12 Reasons I Called Japan Home for Four Incredible Years
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Life in Japan was full of highlights that changed my life. From learning the language to experiencing the culture, the reasons I stayed in Japan for four years are endless.
In 2009, I packed my belongings and got on an 11-hour flight from LA to Japan. I was an assistant language teacher and started my new job in the countryside of southern Kyushu.
I was far from home and away from my comfort zone, yet I oddly felt at ease. Before I knew it, one year turned into four, and I couldn’t be happier. Below are 12 reasons why I stayed in Japan for four years.
Reason #1: The People
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When I arrived, I knew nothing. No Japanese, few cultural references other than great chopstick skills, and an awkwardness when bowing.
Still, my coworkers and neighbors took me in and guided me through my daily life. I’d find bags of fresh produce outside my door, and I was invited to cookout after cookout.
As my Japanese improved, these relationships grew. The older generations that never learned English could share their life stories and ask me about my home and culture.
I became the random foreigner tagging along on surf trips, parties, and events. After a while, I felt like a local, and there was no better feeling.
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Reason #2: The Food
Food is, for better or worse, my raison d’etre, and Japan satisfied every gluttonous craving I ever had. It may be one of the few countries in the world where you can’t find a bad meal. People care about what they serve; quality and flavor are taken seriously.
My region was famous for katsuo, or bonito fish. It was either smoked to create katsuobushi flakes for soup stock or grilled over a straw fire and served as sashimi. There were wild vegetables that tasted like heaven and daikons that grew to the size of basketballs in the volcanic soil.
When I traveled around the country, I found every region to be just as unique. I obsessed over trying every local delicacy I could.
The only negative is having to write about it 11 years later on an empty stomach…
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Reason #3: The Nature
The nature of Japan is a force to be admired and sometimes feared. It’s sometimes hard to imagine how beautiful it can be.
The country’s forests seem to engulf everything left unattended and can swallow entire villages over time. Giant insects, snakes, and mysterious critters live in the thick underbrush and canopies. In the sea, you’ll find some of the healthiest coral reefs on the planet.
And then, all too often, nature shows whose boss. I witnessed the 2011 tsunami, powerful earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and almost daily volcanic eruptions. The natural world always kept me on my toes and gave me an insatiable thirst for life and respect for the planet.
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Reason #4: The Surf
The surf in Japan can be some of the best in the world. During typhoon season, giant cyclones generate swells that march into the coastlines. Bays, reefs, points, and beaches light up, and local surfers know where to go.
You’ll find incredible surf talent in the country and places to surf, no matter your level. I was fortunate to live in a wave-rich region full of hidden reefs that would turn into my dream waves.
My favorite surfing memories were the surf trips I’d take with my friends to the Ryukyu Islands and Okinawa. We would drive around the islands, searching for waves and laughing endlessly. These moments made it very hard to return home.
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Reason #5: The Language
The Japanese language is one of the hardest languages for a native English speaker to learn. I had never studied a language before, aside from my poor performance in High School Spanish class.
Lack of talent aside, I was determined to learn. I prioritized making mistakes and looked up every word or phrase I wanted to use at the moment. Books, magazines, and literature became my constant companions, and within two years, I could hold a serious conversation.
I can’t imagine my life without speaking Japanese. As a journalist, I’ve conducted interviews in it and made some of the closest friendships of my life, all in my second language. To this day, I love reading, listening, and speaking the language whenever possible.
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Reason #6: The Culture
Like most foreigners, it took me a while to adapt to the culture of Japan. Certain aspects made me uncomfortable, especially the patriarchal traditions in the rural areas. Others made me feel great.
My favorite cultural practice was the afternoon cleaning. Aside from large companies and government offices, many small businesses, schools, and many organizations clean their spaces after lunch.
Another aspect of the culture I loved was the formalities. Almost everything had a formality, and even when they seemed tedious, they made every interaction and event special.
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Reason #7: The Temples and Shrines
Japanese people traditionally practice both Shintoism, the indigenous religion, and Buddhism. Wherever you go, you can find Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and even participate in meditation sessions, festivals, or prayers.
Whenever I would travel somewhere new, I’d find a shrine and offer a prayer. Sometimes, I’d find centuries-old shrines deep within the forest off a trail. Other times, I’d see one perched on a cliff while surfing. Wherever I was, paying my respects became a daily habit.
Several sects of Buddhism are practiced in Japan, and you can find temples dedicated to them. From meditation retreats to temple stays, you can find plenty of opportunities to learn about and practice meditation in some of the most peaceful settings imaginable.
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Reason #8: Traveling in Japan
Traveling within Japan is one of the most spectacular experiences you can have. No matter if you’re flying to places like Kyoto or Okinawa or just exploring the countryside on small local trains, everything is connected and accessible.
My favorite pastime was taking road trips. My friends and I would find hidden onsens or local restaurants that had never had a foreign customer. The trips would take extra time and sometimes add days to the schedule, but they were always worth it.
Taking the bullet train was also an experience I loved. I had a tradition of taking the train during the peak seasons for fall foliage and spring cherry blossoms. I’d open a small bottle of artisanal nihonshu (rice wine) and stare out the window as the colorful scenes raced by.
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Reason #9: Cherry Blossoms
It might sound cliche to say that cherry blossoms are a major reason I stayed in Japan for four years, but if I’m being honest, they were. More specifically, it was the flower-viewing parties called hanami.
Every year, my friends and I would bring blankets, food, sweets, and drinks to the parks when the cherry trees were at their peak. Several generations of family and friends would sit around the trees, chatting, drinking, and playing music.
In Japan, the culture of hanami is more than just looking at pretty flowers. It’s a reason to spend time with loved ones and appreciate nature in the most timeless and wholesome way possible.
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Reason #10: The Festivals
You can find festivals in every corner of the country throughout the year. From winter celebrations with ice sculptures and hot water to intense shows of fire and masks, there’s always something exciting going on.
In the city next to me, I got to march through the streets carrying a sacred and very heavy wooden float called a mikoshi. Along with dozens of others, we hoisted it while singing and chanting.
In another part of Kagoshima Prefecture, I participated in the Seppetobe festival, a 400-year-old spring planting festival. To pray for a bountiful rice crop, we danced in a circle all morning while drinking hot shochu and singing decades-old songs that would make even the most vulgar poet blush.
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Reason #11: The Music
Japanese music is diverse and was one of the reasons I stayed in the country for so long. From hip-hop to folk, I found hundreds of artists and genres that serenaded my adventures.
I would travel far to hear classical enka singers perform ballots in events and outdoor concerts. I’d also travel the country to see my favorite electronic artists perform all night. Music festivals were always a reason to travel with my friends.
Most of all, I fell in love with taiko drumming. I joined a local group and rehearsed for performances. We played small gigs, but the energy and excitement were incredible on stage and in rehearsal.
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Reason #12: The Lonely Sunrises
Lonely sunrises became my guilty pleasure. Whether I was out surfing before work or on a beach run or hike, starting my day with the sun rising over the horizon and seeing the 3,000-foot volcano, offshore islands, and sea illuminate still gives me chills.
Those moments gave me a space to reflect and calm my overactive mind. I became absorbed in the brief moment, and when it was time to start my day, I felt calm and focused.
To this day, I dream about those lonely sunrises in Japan. They remain some of my life’s best and most intimate memories.
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