The question was actually more of a philosophical one, with no real answer other than the one each person asked gave. It was a bit abstract and was meant to make the person being asked think about it in the same way I did; not as a multiple-choice question.

But, I do hope you bring your own dilemma to a satisfactory conclusion.

Being a JET and living in the inaka has certainly given me a glimpse into a Japan I never expected. And after 4 years here, I’ve really come to appreciate small town life and I’m not sure I want to live in Tokyo or Osaka. But part of me feels like I have yet to experience the “real” Japan - modern Japan with crowds of people and all the noise etc.

So I’ve been mulling over job options post-JET and I’ll eventually have to decide which of the “two Japans” i want to live in.

Interesting post.

-Jason (a different one)

Hope to see you back here soon

I’m back in the UK now, but I’m still checking in with the Japan blogs. I read Jason’s blog on the moaning minnies and for the most part agree that the things folk whinge about in Japan are the things you could whinge about anywhere. I for one miss a lot of things about Japan that London lacks - clean streets for one and general politeness.

Eikawa-wise, I think you’ve got a point. I worked for a major one and hated most of my working life, and from then it’s easy for it to have a knock-on effect unless you do something about it. I made sure I made Japanese friends outside the eikawa, who gave me a different perspective. Plus many of the students became friends. At the end of my contract I had to fill in a form and rate my working time out of ten - I gave it five, but that five was awarded to the students who were great. The time “backstage” was mostly crap. I had the co-worker from hell, an American guy, at my second school, and the head teacher at my first school was hostile from day one. That’s not to say I didn’t get on with any of my Japanese or western co-workers, but when you’re working in a small school the behaviour of one or two people can impact greatly. I recently discovered, for example, that my successor quit my last school because of the staff atmosphere.

But out of the eikawa life was great, and that’s why I can always give Japan a good write-up when people ask me what I thought of the place. In the UK I design and make stained glass windows, and in Japan I added another string to my bow art career-wise. I had a successful exhibition where I sold some paintings - they were bought by a hospital! - and the fact that I had a lot of meetings before staging the show, plus had some very professional cards printed, hit home that this, too, was work. Everyone whom I came into contact with through my art was someone I’d be happy to work with.

Unfortunately, for most people the eikawa is the gateway to Japan. And if you can find something else to do while you’re there, or if you’re researching what you really want to do, you can at least remind yourself that they sort out your accommodation and ease you into Japanese life - and that it’s only for a year! I’m hoping to be back soon doing something I really want to.

Great blog, Billy!

It wasn’t the most social of lives, but I came away from it appreciating the experience and eagerly anticipating the day I’ll be able to return to Japan in some other profession.

I don’t think you live in a limited Japan at all, Jordan. And, I think we’re all capable of living in a great Japan and feeling completely satisfied with our setups. Surviving eikaiwa and moving on to greener pastures is a worthy goal.