{"id":1459,"date":"2025-07-15T01:22:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/?p=1459"},"modified":"2025-08-11T09:36:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T09:36:28","slug":"japan-to-us-lifestyle-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/japan-to-us-lifestyle-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving from Japan to the U.S.: 5 Ways My Mindset Changed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- ===== Helper CSS ===== --><\/p>\n<style>\nbody{\n  font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,\"Segoe UI\",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;\n  line-height:1.55;color:#111;\n}\n.styled_h2 {\n  font-size: 1.8em;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  margin: 1.5em 0 1em 0;\n  color: #333;\n}\n.styled_h3 {\n  font-size: 1.4em;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  margin: 1.3em 0 0.8em 0;\n  color: #444;\n}\n.styled_h4 {\n  font-size: 1.2em;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  margin: 1.2em 0 0.6em 0;\n  color: #555;\n}\n.q_underline1 {\n  background: #ffeb3b;\n  padding: 0 4px;\n  border-bottom: 3px solid #ffe900;\n}\n.q_underline2 {\n  background: #99f9ff;\n  padding: 0 4px;\n  border-bottom: 3px solid #99f9ff;\n}\n.video-container-long {\n  position: relative;\n  width: 100%;\n  max-width: 560px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9;\n}\n.video-container-long iframe {\n  position: absolute;\n  top: 0;\n  left: 0;\n  width: 100%;\n  height: 100%;\n}\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\n  .video-container-long {\n    max-width: 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n  }\n}\nimg {\n  max-width: 100%;\n  height: auto;\n  border-radius: 5px;\n  margin: 20px 0;\n  box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);\n}\n.center{text-align:center;}\n<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">Things I Noticed After Moving to the United States<\/h3>\n<p>Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s hard to believe, but it has already been <strong>20 years<\/strong> since I moved to the United States.<\/p>\n<p>As you&#8217;d expect in a different country, the rules and environment aren&#8217;t the same, so my way of thinking has changed in several ways compared with my time in Japan.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;d like to share some of those insights with you today.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-container-long\">\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zIh_t2YVcxs?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<p>The videos embedded in this article are narrated in Japanese, <strong>but English subtitles are available.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">Lifestyle Changes I Noticed After Moving to the United States (1)<\/h3>\n<p>I&#8217;ve noticed about ten changes in my habits, but first I&#8217;d like to discuss the following five.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Started exercising regularly<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Stopped thinking in terms of age<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Re-evaluated Japan&#8217;s strengths and concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>4. No longer feel embarrassed when speaking English<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>5. No longer feel the need to pretend I&#8217;m someone I&#8217;m not<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">1. Started exercising regularly<\/h3>\n<p>First of all, I definitely exercise more often now.<\/p>\n<p>I think the drastic change in my living environment has made me more conscious of exercise and health.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline1\">When I lived in Japan, I felt there wasn&#8217;t much of an issue even if I didn&#8217;t actively play sports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s because using trains and buses means you&#8217;re getting daily exercise without even realizing it.<\/p>\n<p>I only noticed after moving to the United States that my daily commute had actually been a built-in workout.<\/p>\n<p>So what&#8217;s life like in the U.S.? Because most things revolve around cars, you end up walking far less.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, my overall activity level drops dramatically compared with when I was in Japan.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"styled_h4\">Effects of a Car-Centric Society: Hardly Any Need to Walk<\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline2\">In California, the moment you step outside your home, you almost always have to rely on a car to reach your destination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>At work, where most tasks are desk-based, the lack of exercise becomes even more serious.<\/p>\n<p>And let&#8217;s not forget about food.<\/p>\n<p>Portion sizes are larger than in Japan, so even though you&#8217;re moving less, you&#8217;re eating more\u2026<\/p>\n<p>which can easily turn into a worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"styled_h4\">Exercise Is Essential for Daily Health<\/h4>\n<p>Given this situation, I started working out out of a sense of urgency about my health.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, I began incorporating exercise as a hobby on my days off to balance my weekday desk-bound lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>For example, I&#8217;ve made it a habit to go cycling on Sundays, and it has become my weekend highlight.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline1\">And starting to work out not only boosts my stamina but also gives me a sense of mental fulfillment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Living in a new environment has made me realize just how important exercise is for staying healthy and living each day to the fullest.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">2. Stopped Thinking in Terms of Age<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ecodriveondemand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/\u30a2\u30a4\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30c13.png\" alt=\"\u5e74\u9f62\u306e\u6982\u5ff5\u304c\u306a\u304f\u306a\u3063\u305f\" width=\"700\" height=\"440\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>I believe the concept of age is perceived very differently depending on one&#8217;s culture and surroundings.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Living in the United States, I&#8217;ve noticed that compared with Japan, you become aware of age far less often.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline2\">In the U.S., asking someone&#8217;s age in everyday or social situations is considered such a breach of etiquette that it&#8217;s practically taboo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t remember holding that mindset when I was in Japan.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"styled_h4\">How Americans View &#8220;Age&#8221;<\/h4>\n<p>In Japan, it&#8217;s common to ask someone&#8217;s age on application forms, surveys, and even when meeting for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, in the United States there&#8217;s often no space for age on a r\u00e9sum\u00e9, and in daily interactions people generally don&#8217;t care how old someone is.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline1\">Because of this cultural difference, friendships easily cross age gaps\u201410, 15, or even more years\u2014with everyone interacting as equals, free of hesitation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"styled_h4\">Fewer Preconceptions About Getting Older<\/h4>\n<p>This background helps reduce preconceptions and biases about growing older in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Age-based restrictions or expectations implied by phrases like &#8220;You&#8217;re too old for that,&#8221; which you often hear in Japan, are seldom encountered in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>From children to seniors, people of all ages enjoy the same activities, and this attitude seems to have a positive impact on society as a whole.<\/p>\n<p><center><strong>Watch the short video!<\/strong><\/center><\/p>\n<p><center><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u5e74\u9f62\u3092\u610f\u8b58\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u7121\u304f\u306a\u308b\u3010\u30a2\u30e1\u30ea\u30ab\u751f\u6d3b\u7de8\u3011\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/By1Fe-iHeVY?\" width=\"282\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/center><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">3. Re-discovering Japan&#8217;s Strengths and Areas for Improvement<\/h3>\n<p>Living away from Japan makes the country&#8217;s merits and challenges stand out more clearly.<\/p>\n<p>I suspect many people who have spent time abroad share this feeling.<\/p>\n<p>When you first begin life outside Japan, the differences in your new surroundings can be overwhelming, but <span class=\"q_underline1\">as time passes, Japan&#8217;s wonderful qualities\u2014and, conversely, the areas that could use improvement\u2014come into view<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">Realizing Japan&#8217;s Appeal by Living Abroad<\/h3>\n<p>When you live overseas, you come to realize that things you once took for granted\u2014Japan&#8217;s orderliness, the cleanliness of public spaces, and the meticulous quality of customer service\u2014are actually exceptional.<\/p>\n<p>You also grow to appreciate Japan&#8217;s year-round natural beauty, cultural richness, and seasonal traditions as part of the country&#8217;s unique charm.<\/p>\n<p>In many cases, experiencing life abroad makes these positive aspects of Japan stand out even more clearly.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">Conversely, Noticing Areas for Improvement<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline2\">On the other hand, stepping away from Japan also highlights Japan-specific challenges and aspects that could be improved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For example, in a country like the United States, the culture puts a premium on rationality and efficiency. Experiencing this can make you realize that various Japanese systems and customs are sometimes inefficient.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the U.S. tends to respect individual opinions and diversity, which contrasts with Japan&#8217;s collectivism and social conformity, prompting reflection on the value of personal freedom and self-expression.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">Having Points of Comparison Makes It Easier to See Japan&#8217;s Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\n<p>By viewing Japan from abroad like this, the country&#8217;s unique virtues and challenges become clearer.<\/p>\n<p>And <span class=\"q_underline1\">I think that having this kind of experience makes it easier to approach things constructively\u2014rather than simply criticizing, you start thinking about how to build a better society<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Experiencing these things abroad brings value beyond just encountering a new culture; it lets you re-examine your own country objectively and rediscover what makes it special.<\/p>\n<p>I believe this perspective is extremely useful when living in a global society.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">4. No longer feel embarrassed when speaking English<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ecodriveondemand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/\u30a2\u30a4\u30ad\u30e3\u30c3\u30c1\uff14\u7acb\u3061\u4e0a\u304c\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b.png\" alt=\"\u82f1\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3059\u969b\u306b\u6065\u305a\u304b\u3057\u3055\u304c\u306a\u304f\u306a\u3063\u305f\" width=\"700\" height=\"440\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>I suspect many people living overseas struggle with language barriers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In particular, when people whose native language isn&#8217;t English try to speak it, they often feel a bit embarrassed.<\/p>\n<p>However, after moving to the United States and using English on a daily basis, that embarrassment has gradually faded for me.<\/p>\n<p><center><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u82f1\u8a9e\u3092\u8a71\u3059\u6065\u305a\u304b\u3057\u3055\u306e\u514b\u670d\u65b9\u6cd5\u3010\u30a2\u30e1\u30ea\u30ab\u751f\u6d3b\u7de8\u3011\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tVSlkq9BXqI\" width=\"282\" height=\"500\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/center><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">The Most Important Thing When Speaking a Foreign Language Is Communication<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline2\">At first, I felt pressured to speak perfect English, and the very act of speaking became something I feared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I often worried that using imperfect English might offend others or be considered rude, which made my voice shrink and my confidence waver.<\/p>\n<p>However, living in the United States taught me that the most important part of a conversation is not flawless grammar or pronunciation, but <strong>mutual understanding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"styled_h4\">English-speaking Countries Have Accents (Dialects) Too<\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline1\">In American culture, differences in English accent and pronunciation are seen as part of diversity, so even if your English isn&#8217;t perfect, most people simply recognize that you have a different accent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This may vary by state, but at least in Los Angeles that&#8217;s the sense I get.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, Americans themselves have different accents and even dialects depending on the region.<\/p>\n<p>In this environment, the most important thing is to shed any embarrassment about your English and speak confidently.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">Tips for Speaking English I&#8217;ve Learned from Experience<\/h3>\n<p>When speaking English, begin with your main point and use clear gestures or body language so your intention is easier to understand.<\/p>\n<p>This makes communication flow more smoothly.<\/p>\n<p>By projecting your voice and speaking with confidence, mutual understanding improves dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>Through experiences like these, any embarrassment about language naturally fades, and confidence in speaking English grows.<\/p>\n<p>I was embarrassed at first, but after actually moving to the United States, my mindset shifted in this way.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">5. No longer feel the need to pretend<\/h3>\n<p>After moving to the United States, I came to realize that I no longer needed to put on airs.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s probably a feeling many people who relocate to the U.S. can relate to.<\/p>\n<p>Now <span class=\"q_underline2\">when I think back to my life in Japan, I realize I was often keenly aware of social expectations and how others perceived me, and I tended to place a lot of value on my appearance and the things I owned<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t uncommon to feel pressured to signal social status by wearing luxury brands or buying products endorsed by celebrities.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">In the United States, People Don&#8217;t Pay Much Attention to What Others Wear<\/h3>\n<p>However, life in the U.S. seems to embrace a different set of values.<\/p>\n<p>In the United States, there is a culture where people feel free to express themselves, and they show little interest in others&#8217; possessions or appearance.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you&#8217;re wearing an expensive watch, no one envies you, nor does it define your worth as a person.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"q_underline1\">In an environment like this, the mindset of &#8220;I am who I am&#8221; naturally takes hold, and you no longer need to compare yourself with others to find your own value.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h4\">The Mindset of &#8220;I&#8217;m Me and You&#8217;re You&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p>Living in the United States has taught me the importance of being true to myself\u2014of living according to my own values and interests without pretending to be someone I&#8217;m not.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than finding my worth in material possessions, I&#8217;ve come to believe that my inner self, actions, and choices are what truly define me.<\/p>\n<p>Because of this outlook, I feel liberated from the need to &#8220;show off&#8221; that I used to experience in Japan.<\/p>\n<p>You could also say I&#8217;ve lost my appetite for material things\u2014and this mindset is much easier on the wallet. (laughs)<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"styled_h3\">Can You Enjoy Cultural Differences?<\/h3>\n<p>When you live abroad, you often find that what used to be normal in Japan isn&#8217;t necessarily so in other countries.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, this can sometimes feel stressful, but I believe the real key is whether you can appreciate these experiences as <strong>&#8220;cultural differences.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Things I Noticed After Moving to the United States Hello, this is Suzuki from Eco Drive. It&#8217;s hard to believe, but it has already been 20 years since I moved to the United States. As you&#8217;d expect in a different country, the rules and environment aren&#8217;t the same, so my way of thinking has changed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-life-immigration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1459"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2149,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1459\/revisions\/2149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecodriveautosales.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}