15:45 that sounds almost kind of how you see the amish do in the movies. When there's some foresting job to do they all gather round and do it. To be fair it's cheaper than hiring someone else to do it and it builds community and skills/character. We don't have HOAs in my country, only similar but rather toothless associations, but once we got a group of volunteers like that to clean up a forest area next to a park (and what's worst, next to a public school) that a gardener that worked in the area had secretly been "conditioning" for a while, meaning he was camping in it sometimes with the intent of becoming a permanent squatter. Things like that, if not cut short in the beginning, can easily develop into a small favela (in which case the authorities will do nothing about) and demolish the safety and quality of living of the neighborhood, not to mention the price of real estate. Someone even called the trash truck to make an extra trip and they got everything we took out so there wouldn't be any trash left on the sidewalks of the park.
I'm so sad for your situation. Maybe you don't have the right temperament for living in the countryside. I hope you can find peace and prosperity where you are or are able to move to an urban place where you can find them.
I was a JET ALT from 2004 to 2009 in rural Shimane ken and I loved it. My love of my rural lifestyle is part of the reason I stayed 5 years in the Programme. I still live in Japan, but am now is slightly more urban Hiroshima ken. Never lived in Osaka or Tokyo and wouldn't want to. It depends a lot on your age and personality when you arrive. Rural Japan isn't for everyone, but it certainly doesn't "suck." Enjoying your recent vlogs.
Isolation and depression would be the worst things for me about living in the countryside. There's no international community, a tiny job market for foreigners and people there are rather conservative or old-fashioned. Even though rural Japan has beautiful nature, hot springs and helps you learn Japanese much faster, it's just Japan on ultra hard mode.
Imagine later moving to Tokyo with your default Japanese being some Akita dialect. It would be 200% weirder than those Chinese dudes with a Texas accent.
Well aside from having to speak Japanese and understand Japanese traditions. I also don’t think a lot of country communities ask you to do service hours or have matsuri. So I don’t think it covers worldwide
My wife lives in rural japan spent two weeks there this last month as we plan where we wanna live... I could easily find a tech job remote and I am considering us living rural japan over the US 10000000 times over you just really don't have many skills to survive outside of speaking Japanese's be honest its hard for a lot of English teachers to accept. Hard reality doesn't translate into what the experience really is. You just have no resource/knowledge or skills to live comfortably there. Hard pill to swallow.
Greetings from Tokyo 🗼 I'm glad i avoided the countryside for my first move to japan When i lived in South Korea i wanted to live in the country but got sent to Seoul, 2 years later i moved to jeju island because i missed the beaches (being from Florida) and fell in love with the slow peacful life in jeju. Jeju ended up being the reason later i returned to city life now in Tokyo 😅😅 I'm cautious to do countryside/island life again 😅😅😅
If you're into metal and other crazy subculture stuff, it's waaaay easier to get treated as an equal. Cause those people already feel disenfranchised themselves anyway. My favorite people are those who know which aspects of their tradition to follow, and which ones to ignore. They're the ones who don't let society stagnate. Find those who think similarly to you. Sometimes you'll have more in common with a Japanese dude than with your own father. If your Japanese bro loves the same bands as you, and your father calls it noise... There you have it.
I agree, but its not all bad. For a average looking single guy, he has a good chance of landing a gf, learning Japanese, and probably saving a bit of cash. If everything works out, he can live a great life, buy a house, start a family etc. However, most likely scenario is that you don't have many options to date anyone, few people speak english, you get lonely and probably only want to be here for 1-2 years. Worst case scenario is you start a family and your Japanese wife runs away with the kids. Its much harder for women, however, if you are from a third world country like the Philippines, you can save a lot of cash! Not so great if you are sending money to the US though with the exhange rate.
I've been in japan as long as you have and ya i have not made a single japanese friend. I speak japanese well for a half japanese. I do work in a place where we use english a lot so i end up spending more time with the foreigners.
Will be in Japan for 10 years this June. I have exactly one Japanese person I would consider a friend, and I met him before I moved to Japan. My Japanese being awful for sure doesn't help, but my friend says it's really difficult even for Japanese people to make friends.Loneliness is a real problem here, and a lot of it is self-imposed.
@@Tsunkuotaku Yep! Every Japanese friend I've made was outside of Japan while travelling. But no real friends made in Japan. I speak near fluent Japanese and it does not help. Mostly interact with foreigners these days.
Living in the country side in America has its downsides too. Like it takes a half-hour to an hour to drive to your job or the grocery store. More frequent power outages from tree branches falling on the power lines. Crumbling pot holed sinking wavy roads that makes you drive under the speed limit. Raccons or possums on your porch. Cyoties, and eagles threatening your chicken, ducks and cats. Deer 🦌 jumping out on the road totaling lots of vehicles. Poorly designed whirl roads with poor visibility intersections. Bad well water and the possibility of forest fires. For my next house I do not want to live in the forest.
Rural chonaikai (community groups)....there are some real unpleasant old folks ready to scold you for doing things that rub them the wrong way. You better be prepared.
Oh gosh. I relate so much. I have lived in rual areas both Japan and Korea. I have not enjoyed it both times. Its ok if Im visiting but I need to live around the city. Otherwise Im bored out of my mind
No way bro. Born and raised on acres. Japan has some of the most prettiest Forrest and country sides. Respectfully disagree. Slow pace and kind neighbors all day!
I watched the video now and for that girl maybe it was not making connections or the "never can be Japanese" and accepted thing since she spoke great Japanese.
No no you are right they are incredibly beautiful and very peaceful. We have a place far out in shiga and friends out in kohamajima so I totally get it. But I’m coming from the perspective of a lot of my viewers who often have ideas of Tokyo and Osaka and sometimes jump at the first job offer that gets them to Japan. Finding out you are in inaka….it would be a bit of a shock am I right?
@@unrested haha. Isolation is quite big in Japanese cities for foreigners and I bet amongst locals too, in rural Japan it must be really boring, the only escapade would be getting addicted to Pachinko (if there is one) being the only shiny parlor visible at night for "entertainment". Nature is good, but it gets old after sometime, as you said, for a visit it's great but to remain there for a long time, it must be soul crushing for someone new. Cruising around Japan in the countryside, after sometime to me it felt like an extremely boring alternate reality, I felt the need to getting teleported to a big city.
@@Ilyasse.C In modern times isolation is only self-imposed. I live in a city but honestly, rarely if ever use most of the "entertainment" options or meet up with friends in the city. Rural area, in Japan or other developed countries, is only unbearable if you really, really have to socialize with everyone.
@ I didn't say at any point it is easier. Please, focus. I said - isolation is self-imposed in modern times. I meant - most basic stuff you will need, including work, can be covered as long as you live 1-1,5h from the nearest city and your village/town is not a middle of nowhere (as in - 2,3 houses in 8km radius). While bigger countries like the US, Canada or Australia might have issues like bad internet connection and media problem, most other civilized countries do not. Their only issue till recently was lack of job opportunities. Literally the only thing I can think of that will be a problem in the rural areas, regardless of how socially-starved you are, is hospital. With age, you'd rather have it close by. And please, let's make separation. Convenience is exactly that - a convenience. Not a necessity. Rural life is always harder but let's not paint it as if it was 1900s all over again. Oh, and rural is a wide term. Some people tend to think rural means "a farm offgrid" or something...
15:45 that sounds almost kind of how you see the amish do in the movies. When there's some foresting job to do they all gather round and do it. To be fair it's cheaper than hiring someone else to do it and it builds community and skills/character.
We don't have HOAs in my country, only similar but rather toothless associations, but once we got a group of volunteers like that to clean up a forest area next to a park (and what's worst, next to a public school) that a gardener that worked in the area had secretly been "conditioning" for a while, meaning he was camping in it sometimes with the intent of becoming a permanent squatter. Things like that, if not cut short in the beginning, can easily develop into a small favela (in which case the authorities will do nothing about) and demolish the safety and quality of living of the neighborhood, not to mention the price of real estate. Someone even called the trash truck to make an extra trip and they got everything we took out so there wouldn't be any trash left on the sidewalks of the park.
私は九州の田舎に住む日本人です。日本の田舎はそこから出られない人や年寄りしか残らず、人材の循環がシュリンクしています。私も早くここから出たい🥲😭日本人ですらそう思っているのに、外国の人にとってそこが居心地が良い場所であるはずがありません。
I'm so sad for your situation. Maybe you don't have the right temperament for living in the countryside. I hope you can find peace and prosperity where you are or are able to move to an urban place where you can find them.
I was a JET ALT from 2004 to 2009 in rural Shimane ken and I loved it. My love of my rural lifestyle is part of the reason I stayed 5 years in the Programme. I still live in Japan, but am now is slightly more urban Hiroshima ken. Never lived in Osaka or Tokyo and wouldn't want to. It depends a lot on your age and personality when you arrive. Rural Japan isn't for everyone, but it certainly doesn't "suck." Enjoying your recent vlogs.
I went to Shimane with my wife a couple years ago and I loved it. Matsue is probably my favorite city in all of Japan. Would love to live there.
Yeah I was just making a really click bait title to get views. Awesome to see you here man hope all is well in your life
Isolation and depression would be the worst things for me about living in the countryside. There's no international community, a tiny job market for foreigners and people there are rather conservative or old-fashioned. Even though rural Japan has beautiful nature, hot springs and helps you learn Japanese much faster, it's just Japan on ultra hard mode.
Imagine later moving to Tokyo with your default Japanese being some Akita dialect.
It would be 200% weirder than those Chinese dudes with a Texas accent.
Congratulations, you described the country life world wide.^^
Well aside from having to speak Japanese and understand Japanese traditions. I also don’t think a lot of country communities ask you to do service hours or have matsuri. So I don’t think it covers worldwide
My wife lives in rural japan spent two weeks there this last month as we plan where we wanna live... I could easily find a tech job remote and I am considering us living rural japan over the US 10000000 times over you just really don't have many skills to survive outside of speaking Japanese's be honest its hard for a lot of English teachers to accept. Hard reality doesn't translate into what the experience really is. You just have no resource/knowledge or skills to live comfortably there. Hard pill to swallow.
Yeah if you can work remote that totally works
Deko meow at 3:47 😺
15:44 Awwww, That's actually very cozy, cute, warm, and sweet unless you're a super busy person.
Greetings from Tokyo 🗼
I'm glad i avoided the countryside for my first move to japan
When i lived in South Korea i wanted to live in the country but got sent to Seoul, 2 years later i moved to jeju island because i missed the beaches (being from Florida) and fell in love with the slow peacful life in jeju.
Jeju ended up being the reason later i returned to city life now in Tokyo 😅😅
I'm cautious to do countryside/island life again 😅😅😅
I didn't know you made a TTRPG! That makes me happy :)
Yeah I’m working on getting simple starter rules out for free eventually. Play testing is going right now to iron out the combat and more.
If you're into metal and other crazy subculture stuff, it's waaaay easier to get treated as an equal.
Cause those people already feel disenfranchised themselves anyway.
My favorite people are those who know which aspects of their tradition to follow, and which ones to ignore.
They're the ones who don't let society stagnate.
Find those who think similarly to you. Sometimes you'll have more in common with a Japanese dude than with your own father.
If your Japanese bro loves the same bands as you, and your father calls it noise... There you have it.
The audio is rough, but love your videos :)
The Japan loneliness for foreigners is my biggest concern about moving... do you have a specific video talking about this topic?
Enjoyed the watch! Thank you!
I agree, but its not all bad. For a average looking single guy, he has a good chance of landing a gf, learning Japanese, and probably saving a bit of cash. If everything works out, he can live a great life, buy a house, start a family etc. However, most likely scenario is that you don't have many options to date anyone, few people speak english, you get lonely and probably only want to be here for 1-2 years. Worst case scenario is you start a family and your Japanese wife runs away with the kids. Its much harder for women, however, if you are from a third world country like the Philippines, you can save a lot of cash! Not so great if you are sending money to the US though with the exhange rate.
Sorry but most Japanese like other Japanese.
I've been in japan as long as you have and ya i have not made a single japanese friend. I speak japanese well for a half japanese. I do work in a place where we use english a lot so i end up spending more time with the foreigners.
Will be in Japan for 10 years this June. I have exactly one Japanese person I would consider a friend, and I met him before I moved to Japan. My Japanese being awful for sure doesn't help, but my friend says it's really difficult even for Japanese people to make friends.Loneliness is a real problem here, and a lot of it is self-imposed.
@@Tsunkuotaku Yep! Every Japanese friend I've made was outside of Japan while travelling. But no real friends made in Japan. I speak near fluent Japanese and it does not help. Mostly interact with foreigners these days.
Living in the country side in America has its downsides too. Like it takes a half-hour to an hour to drive to your job or the grocery store. More frequent power outages from tree branches falling on the power lines. Crumbling pot holed sinking wavy roads that makes you drive under the speed limit. Raccons or possums on your porch. Cyoties, and eagles threatening your chicken, ducks and cats. Deer 🦌 jumping out on the road totaling lots of vehicles. Poorly designed whirl roads with poor visibility intersections. Bad well water and the possibility of forest fires. For my next house I do not want to live in the forest.
Rural chonaikai (community groups)....there are some real unpleasant old folks ready to scold you for doing things that rub them the wrong way. You better be prepared.
Oh yeah they can be pretty hardcore. You kinda have to go with the flow or you can make enemies pretty quick.
Really enjoyed this one.
Oh gosh. I relate so much. I have lived in rual areas both Japan and Korea. I have not enjoyed it both times. Its ok if Im visiting but I need to live around the city. Otherwise Im bored out of my mind
I want to see condos in rural japan.
I feel bad for the kids that live in shinkimg villages with no schools anymore.
What an excellent video.
Thanks Kurt. I angered a few with the catchy title, but I knew you would understand my points!
Yo, the HDR looks nice, Scott!
No way bro. Born and raised on acres. Japan has some of the most prettiest Forrest and country sides. Respectfully disagree. Slow pace and kind neighbors all day!
maybe its the language barrier?
I watched the video now and for that girl maybe it was not making connections or the "never can be Japanese" and accepted thing since she spoke great Japanese.
No no you are right they are incredibly beautiful and very peaceful. We have a place far out in shiga and friends out in kohamajima so I totally get it. But I’m coming from the perspective of a lot of my viewers who often have ideas of Tokyo and Osaka and sometimes jump at the first job offer that gets them to Japan. Finding out you are in inaka….it would be a bit of a shock am I right?
👌🤘👍🏻
Blogs 0:26
No I specifically remember her hitting the keyboard with her camera lens over and over to type on live journal 😅
@@unrested haha. Isolation is quite big in Japanese cities for foreigners and I bet amongst locals too, in rural Japan it must be really boring, the only escapade would be getting addicted to Pachinko (if there is one) being the only shiny parlor visible at night for "entertainment". Nature is good, but it gets old after sometime, as you said, for a visit it's great but to remain there for a long time, it must be soul crushing for someone new.
Cruising around Japan in the countryside, after sometime to me it felt like an extremely boring alternate reality, I felt the need to getting teleported to a big city.
@@Ilyasse.C In modern times isolation is only self-imposed. I live in a city but honestly, rarely if ever use most of the "entertainment" options or meet up with friends in the city.
Rural area, in Japan or other developed countries, is only unbearable if you really, really have to socialize with everyone.
@@DrAhzek There are many reasons to live in a city besides social. There are too many conveniences to even mention.
@ I didn't say at any point it is easier. Please, focus.
I said - isolation is self-imposed in modern times.
I meant - most basic stuff you will need, including work, can be covered as long as you live 1-1,5h from the nearest city and your village/town is not a middle of nowhere (as in - 2,3 houses in 8km radius).
While bigger countries like the US, Canada or Australia might have issues like bad internet connection and media problem, most other civilized countries do not. Their only issue till recently was lack of job opportunities.
Literally the only thing I can think of that will be a problem in the rural areas, regardless of how socially-starved you are, is hospital. With age, you'd rather have it close by.
And please, let's make separation. Convenience is exactly that - a convenience. Not a necessity. Rural life is always harder but let's not paint it as if it was 1900s all over again.
Oh, and rural is a wide term. Some people tend to think rural means "a farm offgrid" or something...