Japanese Concepts and Practices to a Good Life

[kangarunner]

Having been here in Asia for over 5 years, it's absolutely apparent that their social cultures have a higher level of harmony and peace than Western culture. Asians are at least very good at maintaining social order with minimal policing. I've known about the concept of ikigai and I've also been to Tokyo and Osaka. Japan is fascinating from the outside looking in. I've heard they're workplaces are extremely demanding. I even talked to a restaurant owner here in Saigon from California and he said when he visited Japan for culinary training that they train their chefs for 2 years on rice alone. Not sure if I believe that. However, when I went back to Hanoi from Japan I breathed a sigh of relief simply because Vietnamese are so much more cheerful, talkative, and smile more.

I asked ChatGPT for some Japanese ways to attain happiness:

Several Japanese concepts and practices focus on achieving happiness and a balanced, fulfilling life:

1. **Ikigai:** As mentioned, ikigai is about finding a purpose that brings joy and fulfillment. It emphasizes aligning passion, mission, vocation, and profession.

2. **Wabi-Sabi:** This concept embraces the beauty of imperfection and transience. It encourages appreciating the natural cycle of growth and decay, finding beauty in simplicity and the imperfect.

3. **Kaizen:** Kaizen is the philosophy of continuous improvement. It involves making small, incremental changes in life, work, and habits to improve overall well-being and efficiency.

4. **Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing):** This practice involves spending time in nature, particularly in forests, to reduce stress and improve mental and physical health.

5. **Kintsugi:** This art of repairing broken pottery with gold or silver lacquer highlights the beauty in mending and imperfections. It symbolizes resilience and the ability to find beauty in flaws and brokenness.

6. **Nemawashi:** A concept in decision-making and social interaction, nemawashi involves laying the groundwork and gaining consensus before making decisions. It fosters harmony and cooperation.

7. **Teinei:** This principle emphasizes attentiveness and carefulness in daily tasks and interactions. It involves being mindful and respectful in all aspects of life.

8. **Omoiyari:** This concept involves empathy and consideration for others. It encourages understanding and anticipating the needs and feelings of others, fostering kindness and compassion.

9. **Mono no Aware:** This is an appreciation for the fleeting nature of life. It encourages mindfulness and a deep appreciation for the present moment, acknowledging the transient beauty of existence.

10. **Zazen:** Practicing seated meditation (zazen) helps cultivate mindfulness, clarity, and inner peace, contributing to overall happiness and well-being.

I've done group in person 1 hour silent meditation before with an actual monk from Tibet. I left the room with an immense calmness and peaceful mind. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm going to try to build things with my hands.

[Yohan]

Having been here in Asia for over 5 years, it's absolutely apparent that their social cultures have a higher level of harmony and peace than Western culture. Asians are at least very good at maintaining social order with minimal policing.

The Vietnamese present a fairly large group of foreigners in Japan, about 600.000 Vietnamese are living in all over Japan.

However, when I went back to Hanoi from Japan I breathed a sigh of relief simply because Vietnamese are so much more cheerful, talkative, and smile more.

In Japan as a foreigner you can still work and earn a reasonable salary, but in Vietnam I am not so sure about that.

If you have some income from abroad without working, like a retirement allowance, you can live in various Asian countries, but still I would say, Japan is better organized, for example with the visa procedure, health insurance, be owner of your home etc...
Administration is functioning very well in Japan, like public transportation, water supply, LP-gas, electricity, garbage removal, internet, phone lines etc.

People in general are very honest, very little crime.

My main place for living is still in Japan, but I am often in Thailand and Philippines too. Airfare is cheap and flight time is only a few hours, using Fukuoka Airport.

It is however true that Japanese people are not very communicative. Not only against foreigners, but also among themselves.

Japan has its own problems, like abandoned large rural areas and on smaller islands with nobody living there, many old people and also shortage of young females, loneliness is also getting more and more a problem, with many young people (mostly women) unwilling to socialize with the idea of creating a family etc.

[kangarunner]

The Vietnamese present a fairly large group of foreigners in Japan, about 600.000 Vietnamese are living in all over Japan.

Yeah the Japs will rope VN women into the marriage any chance they can get. There's Koreans over here in VN. They own the mini mart convenience stores. K mart and Seoul mart or something. Any country Koreans go to, they're intensely focused on their business mission.

In Japan as a foreigner you can still work and earn a reasonable salary, but in Vietnam I am not so sure about that.

And you don't have to speak Japanese?

If you have some income from abroad without working, like a retirement allowance, you can live in various Asian countries, but still I would say, Japan is better organized, for example with the visa procedure, health insurance, be owner of your home etc...
Administration is functioning very well in Japan, like public transportation, water supply, LP-gas, electricity, garbage removal, internet, phone lines etc.

I calculated my total cost of being in Vietnam a few years back. Only spent $13,000 the entire year.

My main place for living is still in Japan, but I am often in Thailand and Philippines too. Airfare is cheap and flight time is only a few hours, using Fukuoka Airport.

I'm all in on VN at this point. The weather, cost, and most importantly the women here. I saw a few Chinese women tourists in Bangkok and said hello to them. They were hot. I'll have to check out China for my sexual interests.