Japan, a country known for its technological advancements and sophisticated culture, had been going through an economic decline known as the Lost Decade. Little did we know, it would turn into two more lost decades. In 2003, the gloom that hung over the country seemed never-ending despite efforts to recover from the economic downturn. The economy had peaked in 1989 but since then, Japan had been unable to shake off the effects of the recession. It was similar to the stifling low-pressure front that seemed to linger over Tokyo during my arrival in the bustling city.
As I settled into rural Hiroshima as part of an exchange program to teach English, I couldn’t immediately see the economic struggles that plagued Japan. Having been exposed to Japanese culture since my childhood in Ireland, I found Japan to be a sophisticated and technologically advanced country. It felt like a good fit for someone fresh out of college, offering a unique sense of adventure being far away from home.