I have never been to Japan so I have no clue what it's like. One thing for sure there are a lot more Japanese wanting to come to the US than there are Americans wanting to go to Japan. Their economy has been in shambles since 1989. The government has more control over their people than ours does. Just look how much action it took on your part to get a gun. Herd mentality everywhere. I'm not sure the people have as many freedoms as us. Did you know that if you have investments outside of Japan, the government can tell you to divest and bring the money home in bad economic times, and it's been done. I am going to stick my neck out on this one. Japanese people from Japan and the older local Japanese in Hawaii are some of the most prejudice peoples around.  I know this for a fact as my father in law is a WW2 442nd hero. He told my wife that if she ever married a black guy, he would kill both. I don't think he liked me either, certainly not after my wife's neighbor told him that some guy left his daughters house early in the morning . Things in Japan are never black and white, they are mostly gray. I suggest the movie "Emperor" it will open your eyes as to how things work there. You can't fix all the problems in life, don't even try. It is best to work around the problems. This is the greatest country on earth. I wish you the best. By the way, I am an immigrant from the ex communist block came to America at age twelve. Served in the 25th ID 1970 and as messed up as that deal was, this is still the greatest country on earth.

I have never been to Japan so I have no clue what it's like. One thing for sure there are a lot more Japanese wanting to come to the US than there are Americans wanting to go to Japan. Their economy has been in shambles since 1989. The government has more control over their people than ours does. Just look how much action it took on your part to get a gun. Herd mentality everywhere. I'm not sure the people have as many freedoms as us. Did you know that if you have investments outside of Japan, the government can tell you to divest and bring the money home in bad economic times, and it's been done. I am going to stick my neck out on this one. Japanese people from Japan and the older local Japanese in Hawaii are some of the most prejudice peoples around.  I know this for a fact as my father in law is a WW2 442nd hero. He told my wife that if she ever married a black guy, he would kill both. I don't think he liked me either, certainly not after my wife's neighbor told him that some guy left his daughters house early in the morning . Things in Japan are never black and white, they are mostly gray. I suggest the movie "Emperor" it will open your eyes as to how things work there. You can't fix all the problems in life, don't even try. It is best to work around the problems. This is the greatest country on earth. I wish you the best. By the way, I am an immigrant from the ex communist block came to America at age twelve. Served in the 25th ID 1970 and as messed up as that deal was, this is still the greatest country on earth.

Hmmmmmm interesting.... I lived in Japan for a tad bit over 17 years and never was treated poorly. As a matter of fact it was just the opposite! My wife is a Japanese national and comes from Tohoku. Even up in a the country I was treated with respect. Could it be due to the fact I am fluent in Japanese and understand thier culture? I don't need to see a movie to understand the culture. I lived the culture and studied it quite extensively, Japanese history and culture was my minor while attending Sophia University, Tokyo. I respectfully disagree with you observations. Sure there are good and bad no matter where you go but that's life. I love America but need a break. I spent my entire military career in the Far East and am proud of my service. Yes Japan is not as good as America but I miss Japan and feel very comfortable there. Funny thing is my wife of 45 years does not really want to go back but is doing it for me because she knows how much this means to me. Maybe someday I'll come back......

There's a massive outflux of people and it's only going to get worse. As much as we like to make fun of socialist countries at least they get something back for their money. Our tax scheme is so regressive that people can't afford a decent enough education for our kids so they can tell how bad they are getting screwed.

I have had a couple friends leave for Japan already. One loves it and the other is miserable, but he'd rather bring up his kid as well-educated emotionally stunted robots rather than illiterate thugs with over-inflated egos. I'd like to point out to them that China will eventually swallow them up when the superpower torch gets passed, but I figure at lest they can go somewhere else if things get bad while Americans might be very soon stuck with an "exit tax" that makes leaving the country impossible.

If you are interested in obtaining another passport that will let you into a non-extradition country, be aware that the window is closing fast.

Alright man, have a great life in Japan   I'd visit every year if I could afford it.

I believe that it used to be very few people ever moved outside the U.S. for reasons other than employment. But recently I have been reading of more and more distrust of our government, unhappiness with life in general here, better employment opportunities, and/or better quality of life in other countries as reasons to move outside the U.S.

Even my family has started to move outside the U.S. My nephew moved to Japan for better employment opportunities. He recently married a Japanese woman and while he is not rich and barely getting by, he is VERY happy. My cousin moved to France for better quality of life. My niece and her husband moved to Israel for better quality of life. And one of my close friends on the Big Island is retiring soon and will be living between his two condos in Taiwan and Thailand. He will maintain his condo on the Big Island and vacation there occasionally.

I believe that the attraction of capitalism is why a lot of people move here and very few leave. But things have changed here in this country. I blame the influx of Socialism into our society as a partial reason. If one is forced to live under a system that includes Socialism then what differs us from other countries with similar systems? With the lines blurring I see the exceptionalism of the U.S. degrading rapidly. It is this exceptionalism that I believe made our country the best in our world. I blame the corruption of our government, systems and the politicians as a partial reasons as well.

I have to admit my move to Hawaii for work and eventual retirement was due in part to unhappiness of where I was living previously in SoCal. I don't blame anyone for wanting to better their life by moving to another country. I wish you good luck in your new endeavor. 

I will acknowledge that I have considered a change of States and have looked at job opportunities that may include relocation OCONUS and there are still possibilities of that happening, but that is not due to the frustration that I am feeling with what is happening here in the United States, but purely due to job related reasons. 

"The grass is always greener on the other side".  Sometimes true, often times not but in all sincerity, I truly hope it works out well for you.   

As for those who are feeling frustrated with the direction of our society, I know that I include myself 100% in this category, we need to remember a couple of things, in my lifetime of almost 50 years I have seen several swings and I am sure I will see more before I die.  But most important perhaps, we should remember this...  “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.”   

Best of luck brother, enjoy your retirement!

Love to visit Japan. Not sure if I'd live there only because they work themselves to death. Best of luck!

I blame idiots. 

How you gonna mock somebody for having a plan B?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=hL1-340ODCM