Long Stay Foundation

The Outline of the “LongStay”

The outline of the “Long Stay”

The outline and definitions of the “Long Stay

The definitions of the “Long Stay”

1) Fundamentals of definitions

The “Long Stay” is a word coined by The Long Stay Foundation. The Foundation defines the “Long Stay” as “ Staying for a relatively long period (more than two weeks) in one place abroad not only enjoying leisure life but also promoting international goodwill though learning its culture and contributing to its society under maintaining livelihood resource in Japan. And basically it’s should carry out the own plan by oneself.

2) Definitions of the “Long Stay”

The following is essential five points.

1. Staying for longer period Staying for a relatively long period (more than two weeks) with a view to come back Japan, neither emigration nor permanent residence
2. Possessing or leasing a abroad residence accommodated for daily life Possessing or leasing a abroad residence accommodated for daily life, which is not for short-term travelers
3. Staying for a leisurely life to enrich the lifetime and to communicate with the local people (Study of languages, Participation of cultural activities　etc.)
4. Living rather than traveling to live daily life abroad, not to know another life by traveling
5. Maintaining livelihood resource in Japan Financial resource coming from Japan but not from earning there during long stay

Diversification of “Long Stay”

Past Long-Stayer used to be only specific career person like expatriates, artists, scientists, and the purpose was limited as well. However recently not only such a specific group but also diverse participants like retirement couples, families with child and young groups are on the increase, that is, “Long-Stay” are becoming more popular and general. On 2005 investigation of the Foundation main purposes for Long-Stay were “ Relaxing in the nature” “Learning its culture and living daily life abroad” “Promoting international goodwill ( exchange the different cultures) ” “Staying abroad in a favorite season to avoid heat of summer and cold of winter” “Using pension effectively” “Tours nearby” “Historical spots” “Arts and music” and “For the reason of health” It is accelerated Multi-Habitation (staying two area) and showing a tendency to enjoy the dual life going abroad to enjoy hobby, to have medical care , or to save and invest as if domestic. The styles of staying could mainly segregate three groups.

1. The group living almost permanently by getting a long-stay visa
   
2. The group repeating visits to same period and area regularly
   
3. The group visiting various favorite countries, not fixing a place and seasons

In addition to these three groups, there are another group who have a main purpose also enjoy going the tours nearby, culture facility and historical spot slowly and deeply in one’s own way. We could say that the ”Long Stay” is not different from “Tour”, is closely related with it. Good experiences to visit the country (either private or business) make people to want to go the Long Stay.

The areas like Australia Hawaii, New Zealand, and Canada were popular due to the English-speaking world, safety, the comfortable weather. However South Asia countries are recently becoming popular and popular. Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines of South Asia are ranking Top 10 as favorite countries for the Long Stay due to low-cost, short-flight-time and warm weather, that is, “ Cheap, Near, Warm” base on the survey of the Foundation. There is another reason to be able to stay more than one year due to these countries provide Long-term visa.

The purpose and how to stay the Long-Stay become diversifying. And it become easy to get world-wide information with the advance of information technology. However it is not easy to select information and match each personal demand among huge information. Due to how to select life-styles and how to spend the free time is becoming flexible, the impression of the Long Stay are also changing from specific to popular. Moving into the country and the dual life like “Slow Life” “Country Life” similar to the Long Stay are recently becoming popular as well.
Through working condition is totally changing like declining lifetime employment system, increasing senior part-time workers, appearing young casual workers the so-called “Freeter” ”Neet(Not in Education Employment or training)” , new style improving their career or working every five year for the Long Stay of every one year are existing. And another people seems to consider staying the Long Stay in South Asia due to minimize life cost and keep on own life level till getting pension after early retirement. A style of “escape” Long Stay by the people worry about living on pension or health is also on the increase. They trend to choice the countries “Cheap, Near, Warm” and provide Long-Term visa more than one year. And they also trend to prefer staying close to emigration than the Long Stay since it is relatively easy to extend visa in these countries. The definitions of the Long Stay is caused people is trying to stay by own style not standard not short and also the environment is ready to realize the Long Stay.

Interpretations of “Long Stay” base on latest society situation

1) Staying, but not emigration

It is just “staying” with a view to come back Japan from the beginning, neither emigration nor permanent residence. However it is possible to live permanently as result under changing the conditions. Staying by long-term visa for retired person also include the definition of the Long Stay.

2) Staying possessing or leasing a abroad residence accommodation

It is appropriate to provide accommodation for daily life like a kitchen, but staying hotel without a kitchen include the definition of the Long Stay depend on the area situation. Long Home Stay also may consider one of the Long stay style due to it is experience of local life.

3) Staying for a leisurely life

It is staying by own decision, and the purpose is to enrich the lifetime and to communicate with the local people. For example, study of languages or specialties, own hobby, volunteer work, enjoying arts and music etc.

4) Staying “Living” rather than “traveling”

The Long Stay aim people to experience to live daily life abroad (which is unusual) and to exchange different cultures. Especially it is possible to communicate widely, like neighbors, friends of own hobby, though live daily life as compare with short-term trip.
It is appropriate to stay more than two weeks to be able to experience to communicate local people and to exchange its custom culture.

5) Maintaining livelihood resource in Japan

Major financial resource is coming from pensions, interests, dividend, incomes of rent etc, but not from earning there during long stay. However recently, some countries allow foreigners to work with limiting working hours per week under retirement visa, also it is possible to deals Japanese stocks and enjoy higher local interest rate than Japan or return of investment in the local company with the advance of information technology during the Long Stay. Therefore definition should add “major” to include some financial resource from local countries.

Benefits and effectiveness of “Long Stay”

Diversity of the Long Stay styles makes a lot of benefits and effectiveness. We measure these by focusing on the types of joining group and the purpose of the Long Stay.

1) Group who would like to step-up

Majority joins as one person. The age bracket is wide.
They try to widen their knowledge and built career by experience daily life abroad. Therefore they trends to lean “languages” first for exchange the different culture. Some are challenging “dance” “cooking” “music” “golf” in earnest.

2) Group of the family

Majority joins as a family, a pair parent and child, or a pair grandparents and grandchildren. Unusual atmosphere and first experience by living daily life abroad make them communicate frequently and aggressively each other and also built relationship of mutual trust. Some need to lighten the care load for old people physically, mentally and economically by the Long Stay.

3) Group who would like to make good uses of own skill

They try to exchange different culture by using own skill and experience.
The Foundation includes in the case of volunteer work by using own skill as the Long Stay, but not include in case getting compensation. Many are trying to teach Japanese as volunteer recently.

4) Group of retired person

They trend to choice the Long Stay as an activity of “ The Second Life”. They are trying to find life worth living. Staying base on own hand-made plan (Playing own work) will success self-actualization. Staying abroad which have different weather and climate from Japan sometimes improve own health.

5) Group who find the new sense of values with the Long stay

They trend to become aware there are another sense of values and a approach to the self-life-style, own policy, and the bonds of family by touch local culture or custom. They also trend discover new merits in Japanese tradition and culture by leaving Japan for a long time.

6) Group who would like to refresh

They refresh by staying unusual atmosphere of abroad and reviewing themselves.

How to plan “Long Stay”

It is important to image what is own Long Stay at first when people carry out a plan.
It is necessary to clarify own wish concretely like “ which country” “how long” “how much does it cost ?” “what’s the purpose”. Also it is important to check whether the condition match own wish or not and to consider how manage mismatching points,
Several particular elements like “purpose” “place” “period” ”accommodation” ”partner” “ expenses” seems to decide the image of staying, that is, the image of own Long Stay could clarify by deciding the priority of these elements. It is quite depend on the person.
Therefore, as a result, the styles of the Long stay are diversifying.
For example, the countries allow to stay three month without visa are candidate for person prioritizing the period of three month. And as next step, it is necessary to check whether the candidate countries match the element of second priority or not .And if not, it is necessary to consider whether it is possible to compromise or not. And unfortunately if it is not, it should return and re-consider the priority.

The plan of the Long Stay become automatically in focus though the process which element is most important out of “place” ”period” ”purpose” etc. Then it is possible to move next step like making the detail and concrete plans base on these conditions.
However , to the contrary, the environment of the Long Stay is depend on “ safety, the price level, the condition of accommodation, the purpose of staying”. Therefore it is key how to agree flexible between wish and the given condition.
As a conclusion, the Long Stay plan really depends on what’s the first priority and
How much weight which element is given.
The more and more knowledge and information for supporting system, accommodation, place, living information, expense make the Long Stay plan concretely, and the plan improve by reviewing again and again base on the real condition. As mentioned above, it is most important that getting information and making a plan by oneself. And it is imperative to see own Long Stay ability coolly and objectively and whether match your demand from various points of view.

As one of the member in the global standard

As pointed out in the “ 2. Diversification of “Long Stay”, it seems that more people become “ international” who go though the world from the international point of view with Japan has been playing a greater role in the international society. In case of the Long Stayer also is enjoying staying for leisurely life though daily life with coming and going abroad.
On the contrary, it seems to have image gaps between Westerns’ ideal Japanese and reality, or it remain very old-fashioned image in some country. Similarly, it is most important to “ measure and grasp “ the country by own scale though own real experience even though it’s famous its culture.
For example, Comparing your daily life with local people’ become good opportunities to review own values and to ask oneself what’s own natural way.
Additionally this “measure and grasp” by the Long Stay contribute to be able to put yourself in global view for not only international but also domestic issues of politics and economy. These experience will be grown oneself and brush up your life.

Thought the increasing Long stayeys without sticking to fixed opinions, it is no exaggeration to say that people is becoming to choice own comfortable place, own best place to come true the dream among world-wide not only Japan. However it is a task to enrich environment and sour out necessary information.
We aim people go the first step to become real “Global standard” by using global view by the Long stay experience.

Latest survey result of Long Stay information

• Coming Soon