Today, more than 20% of Japan’s residents are over 65 years old, and the birth rate in the country has reached record lows. According to the forecast of the Japanese Ministry of Health, the population of the state will fall by more than 40 million by 2060.
Already, Japan has the highest labor shortage in 40 years. All of these factors are likely to contribute to the influx of large numbers of immigrants in the coming years. Let’s highlight the positive and negative aspects of living in Japanese territory.
The way of life in Japan
Life in Japan is in many ways similar to the traditional way of life in other states. A typical Japanese day is made up of work, personal affairs, and family, and the difference between members of different walks of life is only in how much of the time each component takes.
There are a lot of japanese who like to work. They called themselves workaholics. It is customary in the country to stay late at work, maintain and develop ties with the team, corporate holidays, joint trips to nature, and obligatory gatherings after a working day or during lunch cannot be ignored. Normally, the standard working day of japanese is 10 hours, and about 2 hours people spend to get home and back. For women the main part of the family is taking care of the house and children, husband, usually work and earn money for the family.
Family for the Japanese
So, the family is extremely important for the Japanese, most people here do not marry or do not marry for love. In Japan, there is the concept of “antey”, which means “stability”. This word assumes the presence of savings (from five million yen, which equals to about fifty thousand dollars) and a well-paid job with a career perspective, and the presence of your own living space is also encouraged.
Women in Japan would like to have a future husband only with antey. Very often the woman can date a man that she falls in love with but get married with a man who can provide stability. Unsurprisingly, families tend to develop cool relationships. At the same time, young people who have not yet started a family by the age of thirty lose their prospects in the service, and single girls are shunned among friends and at work.
The pros of living in Japan
- The Land of the Rising Sun has many cultural features and colorful traditions, fascinating architecture, and picturesque nature. For example, the former Japanese capital Kyoto is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
- The ideal infrastructure, the transparent legal system, and the absence of corruption create optimal conditions for the effective functioning of business in Japan, including profitable investment.
- Quality medicine and a top-class education system.
- Japanese food is not only delicious, but also healthy, and the service industry in local restaurants and cafes is one of the best in the world.
- Japan’s transportation infrastructure, including buses, trains, and subways, operates like clockwork – fast, reliable, and convenient.
- Japan has a good environment and all conditions for a comfortable life have been created.
Cons of living in Japan
- Many experts include Japan in the list of the ten most expensive countries in the world to live in.
- Japan is a very closed state, which is extremely wary of immigrants.
- Learning Japanese is very difficult.
- It is a known fact that the Japanese work hard. Not every foreigner can keep up with the work schedule in Japan.
- Natural disasters are frequent in Japan, including devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Overpopulation and small living space.
- A European will never fit in 100% of the local society and will not become one in Japan.
For many foreigners, life in Land of the Rising Sun, the pros and cons of which are listed above, becomes the fulfillment of an old dream, while others strive to finish their studies as soon as possible and go home, where everything is clear and familiar.
Outcome
Today it is fashionable to set the Japanese as an example in everything and dream of reaching their level of being. At the same time, only the most devoted connoisseurs of its culture and special mentality and courageous specialists who leave to work there decide for a permanent life in prosperous Japan. It is understandable – the country is too original for the average man in the street to live comfortably in it. However, not everyone is afraid of difficulties and successfully finds their meaning of life on the islands of Ancient Yamato. The basic rule here for good luck is to know in advance what exactly to prepare for.