I live in Japan!

[stache]

I find it very interesting you made your way to Japan to live and became an adult along the way taking responsibility for yourself. A lot of people could learn a lot from your story.

I have lived in Japan for several years on and off over the years and plan to retire in Japan in the next year or so in Yamagata. Like you I took Japanese in college many years ago, but still need help with the language.

I have traveled all over Japan and love the culture, food and people. I to have been burned helping people over the years, but in my case I was burned by Japanese coming to the states needing assistance. It only takes one or two to make us not want to help, but being the type of man I am I will continue to help here I can.

Thanks for putting yourself out there unlike the English teachers in Tokyo and other cities that expect a hand out because they teach English or come from America. I tend to go off of some of the English teaches who think Japan owes them something.

Again thanks for the offer to help others.

**********************************************************************

Now that I have had some time to go back and read most of the posting I can tell you have seen, heard, and been through similar situations as I. The difference is I am married to a Japanese woman and a lot older.

Men say the same things about my Japanese wife that has caused huge conflicts even in my own family. I say this to hammer home the point many white people are very hurtful and don’t care as they somehow believe they are the superior race. My Japanese family has never said or treated me the way my American family or people have.

The things I have heard and been said to me would make most men want to hurt the other person in a bad way. Men can be just as cruel as women if not worse. Even my brother had to ask questions about making love to a Japanese woman. Needless to say we don’t talk much.

In one case here in America a café would not serve my Japanese wife. I went nuts and the cops were called. We were escorted to the Salt Lake City, Utah airport and were told to leave. To this day I still get very upset to see (white) Mormons boys in Japan riding around in white shirts on bicycles spewing their crap. Yes it was a Mormon owned facility that would not serve my Japanese wife.

Even here in San Francisco where we live racism against Japanese is a live and well. My wife is treated differently when she is with me verse when she is alone. I have only had a couple times over the years in Japan had a drunk guys said nasty things to me, but they were drunk and still remembered the war.

I have been asked every story and question in my 32-years of marriage about being married to a Japanese woman. Yes I still get upset and sometimes just go off on people for being so infantile and stupid…

Being married to a Japanese woman takes a different kind of person in many respects. And yes we both work at our marriage to make it happen so far it has worked, but there has been a few rocks in the road we worked out together. No one said it would be easy and to answer the one question I always get; no my wife does not walk behind me.

I will be in Japan for new years this year and wish you all well.

Stache

[crazycow]

[edit: deleted]

[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by crazycow

Hello!! I have lots of questions ^-^;;
So your from the U.S and went to Japan. But how were you able to live there? like stay and live there. Cause like when you enter Japan as a person not from Japan(like BORN there or something), don't they let you stay there for a certain amount of time till they kick you out?

Most people tend to obtain the ability to live in Japan through jobs. The employer sponsors said person's Work Visa, which allows him or her to stay in the country.

Also how do you find a place to stay? As in buying a house or an apartment.
Is finding a job in japan really hard?

I don't have much knowledge of this, but seems that foreigners do have a tough time getting places to stay, unless your employer actually helps you with this. As for work, seems the easiest route is a job as an English Language Teacher.

Is it much easier to stay with a friend at first(in Japan) then once you get enough money you can move out? (live somewhere else in the neighborhood, city, etc)

Only if you have a Visa.

omg, what about health insurance? o_o

From what I know, anyone who is working in the country, is entitled to affordable health insurance benefits...unlike in the US.

[NettoKun]

I plan 2 move 2 japan wit some of my friends in the future

[SwapSwap]

Yo!
I'd just like to say this thread really gave me some direction in terms of how im going to achieve my dream of getting to japan , and im proud to say im pretty determined now as soon as i finish school only 1 year left! , im on my way ^^

so ye domo arigatto!

[kanzuki]

I know this sounds really cheesy but, I'm really glad you managed to pull it off and live a happy life now (at least it sounded that way) =)

[Raistlin]

How did you progress from visiting a second time to working and fully supporting yourself? What do you do for a living? How do others around you treat you? Are there other Americans there (that you're friends with I mean)? How did you meet your wife? Ha, sorry for the personal questions, I'm just intensely interested.

Also, How long did it take for you to become proficient in Japanese (speaking and literacy)? I've heard glory stories about teaching english there, but from your perspective it seems bad. I'm very interested in studying abroad somewhere, and Japan could be a viable candidate.

Thanks!

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by Raistlin

How did you progress from visiting a second time to working and fully supporting yourself?

Get married.

What do you do for a living?

Right now? Nothing - I had a kid and put that whole thing first. Before that, I was a translator/interpreter.

How do others around you treat you?

Read the other countless times I`ve answered this in the thread.

Are there other Americans there (that you're friends with I mean)?

I have one friend who is American, and one friend who is Australian. Neither of them are friends because they`re those nationalities. Actually, probably in spite of it.

How did you meet your wife?

Wife? I`m female.

Also, How long did it take for you to become proficient in Japanese (speaking and literacy)?

Also, I think I`ve answered this a hundred times... I`d say 4 months to full fledged conversation at a mid gradeschool level without any actual studying. (Just being in Japan) 6 to 8 months to actual age level.
Literacy... I don`t really remember. I`d say a year and a half before I could comfortably read a novel? (Much MUCH quicker for easy stuff like manga.) Again, with no study.

[Mehmet]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Also, I think I`ve answered this a hundred times... I`d say 4 months to full fledged conversation at a mid gradeschool level without any actual studying. (Just being in Japan) 6 to 8 months to actual age level.
Literacy... I don`t really remember. I`d say a year and a half before I could comfortably read a novel? (Much MUCH quicker for easy stuff like manga.) Again, with no study.

Is this normal or are you exeptionally skilled with linguistics?

Edit:
Oh and have you ever tooken the Japanese language profficiency test?
If so what level did you get up to?

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by Mehmet

Is this normal or are you exeptionally skilled with linguistics?

I do have a degree in linguistics, received after I was fluent.

As for whether I am exceptionally skilled... I would say it`s more down to environment and putting yourself into situations that force improvement. Japanese air isn`t going to help one bit if you keep yourself in situations that let you get by without Japanese. I was in a homestay, no English environment - and did my best to make friends with the students at the high school I was a "GAP" at (read that as "hanging out there for no pay and without paying as I`d graduated already, but it made the school look cool to have more "international" students...). I tried to avoid falling back on English, and was certainly getting by after a couple months.

Edit:
Oh and have you ever tooken the Japanese language profficiency test?
If so what level did you get up to?

Yes. I have level 1.