As a mixed-race Japanese American (Japanese, Hawaiian, and white) married to a Japanese Brit, I carry my multifaceted and multicultural heritage — and yet, living in Japan for the last six years, I have been continually reminded that I am not Japanese enough.
It’s this experience as both an insider and outsider that shapes how I see this country. Online, Japan is often idealized as a futuristic paradise, carrying the reputation of living in 2050: robots, bullet trains, neon lights, and orderliness. Tourists see a safe, clean, and hyper-efficient utopia, but living here as a woman, a feminist, and someone who is always considered a foreigner reveals a harsher reality. Behind the high-tech toilets and efficient trains lie systemic inequality, sexism, and xenophobia, as well as the pressure to conform to rigid social codes.
Even though I have Japanese heritage from both sides of my family (both my parents are half Japanese), I’ve never wrestled with my identity more than I have living here, in the country that is supposed to feel like home but refuses to see me as its own. Although living in Japan has been transformative and rewarding, it has also been painful.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Living in Japan?
Pros
There are many things that I enjoy about living in Japan, which I’ve truly come to appreciate the longer I live here, from general cleanliness and reliable public transportation to a low crime rate. Japan has a deeply ingrained sense of collective responsibility that shapes daily life. People naturally look out for one another, follow social norms to maintain harmony, and take actions that prioritize the well-being of the group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, mask-wearing was almost universal — not because of mandates, but because it was seen as the right thing to do to protect others. This cultural emphasis on community makes social interactions feel safer and more predictable, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual care.
Cons
Life in…
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