Vida dula no Zapon, Ogata-san...?

Johan Saputra Muljadi

Is life hard in Japan?

I arrived in Japan in 2008 September which means that I have been here for 9 years today. My answer would be “definitely yes” in my first seven years living here but “not at all” today.

In my opinion, life is difficult in Japan if you do not like studying. I would’ve moved back to New Zealand to restart my career if I had not passed the interview with British Council Tokyo in 2015. I wouldn’t have passed the interview if I had not studied TESOL offered by Shane English School, Japan in collaboration with Trinity College London. Life is easier in Tokyo because opportunities are accessible and unexpected. For me, I love the fact that I can take higher-education courses in English through Temple University and I could build my connections simply by putting the effort to go-out more often. I’ve also played basketball a few times through meet-up and it is a great way to stay healthy and socialize.

Until 2015, I lived in Gunma Prefecture. Gunma is still considered a decent “country-side” compared to more rural areas such as Akita or Nagano. I enjoyed living in Gunma but I was frustrated with job options available for foreigners like myself. Therefore, I conclude that life is harder in the country-side of Japan unless you could secure a permanent position.

I am positive that it will become easier for foreigners to live in Japan as the conditions for obtaining a visa has become less complicated. I have never worked anywhere else other than Japan but I can say that I’ve had a wonderful time living and partying in my early 20s. Hope this was a fruitful read.