Hmm good question. Probably the blatant racism, sexism, and xenophobia. I was lucky cuz I lived there as a contractor for the US military, so I worked with Americans on a Navy base and had SOFA status. But my girlfriend who is European worked as a research professor for the Japanese government and she’s got enough stories to write a book. Foreign woman working for the Japanese government? no bueno. That’s why we ended up leaving.
Also, I’ve never been in a place that is so alcoholic. It’s super fun as an expat, but underneath the surface it’s really depressing. Obliterated salary men passed out in a puddle of their own puke on a train platform. Funny at first, but sad when you really think about it.
Also also, I’m not aware of any other culture that has a specific word for dying at your desk from overworking. Karoshi. And it’s not an uncommon thing either. You see it in the news all the time. And I can’t count the amount of times trains were delayed due to people jumping in front of them.
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