Another Life at 40s by Sio When we were younger, growth was visible. In school, we moved up a grade and learnt new subjects each year. At work, we built skills and became more professional. I used to believe effort always led to results. Then midlife comes, everything slows down. So slow, it feels like nothing is moving. After injuring my back, I did stretches and did yoga every day. 1, 2, 3 weeks passed, still couldn’t walk without pain. Learning Japanese felt the same. 1,

Into The Japanese Mind by Sio When I came to Osaka, I met a kind lady at a nearby café. I could hardly speak Japanese, but she met me weekly to practice. I felt lucky to know her. Later, I hurt my back and had to rest at home. I messaged her to cancel our meeting, and she kindly sent me back care tips. After a few days, I felt better and, against my better judgment, went to a nearby concert. The pain returned, and I ran into her. That night, I lay on the floor in pain. My i

Life Reset Journal by Sio When I first moved to Japan, I noticed something strange — the doorbell rings all the time. Nothing scheduled. No one expected. Then suddenly, ding-dong. Every glance at the screen shows a stranger. I freeze, holding my breath like hiding from possible kidnappers. Worst part? Footsteps already on the corridor, speaking Japanese I can’t follow. Robbery? Rape? Am I hostage? Too many random rings. I never got deliveries at home, only at work. Also I

Japan Life Guide by Sio Want to know how much it costs to live in Japan? I live in Osaka — here are my monthly expenses. Stay till the end to see how much I spend in total each month. Rent ¥43,000 20 m² studio near Daikokucho Station — within walking distance to Namba and Tsutenkaku, with super convenient transport access. Water ¥2,500 Electricity ¥2,500-5,500 depending on season Gas ¥1,500-2,500 depending on season WiFi ≈ ¥5,000 Mobile ¥2,164 Monthly 20G plan Transport ≈

Into The Japanese Mind by Sio On New Year’s Eve I reached my door and the key was gone. I’m screwed. With holidays, no locksmith for a week. I panicked, ran to the store I’d just visited, and before I spoke the staff handed me the key. I almost cried. Another time after hot springs and dinner, I found my wallet missing. Heart racing, I rushed back. Staff pointed to lost & found, wallet intact. A friend’s case was wilder: he lost his passport in a club. The manager said, “Re

Life Reset Journal by Sio When I first came to Japan, I really want to make some Japanese friends, but I was too shy for bars, and people at meetups were too young. So I went on HelloTalk, firing off a hundred friend requests like shooting in a video game. The first reply came fast, she even asked me out the next day. I said yes instantly, then the chat froze like a crashed screen. It was already Game Over, disappointed, yet I kept refreshing the page. Then came a young mom

Japan Life Guide by Sio The first time I saw a doctor in Japan, I was really worried I wouldn’t be able to communicate properly. Afterwards, it honestly felt like unlocking a life achievement. Later on, I found out there are medical services that are foreigners friendly and speaks my languages — hopefully the information below can help some of you too. 1️⃣ Process 1) Choose a department (internal, ENT, ortho, etc.) 2) Book – usually by phone or online. 3) Check in – hand in

Another Life at 40s by Sio In my 20s, I never managed money. I spent what I had, then started over. No savings, no insurance, no worries. In my 30s, I still lived in the moment. I planned to stay 6 mths in Brazil but ended up drifting the world for 3 yrs, believing money would always return. Then illness hit me on the road. Half my body froze, I couldn’t work or speak the language, suddenly I had no value. I once thought freedom was a choice, until I learned it’s only

Into The Japanese Mind by Sio Everyone knows: no phone calls on Japanese trains. No YouTube blasting, no gossip, no scolding kids. Only the steady rhythm of wheels — silence wrapping me with safety. After getting used to quiet, noise feels unbearable. Once in a Thai restaurant, the crowd shouted over pounding disco beats. My ears hurt, my taste disappeared, my private space felt invaded. The Japanese do love noise, but only at specific place: loud toasts in izakaya, drums at

Life Reset Journal by Sio Every Japanese procedure feels like defusing a bomb. A mistake on my residence card can block the bank, delay autopay, and cut utilities. Each step is a fuse, one slip, and everything blows up. Gas autopay dragged on: site rejected my name, I waited for codes, my card was refused. At last one paper form came. I stared at the boxes, sweating—one chance, no mistakes. My bank’s daily limit was 50,000 yen—absurd. The app failed, the site demanded approva

Japan Life Guide by Sio Finding a job in Japan isn’t easy. If you plan to work here but don’t know where to start, this quick guide is for you. 1️⃣ Japanese Level No or little Japanese：IT, English teaching, ski resorts, foreign firms N3 ：Mostly labor jobs, part-time N2 ：Accepted by dispatch agencies, possible office or CS roles N1 ：Standard requirements for full-time in Japanese firms & pro fields 2️⃣ Visa Overseas job seekers without a visa: industries most likely to hi

Another Life at 40s by Sio In my 20s, I left a good life in UK to chase creativity back home. Time felt endless, missing out never mattered. In my 30s, I left comfort again, wandering the world. Time felt short, yet I believed I could catch up. In my 40s, I came to Japan with no plan, only to see half my life was gone. Recent years raced like 16x fast-forward, a year feels like a month, a month like a week. Days busy yet hollow, too fast to even dream what’s left. 3 pa

Into The Japanese Mind by Sio In Japan, dates are usually scheduled several days in advance. With Japanese people, even a month is not unusual. Outside Japan, this kind of planning feels rare. In many places, men mention meeting but never set a time, often cancelling late, or simply ghosting. In Portugal, I dated a man who was always 20–30 mins late. I’d finish my first coffee before he strolled in with Olá. But Southern Europe wasn’t the most extreme. When I lived in

Life Reset Journal by Sio After moving to Japan, I thought I could open a bank account right away. Even with all my documents, they still asked me to leave. Newbies can only open a JP Post account at the closest branch near your home or office, so I went to the one 900m from my place. But once I showed my documents, the staff said to me, “You need to go to the designated branch.” I pointed at the map, showing both were the same distance. He looked at me like I was an alien an

Japan Life Guide by Sio I got rejected multiple times during my first apartment search in Japan. Here are a few things I wish I knew beforehand. 1️⃣Landlords Concerns Landlords often hesitate to rent to foreigners because they worry about the following: Limited Japanese and communication issues Cultural differences that may disturb neighbors Little credit history or risk of late rent payments Suddenly leaving Japan or ending the lease early No Japanese guarantor — overall j

Another Life at 40s by Sio Ten years ago, I became a travel writer after roaming the world. At 35, desperate and broke, it felt like my last shot. I poured everything into social media until algorithms sucked the life out of it, and I it quit all. Luckily, I met a partner who led me into international real estate. At 38, with limited time, it was my true last shot. I worked hard and built success - Until pandemic left my partner stuck in Japan and me in Macau’s three-year

Into The Japanese Mind by Sio I once asked a metro staff for help. He nodded politely and fired off a long string of fast Japanese. I said, “English OK? Google OK?” He stared at me, then repeated it even faster. I was furious. Was that a joke? He knew I didn’t get a word! Why keep going? These robotic responses shows up everywhere — at banks, gyms, post offices. No matter how confused I look, the lines just keep firing. Then I met a teacher I could finally understand. She

Life Reset Journal by Sio When I first moved to Japan, nothing terrified me more than phone calls. The rapid fire Japanese on the other side felt like a monster charging at me. One time, the lash salon called. I panicked and passed the phone to my friend after saying hi. What should’ve been a quick confirmation dragged on and on to over 10 mins. He said was used to this, but I felt sorry for wasting his time. I didn’t want to trouble anyone, yet I still memorized a line in Ja

Japan Life Guide by Sio After moving to Japan, I gradually found a Japanese learning method that actually works. See which of these might work for you too. 1️⃣ Free Local Classes Each ward offers free classes weekly, taught by retired volunteers. I attend classes in Abeno, Nishi, and Kita, Osaka. Content varies—grammar, chatting, or writing. 🔎 Call to book. If full, join the waiting list. 2️⃣ Language Exchanges Language exchanges are popular in Japan. Events last 2 hrs, co

Another Life at 40s by Sio In youth, friendships came easily. Just a Hello could spark a bond. But the older we get, the harder it becomes. When I moved to Japan, I had no friends outside work. I threw myself into event after event like a second job. The more I tried, the more out of place I felt. Small talk in a second language buried in noise left me exhausted. But watching others click and making plans, I wondered: Am I too cold? Too old? Why does no one ask me out? I f