A good read via the Japan Times on foreigners in Japan + whether to stay or go

I've lived in Japan since 2013, and over the years I've watched the experience of being a foreign resident change in ways that would've been difficult to predict when I first arrived. In part that's probably why a Japan Times article about long-term foreign residents reconsidering their future in Japan caught my attention.

One of the things I found interesting was that the three people featured had such different reasons for staying or leaving. One Filipino man is preparing to leave after 15 years in Japan, with the weak yen, stagnant salaries, and changes to immigration rules all contributing to his decision. A South Korean permanent resident (despite having lived here for 13 years and buying a home!) is also keeping her options open. Meanwhile, an Indian family raising two children in Osaka remains committed to making Japan their home. I could relate to parts of all three stories.

When I first moved to Japan, things like safety, public transport, food, and the relatively affordable cost of everyday life made it feel like an easy place to settle. But after more than a decade, you start thinking about different things. Is your career progressing? Can you afford the life you want? How secure do you feel about your long-term status? Does Japan still feel like somewhere you want your kids to grow up?

Japan will always be an important part of my life even if I decide to eventually move back home, but I understand why some long-term foreigners are starting to ask themselves whether staying is still the right choice. The Japan you move to in your 20s can look very different when you reach your 30s or 40s and have a family, a career, and a much longer future to think about.