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How to live permanently in Japan?
Tips on finding a Japanese husband
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Betsi, a Japanophile writes, "I lived in Sapporo for about three years during the eighties. It was my
hope and dream to live in Japan
forever. I have never been anywhere I loved so much. I never thought that anyone else understood how I felt except for my Japanese friends. I have read many of the
Japan related
articles on this website and felt such a kinship with the authors. No matter where I have lived or what I have done, I have tried very hard to keep Japan in
my life. I actually used to live in Boston and worked at Showa Boston. I didn't live there because of the free rent or meals. I had no job at that time and
moved there so I could be closer to people from Japan. I soon found an outside job but continued to live there to be with Japanese students there. |
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I went to Sapporo Kita High School and am part of their online group but it just isn't the same as being there. I lived with a host family and never wanted
to come back to America. I went to the immigration office to find out how to become a Japanese citizen but they just laughed at me and told me life was
better in the US. The officer I spoke to just didn't understand. When
I returned I wanted to live with my host family again or at least be friends. Much to
my horror, they told me that all of their kindness was just "good public relations." I still stayed in Sapporo for quite a while, working illegally. My
landlord, who was a friend of my host father, finally turned me in and they made me leave but did not deport me.
(Related:
Black women and Japanese men)
Since then I have tried to find many ways to live in
Japan forever but have never been able to find a way. Do you know of any? I
have had several Japanese
boyfriends but was too young to get married really and I don't think they really wanted to as they hadn't finished college yet. I am 42 now. I speak
Japanese fairly well and have taught English to Japanese students both in Japan and in the US. I do not, however, have a formal diploma.
Is there any hope for me? Is there a way that I can move to Japan and live there forever?"
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It is always nice to hear from people like Betsi and to know that some people love Japan so much. So do we. As Betsi figured it out, it is not easy to move
to Japan and settle there, though some people do live their illegally, simply because the Japanese
immigration enforcement system is rather weak. It is not a society
with too much crime or too many cops. If you don't get into any legal trouble, you can quietly stay there forever without anyone bothering you but you may
get into trouble if you leave the country or want to avail of any of the basic services there as a resident. No I am not recommending that you stay there
illegally; I am just reporting that there are a lot of illegal immigrants in Japan. |
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Our recommendation for someone like you is
marriage to a Japanese national.
Internet dating does allow you to find someone who may be interested in marriage
with you, particularly because of your language abilities and appreciation of the culture.
While you can do that no matter where you are, your chances are much better if you are actually in Japan. As a US passport holder, you can go to Japan
anytime you want and try to find work there. That will definitely give you
more opportunities to meet Japanese men and
find your future
husband.
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