After 11 and a half years in Japan (living in Sendai, not the Tokyo bubble), I'm coming to terms with the reality of this country: a weak yen, salaries comparable to Italy's, the debunked myth of integration, and a social security system light years away from today's Europe.

Buying a house in Sendai, "American-style but regulated" healthcare, NISA and pension investments, the driver's license trap, and raising mixed-race children in a non-tourist area.

An unfiltered video for those considering moving with their family.

👇 Video chapters below!

0:00 – From Paper to Reality: The Illusion of University/Books vs. Experienced Japan
0:34 – Why I Live in Sendai (Outside the City) and Choosing a House with Land vs. a Condominium
1:53 – Difficult Friendships and the Teaser: "The Zoo Monkey" and Foreigners Around
2:32 – Salaries and a Weak Yen in 2026: You Don't Move for Money, but for Quality of Life
3:11 – Food: Local Cuisine vs. the Carbonara You Can Find Anywhere
4:10 – Integration in Japan DOESN'T Exist (The Truth About Social Prejudice)
4:50 – Reactive Healthcare, No Waiting Lists or Spending Caps (US-Style, but Protected)
6:37 – Phantom Pension: NISA, Investments, and Mandatory Insurance
7:59 – Driving License in Japan: If You Didn't Get It from Italy, Congratulations...
8:28 – Social Security: Why I Feel Safer Here Than in Europe
9:03 AM – Tokyo is an exception: living in Sendai, curious glances, and mixed-color children
11:03 AM – More and a walk

#livingabroad #livinginjapan