Westerners living in Japan

[sakurastar]

Hi all.
I myself lived and studied there for all of just 10 months, but unfortunately I think this just isn't enough time to be able to write the book I am researching for.
What I would like to know is if there is anyone on this board who is living in Japan now, or has lived there for a significant period to the point where you aren't just a 'foreigner' but feel more of a resident, and all that entails (like understanding the culture more intrinsically, being more at ease with the language etc). Would you be able to describe what it is like, living as part of the community? Like what problems you may or may not have, how the community accepts you, any frustrations you may feel etc.
What would be ideal (and here I get a bit picky, sorry!) is anyone who has perhaps spent years there, or whose parent/s work there or if you live/d on an army base etc.
I know this is asking a lot, but I would appreciate so much any input you could provide for me, so thank you very much in advance! ^_^

[GaijinPunch]

What format do you want? Do you want it here or PM? I think there's several members of the 5-year+ club in this forum... some few 10+ and maybe even some 20+.

I'd say a great place to start, although extremely humours, is the "you know when you've been in Japan too long when ______" bit that's floating about the internet. Yes, it's a piss take but you can actually gain some insight on what it's like being a long-term gaijin, even though you can likely not use any of the information directly.

[nurizeko]

You know you've been in japan too long when you frantically plow your way onto a packed commuter train, because you know there won't be another one for four and a half minutes.

Good luck with your research, mikecash has been in japan a good long while i think, PM him, he may be willing to help.

[Mars Man]

Good afternoon there sakurastar san !!

Perhaps I can help out some, I've been living here for some 21 years now, have married twice and divorced once here, have altogether five children here, work at a university, have had a six month radio talk show, played music at several events, have had my kind of close calls with the law, have kill my share of large sake bottles, and 660 ml. bottles of Asahi Dry, and . . .
have grown old here.

Maybe I can help. Only one drawback. . . I have always lived in the country, so I don't know that much about life in the Big Banana. As Gaijin Punch asked above. . . in what format do you want it? See you 'round !!!

[Mike Cash]

Originally Posted by sakurastar

Hi all.
I myself lived and studied there for all of just 10 months, but unfortunately I think this just isn't enough time to be able to write the book I am researching for.

It's not even enough to wear out the socks you brought with you.

What I would like to know is if there is anyone on this board who is living in Japan now, or has lived there for a significant period to the point where you aren't just a 'foreigner' but feel more of a resident, and all that entails (like understanding the culture more intrinsically, being more at ease with the language etc). Would you be able to describe what it is like, living as part of the community? Like what problems you may or may not have, how the community accepts you, any frustrations you may feel etc.
What would be ideal (and here I get a bit picky, sorry!) is anyone who has perhaps spent years there, or whose parent/s work there or if you live/d on an army base etc.
I know this is asking a lot, but I would appreciate so much any input you could provide for me, so thank you very much in advance! ^_^

I think I fit your criteria. I would find it much easier to be of help to you if you would supply some specific questions to get the ball rolling. I have a personal policy of not publicly revealing how long I've been here, but should it become necessary would share it with you via PM.

[sakurastar]

Wow, guys, thanks for replying so quickly!
If you could PM me any stories/opinions etc, that would be awesome! Or, you can just post them here! Either way is fine ^_^
Hmm, questions I have...What I would like to base the book around would be the experiences of Westerners living in Japan as a non-tourist type resident, so you know the language, you know the culture etc, and things like 'wow, the Japanese are so crazy/scary/annoying/weird/nice' etc (whatever!) aren't really the focus of your thoughts any more. Basically, it's your job and your family/friends, your normal routines with them, and troubles that they may go through (perhaps specifically the children?), that you think about, not typical touristy type things. I'm not sure if I'm making much sense! But, what stories I'm trying to find, are ones about people who perhaps feel they are more Japanese than Western, but are still treated like Westerners. Or, especially for any children who have been brought up in Japan, how perhaps they feel about being 'Japanese', or if they even feel if they are Japanese, whilst their parents come from, effectively, another culture. Do they get bullied? Are they happy in school? Do they ever want to visit the country they/their parents came from?
I apologise for all these questions, but for me so many books are all about the tourist in Japan, and all the 'crazy stuff' that happens, that I really want to write about something different, things that 'Western' residents of Japan experience, but not just the 'crazy' stuff (you know how bloggs go-the english teacher in Japan always writes about the crazy kids/crazy teachers/crazy life, etc), more towards a description/story of normality of living in Japan as a 'Westerner', and what sort of identity they feel they may have.
Thankyou for putting up with all this! I am currently in the research stage of the book, but I am compiling a list of anyone who wishes to be acknowledged with having helped to provide their stories and information, so that, if I ever get published, I can acknowledge all those who helped me ^_^

[sakurastar]

Basically, what started all this off was an amazing tutor I had whilst studying in Japan. He was just like the Colonel (KFC!), and had been living in Japan for many, many years, and had children who lived there with him. His stories of daily life, and how, even though he had been there for so long, was still treated like a foreigner, but how he expected that etc, made me think, in fact made all of his students think. He loves Japan, in many ways, and in others he doesn't, but as he said "that would be the same where ever you live in the world", but his stories of his normal, daily life, really inspired me. So, thats why ^_^

[Mike Cash]

Originally Posted by sakurastar

But, what stories I'm trying to find, are ones about people who perhaps feel they are more Japanese than Western, but are still treated like Westerners.

Those people tend to leave.

[Yokan]

Hmm, if you click on the link to my blog , and look along the right hand side i have many links to blogs from people from the West in Japan right now, if that helps.

don't take that as bribery just to look at my blog.

Edit: the link is in my signature.

y0kan

[sakurastar]

Thanks yokan, I'll have a look when I get home.

[DoctorP]

I've been here for 10+ years also, and I have lived both on military bases and out in the society.

[Hokkaidoguide.com]

hi whats a "significant period of time"??

1 year 2 years 5- 10 etc?

sakurastar, just enter "military brats Japan" into the Google search engine and you'll have enough research data to take up a very long time.
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[Glenn]

One of these threads is enough. If you'd like it moved I can move it for you.

[sakurastar]

Hokkaido-guide, in reference to time I mean enough so that you yourself no longer feel like a 'tourist' in Japan.


And Glenn, if you could keep this thread that'd be much appreciated (I guess I don't need the one in 'practical Japan').

[Glenn]

No problem.

[Hokkaidoguide.com]

Originally Posted by sakurastar

Hokkaido-guide, in reference to time I mean enough so that you yourself no longer feel like a 'tourist' in Japan.

ok i see. well thats kind of tough as i think that no matter how long you live in a foreign nation you will always feel a bit like a tourist. sometimes thats actually why you stay.

my japanese skills while still fairly low are enough to allow me to go to all japanese bars etc and most of my friends nowadays are japanese so i guess ive got a bit of the non tourist feel. in your research it might be a good idea to talk to people in various time stages. ie 1 year then 2 years etc. ive been in jp for about 6 years and want to stay more. i feel fairly comfortable here and have now started a business with a japanese partner.

id be happy to try and answer any questions i can ... im 31 yo australian male in jp for 6 years. lived in tokyo then utsnomiya (tochigi ken north of tokyo) now sapporo. anyway let me know you can mail me at
hg-info@hokkaidoguide.com