Whatever you are looking for in Japan, you will find...

I came to Japan not really knowing what I was getting into. I am totally being honnest here. But being the person that i am, I truly wanted to tak full advantage of the situation although it was not the greatest most of the time at the beginning. After a year being here I realized one thing that turned out to be quite important for my overall experience here. I even said it to many first timers in Nippon. ''Whatever you are looking for in Japan, you will find...guarantee!'' The only BUT is that it takes time....and lots of it. so patience is key. This is why I believe so.

Yes, Japan is extremely rigid in its structures and hierarchy. It is also quite conservative when it comes to interpersonal relations. Yet, one can easily find these pockets of people that are interested- I would even add obsess most of the time- about a particular thing or hobby. Japanese are extremely dedicated to anything they do even if it is a simple hobby. For us, westerns a hobby is not an obligation: we do a bit of it and if we have an heavy schedule or that our interest changes, we simply dont do it. But for Japanese there is no such thing. There schedule is made to suit their hobby...and usually they all have this ONE thing they excel at. Ask a japanese: ''what is your hobby?'' I know for us it is such a weird question...it takes reflection time to figure out what we do out of work, school and chilling with friends. But all japanese have a hobby and a hidden passion...and they all excel at it. Really! You just have to found out who and what.

I spent a couple of months last year trying to find places to dance. And I found exactely what I was looking for. In Takayama, about an hour north of where I live, there is ballroom and hiphop. In nagoya and gifu, about 2 hours south, there is pretty much anything you could look for. But who would have believed that there is dance in MY town as well since it is so small. I found a samba community, a hip hop intructor, and a hawaian dance instructor. Thats just an example... And this is how I have been dancing salsa here and building on the basic I knew from home. Yes !!!! Japanese CAN dance. If you teach a japanese anything they will learn it. and very well!

Now...I was looking for scuba dive, they have it. Sky dive: they have it. Motorbike communities: they have it. Reggae parties: they have it...tons of it. Horse back riding: they have it. I even found a cowboy community..really! They dress like cowboys straight out of a western movie and are very serious about ''looking and acting right''.

To extrapolate, I was also looking for peace of mind...And as much as Japan can give its share of headaches to a foreigner trying to fit in, it can also provide moments where an individual feels this deep sentiment of oneness. I must admit that my surroundings leads to this feeling since i live surrounded by mountains. When I climbed mount Fuji last year, I never felt such a powerful feeling in my life...after one taste of it, now im addicted.

So...you are coming to Japan? 1.Keep your mind right open. 2. Be extremely patient 3. You need a copious amount of humor ....and from there I can promise you: ''whatever you are looking for in Japan you will find".