Written and shared by Mia Horiguchi Sakura will be gone in a few days… and most people won’t even notice. For a few short days, everything turns soft… pink… almost dreamlike. Streets you pass every day suddenly feel magical. Even the air feels lighter. What I love most is not just the flowers, it’s the people. Everyone comes out. Families, couples, elderly, kids… walking, smiling, taking photos. No rush. No stress. Just appreciating something beautiful that won’t last long. A

Why Do So Many Women in Japan Dream of Becoming a Housewife? Recently I asked a few Japanese friends… even some of my kids’ friends: “What’s your dream for the future?” And surprisingly, many girls still say: “I want to be a housewife.” Not influencer. Not CEO. Not pilot. Housewife. At first I was shocked — in 2026? Really? But after living in Japan long enough, I started to understand the deeper reasons behind this dream. Here are some possible reasons  1. Housewife = stabil

Did you know that Japan does not have a retirement visa? This often surprises many people, especially those who dream of spending their later years surrounded by cherry blossoms or enjoying the quiet beauty of the Japanese countryside. In countries like Thailand or Malaysia, retirement visas are quite common and even encouraged. These programs are designed to attract retirees by offering long-term stays with relatively simple requirements. Japan, however, takes a very differe

Written and shared by Mia Horiguchi San. I’ve noticed something interesting after years of living in Japan and meeting people from all over the world. Many of my Asian classmates study Japanese very seriously. They push themselves, memorizing kanji, practicing keigo, trying to sound as natural as possible. When you ask why, the answer is often simple: they don’t want to go back. For many of them, the ultimate goal is clear—getting PR (permanent residency) and building a stab

Written and shared by Mia Horiguchi San. Many people ask me, “Is it hard to find a job in Japan?” My honest answer? It can be hard… if you do it the “cold” way. Sending resumes online, waiting, no reply is very common. But the easiest way I’ve seen actually works is something much simpler: Connections. In Japan, relationships matter a lot. A friend introduces you. A colleague recommends you. Someone you met at an event remembers you. Suddenly, the process becomes smoother. L