Japan is one of everyone's hottest travel destinations (unless you're already here like me!) as I see foreign tourists everywhere I go. I have at least 3 sets of friends visiting Japan this year and many more who wants to. According to Japan tourism, JNTO, the number of foreign visitors to Japan reached 2,788,000 in … Continue reading Foreigner perspective of Japan
From this month, I have started a new job which means a lot of introductions. How a person's referred to in a Japanese company In a traditional Japanese company, colleagues will be automatically called by: their surname + 'san' for Japanese their first name (no matter how high their position is) when there's a non-Japanese … Continue reading Japanese identity
1,829 days have passed since I moved back to Japan after living in Australia for 18 years. 🎉 Writing this Native Expat blog has allowed me to reflect on how I was a week, 1 month, 2 months, and 6 months, 1 year, 2 1/2years and 4 years since moving back to Japan. Here’s my … Continue reading Reflection of moving back to Japan | 5th year edition
After deciding a visit my parents and within 5 days, I was onboard a late flight to the Gold Coast, Australia from Tokyo, Japan. Quick recap for those new to this blog.... I'm Japanese who grew up in Australia during my teens through to twenties and have returned to my motherland, Japan since 2019. Since … Continue reading Reflection on visiting Gold Coast, Australia as a Native Expat
At the start of 2024, my husband and I enjoyed an overseas trip✈️ which was refreshing to immerse ourselves in different languages, climate, food and culture. I have once compared Australia and Japan after my first visit back to Australia where I have lived for 19 years. For that post, it was a comparison of … Continue reading 4 differences between New York and Tokyo
Only a number of days are left in 2023.In Japan, there are a couple of well known ways to sum up the year. 漢字 or Character that sums up 2023 Since 1995, 日本漢字能力検定協会 (Japanese Kanji Knowledge Testing Association) announces the character of the year on December 12.2022 was 戦 (read what it means in my … Continue reading 2023 summed up by Japanese
In the last month or so, my family and friends have visited us in Japan from Australia and Europe.Their comments and experience have made me reflect and reaffirm that Japan is a land of contrasts. The duality of Japan is evident in daily life. On one hand, tourists and expats are in awe with unparalleled … Continue reading On Japan’s duality: living in the future and in the past
As some of you may know, I am Japanese who lived in Australia during my teens and twenties. Nearly 5 years ago, I have returned to Japan as an adult and I have been documenting my time in Japan with an insider and outsider perspective as a "Native Expat" in this blog. During the last … Continue reading Native Expat hosting natives living abroad
Last week, I went out with a bunch of colleagues and late at night, two of my colleagues started to talk about their daughters. One of the colleagues; let's call him Harry, have a 18 year old and a 20 year old daughters. The latter have a boyfriend and as a father, Harry asked to … Continue reading What Japanese parents want for their children
Amongst expats living in Japan, many often says, “living in Japan too long ruins you.” Expats Even though I am Japanese, having lived in Australia during my teens and twenties and now having returned to Japan 4 years ago, I think I understand what the expats means. For the first time since the pandemic, I … Continue reading Why living in Japan “ruins” you
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