Honest experiences, turning points and new beginnings from across the international community.
Meet Chris Zhang, who chose to study in Japan for one clear reason: the culture. Chris didn’t come because family was already here. The decision came from curiosity about Japan’s way of life and the desire to experience it directly, not just through travel or media. In this interview, Chris shares what it felt like
Meet Danmarl Butad, originally from the Philippines, who began his journey to study in Japan through family. Instead of coming through a long scholarship process or a study-abroad agency, Danmarl’s path started with a family move and that support made the landing in Japan feel much more stable. Still, even with that advantage, studying in
Meet Issa, originally from Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, raised in Arusha City, who came to Japan through a rare full scholarship route and later built a long academic path here—bachelor’s, master’s, and a PhD in Agricultural Science. Issa’s story is a powerful example of moving to Japan through education, and what happens after arrival: culture shock, language
Today, we will be speaking to Long “Ron” Hoang. A resident of the country for years, he loves living in Japan, despite the difficulties that it can sometimes present… especially when moving. We’ll be discussing some of the issues that he’s had, and surprises along the way — and why living in a share house
What Is MyNumber? One of the things that can confuse English speakers the most when they arrive in Japan is the MyNumber system. It is not generally a problematic issue: people in the UK have national insurance numbers, while Americans have social security numbers. The big confusion, however, is that the Japanese version, known officially
You’ve just signed your lease and walked into your new place in Tokyo — only to find it completely empty. Don’t worry: this is common in Japan, where many apartments come unfurnished. But how do you transform that bare space into a cozy home without breaking the bank? In this guide, I’ll share my personal
Renting an apartment in Tokyo can be an exciting adventure, but it also presents unique challenges for foreigners. From finding the ideal location to navigating the language barrier and local customs, there’s a lot to learn. Below, I share my personal journey of securing my own place in Tokyo, along with practical tips to help
Meet Hien, originally from Vietnam, who has lived in Japan for about one year. While studying, Hien started working part-time in Japan at a coffee shop as a barista. It’s a very real “starter job” path for students and new arrivals looking up work in Japan or jobs in Japan because it’s accessible, it fits
Meet Long, a Vietnamese student who chose to study in Japan because it offered something that felt rare: a strong education system at a more affordable cost, plus the chance to study in English while still living in a Japanese environment every day. Long’s story is especially relatable for people who want to know how
Meet Danmarl, originally from the Philippines, who has lived in Japan for six years. Danmarl did middle school and high school in Japan, which made daily life here feel more familiar compared to someone arriving for the first time as an adult. Today, Danmarl works in Japan as a software engineer—one of the most common
Meet Danmarl Butad, originally from the Philippines. Danmarl didn’t move to Japan alone as an adult he moved here with his parents and ended up doing middle school and high school in Japan. Today, he works in Japan as a software engineer, but his moving journey story starts much earlier: with family, school life, and
Meet Hien, originally from Vietnam, who moved to Japan to study at a Japanese language school. The decision came from two places: wanting to learn Japanese seriously, and a long-time love of anime that made the language feel more personal. Hien’s move was smoother than many newcomers because a language school agency in Vietnam supported
Meet Hien, a Vietnamese student who chose to study in Japan after starting Japanese at a language school back home. Hien didn’t begin with a complicated “master plan.” The first step was simple: learning Japanese in Vietnam, then using the school’s study abroad support to turn interest into a real move. In this interview, Hien
Meet Issa Kachenje, originally from Tanzania, who first came to Japan as an international student and has since completed both a Master’s and PhD here. Today, Issa works in Japan as a research fellow and academic editor, while also teaching English part-time. This work interview is for anyone searching work in Japan or jobs in
Keith is originally from China and came to study in Japan through a university exchange program. What started as a one-year language school experience in Tokyo later turned into graduate school at Waseda University. In this interview, Keith shares why Japan felt like the right place to study abroad, what was harder than expected, and
Meet Lauren H, originally from Southern California and previously working as a graphic designer. After spending a short period living in Japan years ago and falling in love with the lifestyle, Lauren returned to Japan last year after finding a great organization to work for. Lauren’s story shows one of the smoothest paths: get a
Meet Kieth, a Chinese professional who has lived in Japan for over 10 years and now works as an IT consultant at a consulting firm in Tokyo. From Japanese-style application forms to daily client meetings, this interview shows what jobs in Japan can look like in a high-skill field, and what helped Kieth build a
Meet Ang, originally from Canada, who has been living in Japan for about a year and a half. Ang works at a Tokyo startup as a developer, supporting services and content that help foreigners come to Japan. This work interview is for anyone searching work in Japan, jobs in Japan, how to find a job
Meet Will Bennett, originally from Sydney, Australia, who has been living in Japan since August 2024. Will works in Tokyo in digital marketing as a videographer and video editor, creating content and appearing on camera as talent. This work interview is for anyone searching work in Japan or jobs in Japan and wondering what it
Meet Tobias, originally from the United Kingdom, who has been living in Japan since February 2019. Tobias works in media as a writer and editor, and his story gives a clear look at what daily work life in Japan actually feels like—from deadlines and editing tone, to job hunting platforms, to the small cultural differences
Meet Lin, born in Singapore and raised by Malaysian parents. She later switched nationality to Singaporean at 21. Lin didn’t move to Japan through a long-term plan or a company transfer. The move started after leaving a corporate job in Singapore that didn’t feel interesting anymore, taking a solo trip to Japan, and realizing Japan
Allow us to introduce you to Tobias! He has been working as a writer and editor for over a decade, and is here today to take you through his process of moving to Japan. Like everyone’s journey, his was unique, but hopefully you will be able to glean some insights into not only that it’s
When you get a new apartment, one of the most important things to do is set up your gas, water, and electricity bills. Luckily, the real estate agency I worked with was kind enough to send through the details necessary to get my lights turned one my water running, and my stove lit. But one
Meet Chris Zhang, who chose to study in Japan for one clear reason: the culture. Chris didn’t come because family was already here. The decision came from curiosity about Japan’s way of life and the desire to experience it directly, not just through travel or media. In this interview, Chris shares what it felt like
Meet Issa Kachenje, originally from Tanzania, who came to Japan through a special international scholarship program and later built a full academic journey here. For Issa, choosing to study in Japan wasn’t only about rankings or research—it was also about personal growth. Japan represented a culture of humility and discipline, and Issa wanted to grow
Learning Japanese is one of the most important things that people living in Japan can do. And even if you don’t live in Japan, learning a foreign language can be fun and interesting. But language classes can be expensive and time-consuming. So… how can you learn Japanese, especially in Japan, without paying to go to
Like any other part of your body, your eyes are very important in your life — both in Japan, and generally. So what do you do when you need to get your eyes checked? Whether for a routine examination, or a sudden emergency? I’ve been through it, so I can tell you. Routine Checks Well,
Japan is known as a country that long ago adopted Buddhism, which typically prefers vegetarianism, as eating meat is a violation of the life and health of other animals. However, meat is delicious, and so Japan has generally disregarded this as more of a guideline, than an actual rule. That guideline is also very loosely
Although Japan is well known abroad for its samurai history, and kendo (swordplay sometimes know as “Japanese fencing”) is a popular pastime for many, the national sport is: sumo. An ancient sport, it has not only a social but also a religious significance. And I’ve been to a couple of tournaments, so if you’re planning
Everywhere in the world has bargain stores. The US has dollar stores, the UK has Poundland, and of course, Japan has ¥100 stores. So what’s the difference between them? And is it worth going to a ¥100 store when there are perfectly good products that cost only a little more at almost any supermarket you
Going to the Doctor Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Whether you’ve got a cough you just can’t seem to shake, or you’ve suffered an injury, you’ll almost certainly have to go to the doctor at one point or another during your time in Japan. And while it can be a little
As anyone who knows me can tell you, I love movies. I watch them at home, on the train, and, of course, on airplanes. But there is no substitute for watching a film the way they were meant to be seen: in the cinema — and don’t let Netflix tell you otherwise. As you can
Visiting a local supermarket in Japan might sound mundane at first, but it offers fascinating insights into everyday Japanese life. Beyond discovering new foods, it’s a chance to see how local communities gather and interact in a space that is both practical and surprisingly social. This article will highlight some of the key differences, similarities,
For video game enthusiasts, one of the tragedies of the new millennium has been the death of the arcade. Once a hub of flashing lights, exciting noises, and a community of like-minded gamers, the rise of home consoles and their ability to create gaming experiences equal to their arcade counterparts has led to many either
Tokyo is one of the biggest, busiest, most famed cities in the world, and that means that everyone has an image of the city. It’s high-tech! It’s brightly lit! It’s crushed and crowded! It’s expensive! But are these stereotypes true? How does the image of Tokyo match up with the reality? Let’s talk about some