Puffo Catto ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

As a child, I always wanted to live somewhere nicer. I have dreamt of living in a place where tradition and technology is balanced and combined, a place I know that doesn’t exist but is efficiently described in the books I’ve read. I wanted a peaceful community and life yet I didn’t know back then that it was Japan that I always aimed and longed for.

This year is almost coming to an end and it was a tough year as I got lost on my aim, which is to migrate to Japan. Middle of this year, I suddenly don’t know the purpose of my life, I lost my track and was a total mess. My mind was in chaos. I forgot the main reason why I’m working hard. It was a struggle to get out of that dark tunnel but I’m glad I did.

This 2022, I know that I’ll come to that point again in my life where I question my existing and I want to always remind myself by this post on why I work like sh*t no matter how tired I am. So in today’s post, I will be sharing with you 11 reasons why I badly wanted to move to Japan even if I’m already living in a not-so-great-yet-with-beautiful-beaches country where foreigners also want to visit.

1. I want to go back to my roots

Biologically, I came from a Japanese line and I don’t know why I ended up here in the Philippines. My mom’s ancestors are pure Japanese and my aunts and cousins from my mother’s side claims that we are from a Japanese emperors’ lineage. I got really intrigued and interested when I knew this claim just 3 years ago. All I have to do to prove this claim so that me and my mom could migrate easily to Japan is to take a DNA test but we barely had the time plus everything was on hold because of the Covid19 situation we have. Now is not yet the best time to unfold truths about our family’s past but this is the main reason.

2. All types of jobs are respected

I really admire seeing some of my friends and acquaintances working in a japan as a waiter, caregiver, farmer or any “degrading” jobs in Japan. In japan, there’s no job discrimination (if I’m not mistaken). Employees give respect to their jobs and value them. People also respect them for their job, no matter what. Employers pay square and fair. I really don’t want to stereotype but here in my country, farmers, garbage collectors, waiters and any jobs tagged as “low-class jobs” tend to be underpaid or not paid at all. Employers take advantage of them plus the disrespect of other people is just disturbing.

3. The salary offer is much better

Agree with me or not, but being an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) today is the jumpstart or key to save much more money than having an 8-5 job with a rank and file position and your whole life and time depends on it yet earning so little. I have witnessed and experienced myself being overworked but still being paid regularly for all the extended time you had to take just to finish the never-ending tasks. Though Japan has a very toxic working culture than every country has, I would still choose working there knowing that I get paid much better for the time I spend rather than my country. Getting overtime here just means thank you, no additional rates or whatsoever.

4. People are disciplined

It’s been always everywhere on social media on how disciplined Japanese are. I always admire how they are disciplined on lines especially at the subway stations. I see how they follow the rules and very meticulous in their actions. I’ve learned that children, during their first 2 or 3 years at school, they are taught on how to be disciplined and responsible of their actions instead of learning first through the book. I just wish we had the same program of education and people in my country would be disciplined enough just like them. *sigh*

5. One of the cleanest country

This has also been featured on a vlog channel on how clean Japan could be to the point that you could lick the floors of it if you want because it’s just sparkly clean. Aside from being one of the safest, being clean is second of the things why I admire to live in Japan. I saw this one post on social media that because Japan is so clean, their canals tend to have koi fish living in it. I don’t know if it’s really true or just edited but I believe that Japan is clean because of their disciplined citizens and very strict program in segregating trash.

6. The country has a lot to offer

From their most famous tourist spots to their legendary delicacies, I really wanted to try them. all They have breathtaking views and amazing shops. Their food are authentic and I just love how nationalistic they are and adopts their local foods, places and products. Japan could be really overwhelming as they have a lot to offer. Plus the limited kawaii stuff and collections that you could only buy there. They literally have everything. You name it and it’s there. I just hope that if ever I will finally set my foot to Japan, I have enough money or control from all the temptations and things around me.

7. The style of living is simplier

In Japan, I wanted to live a simple and peaceful life. I wanted to live in a decent sized apartment and ride with my bicycle, do grocery shopping, eat at a traditional restaurant, etc. I wanted to live a happy, contented life amidst the chaos around the world and I think Japan is the best place to start. I want to try minimalism and find joy on things that really make sense and spark joy. In my current state, I have a long way ahead to practice minimalism and finding contentment but I’m not losing hope for it.

8. I love their clothes and fashion

If you haven’t heard, they have harajuku fashion which is very popular and there’s also the minimal fashion which I prefer the most. If y0ur familiar with the brand Uniqlo, that is the kind of fashion I’m talking about. I really love how the Japanese brands started this minimalism movement on fashion by producing plain clothes yet would look very elegant and classy once worn. I don’t know the magic behind the fast fashion industry in Japan but I just love the quality and simple styles of their clothes. I wanted to buy their clothes for it is better in quality and quantity won’t really matter.

9. They improve their products instead of making new varieties

Now, let’s talk about the beauty industry in Japan. Talking about skincare, I’ve been an avid user of Korean skincare brands for years already and here’s what I noticed. As the years go by, Korean skincare is getting overwhelming to catch up especially with new brands emerging, variations, and lines. If you’re a starter, it will be very confusing at first on where and what to get as they have wide variety of choices, skincare line and brands. In Japan, their products may still be existing from the 19th century or what but they don’t create lots of options. Instead they stick to that brand or line and improve it along the years.

10. Home of stationery brands, anime and manga

Of course, of all the things I like to do in Japan, I also have other interests that originated only in Japan and that is journaling with my stationeries, watching anime and reading Japanese manga. I wanted to use stationeries with Japan brands, read their mangas that are readily accessible in convenience stores and their anime shows that are casually playing through their TV. All of these things are really hard to acquire in my country and I badly wanted to visit their bookstores if ever I get to land in Japan. I swear most of my money would be spent here.

11. I want to experience snow

I know the winter season in Japan could be very harsh especially in the northern region. It irritates majority of the people I know who are now working in Japan as they are not used to the cold. But even with those bad comments, I still wanted to try and experience snow. I want to see the roofs of the houses covered in snow and play with it. I so hate hot weathers especially in my country which can get very humid as I excessively sweat. So maybe if I get to experience snow and cold, it will definitely be either a friend or enemy.

As I will end this post, you may realize how much I am being ungrateful with what I have right now in my country and how blind I am to not see how blessed I am.

You may be thinking that I’m just looking for another headache to treat as it will be very stressing to move to another country, adjust to a new environment, follow unusual norms and familiarize unfamiliar cultures. But this dream makes me keep going in my current, dull life.

Without this longing to move to Japan and switch to a new environment and lifestyle, I won’t have other reasons anymore to wake up early, work hard, and to reach and attain my goals in life.

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