Whether it’s the obscenely punctual public transport systems, the super-efficient customer service, the health system that really works, or the eponymous convenience stores, Japan is rightfully famous for taking convenience to a whole other level. Unfortunately, nowhere is perfect. Even Japan can be inconvenient at times. In this article I’m going to introduce four waysContinueContinue reading “Four Ways in which Japan is Really Inconvenient for Foreign Travellers”
Tag Archives: Japanese life
The Unique Challenges of Renting in Japan — Part 3
Part 3: Dealing with application process In my home country of the UK, renting is a pretty simple affair. It’s not uncommon to be able to sign the contract on the same day as the viewing. Not so in Japan! Renting an apartment in Japan can potentially be a long, complicated and drawn-out process; especiallyContinueContinue reading “The Unique Challenges of Renting in Japan — Part 3”
How to *REALLY* make friends in Japan
Breaking out of the “gaijin bubble” TL;DR: I’m an introvert and I don’t speak Japanese well, but I made some good friendships via language exchanges. The long version: The “gaijin bubble” If you’ve lived in Japan you’ve probably heard of the “gaijin bubble”. “Gaijin” (外人) is short for “gaikokujin” (外国人), the Japanese word for “foreigner”.ContinueContinue reading “How to *REALLY* make friends in Japan”
我慢 (ga-man) “Endure!”
“Gaman” is a zen Buddhist term which loosely translates to “enduring the unbearable with patience and dignity”. In Japan, putting up with a seemingly unbearable situation is seen as a sign of maturity. In the notoriously tough Japanese workplace, employees are expected to “Gaman” as much as possible. You can read more about it here: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190319-the-art-of-perseverance-how-gaman-defined-japan
Calligraphy by Vicky 