When I moved to Japan, the country was in the midst of a long era of economic decline known as the Lost Decade. The Japanese people believed that this period of economic stagnation would be temporary, but it ended up lasting much longer than expected. As I arrived in 2003, during an unusually long rainy season, the overall mood in the country was still bleak.
The economic downturn had started back in 1989 when the Nikkei 225 Stock Average reached a historic high. Since then, Japan struggled to recover and the gloom persisted, much like the oppressive low-pressure front that hung over Tokyo when I first arrived in the bustling metropolis. Despite the visible signs of economic struggles, the full extent of the malaise was not immediately apparent to me.
I had come to Japan as part of an exchange program to teach English in rural Hiroshima. The decision to move to Japan was influenced by my exposure to Japanese culture since childhood, growing up in Ireland. Japan seemed like a good fit for me as a recent college graduate – it was a country known for its sophistication, technological advancements, and was far enough away from home to feel like an adventure.