Hi everyone, I hope this is the right sub to post in—please let me know if there's a better place for this kind of question.
A bit of background, I (40m) lived in Japan for 5 years before returning to Canada 13 years ago with my (Japanese) wife. We have two kids (10 and 6) who speak Japanese fairly fluently. We visit Japan regularly, and during summer breaks, our kids have spent time in the local public school system there, usually for about a month at a time.
My wife is from a beautiful part of the Izu Peninsula, and we've been seriously considering moving back as the thought of remaining in Canada long term seems less appealing each passing year. Financially, we would be in a good position as we’ve built up solid equity in our home here, which would give us a strong foundation for starting fresh in Japan.
When I think about it logically, the move makes sense in many ways. But emotionally, I’m wrestling with the fear of the unknown. Now that we have kids, I worry about how well they’ll adapt to life in Japan, especially in a semi-rural area. Will they fit in socially? Will they thrive academically and have good future prospects?
I also worry about my own career. I have a plan to start my own business, but if it doesn’t work out then what? We’d be in a smaller town with limited job opportunities. My Japanese is enough to just get by but I’d work on improving it. I know I tend to overthink things, but I don’t want fear to hold me back and leave me with regrets.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s made a similar move, especially families who relocated to areas outside the big cities.
• How did your kids adjust?
• Did they enjoy the experience and feel accepted?
• Are you happy with your decision overall?
Any insights, advice, or even things you wish you’d known before making the move would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance!
by Benni_Shouga