For those who have/had lived Japan for long time...?

Question

I often see questions like "do you like Japan?"or "I want to move to Japan, how is it like?".

Most of answers for these question are fairly positive, and many of repondents aren't transient fan. They aren't just anime and manga freaks, sushi lovers, wannabe a samurai or ninja and all that streotypes.

There exists so many attractive countries and cultures, I sometimes wonder why people haven't lose interest in this tiny country for long times.
If you still keep your interest in Japan, what causes that?

Answer 1

I lived there for three years while my husband was stationed there. I fell in LOVE with the place, after being freaked out and spending six months being afraid to leave the base. We do like anime, but are not rabid fans.

I guess the biggest thing, aside from the food,was the fact that the culture is so incredibly old and the people so sure of themselves and their place in the universe. They don't feel a burning need to extol the virtues of their country or boast about it to others. Ethnocentric, the Japanese are NOT. They accept everyone for who they are, do not assume that their way is the only way/best way, and are curious about other cultures.

Answer 2

I spent time in Japan (Okinawa) while I was a little child, probably too little to remember anything other than the beaches really. So my fascination is borne from that time spent, 3 years, but even if I didn't spend that part of my life in Japan I'd still be interested in the culture and the place, and the people.

Answer 3

well i still live in Japan and im 12 years old but i was born here and i am American but my dad is in the military. well i think that maybe what causes that is the experience that you get, cause i meen it isnt the most common thing for an american to live in Japan. but there is a lot of cool things in Japan like there is a 100 Yen store and the people rideing bikes a lot and all the weird stores and the culture and the people. Hope i helped.

Answer 4

I am currently living in Japan, but I was overseas for a year. I had cravings for Japanese food, the language and just being around Japanese people! Foreigners made me uncomfortable! I missed my friends and just the vibe of being in Japan. I have since moved back and eaten my fair share of katsudon. lol.

Answer 5

I have an interest in Japan because on my fathers side I am a direct descendant of Honda Tadakatsu the greatest warrior in Japan so u can say I am a samurai. I also live by Bushido the way of the warrior including the seppeku(ritual suicide)if necessary.

Answer 6

Why do I like living here?

1- People (courteous, kind)
2- Food (good, variety, fresh)
3- History (Kyoto, Kamakura, ect.)
4- Convenient (mass transit,walking distance to shops)
5- Technology (cellphones)
6- Safe (low crime)
7- Events (Cherry Blossom, Summertime fireworks)

I would not say its a tiny country as I have traveled around for 6 years and still not seen everything. When compared to the USA it is small but its nearly 1,500 miles from Hokkaido to Okinawa and the people and culture vary greatly in these areas.

Answer 7

I like contemporary Japanese culture. People like Banana Yoshimoto, Murakami Haruki, Takeshi Kitano and Takeshi Miike keep me interested. What other country has bands like Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her, Shang Shang Typhoon, United Future Organization and Pizzicato Five?

Answer 8

I've been here for 8 years and I continue to like it more and more. The reason is that it's completely different than my hometown and I learn something new and experience something new everyday.

So, I don't really have a specific thing or event that I can point to. I guess it's more of the overall experience peppered with the little everyday occurrences that I enjoy.

(I sure miss golf though!)

Answer 9

Yea...that is what I wanted to ask before.

To me, when someone asked me about the life in Japan (Tokyo), I would always answer/have been answering "it's not that special, rather boring.".

However, everytime after returning from a trip, I always feel at ease and relieved.
Maybe there is something in Japan. I am not sure what it is. Maybe, it is a safety and a large variety of alternatives (services and goods) in life?

Answer 10

Personally, I love the attitude of the people I've had the pleasure to work with here in Japan.

They are curious and open minded, and are willing to share their culture with me... but not to the point of trying to force it upon me. Also, they seem to have a genuine desire for peace, which is much more than what I'm used to (in the US we talk peace but act warlike).

Another thing I love about Japan is how the new technology is somehow integrated with their history and culture, old mixed in perfectly with the new.

Although I still mostly feel like a tourist here in Japan, I feel very much at home here as well. I don't think I'll be losing interest in Japan anytime at all.