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Make friends in a foreign language: Making mistakes is the key to getting comfortable!

Hello! My name is Reimi and I currently live in Japan. Like many of you, I fell in love with Japan a long time ago, and so living here is like making a dream come true. But of course, there are all sorts of obstacles to overcome when it comes to living in a foreign country or learning a new language. Given the chance to write about it, I wanted to write about the difficulties and rewards of learning Japanese. Saying you want to learn a foreign language is definitely easier said than done; you’re not alone in struggling, but it can be so worth it! 

YOUR REASON

What brings you to Japan?

The answer to this question might be different for each person, of course. Some people move to Japan for work, some come for school. Some have always wanted to visit, interested in the things that make Japan unique, like scenery, art, or food. Some want to learn Japanese or make friends in Japan. Some even come to Japan and end up never leaving! There are even programs that allow one to travel extensively and stay in foreign countries for an extended period of time with accommodation provided, such as work holidays or internship programs.

No matter what one’s reasons are, however, the fact remains that moving to a foreign country gives one a chance to learn about a new culture and learn a new language. They say that travel can teach you about yourself, expanding your horizons and challenging yourself in unfamiliar situations, so imagine how much more you’ll learn when you live somewhere entirely new.

EXPECTATION VERSUS REALITY

Myself, I’ll have been living in Japan for almost five years total. For most of that time, I came as a student, so making friends was definitely something I was looking forward to. Plus, at the time I moved, I had just barely graduated high school and I had never lived apart from my family, so there were always concerns that I would be isolated without a network as I had back home. I would be fending for myself for the first time – and in a foreign country where I barely spoke the language no less! From the start, I was too excited to think of anything but finally being in Japan for the long term, but my family held a lot of apprehensions about a young woman living alone in a foreign country.

But honestly speaking, if I had to choose one thing, the scariest thing about having moved to Japan is speaking Japanese. There are still times I worry that my language ability is not enough when I am nervous about being able to convey to the other person the things I am thinking. Or that I’m going to misunderstand or be disrespectful.

For a younger me, this was actually really terrifying. I would think to myself: How can I become friends with someone when we don’t speak the same language? Why would they like me when I can’t tell them about myself? When I can’t understand them? When I’m constantly making mistakes?

But as I’ve gotten more comfortable living in Japan, the more I realize that that way of thinking is entirely wrong. As scary as it is, and especially how difficult it is, I think one of the most important things I’ve learned is that making mistakes is the key to getting good.

No one does anything perfectly from the start. No one can automatically play piano without hitting a few wrong notes or ride a bike without falling a few times. Learning a language is no different. Language learning shouldn’t be treated as a one-time test where you are either fluent or you’re not. Learning how to speak a new language and getting comfortable with it will take time. You need to ‘break in’ so to speak.

The easiest way to do this is to simply use it, mistakes and all. Every mistake I have made while learning Japanese makes it easier as well to remember the correction, which in turn gives me the feeling that I’m really improving, even if it’s little by little. And sometimes too, the mistakes I make are the very reason I make friends. Sometimes it’s someone catching an error and generously correcting me, or sometimes it’s a little slip of the tongue that makes us laugh, humor transcending language in a way that needs no translation.

We learn from our mistakes.

When I first moved to Japan, of course, I heard a lot more Japanese than I had in America. I had gotten used to the convenience store routine (‘do you need a bag?’ ‘would you like this warmed up?’ ‘do you have a point card?’), and I could tell which ingredients I needed at the grocery store. But compared to when I first came to Japan, my speaking ability had barely improved at all.

The issue was this: I was not actually speaking Japanese!

AN IMPORTANT WAKE UP CALL

All of my friends spoke English. I didn’t have a tv and didn’t even try to read books in Japanese. There were events at school that I did not join, thinking I didn’t speak enough Japanese to be of any help or have any fun. In other words, I was a foreigner living in Japan, without really living in Japan. In other words, I had found myself in the “foreigner bubble” where I was not using Japanese in my life.

Naturally, it’s easier to express yourself the way you want to express yourself when you are using your mother tongue. And no surprise, it can be easier to “click” with another person when you don’t have to first surpass the hurdle of understanding what the other person is saying.

But I think that being able to speak fluently is completely different from being able to communicate, and your language ability will have nothing to do with it!

Every time you speak you are improving your language skills, polishing things like pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Just like riding a bike, practice makes perfect!

CREATING THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

So maybe the next question is, how do I start to speak more Japanese? Of course, maybe it’s a little strange to start striking up a conversation with the cashier at the register. But there are many ways to find people in social settings and the more you open yourself up to meeting new people, the more friends you’ll find you’ve made!

Here are a few suggestions:

● You can join clubs and sports meetups to find people with similar hobbies. Sharing similar interests means you already share that common ground!

● Striking up a conversation with someone in a bar or restaurant is another great way to practice and sometimes these spontaneous conversations are extremely good practice because the topics can be diverse. There’s no pressure or goal, it’s just a few folks having a good time over food and drinks!

● If you’re in Japan for school or work, you might be in a great spot to meet people! There are always student activities, like group circles or hangouts. And you can also take advantage of working with the same people every day to strike up conversations in passing or use Japanese in more formal settings. Who knows, maybe you’ll become friends naturally?

● There are also language exchange apps like Hellotalk and HiNative. I’ve met lots of people through these apps, and the best part is that these are people who share the same desire as me: to get better at speaking their chosen language.

● Sharehouses! No surprise, sharehouses are great for learning languages! They’re a little like the best of all worlds; they bring together people with similar goals: making friends and learning more about other cultures. Borderless House in particular hosts lots of great events that give tenants a chance to kick back and have fun with one another, so you can really take advantage of the Borderless House’s support network and Borderless Mates network. Another great aspect of sharehouses is that you’re forced to really communicate with each other to live together happily and peacefully. You’ll learn more about other people’s values, unique perspectives, backgrounds, and what inspires them. And better yet, because you live together, it’s only natural that you can become closer a little at a time, day by day.

What do you think?

IN CONCLUSION

Truly, it wasn’t until I made a concerted effort to step out of my comfort zone that I felt my language ability starting to improve. And as my language ability began to improve, Japanese also started to become more and more fun and making friends became easier. Even now, I still make plenty of mistakes, but that’s not a bad thing at all. It’s important to remind yourself that everyone starts somewhere, even you, with your native language, and look at you now!

Perhaps you haven’t yet had the chance to visit, but you’d like to experience Japan for yourself! If you’ve found this page, maybe that day is sooner rather than later. Good luck!

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Is Living In A Shared Room Right For You? Pros and Cons & Tips of Smooth Living With A Roommate

When you’re looking for new accommodation, one of the first things you’ll have to decide is whether you want to live with roommates or not. While there’s nothing wrong with living alone, it can get lonely sometimes! So, if you like being surrounded by people more than being alone, living with roommates can be a good option for you!

Some people become lifelong friends with their roommates, while some people struggle with getting along with their roommates due to incompatible lifestyles. There are many pros and cons of living with a roommate, so we’ve made this guide for you to help you make your decision. Meanwhile, giving you some tips on living with housemates or roommates to avoid conflicts. 

Social Considerations of Living with Roommates

Roommates can be a great experience as you have someone to share your life with and hang out with. However, as you share a living space with others, it can be tricky when you need some time alone. So here are the pros and cons for you to consider from the social aspect. 

Pro: Opportunity to make new friends & Always have friends around

Since you’ll be living with your roommates, this can lead to an intimate and lasting bond. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll become best friends, but when you get lonely or need someone to talk to, having roommates can be very nice. You can also have movie nights, dinners, holiday parties, or just spend a random Thursday night with them!

Con: Lack of privacy & Sacrificing personal space

Though it’s nice to always have someone around you, on the other hand,  it means you need to make some sacrifices on your personal space, because your bed may be the only place you can have your own privacy; or you will need to wait till your roommate is not around, so you can enjoy the space your own. All in all, if you need a lot of privacy or space alone, living with a roommate may not be a suitable option for you.  

Financial Considerations of Living with Roommates

Money is usually one of the main factors for most people deciding where to live. As moving to a new country, rental expenses can be a weight on your shoulders. Here are some financial advantages of living in a share house or share room with roommates : 

Pro: Shared rooms are much cheaper!

Depending on the location you’d like to stay and your circumstances, you may not be able to afford to live on your own where you want. Living with a roommate can help you save money on rent, meanwhile, you can have a better chance to live in a much nicer location with affordable and reasonable rent. Sometimes, you can even save money on food and other expenses too by sharing them with your roommates.

Con: You can’t decorate the entire room however you want
When you live alone, you have total control over everything that goes on in your room. However, when you live with roommates, you can only decorate and keep your personal style within your own spaces. 

Lifestyle Considerations – Tips for Smooth Living with Roommates 

Lifestyle can be the most important and tricky part when you live with roommates, since you may have different standards for cleanliness, different living habits, conflicting schedules, etc. As it’s an unavoidable factor you will face when you living with others, we’ve collected some handy tips for you for a smooth living with roommates.

Roommate Agreements & Share Responsibilities

A mutual agreement can be very helpful when you live with roommates. Keep it in mind that you all share responsibilities around your shared space. Set ground rules that cover the basics together, and talk through each of your expectations, habits, and routines together, such as cleanliness standards and rules, morning and bedtime routines, daily schedules, etc. Establishing standards and common ground that you all agree to will help you avoid difficult confrontations in the future. Here are some essential tips you need to know to enhance your shared living experience.

Communication & Keep an Open Mind

Communication is key when living or spending time with others. Try to open yourself up and communicate anything that your roommate should know about you. When issues arise, try to bring up the issue in person, instead of texting or leaving a note, to avoid leading to miscommunication and frustrations. If something is bothering you, have a conversation with your roommate as soon as possible before it grows into a bigger conflict. You can take time to make a plan and think through how you can express yourself, and when communication happens,  be sure to listen for understanding as well.

Understand the Difference & Be Considerate 

It’s important to understand that everyone is from different backgrounds and was raised differently. Realizing, it can save you a lot of frustration you may have when you live with others. Your roommate’s living habits and lifestyles can not be exactly the same as your own, so try to talk to each other and find a way to meet in the middle, especially if your differences can cause conflicts. At the same time, be considerate and take your roommate’s feelings into consideration before jumping to conclusions or making decisions.

There’s no crystal ball to see whether living with roommates is going to be a positive or negative experience. Be sure to weigh all the pros and cons, get yourself prepared, and use the tips for a better and more successful living experience in a share house or a shared room.

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Towards a Society with Appreciation for Differences ▏A New Base – BORDERLESS STATION is opening!

Hello everyone, I am Seiichi Lee, the representative of BORDERLESS HOUSE Co., Ltd. Our company was founded in 2008, and the goal of our share house business is to create a multicultural society where people can mutually understand each other’s background regardless of race or nationality, and without prejudice or discrimination.

Almost 3 years into the pandemic, our business has been affected by COVID-19 due to the entry restrictions for foreigners to Japan, fortunately, the situation has gradually gotten better. Thus, we’ve started to create a place full of “Cross-cultural Understanding & Multicultural Coexistence”, which also will be a new base for people from around the world can gather together in Japan.

About the New Project

◆The approach to social problems

With the increased number of foreign tourists and foreign employees, the situation of “foreigners not being able to rent a house in Japan” has drastically improved in the past 10 years.

However, originally, the cause of this problem was because of the prejudice of people who think that “foreigners are different from us”, and I kindly ask you to think about it with us.

One of the surest ways to eliminate this kind of prejudice is to create an opportunity that allows everyone to interact with people from different backgrounds. 

We believe that through building relationships among people, we can learn about and embrace each other’s differences in values, in other words, foster mutual understanding.

In order to achieve that goal, BORDERLESS HOUSE has been offering the environment and experience of communal living.

We have also been proactive in building relationships between the residents and the local community, in order to provide local people with opportunities to encounter different cultures.

 “Share house” is our first step, but now, it’s time to take the next step with our new project.

What’s needed to create a multicultural society where people respect each other’s differences is to – not just learn about those differences but also directly interact with them. We believe that experience is necessary.

We have newly established a new center to provide this kind of opportunity to learn about “differences”. At the same time, we will create a community that is involved in different cultures.

This is our new project – BORDERLESS STATION.

The base of this new project is in Asakusabashi, Tokyo

We rented a guesthouse and cafe bar that was closed down due to COVID-19 and used the upper floors as a share house and the first floor as the base of this project.

It was a challenge for us to revive this place from the aftereffects of a pandemic with a new community and our vision.

※2For detailed information on the share house, click here＞＞

The Concept of BORDERLESS STATION

There are two main concepts in our new project.

The first one is to create a broadcasting booth to share a podcast on the theme of “Understanding the differences” and to communicate various topics on diversity.

The second one is to have a lounge space that will be used for various events and workshops that will provide opportunities to learn about different cultures.

①Broadcasting station for sharing information on the theme of diversity 

The theme of the broadcast is “Let’s start by learning!”

We will have a broadcasting channel that will help people get involved in diversity and cross-cultural understanding. We will invite guest speakers from different backgrounds and countries to share their stories.

Also, as the broadcasting booth will be facing the lounge, so it can be used for event broadcasting. We hope that this place can help the community to promote and communicate its vision and values. 

We would also like to provide an opportunity for young people who are struggling with problems of “minorities” and “identity”  to share their experiences in order to develop new values.

② Bar with a theme of Cross-cultural Understanding and Exchange

The bar with a daily theme is where people can gain a deeper understanding of diversity, arouse interest in cultural differences, and induce empathy with different values through “Participation and Discussion”

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the shared kitchen will be operated by exotic restaurants. They would bring authentic and exotic cuisine home-cooked to BORDERLESS STATION.

So everyone can enjoy learning about the “differences” through “food”. We would like to use this shared kitchen as a gateway to different cultures. 

At the moment, an Argentinian restaurant has been selected to join us, and we are still accepting more partnerships with amazing restaurants!

Friday and Saturday will be a dining bar run by us, BORDERLESS HOUSE!

The dining bar is where you can enjoy food and drinks from various countries while adding diversity and multicultural-themed content to make it much more fun.

For example, on Fridays, we plan to have multicultural organizations and communities join us to share their activities and create a place where people can talk and think about how to make the world a better place together.

And on Saturdays, our multicultural residents of BORDERLESS HOUSE will be the host of the bar. There will be a place where people can encounter new values through workshops and fun activities that expose them to the cultures and values of different countries.

Speaking of the dining bar, it will be supervised by Okaneya-san, who is an explorer of the world’s kitchens, and she will offer “snacks from around the world” that cannot be found anywhere else!

※For more details about Okaneya-san, check here＞＞(Japanese only)

In this project, we wil also be working together with BORDERLESS HOUSE staff, residents, and partners to create a project that will allow us to get close to the local community. 

Based on these contents, we aim to make BORDERLESS STATION a place where anyone can easily have opportunities to learn about “differences” and get involved in the community.

(A community event planned by BORDERLESS HOUSE residents in May 2022)

※For the details of the event that is organized by Borderless House residents, check here.

*The details of the operating hours of BORDERLESS STATION will be announced later.

How to support this project (Sept 2022)

Rather than the relationship between a business owner and customers as a typical restaurant/bar, we would like to work as a community with people who can sympathize and share the same vision and thoughts with us. 

Also, this project is not just a business that expects a return on investment, but a social activity. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we would have to ask for your help to support this project.

Most important of all, we want to make it a place where everyone can make good use of it. I’ve decided to start with crowdfunding.

Click here for the crowdfunding page ＞＞＞
※We are sorry but since the webpage is only in Japanese, please click the right button on the mouse and translate the webpage to your preferred language if needed.

The support from crowdfunding will be used only for the initial start-up costs and does not cover any subsequent operating costs.

In addition to the existing business of share house approach as a place to nurture mutual understanding, this new community place – BORDERLESS STATION (abbreviated as B station) will be opened soon!

Thank you very much for your support!

Last Message

Our cross-cultural exchange project has had a very difficult time over the past two years due to borders closing. 

At the same time, in our society, we are facing the same problems as in the rest of the world, such as the hate against Asians due to the spread of COVID-19, BLM in the US, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict between China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and the conflicts between countries, cultures, and ideologies.

These are big and serious problems that we cannot seem to confront, and for this reason, I believe that what we can do is foster mutual understanding among citizens, transcending each other’s values. Connecting and building relationships with people of different backgrounds and countries is more important now than ever before.

We at BORDERLESS HOUSE believe that creating such connections will sow the seeds of peace for the future, and we will continue to do so.

We look forward to your support.

 

 

 

 

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We are Social Business – BORDERLESS HOUSE

Do you know that Borderless House is a “Social Business”?

Perhaps I should have asked – Have you heard of Social Business? 

In general, it refers to a company or a business that tries to create value or impact society in a positive way by offering a service or a product that meets the needs or by presenting new solutions to challenges brought on by society.

And there are more and more people talking about it around the world, actually, you can also find some TED TALK videos talking about it too! 

Even though “Social Business” is a term that you should know, it may sound a little complicated. But don’t worry, let me clearly explain it in a simpler way below.

What is Social Business

The phrase ”Social Business” refers to a brand of entrepreneurship rooted in funding or implementing solutions to cultural, social, or environmental problems. 

Image credit: Devon Bunce/Digital Storytellers

Social Business seeks to maximize profits while maximizing benefits to society and the environment, and the profits are principally used to fund social programs.

The key traits and characteristics of Social Business

• The primary aim is to address a social problem
• It is financially self-sufficient
• It does not pay dividends to its owners
• It is guided by how its operations benefit the causes and communities of interest

What’s the difference between social business and regular business

Maximizing profits is not the primary goal of a social business as is with a traditional business – What sets a social business apart from a traditional business is that while the traditional business’s ultimate goal is to create wealth, the social business seeks to create lasting societal change.

What’s the difference between social business and non-profit organization

Unlike a non-profit, a social business is not dependent on donations or on private or public grants to survive, and to operate it is self-sustainable. While non-profit organizations where funds are spent only once on the field, funds in a social business are invested to increase and improve the business operations on the field on an indefinite basis.

Why is Social Business Important

Now, let’s go a little bit in-depth to see why social business is important, especially in our society and globally.

  • Social businesses have the potential to change society and the world.

As social business concentrates on developing, financially backing, and executing ideas that contribute to finding solutions for social, cultural, and environmental concerns, it can make a huge impact on our life, in a positive way – and that’s why social businesses are much-needed, considering the times that we’re living in. The vision of a social business is usually social well-being related and a broader idea to excel as a community.

So social business is also a business that gets everyone in the world involved. People say that change-makers are those who take creative actions to solve social problems for the good of all – and this is who we are.

‘Creator’ of Multicultural Society – BORDERLESS HOUSE

So, for Borderless House, the social problem that we aim to solve with our business is – Prejudice and Discrimination.

We aim to build relationships among people with different backgrounds, such as different nationalities, races, and religions, and gather them together to live under the same roof in our share houses.

There are not only benefits but also conflicts sometimes when living in a mixed-culture environment. However, by sharing thoughts and feelings from time to time with each other, people can build a strong relationship in which we can understand other cultures and perspectives deeply.

Creating such a connection is the greatest value of BORDERLESS HOUSE.

The goal of our business is to create a multicultural society where people can mutually understand each other’s background regardless of race or nationality, and without prejudice or discrimination.

Our Vision

As more and more foreigners are settling in Japan, and it is important that there are places where they can live in peace and harmony. We believe that this solution which gathers people from around the world to live in a share house together is essential in a multicultural society.

As a ‘creator’ of Multicultural Society, we hope to accelerate the creation of an ideal society and to provide more people with opportunities for international living experiences, we aim to keep expanding our business and keep offering and creating opportunities for In-depth international exchange.

Planting the seeds of world peace is our mission and we welcome you to be a part of BORDERLESS HOUSE.

 

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WASEDA x BORDERLESS HOUSE ▏ICC One-Day Share House

On June 17, 2022, BORDERLESS HOUSE was honored to be invited to hold a collaboration event with Intercultural Communication Center (ICC) for Waseda University students. At the event, the students got to have a discussion on some topics with people from different nationalities and backgrounds, which was exactly the same as living at Borderless House!

As when you live with people from various countries, there could be some moments you may have been shocked at some of the differences. And this is when we learn to understand different cultures and to think from a new perspective without holding any discrimination and prejudice.

Before we take you back to this One-Day Share House Experience event, let me give you a brief introduction to ICC!

About the ICC (Intercultural Communication Center)

The ICC is a venue and global community that gathers both local and international Waseda students together for intercultural exchange and interaction.

Since Waseda University has over 5,000 international students enrolled from over 100 countries and regions, the ICC was established to utilize such a diverse international environment, and further enrich on-campus intercultural exchange.  Through such interaction, students develop a new understanding of the world around them, while creating new values and interests.

The purpose of this co-living workshop – ICC share house

As the vision of Borderless House is “to create a truly multicultural society in which people can live together in harmony regardless of race or nationality,” we hope to provide Waseda students with opportunities they could learn and realize the importance of recognizing and accepting each other’s differences by exchanging thoughts and sharing own experiences.

We are very glad that on the day, there were around 30 multinational participants came, so we have many “cultures”, “personalities” and “backgrounds”, which just like our share houses.  

Workshop Agenda

There are a total of 5 main parts of the workshop:
① Icebreaking!
② Presentations by the President and Manager of BORDERLESS HOUSE
③ Workshop1: Is everyone’s life routine different?
④ Workshop2: What is senior/junior culture?
⑤ Workshop3: Share your understanding and learn about

When you move into a new share house, the first thing is to

That’s right! It’s “self-introduction”! Tell others something about you and get to know all your housemates too! Maybe you’d be very lucky to make good friends who share the same interests or like the same animes as you, and you’d create a bond right away!

Presentations by BORDERLESS HOUSE

Next. our President, Seiichi Lee, and Manager of BORDERLESS HOUSE Tokyo Office, Takuya Hosogi had presentations to let the students have a better understanding and idea about what an “international share house” is.

From sharing about the vision and mission of Borderless House.

To show students the special characteristics of our share houses and the values of living at Borderless House. And of course, the photos of real share house life from our tenants!

Workshop1: Is everyone’s life routine different?


 In a communal living share house, everyone has their own lifestyle; everyone is on different schedules. So at the first workshop, we talked about each other’s lifestyles and schedules and figured out how to live under the same roof with minimal conflicts due to the differences.

When you live with someone else, it’s important to show respect for others in your everyday life, you need to be more aware that you share the space with others. So open communication is a key to making everyone live together comfortably!

Workshop2: What is senior / junior culture?

I believe a lot of you may already know about what “Senpai-Kohai culture” is, you can see the senior-junior relationship commonly in organizations, businesses, schools, associations, and clubs in Japan. So at this workshop, we talked about if this kind of culture and relationships also exist in other countries.

Everyone shares their thoughts and opinions about the “sempai-kohai” (senior-junior) system and its pros and cons. Some Japanese students also shared their own experiences, and it seemed to be very shocked for some foreign students who are from countries that don’t have this kind of culture!

Living with people from around the world in a share house, you may find some cultures or value systems that may be totally normal to some people, however, they are quite strange to you. And it’s very interesting to talk about the difference together!

Workshop3: Share your impressions and what you learn about

Lastly, there was a presentative from each group to share what they learn from today’s workshop. And we are so impressed how much the students have learned from today’s workshop:
“I am a university student right now so I have more chances to meet foreigners, but if there’s a wall between us, it would waste such good opportunities, so we should build bridges, not walls”

“I think to be able to respect each other and to try to understand each other’s differences is very important. For example, if you can’t understand well because of language barriers, there are translation tools that you can use. And there are many ways you can use to communicate with each other. But the most important of all, you need to be willing to embrace new cultures and respect them.”

Thank you very much for joining us at the ICC Co-living Event!✨

It was a valuable experience for BORDERLESS HOUSE to have close interactions with Waseda University students, not only just sharing, but also hearing their voices, ideas, and thoughts!

In the future, we hope we can have more opportunities to share our vision with the young generations and let more people experience multicultural and multilingual BORDERLESS HOUSE! If you also like our vision of creating a free of discrimination open-minded multicultural society and would like to cooperate with us for any events, please feel free to contact us HERE.

Let’s promote a wonderful community that is built on mutual understanding and active participation together:) 

 

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Is it a good idea for women to stay at a share house?

If this is your first time living with people you don’t know, and if you are a woman, you might be thinking “ Is it a good idea for me to live in a gender-mixed share house?” But meanwhile, as we all know – it is not so easy for a foreigner to rent a place in Japan, so a share house could be the easiest option.

To ease your concerns and worries about living in a share house as a girl. we would like to share some pros and cons of living in a share house from a women’s perspective!

We hope this article can help you to find a place where you feel safe and comfortable staying in Japan!

Benefits of women living in a share house

Security Side | It’s actually SAFER!

In terms of security, compared to living alone in an apartment, it’s safer to live in a share house with other people. Here are the reasons:
◆ There is a MUST screening process with all the tenants who book the room at BORDERLESS HOUSE, so you don’t need to worry about who your neighbors are and if your current or future neighbors would be nice people or not.
◆ There is clear and transparent information about all of your roommates! You can see their basic info and self-introduction on the webpage before booking the room!
◆ You’d have less possibility to be targeted by stalkers, burglars, or robbers if you are living in the sharehouse.

Make Besties | You can talk about anything with your roommates

If you need someone to give you advice or suggestions on fashion, costume, cosmetics, or even your love life, or if you simply just need someone to talk to, chat, or rant, there will always be girls for you!
◆ If you stay in a shared room. you can have more time to enjoy the conversations with your roommates. It’s easier to build bonds in your relationships, and your friendships would be tighter!
◆ You will never feel bored or lonely because you will always have someone who would be there for you, listen to you, and someone who would study, watch animes and go shopping with you!
◆ If you want to brush up on your Japanese, you have more chances to practice your language skills too!

If you are the kind of person who needs more space and time for yourself, you can keep decent privacy if you live in a private room, and you can enjoy fun social life at the same time in the common areas at a share house!

Things that need to be aware of when women living in a share house

At a gender-mixed share house, 2 things here you may already expect as well as you might need to keep in mind.

1. Men and women use a toilet and bathroom differently, so you can make some rules based on your mutual agreements with your housemates to avoid any issues.
2. It’s important to be considerate of others, so pay attention to what you wear, especially in the shared spaces, such as the kitchen and living room.

So we’d like to give you some tips if you are interested in living in a share house to prevent any stress or trouble:
◇ Establish rules together
◇ Be open to communicating anything with your housemates
◇ Be careful not to interfere much in each other’s private spaces

I hope this article solves your concerns, and if you have any further questions or would like to know more about living in a share house as a girl, please feel free to check our tenants’ interview from BORDERLESS HOUSE OSAKA-TSURUHASHI1 below:

Of course, feel free to CONTACT US, so we can answer all your questions ☺

Check available rooms for girls ▶▶▶
• SANGEN-JAYA1 share house
• ITABASHI-KUYAKUSHOMAE1 share house
• NIHOMBASHI1 share house
• SHINAGAWA-TOGOSHI3 share hose

*Please note, that the rooms might be booked by others at any time.

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Borderless House is featured in NHK WORLD “TOKYO EYE 2020” ▎Watch Now!

Borderless House is featured in NHK WORLD “TOKYO EYE 2020“!
You can watch the show here to know more about “share house”!

【Broadcast Information】
■ Date and Time: Wednesday, December 29, 2021, 9:30～ / 14:30～ / 19:30～(JST)
■ Television Station: NHK WORLD
■ WEB LIVE Streaming: Live streaming on NHK WORLD website at the same time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/live/
■ Television Show Name: TOKYO EYE 2020 (Hosted by Chris Pepler)
■ Content: Tokyo Share Houses: The Latest in Communal Living
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Borderless House will be introduced as one of the places that offer communal living, and how share houses are gaining fresh attention.

＜Rebroadcast＞
■ Broadcast Date: December 31, 2021 (Fri.) 4:30- (JST)
■ Television Station: NHK BS1

Tokyo Share Houses: The Latest in Communal Living

The show of TOKYO EYE 2020 (NHK WORLD) explores the latest trends, meets people enjoying the share house life, and discovers the communities that are emerging from these spaces.

Large share house with pandemic-preventative measures

A sharehouse that opened in April of 2021 during the pandemic. It’s built like a hotel, complete with a large lounge, cafe space, and other shared spaces with 150 seats. There are also facilities for remote work and a gym. With multiple places for residents to spread out, close quarters are avoided.

International exchange share house

A share house with a good balance of international and Japanese residents living together, allowing for cultural exchange. Japanese people can improve their English, and international residents can make friends with Japanese people and experience the Japanese lifestyle.

Africa-Japan exchange share house

The idea behind this share house is to connect Africa and Japan. It opened in August 2021. Although the current residents are only Japanese, in the future, Africans will also live there, making it a place where people can feel at home in Japan. It’s also used as a venue for Africa-related events, providing a place for exchange.

※Original source:  TOKYO EYE 2020

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Where to Stay in Japan? Accommodation option – BORDERLESS HOUSE

Visiting Japan for a few months but do not know where to live? Yes, a hostel is a general option but is it a good choice for a long visit? Hostels only provide you with one room. That one room is the only place where you can be if not outside. And if you chose the one with a bigger space, such as an apartment that includes a living room, it will be considerably expensive.

In a BORDERLESS HOUSE, you have the option of both private and shared rooms. There is a common area where you can interact with other housemates. And every room has some personal space for tenants in the shared room too. BORDERLESS HOUSE is fully furnished with basic necessities.

Moreover, we have the following advantages where you can not gain if you stay somewhere else!

Staff Support

Whenever BORDERLESS HOUSE residents face troubles of any kind, its staff is at their service. The staff teaches them everything from cleaning equipment to fixing the internet connection. The staff also helps residents with relationship building during times of conflict.

At a new place, you find new tools and technologies. You do not always know their working process. If any residents face issues with anything staff helps them. It includes teaching them how to run a washing machine and helping them fix the internet when it’s slow or not working at all, etc.

Solving issues together

When people from different backgrounds live together, sometimes there will be conflicts no matter how well they get along. The issues can be based on different living habits, housework, personal or cultural differences. Sometimes tenants also face conflicts with their neighbors, such as noise issues, etc. In these scenarios, BORDERLESS HOUSE staff encourage residents to communicate with each other and help to arrange house meetings to resolve the conflict together along with the residents. The staff will always be there listening to the residents, get to the bottom of the conflict, and help tenants resolve them.

All the support you need 

When you land in Japan you might have some knowledge if you did research in advance. But this internet knowledge does not come in that much hand. Yes, it will give you tips about where to eat and what to see but it can never help you when you are planning to live in Japan for a long time. BORDERLESS HOUSE staff helps you with everything you might need from the day you land in Japan till the day you leave. If you need to find a job, if you want to learn the basic knowledge of living in Japan or if you are worried about when you get sick, Borderless staff is there to help you with everything. We are not only providing a place to live, but we are also helping youngsters setting up their new lives at a new place.

How to Make Your Stay More Fun at BORDERLESS HOUSE

There are four special programs available for BORDERLESS HOUSE mates to connect with each other. All these activities allow residents to connect with more than 10,000 residents and share their experiences with each other.

Borderless Mates Library

Living in a BORDERLESS HOUSE feels like living in your own personal library with exciting new neverending books. You will be at a great exposure which will allow you to learn new exciting things. Borderless mates from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea who are willing to share and make friends from all over the world all gathering here! We hope you will find the person that you want to connect with and share your knowledge, experiences, interests, skills, or specialties with each other!

Borderless Mates not only have diverse nationalities and language abilities but also have a range of international experience in specialized careers and hobbies. Undoubtedly there are Borderless Mates around the world who have the same interests or areas of specialization. It would be wonderful if we could connect these Borderless House Mates around the world!

There are many topics and interests that we can find in common!!
People should take advantage of every possible chance to be active in their fields of expertise or interest, even across geographical borders. The more common points shared between two people, the more intimate and deep the conversations and exchanges can be. Through BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY, forging a deeper and more meaningful interaction with the Borderless House community, you will be able to gain valuable experiences and your global mindset will certainly grow stronger!

You can connect with other residents online living at other BORDERLESS HOUSE through this program and learn new things from each other!

Language Exchange

LANGUAGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM is an online service that allows you to brush up your language skills while having fun chatting with other Borderless Mates from different countries and making friends!

With various people from various countries, you can learn various languages from all over the world. The small chats will not at nothing by the end of your visit to a BORDERLESS HOUSE. You will have a working knowledge of a different language if you practice a little every day. 

Club Activities

Based on common hobbies, a community program – Club Activities that bring everyone together! These activities will help you connect with people who share the same interest! 

You can enjoy offline activities, online activities that you can participate in anywhere, and regular offline events hosted by Borderless House.

Borderless Travel

Taking small trips to explore the country better? Well, no worries your BORDERLESS HOUSE mates have your back. You can stay for free at the overseas Borderless House in the place where you are traveling by using Borderless Travel Program! Take trips together and explore areas while enjoying every second of your trip with local housemates!

※Borderless Travel is scheduled to start after the travel restrictions lifted due to COVID-19

 

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Study in Japan ▏How to choose a Japanese language school?

To learn a language on your own, and to learn it by having to use it every single day in the lands it has been forged in, is as different as night and day. Or more fitting with our beloved country in the east, like kanji and katakana.

Going to Japan and learning a wholly unique language like Japanese, can have many deep-rooted goals and inspirations for the future. Whether it is about joining a global super conglomerate with branching offices scattered all across the world, wanting to dive deeper into the isolated but rich history of samurai, shoguns, Daimyos, and Emperors, wishing to learn the engineering secrets behind the state of the art robotics, or earthquake-proof skyscrapers, dreaming to visit the Inspiration behind your childhood animes.

There is no “one right” answer to learn Japanese. Japan has so much to offer no matter what your reasons for visiting are. Be it Pop culture, Technology, Music, Cinema, History, Nature, or Linguistics. Many of you might initially come for one reason, but decide to stay for an entirely new one! And to truly know a place and its people, you need to be able to communicate with them, and English won’t cut it.

That is why joining a Japanese Language school is such a fantastic option. There, you will learn Japanese and only Japanese, from day one. And though it might sound scary at first, they do it in an incredible way where you feel your satisfying progression from the first minute you enter the school.
And I will try to help you think about what you might want to consider and look into before you start looking into the Study abroad agencies in your country, to make the process easier.

Some of the biggest factors in my decision-making were the following: location, what was my purpose for studying? culture, socializing, or is it academic? learning style/speed and how big is the size of the classes?

Let’s try to go through these things and get some ideas of what you would prefer.

Where Do You Want to Study?

Location is a very important part of the selection process. If you are going to dedicate a lot of time and resources to go somewhere, making sure it’s somewhere you will enjoy, is always a great investment.

With Japan being a country of roughly 378 square kilometers, you can find anything from the snowy plains of Hokkaido, sprawling mountain ranges of Nagano, Buzzing city-life of Tokyo and Osaka, open fields of Sendai, to the almost tropical climate of Okinawa and Kyushu.

While many choose the language school based on the city they plan to eventually go to university or work in, many also choose it based on aspects like climate, population, attractions, pastime activities, the accessibility to travel to other locations from that city, or even that the environment is closer to what you are used to from back at home.

We all know the colorful and bright views of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Akihabara. Central Tokyo is a perfect location for those who love an endless amount of activities, technology, life, and opportunities to find connections and work. But what outside of Tokyo have Japan to offer?

While all the big cities will give you a similar big city lifestyle, filled with bars, restaurants, museums, shopping malls, and arcades, every city in Japan has its own unique style and tradition. My experience in Fukuoka, for example, was completely different from my friend’s in Osaka. So why not read up about what the different famous cities in Japan can offer?!

Kyoto, the old capital filled to the brim with history, Fukuoka, home of the Yamakasa festival, Hakata ramen, and for all fans of K-pop, a short boat trip away from South Korea, Sapporo, a more rural city that turns into a snowy wonderland during the winter. There is a city for everyone!

The point is since many of these cities often have many different options of Japanese language schools, you might as well go somewhere you feel that your soul is more drawn towards!

How Do You Want to Study?

Well then, what about the school and the studies themselves?
The most common terms used for the two different teaching styles are Asian style and Western-style. Because Many foreign students living in Japan are from China and Korea, their own language is so similar to Japanese, they can skip much of the basics and go at a faster pace and much more focus on Kanji and difficult vocabulary.

While for Western Languages, so far distant from Asian, are too different to give us an advantage. So westerners often have to start from the ground level and work up at a more gradual speed. And many go to Japan and learn without the direct intent to reach academic levels. Therefore they study at a much more casual rate. That’s where the terms Asian Style, and Western Style originates.
Western Styled schools also tend to have smaller classes. They roughly aim for a maximum of 8-10 students per class. This makes it easier for the students to interact with the teacher and each other. Because of this, there is very little confusion, since you can always make your question heard, either to the teacher or ask for tips from the ones sitting next to you.

It is important to know what your end goal with your studies will be. Is your goal to push hard and enter the university or business level Japanese and know all the Kanji’s needed to fully understand any task or information given to you? Or do you wish for a slower speed, but with more focus on the daily life of Japanese and culture? Focus more on making friends than business opportunities?

So it’s up to you if you feel like you prefer a slower, but more personal and social study experience, or if you want to focus on reaching your goal as efficiently and fast as possible.

Where Do You Want to Live?

Another topic worth taking some time to think about would be accommodations. Of course, the Agency or school you have contact with will help you organize everything. But ask yourself what type of accommodation you want, will help you immensely.

And since many travels to Japan to learn the culture and people, living by yourself in an apartment will start to feel a bit isolated. That is why options like International Share Houses are great alternatives. You will both get to live and interact with Japanese people every single day, cooking traditional food together, being able to practice Japanese daily, and making friends for life. In addition to living with other Westerners who you can talk to regarding your studies, lifestyles, and problems your Japanese roommates might not be able to relate to.

So take some extra time to think about where you want this magical time to take place. And when you actually have started your studies, being forced to study at a pace much too slow for you to reach your goal, or being so fast you get too stressed to enjoy the world around you, can really ruin the magical journey you have chosen to partake in.

Any serious Japanese language organization cares deeply about all of their students and will give you any and all help they can in regards to accommodations, rent, phones, and sim cards, transportation, helping you create a Japanese bank account for longer stays, and anything else you might need help with.

What’s keeping You From Planning?

While, of course, there are many, many more things to consider, research, and ask in regards to choosing a school, these topics are what I and most of my fellow students felt were the main deciding factors we had in common. Because when you finally do get to live and study in Japan, it will be a time you will never forget, so it is important to be in an environment you can enjoy both in and outside of class to the maximum.

Whether it’s the Study abroad agency or the school you already have selected, it’s never wrong to ask any question that might arise. They are there for you, so don’t be shy about wanting to make your dream as perfect as you can.

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How is a share house different from a guest house?

A guest house is similar to a hotel room. Guests check-in and stay for some days then go back to where they were. The guesthouses also do not have all amenities. They will provide you with basic facilities like a bathroom, kitchen, and toilet.

In a share house, a rent agreement is signed between the tenant and the property holder or anyone who is renting the property. Sharehouse comes with amenities that you require to live comfortably. In many cases, there will be a TV, washing machine, toilets, bathroom, and more. In share houses, you also have the freedom to exchange rooms upon request.

A sharehouse provides you with the comfort and warmth of a home. The people you live with are there because they wanted to connect with more people, like you. So you all live like a big group of happy friends.

What sharing space you will be sharing in a share house?

In the share house, you will be sharing almost everything with other tenants except your own room. You will share the living area, toilet, bathroom, kitchen, and other amenities provided to the share house.

So living in a share house will require some teamwork. You will need to divide chores so that one person doesn’t end up doing it all. You need to take care of this place as your home because it is your home for the time till you are there. There will be no one to tell you what to do what not to do. It is up to you to live in harmony and not create problems for other tenants.

*Picture is BORDERLESS HOUSE OMORI2

Why is it better than renting any other place?

Let’s say if you are in Japan for more than a month and you want to rent a place what will you do? You will look for an agency to get you a rental apartment. First, you will have to pay the agency a fee then you will be asked for some advance fee for security then there will be a rental fee and maintenance fee, and service fee. Whereas if you chose a share house you will not have to give so many fees. There will be only a one-time fee before you start living in the house and then a monthly fee depending upon how long you will be staying.

*Picture is BORDERLESS HOUSE OMORI2

Tips to live in a share house

● Socialize: You might not want to jump into the conversation right away after meeting your new share housemates. But do not hesitate or feel awkward everyone there is new to each other and they all are trying to get to know each other better.

● Work together and communicate: sometimes you might have conflicts with your housemates due to different living habits etc but try to remember it is hard for everyone. Do not feel irritated or annoyed try to calm down and talk on easy terms. Try to understand what you both are saying and communicate in a rational way with each other. The best way to avoid conflicts is to always keep yourself open up to talk.

Benefits of Staying at a Share House

● The best advantage of living in a share house is that you get to live in a home-like place on an affordable budget. The share house fee is straightforward and there are no hidden fees.

● Like we said it will be a home-like experience so you will get almost every needful appliance at a share house. There will be no need for you to buy anything to start living at a share house. All of our share houses are fully furnished.

● Living in a shared house gives you a chance to expand your social circle and experience new things. In a diverse environment, you will meet locals and people from all over the world. You can learn languages and culture and immerse yourself in a new culture faster. You will gain deep experiences of living in Japan and understand the values, perspectives, and lifestyle of Japan better.

*Picture is KYOTO-KAMIGAMO HOUSE