You feel lost and the road ahead seems completely unclear...
You feel lonely or have so much on your mind but no one to share it with...
You feel lost and find it hard to connect with those around you....
You’ve probably heard plenty of people talk about their experiences living, finding work, and navigating life in Japan. But not many people talk about the psychological challenges of living abroad and how big of an impact they can have. Unlike short vacations, living, working, or studying in a foreign country can be much more difficult.
At first, you might experience small bouts of culture shock—a mix of excitement and confusion as you encounter the differences in mindset and lifestyle between Japan and your home country. But as time goes on, maybe after a year or so, after seeing all the seasons—cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and the winter snow—you might start feeling a sense of emptiness, anxiety, or worry about the future. If these feelings persist, they can lead to depression, with complex emotions like self-doubt and pessimism about what lies ahead.
When you're faced with tough decisions, like whether to stay or go, to keep pushing forward or give up, these negative feelings can become even more overwhelming. This is often because we start to realize how far we’ve traveled on this journey alone, and how much harder it has been than we initially thought.
The Tomorrow.Care Project is a support initiative for foreigners living in Japan, especially those facing challenges related to cultural adaptation, quarter-life crises, or difficulties in integrating and finding their own path.
We will help you explore the tangled issues you’re facing, and work with you to "clean up" and "organize" them in a more orderly, manageable way...
We are here by your side, helping you learn how to love yourself, embrace your emotions, and find even more love for this life...
We cannot and should not eliminate unpleasant emotions from our lives; instead, we will learn to ride the waves so that each wave brings joy...
OUR ACTIVITIES
Living in a new country is always an exciting journey, but it also comes with many challenges—especially for the spouses and family members who accompany foreign workers to Japan. These individuals often have to find ways to adapt to a new culture while facing feelings of loneliness and losing their personal identity.
To support those going through this experience, MPKEN, Kitakits, and Tomorrow.Care invite you to join the online seminar titled "Tag along and Get along in Japan: Navigating life in Japan as a Dependent"
Date and Time: 20:30 - 22:00, Friday, October 25, 2024 (Japan Time)
Format: Online and free via Zoom Meetings
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
2004 - 2008 Studied at Hanoi Foreign Trade University, International Economics and Business
2008 - 2012 Worked at Hanoi Representative Office of a Japanese logistics company
2012 - 2014 Studied at The University of Tokyo - Graduate School of Public Policy (MPP/IP)
2014 - 2015 Studied at The University of Tokyo - Graduate Schools for Law and Politics
2015 - 2020 Studied at Graduate Institute for Policy Studies - State Building and Economic Development (PhD dropout)
2020 - Now Studied at the Open University of Japan - Faculty of Liberal Arts - Department of Psychology
2014 - Now Work as Project Coordinator at Nonprofit Organization MPKEN
2022 Feb Acquired Psychological Counselor certificate from 日本能力開発推進協会 (JADP)
2022 - Now Work as Vietnamese psychological counselor at Gifu International Center
2022 - Now Work as Vietnamese/English psychological counselor WELLROOM Co., Ltd
2023 - Now Work as Vietnamese psychological counserlor at Shizuoka Association for International Relations
In 2012, I was awarded a scholarship from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to study in Japan, and I continued my studies with the support of scholarships from private foundations. Although I’m no longer working or researching in the field of public policy, I’ve always felt a strong desire to give back, having received so much support during my own studies.
Since 2014, I’ve been working with the Nonprofit Organization MPKEN, providing a wide range of support to Vietnamese students, workers, and technical interns in Japan. This includes help with employment, further education, and daily life matters. I also regularly conduct cross-cultural communication training for companies that hire Vietnamese employees.
In recent years, I’ve noticed a growing number of mental health concerns among Vietnamese people living in Japan. After arriving in Japan myself, I experienced cultural shocks and communication challenges due to the differences between Japanese and Vietnamese cultures. During that time, I taught myself Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helped me better understand and empathize with the struggles of other Vietnamese people. Over time, I began offering advice and support, and eventually became a trusted sempai in the Vietnamese community. This led to counseling requests and invitations to speak at seminars.
In 2020, I launched a mental health care project called TOMORROW.CARE, aimed at supporting the foreign communities in Japan. Through this project, I offer online group discussions as well as individual counseling sessions.
As of now, I continue to focus on supporting the mental well-being of foreign residents in Japan. It brings me great satisfaction to use my experiences and knowledge to help both the Vietnamese and English speaking communities and the Japanese society that has welcomed us.
Be Minh Nhat
Email: veminato@gmail.com
iMessage: +81-80-4065-1837
Facebook: m.me/nhatm.be