I never loved Japan, yet I found myself resetting life here

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 fell apart. My body gave in. My family got sick. I lost my two cats of 18 years. The man I once crossed the ocean for was gone. Grief took over. I barely spoke for a month.

One day in the shower, hundreds of hairs came off. Half my hair was gone. I knew I hit rock bottom.

I had to get back up. To leave.

To reset myself again in Japan.

It wasn’t Japan I feared. It was losing courage after 3 years of lockdown during pandemic. Losing dreams. Losing confidence. It was midlife fear.

Even without passion for Japan, living with care slowly reveals what’s lovable. That’s when you’ll want to learn the language and belong.

I came here to restart. To find the girl who once chased the world, fearless of the unknown.

I gave up on Japan. But Japan didn’t give up on me. Thank you for letting me begin again — at 40+.

Sio

Resetting life in Osaka after years in the UK, France, Spain, Canada & Argentina. Seeing people and cultures from many sides.

Follow @anotherlifeclub and restart Another Life with me.