Life in Japan

I’ve now been living in Japan as a language teacher for four months and it occurred to me that I have not kept any records of my experiences thus far. I’ve experienced a lot in a short period and I’ve made some incredible memories. With that in mind, I thought that it was high time that I began to electronically put pen to paper and share my experiences of being a foreigner in Japan. Seeing Japan through the lens of a foreigner has provided me with many moments of insight into how unique a nation it is in quite literally every aspect of the concept. Herein begins my notetaking.

A bit of background. The truth is, I was born in Japan. The city of Nagoya, to be specific. In that regard, I may not be a total foreigner to Japan, but coming back to the nation I was born in after nearly twenty years has resulted in me being simultaneously flooded with both nostalgia and novelty. This has been an interesting dynamic to navigate.

I now live in rural Tokushima, a part of Japan I had never visited before. I arrived here as JET Programme participant with no formal teaching experience prior. Living in Tokushima has provided me with a whole host of experiences and challenges. Overall, however, I am loving it. The key outcome I wished for was to live in a part of Japan that one could argue offered a “genuine” experience of Japan. Certainly, Tokushima does not fail to deliver on that front. What it lacks in neon lights and a cosmopolitan nature it more than makes up for in being a place that feels truly Japanese.

I can’t say I had one specific goal in mind in terms of how I ended up in a random ricefield in the middle of Tokushima teaching English for a living. Of course, I wanted to improve my language skills, experience Japanese culture, take part in Japanese society, and travel. Overall, though, I’ve always felt a strong connection to the country and I’m just really happy to be here. I know there will be many challenges and experiences in the weeks and months to come, but I am looking forward to facing them head-on and documenting the special moments as and when they arrive!