4 ms·

It's sort of true. Part of the reason being that kids there have had the same stunting of growth that kids in the West have as well since the start of social me

by eksith 13y ago

It's sort of true. Part of the reason being that kids there have had the same stunting of growth that kids in the West have as well since the start of social media. More often people equate "Internet", "Web" and "Mixi" (Their version of Facebook and of course Facebook is popular too). And it's hard to get a proper feel for what's really out there online and, more importantly, what areas are lacking. That's not to say Japan has any shortage of innovation. They're very creative in innumerable ways. Sometimes the creativity shines through the bureaucracy (especially among the younger people). Culturally, they're still very dependent on the "group". [Source: Two close friends living there] Edit: Also note, it's a bit expensive to live there, so you need to support yourself with minimal luxuries (at least at first) as possible.

patio11 13y ago
it's a bit expensive to live there This is heavily location-dependent and also dependent on lifestyle factors. Raising a family in Tokyo as rich expatriates (the lifestyle that e.g. Citibank managers adopt when "in country") would require an income pretty deep into the six figures (in dollars). However, 22 year old employees of Japanese megacorps take home salaries which are less than typical San Francisco rents and make them work. The ramen profitable number [+] for me in Gifu prior to getting married was about $1,500 a month if I were cooking Japanese food and about $2,000 a month when I was eating my usual diet, which included lots of meals out (not too expensive here) and Western food (quite expensive). An example of the difference: I find it literally impossible to do a taco party for friends for under $60, where if we were having a typical Japanese dinner that could cost $10 to $20. [+] Edit: This is really important: while $1,500 is indeed ramen profitable, if you attempt to use that level of income in support of getting or renewing an engineering status of residence, it is highly likely you will be ramen deported. The examining clerks have wide discretion in how they define "enough" income but "at least as much as a Japanese person" or "3 million yen" are much more common than "ramen profitable" in sustained applications.
- eksith 13y ago
  Great insight as always!

by eksith 13y ago

patio11 13y ago

it's a bit expensive to live there This is heavily location-dependent and also dependent on lifestyle factors. Raising a family in Tokyo as rich expatriates (the lifestyle that e.g. Citibank managers adopt when "in country") would require an income pretty deep into the six figures (in dollars). However, 22 year old employees of Japanese megacorps take home salaries which are less than typical San Francisco rents and make them work. The ramen profitable number [+] for me in Gifu prior to getting married was about $1,500 a month if I were cooking Japanese food and about $2,000 a month when I was eating my usual diet, which included lots of meals out (not too expensive here) and Western food (quite expensive). An example of the difference: I find it literally impossible to do a taco party for friends for under $60, where if we were having a typical Japanese dinner that could cost $10 to $20. [+] Edit: This is really important: while $1,500 is indeed ramen profitable, if you attempt to use that level of income in support of getting or renewing an engineering status of residence, it is highly likely you will be ramen deported. The examining clerks have wide discretion in how they define "enough" income but "at least as much as a Japanese person" or "3 million yen" are much more common than "ramen profitable" in sustained applications.

eksith 13y ago
Great insight as always!