I was made redundant back in July, along with several of my colleagues. The timing was garbage, honestly, and a planned vacation back to the UK made job hunting in Tokyo difficult. I made the decision to look for work in both Japan and the UK, pursuing the first reasonable opportunity, so that I could continue to pay my mortgage and avoid dipping into my savings.
Soon after sharing my situation on LinkedIn, a reputable Edinburgh based design agency reached out to offer some fixed-term contract work—which I gratefully accepted. Whilst I hadn’t previously considered contracting, the situation meant having something was lower risk than having nothing, and my recent experience had proven that even permanent roles were more volatile than expected.
The role is remote, meaning I can work from anywhere, and shortly after starting I did in fact return to Tokyo for a month to prepare for the indefinite relocation back to Scotland.
I paid my bills, and confirmed my situation with the city office and immigration. I was one of the “lucky bastards” who was granted a 5 year visa on my first application, and I very carefully checked requirements to ensure I’m able to return at some point during the remaining time it’s valid for.
With everything in order, I packed the last 2 and a half years of my life into boxes, and sent it back to my home in Scotland to arrive at some point next year.
In my last week in Japan, I spent time with friends and indulged in my favourite things. Maybe for the first time in a while, I savoured my time there. I looked for good food, beautiful scenery, and enjoyed the little things that make Tokyo different.
And now I’m home, in my sleepy Scottish town of 10,000 or so people. Whilst it’s nice to catch up with friends and family here, it’s such a huge contrast from living in the biggest city in the world.
I arrived home at a time when the leaves are changing and the scenery is at its most welcoming.
Perhaps that’s enough to soften the blow for the long, dark winter months ahead.