Japan
Three years ago, my family of three left New Zealand for Kobe, Japan, desperate for a total reset. We were running on empty, exhausted by skyrocketing living costs, limited career growth, and relentless financial stress.We already loved Japan as tourists, but moving here permanently felt like a massive gamble. Instead,…
At 22, heartbroken, depressed, and unsure about my future, I craved novelty and adventure, so I packed up my life in England and moved to Japan.Now, 31, living in Tokyo, and more secure than I’ve ever felt in my adult life, I can’t help but feel that creeping depression, pushing…
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rei Onoda, 34, coowner of Kamijyoan, a bakery in rural Japan. Her words have been edited for length and clarity. Loading audio narration… After graduating from university, I moved to Dubai and worked as a cabin crew member for Emirates for…
