Why I can’t live in Japan ever again

Daniel is unlikely to return to Japan and has lost interest in living there, departing from an ambition pursued since age 17.

Approaching his 40s, Daniel prefers the quiet UK countryside over bustling cities, reversing his youthful idealization of Japan and dislike of the UK.

Daniel departed Japan following multiple visa efforts, a brief job at Lawson, and two years on a spouse visa, motivated by boredom, contract language barriers, partner dependence, dissatisfied dating experiences, and an inability to access preferred British foods.

Daniel's shift in perception regarding Japan, moving from youthful idealization to disinterest after achieving his residency goal.

Daniel's reassessment of living in the UK, contrasting unpleasant urban areas with the peaceful countryside where he resides.

Daniel's travel history to Japan and various attempts to secure residency through student, working holiday, and spouse visas.

Daniel's negative experience working at a Lawson convenience store in Japan, citing customer rudeness.

Challenges with complex administrative tasks, language barriers, and loss of independence while living in Japan.

Daniel's dissatisfaction with Japanese apartments and frustration over the unavailability of common British foods, alongside missing yakiniku.

Daniel's dissatisfaction with Western food options in Japan, including sandwiches, sausages, bacon, and bread, and the mental health impacts of food preferences.

Daniel tiring of eating Japanese food daily due to not growing up in Japan or in a Japanese family.

Critiques of Japanese sandwiches, including center-concentrated fillings, empty corners, and items such as strawberry cream or sweet egg mayonnaise.

Complaints regarding Japanese meat products, specifically sausages resembling fake bratwursts or wieners rather than pork sausages, and bacon treated identically to ham.

Difficulties obtaining hard, thick bread such as sourdough or crusty baguettes in Japan, where bread and bakery pastries are described as soft and sweet.

Attitudes toward dating Japanese women and reasons for deciding against returning to Japan.

Satisfaction with current life in the UK compared to previous married life in Japan.

Daniel started watching anime at about age 17 and became obsessed with Japan.

Daniel began attempting to move to Japan in 2010, initially attending a Japanese language school on a student visa.

Daniel traveled to Japan annually starting in 2010, missing only 2015 and the lockdown years of 2021 and 2022.

Daniel worked at a Lawson convenience store for a few months on a working holiday visa before leaving early.

Daniel nearly married in 2014 to obtain a spouse visa, but the relationship did not proceed to marriage.

Daniel married his ex-wife in 2018, resided in Japan for about two years on a spouse visa, and subsequently departed.

Whether Daniel will ever travel or return to Japan in the future.

The exact total number of individual visits Daniel made to Japan, estimated as probably over 15 times.