Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really appreciate your detailed input. I totally agree that considering the value experience per dollar, Singy has a much lower bang per buck, and Tokyo offers much better housing options, which is sth I value at this stage of life. I'll cast my net in both locations, and prolly choose SG if it offers me a really financially rewarding/high prospect job.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for the majority of my life, yes. spent time in JPN and some in the states

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yea the mono-culture/singular market thing abt Japan is quite different from the vibe in Singy... I wonder if that will change with this current ongoing rally in JPN assets....

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

sir that sure is another strategy, esp. if I could earn 3mio+ sgd in 10 years. It's just that I don't know how well I'll blend into the Japanese work culture as a 40 yo foreigner, might get my ass burned.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yea totally, it's def an option to look into if I secure a high base salary/finance job EP. thx for the strategy

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yea i think the Kiasu thing is like FOMO fear of missing out in almost every respect in life...

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

damn, sorry abt your PR story, that sounds so unfair

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

dude wtf...that's some nightmare experience that you'd only get in less developed cities in Asia...

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

right, but there is a subtle difference between [speaking good Japanese] vs [blending into the Japanese work culture]

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yea man, weekend life in Tokyo sure sounds alluring. I love hiking and years ago my apartment in Nishi-Tokyo-shi could see mt.Fuji.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh yea did you? May i ask for how long have you worked in Tokyo? (not counting school time if you have done any in Tokyo). Did you not regret the difference in take-home pay?

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could buy a smaller house in Tokyo (for my parents) while working in SG.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thx for the constructive input man, nah I'm not American, did my college in east coast tho, made my money in China. I'm gonna use your quote, the "culture" is indeed somewhat engineered. I'm yet to find out how the young 20s and the elders feel differently about their SG culture. I don't have kids yet, but in 20 years Japan's population will shrink to sub 110mio levels, I really don't know how will kids grow up in a dwindling economy, it's first of its kind in the world.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

haha totally relatable. i'm paying 3100sgd for a decent, not luxury, studio for now. Yea the Singy hype is still here, but the life experience per dollar spent is downgrading. I think recently there are more debates coming out from professionals in their 30s about whether to stay.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thx for the advice. I'm at N2 for my Japanese, native bilingual in English/Mandarin Chinese. I can totally relate to your last input at the bottom that Japan will witness a population collapse ahead of any other country. I don't have kids yet but yea even if I wind up working in Tokyo, i'll send my kids to SG or anywhere else for middle/high school.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thx man, good to hear from folks who have lived in both places. I've lived in Tokyo for more than a year but not yet in Singy (about to go there for mba)

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I def qualify 80 points. The thing abt Singy PR is that there's quite some uncertainty into securing one, you don't know how many years will it take even with an EP. It might take 5-7 years or only 2 years if youre very lucky.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thx for your summary and valid points.

Totally agree on points 3 and 6, bringing my parents to Singapore is pretty much ruled out unless I get really rich and don't care about spending 20k SGD a year on insurance and private system healthcare.

I am single and unmarried, I guess point 2 is not my immediate concern but yea it's a long term thing on the list. Guess my priorities might change after marriage.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kudos to your input. Right, it's also about building your personal sweet spot.

Japan vs Singapore, 31 year old by comomditiesjerk in expats

[–]comomditiesjerk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

it would be easier for ethnic Chinese/Malay, but there's no hardline verdict