Recording summary · April 2020
How I caught Chlamydia in Japan
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Overview
Daniel traveled to Oita City, Japan, in 2014 to reconnect and stay with a 31-year-old Japanese woman he previously met at a Tokyo guest house while on a working holiday visa.
During their stay and romantic involvement, Daniel and the woman developed severe symptoms and were diagnosed with chlamydia at an adult clinic, followed by Daniel developing reactive arthritis.
Daniel attributed the infection to the woman, recounting that she admitted to an unprotected encounter before his arrival after his multi-year celibate period.
The relationship in Japan was turbulent, featuring frequent conflicts, temporary evictions to a dormitory guest house, and abandoned marriage plans before Daniel moved to Korea and returned to England.
Years later, Daniel found her profile on a language-learning website, was blocked upon messaging her, and subsequently revisited her former apartment and local station during marital strife with his ex-wife.
Themes
Relationship history, infections, and travel impatience when visiting partners.
Living arrangements, frequent arguments, physical pain from a wisdom tooth, and abandoned marriage plans in Japan.
Post-breakup period, celibacy, living arrangements in Korea, and age comparisons of past partners.
Online encounters on Lang-8, diary entries, and revisiting the Oita City apartment during a fight with an ex-wife.
Developments
Daniel traveled to Japan and took a bus from Kumamoto Airport to Oita City to meet the woman.
Both Daniel and the woman tested positive for chlamydia at an adult health clinic and received antibiotics.
Daniel stayed in a ten-person mixed dormitory guest house after being forced out of the apartment.
Daniel received his birth certificate from England and visited the Osaka immigration center to prepare marriage documentation.
Daniel moved to Korea and ignored an email from his former girlfriend.
Daniel located his former girlfriend's language-learning account, sent a message, and was blocked.
Daniel took a bullet train to Oita City, stood outside the former apartment, and cried by the station water fountain.
Uncertainties & gaps
Daniel's exact age at the time of the events, debating between 24 and 25.
Whether Daniel first met the woman in 2011 or 2012.
Whether the celibate period prior to the relationship lasted two or three years.
Whether the infection originated from an encounter at a nightclub and how many individuals were infected.
The former girlfriend's exact age and current circumstances.
The precise year Daniel revisited Oita City during an argument with his ex-wife.