Difference in living standards in Japan / China?

Question:

Hey,

When I grow up I have always wanted to move to an asian city. Ive recently watched programs on both japan and china, but for those who have lived there and do, which city would be better to live and work in? I Understand they are both very different culterally, but im talking which has a better standard of living, and why?

I plan to become a doctor, so the best medical area would be great too !!: D

Answer:

Japan has a much higher living standard than China. While there are parts of China that looks like a modern developed nation, you need to understand that the total population of city dwellers in China (who are the only ones with a comparable western living standard) makes up less than 10% of the total population in China. And even then, the cities are incredibly congested and pollution is just plenty bad. The gulf between the wealthy and poor are widening and the pace is accelerating - poor getting even more poor, and they are the majority.

Compare with Japan, if you exclude the recent damages from the tsunami disaster, every part of Japan is basically middle-income and will to do. While poverty exists everywhere in the world especially in the global recession, percentage-wise the living standard in Japan is better and more pervasive.

Then there is the difference in political systems. Japan is a democracy whereas China is a Communist dictatorship. There is no freedom of expression or rights for the masses in China. The Chinese police could kick down the door of your house and put you in jail without having the need for a search warrant and there is no writ of habeas corpus. They can arrest, torture, and kill you; you and your family would have ZERO recourse. Remember the Tien-anmen Massacre? Machine guns and tanks against unarmed students.

Do not be fooled by the appearance of prosperity in China. Ask anyone Chinese immigrant why they left China when everything looks so wonderful.

As a physician, you are going to have a difficult time in either countries. First, there is the language barrier. Conversational Chinese and Japanese is hard enough, but using it in a medical or technical field is no walk in the park. Then, there is the writing systems. If you cannot becomes fluent in either language, then forget it.

Second, a medical degree is useless in other countries if you cannot pass their certification process and have no experience practicing or studying in the country in question, you are going to be at a disadvantage.

Third, the average person in either country are not going to a foreign doctor if they can help it. I can't really say if it is or is not racism, but that is just the fact. A Chinese person would prefer a Chinese doctor. A Japanese, a Japanese doctor. Unless you have some unique expertise and are fairly well-known you will not be seen many patients.