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 learning how to adapt while growing up here.
Danmarl’s experience shows a different path from the usual adult relocation stories. Moving with family can make the first stage more stable, but adapting to language, school culture, and daily life still takes time.
1. Could you tell me a little about your background? Where are you from, what did you study, and so on?
“I’m from the Philippines, and I moved to Japan with my parents. I ended up doing my middle school and high school here, so Japan became a big part of my life early on.”
“Later, I studied Computer Engineering, and now I’m working in Japan as a software engineer. So my path is kind of: move with family, grow up here, study a technical field, and then start working full time in Japan.”
2. What was it that drew you to Japan?
“For me, it was the culture and the people. Even when you’re young, you can feel that Japan has a different way of living how organized things are, how people behave in public, and how daily life feels.”
“Over time, living here made Japan feel more normal and familiar, not just ‘a foreign country.’ The culture becomes something you live inside every day, not something you watch from the outside.”
3. What was the moving process like for you?
“It was pretty fast, mostly because I moved with my parents. They handled the main moving steps, so I wasn’t dealing with everything alone.”
“As a kid, you don’t think about things like paperwork, rent contracts, or setting up utilities. What I remember more is adjusting new routines, new school, and getting used to being in a different country.”
4. Did you encounter any difficulties when moving into an apartment in Tokyo? What were they? How did you overcome them?
“I’m staying in a company owned room now, so my current housing situation is simple.”
“But when I first moved to Japan with my parents, the difficulty wasn’t really ‘finding an apartment’ from my side it was more like adjusting to how life works here. You’re suddenly in a place where the language, rules, and way people do things are different.”
“Now, having company housing helps because it removes a lot of the typical Tokyo housing stress like guarantors, high upfront fees, and complicated contracts.”
5. What were some nice surprises you encountered when moving?
“One small but really nice surprise is that my place is near the grocery. That sounds basic, but it actually makes daily life much easier.”
“When you’re living in Japan, convenience becomes a big deal. Having a grocery store close by makes it easier to build a routine and feel settled.”
6. What advice would you give to people in a similar situation to yours?
“I’d say focus on small wins especially with your home space. When you move, everything can feel unfamiliar at first, but small things help you feel stable.”
“Set up your room in a comfortable way, build a routine, and don’t pressure yourself to have everything perfect immediately. Those little wins add up, and over time, Japan starts to feel normal.”
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Final thoughts
Danmarl’s story is a reminder that how to move to Japan looks different for everyone. Moving with family can make the logistics easier, but adapting still takes time especially through school life and language. And once you’re settled, it’s often the small daily comforts routine, convenience, and a stable home base that make Japan feel like home.
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