Granted, Japan is growing in popularity in terms of travel, study and immigration, but for Malaysians, it is most definitely an unconventional move. When it comes to studying and living abroad, the majority of Malaysians dream of going to Australia, the United Kingdom or New Zealand. Definitely not Japan.
Don’t get me wrong. Most Malaysians love Japan. We love travelling to Japan; and we love Japanese food, people, culture, entertainment, the works! Studying and living there? Not so much.
This largely stems from Japan’s infamous work culture, but I digress.
My story of choosing Japan was the result of a culmination of revelations that spanned over a few years.
Why Japan?
My interest in all things Japanese began almost as far back as I can remember. Like most, it began with anime. I was a child at the time, and the objects of my fixation were “Pokemon” and “Sailor Moon”.
But even as I grew out of anime and eventually, manga, I still retained a fascination with Japan. In many ways, anime/manga was the gateway that introduced me to Japanese culture. Hooked, I immersed myself in articles and various content revolving around Japan and anything Japanese, yet not once did I ever think about living there. To me, it was just an intriguing world that exists, far out of reach.
The path that led me here
While the seed had been planted when I was a mere child, things only really started going when I began working. My love for the English language led me towards becoming a writer, but over time, I felt like that there was something missing. My work was redundant, and as a result, my mind would often stray, and I would look for new jobs online and try to “find” myself. At the time, I did not realise that this was a blessing in disguise.
For years, I had been thinking about studying Japanese, but all of the scary-looking kanji intimidated me. But with the redundancy, I thought, “Why not?”
I took that step, and I realised that my love for language was not only limited to the English language–it can be extended to others as well.
It was then that it all clicked. The increase of job advertisements for translators and interpreters–all appearing as though to call out to me–and my inclination for language and culture… Why not work as a translator?
How long do I plan to be here?
About 2-3 years after I made that life-changing decision, I’m now living in Tokyo, Japan as a Japanese language student. Life here is not without its challenges, but all in all, it has been a rewarding experience. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but my student visa is valid for 2 years.
Of course, I would like to find a job after I graduate in 2021. Finding one in Japan would be ideal, but if that isn’t in the cards, I would also be fine with returning home to Malaysia, and using my newfound knowledge there.
Till after my graduation, everything is up in the air for now.
But in the mean time, I will share my experiences on this blog, in hopes that they would be helpful to all those who wish to live, work, study or travel in Japan.
If you’ve read this far, bless. Thank you for reading my story!
