Let me be the first to welcome you to the Into Japan Substack newsletter. Despite being a new publication (here in May 2026), you might have noticed a sizable archive going back many years, packed with dozens of full-length articles of interest to Japan’s foreign residents. Once you’ve breezed through this article, be sure to check out previous entries.
In today’s post, we delve into the age-old question of, “Why are we here?” I don’t mean that in the cosmic sense, but rather in how and why we meander through each day in a society so unlike our own. For foreign residents here in Japan, there comes a point when the allures of culture, food, and entertainment give way to the pressures of everyday life. At that point, we need to ask why we are still here. It turns out there are great reasons for foreigners to live in this country, reasons that benefit not just us, but also the native Japanese population.
When I first moved to Japan in 2019, everything was glorious. I couldn’t wait to tell others about life here, and I soon started writing “Look at this! Japan is so cool!” articles that paralleled my euphoria.
Those feelings didn’t last long. Within a couple of years, the reality faced by many foreigners hit me directly. With each mōshiwake gozaimasen (“Sorry sir, but there is no way that is ever going to happen”), my writing skewed in a more serious, post-honeymoon direction.
Still, for every setback, it was clear that Japanese citizens had it just as bad. This nation’s population is aging, shrinking, and quickly running out of the workers it needs to provide basic services. The buying power of its currency is dropping as well, and it finds itself right next to a messy geopolitical landmass. Then there are the natural disasters.
The Japanese people are facing serious difficulties. Foreigners like us are, if anything, late to the party. Some politicians look at visa holders and permanent residents as perfect scapegoats for all of Japan’s ills. But the reality is that we arrived here right when Japan needs everyone to lend a hand, citizen or not.
It is so easy to be a passive consumer of Japan. Its rich culture provides endless diversions and amusements, not to mention some of the tastiest meals on the planet. But as with language learning, there comes a point when input is not enough. If you want to advance and grow, output must be part of the equation.
Foreign residents, rather than being a burden, are uniquely positioned to offer their support. We are younger on average, are filled with optimism for this land, and bring fresh ideas about how to grapple with vexing societal concerns. This is a key reason why I decided to restart my Japan-focused article writing after taking a break to focus on language studies.
I don’t mean to imply that foreign residents are Japan’s saviors. I’m crafting a newsletter after all, not a cure for cancer. And yet, even something as simple as a 600-word article can be a starting point for engaging with the world around us.
The Into Japan newsletter will explore what it means to be a new part of one of earth’s oldest cultures. Through our discussions, we will seek opportunities to become more involved in our communities, not solely for our benefit, but for the benefit of Japan and its future.
If you haven’t yet subscribed to this newsletter, now would be a great time to join, when everything is so new. If you know someone who might benefit from the articles posted here, please share the newsletter with them as well, especially if they are looking to immigrate here or are already a resident.
Image Credits: Tara Winstead / Pexels
