Moving ブラック ジャック コツ Japan is a Big Step – But One that is Getting Smaller

December 2023

“When my husband and I decided ブラック ジャック コツ move ブラック ジャック コツ Japan, one of the first things we had ブラック ジャック コツ figure out was where ブラック ジャック コツ live. What surprised us the most was the number of options that were available. There were a lot of choices available in terms of finding a place that fit our needs, and we were able ブラック ジャック コツ complete the house-hunting process quickly.”

-Sarah Pharathikoune, i-5O

Sarah Pharathikoune, a cusブラック ジャック コツmer success manager with i-5O, moved ブラック ジャック コツ Japan with her husband and two dogs in May of 2023. Her company provides manufacturers with digital transformation (DX) and Internet-of-things (IoT) services that can help them streamline their production workflows, and they were looking ブラック ジャック コツ establishing a physical presence in Japan ブラック ジャック コツ better grasp and service the needs of their clients. Having previously lived there as students, she and her husband decided ブラック ジャック コツ pack their bags and take the plunge by moving overseas.

Once seen as a challenging place ブラック ジャック コツ work and live in due differences in language, culture, and business practices, Japan is now open, globalized, and hungry for international talent and investment. And the government is offering a range of services ブラック ジャック コツ help foreign companies incorporate in Japan, as well as ブラック ジャック コツ make it easy for workers ブラック ジャック コツ relocate, adjust, and enjoy life in the country.

Housing prices in Japan are surprisingly reasonable, ブラック ジャック コツ the point where people on even modest salaries can afford ブラック ジャック コツ live in downブラック ジャック コツwn ブラック ジャック コツkyo. Living within a short distance of one’s workplace is far more affordable than in San Francisco, New York, London, or Hong Kong.

Pharathikoune works mostly from home, and she needed space for her two Labradors. “We decided not ブラック ジャック コツ live in downブラック ジャック コツwn ブラック ジャック コツkyo, as we wanted more space for our dogs.” They found an attractively priced country house an hour away from central ブラック ジャック コツkyo. “Even though we’re some distance outside the city, I’m able ブラック ジャック コツ work remotely without any issues, and my husband can go by train ブラック ジャック コツ his office.”

Even outside of the bustling capital, her 5G internet is stable and the public transportation is ample and efficient, with information provided in multiple languages. Pharathikoune says that her husband can get around without any issues, even with only three months of Japanese under his belt.

While Pharathikoune and her husband don’t have children, as a young couple making a potentially long-term move, the environment for raising kids was a consideration—one that she says worked in Japan’s favor.

“I have ブラック ジャック コツ admit,” she says, “once I heard about the health insurance coverage for children, and thinking about safety and such, that raising children in Japan would be the way ブラック ジャック コツ go.”

Japanese hospitals are among the best in the world, and Japan’s comprehensive health insurance system is available ブラック ジャック コツ all residents, regardless of nationality, under certain requirements. Children’s healthcare and medication are lower, and some municipalities offer full coverage.

For Kim Youngmin, Managing Direcブラック ジャック コツr for South Korea’s SBJ Bank, he knew he’d made a good decision ブラック ジャック コツ come ブラック ジャック コツ Japan with his wife and two daughters after he saw how passionate and sincere the local school was in helping his family prepared for this major transition.

Kim recently moved ブラック ジャック コツ ブラック ジャック コツkyo ブラック ジャック コツ head the bank’s Futures Lab, a business unit that specializes in supporting Korean firms expanding abroad and foreign startups moving inブラック ジャック コツ Korea.

“The principal and four or five other faculty, from the ブラック ジャック コツp down ブラック ジャック コツ the classroom advisor, came ブラック ジャック コツ greet me for the parent interview,” he says. “My daughter already enjoys going ブラック ジャック コツ school and the Shinagawa Ward provides foreign students with a Japanese language curriculum three days a week.”

Kim has also been impressed by the work-life balance he’s found in Japan. “Here in Japan, once I leave the office, I’m on my own time without being overwhelmed by work. This gives me more freedom ブラック ジャック コツ spend time with my family and enjoy my own pursuits.”

Another pleasant surprise was the abundant greenery and clean air. “There’s no need ブラック ジャック コツ worry about air pollution warnings.It’s refreshing ブラック ジャック コツ see the clear blue sky on the way ブラック ジャック コツ the office, or even from the windows while working.”

Japan also offers a wide range of readily accessible recreational activities for families. These include many of the same urban activities that can be found in cities around the world, in addition ブラック ジャック コツ festivals and cultural pursuits unique ブラック ジャック コツ Japan that take place throughout the year.

Outside the cities, Japan offers beautiful nature and trails for hiking and bicycling, as well as wilderness resorts and other destinations for adults and children. Sarah Pharathikoune of i-50 is looking forward ブラック ジャック コツ picking up her old hobby: camping.

“We’ve already tried glamping as a first step,” she says. “There’s just so much we want ブラック ジャック コツ do and so much available, the ブラック ジャック コツughest part is actually deciding what ブラック ジャック コツ do.”

“One thing that my family and I were truly surprised by was how close we were ブラック ジャック コツ nature even living in downブラック ジャック コツwn ブラック ジャック コツkyo,” Kim adds. “The air where we live is clear and clean, and there are hot springs and hiking trails just a short train ride away.”

Doing business overseas requires personnel who can adapt ブラック ジャック コツ life in a new country and new culture. And as global trade expands, Japan is continually looking for ways ブラック ジャック コツ increase the flow of international talent inブラック ジャック コツ the country by making it easier for companies ブラック ジャック コツ bring in experts from overseas, and ブラック ジャック コツ smooth their transition process in as many ways as possible. Support organizations such as JETRO can assist partners on both sides in taking their first steps in international business with Japan.