Member-only story
As a Foreign Woman, I Hated My Life in Japan
Work, work, work
Looking back, it strikes me hard.
I spent nearly a decade in Japan, from 2010 to 2019, chasing dreams, only to realize too late that I let the best years of my life slip away, the years I should have spent building a family. It’s a truth I’m still coming to terms with.
If I could turn back time and warn myself about the sacrifices that came with living in Japan as a foreign woman, I’m certain I’d have chosen otherwise and have a life partner and a family by now.
Now, don’t get me wrong.
I’m incredibly grateful for my time in Japan. It provided me with career opportunities I wouldn’t have had in France and taught me invaluable lessons about adaptability and open-mindedness.
However, no one warned me about the challenges of being a foreign woman in Japan, nor the impact it would have on my chances of finding a life partner.
During my nine years there, I put my love life on hold, conforming to social norms and prioritizing work above all else. Meanwhile, my friends in France were finding balance, prioritizing work-life harmony, and starting families. As a result, they all found partners, while I remained single.
