First Experience in Japan

   

Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture
Kyuushu, Japan

          My first experience in Japan was not in Tokyo, the nation's capital. I have only lived in Tokyo for nine seemingly short months. There are few yet meaningful times when I have traveled outside of Tokyo. My first experience in Japan was actually in Nichinan, Kyuushu Japan. Nichinan is located in Miyazaki Prefecture of the southern most main island of Japan called Kyuushu. I had no previous expectations of Japan except for the stereotype of Japanese being an unwelcoming and cold people, especially against touching or expressing affection. This was simply the stigma I was fed along with the stereotype of Japan's kawaii girls and charming feminized boy idols. So what exactly could represent the real Japan in this tropical, rural town?
     

            Some aspects of rural Nichinan life that are different from Tokyo:

·        In general, people go to bed early. They stay home, have dinner with their families with the T.V. on, watch a movie, take a bath, and then sleep (or something along those lines). There is limited nightlife in Nichinan which includes limited izakaya (Japanese style bars) and karaoke-kan.

·        There is very limited public transportation. To get to school for instance, students bike, walk, take the little school bus, or have their parents drive them.

·        Cars are used. In Tokyo, there is almost no need for a car and sometimes it can become a nuisance since parking and gas are usually on the more expensive side. In rural Nichinan, cars are very useful especially since the terrain of the town has many hills that would be difficult to tackle with simply a bicycle or by walking.

·        Multiple leveled houses are common and to live in those houses with extended family is also common.

·        Because of the limited nightlife and job opportunities, the rural Nichinan, Japan is made up of mostly primary to secondary school kids as well middle aged people. The university aged and early adults are more likely to live in a large city where there are more opportunities.

·        Life feels less rushed. There is no “life threatening” morning commute, train delays, honking taxis, etc. It’s quiet but there is still life.

            Overall, this might be closer to the “real” Japan since there are many more areas like Nichinan, Japan than a city as large and intimidating as Tokyo. Of course Tokyo constitutes a major part of Japan but underneath that large presence are towns like Nichinan, Japan where the life is less of a rush.