I've been moving back and forth between Japan and the US for years. The quality of life in Japan is much better.

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 05:05

a man and his wife and son take a photo — Emery Bowles and his family in Iwakuni.
Courtesy of Emery Bowles

Emery Bowles quit his job in the US and moved to Japan to teach English in 2008.
Bowles found life in Japan safe and beautiful, despite language barriers and cultural differences.
He and his wife plan to keep moving between Japan and the US to expose their son to both cultures.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Emery Bowles, a 52-year-old who lives between Japan and the US. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

In 2008, I got divorced and decided to change my entire life.