What Living Abroad Means Teaches You About Your Own Culture

Article written by Yoshiaki Maekawa

What kind of culture does your home country have?

If you were to live abroad, where would you choose to live?

According to statistics in the United States, the top countries people wish to relocate to include Portugal, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada. These countries, like the U.S., share roots in Western culture. Their lifestyles are somewhat similar, yet they are often perceived as more affordable and easier places to live.

While some people move to these countries and enjoy a happy retirement, many return to the U.S. after a few years. The same can be said for Japanese people—some move to Asian countries with lower living costs, but after a few years, many end up returning home, feeling that things did not turn out as expected. Why is that?

Perhaps it is because these people try to maintain the culture and lifestyle of their home country even after moving abroad.

Japan does not rank even within the top ten destinations for Americans looking to relocate. While it is a popular travel destination, it is not commonly considered as a place to live. That is likely because the culture is completely different—or perhaps because people simply do not know what kind of country it is. After all, most people feel most comfortable living while preserving their own culture and way of life.

But why not take a small step into the unknown?

When you live in a country with a completely different culture and lifestyle, those differences naturally stand out. You begin to view that country through the lens of your own background—that is only natural. And it is at that moment that you start to seriously reflect on your own culture.

I still remember the excitement, anxiety, frustration, and joy I felt when I first began living in the United States 35 years ago.

Opening Yourself to Another Culture

Now, imagine that you live in Japan.

In a large city like Tokyo, Western influences are blended in to a certain extent, so you may not feel a strong sense of difference at first. However, as your interactions with Japanese people deepen, the contrast between your culture and theirs will become increasingly clear.

This is not about which culture is better or worse. Rather, you begin to notice differences in how people relate to one another and in how they perceive the world. Through this, your own cultural values and ways of thinking become clearer than ever before.

After living in Japan for a few years, you will begin to understand its uniquely distinctive culture—one unlike anywhere else in the world. At the same time, the culture you grew up with, which you may not have previously thought about deeply, will also come into sharper focus.

By first becoming aware of your own culture, you can then understand Japanese culture in contrast. Eventually, both cultures begin to coexist within you, allowing you to see and think from multiple perspectives.

For those raised in Western cultures, living in another Western country may not trigger this kind of cultural awakening as strongly.

By living in Japan—a country with a truly unique culture and way of thinking—you may come to understand your own culture more deeply, and perhaps find a path toward a richer and more fulfilling life.