What is Japanification? An introduction to my blog

Konnichiwa! I'm Pete, and this is Japanified Pete. This Blog will delve into my journey to embrace the Japanese culture and way of life, and eventually move to Japan with my Family.

This is an intro blog about a blog and future blogs, and todays topics are:

• Japanification
• Japan
• Moving to Japan
• Topics for the Blog

This post is largely about me and my plans, both for this blog and moving to Japan, and of course answering the question 'why?'

Kuratake Shrine, Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture

Japanification

Now according to Wikipedia ‘Japanification is the process of becoming or wishing to become a member of Japanese society’ - not to be confused with a derogatory use relating to economics - persistent stagnation and deflation. Interesting, I hadn't heard that one before:

Now that we have that cleared up, ill tell you why i'm embarking on this trip to Japanification, and a bit about my plans for this blog.

Originally I had planned to do a YouTube channel, and after buying some equipment and writing some scripts it dawned on me that I just do not want to be in front of a camera. I only take ironic selfies! I prefer to put my thoughts and experiences in writing, and take nice photos. I only just upgraded my camera to something decent so I'm stuck using poor quality images that I have on file for a while.

That's where a blog comes in.

Japan

I love Japan, and at the risk of sounding cliche, I love the landscapes, the people, the culture. Unlike most people, its not the perception of high tech cities and sushi conveyor belts that interest me. Sure, Japanese cities are amazing to experience and probably great to live in if that's your thing, but they just don't quite captivate me in the way that rural Japan does. 

There's just something so timeless and honest about rural Japan, and the people that live there. 

I get all warm and fuzzy feelings when I hear the sound of the countryside on an nice day - Cicadas buzzing, Crows kawing and the inevitable noise of grass being cut.

I would like to point out that I didn't just watch some YouTube, read some manga, drink some Boss coffee and decide Japan was awesome. Manga and Boss Coffee (the rainbow blend) are pretty awesome though. And there are some great youtubers worth subscribing to.

Tomomi's home village, Kumamoto Prefecture

Moving to Japan

My wife Tomomi is Japanese, and comes from the Kumamoto countryside. We've visited japan almost every year since 2016. I've always wanted to move to Japan, and its only now with the recent birth of our daughter that Tomomi has agreed we can move. But we have to wait two years.

Two years is a long time when you are already buzzing with the anticipation of what the future holds, and slightly disillusioned with your current way of life. Its an age away. Tomomi has to work for at least a year after maternity leave and so we are targeting around May 2026.

Plenty of time for planning, but also plenty of time for overthinking and unnecessary stress. Probably.

Unlike the Manga reading, Boss coffee drinkers, I can move to Japan relatively 'easily' via the Spouse Visa. I say 'easily' as moving to another country, any country, when you aren't a 20-something with their life's possessions in one suitcase and nothing to lose is a massive undertaking; logistically, financially and mentally.

Now before the seasoned expats chime in, I'm fully aware Japan isn't as rosy as many people believe, Tomomi left there for good reason. Just to name the first two that come to mind: The work culture is notoriously bad for work/life balance, and the bureaucracy is renowned for being archaic and overly complex. 

I once spent what was almost an entire day waiting around at the dreaded drivers licence centre just because Tomomi needed to update her surname after we were married!

A Job ad with finishing at 6pm as a major selling point

So there are downsides. There always are wherever you go. The grass always seems greener elsewhere, more so with the social media age and everything stages as being perfect and idyllic. I intent to write about my experiences from a frank and honest view. The good, the not so good and the outright bad.

Just a side note, The Grass is rather green in Japan, and it grows like crazy.

We yearn for a simpler and happier family life. Not stuck in the rut of middle class existence, slaves to employment and the rat race. For a few years now I've been dreaming of a slower paced lifestyle, focused on quality family time and just being able to take the time to enjoy even the mundane things. Its just not possible in New Zealand with a reasonable quality of life, unless you happy to be wealthy. 

Think of all those chores you have to do, like mowing the lawns or grocery shopping. I guarantee most of them you don't enjoy, and actively dread or procrastinate doing. If you really think about why though, Id wager it relates to time. Time you either don't have, or feel would be productive doing something else, because of a perceived lack of time.

I want to escape the Matrix. Except for the few days a year in Japan that you have to dedicate to bureaucratic tasks of course. From what I've heard, doing your taxes is going to be an absolute ball.

 

Kumamoto Drivers License Center. Bureaucracy at its finest.

It all sounds pretty swell doesn't it? It could be wishful thinking, and we've got a few ideas around how we could make it work. Its going to be a fun journey for sure! I've waffled a bit, so I shall get to the point, which is what this blog will be all about.

Main Topics for this Blog:

• Learning Japanese - Living in Japan without being able to speak or read Japanese is not impossible, but difficult and restrictive. I do not want to be reliant on my wife to translate for me wherever I go, for my own independence and employment prospects I need to learn Japanese.

• Planning, Preparing and Moving - With a Wife and Baby, two Cats to move, as well as coordinating selling a house, cars and furniture, all converging on a moving date and sorting out my Visa there's a little bit of work to do.

• Getting Settled in Japan - We'll be house hunting and job hunting as well as look at business opportunities. The first year will be a busy one. 

• Travel and Adventures - Rural Japan is dying. Young people are increasingly flocking to the cities for work, and the rural population is ageing. Yet there's so much to see and do that I want to experience (and share those experiences) as well as actively promote my local region.

• Japanese Life - The everyday stuff that you may not experience whilst on holiday. Everything from explaining how the recycle bins work to getting involved with the local community.

• Japanese Topics - There a few niche topics that I aim to write about in Japan. Im fascinated with Kei cars (I own one) as well as Japanese trains.

• Product reviews - Sometimes I will buy a product and it will just blow me away with how good it is. If I still feel that way months later I want the world to know. In everyday man terms, not the 'expert' type reviews that you can find anywhere. Brief and to the point.

Our 2 Birmans. I'll try to refrain from cat picture overloads on this blog.

That's my introduction and what this blog will be about. It seems quite ambitious given how much we have on our plate. Ill do my best!

If you have similar experience or any tips, ideas or just think im delusional, please leave a comment!