(Photo opposite: Kenji Chida near his home in Japan) Kenji Chida is an expat from the U.S. who is a long time resident of Japan where he began his overseas adventure as an ESL teacher in 1998. Originally from the east side of Balitmore, Kenji is now a Japanese citizen, having received his citizenship after a long, hard process.

Matthew Atlee: Kenji can you tell us about economic conditions in Japan since the economic downturn. I know the economy in Japan has been in a long downturn. How are prices of food, energy, telephone and water? What about the price real estate: has it gone down or up?

Kenji Chida: It’s fair to say that the economy is in trouble. You just have to look at how thousands of Brazilian workers were forced to return to Brazil when companies like Mitsubishi released them. It is harder to find work for everyone. Utilities prices have not gone up and food prices have gone down due to competition from cheap imports. Real estate prices have gone down in the private sector but real estate available through the court auction system has dried up somewhat do to increased interest in getting a deal through the courts.

M. Atlee: What’s the best part of living in Japan?

K. Chida: That’s a question that I never get asked. Japan is a peaceful country. It’s not a place where you have to worry about your personal safety. Japan is quasi-socialist, similar to France. This means that there is a strong connection between the government and the individual. Individual relationships are important so you’ll find that people are looking out for you as a fellow human being.

M. Atlee: What is the worst part of living in Japan?

K. Chida: If you are from a foreign country you will be reminded of it whether you like it or not. Sometimes it feels like discrimination and sometimes it is discrimination. Many people in Japan rely on their Japanese spouses or their foreignness to get by. If you do not live this method it can be frustrating when you encounter people who do.

M. Atlee: Kenji what other countries did you look at when you were thinking of leaving the U.S. Why did you end up picking Japan?

K. Chida: I looked at Hong Kong, The Philippines, Singapore, France and Spain. The funny thing is that my wife is from The Philippines and I have a property there. I’m a doctoral student in Hong Kong and I go there every year. The thing is that every country has something to offer and they can work in concert to improve your life. I could have gone anywhere but I choose to stay in Japan because I thought it was very livable. As I learned more and more of the language the choice became easier.

M. Atlee: How difficult is it to deal with the government in Japan. Are the police honest? Is it difficult to get living and working papers as a foreigner?

K. Chida: I never found it particularly difficult. There is a separate system for foreigners that you have to become familiar with for as long as you are a foreigner. I f you enter Japan legal and maintain your status you’ll never have a problem. You need a job beforehand to get a work visa. Most people go the teaching route, but there are many IT and business jobs in the bigger cities.

M. Atlee: Is there anything people should absolutely know about before they decide to visit or live in Japan? Is it easy to open a bank account or to wire money to other countries?

K. Chida: Before you come to Japan you should read up on the visa/immigration system. There are more ways to live here long term than you might imagine. Visa status can be changed. You can transform yourself within the visa system. To open a bank account you just need to be a legal resident. To wire money you just need proper identification.

M. Atlee: Do you travel back to the States often from Japan? What is the biggest difference between the U.S. and Japan?

K. Chida: I haven’t been in the mainland U.S. since 1998 but I went to Guam once. I haven’t experienced post 911 America. I suspect the biggest difference is that one culture dominates in Japan. The U.S. has a dominant culture but living there doesn’t require that it be followed. To live in Japan you have to accept the way the Japanese live.

M. Atlee: How are prices for internet access? Do most places have internet and cable television?

K. Chida: Broadband internet access is cheap. I pay $20 per month for my home connection. I also have satellite television which costs about $45 dollars a month. Of course internet cafes are everywhere and reasonable.

M. Atlee: How is medical care in Japan? Do most expats have private insurance; if not, are they able to use the public health care system in Japan?

K. Chida: Medical care is excellent here and socialized. There is a socialized medical system that any visa holder can join. Premiums are based on income so newcomers pay a very low initial fee. Many expats choose private insurance because they don’t want to pay into the system. The reality is that the longer you stay the more sense it makes to be on the national system.

M. Atlee: Kenji, we have to go, is there any thing else you would like to tell people about living in Japan?

K. Chida: Japan is a wonderful place to live and also retire. If you look at Asia in general you see a lot of places that may seem more appealing most likely because of the use of English. If you can come to terms with the Japanese language you will find this a warm place to live.

To see more on Japan check out the following web site: http://mikami-chida.com/