Japan is a wonderful land that offers countless leisure and entertainment options, as well as safety and a vast cuisine. Despite this, many Japanese and Brazilians living in the country do not have the opportunity to enjoy everything Japan has to offer, as Japanese capitalism forces many to chase after the wind. In this article, we will explore how to get out of the automatic mode and enjoy life more in Japan.
Table of Contents
The Automatic Routine of Residents in Japan
The Intense Work
In the three times I have been to Japan, I spoke with several Brazilians and Japanese. Most of them did not have the chance to know other provinces, and many were unaware of the existence or had never visited the mentioned tourist spots. At the tourist attractions I visited, most of the attendees were students, retired elderly, or foreigners. The fact is that many residents of Japan do not have time to enjoy their earnings, travel, and enjoy life. Most are forced to follow a work contract, performing a significant number of overtime hours, usually in factories where the work is heavy.
The Salary Reality
Although the Japanese salary is much higher than the Brazilian salary, and even the cost of living and the price of things are cheaper than in Brazil, many who live in Japan are at the limit of their salaries. This may occur due to saving money with the aim of returning to Brazil and buying land, or spending in Japan on expensive cars and new products. A single person can comfortably survive in Japan working only three times a week and enjoying the rest of their free time, leading a simple life. However, many who live in Japan are married and have children, which further increases monthly expenses.
Living on Automatic
Many Brazilians and Japanese live on automatic, waking up early to work all day in factories, arriving home after seven in the evening to watch television or eat at a fast food place, sleep, and start the day again in the same way. Just to reach the weekend and spend the day resting, or at most, going to some interesting spot in their city.
Alternatives to Get Out of Automatic
Simplifying Life
One option to get out of automatic mode is to simplify life by seeking jobs that do not require overtime. I have several friends who work in Japan three days a week taking care of the elderly, leaving four free days in the week. There is an illusion that the Japanese work a lot. It is true that they are dedicated, but I observed that many work little. Businesses open later and close earlier than in Brazil.
Challenging Yourself
Another option is to challenge yourself and increase your qualifications. Many Brazilians who have lived on automatic for decades have never had the opportunity to learn Japanese. How will they qualify for jobs with shorter hours if they do not learn the language? The same happens in Brazil. Many were born into poverty and cannot see a path for growth. Social inequality is indeed great worldwide, but that does not mean you should give up. Many remain in these precarious conditions because they do not have the strength to change the scenario.
Seeking New Opportunities
Japan offers many alternatives and opportunities. Job openings for office and technology work are always available, even remote jobs. However, the requirements are high. A high level of Japanese is necessary, in addition to specific experiences. I cannot simply tell you to quit your factory job and find a better one. Although it is a great option, it is not accessible to everyone.
Strategies to Enjoy Life Better in Japan
Community Involvement
To give you an idea, 1 in every 3 people from the religious organization I belong to volunteers in a service that requires 50 hours of dedication per month. In the past, this number was 70 hours, making Japan the country with the highest proportional number of volunteers in the world. There is no excuse that the Japanese work too much and have no time for anything, as 71,000 Japanese managed to take 70 hours of their monthly time for volunteer service.
Using Free Time
You can simplify your life and use your free time to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, visit other cities and tourist spots, make new friends, and expand your horizons. Free time can also be used to challenge yourself and increase your qualifications.
Personal Development
Do not make excuses or stop fighting for your desires. Just as it is extremely difficult for some to go to the gym and exercise, learning a language is also a difficult task and takes a lot of time. So, do not waste your time any longer. You have already done the hardest part, which is being in Japan. Now, just organize your time and dedicate yourself to studying, whether through an in-person or online course, like Suki Desu itself. Aim to deepen your knowledge of the Japanese language and culture.
Dealing with Pressure
Another reason many Brazilians in Japan are on automatic mode is that they cannot handle the pressure they face in Japan and end up isolating themselves. Perhaps you have created a wrong concept about the Japanese due to having suffered ijime in a factory or school, but if you do not learn to deal with these feelings of anger, hatred, and generalization, you will not be able to face the challenges of life. We live in a generation where people have lost patience and cannot deal with their fragile emotions. What we find most on the internet are people filled with hatred commenting on negative situations and realities they faced in Japan. But have you stopped to think and focus on the positive things?
Conclusion
It is common for humans to always focus on the negative and forget the good things. After all, if we take a white sheet of paper with a black dot, most will focus on the black dot and not on the white of the paper. If you have faced a traumatizing situation in Japan that brought you down, do not let that affect your emotions or control your future. Try to forget, forgive, and not take into account the damage caused.
Take care of your emotions, dedicate yourself to working less, and try to challenge yourself. If you do these things, you will certainly be able to get out of automatic mode in Japan and enjoy everything it has to offer.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Don’t forget to share it with as many people as possible so they can also get out of automatic mode. Thank you and see you next time!
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