Interests getting in the way of life

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Right now I'm torn - I want to love Japanese culture as it's what I'm passionate about and know well, but it's been getting in the way of everything: school, social life, my thoughts about my future. I really hate Music class at school now since I've chosen to do a Japanese song when everyone else (except my Chinese friend, who's doing one in her own language) is performing one in English, and I wish I could just be like them. I wish there was a switch inside my brain I could use to turn my interest on and off, as silly as it sounds.

I also fear for my future with this whole Japan thing: I do want to work over there, but I know the system's worse than it is here, and if I get tired of the strict Japanese system and want to go home but can't find work in Australia with only Japanese qualifications, what do I do? I'm not really good at anything else, so I'm scared of being locked into only one career path...

I know I should calm down and take things one step at a time, but my head's so muddled today...

when an interest becomes a true obsession that negatively affects the daily routine,that is when to do something about it.

perhaps make a visual based wall planner with specific times on it dedicated to doing work on anything involving the japanese obsession,so the rest of the time can be dedicated to the stuff getting neglected.

I'd say to try and expand your interests from your root of Japanese culture. If you were fluent in the language, that in itself could guarantee you employment there and here. Japanese cooking could make you a superb (dare I say 'Iron') chef, Japanese business practices can get you a leg up in business, Asian art and history are valued in academia, and mastering Japanese martial arts will keep you in shape and ensure you'll always look cool holding a katana.

Is it ever possible that an 'obsession' could be "a life"?
Why do special interests always seem to be "obsessions" and "bad"?

Can't we tell judgmental people to "shove it" and "get a life besides complaining about mine"?

Guilt sux.

That's exactly what I don't want - I don't want this taking over my whole life and ruining my chances at getting into anything else. I don't want to be pigeonholed as "that girl who's all about Japan". I want to show there's more to me than just love of a country and near-fluency in its language.

Then be pro-active. There's nothing wrong with having a passion but because you see a problem with it, then it should be addressed. Write a list of things you'd like to try and reserve Japan for a scheduled time (ie: on weekends only) or if you're old enough, tutor Japanese 1-2 per week and limit "Japan" to just that.

Write them here and people can help you fine-tune a plan. Maybe writing out a concrete hour-to-hour schedule, it'll help stay on task and off Japan.