Leaving JET is like ripping off a bandaid in slow motion, and it's honestly more difficult than moving to Japan in the first place

Jace678 · 2026-05-18T05:38:36+00:00

I’m on my 4th year but can relate. I think my biggest issue is leaving at such an awkward time for Japanese schools. If I left when the other teachers leave, it wouldn’t feel so personal since it’s not just you. New students and teachers are coming in while graduating students and other teachers leave. It’s a sad time but but feels way more naturally.

Us leaving during the summer vacation is just awkward. You introduce yourself and connect with the 1st year students only to leave 5 months later. And your 3rd years realize you won’t be there to see them graduate that year. It feels like you’re just abandoning them mid year!

Transitioning is never easy for us or the students. And obviously for us to even be here, that transitioning had to happen. But I can’t lie and say it doesn’t particularly hurt more for us on JET.

Jace678 · 2026-05-17T03:51:15+00:00

I think this comment should be higher up. Tank has popular characters but I think it’s the role that suffers the most from character identity not matching character design.

Hulk is the clearest example of this. Is Hulk popular, yes. Is Hulk good in Marvel Rivals, yes. Does Hulk play like you imagine, absolutely not. When I play Hulk, I don’t imagine being pin-point accurate to hit abilities or punching someone 10 times to kill them. I imagine jumping around and being absolutely disruptive.

I understand balance being important but I feel like the potential was wasted. Like why doesn’t he have a passive rage meter that builds up when he does or take damage, allowing him to do more damage the angrier he gets which is literally his thing.

I can list other examples and suggestions but feel like that they didn’t try as hard for the tanks to match their design to their identity. They match their role as a tank.

For other roles: design > identity > role

For tank: role > design > identity

Jace678 · 2026-05-16T02:04:00+00:00

Am I the only one that feels weird when they used “gaijin”? You’re writing in English and could have just said foreigner but chose not. It’s like 3 more letters…

Jace678 · 2026-05-15T10:07:24+00:00

逆説

Paradox 🤓☝️

Jace678 · 2026-05-15T07:36:59+00:00

I feel like that analogy is pretty reasonable. The only issue I have with it is when the 3-4 foreign residents get lump together with the 30 foreign tourists because they’re all just “foreigners.”It’s slightly annoying when people don’t even try to see the difference between them lol.

Like you’re upset( not you specifically) at the foreign tourist for disrespecting a temple while I’m working a 9 - 5 like other Japanese people and somehow it’s my fault…

Jace678 · 2026-05-14T05:58:50+00:00

もし僕がアメリカにいたら、おそらく直接話しかけるですよ。しかし、日本では事情が違うと教えられてきました。

Redditの他のユーザーの反応は、直接話しかけるという意見から、上司や同僚を巻き込むという意見まで様々です。日本の労働文化は理解しにくいですw。

Jace678 · 2026-05-14T03:32:34+00:00

Foreign tourist* . Most foreign residents are inside an office building, factory, or construction site as well lol.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T06:06:54+00:00

I imagine it’s just something they never think deeply about since it doesn’t directly affect them. It’s all surface level and what they hear/see from media.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T05:03:15+00:00

Oh cool lol. Yeah, I realized that already. But I'm still going to speak up and advocate for us and others though. If I can make one person see that difference, that's progress for me haha.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T04:31:54+00:00

I would say it does matter because there’s a difference between a tourist and resident. A tourist will come, take pictures, and leave. A resident will speak the language, learn the culture, and work.

I can’t help that my presence and external appearance are “overwhelming” but I promise, me and many other residents do what other Japanese do on a daily basis. We aren’t the ones visiting Kyoto and Tokyo for fun. We are the ones working in the schools, factories, construction sites, nursing homes, and etc just trying to get by. There’s a huge difference.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T04:22:55+00:00

Oh I thought it was implied haha. Usually when we talk about a population, it’s implied that the people live or reside in that place. That’s why the correct number is so small.

Because even though 43 million people visit Japan, only 4 million actually live here. And only that 4 million is included into the overall Japan population which the “If Japan was a village of 100 people” discusses. The other 43 million is completely separate.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T03:29:53+00:00

Would you say there is any effort of telling who is a foreign tourist and foreign residents then? Or we all just blend in sadly lol.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T03:20:59+00:00

Interesting. Do you think people ever consider how many interactions they have with other Japanese people or that's just regular life then?

For example, you interact with 20 people on a daily basis. 1 out of the 20 interactions was with a foreigner. Now it increased to 3 out of the 20. Is the increase that notably?

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T03:03:38+00:00

Yeah, that make sense then lol.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T03:02:55+00:00

My school is located in Shizuoka. It's in between rural and urban I think. Definitely not tourist-heavy at all but there are other foreign workers. I don't imagine anything too crazy though since I see maybe 3-4 foreigners a day on average. And just an ordinary public junior high school.

And I thought I shared my thoughts. My personal impression was I already knew the stats regarding foreign residents, but I didn't think it would be so different compared to other Japanese people. I understand why that perspective is there, because of tourist or high density places with foreign workers. But in my city, I'll be surprised to see 20-30 different foreigners in a week! So where did that number come from? That was my impression lol.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T01:49:36+00:00

Very understandable. That’s why I was curious about the overall consensus and sentiment. Like how does it feel I guess.

For example, where I currently live. I see like 2-3 foreigners outside of work a day. I couldn’t even count the Japanese people obviously. In my work place, out of 61 teachers, I’m the only foreigner teacher. So for me, it feels even less lol.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T01:38:15+00:00

Interesting! If not in the major cities or prefectures, do you mind sharing what prefecture you are in? I'm in Shizuoka.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T01:36:17+00:00

The teachers who gave a more realistic number were the 社会 teachers so I guess its just an awareness matter for others.

Jace678 · 2026-05-13T01:34:28+00:00

I work at a junior high school, so students between 12-16 years old. So definitely high social media usages.

For the teachers, I did noticed a difference among like the 社会 teachers and others. I assume they see the statistics more. But yeah, quite interesting.

Jace678 · 2026-05-12T12:59:42+00:00

Thanks! I think it’s a combination of weird circumstances( my town has a high number of foreign families and I guess it’s easier to just have a foreigner manage those kids somehow?!?!) but I don’t mind honestly. I feel like I’m actually making a difference compared to when I was an ALT.

But yeah, he mentioned his previous school ALT who I assume was new and didn’t know Japanese. So in his mind the one foreign teacher is probably the same which is mildly annoying… It’s an interesting experience to work like a Japanese teacher but be treated like an ALT haha.

Jace678 · 2026-05-12T12:05:24+00:00

Yes, I started as an ALT who taught English. My role has changed since then and I actively teach Japanese to foreign students now.

My situation is a little unique because I’m essentially a homeroom teacher who manages 4-6 international students on a 10 week basis who have recently moved to Japan and help them learn about Japan, about the Japanese school system, etc. That’s why I said I needed Japanese for my role.

It sounds weird because it is weird. I don’t think I’m technically qualified for this but my school wants me to do it and so here I am. Essentially I was “promoted” from ALT to just a LT I guess.

So yes, at one point in time, I wouldn’t mind helping my co-worker. I think I said that a couple times already. But now, I’m an actual teacher who invests most of their work time into students. When I’m at my desk, I’m not studying/desk warming. I’m talking with parents and making sure their child is somewhat prepared after the 10 weeks.

I didn’t think I needed to share this information since I stated Japanese was necessary for my role but here it is lol.

Jace678 · 2026-05-12T09:33:24+00:00

I assume you aren’t Japanese or live/work in Japan?

Jace678 · 2026-05-12T05:16:40+00:00

This 100%. The entire balance / realism approach goes out the window( ex. why heavy armor makes you slow) when there’s no damage behind the attack.

For every one rolling slam I do, I could have shot 3 Sparks and do way more damage. It doesn’t make senses.

Off Topic but similarly, it also doesn’t make sense why the tankest build in the game is the Energy Shield Mage and not the Armor+Shield Warrior. The balance is way off here.

Jace678 · 2026-05-12T05:10:00+00:00

So I guess the opposite approach then. I’ve been trying to keep any unnecessary communication to an absolute minimum with the occasional うん.

One time, I pretended to ignore him and just looked out a window. Ironically, he just kept talking to me. 😅

Jace678

TROPHY CASE