I like his writing style - funny and fun to read! Is green-sick really a thing? No, no, no! I don't want to believe it. I need to keep *that* dream alive. Thanks for posting. Interesting read.
There's something like that, while probably not as big as in America. Many regions have set up ad-hoc offices to lure townies to their depopulated areas with varying degrees of success.
Ruralish Japan is good. I think where I live in Izumo is slightly more urban, but not that much so. It's closer to some izakayas anyway. Though much further from a shinkansen. There are more young people and more gaijin though.
I don't think I would like to live in rural Japan forever. I like where I live because it looks and somewhat feels rural but it's actually quite close to both central Tokyo and Yokohama.
I used to live in Ropponmatsu too. Right above the cafe with the orange cat that always sat outside
I had to leave during 3.11 (not my choice) and came back to Japan in 2023 (finally) but stuck in Tokyo for now. Hoping to head back down to Kyushu when I can
Thank you for sharing this story. I also live in Fukuoka, and I always think Itoshima is a wonderful place to visit. It was interesting to read about life there from the perspective of someone who has lived there for many years.
Thanks for keeping me on your mailing list, Gianni. I don't get a chance to read all your posts, although I mean to, because I still prefer reading stuff on paper. That being said, I'm glad I took the time to read this morning's post about the Brit living in rural Japan; well-written & fun read! I'm sending you along a PDF copy of the latest issue of my Ken Chronicles (which I hope you'll enjoy). I'm not sure if I've forgotten to send the previous one. Hope all is well with you and yours!
"I am skint. Working on that, but for now I might be the brokest bastard in the entire prefecture. No mates. No future. There’s a constant low-level sense that I’ve missed the memo about careers and ambition. Haven’t seen a doctor in 15 years" Replace doctor with dentist, and this could have been me until last weekend! A great article, I really enjoyed it!
If you asked me to write about life in Itoshima - 7 years in and counting - I'd drum a different beat. We do have the fields and the citrus trees, but there's a much younger crowd here, Families moving out here from Fukuoka, Kyudai just minutes away. "Itoshima" is one of those new cities formed out of a dozen different villages, so the western end is much closer to the real inaka — which is exactly what some people come here looking for.
Very enjoyable read! Thanks for sharing!
Thank for reading! I'm glad you liked it.
I like his writing style - funny and fun to read! Is green-sick really a thing? No, no, no! I don't want to believe it. I need to keep *that* dream alive. Thanks for posting. Interesting read.
Agreed. I liked the way he mixed entertainment and information.
Not my cup of tea, for sure. But I loved reading about an alternative Japan lifestyle that couldn't be more different from mine in Setagaya-ku.
Same for me, Mike. I wouldn't mind spending one month in such a place, though, better if by the see.
Well, everybody gotta be livin' somewheres, I s'pose.
Is there not some Japanese equivalent to the '70's "Back to the Land" movement we had in the good ol' US of A, back in the day?
There's something like that, while probably not as big as in America. Many regions have set up ad-hoc offices to lure townies to their depopulated areas with varying degrees of success.
Ruralish Japan is good. I think where I live in Izumo is slightly more urban, but not that much so. It's closer to some izakayas anyway. Though much further from a shinkansen. There are more young people and more gaijin though.
But the need to speak Japanese thing is important
I don't think I would like to live in rural Japan forever. I like where I live because it looks and somewhat feels rural but it's actually quite close to both central Tokyo and Yokohama.
I think you have the best of both worlds, Gianni.
I guess so, though there are times when I wish I could live in downtown Tokyo, especially the more traditional eastern side.
Living the dream imho
I used to live in Ropponmatsu too. Right above the cafe with the orange cat that always sat outside
I had to leave during 3.11 (not my choice) and came back to Japan in 2023 (finally) but stuck in Tokyo for now. Hoping to head back down to Kyushu when I can
Thanks for your comment, and good luck with all your future projects!
Thank you for sharing this story. I also live in Fukuoka, and I always think Itoshima is a wonderful place to visit. It was interesting to read about life there from the perspective of someone who has lived there for many years.
Thank you for your kind comment. For some reason, I've never been to Kyushu. Gotta fix that hole in my Japanese experience.
Thanks for keeping me on your mailing list, Gianni. I don't get a chance to read all your posts, although I mean to, because I still prefer reading stuff on paper. That being said, I'm glad I took the time to read this morning's post about the Brit living in rural Japan; well-written & fun read! I'm sending you along a PDF copy of the latest issue of my Ken Chronicles (which I hope you'll enjoy). I'm not sure if I've forgotten to send the previous one. Hope all is well with you and yours!
Thanks, Ken! Looking forward to reading it.
"I am skint. Working on that, but for now I might be the brokest bastard in the entire prefecture. No mates. No future. There’s a constant low-level sense that I’ve missed the memo about careers and ambition. Haven’t seen a doctor in 15 years" Replace doctor with dentist, and this could have been me until last weekend! A great article, I really enjoyed it!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had to look "skint" up, by the way.
If you asked me to write about life in Itoshima - 7 years in and counting - I'd drum a different beat. We do have the fields and the citrus trees, but there's a much younger crowd here, Families moving out here from Fukuoka, Kyudai just minutes away. "Itoshima" is one of those new cities formed out of a dozen different villages, so the western end is much closer to the real inaka — which is exactly what some people come here looking for.