppl harass, racially bully, and physical assault Asians simply because of how they look.

[@GazAllTheJuice]

lefts be fair, youre 5"5 and 500lb

[@viaxxl]

⁠@@GazAllTheJuice*lets

[@pocoloco5030]

​@@GazAllTheJuiceYou can see him in his profile pic

[@VitalyGladkov]

Also most people in the world don't understand what x'y'' and lb means

[@navin7633]

@3:34 ROM ROM JI.... Love this guys video!!! @TAKASHI thanks for having him here.. :)

[@Godofgenjustu]

❤

[@Izzymill]

I visited Japan in November 2023 and had the best time. I am a 67 year old black woman and felt very safe . I met very friendly Japanese people even in the countryside. In Minobu when I got lost and I was helped by this elderly woman who took me in her vehicle to find the place I was looking for. I also was help by a friendly young man who took me to find the exact bus stop in Kossawa. The countryside was fantastic. I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hakone, Nagoya , Hiroshima and Minobu. If I were younger I would move to Japan - Just love this place. I am hoping to visit again soon. I would encourage any older person to visit Japan. Life is a risk in everything one does is a risk; so please don't be scared. I visited alone.

[@hina3155]

Great to hear you enjoyed your time in Japan. Please come to Osaka too next time you visit.😊

[@Izzymill]

i definitely will@@hina3155

[@ruru9400]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I have been wanting to go back to Japan. I have a lot of Japanese friends from high school and miss it. I went in 2001 but was wondering if it was safe to do solo travel in this day and age as a woman. I visited Atsugi, Tokyo, and Kyoto.

[@arieladelinechoo9845]

Would you like to go with me. I am also going alone. 😃❤️

[@christopherellis2663]

Good for you 👍 I have been in Europe since 2015, only returning twice to Australia ( boring) and my Age Pension is actually worth something in Central Europe. 75 this year. Must renew my passport

[@magicalpj]

The 2nd dude from Mexico is so right about how much cheaper the countryside is! I lived in Tokushima for 4 years and it was so incredibly cheap. I had no idea how spoiled I was until I moved to Tokyo.

[@arceus54321]

What was cheap about it aside from rent/ housing? Is food cheaper in the countryside?

[@magicalpj]

@@arceus54321 Housing was the cheapest thing, of course. Outside of that, local restaurants and shops were often much cheaper than in a city. They still have chain restaurants, which are the same price as anywhere. And there's some places that are still expensive. Like some omiyage shops, for example. But overall, I spent much less money there than in Tokyo.

[@alexv3357]

Even in Kyoto I could find Japan's famously expensive fresh fruits and vegetables for like 2/3rds or less the price as in Tokyo, and even cheaper in smaller towns

[@JapanRCAdventuresS]

@@arceus54321the biggest expense you have in Japan” is housing! That makes or breaks you, everything else as for expenses comes in a far second. place.

[@Dangic23]

I moved to Tokyo from Fort Walton Beach Florida and my cost of living went down 50%. I already think Tokyo is super cheap.

[@Rhonda-w2w]

Dude saying....."I'm I making sense right now" 😅 hes so Straight forward and to the point! 😊

[@HotLeafJuicer]

He was asking if he’s making sense, but yeah he is right

[@darrell9294]

Where are the bobs and vagene?

[@joeabadier]

6:16 As a foreigner in Japan, I learned that Japanese cooks are waiting for nice compliments from their customers, more especially if they are foreign customers. So a "Terrible!" response, joke or not, would certainly break their hearts.

[@nobodynothing00000]

I slurped my soup down in an ancient noodle shop tucked away in a corner of Shibuya run by this senior couple. The husband came out from behind the counter to hug me, I think he was complimented. Yeah it was delicious and I was hungry but wow, it was good.

[@customjuices]

100%. my friend and I went to an Italian restaurant in the neighborhood we stayed in Tokyo. We speak Italian, and when the waitress knew we did she had the chef to come over to speak to us in Italian...because like any Japanese skilled in a foreign trade like cuisine he had spent time there and knew the language. He was just so happy to have a conversation.

[@joeabadier]

@@customjuices Right. And that's another thing some of them are really proud of: a conversion-level knowledge of a foreign language

[@toqa6735]

@@nobodynothing00000aww TT

[@AllenRReid]

Great job of finding a very diverse group of individuals to interview, all with intersting stories to tell.

[@Hay8137g]

Some of them are professional commentators from his previous skits.

[@stanamilanovich3956]

I love the reporter's expressions when he turns to look at the camera. The surprised and worried looks are priceless.

[@kw6382]

When the black man from the US mentioned superficial....

[@GaryWRNY]

"people in the anime are made up characters" -my new mantra. This video was a banger, Takashii

[@JapanVirtualWalk]

8:40 - If you live in rural Japan a car is a necessity and parking is almost always free everywhere.

[@Telris86]

And if you live in a city you often have to have proof of an owned parking spot or you won't even be able to buy a car.

[@JapanFamilyGuy]

@@Telris86 Actually here in the countryside Japan, the Police had to sign off as proof we have parking spaces at home Before we were allowed to pay for our vehicle. In fact, I had to rent a car for weeks because we were moving to a different city to where we landed/stayed initially.

[@MrHitotsumusha]

True, to a point though. You still need to have proof that you have a parking space even in the countryside. But you are correct.

[@TausifAhmad03]

That Indian guy watched movies, anime and moved to japan thinking nice girls and and nice cars was the most Indian reason to move somewhere 😂😂😂😂😂

[@bobbybhadoriya395]

Stop being lame weirdo

[@DarkHeartedJoker]

I went to Japan for the first time this summer and loved every minute of it. Though there was one night my friends and I went to Shinjuku for karaoke and took the last train home at the end of the night. When we arrived at our station we saw a VERY drunk and oversized woman fall down and was struggling to get back on her feet. I was panicked because I wanted to help her but my Japanese is limited and I felt like that would add to misunderstanding. We did find an officer close by and he helped her. But in the time it took to get him no one helped her up. I also wanted to make friends while I was there but once we got there I felt like I'd be disturbing people if I just started talking to them so I stayed quiet. We plan to go back next year and I'll try to be braver about making friends, I'm also going to practice my Japanese more so I can communicate better.

[@s70driver2005]

Tell me about dude! I stumbled upon a car drift event at Fuji Speedway and wanted to talk to the guys there but didn't want to disturb them. Next time though I will!!!

[@Haru-vg8ut]

Drunk people walking like zombie and sleeping on the street is common view in Shinjuku and Shibuya. You don’t have to care about them too much.

[@ALLKASDLLS-mg4lu]

​@@Haru-vg8ut Yeah, in Japan you can sleep on the street and not be attacked.

[@masamiyaleco]

It's very common many drunk ppl in Shinjuku late at night. It's best to call the police or station staff if you find someone drunk too much.

[@jimbojimbo6873]

Oversized woman

[@AustinHarlow]

Loved to see Pawan bro and Takashi together. Hope i see you both again ❤🎉 Both are hardworking and i really love their content so much👍 He explained really well what we have to face while living in a different country and also explained how to never give up, such a humble and honest human being RomRomJi🩵

[@ruchan242]

I've been in Tokyo for an entire month in the cold season, with a weakened immune system (due to lack of sleep, mostly) and did not get sick, in spite of using trains and being in crowded places all the time. I think a big reason is that every time I heard someone cough or sneeze, they were also wearing a mask. In my home country, people on the metro will cough straight into your nose without covering their mouths and without caring that they might get others sick. That said, I think that the spread of disease in Tokyo is far less than it could be if people weren't so considerate of those around them.

[@Hay8137g]

When I was on Subway there, so many sniffing and coughing

[@FloatingWeeds2]

I am systemically immunocompromised and was worried about that. Spent all of the winter there this past yr and didn't even get a cold.

[@nathan3084]

I really appreciated the gentleman from Atlanta, GA speaking about streamers. I wouldn't say this applies to streamers only but to foreigners in general. I respecting the place you are visiting is basic etiquette. The culture is different, the societal norms are different. You aren't at home. You are a guest in someone else's home so act accordingly. Don't ruin the experience for all other foreigners by making an ass of yourself and giving the locals the impression that we're all like that.

[@Retro_Ra]

Exactly this. I'm actually from Atlanta as well and have been in Japan for almost three months. People really will treat you differently and be more open to engage with you when they see your being respectful and are genuinely interested in the culture,history,food,etc. Not being an asshole goes a long way but I see so many people here who don't seem to understand that.

[@CuracaoChic]

I was going to ask about this. What did he mean about the steamers? What are they doing exactly? Like walking around with their phones? Why are they going to Japan in particular? what is this all about? I am unfamilar.

[@Retro_Ra]

@@CuracaoChic There's been some really terrible people who've been here casuing problems. There's a famous youtuber named Logan Paul who was here a few years back who was harassing people,throwing pokeballs at people and filmed the body of a person who committed suicide. This past year there was a guy named Jonny Somali who was walking around harassing people,broke into private property and was just being a genuine piece of garbage. He's been arrested and is facing three years in Japanese prison. There's a few others that's done similar things that I don't know the name of as well. I think they come here because it's safe and people are generally non confrontational so they think they can do whatever they want. Given how things have been getting so bad with them though there is talks of actually putting people in prison as opposed to just deporting them in order to discourage this behavior.

[@mercurystarr]

Thanks for this info i had no idea- hope they both were arrested and thrown in jail.

[@CuracaoChic]

@@Retro_Ra Goodness! Thanks. I heard about Logan Paul but that was quite a while ago like 6 years. I have not heard about anyone else. yikes

[@JayDay04]

I'm Brazilian and after watching this video I can definitely see how our accent sounds like lmao each foreigner that doesn't have English as a first language has a specific accent depending of the country and that's very nice

[@nenadpopov3601]

Most ppl have accents because they either don't speak English for a long time or they don't want to lose it, I speak English since middle school and I always tried to sound neutral when I speak it and now I do.

[@ednaroddy2204]

Many thanks for the lovely video! Especially the diverse culture of those interviewed, absolutely lovely, thanks you! Greetings from London.

[@Calirobo1]

It was great seeing Renzo in your video. He also has a great channel about being being Black in different parts of the world, particularly Japan, called Black Experience Japan. Both of you guys have helped me with understanding more about the world and have made me excited to visit Japan.

[@voiciray]

as a person of color, I'm very grateful and also admire the courage of all the black brothers and sisters making videos about their experiences.

[@thipeck552]

I live in Japan for 7 years , I was only sick because of Covid , otherwise I wasn’t sick once . Which is unbelievable. Compare to where is used to Live in Munich ( Germany ) I had a flu every 6 month .

[@markstanley4141]

Only Covid in 7 years?,oh yea I buy that on:).

[@zeethakur1154]

Wasn't expecting Rom Rom still getting out of a Romantic Illusion of Japan!!!🤦🏻‍♀️ 😂😂😂 Oshin looks like a better influence than Tokyo Drift and Miyazaki if you intend to live there.

[@tomtalker2000]

I think you should cover Hikikomori. I believe this isn't just a Japanese problem but one that is affecting society in the US and worldwide for that matter. As we all become more technologically dependent in return our social skills are suffering from it. Having deal with mental illness myself for the past 40+yrs. That being BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), OCD, and Social Anxiety. Along with also not liking large crowds of people or social interaction i know ALL to well what these folks are going through. 85-90% of Hikikomori's are dealing with some form of mental illness. Society or parental pressure often pushes them over the edge in living the reclusive lifestyle they choose. In Japan, the society operates as a "collective one". By that i mean what is good for the group is good for everyone. Here in the US we operate as an "individualistic". What is good for us personally or each individual is all that matters. In Japan if you break from that collective societal norm you are often shunned. For example, get through college, find a good paying job, get married and have children in that exact order. If you deviate from that you are either bullied or shunned. Or if you simply can't keep up with the rest of your team as everything is a team effort in Japan. Your often bullied or disciplined. This would be enough to drive anyone bonkers and it often does in the form of suicide. As Japan has the 3rd highest suicide rate in the world. Last time i checked it was 35k individuals each year which is astonishing. As you can tell i have a great affinity for the Japanese people and there culture. There order and cleanliness as a nation not to mention extremely low crime rate speaks volumes. But again, all of that "strict structure" can have long term negative consequences on the psyche. It's only recently that Japan has acknowledged mental illness. And how important that ties in with MANY of these Hikikomori's or social recluses. However, 30 or 40yrs ago it wasn't looked at that way at all. You were often labeled as being lazy or not contributing to society. In other words, the underbelly of the real problems weren't being addressed. And that's why the number of Hikikomori's rose to the extreme numbers they are today. Unless Japan starts taking this problem seriously with SEVERE mental health intervention. It will only spiral out of control and get worse. They are excellent when it comes to staying ahead with technology and all of it's advancements. But yet they are so far behind when it comes to western medical advancements in the mental health area. This must be acknowledged and swiftly dealt with in order for there nation to prosper in all areas. It's a problem that simply can't be ignored and brushed under the rug.

[@jmillsey]

I hope your all safe in Japan after the earthquakes. Stay safe all and god bless. 🙏

[@trischulte]

Great episode. Enjoyed watching Takashi getting such diverse, real perspectives! Man, you could host any show!

[@kevinreily2529]

You are providing a great service, helping foreigners who want to visit Japan. Thank you for that!

[@raininseptember]

Looking good Takashii! This video was very helpful as someone who’s looking to move to Japan!

[@azabujuban-hito8085]

I wish I had time to learn the language before I moved to Japan. However the company that I work for only gave me (less than) a month notice ! It took me 3 full years to be able to fluently conversing in Nihongo.

[@ShubhanshAgrawal]

I like most things about living here, while working though, it is something I wish I knew. Almost alll the people outside of Japan know that Japnese work long hours and all, and to me that is no problem and was willing to work long hours before moving. But that is not the problem about working here, the problem is that no one talks anything personal in work, and they are too komakai or detailed about everything, the work becomes like 10 times harder due to this attitude and you can never take a break, this is something I wish everyone should know before coming here.

[@nathanalgren5247]

As an old school Gaijin who's been in/out/back in Japan since the 1980s: 1) know how to speak some Japanese, 2) spend a week+ in Japan before moving here - walk around A LOT and get familiar with things, 3) "managed expectations" can enhance your chances of enjoying Japan more and staying here longer (in a local LTR perhaps??).

[@MrPenguin4538]

Maybe it’s Tokyo that smashes the dream or expectation but everywhere I lived in Japan was fantastic. My guess is more liberal and expressive people go not expecting them to be as conservative and slow to open up as they are

[@missplainjane3905]

So you are fluent in the language and have been to all prefectures ?

[@seraph3761]

Your comment nailed it

[@missplainjane3905]

@@seraph3761 You visited sir

[@MrPenguin4538]

100% no but I can speak enough to make it on my own, and no I never said that. I still want to go to Hokkaido personally @@missplainjane3905

[@gordonbgraham]

It's much cheaper than I expected. Especially big ticket items such as homes. The average cost of a home in Tokyo is $300,000. The average cost of a home in Toronto (where I'm from) is 1.2 million.

[@KaitouKaiju]

This is you can't purchase a home unless you're a citizen which probably helps keep costs down. A lot of cities are so expensive because foreign investors sit on residential property.

[@gordonbgraham]

@@KaitouKaiju You don’t have to be a citizen to buy a home in Japan. I’m a permanent resident, not a citizen. I’m a homeowner in Japan.

[@Hay8137g]

But RE doesn't appreciate. So you are paying there to live. Too bad you didn't buy something in Toronto earlier

[@gordonbgraham]

@@Hay8137g I bought a home to live in and raise a family (I have 5 kids) not as an investment. I couldn’t have done that in Canada. Not now. I bought my home in 2020 here. I rented from 1988 until then. My last apartment was $800 a month for a 3 bedroom.

[@Betweoxwitegan]

Canadian homes will last over twice as long on average, Japan also has higher inheritance tax at like 55% and there are more rules and regulations regarding foreign acquisitions. Japanese homes are also held to less stringent criteria of qualitative assessment but overall it's probably still at least 40% cheaper when comparing your cited prices over lifetime averages.

[@misterwhyte]

Thank you Takashi for making these videos. They're always fascinating to watch. I look forward to visiting Japan one day thanks to you.

[@umiumisuki]

Yes, Japanese houses are cold af in Winter. I was living in Sendai and was warming my bed with two hot water bottles. In my student apartment the use of a こたつ or oil heaters was prohibited due to the danger of fire. However, further up in the north (Akita prefecture, Hokkaido etc) they actually have houses with central heating. Sendai seems to be the border between the areas in Japan with and without central heating installed, as far as I experienced it. But yes, houses are cold as the windows are usually not very thick and the traditional houses are designed to let the wind go through the house to avoid mold spreading due to the moist weather in summer.

[@dewitubeX1]

I respect TAKASHii's videos because he is really transparent with uploading people's point of views. he let people speak their minds. thank you for your content

[@miltonmejia4242]

I'm a very good pedestrian. I don't mind walking anywhere. I actually love seeing clean streets without cars parked outside the neighiborhoods in Japan and watch people walking

[@agnishom]

Parked cars ruin the streets

[@ShesooBreezy]

I feel like it’s easier and safer to get an apartment there. Especially, with their trains and busses here. You can get a nice apartment in the rural area and easily commute to the city for work or fun by train, bike, or bus.

[@Mr..A.]

Hi Takashi, your channel is so amazing. I learn so much not just about Japan, but get to see and hear from people of diverse background.! ❤ Hopefully i get to travel to Japan soon!

[@Kentworlds]

I love all your videos bro, honestly been following Japanese culture for over 20 years. I always look forward for your videos. Well done keep up the great work

[@petermoglia]

Would love to learn about attitudes and beliefs toward mental health in Japan, and perhaps how those have changed (or haven't changed) over time. Thanks for all of the interviews!

[@kitsunerinkan]

They haven’t changed. I’ve lived here since 2003. They are still just as backwards. No one really talks about mental health, that I’ve noticed. I’ve struggled with mental health issues since before I even came here, and it’s only gotten worse and worse since I came here. At one point, when I did try to go get help, (with the loving support of my Japanese husband), the doctor diagnosed me with something Freud came up with. Yes, as in Sigmund Freud. His medicine he prescribed was rest and Chinese Kampo herbal medication, and less stress. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@petermoglia]

@@kitsunerinkan "Doc, I'm here *because* of the stress." 😂😂

[@Mizuyah]

As kitsune said, they are slow on that front. There isn’t much knowledge on or acknowledgement of mental health in Japan. Finding a counselor can be difficult and expensive. It probably stems from the belief that mental health issues and the like mean that the family must have “bad blood” so if someone is struggling to assimilate into society, they would rather hide it and pretend it’s not there.

[@R3IMU]

@@kitsunerinkan Extremely baaaaased doc. Surprised he didn't prescribe you a bunch of cocaine.

[@Bastiankjer]

Japan seems so different from every other place - the biggest motivating factor for learning Japanese, is definitely to try and live there!

[@s.hassell4529]

Thank you so much for making this video. I’m seriously considering quitting my job and moving to Japan and found this very helpful and fun.

[@gabriellecoco6183]

As a third-generation native of Edo, born and raised in Tokyo(Edokko), it saddens me to hear that people perceive Tokyoites as distant. What surprises me even more is the seeming lack of compassion among Tokyo residents towards others. Traditionally, Edokko were known for their strong sense of duty and humanity. If I find someone who needs help I definitely will help them out instantly. As someone proud to be an Edokko, I'd like to clarify that many of the people currently residing in Tokyo may not necessarily share these traditional characteristics. Even for me, a native of Edo, encounters with fellow Tokyoites are rare. It's worth noting that Japanese people develop distinct characteristics based on their regional upbringing, whether positive or negative. You may think that Tokyo is lacking in diversity, but from an Edokko perspective, it is already full of diversity. I hope this insight helps you understand that, despite any judgment, there is diversity among Tokyo's residents. Interestingly, even the current governor of Tokyo hails from Hyogo, and I personally find it challenging to sense her connection or affection for Tokyo.

[@WrekCreationL]

this channel is so good but my favorite thing is the way takashi ends each video with the same message, "how was it? that was interesting" i want to use it as a meme!

[@carolinejune0615]

I am impressed that you showed the interviews regardless of the perspective of the interviewee. Nice not too much censorship on foreigner's perspectives on Japan. Thanks.

[@twowheelsintokyo7039]

In my case, after nearly 20 years of living in Japan, the realities have exceeded the expectations, with one exception, work hours. In Japan, regardless of what you do, you spend a lot of hours at work. You’ll find that “part time” work usually means you work full time, but are paid part time wages and benefits. Working full time is not something many foreigners can get into due to the long term natures of such positions and the short term nature of a work visa. A positive unexpected (but positive) reality about Japan was how easy it is to open and operate a business here, which allowed me to escape the life of a salaryman. Not that being a salaryman is a bad thing, it is actually kind of fun for the first 2 or 3 years. But after that, it starts to get a little old.

[@0rizz0]

I always enjoy hearing their japanese, I felt like we were lacking on that here. Great videos still thums up :D

[@andre-wx5kh]

Is nobody gonna say anything about the dude who said you could speak to the Japanese with your heart I love that 😂

[@moniekfalck7089]

It's nice to see you interviewing people; I can see that you really enjoy it!

[@jackolifestyle3603]

Awesome video, so interesting to hear perspectives of foreigners living in Japan. I’ve visited Japan numerous times and have enjoyed it immensely on each occasion, have definitely played with the idea of moving there

[@SutogoIchigo]

You should make a part two to this video. This is extremely interesting.

[@DavidKAnderson]

I's lived in Japan for only about 4 months now, but I did a fairly decent job of preparing myself via a whole bunch of visits and a lot of research. Still, there were some things that I wasn't adequately prepared for. One of those was just how difficult setting up financial arrangements is. Getting a Japanese bank account is tricky (and if you haven't been here six months or more, a Japan Post account is pretty much your only option), then setting up automatic payments out of that account (something that takes literally five minutes in the US) can take hours of trial and error on a website with a dismally bad user interface. As one of the interviewees mentioned, getting a handle on tatemae vs honne is pretty important, too...but isn't really something you can do until you get here. Also, unless you're a way better language student than I am (not a high bar...), you will _not_ know nearly as much Japanese as you wish you did when you arrive.

[@athapa01]

I have always wanted to visit Tokyo since I was a kid and knew the address of my aunt who lives in Kita Ku, Tokyo by heart still do. But when I finally decided to move my uncle scared me mainly because I don't know the language which is my fault , had the time but didn't invest in learning. However I still plan to visit in the future. And videos like this makes sense to me as I know now my family wasn't just scaring me for nothing. Thank you Takashii for all your wonderful street interviews.

[@seventhgearsyndicate]

Very informative video. As someone who found this because I’m considering quitting my job and moving to Japan for a period of time I really loved hearing some real perspectives from other people who moved from the United States.

[@dullsearake]

You should quit mate. If you're already thinking it, and have an adventure in mind, you won't regret it.

[@seventhgearsyndicate]

@@dullsearake Thank you for the encouragement. I'm meeting with someone on Monday about selling my business.

[@cuppedcup]

@@seventhgearsyndicate Wow. Hope it all works out!

[@niet9393]

working in japan is not good

[@texaskot]

Very good reporting, thank you so much!!

[@eagl3ye]

Love how walkable Japan is. You can scarf down an ebi burger with fries at McDonald’s and feel like you walked it off by the time you get home.

[@leozeraA1000]

Only if you walk 1 hour, maybe a 30 min run should also do

[@ChaiTogether]

Dope video and i experienced the same in Thailand where it felt difficult to get closer to make Thai friends without knowing Thai or some people feeling cold/distant.

[@brian67oq]

Vegetarian food is harder to find than I expected here, and I constantly get surprised by a fish flavor appearing in things that I didn't expect (for example, one place's guacamole tasted fishy to me)

[@raven-a]

They eat a lot of fish, the base of their meals is rice and fish after all, vegetables and fruits are kinda expensive, from what I heard, so it makes sense it would be hard for a vegetarian to find food in Japan

[@raven-a]

Tofu is from there, though 😂

[@sboinkthelegday3892]

"fish flavor" is generally pretty tasteless, the taste comes from fats and amino acids commonly found in fish, and Japanese culture has adopted thouse sources of rare nutrients and don't really have a "vegan" conception. You'd have to introduce the nutrient supply lines that actually CONTAIN those vegan alterantives, to allow a fully vegan diet in Japan. If you GET those you will 100% encounter those mix-ups in taste anyway. I wish you luck in your quest. India might prove a good source of inspiration if you're considering taking root with this industry in Japan. Not just do like Mcdonalds and brand their existing food culture and supply lines with American IP because soldiers stationed in Okinawa feel uncomfortable eating "foreign" like a tourist.

[@kinershah464]

​@homie3461is this some app to find vegan restaurants?

[@davidsobel3303]

Oddly I'll find dashi in things that claim to be vegetarian. Sometimes they consider veg meaning no meat or chicken. As a vegetarian here in the US/California, I'm used to affordable organic produce albeit more than in other states. In Japan you can pay $1 equivalent for one carrot. Yeh. And that's not the $100 melon thing everyone comments on..BTW, Happy Cow app works well in Japan for vegetarian and vegan restaurants.

[@BtheNomad]

As another KZbinr making street-interviews, I gotta appreciate the level of guests Takashii brings on, who all have a lot to say about the topic. Very high quality video as always!!

[@useijin]

20:22 That's right! I struggled with it too! I think all the time in English, but I'm a Spanish native speaker. In Spanish we avoid sometimes to use the "you", and that's a magic key I didn't know

[@sonder007]

I love the look on Takashi face 13:38. He was looking at that lady like she's crazy and expressing her fantasy 😂

[@beeslaughter7674]

A lot of Japanese people have agreed with me on this topic so... 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@honolulutei1753]

@@beeslaughter7674 ohshi- that cute girl from the video is here 😯👀

[@animeyoverload9820]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@BelloBudo007]

This was so interesting and informative. It confirmed my decision not to live in Japan and instead holiday there whenever I wanted that all important Nippon Fix!.

[@shawnsstockstrategies7644]

Great interview series Takashii. So interesting to see the reactions of people to themes around Japan.

[@anan7s294]

Rom Rom Ji 🙏🏼

[@Noobintalknojutsu]

?

[@anan7s294]

The Indian guy is a youtuber, his channel name is rom rom ji@@Noobintalknojutsu

[@mattwhoworks]

indian guy channel name, best channel.@@Noobintalknojutsu

[@unknownplayer10k]

@romromji

[@coolbrotherf127]

I would love to live in the country side of Japan. It seems very peaceful out there.

[@thezenngardenx]

Your videos are great! Thank you so much❣️

[@dameanvil]

[0:27] 🗣 Tay and H: Understand the concept of "Tay" (public face) and "H" (true feelings) in Japanese communication. People may be polite outwardly, but it doesn't always reflect their true thoughts. [1:05] 🇯🇵 Tatay Culture: Japan's tatay culture contributes to its safety. People may not openly express disagreement to maintain harmony and respect for others' feelings. [1:27] 🌏 Life in Japan: Moving to Japan can be a life-changing decision, bringing happiness and a sense of fulfillment. Living there for 9 years has been a positive experience for the interviewee. [2:05] 🌆 Tokyo Realization: Tokyo is vast and bustling, with more people than imagined. The intensity of city life, crowded streets, and public transport are notable aspects. [2:55] 🤧 Health in Tokyo: Living in a densely populated city like Tokyo increases exposure to germs. Regular use of public transportation may lead to more frequent illnesses. [3:30] 🚗 Tokyo Driving: Considerations for buying a car in Tokyo are challenging due to high costs and limited parking. Tokyo is more suited for public transportation. [5:11] 🖊 Kanji Writing: Learning to write kanji might not be as practical as focusing on speaking, listening, and reading. Writing kanji may not be frequently required in daily life. [5:59] 😄 Sarcasm Differences: Japanese culture has lower levels of sarcasm compared to American culture. Misunderstandings may arise due to different cultural expressions. [7:30] 🤝 Making Friends: To foster connections, it's advisable to befriend Japanese individuals interested in foreigners. This facilitates better communication and understanding. [9:11] 🏞 Countryside Living: Living in the Japanese countryside is significantly cheaper than Tokyo. Emphasizes the beauty of enjoying the four seasons and a more relaxed lifestyle. [11:01] 🇯🇵 Understanding Japanese: Speaking Japanese is not just about language; it involves understanding the three layers of communication in different contexts. [13:43] 💔 Dating in Japan: Dating dynamics, affection display, and cultural differences, especially for foreigners, require understanding and adaptation. [16:02] 👯‍♂ Osaka's Friendliness: Osaka is known for its friendly atmosphere, making it a more welcoming place for foreigners compared to Tokyo. [17:36] 💇‍♀ Hair Care Challenges: Finding hair care services for specific needs, like African-American hair, can be challenging. Building a community helps share information and resources. [18:44] 🌏 Cultural Walls: Language barriers can create a significant divide in building relationships. Establishing connections requires effort and understanding cultural nuances. [19:59] 🗑 Cleanliness: Tokyo stands out for its cleanliness, with people being conscious about not littering despite limited public trash bins. [21:00] 👥 Superficial Niceness: People in Tokyo may appear superficially nice but might be reserved on a deeper level, making it challenging to build close relationships.

[@ana19877]

I love all these content because i want to learn the language and travel to Japan to see the culture, meet new people. Thank you so much for this!

[@JericBrual]

yay! Ananya! I love the stuff she posts on Instagram! 😁

[@chuck6290]

My feet never hurt more than when I took the wrong shoes to Tokyo. Those Sketchers seemed comfortable when I walked in them a bit at home but after 20,000 steps a day they turned out to be the worst shoes I ever owned and they put me in so much pain for the rest of my trip. I already have new, broken-in walking shoes ready to go from my next trip there in May!

[@dogemasta4907]

So if Sketchers aren't good for that kind of walking, what shoes are good then?

[@webbyboy]

​@@dogemasta4907Look up "On Running" shoes

[@darkspire6710]

​@dogemasta4907 Running shoes that fit your foot properly are what I would get. Brooks are my go-to, I usually want a good amount of support, but some people want less. It's all preference. A good way to gauge is to spend every day for a week going on a multi-hour walk in them and make sure they're what you want. Most stores have a short return policy, so you can experiment to get what you need. Just read the fine print on the return policy.

[@SeanStableD]

Oh you cut the best part of the Carolina guy's interview that talked about America is not all like Hollywood and Japan is not all about Anime! hah I loved that analogy. perfecto.

[@ledjeet2985]

I love your video Takashi. They are so informative and grounded.

[@DuyDayRoi]

Man. I love your video. Truly insprire me to doing interview people like this.

[@SFuruda]

OMG YAMIL!! Such a surprise to see him here, I love both channels, yours and his, I love this lil colab 🥺🤍

[@GaryWRNY]

That first guy had some real good insight. Nice job!

[@Shaunashares]

Useful insight about living in the country vs Tokyo & I was surprised to hear that its difficult being vegetarian in Japan...🤔✨️✨️✨️

[@sophiaisabelle027]

We appreciate your interviews. They contain a lot of meaningful insights.

[@MsBrooklyn11232]

This video is informative! Thanks for this Takashi.

[@Squirelockholms]

One thing I’m curious about is jobs that are foreigner friendly. It seems like the most popular one is being an English teacher. I have some passive income (like enough to get by if I moved to Tokyo) but I would rather find part time, relaxing work that I could have as extra income to live comfortably. Just doesn’t seem like there are many opportunities that fit that description.

[@misterwhyte]

Best thing to do is to work online for a foreign company. The work culture in Japan is notorious for being toxic and so I doubt you'd be able to find anything "relaxing" just to keep you busy a few hours a week.

[@mistacrawson7472]

@@misterwhyte that is what i was planning to do when i move there. but in order to get japanese citizenship dont you have to work there for 5 years?

[@misterwhyte]

​@@mistacrawson7472 I have no idea honestly. Talking to an immigration specialist is what you should do. Don't trust anyone on the Internet, there's so much wrong information out there. I would be surprised if there wasn't several ways to get citizenship.

[@paceline]

@@mistacrawson7472 One KZbin couple I follow took 10 years to get citizenship in Japan.

[@masamiyaleco]

First you need proper visa. And stereotypes about Japanese work culture still seem to be very strong, but it's totally depends on the company you work for. I work online in Japan with people worldwide.

[@AyubuKK]

What I keep hearing from all these interviews is learning how to navigate the social culture.

[@BadDubII]

I always like looking in the background, the streets are always so clean

[@KooroshBabaee]

This channel is amazing . Great job dude 😎

[@Eduardomria]

The Jamaican guy has a dope attitude! ❤

[@yokkabai]

Such a great variety of people! I have lived and worked in Japan for over 10 years and agree with or understand all of their comments. I have my own things I’ve noticed as well, but this comment will get too long so I’ll stop for now.😅

[@kemarigooden3368]

Really and I thought you would go on lol

[@vanessajones3508]

Takashii, I enjoyed the video. Keep up the good work.

[@kizzy3563]

The squatting toilets were a bit of a shock to me. I encountered one for the first time on a moving Shinkansen 😂 It was a struggle.

[@ravitwri]

3:30 I didn't expect takashi interviewing Rom Rom ji without knowing who he is...

[@readyrex]

The fact that the first guy is from Mexico and is speaking english while living in Japan means he knows 3 languages fluently. I'm over here barely able to form a sentence in spanish when I've heard it all my life and took 5 years of it.😭

[@takashiifromjapan]

A lot of people in this video are trilingual and speak really good Japanese!

[@Blaze123XYZ]

That indian guy (Rom Rom Ji) in the video can speak 4 or maybe 5 languages English Hindi Japanese Haryanavi

[@summerwinter89]

you need a good teacher.

[@shhh3683]

I'm indian i almost speak 3 languages only (yeah that's bad for an indian) Hindi English and b1 german

[@raetheon8897]

Good video Takashi! Maybe one day I’ll get to meet you.

[@mecagoensanpitopato]

I appreciate the Californian guy's view on not investing so much time on Kanji

[@pepegalvan_]

The Indian guy answer make laugh haha he really thought everybody was drifting on the streets and being chaced by mafia guys... India watches much movies hehe, but don't get me wrong: looks like a very nice a fun guy to hang out with

[@Willbme4EVA]

Actually the fast and furious movies came out after the big boom in drifting in Japan. I had my own custom garage, with sponsors etc. He should of been over here in Japan 1990-2001.

[@abhishekkushwaha2455]

he is a fun guy. he has his own youtube channel rom rom.

[@TheGreaterU]

This was very informative. Thank you.

[@purushottammahawar2628]

Ohh Rom Rom ji aka Pawan Lohmod bhaiya is on your videos thumbnail ❤❤

[@lovevyas8382]

I literally watched this video because I saw rom rom ji in the thumbnail 😂😂. Good survey! Keep up the work 👍

[@seraph3761]

I’d love to hear from interviewees he didn’t post. Some people have definitely hinted and implied at a darker side of japan that isn’t being said, probably because theirs strict rules and pressure now on KZbinrs and their interviewees to be more considerate and conscientious of what’s being said. Either way, I’ve noticed he only posts those who have a glowing view or a neutral view on Japan and thus tilting towards going or living there. I like honest societies that can be direct, not 2-face. Japans current culture would rub me the wrong way.

[@HoneyButterBiscuits]

For the darker side of Japan, you may want to check out KZbin channels/podcast that focus on current events, crime in Japan, and delve into the lack of support for those suffering from mental health issues. I don't think Takashi's channel is meant for that material. He has done videos on homelessness and other issues including political. But every video isn't dedicated to the griminess in Japan. It is definitely a multi-faceted place like every country is. And I think the Indian gentleman said as much, Japan is not a movie or anime. Despite the scary side it is still a nice place to visit.