Anyone here live in Japan?

[OWmyDragonBallz]

I've often wondered how many members actually live in Japan?

[floofychan333]

The only person who I can think of who I believe lives in Japan is Cipher. I myself am planning to move there to teach English after my first degree (starting next year, finishing about 2023) so if my plans stay the same I'll live there in 2024.

[dbgtFO]

One of the founders of this site also lives in Japan and has apparently started a family there.

[VegettoEX]

One of the founders of this site also lives in Japan and has apparently started a family there.

Julian lives back in the US now.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

kei17 lives in Japan, but he's stopped posting here.

[dbgtFO]

One of the founders of this site also lives in Japan and has apparently started a family there.

Julian lives back in the US now.

Oh I see. Glad that my intel is outdated though.

[Robo4900]

kei17 lives in Japan, but he's stopped posting here.

Indeed. Kei is actually Japanese originally, he just has good English.

I do wish he was still around; he was a fascinating fellow.

[8000 Saiyan]

kei17 lives in Japan, but he's stopped posting here.

I wonder why.

[FubukiFoxx]

I'm looking to move to Japan to study at Kyoko Seika in 2019 or so; I will hope to keep you posted about what it's like over there when I do go. d(>_・ )

[Robo4900]

kei17 lives in Japan, but he's stopped posting here.

I wonder why.

There's a story there, but now isn't the time or place to tell it.
Mainly because no one knows the whole story, everyone has a different take on it, and every time it gets discussed, there's a massive argument, which would be very off-topic from the aim of this thread.

So... Probably best if we don't get into that.

[Cipher]

I do, currently. It doesn't help you get the drop on hot, new Dragon Ball information, though, unless you're in a major urban area and can get magazines early or something.

Really, the only thing it means for me in relation to Dragon Ball is that I see references to it more often, and I can watch Super on my TV Sunday mornings if I'm free. I'm actually too embarrassed to pick up something V-Jump regularly (not to mention that's a ton of space and/or wasted paper just for one manga), so I just wait for the collected volumes of Super and read Viz's translations month to month.

[precita]

Why do so many westerners decide to move to Japan just because they like anime? I never understood this. Real life =/= anime, and I don't get why it's so common.

I understand a lot of you become english teachers in Japan, but even then taking the time to learn, read, write, and speak Japanese fluently is so time consuming.

[Kamiccolo9]

Why do so many westerners decide to move to Japan just because they like anime? I never understood this. Real life =/= anime, and I don't get why it's so common.

I understand a lot of you become english teachers in Japan, but even then taking the time to learn, read, write, and speak Japanese fluently is so time consuming.

You know, in basically every other not-in-the-stone-age country in the world, you actually have to learn other languages in school. It's considered a basic skill, not an extra-curricular thing. Just because the American educational system is incompetent, doesn't mean that it is a worldwide trend.

[Chuquita]

I wish they taught Spanish in elementary school in the U.S. I have fond memories learning it in middle and high, but I feel elementary is when that should really start because the younger you are the easier it is to learn a second language.

My Spanish knowledge is semi-decent, but I know I would be better if they'd taught it earlier.

Regarding living in Japan...the way the internet is now I can access they information and buy the goods I want without having to travel someplace specific, so it's like...it'd be a nice trip, but I'm happy living in the tri-state area I currently live.

[precita]

Why do so many westerners decide to move to Japan just because they like anime? I never understood this. Real life =/= anime, and I don't get why it's so common.

I understand a lot of you become english teachers in Japan, but even then taking the time to learn, read, write, and speak Japanese fluently is so time consuming.

You know, in basically every other not-in-the-stone-age country in the world, you actually have to learn other languages in school. It's considered a basic skill, not an extra-curricular thing. Just because the American educational system is incompetent, doesn't mean that it is a worldwide trend.

Unless you're speaking of College courses, most regular High Schools don't teach anything outside spanish or french.

[Kamiccolo9]

Why do so many westerners decide to move to Japan just because they like anime? I never understood this. Real life =/= anime, and I don't get why it's so common.

I understand a lot of you become english teachers in Japan, but even then taking the time to learn, read, write, and speak Japanese fluently is so time consuming.

You know, in basically every other not-in-the-stone-age country in the world, you actually have to learn other languages in school. It's considered a basic skill, not an extra-curricular thing. Just because the American educational system is incompetent, doesn't mean that it is a worldwide trend.

Unless you're speaking of College courses, most regular High Schools don't teach anything outside spanish or french.

In America? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's a problem.

[precita]

So what do they teach wherever you're from?

[floofychan333]

You know, in basically every other not-in-the-stone-age country in the world, you actually have to learn other languages in school. It's considered a basic skill, not an extra-curricular thing. Just because the American educational system is incompetent, doesn't mean that it is a worldwide trend.

Unless you're speaking of College courses, most regular High Schools don't teach anything outside spanish or french.

In America? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's a problem.

Canada's the same; mostly Spanish and French as second languages with a couple high schools offering German or Italian or Mandarin and one (unfortunately not mine) offering Japanese.

Why do so many westerners decide to move to Japan just because they like anime? I never understood this. Real life =/= anime, and I don't get why it's so common.

I understand a lot of you become english teachers in Japan, but even then taking the time to learn, read, write, and speak Japanese fluently is so time consuming.

I'm not planning to move there just because I like anime. I've been fascinated with Japan before I even started to like anime, and the country and its culture have a weird way that just draws me in. I'm learning the language at my city's Japanese community centre and I'm hoping to continue in university so I can at least speak it fairly well when I go to Japan.

[Kamiccolo9]

So what do they teach wherever you're from?

I'm American.

[Cipher]

Why do so many westerners decide to move to Japan just because they like anime? I never understood this. Real life =/= anime, and I don't get why it's so common.

I understand a lot of you become english teachers in Japan, but even then taking the time to learn, read, write, and speak Japanese fluently is so time consuming.

Ages ago, I probably did start to learn Japanese because I was fascinated by its media.

At this point, though, I hardly watch any anime and am just genuinely fascinated by its unique culture. It's also the language I'm learning, for whatever the initial reason was, and I'd like to be fluent in at least one besides English before I die. Living abroad is also generally a hell of a trip if you can deal with the challenges, and is something I'd recommend anyone try if the opportunity presents itself. In my case, it's through an exchange teaching program.

That said, definitely don't move to Japan just because you like anime. I can only imagine you'd be sorely disappointed.

I wish they taught Spanish in elementary school in the U.S. I have fond memories learning it in middle and high, but I feel elementary is when that should really start because the younger you are the easier it is to learn a second language.

I actually did have Spanish classes in elementary school, and am a little ashamed now to be a U.S. citizen who knows so little of it. I took it until high school, but after switching to Japanese, most of it has gone away.

Learning Japanese has been fun and rewarding, but there's a bit of practical regret there as well. Being able to do two language classes would have been ideal. With an infinite budget and infinitely flexible scheduling, it'd be great if U.S. schools all taught Spanish as a core class and offered a second language as an elective.