B Anderson wrote:
> There are many countries in the world.
>
> And, expatriates from western countries live in many different
> countries, for various reasons.
>
> However, Japan seems to be the only country that people dream of living
> in for the sake of living there.
>
> Look at the internet forums regarding living and working in Japan...
> there are thousands of posts from people seeking any way possible to
> make a living of any sort in Japan. The aim to live in Japan IS the goal
> in itself.
>
> Of course, some people have a strong interest in a particular country. A
> "Francophile" might dream of living in France. But the intensity and
> widespreadness does not approach that of Japan.
>
> Why is this. Obviously there are many unique and interesting things
> about Japan... but same for any country.

I've been trying to figure this out for a long time, and I've got
several theories; most might apply only to me. But basically they all
boil down to this, that there might be no other country in the world
that offers both the breadth of modern conveniences (truly cutting
edge) with the depth of history. Japan is just amazingly complex. Add
to this that as a foreigner we're outside the society and in many ways
nobody expects us to belong of fit in; they don't hold it against us,
it's just accepted. Some people hate this, but for me personally I feel
a freedom in Japan that I don't anyplace else; not a freedom to act
however I want, but a freedom from having to fit in. It's complex.

John W.