Interview with Ms. H

"I first came to Japan in 2018 through a work assignment. Originally, I was only supposed to stay for three years, but when the time came to return, I didn’t want to go back—I had grown to like life here, so I decided to stay.

What attracted me the most was the environment and the sense of safety. In Japan, as long as you follow the rules and respect the way things are done, no one bothers you. For example, even something like sorting and throwing away garbage has its own rules. If you do it the right way, you won’t have problems.

Another reason I stayed was my child. When we first arrived, my child attended an international school here. Going back to China would have made it very difficult to adjust to the education system there. In China, everything feels more competitive—for kids in school and for adults at work. But in Japan, with a declining population, there are actually more job opportunities. Companies also tend to be more stable. Unlike in China, where people in their thirties may already face pressure about losing their jobs, here companies generally don’t push you out unless you choose to leave."