Genie Doi, 38, and her husband made the decision to relocate their family from Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan in 2022 after a shooting near their son’s daycare center in 2019. The move was motivated by Japan’s reputation for safety and affordability.
The family of four found that childcare costs were significantly lower in Japan. Their daughter attends a free childcare center subsidized by the city, while their son attends an international school due to his limited Japanese proficiency.
Doi appreciates the emphasis on healthy eating in Japan, where her daughter’s daycare center provides nutritious meals and snacks. The pace of life is also slower, with people prioritizing well-being and health over material wealth.
However, Doi struggles with the lack of diversity in Japan, which can be a culture shock for someone from the US who is used to interacting with people from various backgrounds. As a Korean American, she sometimes feels pressure to conform to societal expectations, but as an American, she rejects this pressure and takes breaks by traveling or returning to California.
The move has also helped Doi alleviate parental anxiety. Her son was initially upset about leaving his friends and school in the US, but with preparation and visits to their new school in Japan, he has adjusted well. The family’s children are encouraged to be independent, which is a significant change for them.
Doi is grateful that she could remove her children from an environment with ongoing gun violence and provide them with a stable community during their school-age years. She plans to stay in Japan until her kids finish high school before reassessing their living situation.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/american-mom-moved-family-osaka-japan-safety-and-affordability-school-2024-9