Japan
In my early 20s, I moved my life from the bustling metropolis of London to a quiet, scenic town in the mountains of Japan. I had been offered a job as an English teacher in a high school, and I was eager to take advantage of what I imagined would…
When I returned to Japan at 50, it was to keep a promise.Fresh out of university in 1990, I had the opportunity to teach English through Japan’s Ministry of Education. I had no idea how to teach, but I wasn’t about to pass up the chance to live in Asia.I…
In Japan, the conduct of lower-level employees could mean a pay cut at the top.Japan Airlines announced last Friday that its CEO, Mitsuko Tottori, is taking a temporary pay cut due to an “alcohol-related incident” involving cabin crew members — an episode the airline described as an “extremely serious management…
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…
