Into The Japanese Mind   by Sio You need to be fully naked in a Japanese onsen. I used to think it’d be awkward, but on my first visit, everything felt so unfamiliar — I was too busy copying others to feel embarrassed. The moment I stepped into the water, heat wrapped around my body and soul. So relaxing. The sound of the water was healing. I was instantly hooked. Later I realized, Japanese people grow up being naked with others. No wonder their collective mindset runs so dee

Life Reset Journal by Sio My first lashes salon in Tennoji used Google Translate, but the result was so-so. Then I tried one in Namba and loved it. I decided to stick with it. But the 2nd visit I fell into a 4D black hole. The beautician fired off rapid Japanese. I showed her my phone, but she didn’t even glance. I pleaded in broken Japanese for her to check my phone, but she still didn’t care. Her lips kept moving, her voice drifting from a 4D space. Just as I spaced out, s

Japan Life Guide  by Sio There’s a scary little urban legend that every foreigner hears before coming to Japan—and yeah, it freaks people out. “To open a bank account, you need a phone and residence certificate. To get the certificate, you need an address. To rent a place, you need a phone and a bank account. To get a phone, you need a bank account.” Before moving to Japan, I saw many posts about this loop and it really made me worry how I’d handle it. Turns out, there are a

Another Life at 40s  by Sio Japan was never on my Dream List — no anime, no J-Pop, no love for tatami. When I got the job offer, I thought: not for me. I’d started over in Europe and the Americas, but always with passions. But Japan? No sparks at all. To live properly means handling life on your own. Doctor visits, banking, lashes... But without love for Japan, I had no will to learn the language. So how could I possibly say yes to the offer? Then came the year everything fe

Into The Japanese Mind  by Sio I once thought I had escaped materialism after I backpacked across half the globe. Before I moved to Japan, clearing out my 3-bed flat in Macau shocked me with so many unused goods I didn’t even remember buying. In Osaka, I moved into a 20m² flat with just one suitcase. Shopping became cautious. Every item takes up room. Spent a week deciding on a foldable table. Measured bins again and again. Held a bath mat for way too long, then put it back,

Life Reset Journal   by Sio I have chronic neck pain. After moving to Japan, I continue to swim weekly. Pools here feel like onsens—everyone changes together and locks up stuff. One day I swam, soaked, steamed—totally relaxed—and walked back naked. Typed “1234.” Nothing. Tried combos—still locked. I was naked, phone inside, no Japanese. Total panic: x$&@::;(😫😭🫠 After panicking, I looked around, just elderlies. Then a young woman came in. I rushed to her, said Locker, made

Japan Life Guide   by Sio 1) Make a Personal Seal A seal in Japan is like your signature, so choose carefully. Pitfall: When I arrived, a friend suggested I make a seal with just my surname - NG. I trusted him and did it — only later did I realize he was just trying to save me money. I would’ve preferred using my full name, since the seal stays with me in Japan… 2) Visit the Ward Office Within 14 days of arriving, you have to go to the local ward office to register your addre

Life Reset Journal  by Sio The first thing you do when you move to Japan is the making of a personal seal. In Japan, signatures don’t matter much, but seals carry the legal weight. From receiving packages, opening a bank account, to signing a contract, everything requires an official stamp. On my first day after moving to Osaka, I rushed to Hankodo, located in front of Abeno Q’s Mall in Tennoji, to get my seal made. Since my residence card shows my name in Roman letters, my