My Biggest Problem with Living in Japan

today i would like to talk about loneliness in japan

//LINKS AND STUFF//

FTC: This video is not sponsored

[NakamiJun]

As a Half-Japanese girl who grew up in the rural US... Even my Japanese mom still lives as if the things you brought up were true here, 30 years since she came to the US. I was miserable when I was younger and almost suicidal as I had few friends (and no close friends) with a lot of hate for being different. When I finally managed to tell my parents to ask for help, my mom's response was 'What do you have to be depressed about?'

[ADTribalChild]

I like to visit Japan one day, but I don't think I can live in Japan. But no matter where I'm the world you go, they struggle mentally like we do. This is very insightful, Aki. Self reflection and self love is the key do deal with loneliness in general.

[Soulmetalfairy]

I'll admit, everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives, but what is important is to not dwell on such things. Reach out to friends and family when you need some company. Despite my social anxiety, I've found sometimes getting out of the house and going out somewhere will help.

[animeotakuhb]

I've watched you ever since I was 8 years old, I'm 16 now and may I just say, you've been an inspiration for me for such a long time🤧

[blususpect]

Honestly a lot of the developed world including here in the U.S can become pretty lonely if you don’t have friends you grew up with. It’s probably best to go to country like Japan with your spouse or partner, that way you can enjoy it with someone. Your speech at the end about the end about negative thinking & having a negative mindset was so spot on. It’s just thoughts at the end of the day

[PanPan]

I’m a long time viewer who hardly comments on any videos, but I really want to commend you for addressing this so sincerely. I appreciate how you not only talked about the topic, but how you also presented viewers with advice that could actually be helpful and that this wasn’t just another video about mental health sponsored by Better Health. I wish more content creators living abroad would do the same in the concise and thoughtful way you did.

[chimchilla]

My economics textbook said that people experience losses much greater than gains, and I think that can be applied to loneliness, at least for me personally. It's easy to dwell on the smallest negative experiences and forget the things/people that bring you joy. I hope everyone that feels this way knows they aren't alone <3

[relaxedrelaxed]

My fave video of yours, Aki!! Thank you!! So perfectly done!!

[lordpandicorn]

Somehow listening to Aki this video felt like listening to a big sister giving you life advice.
I am not planning to move to a new country, but loneliness and anxiety are still a big factor for me. So I will take this advice to heart❤💕
Thank you for sharing your thoughts

[Finn]

Very well spoken, I've been dealing with that off and on but I think my solo trip to Korea for a month kinda exemplified for me "we are our own worse enemy". I was meeting with an ex so that didn't help but changing my mindset about what I was doing there halfway through the trip really helped. My roommate really falls into the latter category you discussed though, he has a very bleak outlook and always dismisses positive things and says nothing works out for him. It is tough supporting people when they get like that but I think that is what friends have to do.

[cameraguy]

More than ever, today we need community. Taking a time to build a community be it for church, or a hobby, or just sharing a daily meal with friends, this does help us.

[MaheerKibria]

So as someone that has lived in Japan. But is also the child of immigrants to the United States. I only agree about the lack of mental health support. So I have some advice for anyone wanting to move to or visit Japan.
1) Adapting to does not mean adopting or assimiliated. Just like there are places like Chinatown and Little Tokyo in American there are small kind of enclaves in Tokyo of different minorities living abroad in Tokyo.
2) Next do not overthink Honne and tatemae. Be aware it exist but treat everything everyone says as honne and use tatemae in a work or professional environment but overthinking it will drive you mad. I generally can tell the friend who are being honest with me but if you can't just assume they are being honest because otherwise you will make yourself lonely when you don't have to.
3) Set aside time to call home. It will keep you grounded.
4)If someone is giving you side eye think about your behavior. As a foreigner you are going to get side eye regardless even if you do nothing wrong. So unless everyone is staring at you don't worry about it too much and unless it's something you haven't seen japanese people doing in public.

[abigailpf]

I feel like we feel lonelu because we're living in a country that we didnt grow up in. I personally grew up in Asia and now living in a Western country just feels sad, even though there shouldnt be anything I'm sad about. It would be the same vice versa or some other way around. I never really think about why but the more i think about it, at least for me, its the little things. Theyre just different and it makes me lonely

[Mimimei]

Same. Currently experiencing and feeling the same. I'm also an introvert but Japan hits differently. I'm straightforward but I think it's not helpful here. I'll try my best to just keep everything to myself. Even my likes, plans, comments and dreams, I'll just keep it to my own mind.

[yahbella----]

I definitely do wanna move to Japan eventually

[ninoellison]

Brilliant episode covering a sensitive subject. I’ve been here for 8 years and I spend virtually all of my time alone (by choice) in a forest in the mountains. It’s incredibly beautiful and peaceful. Japan is such an honest, safe, dignified and respectful society with such charming and kind people, that I feel so fortunate to live here. Nowhere is perfect, but it’s the nature that nurtures me!

[Retiredinruraljapanvlog]

I’m going to be super brave and say that I struggle with this here- even after 14 years. I’m older so this doesn’t just affect young people. Even though I’m married into a Japanese family and have gone out of my way to fit in- which I have- it’s a different place. I’ve created my own world here. I haven’t a of hobbies. Including my wonky YouTube channel and an upcoming podcast. You have to bloom where you are planted. The grass is greener where you water it. For various reasons we can’t move - but I’ve learned to live as I see fit. The book “ The Courage To Be Disliked” helped.

[Ufiles]

I live in Europe and loneliness is also here. I love Japan and can't wait to live there.

[TheCreepypro]

an interesting topic we all need to talk about, the irony about loneliness is that all the things you do to deal with it naturally are often the wrong things if we sought others out and tried to have more meaningful connections we would all be better off, props to aki to dedicating a whole video to it

[thebigwarthog]

I think the base of Japanese society was centered around family and your immediate neighborhood.

This doesn’t work well in the cities where most people have moved in from other places