How has your opinion of the society evolved? What did you expect? What was our image of it? How has it played out?
Sure, it is safe, but after a few months of living there I found it to be a stultifying place full of bitter and unhappy people who felt stuck in a web of meaningless obligation, with roles imposed on them and rules they hated.
I worked in Tokyo as a reporter in 1990-91, learned to speak the language enough to get around, and really go into workplaces and bars to listen to the Japanese. What I got was an ugly picture, which the inconveniences of daily living did not help. In many ways, it was a great experience - I met my wife (a Brit) there, made a pile of money, and met some great people. But I did not come to love the place, as I have every other country I lived in.