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There are many people from various countries around the world living, working and going to school in Shinjuku.
We asked these people what things surprised them when they came to Japan, what kind of problems they had, what they do to enjoy life in Shinjuku and for any advice they may wish to give foreign residents who have just arrived in Japan.
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We Queried Ms. Shin Ayun from Korea |
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Q1: What surprised you when you first came to Japan? |
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I was surprised at the large number of bicycles. People hardly ride bicycles in Korea, so it was an amazing sight at first. Now that I am more used to life in Japan, it is really convenient to ride a bicycle for short distances. The only problem is that the flow of traffic in Japan is the opposite that in Korea, so I hope everyone is careful about following traffic rules when riding a bicycle. |
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Q2: Did you have any problems in Japan? |
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When I first came to Japan and went out to eat with Japanese friends, I ate with my rice bowl on the table as we do in Korea instead of holding it in my hand because I was not familiar with Japanese culture. After the meal, my friend told me that in Japan, we have to hold our rice bowls when we eat. I think it is important to know each other’s culture. |
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Q3: Where is your favorite spot in Shinjuku? |
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I love Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. On holidays, I often take walks with my family, and it feels good to relax in natural greenery. I especially think that cherry blossoms in spring are beautiful. Why not enjoy flower viewing this year at Shinjuku Gyoen? |
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Q4: Do you have any advice for other people? |
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Shinjuku City has a facility called Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza, where people from various countries around the world can have friendly exchanges and study the Japanese language from Japanese volunteers. Because we are living in Japan, I think we might as well make the most of it and make friends with the people of Japan and other countries. |
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We Queried Ms. Adhikari Kamala of Nepal |
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Q1: What surprised you when you first came to Japan? |
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When I came to Japan in September 2008, I was surprised at the many high-rise buildings I saw when I came from Narita Airport to Shinjuku. The reason is because we do not have such tall buildings in Nepal. |
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Q2: Did you have any problems in Japan? |
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Everything is so expensive in Japan. Everything like clothes, vegetables, and fruit, cost more than they do in Nepal. In Nepal, you can buy a kilogram of mangos for about ¥20. |
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Q3: Do you come to Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza often? |
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Yes, I come to Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza four times a week to study Japanese. Here, I can learn hiragana, katakana, kanji,and conversation, so this helps me a lot. |
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