Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

It’s fascinating to observe how my YouTube feed has transformed since moving to Japan, now brimming with Japan-related videos from various creators, both local and foreign.

While many of these videos highlight life in bustling urban centers, there’s a noticeable lack of content focusing on the realities and experiences of people in rural Japan. This scarcity is likely due to the vibrant energy and myriad topics that urban environments offer, leading to an abundance of vlogs and discussions.

Additionally, I’ve noticed an increasing presence of foreigners who have been living in Japan for an extended period. One significant challenge for these individuals is social isolation, especially for those who do not speak Japanese fluently. I can relate to this feeling of disconnection, as my struggles with conversational Japanese only amplify the experience.

Even if I were fluent, I suspect my ability to socialize wouldn’t drastically improve. From my observations, Japanese people tend to be quite reserved—possibly even more so than the Swiss. Honestly, it’s hard to think of any culture where people easily forge friendships while merely walking down the street.

Social isolation seems to stem from a choice rather than a fear of others; everyone appears absorbed in their own lives. Forming new friendships and socializing doesn’t happen casually here.

I believe that foreigners in Japan can overcome social isolation if they genuinely wish to connect with others. What holds us back from meeting people with similar interests? My own social interactions here differ somewhat because I am of Southeast Asian descent, which sometimes leads Japanese people to mistake me for a local, making conversations easier. This happens often, but I suspect it would be more challenging if I were Caucasian.

However, loneliness may be the more pressing issue at hand. Many individuals, especially in busy streets, experience a profound sense of isolation despite being surrounded by others preoccupied with their own agendas, lost in the crowd’s anonymity.

During my recent travels with my mother in Japan, I noticed numerous people were more fixated on their smartphones than their surroundings. This observation made me consider that the issue may not solely be social isolation, but rather a deeper sense of loneliness, sometimes self-imposed. I wrote a blog post about Hikikomori, which describes extreme social withdrawal. If you’re interested in this topic, you can read it here.

#Japan #YouTube #SocialIsolation #Loneliness #Hikikomori #ForeignersInJapan #RuralJapan #UrbanLife #Community #CulturalDifferences