An American Professor in Japan
Dr. Ryan Eanes, Klein College of Media & Communication
There are relatively few things that I won’t eat (or at least try)–just ask my closest friend Claire, who I once dragged to Miya’s Sushi in Stamford, Connecticut just so we could eat their “invasive species” sushi dinner–so when, the other day, I was wandering around Life Supermarket and came across a little package of what looked like tiny purple squid in the seafood section, I was immediately intrigued.
One of the many little things that you will be expected to do as a long-term resident (that is, someone on a visa that is valid for more than 90 days) is to register your residency. You may recall from an earlier post that I mentioned that upon arrival, you’re given a resident card (zairyū 在留) that is reminiscent of a driver’s license–this, along with your passport, must be taken to your local ward office (kuyakusho 区役所) to complete the registration process.
If you are accustomed to American bureaucracy, particularly the variety that thrives in places like the DMV or the Post Office, prepare yourself, because you’re going to experience something totally unexpected.
Even if you’re a seasoned traveler like me, arriving at Haneda International Airport (especially after a very long and very exhausting flight) can be a little overwhelming. Fortunately, if you remember that (1) most airports must be navigated “sequentially,” and that (2) Japan is, generally speaking, a very orderly country, you can prepare for disembarkation and departure from the airport with relatively little difficulty. Here’s how my experience went, along with some suggestions.
As I write this post, I’m just a few days away from embarking on what is sure to be an adventure for me–while I have some idea of what to expect and I’m excited about it, I’m also nervous, overwhelmed, and more than a little bit anxious. Why? Because on January 5, I’ll leave for Tokyo, which will become my home-away-from-home for the first half of 2024, thanks to a new initiative from the Office of the Provost, which seeks to improve the collegiality and connections between main campus in Philadelphia and TU Japan by sending American faculty to teach in Tokyo for a semester or two.