Japan going down and starting a career

[DrFuzz]

Hi all,

I just hunting for a bit feedback regarding starting a career in Japan. In about 1 years time I'll probably moving to Japan in the hope of starting a career there. I'm married to a Japanese lass and she thinks its a great idea but her parents think that the country is going downhill and so think its a bad idea. So the question I'll pose is would you reconsider starting a life in Japan because the country seems to be running into a hell of alot of problems in the relatively near future (primarily due to the aging and soon to be decreasing population).

If I was single I'd just go and not worry about it but since I'm taken, and have a little one on the way, its a fairly serious decision to make. Oh and I'm not starved for choice since there are some promising positions in the US, Asia and back home in Australia (I'm work in the Biotech and venture capitial field) so choosing Japan would have a certain opportunity cost of missing chances in other countries.

Thanks

Fuzz

[TwistedMac]

Heavy O_O

i deal with the superficial and easy stuff... just trying to imagine your dilemma is giving me a tummy ache, i hope i never end up in your shoes aswell O_O

can't give you anything.. no views, no advice no nothing.. that alone would be too much for my poor simple mind >_<

[Faustianideals]

When did this decreasing population become an issue? Isn't that a good thing?

[DragonChan]

Hmm...can't help too much. But as for population issues I know that Canada (and the states too I think) is facing an issue with all of the aging baby boomers. In a few years they'll start retiring, and it's predicted to be a major problem due to health care, etc.

Anyway, I don't think the predicted economic condictions should effect your move, because every country has its problems. Look more into where you would like to raise your child.

[Mandylion]

When did this decreasing population become an issue? Isn't that a good thing?

This (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/peo_pro_pop_gro) is a great resource about population issues, just to get you going.

The difference between the aging population problem between the US/Canada and Japan is that Canada and the US still have projected positive population growths. While the health care and pension systems will be stressed, there will still be young people taking jobs, paying taxes, and trying to keep the economy afloat.

Japan, on the other hand, is projected to have a negative growth rate. While people get older, there will be fewer and fewer people to enter the job market and pay the taxes needed to support public funds for the aged. Add that to an already struggling banking system and huge public debt, and Japan's social safety net programs for the retired and elderly look to be in very poor shape indeed.

But back to the OP, I can't speak to the future in your chosen fields, other than they are not words I hear/see bantered about very often in things to do with the Japanese economy. In terms of quality of life, a lot will depend on what you are after, what you are willing to do without. No place is going to be able to give you 100%, of course, but if you are going to come to live in Japan, and want to stay, you will need to find a job with some kind of security for the longrun. Most firms tend treat foreign workers as temps who will be going home in a few years, so it can be tricky to find something for a decade or two unless you have an inside tip.

Of course, those inside tips will come from your perfect Japanese and mastery of the social code (in short, becoming Japanese), which while it might not be absolutly needed to secure a job in your fields, having that ability would win you many, many, many bonus points.

[Arch]

Well it depends how much you want to go to Japan. You wont get the luxury's you get im your home country thats for sure. Depends if your willing to make that decison, to have a lower standard of living. As for Japan going down-hill ,i dont think its entirely fair to single Japan out, as many other countries are going down in verious ways.
But japan is a complete life together, depends how much you want to go to japan, and what does your japanese lass think ?

[DrFuzz]

Hi guys,

Thanks a million for all the replies so far. Well I already work oversea's (home is Oz and I'm in Singapore now) so leaving homes comforts and accepting a lower standard of luxury are not a problem. My Japanese misses is keen to live in Japan for a while but wants to go back to Australia in the future. In the meanwhile we'll probably buy a house in Japan and settle there for say 8 - 12 yrs. The plan at the moment is live there for 1 yr first and see how I feel about hanging around for longer than that.

Mandylion is exactly right about the problems associated with the aging population and a negative population growth. For other countries such as Canada, the US and Australia the growth rates can be topped up by foreigners where as this would be really problematic for Japan to do.

I have heard that Japanese companies tend to hire foreigners with a view towards those positions being temporary. That is one of my worries. I'm kind of hoping that my qualifications and experience might help me overcome these problems (nieve thinking????). I was also going to try and land a job with a multinational company rather than a Japanese company. Are there many people on the board with permanent positions that are not in the language teaching field? I'd be keen to hear about your experiences.

Again thanks for the replies, cheers.

Fuzz

[Golgo_13]

Doctor. Fuzz,

Think seriously about your kids if you eventually plan to have them.
Where would you want them to grow up?
What kind of education would you like them to receive?
How will they be treated as mixed-race kids?
How would their lives be as adults in the country you choose to live?
Etc.

These were all questions my parents never bothered to consider.