Ask the Expert

ASKthe EXPERT with Lilly

1. What’s the best part of your daily schedule in Japan?

The best part is how busy I am doing -being able to walk alone in public (even at things I love. Aside from working a job night) and have a very high chance of getting that I overall enjoy and am appreciated to my destination safely in, I fill my free time with hobbies and -travel on my own and be able to rely on passions. Living in a different country strangers if I am lost or need help can get overwhelming and lonely if -generally being left unbothered while you sit idle. I make the weeks feel like pumping gas or riding public transportation mine by structuring them with activities such as dance classes, volunteer It kind of blows my mind how simple those clubs, bouldering, and occasional yoga tasks are, but having these basic freedoms to classes. On weekends I’m usually move about my daily activities peacefully has traveling or spending time with friends. greatly improved my quality of life.

I purposefully make these commitments that get me up and going because they override my natural tendency to stay inside and nap. The biggest advantage 3. What’s been your favorite place to moving somewhere new is reinventing you visited so far? how you spend your time. This is too difficult since I’ve visited 27 2. Do you feel safe and secure in 1.Miyagi prefecture during the winter: I Japanese society as an American have nothing but fond memories and feelings woman? of this place. It was a beautiful mixture of countryside and city. The chill but lively vibes

One of the main reasons I prefer living of Sendai captured my heart and Zao Fox here is because of how I feel generally Village in the countryside was one of my safer in my daily life. I have to give happiest memories in Japan. It wasn’t too credit to Japan for allowing me to do cold, and there was still beautifully satisfying things that are nearly impossible in my snow around. hometown in America. Some of those things are: prefectures, so I’ve decided to do a top 3.

2.Gifu prefecture: I’ve visited this prefecture in fall, winter, and summer. In the fall, Gifu left my heart full of wonder and joy with perfect weather and aesthetic fall foliage. In winter, the fresh, pure snow and white landscape was like a dream. In summer, the heat is absolutely dreadful, but Gifu is packed with crystal clear, icy rivers to jump into and refresh your soul. Of course, Shirakawa-go was the highlight of my visits.

3.Kagoshima prefecture: I visited

Yakushima and got a lifetime fix of hiking through otherworldly nature. This place was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s “Princess

Mononoke” as well! 4. Was the transition from America to Japan difficult?

Proficiency in the language goes a long way. The most frustrating moments I’ve had throughout my time here is not being able to understand a process due to language barrier. Thankfully, those moments are now rare because of my leveling up in the language. The difference in culture, however, is a whole other obstacle. For the first few years, I tried being as “Japanese” as possible (whatever that means, honestly) in order to “fit in” as best I could and not cause any “inconvenience” to others.

However, growing up in a different environment does not make you an inconvenience to others. It makes you a normal person. You should never feel pressured to become a different person because of where you live. Of course, it’s smart to abide by certain rules and customs to avoid offending the community. So yes, take off your shoes before entering a house, don’t scream on the phone while riding the train, and wait for the “kanpai” before you sip a drink at a party. However, micromanaging every little thing you do and running it through a never-ending filter of “am I being Japanese enough” is highly unnecessary.

Sometimes it can feel like there’s a spotlight shining on you simply because you are “different”. Instead of cowering to the curtains, use that to your advantage to showcase your unique, wonderful qualities. It has actually helped me make countless meaningful friendships here! Remember to be kind to others, and be extra kind to yourself. 5.What’s the music scene like in Japan?

It depends on where you go. In Osaka, the hip hop and R&B scene is quite prominent. There are usually a couple of

Japanese songs a year that get extremely popular and you can’t go anywhere without hearing them. Other than that,

Japan enjoys popular music from America and around the world, and there’s been an increase in KPOP fans, too.

Something I find awesome about Japan is that there’s a lot of music stores, and you can easily spend hours going around putting on headphones to listen to new music of every genre. I recently visited a store to listen to a bunch of artists and bands that I never heard of to see if I could find anything I like, and had a blast. I noticed there were a lot more J-Rock type artists compared to J-Pop and other genres.

Music shows (which are called “lives” here) are pretty tame. People aren’t jumping up and down and screaming the words with the artists, and instead stand quietly and bop their heads politely. This difference in culture sometimes makes me feel self conscious when I want to cheer for my favorite bands, but it’s still a great experience!

About Lilly

Hey, I’m Lillian. I’ve been living in Japan for over 4 years, and I’m excited to share my knowledge and experiences with those who are curious about life and travel in Japan. I’m here to give you the inside scoop and answer your questions in as much detail as possible. See you when you come STAY JAPAN!