A very good article, many friends in the cryptocurrency circle are considering Japan, and the author shares some discomforts about Japan based on eight years of experience. Actually, Japan is also one of my alternative choices, so I have learned a bit about it. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about my views on Japan.

First, it should be mentioned that Lao Sha has lived in Japan for eight years, and his family leaving must have personal reasons; respecting others' thoughts is the most basic courtesy. Everyone has their own way of living, and I hope Lao Sha can be happy in Canada.

Let's talk about "reading the air." Many friends do not understand what it means to "read the air." This relates to Japanese culture, where the goal is not to trouble others. This trouble not only includes requesting help but also involves polite refusals, subtle dislikes, and gently not welcoming others.

Sometimes I feel that Japanese people live too stressfully because of this "politeness." Many things Japanese people say are not expressed directly, so when listening to them, one cannot just listen but also must learn to understand the rhythm and observe facial expressions. Japanese people often hide their true feelings in their tone, facial expressions, pauses, and even silence.

In fact, China has similar situations, such as tea-drinking etiquette. For example, if you are invited to someone's house, and they ask if you want to eat together, it might not genuinely be an invitation; they may think the time is about right and are politely suggesting you can leave. If you really stay to eat, you may receive some disapproving glances.

Therefore, living in Japan, many times when listening to others, you cannot just take their words at face value. Instead, you must understand why they are saying it, why they are saying it at this moment, and why they do not continue. For example, a phrase like "this might be a bit difficult" often means it is already more than "a bit difficult," and it tells you it is best not to pursue the topic further. A statement like "I will think about it" often means the person has politely declined.

Reading the air essentially means feeling the other person's true intentions. This should be a fundamental lesson for Japanese people, but as I have illustrated, China also has a similar concept of "reading the air," although it is not as complex as in Japan. China emphasizes "reading facial expressions," which is quite similar to reading the air.

Likewise, it is true that Japan is not an immigrant country, and it is genuinely not easy for foreigners to integrate. However, based on my personal experience, Japan's attitude of "not troubling others" also ensures that even if one does not socialize, they can still live well, which is completely different from South Korea. Therefore, even if one is not willing to interact with Japanese people, living in Japan should be no problem. I have heard many friends who have lived there for a long time say they may frequently be gossiped about by neighbors.

Living in a standalone house is much better. The barbecue incident mentioned by Lao Sha is true, but if one is accustomed to Singapore or Hong Kong, it might not be a big deal since eating is also not allowed in Singapore's MRT, except for drinking water. Smoking and loud noises in public places are also not allowed. I think in Japan, as long as one can maintain basic politeness and follow the attitude of not troubling others, it should not be a big issue.

Money is good, just like everywhere else in the world. Lao Sha must be very wealthy to consider the issue of not being able to fly in Japan (😂), but for those living normal lives, the tax should be the primary consideration. Japan's taxes are indeed very high, and I have also written about the tax rates for cryptocurrency in Japan. Those interested can take a look.

Address: https://x.com/PhyrexNi/status/2026633772863811720?s=20

Especially in the cryptocurrency industry, the maximum tax accumulates to 55%. Although I’ve heard there are plans for reform this year, it will still be 20% after the reform. So, I feel that taxes are the most unfriendly aspect for friends, and this is also why DEX and U cards are so popular in Japan.

Regarding the daily living taxes, I personally feel it is relatively okay. Compared to Japan, looking at China and Singapore, the living-related tax rates are highest in China. The total consumption tax and food tax in Japan and Singapore are similar, and in this aspect, Japan's transparency in expenses is higher.

Concerning cars, I do not have much say; indeed, the Japanese cars I have seen in Japan are the most, but there are also imported cars. What struck me the most is that Japan can have both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars. Comparing the car prices and maintenance costs between Japan, China, and Singapore, buying a Japanese car in Japan is still quite affordable; for example, buying an Alpha for a family is considered quite good.

However, Japan does have parking issues. Large vehicles are not very easy to park in Japan, especially in urban areas, so in this regard, Japan is very similar to Europe, where there are many small cars to facilitate parking.

As for pets, I really cannot speak much. However, on the streets of Japan, I vaguely remember seeing relatively few large dogs. It seems that not many people walk their dogs in Japan.

Oh, and there's education. How to put this? The requirements for school uniforms in Japan's public schools, including universities, are very strict. Many friends say that their children only need to wear uniforms when going to school, but when going out on weekends, they see children wearing all sorts of clothes. I think clothing is okay; while in Singapore, my child basically wore uniforms for a week, sometimes even on weekends.

The key point should be Japan’s educational environment. As for purely academic education, at least in my personal opinion, Japan does quite well—especially in terms of education for independence. I think Japan is quite advanced in this regard. In Singapore, boys often undergo significant changes only after nearly serving in the military, but many boys in Singapore are still called "mama's boys" (🤣). In this respect, Japan is much better, as they learn independence from a young age, and at least they have strong survival skills.

Lao Sha did not mention food. I think the food aspect is quite good. Although there are many things to eat in Singapore, not many are delicious. After eating the same few good places, it gets monotonous. The biggest headache for friends visiting is figuring out where to eat. It is hard to imagine I went for crayfish four times in a week.

When I first arrived in Singapore, I wanted to shoot lifestyle videos, but I haven't gotten around to it. The main reason is I really don’t know what to film in Singapore. In Japan, you can film houses; in Singapore, foreigners almost can’t buy property due to the 60% tax that deters you. In Japan, you can film different cities' sceneries and seasons. In Singapore, the Merlion, the Parliament House, Marina Bay Sands, the Botanic Gardens, the Zoo, and even the airport: I am more familiar with these than with many places in China.

I often shoot food on Xiaohongshu and frequently take breaks, which is frustrating. I am still thinking about what the best lifestyle content to shoot in Singapore is. Even for nightlife, there are very few options available. Of course, I still really like the "small" aspects of Singapore, at least the efficiency in meeting friends is extremely high.

Japan, as a developed country, has a cost of living similar to that of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou—possibly slightly higher but still manageable. If one leaves Tokyo to live in other cities in Japan, the costs will significantly decrease. I spent a long time exploring where one can live most comfortably; Fukuoka might be a good choice.

Life is like a besieged city: some want to enter, while others want to exit. Japan and Singapore are similar in this way. Many friends from Singapore want to go out; Japan is one of the frequent travel destinations for Singaporeans (with Malaysia being the other). Especially when it is tough to gain residency in Singapore, many friends there are considering moving to Japan, so I believe the choice of where to go should first consider one's basic needs.

Once again, I hope Lao Sha @sxzz can be happy in Canada.

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