Pot Throwing, Eel Munching, Shrine Hopping, Art Judging

A few photos from a recent weekend trip to Nagoya for pottery, unagi (eel, or "complete self-awareness" if you're a Friends fan), shrines, and a gigantic local art expo.

Unagi-don

Slicin'. Grillin'

Old and New

A reminder never to take a "dark" turn, or a left

Where Should I Go?

There are defined groups of foreigners living in Japan. I'm sure this is the same in most foreign countries, but it's a bit of an inside joke within the community here.

1. The Prepared
These are the people who have prepared themselves for years. They've studied Japanese through high school and college, memorized kanji, read Japanese literature, and can tell you about various battles between noble families during the Japanese feudal period. They are prepared to find their ideological version of Disneyland when they exit Narita International and mold seamlessly into Japanese society, find a wife, and surrender the Mr. title to live as ____-San in the suburbs or mountain villages until the end of their days.

2. The Fanatics
A large portion of my fellow gaijin fall into this category. They love anime, ninjas, katana, karate, J-Pop and karaoke (usually in Japanese). They read every hiragana or katakana sign they see out-loud and are fueled by photos of neon lights and arcades they find on Tumblr and Kill Bill . Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya are the Meccas for these travelers. Most speak Japanese well and easily find their niche among the like-minded, but rarely stay for more than a few years.

3. The Idealists
This group is very pleasant to be around. They may or may not have planned to land in Japan at some point, but have always admired Eastern philosophy. This country is a place of solace; a place to escape the corruption and selfishness of their home countries. You'll find these people in rural areas, Kyoto, Nara, and other locales where tradition and honor remain strong parts of local culture. They see beauty everywhere and seek deeper meaning in all their experiences. Strength comes from shrines, temples, zen gardens and The Last Samurai .

4. The Wanderers
This small group of people are the globe-trotters. They've visited 165 countries and are in Japan for a short time to experience something different before moving along to their next exotic locale. They usually get along with everybody else and try not to step on any toes while they're here. After all, they aren't passionate about Japan in particular and are happy to admit that groups 1-3 are far more knowledgable. They'll pick up some of the language, just because they think it's fun or they want to be polite, travel extensively, and then quietly move along after a generally pleasant stay.

5. The Opportunists
These individuals have found themselves here for other reasons. Sometimes it's a job opportunity, the strong currency, or a significant other living in the area. Their reactions to Japanese life vary greatly from person to person. Some will migrate into another category over time, some will become cynical as the "microaggressions" (see previous post) grind them down over time, and some will eventually open a language school or import business and settle down.


When deciding whether or not Japan is right for you, it's important to consider the country's many faces. Everybody comes here with some notion of what they expect to find and all will be disappointed in some ways and thrilled by others. Think about which category you fall in so that you can find the best location for your taste. That will make or break your experience. Big cities feel like big cities and offer little of what groups 1 and 2 might be looking for. Small towns and villages have held more tightly to their ways, and offer an experience more tightly bound with the country's traditional past. Doing research online will help, but take advantage of any opportunity you have to talk to people in the country to get a feel for where you best fit in.