Japan vs NZ-round 2!
Hello again from Tokyo. I can feel spring in the air! Plum blossoms are in full bloom now, and these are almost as beautiful as the cherry blossoms. Picnics and warm weather are so close now! Unfortunately, on my day off on Thursday it rained and on my day off today, it's bucketing down yet again... Talk about bad luck. It really is hard to find motivation to do things when it's pouring with rain. Hopefully some much better weather is coming. So last year I wrote a post comparing Japan and New Zealand, and I listed a few things about each place that I like that the other doesn't really have. I thought it was about time for an updated version, because it's been a while and my opinions have changed as I've learned about and experienced more of Japan. I'll split it into New Zealand and Japan, and write the good and bad things about each. Here we go...
I'll start with Middle Earth, New Zealand:
Good.
The people! New Zealanders are generally a pretty friendly, welcoming bunch, and we'll go out of our way to talk to or help strangers, whether that's on the bus, at the supermarket or on the plane. I've probably said this a few times, but New Zealanders are super laid back, and we don't take things too seriously. There aren't too many cultural rules to follow, but there is one you shouldn't forget. Don't confuse us with Australia, or we will want to fight you. There is also a lot more diversity in ethnicities and cultures in New Zealand, which is a good thing. I feel like in Japan, there are so many different cultural rules and faux pas to be aware of and it can be a struggle to remember them all! I may actually write a blog dedicated to this...
The scenery! Oh my gosh, where do I start with this? Students sometimes ask where the most beautiful place in New Zealand is, and I really can't narrow it down. Usually I say Queenstown/Wanaka (biased I know), but anywhere you go you'll be blown away. Whether you choose the beautiful beaches of the Coromandel, the glaciers on the South Island's west coast, or Milford Sound, you can't go wrong really. New Zealand, you're a bloody stunner.
The cafe culture! I love the cafe culture in New Zealand. Breakfast is probably my favourite meal to go out to a cafe/restaurant for, and New Zealand cafes do a pretty good job at most of your staples-eggs benedict, pancakes, granola, a full English breakfast etc. I feel like the breakfast/cafe culture in Japan is pretty limited, and there are so many chain cafes! You can find some good spots for brunch, don't get me wrong, but overall, New Zealand does breakfast better, sorry Japan!
I have talked about this before, but I have a bit more to add to it this time. New Zealand is progressive af. We got ourselves a female Prime Minister who had a baby while in office, we were the first country to give women the vote, we have paid leave for victims of domestic violence, gay marriage is legal...I could go on and on. New Zealand is pretty great when it comes to progressive politics, leadership and policies. Generally, people believe in equality for all, no matter your gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, but I sadly can't say the same about Japan, where there has never been a female leader, LGBTQI rights still have a long way to go, and people just think differently when it comes to these issues. Actually, an appalling story broke last year about a medical university in Tokyo altering female student's results to restrict the number of females entering the course to below a third. This had been going on for a decade. If this doesn't scream misogyny, I don't know what does. This story is just one example of what goes on every single day in workplaces, schools and other environments here, and it's quite toxic. I know New Zealand does still have some gender inequality issues (eg equal pay), but not on this scale, and I'm proud that we are fairly liberal and progressive overall. You have to leave and see what it's like in other countries to appreciate this kind of thing I think.
Bad
The cost of living! I think New Zealand is a lot more expensive than Japan in a lot of ways. For example, my power bill is usually 1,500 yen, which coverts to about $20 NZ a month! I think the highest my bill has ever been was 2,500 yen or $30 NZ in summer, when I used the aircon a lot. In New Zealand, in a flatting (sharehouse) situation, I think I paid around $30 a month on average in warmer months, and close to $40 in winter! We hardly ever used our heat pump and it was still about $40! Crazy. Eating out is also really expensive in New Zealand compared to Japan.
No public transport! I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but New Zealand's public transport system is truly terrible. You really do rely so heavily on cars to get from A to B, and this is a disadvantage of having a small population. In most areas outside of the main cities, there simply aren't enough people to warrant having any form of public transport, and even in the cities, it's something that needs a major overhaul as the population grows. To be honest, it's not really good enough, and it's no wonder there's such bad traffic in Auckland when people can't rely on the buses and trains to be on time and get them where they need to go. Take a leaf out of Japan's book New Zealand and get yourself some bullet trains!
Now for Japan...
Good.
Health insurance/cheaper healthcare. This is honestly one of the things I appreciate the most about living here. In New Zealand, it costs about $40 just to visit the doctor and get a prescription. In Japan, it cost me about about 2,000 yen, or $25! And let's just take a minute to talk about the dentist, cause damn there's a huge difference there. In Japan recently, I paid 4,070 yen for a 30 minute check up, cleaning and x-ray. That's about $50 NZ, and I've heard of other people getting dental work done for even cheaper than that. If I was to have the same service in New Zealand, it would be over $100!! It's something New Zealand desperately needs to get on board with because so many people can't afford the doctors or dentists, and it's a necessity to have access to healthcare.
The history! Japan has a long, rich history to uncover and learn more about and this history has shaped their traditions, culture and way of life. I think it's fascinating to visit temples, castles and shrines that have been around for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, and see how they've maintained them and really value them years later. In New Zealand, we do have an interesting history, but it's definitely not as long as Japan's, and I feel like we don't really value or learn a lot about our history as much as we should.
The proximity to other Asian countries. Coming from New Zealand, we are so isolated from anywhere (except Australia and the Pacific Islands) it makes it so expensive to travel very far. In Japan though, you are very close to Korea, China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries. You can find cheap flights through a wide range of budget airlines, which creates more competition. You are also closer to Europe (about 12 hours to London). From New Zealand to anywhere in Europe, you're looking at at least 24 hours of travel! Geographic location is everything when it comes to travel, and Japan has it pretty good I think.
Seasonal foods/drinks. Now this one could be put in both categories, but Japan loves to bring out seasonal foods and drinks at conveniences stores, cafes, restaurants etc. There's always something new to try every time you walk into Starbucks I swear. It's great that Japan celebrates having 4 clear seasons, and uses the seasonal produce to their advantage. However, the downside is, if you find something seasonal you like, it probably won't be around for too long unfortunately, and you need to get in quick.
Bad.
Lack of care for the environment (in some ways). I have mentioned this before, but it really is something that I feel strongly about, so I'm gonna go ahead and rant about it again. Don't get me wrong, Japan is super clean, and their recycling system is second to none. People don't litter, and they recycle a lot, but when it comes to reducing waste and reusing things, especially plastic, they are so far behind, and they don't even realise it. One example is the plastic covers many stores put out for umbrellas on a rainy day. That's right, they will give you plastic covers for your umbrella. I understand why they do this, it does stop your umbrella from dripping everywhere, and there are a lotta old people who could slip on a wet floor, but from a waste perspective, it's so unnecessary it's not even funny. The bring your own bag movement is slowly catching on at supermarkets, but convenience stores give out so many plastic bags, separating hot food from cold, drinks from food etc, and it makes my blood boil. Bananas are also individually packaged at convenience stores. No need for that when they have a skin of their own, get that s**t outta here please. I try to always have a bag with me to give to the shop assistant to put my food in, but sadly not many people think this way. There is a loooonnnngggg way to go before people here value the environment more than they value the convenience of plastics.
Lack of internet banking/debit cards. Cash is king here, and in some ways that's great, but the downside is if I want to buy anything online, I can't use my Japanese bank account, as it's not attached to a debit or credit card. My wages get paid into that account, and the account is attached to a cash card, which I can literally only use to withdraw money. That's it. Therefore, when I buy online I have to use my New Zealand account, and the amount in there is not getting any larger as obviously I'm not working there anymore. I could transfer money, but it costs about $50 NZD to do that through my Japanese bank!! Needless to say I haven't transferred anything yet... I have a friend who's with a different bank that doesn't even have internet banking. In 2019, THAT'S INSANE. There really needs to be a better internet banking system across the board, and it would be nice if I wasn't charged a ludicrous amount just to transfer my money haha.
So that's my two cents worth, a second round of Japan vs NZ, after living here for just over a year. I've tried to include things that I haven't mentioned before this time. It's very clear that both countries could learn a lot from each other, and they both have their good and bad points. If I could take New Zealand's attitudes towards the important stuff (eg the environment and gender equality) and pair it with Japan's public transport, health insurance, and food, I think it'd be the perfect place to be! That's all I have for this update, but I think next week I'm going to Costco with a friend. For the kiwis reading, it's a big outlet supermarket chain that started in America with a whole lot of imported goods. We don't have Costco in NZ, but here they are scattered around the place, so that should be interesting to check out, will see what goodies I can find. I have been feeling a bit burnt out lately, like I need a holiday, and Golden Week can't come quick enough! In 8 weeks, my parents arrive, and I can't wait to show them around.
That's all for now, hope you enjoyed, and I'll be back soon with another update!
From Japan, with love,
Hannah. xx
I'll start with Middle Earth, New Zealand:
Good.
The people! New Zealanders are generally a pretty friendly, welcoming bunch, and we'll go out of our way to talk to or help strangers, whether that's on the bus, at the supermarket or on the plane. I've probably said this a few times, but New Zealanders are super laid back, and we don't take things too seriously. There aren't too many cultural rules to follow, but there is one you shouldn't forget. Don't confuse us with Australia, or we will want to fight you. There is also a lot more diversity in ethnicities and cultures in New Zealand, which is a good thing. I feel like in Japan, there are so many different cultural rules and faux pas to be aware of and it can be a struggle to remember them all! I may actually write a blog dedicated to this...
The scenery! Oh my gosh, where do I start with this? Students sometimes ask where the most beautiful place in New Zealand is, and I really can't narrow it down. Usually I say Queenstown/Wanaka (biased I know), but anywhere you go you'll be blown away. Whether you choose the beautiful beaches of the Coromandel, the glaciers on the South Island's west coast, or Milford Sound, you can't go wrong really. New Zealand, you're a bloody stunner.
The cafe culture! I love the cafe culture in New Zealand. Breakfast is probably my favourite meal to go out to a cafe/restaurant for, and New Zealand cafes do a pretty good job at most of your staples-eggs benedict, pancakes, granola, a full English breakfast etc. I feel like the breakfast/cafe culture in Japan is pretty limited, and there are so many chain cafes! You can find some good spots for brunch, don't get me wrong, but overall, New Zealand does breakfast better, sorry Japan!
I have talked about this before, but I have a bit more to add to it this time. New Zealand is progressive af. We got ourselves a female Prime Minister who had a baby while in office, we were the first country to give women the vote, we have paid leave for victims of domestic violence, gay marriage is legal...I could go on and on. New Zealand is pretty great when it comes to progressive politics, leadership and policies. Generally, people believe in equality for all, no matter your gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, but I sadly can't say the same about Japan, where there has never been a female leader, LGBTQI rights still have a long way to go, and people just think differently when it comes to these issues. Actually, an appalling story broke last year about a medical university in Tokyo altering female student's results to restrict the number of females entering the course to below a third. This had been going on for a decade. If this doesn't scream misogyny, I don't know what does. This story is just one example of what goes on every single day in workplaces, schools and other environments here, and it's quite toxic. I know New Zealand does still have some gender inequality issues (eg equal pay), but not on this scale, and I'm proud that we are fairly liberal and progressive overall. You have to leave and see what it's like in other countries to appreciate this kind of thing I think.
Bad
The cost of living! I think New Zealand is a lot more expensive than Japan in a lot of ways. For example, my power bill is usually 1,500 yen, which coverts to about $20 NZ a month! I think the highest my bill has ever been was 2,500 yen or $30 NZ in summer, when I used the aircon a lot. In New Zealand, in a flatting (sharehouse) situation, I think I paid around $30 a month on average in warmer months, and close to $40 in winter! We hardly ever used our heat pump and it was still about $40! Crazy. Eating out is also really expensive in New Zealand compared to Japan.
No public transport! I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but New Zealand's public transport system is truly terrible. You really do rely so heavily on cars to get from A to B, and this is a disadvantage of having a small population. In most areas outside of the main cities, there simply aren't enough people to warrant having any form of public transport, and even in the cities, it's something that needs a major overhaul as the population grows. To be honest, it's not really good enough, and it's no wonder there's such bad traffic in Auckland when people can't rely on the buses and trains to be on time and get them where they need to go. Take a leaf out of Japan's book New Zealand and get yourself some bullet trains!
Now for Japan...
Good.
Health insurance/cheaper healthcare. This is honestly one of the things I appreciate the most about living here. In New Zealand, it costs about $40 just to visit the doctor and get a prescription. In Japan, it cost me about about 2,000 yen, or $25! And let's just take a minute to talk about the dentist, cause damn there's a huge difference there. In Japan recently, I paid 4,070 yen for a 30 minute check up, cleaning and x-ray. That's about $50 NZ, and I've heard of other people getting dental work done for even cheaper than that. If I was to have the same service in New Zealand, it would be over $100!! It's something New Zealand desperately needs to get on board with because so many people can't afford the doctors or dentists, and it's a necessity to have access to healthcare.
The history! Japan has a long, rich history to uncover and learn more about and this history has shaped their traditions, culture and way of life. I think it's fascinating to visit temples, castles and shrines that have been around for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, and see how they've maintained them and really value them years later. In New Zealand, we do have an interesting history, but it's definitely not as long as Japan's, and I feel like we don't really value or learn a lot about our history as much as we should.
The proximity to other Asian countries. Coming from New Zealand, we are so isolated from anywhere (except Australia and the Pacific Islands) it makes it so expensive to travel very far. In Japan though, you are very close to Korea, China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries. You can find cheap flights through a wide range of budget airlines, which creates more competition. You are also closer to Europe (about 12 hours to London). From New Zealand to anywhere in Europe, you're looking at at least 24 hours of travel! Geographic location is everything when it comes to travel, and Japan has it pretty good I think.
Seasonal foods/drinks. Now this one could be put in both categories, but Japan loves to bring out seasonal foods and drinks at conveniences stores, cafes, restaurants etc. There's always something new to try every time you walk into Starbucks I swear. It's great that Japan celebrates having 4 clear seasons, and uses the seasonal produce to their advantage. However, the downside is, if you find something seasonal you like, it probably won't be around for too long unfortunately, and you need to get in quick.
Bad.
Lack of care for the environment (in some ways). I have mentioned this before, but it really is something that I feel strongly about, so I'm gonna go ahead and rant about it again. Don't get me wrong, Japan is super clean, and their recycling system is second to none. People don't litter, and they recycle a lot, but when it comes to reducing waste and reusing things, especially plastic, they are so far behind, and they don't even realise it. One example is the plastic covers many stores put out for umbrellas on a rainy day. That's right, they will give you plastic covers for your umbrella. I understand why they do this, it does stop your umbrella from dripping everywhere, and there are a lotta old people who could slip on a wet floor, but from a waste perspective, it's so unnecessary it's not even funny. The bring your own bag movement is slowly catching on at supermarkets, but convenience stores give out so many plastic bags, separating hot food from cold, drinks from food etc, and it makes my blood boil. Bananas are also individually packaged at convenience stores. No need for that when they have a skin of their own, get that s**t outta here please. I try to always have a bag with me to give to the shop assistant to put my food in, but sadly not many people think this way. There is a loooonnnngggg way to go before people here value the environment more than they value the convenience of plastics.
Lack of internet banking/debit cards. Cash is king here, and in some ways that's great, but the downside is if I want to buy anything online, I can't use my Japanese bank account, as it's not attached to a debit or credit card. My wages get paid into that account, and the account is attached to a cash card, which I can literally only use to withdraw money. That's it. Therefore, when I buy online I have to use my New Zealand account, and the amount in there is not getting any larger as obviously I'm not working there anymore. I could transfer money, but it costs about $50 NZD to do that through my Japanese bank!! Needless to say I haven't transferred anything yet... I have a friend who's with a different bank that doesn't even have internet banking. In 2019, THAT'S INSANE. There really needs to be a better internet banking system across the board, and it would be nice if I wasn't charged a ludicrous amount just to transfer my money haha.
So that's my two cents worth, a second round of Japan vs NZ, after living here for just over a year. I've tried to include things that I haven't mentioned before this time. It's very clear that both countries could learn a lot from each other, and they both have their good and bad points. If I could take New Zealand's attitudes towards the important stuff (eg the environment and gender equality) and pair it with Japan's public transport, health insurance, and food, I think it'd be the perfect place to be! That's all I have for this update, but I think next week I'm going to Costco with a friend. For the kiwis reading, it's a big outlet supermarket chain that started in America with a whole lot of imported goods. We don't have Costco in NZ, but here they are scattered around the place, so that should be interesting to check out, will see what goodies I can find. I have been feeling a bit burnt out lately, like I need a holiday, and Golden Week can't come quick enough! In 8 weeks, my parents arrive, and I can't wait to show them around.
That's all for now, hope you enjoyed, and I'll be back soon with another update!
From Japan, with love,
Hannah. xx
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