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Is Working in Japan Worth It for High-Skilled Foreigners?
A little over three years ago, I uprooted my quiet European life, packed two large suitcases and moved to Japan.
Some of you may be thinking this is the typical Millennial story — let me reassure you. My move wasn’t a soul-searching mission to a countryside temple, I didn’t learn how to channel my Ki, and my calligraphy hasn’t improved an iota.
For me, it was a necessary cultural experience, a natural progression in life. Japan is the fifth country I’ve lived in, Asia is the third continent. There is nothing I find more interesting than to witness how culture shapes individuals, influences our life experiences, and what we could learn from one another if we were to step out of our cultural bubbles.
It wasn’t enough for me to just learn basic Japanese and make some friends here. I wanted to become proficient in the language and truly immerse myself in the unique, fast-paced and quirky culture of Tokyo. It took me years to achieve some semblance of what I came here for, which means it’s just about time to look back and ask myself: Was it all worth it?
No town for a generalist
A warning I have for those seeking to someday work in Japan: know your value-added to the local job market. I’ve seen too many foreigners come to Japan…
