I came to the realization that I don’t want to live in U.S. anymore. I pay higher price for below average experiences constantly and I don’t think this will get better in my life time. I know that I will probably be paid better in the U.S., but the amount of money you have to spend just to get an average experience (e.g. eating out, buying clothes, short trips, groceries) is right out theft. Where to work in Japan (other than FAANG & Co)? Any tech companies building cool shit that have somewhat modern work ethics? Non of that have-to-come-before-and-stay-after-your-manager? TC: “do you really believe self reported TCs?” Edit: A lot of you are asking about my background: - I am not Japanese but can move there relatively easy since my wife and kids are Japanese. - I picked Japan as a potential option not because I am romanticizing the country, but because 1/2 of my kids grandparents live there (+uncles/aunts and cousins) - I don’t have family in U.S. - Moving to LCOL in the U.S. doesn’t fix the quality of life requirement. - I am not white nor Japanese - My goal from work/career is not to maximize TC or NW, I just want a decent living (middle class) for me and my family.
Why Japan?
OP is a typical grass is always greener weeabo
I have (japanese native) relatives there and visit often. But I know visiting on vacation mode is different than actually living there.
WLB and pay relative to COL is terrible in Japan. Even if you’re already rich you wont find a job to coast and have time to enjoy.
If you’re already rich can’t you just not work?
Visa to stay is hard to get
If you are not japanese get ready to get blacks in US treatment
I heard white foreigners can get treated well in Japan, but others, not so much.
Nah. Thats just a fantasy created by reddit and 4chan
Japanese invented Cup Noodles so they can stay at work 20 hours a day
With that attitude you're not going to do well in Japan. Look up Paolo from Tokyo's YouTube video about why Japanese people don't like working with foreigners.
doesnt white get a pass
Saw the video. That was my impression of the Japanese work culture. But I was wondering if it extends to tech and/or foreign companies. I remember watching another video by Paolo for a guy working on space robotics or something and the WLB seemed pretty reasonable.
What makes you think life in Japan will be any better? - someone who grew up in japan
Of course it is not going to be completely better. I know have to pay some price for the convenience Japan offers. I just want to know if there is something that I might have overlooked: Food Japan > U.S. Family Japan > U.S. (since I have family there) Work U.S. > Japan (no market beats the U.S. tbh) Pay U.S. > Japan (but the extra money is only useful when traveling) Services Japan > U.S. Health (and healthcare) Japan ?? U.S. (leaning Japan. But not sure) Natural disasters U.S. > Japan (I live in a non-hurricane coast)
You can eat japanese food if you want in the US no problem. If you have family in Japan that’s a good reason.. Idk about japanese healthcare. People complain all the freaking time about it. Ive also gone to doctors offices and it sucks everywhere. (Always full of old people) … and japanese girls… as bad as american girls. Women tend to find ways to be terrible no matter where you are (chuckle, /s)
Google has a big presence in Japan. Do you know Japanese (or, more relevantly, are you a citizen of Japan?)?
I know household Japanese from wife and kids. But at the business level at all. I am not a citizen. But can move there anytime I want since my wife is Japanese citizen.
Japan will be a huge culture shock - personally and professionally. We love Japan - as frequent visitors. Having worked at a Japanese company in a previous life, I can guarantee that you will not enjoy it if you are used to USA professional norms. Tread carefully. There is a reason the USA is the greatest country in the world.
It depends where In Japan. Tokyo is hard but other secondary cities should have decent WLB
Like many commenters, if you want the “normal” life (stable career, get married, buy house and have kids) you probably don’t want to move to Japan. Racism that will likely follow to your children, immigration difficulties, even discrimination in mundane things like renting and such, to say nothing of the slog that is “stable career” in Japan (if you can even get in as a foreigner!) On the other hand if you want to just start with a few years planned in Japan and move back whenever you’re done with the experience (if ever), then why not For what it’s worth, I’ve heard that startups and younger, smaller companies don’t have the same level of toxic work culture. Don’t expect pay like you get in the states. Good luck Edit: from your other comment it looks like you’re already married into a Japanese family. In that case ignore most of my post.
He is already married to a Japanese citizen. Should be easier to to integrate and adapt to culture and society.
Yeah OP will probably be fine, just not as wealthy as an American Google engineer. But hey “wealthy” is kind of a perspective thing, he will be able to get a new construction single family house walking distance to a train line that runs frequent service to all major points of interest. Getting that in the US is outside the scope of an engineer salary since most cities don’t have trains 😂
Their WLB is horrible. Look it up
Been working here for 2y almost, great WLB
same here. great WLB