"Life in Tokyo moves at a well-oiled clip, with an energy that borders on mania
and an obsession with newness that seems to make all ideas quickly obsolete."
Lonely Planet

The Place

Japan, the beautiful island nation located to the east of China, Korea and Russia, offers a pleasing balance of the ancient with the futuristic, the traditional with the modern.

The country’s name literally translates to “sun-origin”, which has led to it being often referred to as “The Land of the Rising Sun”. As a member state of the United Nations and one of the “G4 nations”, Japan also plays an important political role in East Asia.

Famed as much for its technology, business and scientific innovations as for its rich tradition and artistic heritage, Japan is the ultimate spot to absorb the past, present and future of the human race, complete with trend-setting cafes and world-renowned restaurants.

The Economy

Japan has the third-largest economy by nominal GDP in the world, bolstered by its purchasing power parity and its standing as the world’s fourth-largest exporter and importer.

Main export goods include cars, electronic devices and computers, trading most regularly in these markets with China, US, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Germany. Meanwhile, it relies upon raw materials as its main import goods, such as oil, foodstuffs and wood, imported primarily from suppliers in China, US, Australia, Indonesia and the UAE.

The industries that contribute most significantly to the GNP of the country are manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, services and communication. Perhaps the most widely recognised market to be spearheaded in this industrial powerhouse, however, is that of technology: constantly pushing the limits and innovating new products, the country is home to iconic international conglomerates such as Sony, Fuji, Panasonic, Canon, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Sharp, Epson and Toshiba.

The Lifestyle

The Japanese lifestyle can best be described as fast, long, lively and healthy, as the “couch potato” concept commonly found in Western culture is completely foreign here.

The average Japanese day revolves primarily around three key aspects: work, socialising and recreation; the population’s exceptionally long life expectancy may well be attributed to this general attitude. For example, cars are viewed as a luxury item, so most residents walk to and from their destination as a rule, meaning that the average Japanese individual may walk up to five kilometres in a day.

Socialising in Japan is also unique to the country: due to limited space at home, people will therefore tend to entertain outside their homes, making clubs, hobbies and leisure activities an essential part of the culture.

The gracious hospitality of the Japanese themselves combined with the fast-paced and healthy lifestyle make this an attractive destination for expats wanting to improve their personal wellbeing whilst also enjoying access to the latest gadgetry innovations that have become synonymous with Japanese industrial culture.

The Prospects

The booming economy in Japan, supported by the huge technology market centred in the country, make it an ideal place to embark on a financial career due to the sheer number of opportunities available.

Meanwhile, the number of foreigners in Japan in 2010 was around 2.2 million, an ever-increasing figure due to the attraction of the country’s diverse and modern lifestyle for expats.

As an international financial adviser with the deVere Group in Japan you can expect to enjoy not only an executive lifestyle and the capacity to build an exciting career, but also the experience of living in one of the most unique, innovative and energetic countries in the world.

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