Yohan wrote: ↑December 28th, 2021, 7:33 am
@publicduende
Which country that you have lived in has the most freedom? This is the subject of this thread and I see nothing how a hikikomori outsider can interfere in any way in your personal freedom.
I do not really understand your reply.
Hikikomori people, estimated to be about 0.5 % of the population in Japan are only possible because some stupid do-gooders, often parents, feed them and give them a home full with videogames, internet, mobile phones etc. - It happens in general in middle class families, where some family members support such an outsider who is unwilling to learn and unwilling to work anything productive. - And not only in Japan you find such families with children who are good for nothing.
But what has this to do with your own personal freedom in Japan? These people are not criminal gang members, they do not harm you in any way.
Same with these homeless in Japan, they are few, sitting somewhere around but never disturb people.
The pressure related to a workplace does not apply to every Japanese. Many Japanese are owning their own small shop, or working in rural areas etc. Many other Japanese work only part-time, sometimes in two or three different companies and don't care at all about the company - they just leave in case of any problem or pressure.
All this workplace pressure applies only to a number of usually male workers, who earn very good money but are expected in return to offer their energy as full time employees to a certain company - nobody is forcing you to join this group of workaholices.
It's solely up to you what kind of work you prefer to do. But what has this all to do with you considering yourself as personally being less free as a foreigner while in Japan?
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As I said before, I do not feel myself to be restricted in any way here in Japan as a foreigner - a Japanese permanent resident has rights often similar to a Japanese citizen (almost same except voting rights). I can leave Japan anytime and can return anytime, I can do any kind of work - no restriction (except some government related jobs), I can own my house and land (but I prefer a condominium unit), I have a health insurance for life same as the Japanese etc., no restriction to transfer money to and from abroad, I can go out day and night everywhere in Japan without being worried about my safety, stores are full with goods of any kind - I also did not notice much about covid-19....
I cannot criticize the Japanese government or the Japanese people in general, as I do not know about what I should complain.
And now 65+ this is the best time for me, as I need not even to work anymore. Play with my computer, ride my motorcycle, drive to some places with my wife or visit our daughters and grandchildren, use the public bus/streetcar for half price, free entry to city swimmingpools and museums...
The only complaint I have is about international travel, but I cannot say, it's the fault of Japan, I blame China for this mess. I could also complain about the present weather, but luckily I am not living in Western Japan with meter-high snow blocking all traffic.
Complaining about Japanese people in general? Well, they are not very communicative people even against each other, it's their life-style, but at least nobody is bothering me here - discrimination? Of course not all Japanese people are friendly, but compared to the huge majority of Japanese who gave me a good impression so far, I can say the number of unfriendly Japanese people against me was minimal. Also my two daughters, 50/50 Japanese/European - after spending some years abroad in USA, Canada, Russia and France, came back to Japan, consider Japan as the better place for living...