This thread is indeed very interesting & totally captured my attention, that I even had to finally registered & joined this forum. I personally have to thank the OP (@Nyororin) for creating such an informative thread like this, and not to mention also of how humble he(she?) is in explaining things, which I rarely (& sadly) saw in many other forums on living-in-Japan. Many would usually bash and saying bad & offensive remarks like "you're such an otaku! a geek! don't dream, o nerd, or japanophile!" or something like that!
And now, for a very brief intro: I am from Indonesia, 29 yrs old this year, graduated already with Bachelor Degree (in Business Finance & Management), now helping my dad, but my real dreams, passion & talents have always been in MUSIC. yes, I am also a musician/songwriter/composer, although still an Indie one in my country
And I've always, always loved Japanese culture.
I don't care if actually people calling me "otaku", "Japanophile" etc (everybody is entitled to their own opinion), but the thing is: I have always loved Japanese music (Jpop/Jrock), anime, video games, movies, culture, the "music culture" and its vibrant music scene, the variations of the 'modern' Tokyo and the 'traditional' Kyoto, sakura trees, japanese food, etc etc..but what draws me the Most is probably the MUSIC, as a musician myself.
so to finally be able to live in Japan, and ideally, work as a composer/musician, either as a 'foreign/international/overseas artist' or as a composer for video-game/anime would totally be a real highest dreams-come-true for me!
So my quick questions for now to @Nyororin (OP) before I continue further is:
1. Is it still possible and there's still an "easy way" (or 'easier' way) for me, at this current age, to live in Japan?
2. And is it actually possible (still), at my current age, to study japanese, and then right-away go live there, and try to make a career as a musician/composer there?
3. and will there still be a 'racism' issue, as I myself am from Indonesia, but my ethnicity is Chinese. I always long for all people/humans to live together and never have racism in daily life, but unfortunately I know Reality is often not like that.. so that's why I want to ask first about this issue,.does it still heavily exist in the "modern 21st Japan" today, or not that much anymore actually?
Would really hope to get some answers back from the OP @Nyororin , or from anyone here who knows and can help answering some of my questions & curiosity above.
And last but not least, for some samples of my music compositions, please come visit my website here:
Niki Wonoto's Project (for a calm, sweet, and tranquil journey in Music...for your Soul), hope you guys like and can enjoy the music
thanks~