Originally Posted by
evergrn
That's good to hear. I want to hear more positive comments like yours about Jpn's work life and future, because all I ever hear are dismissive comments when I talk to people about moving to Jpn. With regards to salary, though, my understanding is that the pay for my field in Jpn is generally less than half of what it is in US. Trying to convince myself money isn't everything. One of these days, I might start a thread for further discussion on this and maybe pick you guys' brains.
Happy to opine and provide numbers for you as and when you may want it.
One thing I will say though is that the US being a very individually organized society makes it hard for those that prefer that to the more group oriented society here. The farm ethic prevails here without any trace of a meritocracy. That appeals to some and not so much to others. Beyond that,
the money, work hours and so forth are controllable for the most part.
The health thing s big too. I look at my folks paying a fairly large chunk of change to have health care. At 78 that is insanity. Here it is not free but nowhere near the piece of disposable income it is in the US.
As for Soc. Sec. the monthly payments they get are nearly identical to what Japan offers a worker who paid into the system for 25 years+.