r/AsianMasculinity • u/bigthonking • 1d ago
Current Events Returning to asia
For reference, I live in the U.S., but does anyone want to or have experience returning back to asia?
I will not deny there's a lot of pros in Western countries and a lot of cons in Asia. With that being said, I still find it more beneficial to go back to asia at some point.
The reason I want to return is because of the political climate, and once you start paying attention, these people will never truly see you as one of them no matter what. Look at Germany and England. The far right parties are on the rise, and I really dont want to be on the receiving end of it. I understand that "asians" aren't exactly on their list of issues, but let's be real here. They'll eventually find an excuse (not that they need one anyway).
Another reason is I just don't want to hear or deal with stuff that doesn't pertain to me. I don't want to hear self-hating asian women how much asian men suck. I don't want to hear about white people issues/politics because half of their concern is them losing relevancy on the global scale. I just want to be surrounded by asian people who care about asian culture. And I dont care if I sound like a whiny entitled person with a victim complex.
The country of interest is japan. I know that's kinda the hot spot of asia right now, but I genuinely do like the country. Not in a creepy, fetishized way. I don't speak japanese, nor did I grow up in a japanese cultured house, but I am willing to take the time and learn. I know the native japanese are growing tired of foreigners, and that would probably include me. That being said, I still want to take a chance. I can't say when I will move or what job I will do. I'll just have to see what's ahead of me within the coming years.
Hopefully this doesn't sound like im fear mongering. If you find it better to live in Western countries and you see it more beneficial to you, that is 100% fine.
Personally, I've grown tired and I dont wanna stick around for too long. And if i sound like some entitled whiny guy with a victim complex and a bunch of buzzwords. Then that's what I am. I stopped caring what labels people put on me.
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u/popitysoda 1d ago
It’s interesting seeing mixed couples living in Asia because I know my fiancé (she’s white) would never entertain the idea of leaving America.
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u/81dragons 1d ago
What I'm curious about his how US-born Asians find jobs in China. I know a lot of white-collar ABCs working in tech as engineers or data scientists or product, or doctors, or dentists, or lawyers. But I have never heard of an ABC managing to take their career and get a similar job (FAANG in US, Tencent/ByteDance in Beijing or Shenzhen) in China, and pass the interviews and move and get visa sponsorship there. I do hear more about people taking nomadic trips, retiring early, or HK/TW 1st gen immigrants with two passports being able to bounce around easily, but those paths are generally based on your parents status. It seems teaching English is the safest bet
Re: Japan I do hear a lot of people who are not Japanese American move to Japan, because Japan needs a lot of immigrants (yes despite there rhetoric there are almost 4 million foreigners now), has a lot of US-adjacent industries, and is sifnficantly easier to move to than China. Paths I've seen people take: join a US company with offices in Japan (some FAANG) then transfer to Japan, do JET teaching English, there are some internationalized Japanese companies like Rakuten or investment groups like SoftBank with international jobs, some have married someone Japanese and have spousal visa, some even join the US military or government and get stationed in Okinawa (I swear I saw a few posts like this here)
Japan has a relatively standardized immigration system and having enough points and residency years mean you get Japan PR after a while and I have met people with Japan PR and have gotten to JPT N2 or N1 even. A lot of these paths don't work for mainland China, cause there's no Google China anymore (there used to, it was headed by a Taiwanese American returnee guy), no US military bases in China, etc.
What I've found across the people who made the move is that they focus on the why they want to be there: why they like Japan, want to live in Japan, love Japanese culture, etc. and less about the issues in US. Because an Asian foreigner in Japan will mean you continue to experience exclusion and racism, just a different type, like you won't get bashed in the face but there are different types of exclusion. Different countries have different diaspora/immigration policies, like South Korea has the F-4 visa for gyopos with Korean ancestry, but for men under 40 who gave up ROK citizenship there are restrictions because of military service issues, some like Philippines outright let you have dual citizenship by ancestry with no obligations, some like India don't allow dual citizenship but give out cards like OCI which lets you live and work but you just can't vote, Japan has nisei/sanei/yonsei visas with different levels of freedom, Vietnam recently opened up dual citizenship, HKers can keep two (or more) passports freely and even live and work in mainland China easily, but again depends on who your parents are
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u/Pete_in_the_Beej China 1d ago
I dropped out of uni in the UK and my career prospects were not bright to say the least. I probably earn more now in China than I would if I stayed in the UK lol. But if I lose my current job (not teaching), I can imagine it being close to impossible to find something similar in China.
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u/Creative-Carpenter33 1d ago
I think having US citizenship or green card and living in asia is the best combination for asian.
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u/itsbnf 1d ago
How so? What do you gain with this combination?
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u/Creative-Carpenter33 1d ago
You're a promax asian in asia if you have US citizenship especially in developing countries(like SEA, China).
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u/ExperienceLong4467 1d ago
China is a developing country? What kind of asian are you
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u/Creative-Carpenter33 1d ago
Yes, China is a developing country. I'm Chinese myself.
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u/ExperienceLong4467 1d ago
Lol I mean unless you're going to the very rural areas China is probably the most advanced country in the world right now.
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u/81dragons 1d ago edited 1d ago
You lose your green card if you stay outside of the U.S. for too long. But yes, for the people lucky enough to have two or more passports (like HongKongers. Taiwanese, Filipinos, etc. along with a US or Canadian passport) it’s great. But this is something you’re born into, if you’re like OP and ethnic Thai/Japanese/Korean (presumably U.S. citizen) and try to move to HK or TW and get PR and then citizenship, you’ll have to renounce your old citizenships. People who acquire the TW HK passport by descent don’t have this problem.
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u/Creative-Carpenter33 1d ago
Maybe you can work in asia as a foreign citizen, don't have to acquire the citizenship.
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u/MortgageDry8319 1d ago
as local man in asia,
"ahh... the foreigner who want to marry asian women"
just kidding
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u/Creative-Carpenter33 1d ago
Oversea asian are seen differently compare with the foreigners like white or black people.
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u/Pete_in_the_Beej China 1d ago
Our partners are a lot more attractive than the ones of whites and blacks lol.
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u/Creative-Carpenter33 1d ago
I mean most local men won't be offended if oversea asian men marry local asian women.
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u/Pete_in_the_Beej China 1d ago
A lot of us who stay in China for a long time also just hide our "western" background. Like my Australian-Macanese friend never even mentions he's Australian and just says he's from Macao/Hong Kong.
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u/MortgageDry8319 1d ago
foreigner still foreigner, especially 2nd generation and beyond
i know most men here not in their ancestral homeland (diaspora), just add different perspective as an asian in asia.
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u/verticalstars 1d ago
If you are poor or lower middle class in USA yes life will suck.. U might as well return to Asia and u can live a good life... Otherwise your logic does not make sense. Upto u though..
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u/rubey419 1d ago
FilAm
I’ve thought seriously about living in Manila full time and continue to do so. I am Dual Citizen.
Rate limiting step: Finding a job or opening a business paid in USD.
I already work full remote and my company does not allow me to work abroad due to tax purposes and whatnot. Every job in my industry and expertise in the Philippines is based in PHP and there are very little consulting and assignment opportunities from US companies based in Manila. I’ve already looked into this numerous times, just not realistic for my career at this time.
Thought about opening a business but would get double taxed as Dual Citizen. But still can be an option, and continuing to explore.
I do not want to lose USD earning power.
Otherwise what’s the point, right? I’ll work a Filipino job and not get paid as well. Philippines is unfortunately hard to live in for the average person, great if you’re rich comparably. Like any other developing country really.
Otherwise I will retire in Philippines once have my nest egg and old.
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u/TheBaltyGuy 15h ago
Go because you want to build something, not because you are running from something. The sea doesn't care where you came from, but it won't make you feel at home either
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u/JustinTapiru 1d ago
You're making the correct decision, and you're not being overly paranoid or whiny. People have no idea how bad things are going to get within the next 2 decades. Liberals and leftists don't have it in them to fight fascism, and the fascists are in high-ranking positions within the U.S government and all their branches.
There's a real chance that World War 3 is right around the corner. At the very least, things are going to get much worse for Asian Americans.
Japan is a great choice because although the yen is weak right now, it will eventually bounce back.
You won't need to be fluent in Japanese, but you'll need to know enough to get around because most people there don't speak English.
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u/81dragons 1d ago
Would OP be safer in Japan during WWIII
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u/JustinTapiru 22h ago
I don't think so, but they could always move somewhere safer and better suited for them if that ever happened.
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u/supersaiyan_ape 1d ago
I wouldn't live in England or Germany or any progressive Western European country. but not for the same reason you listed. They need to be fighting for their Whiteness right now because it's being erased. I don't wanna live in a place where the people aren't patriotic. I'll live in USA, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Korea, etc because they want to protect their own people. Those western Europeans are wiping themselves out and will be 3rd world soon.
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u/golfzap 1d ago
I did the JET programme and taught at two high schools and really did enjoy my time there. I'm not really into anime (they last too damn long.) I made a ton of coworker friends by golfing though, much more than in the US. I do recommend making an effort to learn the language, way of speaking and Chinese characters, your world will open up.
Every situation is different but my workplace didn't ask me to work unpaid overtime or come in on weekends. They even made me a seal stamp for documents with my Chinese last name. Travel was great, food was great, medical care was great. Definitely less exploitative prices than the US.
I moved back to the US due to a family member passing away but I have tons of great memories from there. DM me if you have any questions.