Living in Japan -- an exchange student's view: A path into new language, culture and nature

In 2020, the author first considered Japan as a destination to visit. The pandemic had begun, and they had more free time on their hands. A British TV show, James May: Our Man in Japan, introduced the country and its culture, sparking the author's interest. The show started in Hokkaido and traveled south, showcasing various locations along the way.

Prior to this, the author had grown up playing Japanese video games and watching anime, but they had a more grounded view of Japan after watching Chris Broad's YouTube channel, Abroad in Japan.

The author decided to learn Japanese and started with hiragana and katakana. They applied for a Japanese language school and a student visa through Go! Go! Nihon. Upon arriving in Tokyo in 2024, the author faced challenges in navigating the train system due to unfamiliar kanji, but eventually managed to reach their accommodation.

They enrolled in an N5 class, which was multicultural and reinforced their self-learned material. As they progressed to higher-level classes, they noticed differences in communication and social norms between Japan and the UK.

The author found that Japanese people are more indirect in their communication, focusing on group harmony and consensus, while the British are more direct and individualistic. Despite the cultural differences, the author adapted to Japanese customs, such as following traffic signals and respecting local laws. After graduating from a language school and enrolling in a vocational school for sports training, the author has found joy in exploring Japan through various activities like sports, hiking, cycling, and visiting game and anime conventions.

Some of their favorite experiences include reaching the summit of Mount Fuji, cycling along the Shimanami Kaido, and attending the Tokyo Game Show.