Life in Japan through the eyes of a Russian girl living there. Just curious to read

What are the salaries and general standard of living in Japan, as well as prices for apartments, cars and food in 2018-2019.

Japan is a great country to live. However, it will be very difficult for non-indigenous residents to settle down thoroughly and feel at home there. This is partly due to the special Japanese mentality, as well as specific everyday problems. A country rising sun We welcome guests, however, we are categorically against illegal migrants. Therefore, you need to plan your life in Japan carefully and start preparing for this event in advance.

Without a guide-translator, you will have to solve a lot of everyday problems already when leaving the airport. Hire a taxi, explain where you need to go, make sure you don’t get scammed, find shelter for a couple of nights, and then rent your own place. If a tourist still cannot manage with knowledge of English and pantomime, then alone, without an escort group, it will simply be impossible to fulfill some of the conditions of the quest. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Knowledge of languages ​​and opening prospects

Knowing English will not solve all problems. As an analogy, we can cite an American in the Russian outback. You will feel the same way. The only difference is that the Japanese will not have a reverent attitude towards you because you are Russian.

It is simply necessary to speak Japanese, and it is better to do this at a level sufficient for fluent communication and writing. The fact is that all official documents in this country: advertisements, receipts, invoices are printed only in their native language.

all documents in the country are issued only in Japanese

An ideal option for getting a good job, promotion, training, and everyday communication is to know both English and Japanese.

Without knowing the language, you can even come here, but it will be a very closed existence, limited to the family circle or the society of the Russian diaspora, which, by the way, is not so numerous. Solving daily tasks, going to the store and contacting the local population will be extremely difficult.

Renting and purchasing housing

A developed hotel infrastructure is available to tourists. For those who come for a long period - up to three months or more, it would be more advisable to rent housing. You can rent an apartment in Japan, in our money, for 30 thousand rubles. The closer to capital cities, the more spacious the apartments, the higher the level of comfort - the more expensive. A hotel room, for comparison, will cost three thousand per day.

Most of the indigenous Japanese live in their own country houses or city apartments. And only a third rent an apartment in Japan or use corporate apartments. The practice of providing housing to workers is quite common, as are other social support measures.

The average cost of an apartment in Japan is between 20 and 25 million rubles. This will be average quality housing of about 60 square meters.

At the same time, your own house or townhouse will cost the same amount, only its area will be twice as large. High housing prices compensate for government mortgage programs. Their conditions, unlike Russian ones, are much more humane. For example, a common practice is when a loan is issued for the purchase of a home at 1-2% per annum for a period of 100 years.

Meanwhile, buying your own home is a factor that the migration service will regard as a big plus when considering your candidacy for obtaining a permit for permanent residence or citizenship.

Available vacancies and salary levels

Getting a job without knowing the language is impossible. Even if you speak English perfectly, you will not be able to count on any position. But even speaking Japanese, it is pointless to hope to occupy high positions. Immigrants for the role of worker are considered as a backup option; first of all, they pay attention to the natives, then the Chinese and Koreans.

Immigrants' wages in Japan cannot exceed $1,500. Unless you belong to a special privileged segment of the population. Namely, diplomatic and consular specialists.

A significant part of Russians who come here to work are engaged in science or development. For example, the rule of the Ministry of Education states that only a native speaker can teach a foreign language, which allowed our fellow countrymen who know Japanese well to work as teachers in schools. Almost 95% of Russian immigrants are employed in the IT fields and also work in various scientific institutes.

Getting an unskilled position, such as a salesperson, cleaner, or concierge, is almost impossible. An irrefutable argument will be used as a refusal - insufficient knowledge of the language.

To live comfortably on your own, the salary in Japan should be 70-90 thousand rubles. To feed a family – 120-150 thousand. This corresponds to 200-400 thousand yen. However, you should not envy the attractive amounts; the standard of living in Japan is much more expensive than in Russia.

What to spend money on

When decided housing problem, and what is important, issues with rent have been resolved, since it can be 1/3-1/2 of the rent for an apartment, pressing everyday problems can be solved. Going to the store, buying food, organizing leisure activities.

Cost of food

Prices for goods are significantly higher than in Russia and are comparable to the difference in wages.

• Bread will cost 80-100 rubles, instead of our 30;
• Milk can be purchased for about the same price difference;
• Vegetables are 50-80 rubles more expensive;
• Pasta, cheeses, sugar, eggs, tea cost the same as in Russia;
• Alcohol from local producers is on average 2 times cheaper;
• Meat is a little more expensive, chicken is a little cheaper.

It is clear that the difference in prices will be noticeable when comparing the capital and the province, and the cost of products in Japan will be affected by the place of purchase - an expensive supermarket or a local market.

What you definitely shouldn’t do in the Land of the Rising Sun is smoke. The price for a pack of cigarettes is between 420-460 yen.

Cost of household services

These include tailoring services, laundries and hairdressing salons. Surprisingly, most of them turn out to be comparable to Russian prices or even lower. For example, a haircut at a hairdresser will cost 1100-1700 yen, while our average price tag is 500-1500 rubles, depending on the level of the beauty salon.

Laundry services are very common. Moreover, these are not elite companies that only wealthy segments of the population apply to, but, on the contrary, they are very affordable. This is due to the fact that small apartments are popular in the Land of the Rising Sun; people live in 6-10 square meters. These are not even our studios. In such an area it is impossible to install your own washing machine; there is not even a separate bathroom there. All amenities are shared and located on the floor.

Hence the popularity of laundromats. The cost is quite common - 100 rubles for one load of the machine.

Options and cost of leisure

The most popular entertainment of the local population is shopping, cinema, visiting bars and cafes. Preference is given to relaxing in the company of friends or colleagues. Family people most often relax at home or go out country house on weekends.

The average bill at catering establishments in 2019 is about 1,000 yen. However, this does not include booze. But considering that prices in Japan for products from alcohol producers are 1.5-2 times cheaper than in Russia, simple calculations can be made.

Cinema is an expensive pleasure compared to Russia. A ticket will cost from 700 to 1500 thousand rubles. However, just like us, there are various special offers, promotions and discounts: a day for students, a day for girls, for pensioners and small children, and off-peak hours when tickets to all films are cheaper.

Shopping is one of the main entertainments local residents. But it’s not stores selling clothes that are especially popular, but stores selling gadgets. Modern technology, computer technology, telephony, various electronic devices are what the nation is obsessed with. Well, the price tag for such toys for adults is much lower than in Russia.

And this is how a typical weekday in Japan goes for Russian students who study there.

Today it is fashionable to use the Japanese as an example in everything and dream of reaching their level of existence. At the same time, only the most devoted connoisseurs of its culture and special mentality and brave specialists who go there to work decide to live permanently in prosperous Japan. This is understandable - the country is too original for the average person to live comfortably in. However, not everyone is afraid of difficulties and successfully finds their meaning in life on the islands of Ancient Yamato. The main rule here for luck is to know in advance what exactly to prepare for.

If the decision to live near the Japanese came after a tourist trip or a personal trip to Japanese soil, it means that you have at least some idea of ​​Japanese reality, you can proceed to the next stages of preparation for. However, if you want to go to the Land of the Rising Sun from scratch, at random, you should take into account that the usual scenario for arriving abroad, which works for other countries, may fail here, starting from the airport. The only thing worth mentioning is that the traditional arrival and departure sheets for border control are printed entirely in Japanese, but are not duplicated in English. And without filling them out correctly, no one will be allowed into the country. Therefore, for beginners, before rushing to the islands for good or for a long time, it is more useful to go there for the first time as a tourist as part of a group provided with a guide.

Sample of filling out a Japanese migration card. Click to enlarge.

As a last resort, you should study in as much detail as possible different blogs, forums, thematic websites, where Japan is presented through the eyes of Russians who have directly visited it for a long time or currently living. Fortunately, there are plenty of their stories and videos on the Internet.

It is recommended for smart people who are confident in their abilities to travel to the islands on their own. Otherwise, according to the experience of experienced people, you will not only be able to get out of the airport, find accommodation for the night, and not get scammed, but also simply buy something to eat at first.

Will English help?

Those who speak English well may think that they can handle any trip abroad, much less developed, civilized Japan, because all advanced world knows English. The idea is incorrect and will let you down from the very first steps of your new Japanese life - the Japanese practically do not speak English. And those who speak are embarrassed by their pronunciation and also do not speak. Therefore, you can count on a more or less comfortable existence here only if you know the local speech. Better yet, both foreign languages together. Then there is a good chance to get a decent job, make a career, and make a useful circle of friends.

Japanese is one of the most difficult languages ​​in the world, but living in the country without knowing it is problematic

Without linguistic knowledge, it is also possible to move and live permanently. But this will be a life completely isolated from society, and it is better not to rely too much on the Russian-speaking diaspora, it is very small. Moreover, all official documents, indexes, newspapers, bills, announcements are written by the state only in traditional hieroglyphs. And they try to move away from someone speaking English politely, but quickly. So you will have to learn the language in any case, and it is better to start doing this not right on the spot, but a little earlier.

We rent housing

The state has created excellent hotel chains for short-term visitors. However, for long-term guests and migrants, it is cheaper and more reasonable to rent an apartment, because a hotel day costs up to 3 thousand Russian rubles. Those traveling for work are often provided with company housing.

Features of the local real estate market:

1. The cost of renting a separate, one-room apartment averages 30-40 thousand rubles.
2. The concepts of dimensions, due to population density, differ from the usual ones: a small living space - 6-15 m2, an average apartment - 20-35 m2, large apartments - everything that is more spacious than average.
3. The closer to the city center, the smaller the square footage of the apartment, the more expensive it is. More spacious housing in the periphery is cheaper.
4. When concluding a lease agreement, a deposit equal to 2-3 months of payment, a commission to the realtor in the amount of one month of payment, as well as a special gift to the owner “for the keys” - an amount equal to 1-3 months of housing payment are often required. When renewing the contract, you should be “thankful” for the keys again.

As for buying your own living space, there are some subtleties here:

1. How much an apartment costs does not depend on the condition of the building where it is located, but depends on the distance from the center.
2. Intermediate type apartments (average between “economy” and “business”) measuring about 60 m2 cost 20-25 million rubles.
3. A large, detached house within the city will cost the same amount as an ordinary, small city apartment.
4. Buying a home is possible through government mortgage programs offering loans at 1% for 100 years (the debt is inherited).
5. When buying a house on separate area A land transaction is subject to six types of taxes and fees, which together add up to 10% of the total cost of the investment.
6. The acquisition of local real estate by a foreigner counts as a big plus when applying for citizenship or residence permit.

The main difficulty for immigrants who need to provide themselves with housing in Japan is that many real estate agencies specifically do not deal with foreigners. Those that provide such services tend to greatly inflate prices, hoping for a misunderstanding of the language and situation. Therefore, it is better to look for housing with a local intermediary, who can simultaneously act as a guarantor to reassure suspicious agents.

Work and earnings

A full life in Japan is impossible without work, unless you have a couple of free millions of yen in your accounts. But you shouldn’t match the earnings of the native islanders - the state allows foreigners to receive a salary equivalent to an amount not exceeding 1.5 thousand US dollars. However, you can live on this money. But only if you feed yourself alone. A family will need an income of 2-2.5 thousand dollars.

Statistics average salary in Japan according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (yen per month). As of November 2018, it has increased to 321,210 yen/month.

Another question is how to find a normal vacancy. Low-skilled labor is not available to immigrants under two government regulations:

• do not hire foreigners for positions where there are many candidates among the Japanese themselves;
• do not take foreigners without knowledge of the language.

So even as a janitor, salesperson or cleaning lady, it’s not so easy to work for the Japanese.

Those who know the Japanese language well will be helped by local legislation obliging them to teach languages ​​only by native speakers - you can get a job as a Russian teacher in educational institutions. The rest are better off being smart IT people or talented scientists. It is in these fields that 95% of compatriots in Japan find themselves. Another area of ​​activity that can bring income to a foreigner is rare abilities in design and fashion.

What and how much does it cost?

A high standard of living does not exclude high prices. As of 2019, food prices are set as follows:

• bread: 182¥ or 109 rubles;
• milk, l: 175¥ or 104 rubles;
• potatoes, kg: 1180¥ or 704 rubles;
• rice, kg: 373¥ or 223 rubles;
• eggs, box of 12 pieces: 218¥ or 130 rubles;
• meat, kg: from 830 to 1800¥ or from 500 to 1070 rubles;
• chicken, kg: 644¥ or 384 rubles;
• tea bags, packaging: 218¥ or 130 rubles;
• oranges, apples, kg: 317¥ or 190 rubles;
• wine, 0.7: ¥787/470 rub.;
• beer, 0.5: 182¥/109 rubles;
• sake, 0.3: ¥462/276 rub.

• cigarettes, pack: ¥400/238 rub.;
• metro, day pass: ¥1000/RUB 596;
• gasoline, l: 103¥/61 rub.

In other words, to get approximate ruble data, you need to multiply the price of goods in yen by 0.6. It’s also worth knowing that a large number of Japanese stores reduce their prices a couple of hours before closing (in the evening).

Is a car a luxury?

Despite the leadership among automobile manufacturers, the Japanese themselves prefer to do without personal transport, with the exception of bicycles. The reasons for this: the high cost of gasoline (2 times higher than in Russia), heavy congestion on the streets, and lack of parking. Cars are used mostly by suburban residents to commute to work.

Taxis are available everywhere, boarding costs 200-300 rubles, but the final price increases significantly, since the following factors are taken into account along the way: call time, travel time, mileage, conditions. A kilometer costs about 50 rubles.

The most convenient way to travel is by public transport. His work is organized at a very high level - metro trains, buses, trolleybuses, trams, ferries - nothing is ever late, even for a little while. Therefore, you can easily plan your journey and your day down to the minute.

Leisure and Japanese entertainment

The most common entertainments of the descendants of samurai:

• shopping;
• gatherings in cafes, bars;
• cinema sessions;
• TV;
• corporate events (especially outdoors);
• a day spent with family.

Relaxing with friends over a cup of coffee or a drink in a bar is quite affordable at prices, comparable to Moscow prices. But cinema is not cheap - from 500 to 1000 rubles per session. The solution is to catch discount days when either girls, or boys, or students, and so on, enjoy the privileges. Tickets are most expensive during prime time, cheaper during off-peak hours.

The Japanese love shopping, but not at all in terms of purchasing clothes and accessories, but in relation to new technologies, devices, and gadgets. The country loves and knows how to produce such goods, so they cost less than abroad.

Local television will most likely seem boring to a Russian person - a lot of advertising about food, a lot of talk shows, programs about choosing products. But there is no dominance of negative, political and criminal news.

Undoubted advantages

To summarize, we can say that in addition to the fact that the standard of living in Japan is very high, the following advantages await Russians:

• polite, timely service, regardless of the client’s status;
• cleanliness on the streets;
• It is forbidden to disturb others by loudly chatting on a mobile phone, especially in public transport;
• a small number of traffic jams, including megacities, since the system of road junctions is highly developed;
• a well-established catering network, many cafes where you can easily eat for a small amount;
• perfect toilets;
• responsiveness on the streets;
• The Japanese do not have the habit of stealing or pocketing things left unattended or accidentally forgotten.

These are the main advantages. There are also a lot of other features that can please foreign people, especially those of an oriental mindset.

Ineradicable disadvantages

What visitors to Nihon-go might not like:

• even having perfectly learned the language, customs, habits and become completely Japaneseized, a foreigner will still forever remain a stranger to the local population, although they will treat him well;
• residential buildings in the Land of the Rising Sun do not provide central heating; in winter you have to keep warm on your own;
• All purchased goods are subject to an additional government tax of 8%;
• Excessive initiative at work and openness are not encouraged.

However, Japanese pros and cons are very subjective, and for some they may change places.

People who elected permanent residence in Japan, they can count on citizenship or at least the right to permanent residence only after 5 years of devotion to their new homeland. Although this does not give them any guarantee of success. For a state to call a foreigner its subject, it needs very compelling reasons and a lot of positive characteristics, including financial security and a good job.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

One of the most unusual and amazing cultures for Russian people to perceive is life in Japan. Many tourist groups come to this country every day, wanting to personally get acquainted with Eastern culture. Indeed, you can learn a lot from the Japanese, for example, it is believed that they have the highest among all, and this is largely due to their specific diet.

The capital of this country is the city of Tokyo; it is known among tourists as the most expensive place to visit. This is evidenced by prices for such banal services as transport or food. For example, a standard taxi ride will cost five dollars, and you will have to spend about fifty dollars on a light snack. Accordingly, in Japan it is interpreted as the highest, since it is decently paid. If for the population of the country the existing prices are considered familiar and are not particularly expensive, then for tourists an excursion to eastern country will cost a pretty penny. For example, the average cost of renting a room in a good hotel is $150. For this money, the client can count on an absolutely comfortably furnished room with all the necessary equipment in the form of a TV, refrigerator, minibar, telephone, air conditioning and other small household appliances. Life in Japan is quite interesting for the average person, and ensuring comfortable activities comes first for entrepreneurs in the service sector. Therefore, room service is carried out at the highest level: linen and detergents, as well as towels are changed daily.

Russians in Japan feel quite constrained, since it is very difficult for our mentality to get used to the price level. In addition, wages in our country differ significantly from wages in Japan. For example, a taxi driver here does not earn less than six thousand dollars, which gives him the opportunity to pay expensive bills for services and feed his family. Government bodies countries attach great importance to the healthcare system. This is confirmed by the fact that Japan is actively implementing an insurance program against cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. Moreover, the government supports this direction and is developing its own social programs.

Life in Japan, of course, is a fairly attractive prospect, but certain difficulties cannot be avoided. On the one hand, the state implements various programs on attraction, which increases the chances of successful employment. On the other hand, any company puts forward knowledge of the national language as one of the main criteria, and learning Japanese is not an easy task. Thus, life in Japan can guarantee a comfortable future, but to realize this intention you will have to try hard. Do not forget that you will need a certain package of documents, which is not so easy to collect.

Japan is a highly developed state, one of the world leaders in many sectors of the economy and science. Life in the Land of the Rising Sun looks very attractive from the outside, and this is, in principle, true. Legal immigrants here are treated mostly tolerantly, but all visitors, including Russians, need to be mentally prepared for the fact that they will be perceived here exclusively as strangers.

Foreigners in Japan, attitude towards Russians

The current Japanese population is estimated at 127 million. The share of foreigners does not exceed 1.5%, mainly Koreans and Chinese. Russians also live in Japan, although the community can hardly be called impressive. According to rough estimates, the number of our former compatriots who have visas valid for three months or more is about eight thousand people. These are mainly scientists, students, civil servants (embassy and consulate employees), trade representatives, and their families. At least a third of the visitors are women who married Japanese. Russians are usually based in major cities

(Tokyo, Kyoto). The diaspora is not growing very actively - by 200–300 people per year.

The attitude towards Russians can hardly be called too favorable, but this has nothing to do with antipathy towards the Russian Federation specifically. Anyone who is not Japanese from birth is considered an alien here for the rest of his life, even if he has official citizenship (to obtain which you will have to renounce your own) and children from a representative/representative of the local population. Moreover, in the event of a divorce, a foreigner who does not have a residence permit must leave the country within a month. Children and joint property remain with the Japanese parent.

Without sufficient knowledge of the local language, it is unrealistic to expect a normal attitude from others, even if you know English, Spanish and German combined well.

This, of course, does not apply to tourists or people arriving on a short-term visa.

Without speaking Japanese to a decent level, it is very difficult to expect to get a job.

When working in a Japanese team, it is important to realize that you are part of the team. The mistake of one is a common failure. Your perfect execution doesn't matter if the project as a whole is a failure. If you have fulfilled your scope, but your colleague has not yet arrived, it is considered indecent to leave. At first it really annoyed me, but if you want to have a normal relationship with them, you need to get used to it. Those who are too proactive are also not welcome.

It should be recognized that, despite all the good manners and politeness of the Japanese, discrimination (“sabetsu”) towards visitors is present here even at the official level.

For example, the maximum earnings of a foreigner cannot exceed one and a half thousand dollars. Only certain high-ranking consular and diplomatic officials are allowed to receive more. Problems often arise when renting or buying a home. Many real estate agencies even refuse to deal with visitors. In any case, when concluding an agreement, you will need to meet a Japanese citizen who will agree to become a guarantor. Despite all this, Russian immigrants should not complain much about harassment. The attitude towards blacks, Koreans, Chinese and indigenous people (Ainu, Burakumin, Okinawans) is much worse.

Level and quality of life Payment utilities

and rental housing is the largest expense item. It accounts for up to a quarter of the total family income, which averages $35 thousand per year. Of course, foreigners have more modest incomes. If you have plans to obtain citizenship, it makes sense to think about buying an apartment or house - this will become a serious argument in your favor when the migration service considers your application.

Comparison of Russia and Japan

By the way, an apartment in a big city costs about the same as a private home in the suburbs, and the area of ​​the latter will be twice as large. Prices are steep compared to Russian ones; for example, an apartment of 60 m² can cost from 450 thousand dollars. But, unlike the Russian Federation, local state mortgage programs offer humane conditions. Even loans are available at 1% per annum for a period of one hundred years.

Life in Japan can hardly be called cheap, but the salaries are consistent. As for the attitude of local residents, it is rather neutral towards Russians. In general, many Japanese have such concepts as “yoso”, “soto” and “uchi”. The first category includes strangers whom you see on the street or in transport. The attitude towards them is completely indifferent. But as soon as you, being a stranger, ask something, you immediately go into the “sotho” category. You can be 90% sure that they will try to help you, and they will do it as sincerely and with full dedication. If you find yourself in the “teach” group, it means that you have become a truly close person, practically a member of the family.

The high cost of gasoline, traffic jams and an acute shortage of parking are forcing many city residents to abandon their own cars. Moreover, the system public transport works almost perfectly. Metro, buses and trams go everywhere and strictly on schedule. Product prices are significantly higher than in Russia, but Last year this gap has narrowed somewhat. A significant number of Russians spend at least half of their family budget on food purchases, while in the Land of the Rising Sun this usually spends no more than a fifth. The cost of household services (haircut, laundry, clothing repair, etc.) in most cases is not very different. When it comes to leisure, the Japanese spend much more on it. IN Lately the difference became even more significant. The average bill in cafes and restaurants excluding drinks is lower than their Russian counterparts. Alcohol prices are comparable. Shopping is very popular among the population, but if in the Russian Federation lovers of this activity “attack” mainly clothing stores, then in Japan the main emphasis is on gadgets and modern technology.

The infrastructure of Japanese cities is impressive

Difficulties of immigration

Obtaining a residence permit in Japan is quite difficult, but quite possible. To qualify for this status, you must be a holder of one of the following long-term visa categories:

• working;
• diplomatic;
• family;
• general;
• official.

Work visas can be granted to skilled professionals, medical professionals, scientists, teachers, lawyers, investors and artists. Employees of embassies and consulates come under the diplomatic quota. Family visa is issued to spouses and children of Japanese citizens/permanent residents. In general, students and interns come, in official terms - officials. To obtain any of these documents, you will need to have a guarantor, which is an official organization, a Japanese citizen or a foreigner with resident status. Registration is carried out according to the following scheme. The inviting party (the guarantor can also act in this capacity) sends original documents, the list of which is determined by the type of visa. The applicant takes them to the Japanese embassy or consulate along with a photocopy of his passport and two completed forms with photographs. The application review period takes five working days. IN in some cases Additional documents may be required.

Receiving a visa does not mean that for the period of its validity the Japanese state will give you complete freedom of action within the framework of local legislation and traditions. According to the latest requirements, all foreign citizens are required to inform the authorities about a change of place of work, residence address, and even social status

. This must be done within two weeks, otherwise a large fine will be issued (about 2 thousand dollars). Malicious violators can easily be deprived of their visa. It’s not easy for people who marry a Japanese citizen. As part of the fight against fictitious registrations, inspections are periodically carried out, many of which are openly provocative in nature. There is even a law providing for the cancellation of a visa if evidence is presented that the spouses have been abstaining from intimacy for six months.

Marina, 31 years old, housewife, Osaka: I would advise that before marrying a Japanese man, ask if he is the eldest son in the family. If this is the case, then you will most likely have to live with his parents. A friend of mine had a similar situation. For a long time they lived together with their mother-in-law, who turned out to be very. I constantly suspected that my friend was with her son solely for the sake of obtaining citizenship. The husband opposed his wife in any conflict so as not to upset the parent. She was then kept from getting a divorce by her child, who by law would have had to be left behind. And as soon as they began to live separately, the situation immediately returned to normal. The Japanese, in general, are morally very dependent on their parents, and this must be taken into account.

Beauty in Japanese

Japan or China: where is better to live, pros and cons

The majority of Russians living in Japan on a permanent or temporary basis are from the Far East. This is not surprising, given the geographical proximity of the regions. China is also very popular among our fellow citizens. Let's try to appreciate how different life is in these neighboring Asian countries. By the way, it is worth noting that despite very difficult political relations, Japan is the main investor and trading partner of the PRC. As mentioned above, most Russians go to the Land of the Rising Sun to work in the scientific, educational and IT fields. Holders of other specialties often have to face outright discrimination when applying for work. The presence of a salary cap cannot be called a positive factor either. In terms of employment, China is much more promising. Not only highly qualified specialists, but also professionals are in great demand there mediocre. In general, it is much easier for a foreigner to find a well-paid job in China, as well as to establish friendly relations with the local population. If we talk about quality of life, then Japan is certainly still ahead. This applies to both social standards both infrastructure and ecology. It is no secret that due to powerful industrialization, the level of air pollution in China is close to critical - this is a huge disadvantage. On the other hand, the inhabitants of the country of samurai also often suffer from natural disasters.

Video: how the Japanese treat Russians

Japan is a wonderful place where well-mannered and friendly people live comfortably. the main problem the fact is that a significant part of them are not too fond of foreigners who have decided to settle here thoroughly. There is no need to be afraid of any open manifestations of xenophobia - the local population is quite tolerant. You just need to get used to the idea that you will always be a stranger here. This is how Japanese society works.

Dmitry Shamov was born and raised in Moscow. He graduated from the Pedagogical University there. He is a mathematics and computer science teacher. More precisely, he was.

While still a schoolboy, Dmitry became interested in Japan, and student years worked for three jobs- saved up to study at a Japanese language school.

Today Dmitry lives in Tokyo. He has a Japanese wife and good job. He's successful video blogger- more than 130 thousand subscribers on YouTube.

Lifehacker interviewed Dmitry. We talked about life in Japan, the Japanese and video blogging. It turned out that many stereotypes (the Japanese are workaholics, the Japanese are insensitive, and so on) are far from reality.

Dmitry Shamov

Other planet

- Dima, why Japan? How did the hobby begin?

As a child, like many others, I watched Sailor Moon and Pokemon. I just liked it. I didn’t even think about moving to Japan then.

But at school I read Teru Miyamoto’s book “Patterned Brocade”. It perfectly shows the Japanese spirit, the atmosphere of Japan. Then a timid desire to visit this country appeared.

Then I bought books by Kawabata, Abe, Yukio Mishima and other authors. I read it and completely fell in love with Japan. I decided that I would definitely go there.

It seems to me exactly fiction allowed me to get a proper understanding of Japan. After all, unlike the compilers of guidebooks, the authors do not need to be disingenuous, presenting the country in a rosy light. They simply write about what Japan really is. Therefore, my idea of ​​Japan almost completely coincided with what I saw when I arrived.

- Do you remember your first day in Japan?

Yes, it was like being on another planet. :)

I was going to study in language school. However, he did not speak Japanese. AT ALL.

An hour before landing on the plane, I was given a form that I had to fill out and present at passport control. It was entirely in Japanese. It looked like an alien tablet.

At the airport, I gave this piece of paper to some Japanese guy, and he himself checked the necessary boxes for me. They took my fingerprints and released me in peace.

No one met me - I decided to save money on this school service. So I went out into the street and for a long time could not understand where to go, what to do, where to go. Fortunately, there are only two trains from the airport: a cheaper one and a more expensive one. Not the first time, but I bought a ticket for the cheaper one.

I got to the station where I had to change trains, and then I “spoke” to a Japanese person for the first time. It was necessary to understand where to go next: left or right. We tried to communicate in English, but in the end he just pointed with his finger which train I should take. In general, I got to school with difficulty: without language, with heavy bags, after a 10-hour flight. It was completely unclear where to go and what to do. Therefore, my advice to those planning to go to a language school: pay for the transfer.

- How were you greeted at the language school?

Fine. We stayed in a dormitory with five Chinese and were shown the school. Then I went for a walk. I went outside and realized: I’m in Japan!

I realized that life had changed. Nothing will be the same. Even though I still didn't understand anything (I couldn't even buy food on my first walk), I saw it as a step towards something bigger.

Someone will say that going to a foreign country without knowing the language, and even one as mysterious as Japan, is crazy. But for me it was a chance to completely change my life.

- When did you start enjoying life in Japan?

Right the next day. I began to get my bearings a little, and most importantly, I learned the ABCs.

Hiragana and katakana

- You received the first level of the Japanese language in just 1.5 years. How did you manage that?

Nihongo Noryoku Shiken is an exam to determine the level of Japanese language proficiency for non-native speakers. N1 - highest level, which requires fluency in spoken and written Japanese.

I arrived with no knowledge at all. But I won’t say that Japanese was difficult for me. For example, the two main syllabary alphabets - Hiragana and Katakana - are given a week. I learned them in three hours - either out of great motivation, or out of despair. It was necessary to somehow get comfortable on “another planet.” :)

- English didn’t help?

The Japanese don't know him well. They have been teaching it at school for 12 years. But they don't need him.

First of all, 98% of the people in Japan are Japanese. There are few chances to talk to a foreigner. If a Japanese person by the age of 20 communicates with a foreigner in English, this is luck.

Secondly, Japanese is used everywhere. When a game or gadget comes out, it must be Japanese. The film comes out - it is dubbed into Japanese.

That's why the Japanese don't know English well and are embarrassed about it. If you speak to a Japanese person in English and he shrinks from you, it is not because he is unkind or hostile to foreigners. Most likely, he is simply afraid to demonstrate his poor English.

- What advice can you give to people studying or planning to study Japanese?

There is a separate section on my channel “ Live Japanese lessons ».

One of my main pieces of advice: you need stability. You can’t study for 10 hours today and not study tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. There will be no sense. You need to practice every day. At least an hour, or better yet three.

When I came to the language school, there were only Chinese in my class and they had a head start - they knew hieroglyphs. (Chinese and Japanese characters are half the same.) So the teachers told me: “You need to study three hours a day, and since you are European, three times more.”

- Nine hours?!

At first I taught 14 hours a day. Then I found a part-time job, and there was less time for language. But I still taught: when I went to part-time work, when I returned from it. Even between performing his duties of managing a restaurant: he wrote notes with words and pasted them in places where no one saw, and when he passed by, he peeked and repeated.

But, as I said, I had great motivation. Agree, it would be stupid to pay a huge amount of money, earned through sweat and blood, to come to a language school and waste time.

Therefore, the second important point in mastering the Japanese language is interest. If you don't have it, you're unlikely to learn it.

- These are more psychological tips. But in practical terms, what helps?

Personally, paper cards helped me. Don’t be lazy to make them and, if possible, take them with you everywhere. Also write everything by hand. Even if you can type on a computer, use mechanical memory - write.

For example, you have learned five hieroglyphs. But even if it seems to you that you remember well how to write them, then write them a hundred more times. This has to get into your head. The next morning, get up and repeat these five characters. If you made a mistake in at least one, then all five again a hundred times.

You can also use some programs. The best dictionary, in my opinion, is Yarksi. There are desktop (both Windows and Mac) and mobile versions (Android and iOS). The latter, however, is paid, but costs only about $10.

To practice hieroglyphs good program“Kanji Ninja” (漢字忍者). It was made for Japanese schoolchildren, so there are levels: for junior, middle and high school.

- Is it possible to learn Japanese from films or anime?

Can. But you need to keep in mind that in anime the language is very different from real spoken Japanese. All sorts of speeds are used there, for the sake of coolness. Nobody says that in real life (unless it’s a joke).

If you watch movies, do so with Japanese subtitles.

But to truly learn to hear Japanese speech, I recommend downloading an audiobook. Japanese has almost no intonation or stress. Therefore, for beginners, Japanese speech merges into one thing - it is not clear where one thought ended and another began. But when someone speaks Japanese into your ear for hours, understanding will gradually come.

Education

- In Japan, education is paid, and quite expensive. Does this guarantee quality?

In Japan it is difficult to get involved with people. Everyone understands this, and parents initially invest in the child that he should study well. For the most part, Japanese people are quite smart and versatile.

But the education system itself...

I've seen Japanese high school math textbooks. Students say that there are hyper-complex tasks that melt the brain. But many of these topics in Russia are taught in high school.

- Are schoolchildren really prone to suicide?

To the Japanese with junior classes pressure from society: you need to study well to get into a good high school, and from there to the prestigious senior school. Education often determines how things will turn out future life Japanese

In the understanding of Japanese society, if you do not study to the maximum before graduating from university, then you will not see a good life. Although this is no longer entirely true, schoolchildren are still scared.

The point is not even in the complexity of the material being studied, but in psychological pressure. There are all opponents around you who need to be overcome. Both parents and teachers put pressure.

In addition, bullying of classmates is not uncommon in Japanese schools. This actually drives some to suicide. But it is wrong to believe that the suicide rate is very high. Yes, it is rather big, but still lower than in South Korea, Kazakhstan, and sometimes in Russia.

- Most Japanese have higher education. Is it so important for your career?

Previously, a diploma from a prestigious university, such as Tokyo, guaranteed successful career. It didn't matter whether it was really good specialist or it is empty as a cork. Now there is no such thing. Knowledge is important now. A man without higher education can find the best place than a university graduate if he knows his business well.

But most Japanese do graduate from college. This is considered important.

- Is it true that good attendance is half the success when studying at a Japanese university?

Yes. There is a word in Japanese called 出席率, which can be translated as “percentage of visits.” It cannot be lowered below 80%, and a foreigner should not cross the 90% mark at all. Small cash incentives are given for 100% attendance.

You just need to come to the university and take intermediate tests. This is enough to learn. In some universities (not particularly rated), one visit is generally enough.

In Japanese educational institutions difficult to enter, but easy to study in.

- Are diplomas from Russian universities valued in Japan?

Not so much at work. Only if it's something unusual. But the diploma is counted for admission to graduate school.

Work before karoshi

- Is it difficult to find a job in Japan?

Yes. And not only to foreigners, but also to the Japanese themselves. Going through a hundred interviews is normal.

For foreigners, of course, it’s more difficult because of the language. If you are a unique specialist, the only one in the world, then they will hire you without speaking, they will even invite you to work. But getting a regular position in a regular company is very difficult. We have to fight for our place in the sun.

For example, after language school, I also graduated from business school, changed several part-time jobs and went through many interviews before getting a job as a system administrator.

- Are the Japanese really so obsessed with work that sometimes they even have karoshi or commit yaroisatsu?

Karoshi - sudden death due to overwork and stress at work.
Yaroyisatsu - suicide due to stress at work.

Depends on the person and what kind of work. Labor relations in Japan are changing a lot.

Previously, a person graduated from university, got a job in a company and worked there until old age. If he quit, then, as a rule, he could not find another job. Now you can change companies at least every year.

In general, the Japanese work really hard. Or rather, they spend a lot of time at work.

- What does it mean?

Quantity does not mean quality.

The Japanese often do not work, but create the appearance of work. They come to the office early, leave later, stretch out the work, and the efficiency is low.

This, by the way, is what sets foreigners apart. They simply carry out their tasks: one is finished - we move on to the next, all are finished - we go home.

But here it is important to understand that in Japan an employee is always part of a team. There are no individual workers there - your work depends on the work of your comrades. If you have completed your part of the work, but your colleague has not yet, you must sit and wait for him. Therefore, according to Parkinson's law, the Japanese try to take up all the time they have to work.

-Has collective responsibility remained in Japan?

The Japanese have no concept of "I". There is a concept of “we”. Everyone works for the team. If one messes up, then the whole team messes up. Going home if you've finished work and your sluggish colleagues haven't is disrespectful to the team.

You need to be part of the team and not stick your neck out. They don't like upstarts. If your boss tells you to do this or that, you need to sit and do it. In Russia, the initiative is welcomed: “Let’s do it this way, not this way?” In Japan, no one cares about your opinion. They gave you a task - just do it.

Also, when working in a team, people are responsible not only for themselves, but also for other team members. Therefore, everyone tries not only to do the job well themselves, but also to look after their comrades.

- Do you think this is an effective system?

Partly. In office work, in my opinion, it takes on distorted forms. If a person works in a software company and is engaged, for example, in design, he should not depend on programmers or anyone else.

But if we take physical labor, then it is important that workers keep pace with each other. For example, if you look at how the Japanese build roads, it’s fantastic! It can take us six months to repair a small area. In Japan, a road destroyed by an earthquake is restored in two to three days. There are many people involved there: from asphalt pavers to traffic controllers who ensure traffic safety in the emergency area. They work harmoniously and with great speed.

- Do your colleagues communicate outside of work?

Rarely. Free time from work is usually spent with family. But there is such a thing as a Japanese corporate party. It is held every week, usually on Fridays. Attendance is required. It is there that the general corporate spirit is maintained: “We are a team, we are together, and we are great!”

Sometimes such corporate events are held outdoors. Moreover, it’s not just two or three employees who are friends with each other who go to the barbecue, but the whole company.

- Can a foreigner count on a pension in Japan? Or do I need to obtain citizenship?

In Japan, a quarter are elderly and very few are young. Therefore, even those who do not work pay pension tax. This also applies to foreigners aged 20 to 60, regardless of whether they have citizenship. If a foreigner carefully made pension contributions, then in old age he can count on benefits from the state.

Advantages and disadvantages

- Every country has its pros and cons. What's more in Japan?

In my opinion, there are advantages. Recently I even made a video on the channel that Russians in Japan will like.

There are a lot of advantages: from quality of life and cleanliness to culture. Anyone who truly loves Japan will be happy with life.

But, of course, there are also disadvantages. For example, very cold apartments. In the room where I am now, I am heated by an air conditioner and a stove, but it is still cold. Japanese houses have thin walls and single-pane windows.

- Do the Japanese have digital addiction?

Yes. You go into the subway, and 90% of the people there are sitting with their heads bowed, poking at their phones. They can't talk, so they text without interruption. The application is very popular in Japan.

But in transport this is understandable. It looks strange when a guy and a girl go on a date, sit opposite them and play on their phones or text (sometimes even with each other). But this is also considered normal.

Also, children in playgrounds do not swing on swings or play outdoor games. They sit on a bench, about five or seven of them, and play Nintendo DS. That is, they go outside to play the console. Only children three years old they run around and have fun, but the older guys have other interests.

安定 - Antey

- You got married in Japan. Tell us about the peculiarities of your relationship with a Japanese woman.

It all depends on the person. I'm lucky. Miki and I understand each other very well and have similar interests. She is even more Russian in character than Japanese.

But in general, it is not customary for girls in Japan to talk about feelings. They rarely get compliments. Therefore, if you tell a Japanese woman that you like her, she will be very surprised and happy.

Also in Japan there is no such thing as “ladies first”. Give a girl your hand, hold the door - no one does that. This also surprises Japanese women.

During the candy-bouquet period, a couple meets almost every day, lovers constantly write and call each other. In Japan, it is normal for a couple to meet once a month or once every two weeks. At this time, the girl can go out with her friends, and the guy can go out with his friends. At the same time, during separation, the girl and the guy do not communicate much. And it's not a lack of time - it's just the way the relationship is.

But, again, it all depends on the character of the person. If you really like each other, then simply say that you do not accept such communication. I'm sure the girl will change her behavior.

- Are Japanese women good housewives?

In the majority - yes. They will get up themselves, prepare breakfast, and iron their clothes if necessary. You don't even have to ask. If the couple has a normal relationship, then the girl takes care of her man. I think this is not a feature of Japanese women - it’s like that in any country.

- Do the Japanese marry for love?

Not always.

For Japanese women, such a thing as “antei” is very important. This is stability. If a guy has no savings (the average savings in Japan is about 5 million yen, that is, more than 2 million rubles), or he doesn’t know what he’s doing (all sorts of “ freelance artists"in Japan they are considered almost idlers), or he works where there is no career growth(in Japan, any work is respected, but a loader still doesn’t have many prospects), then the girl is unlikely to marry him. No matter how much they love each other. If there are no anteas, then the Japanese woman cannot imagine young man Parents should not associate the future with this person and have children from him.

That's why many Japanese women date the one they love and marry the one who has an antecedent. I have friends who are not together Great love, but simply because they feel good with each other and they have an antecedent.

I think that's why in some families in Japan it's normal to go left.

- What kind of stability are men looking for?

Men are looking for three things: for a girl to be economical, sweet (outwardly) and faithful. But, again, everything greatly depends on the person. For some, even homeliness is not important. The Japanese sometimes perceive a woman as a beautiful accessory that they can show off to their friends. This approach has historical roots.

Hikikomori

- Why did you start doing video blogging?

Initially I opened the group "