Journaling for self-care

[ryo-from-japan]

The Strange Connection Between Japan’s Professional Licenses and Its Super Low Unemployment Rate

So, I’ve been thinking about something kind of interesting lately. When you look at Japan’s job market and how stable it is, you notice this really low unemployment rate. And I have a theory—I feel like Japan’s unique system of professional qualifications (or licenses) might actually be acting as a huge safety net that lets people bypass things like academic background or age, and that’s what’s keeping the unemployment rate so low.

In Japan, there are tons of different qualifications. Some are national, some are private, but what’s unique is that for certain roles, the law says "you cannot do this work unless you have this exact license." We call them gyomu-dokusen-shikaku (exclusive business licenses). Lawyers are at the top, but it also applies to certified public accountants, tax accountants, patent attorneys, and on the technical side, all kinds of electrical or construction management engineers.

When you look at this globally, especially compared to the job-based markets in Western countries, Japan’s system is pretty unusual because it barely requires a degree. Sure, there are exceptions like doctors or pharmacists where you absolutely need a specific university degree. But for the hardest exams—like lawyers, CPAs, or tax accountants—you actually don’t need any specific academic background at all. Graduating from law school gives you a bit of a shortcut, but even if you only graduated from middle school or high school, if you pass the preliminary exam, you can become a lawyer. In other countries, not having a bachelor's or master's degree means you can’t even get your foot in the door for these elite professions. But in Japan, as long as you pass the exam, the government guarantees your expertise 100%, no matter your past education.

On top of that, there are countless smaller, more specialized licenses that are kind of like "lite" versions of these top-tier ones. And almost none of them require a college degree either. If you look around the internet in Japan, you see so many people who feel like their current salary is too low or who didn’t go to college, trying to completely redesign their careers by studying for these licenses. Depending on the market, even a license that takes about 500 to 1,000 hours of study can be enough to land a stable, full-time job. And if you go for the 3,000-hour-class ones like tax accountants, you’re basically looking at joining the elite tier.

Being able to completely flip your luck and rebuild your career from scratch through a single exam, regardless of age or education... I really think this might be the hidden reason why Japan's unemployment rate stays so low. It’s a pretty unique safety net that lets you gain social credibility and employment through sheer effort (study hours) without needing a massive financial investment in a university degree.

By the way, just as a side note—since I come from tech, I should mention that the IT industry in Japan doesn't really have those legally protected "exclusive licenses" like lawyers do. We do have national IT certifications to prove your expertise, but honestly, global tech certifications like CCNA or AWS are usually considered way stronger in the market. But even then, when it comes down to it, those certs still take a backseat to your actual portfolio and real work experience. That's just how the tech world is.

◇

But, as I dug deeper into how this license-heavy society works, I realized another important thing. In Japan, "actual work experience" (jitsumu-keiken) functions as a tool that’s just as powerful as a license or a college degree—maybe even more so.

I remember writing a blog post a while back about how I wanted to get a license and challenge myself in a completely new field. But lately, I’ve been rethinking that strategy. I used to work in the IT industry, and I’ve realized that just leveraging my existing work experience is actually the most realistic, highest-leverage, and honestly, the easiest route.

In the Japanese job market, having a few years of specialized experience in a certain field proves your capability to employers just as well as, or even better than, a national license. Instead of spending 500 or 3,000 hours studying for a totally new field to start over as a beginner, it makes way more sense—both in terms of ROI and success rate—to keep my experience as my main anchor and then slightly slide into a related area or blend new knowledge into it. The Japanese job market is pretty cautious about "licensed beginners," but it’s surprisingly generous and welcoming to people who have solid, proven work experience. Figuring out how to play the cards you already hold might just be the smartest way to design your career.

[ryo-from-japan]

九品山 唯在念佛院 淨眞寺

2025年12月2日〜2025年12月5日

The beautiful autumn leaves at Joshin-ji Temple (Kuhonbutsu) in Tokyo.

Captured on December 2nd and 5th, 2025.

I haven’t edited these photos at all—this is just straight out of the smartphone camera. I was honestly shocked by how unbelievably colorful it was for early December.

It looked almost unreal, but this is exactly what it looked like in person.

[ryo-from-japan]

Reflecting on the trauma I’ve endured: it’s come from my father, two former company presidents, and a few individuals from social media. After discussing this with Gemini, I’ve organized the situation.

The current outlook:

SNS Harassers:

There’s a possibility of filing a criminal complaint for bodily injury (assault), as they are the primary cause of the worsening of my dissociative disorder.

Company Presidents:

Depending on the evidence, there may be a possibility of action here as well.

My Father:

The trauma from my father was primarily physical violence like being hit or kicked. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations for this abuse has likely expired, making legal action difficult.

I’ve realized that the reason I’ve been in so much pain until now was because I believed I had no ability to fight back. Knowing that litigation is actually possible—and understanding that I can press charges for assault under criminal law—has given me a tremendous sense of calm.

I’m currently very busy with moving, but once things settle down, I plan to start taking action. I’m going to resolve these things, one by one.

[ryo-from-japan]

Self-Care for Dissociative Symptoms and Early Buddhism

On Merely Existing in the Present

I would like to write down, in the manner of an essay, how I manage and alleviate my daily physical symptoms and uncomfortable sensations.

First and foremost, I deeply realize how vital physical movement is. While going outside for a walk is undoubtedly the best option, there are actually numerous exercises one can easily do right at home. My personal routine includes leg swings, shoulder rolls, and gentle flexibility stretches focusing on the hips, lower back, shoulders, and neck.

I am particularly mindful of "straight neck" (text neck), as it places an immense strain on the nervous system and feels highly detrimental to overall well-being. To counteract this, I have recently made it a rule to completely avoid using a laptop or desktop computer at home. Instead, I purchased a smartphone stand on Amazon, which I place on top of several stacked books. This allows me to adjust the screen to a much higher, eye-level position for my daily use.

Another crucial practice for me is acupressure. I am almost entirely self-taught, but after nearly a decade of trial and error, I have developed an intuitive understanding of which points to press, how to press them, and when to do so to relieve stress. When I feel sudden nausea or suffer from motion sickness while riding a train, I frequently apply acupressure to myself to soothe and mitigate the symptoms.

Furthermore, even as I produce these very words, I have come to recognize that typing text through a keyboard or flicking on a smartphone screen is simply not good for my mental health. Because of this explicit awareness, speaking my thoughts aloud and having them transcribed has become an essential daily habit of late.

I also feel incredibly fortunate to live in Japan, where neighborhood temples and quiet parks are readily accessible. Taking a leisurely, aimless stroll to these places has become a comforting extension of my physical care.

＊

Speaking of temples, I find myself frequently reflecting on the philosophy of "Early Buddhism"—a topic I feel I may have written about once before. The core essence of Early Buddhism is remarkably compact, so much so that it can be summarized in a single phrase: We can do nothing more than merely exist. It states this fundamental truth, and absolutely nothing beyond it.

I believe Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion, harmonized so beautifully with Buddhism precisely because both are, at their core, religions that "say nothing." Neither seeks to bind human beings with rigid, excessive dogmas, and this shared emptiness fosters a profound spiritual affinity.

Recently, I came across several articles exploring various perspectives based on Early Buddhism. Reading them led me to the realization that, ultimately, we are just one species of living creature called "humans." Just as ants possess an incredibly sophisticated social structure, it may simply be that human beings happen to possess a highly advanced cognitive capacity—nothing more, nothing less.

Throughout history, there have been exceptionally wise individuals—whether we look at Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) or various great philosophers. Yet, I believe not a single one of them has ever truly reached the absolute truth of the universe. Why? Because no matter how wise one is, we remain nothing more than animals bounded by our biological limitations.

Therefore, we must awaken to our limitations and accept them. No matter how we choose to live, we can neither grasp the ultimate truth of the universe nor fundamentally alter the world. Because we are inherently such powerless existences, we ought to grant ourselves a form of "existential forgiveness." This, I have come to understand, is the profound gentleness at the heart of Early Buddhism.

Interestingly, this original form of Early Buddhism was apparently left unrecognized in Japan for a very long time. For centuries, Mahayana Buddhism—a derivative branch that emphasizes universal salvation and faith—was the dominant tradition, shaping the widespread assumption that it was the sole form of Buddhism. In contrast, Early Buddhism is remarkably compact and possesses an open-minded capacity to accept criticism. It carries an atmosphere much closer to a school of thought or a psychological philosophy than an institutionalized religion.

To illustrate just how philosophical it is: within Early Buddhism, it is considered correct not to pray to the Buddha. Legend has it that on his deathbed, the Buddha strictly instructed his disciples to rely solely on the Dharma (his teachings) and on themselves as their own refuge, explicitly telling them not to pray to him.

With this background in mind, I am a rather unusual visitor who does not clasp my hands in prayer before the Buddhist statues when I visit a temple. To an outside observer, I might appear eccentric. However, for me, this quiet refusal to pray is the most authentic way to honor the philosophy—a precious moment to simply exist, still and accepted, in the present.

＊

Though it might make the essay's conclusion a bit less cohesive, I should also mention another self-care practice that has been incredibly useful for me: reading through a vast number of diaries written by various Japanese people.

I think I read about 50 entries a day. By strictly filtering my reading—choosing not to look at what I don't want to see and only reading what truly interests me—I've reached a point where other people no longer feel like incomprehensible existences to me. I've come to realize that there really are people out there who think just like I do. This sense of connection has also been a massive part of my self-care.

[ryo-from-japan]

Thanks to the Japanese welfare system, I’m finally allowed to move to lower my rent. By some absolute miracle—and honestly, a lot of searching on my own—I found a place. It’s slightly more spacious than my current apartment, has better soundproofing, is very quiet, and the neighborhood itself is really calm.

Lately, my daily dissociation symptoms have been consistently pretty intense. However, I’m gradually figuring out how to manage and suppress them. For example, just a moment ago, I decided to rearrange my room by changing the positions of my table and my futon. Doing this actually helped calm my dissociation significantly while being at home.

The moving process involves a massive amount of paperwork and tasks. Even though I have people guiding me, like the real estate agent and the municipal office staff, it’s still quite a lot to handle every day. Still, just knowing that I can finally leave my current house has made my mental instability settle down a lot.

On another note, I used to think I had Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), but recently, I feel like "Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD)" actually fits my experience much better. My current doctor once wrote "suspected C-PTSD" on my medical certificate, so they are probably looking at it from that angle. But either way, I feel like it could be C-PTSD, OSDD, or maybe even Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

That’s pretty much how things have been lately. To be honest, it’s quite tough. But a strange part of it is that, as a symptom of the dissociation itself, I'm somehow able to observe my own symptoms from a detached perspective. Because of that, I can actually control them. It’s a bit of a weird, unexplainable feeling.

[hourlycatphotos]

[ryo-from-japan]

等々力不動尊（Todoroki Fudoson Temple）

等々力渓谷公園（Todoroki Valley Park）

The walking path at Todoroki Valley Park has reopened after construction.

I visit this place all the time because it's one of my favorites.

[mothsfuzz]

water makes everything calmer

[rickybabyboy]

i think i might be a pets and hanging out type tiger

ID: Orange and white tabby leaning against a person and getting pet

[ryo-from-japan]

In Complex PTSD, it’s said that people can develop different personality parts that still share the same memories.

I can relate to that. I often feel like there’s a part of me that holds a great deal of anger connected to my trauma.

From what I’ve read, the important thing is to allow each of those parts to exist.

Somehow, anger has always felt forbidden to me. Not just expressing it, but the feeling itself—as if being angry was something that should never happen.

After reading some books on trauma, though, I’ve started to understand that treating my own emotions as unacceptable is actually deeply damaging.

It took a very long time, but little by little I’ve become able to see that my anger isn’t unreasonable. It makes sense. It has reasons for being there.

Acknowledging that was much harder than I expected.

And yet, strangely enough, once I started accepting my anger as valid, it began to calm down.

It’s a paradox, but that’s what I’ve experienced. it's strange.

[hourlycatphotos]

[ryo-from-japan]

Diary: Anime Is So Mainstream in Japan That You Can Talk About It at the Hair Salon

Don’t worry—there are no spoilers in this post.

Right now, there are so many great anime airing in Japan. I’m currently keeping up with Yomi no Tsugai, Witch Hat Atelier, Dr. STONE Season 4, and Re:ZERO Season 4 in real time.

I started watching Re:ZERO about two years after Season 1 aired because it had become such a huge topic of conversation in Japan, and I got completely hooked. Since then, I’ve followed the series through Seasons 2, 3, and now 4. Dr. STONE was a similar story for me.

Actually, after recovering from an illness, I’m working toward becoming an electrical technician. While I had always been interested in the field, the exciting way science and engineering are portrayed in Dr. STONE was a major catalyst that inspired me to pursue this path. I find it fascinating how much anime has influenced some of my life choices.

The newly released anime adaptation of Yomi no Tsugai is based on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, one of my all-time favorites. I watched the first episode just a little while ago, and it was already fantastic. Back when Fullmetal Alchemist was being serialized and aired, its popularity in Japan was incredible. It felt like everyone in the country knew about it. I think it’s amazing that Hiromu Arakawa continues to create successful series at the forefront of the industry even today.

As for Witch Hat Atelier, I’ve only seen the first two episodes so far, but the artwork is absolutely beautiful and the atmosphere is incredibly stylish. Although it has some darker and more intense moments, it’s a series I’m really looking forward to following.

By the way, the recent developments in Re:ZERO have been wild. Since the original web novel is available online, I considered reading ahead. But after skimming through a few chapters, I realized something: the anime’s visual impact is so overwhelming that reading the story in text form just doesn’t feel the same. I’ve decided to finish Season 4 first before diving into the original novel.

At this point, I’d like to share something about Japan’s anime culture that I wish more people overseas knew about.

Nowadays, especially in urban Japan, anime has become something that almost everyone watches. To give you an idea of how normal it has become, conversations at hair salons often drift toward anime. Questions like “What have you been watching lately?” or “Did you see the latest episode of Re:ZERO?” come up completely naturally while getting a haircut.

Over the past decade, the stereotype that “watching anime means you’re an otaku” has largely disappeared in Japan. Watching anime is no longer considered a niche hobby. It has become a normal part of everyday popular culture.

Fifteen years ago, things felt a little different. Anime still had a somewhat exclusive image and was often seen as something that belonged mainly to otaku culture.

I suppose this change is simply a sign of the times.

Personally, I feel that the enormous success of Attack on Titan was a major turning point that pushed anime even further into the mainstream. I still remember Linked Horizon performing the show’s theme song on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen. At the time, it felt like a clear sign that anime had become fully integrated into mainstream culture.

For reference, here’s a quick look at some of my favorite anime and manga.

Among the classic mainstream hits, I love HUNTER×HUNTER, YuYu Hakusho, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Jujutsu Kaisen. I haven’t finished them in their entirety, but I also enjoy NARUTO and BLEACH.

For some slightly more niche picks, I’d recommend SHIROBAKO, Mawaru Penguindrum, and Plastic Memories. They’re all outstanding in their own ways.

When it comes to anime films, A Silent Voice and Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms are both spectacular. Your Name was excellent as well, just as its reputation suggests.

And then there are the timeless Studio Ghibli classics: Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro. I think just about every Japanese person loves those films.

With streaming services like dAnime Store costing only 660 yen a month, I really feel like we’re living in a great era for anime fans.

[stuckinapril]

I think part of getting better is complete ego death. Like you’re not above setting a timer for 5 minutes and focusing on a task. You’re not above doing a very simple 3 minute workout to start. You’re not above reading for 10 minutes a day when you first get out of your reading slump, even if you used to read for hours. You’re not above starting slow and then building up to where you want to be/where you once were. What you are above is total inertia. Doing something really is better than doing nothing. Radically accept where you are, radically accept your limits, and go from there. Don’t let your ego get in the way.

[ryo-from-japan]

多摩川台公園

Hydrangea season in Japan.

[ryo-from-japan]

Just Some Journaling, from a Voice Memo

I think doing this kind of work through counseling or proper medical treatment is probably a good idea, but trying to learn about it and handle it entirely on my own does not seem to work very well. Looking around online, that does not seem to be especially recommended either.

I had never really understood how to approach this, but it seems that taking time and moving slowly is more effective than trying to rush things.

I also feel like I am starting to understand what helps me calm down. For many years, I loved drinking coffee and drank a lot of it, but after stopping coffee, I have become noticeably calmer. Drinks like barley tea or roasted green tea seem better because they contain little or no caffeine. Barley tea in particular is inexpensive, completely caffeine-free, and tastes good. I tend to rely on having something to drink throughout the day, but for now I think I will stick with barley tea, with the occasional cup of black tea. I may not need coffee very much anymore.

There are also discussions about how caffeine can overstimulate the nervous system and may have negative effects on people with Complex PTSD.

Another book said that thinking about the past can make you mentally unwell, and that it is better to focus on what you can do from here on. That really resonates with me. Not thinking about the past is very difficult, but replacing those thoughts with things I want to do in the future feels much easier. Simply trying not to think about something does not work. Thinking about something else instead seems to be a more effective way of redirecting my thoughts.

As for Tumblr, I have ended up spending a lot of time looking at cats. I really like cats, and I like animals in general. I sometimes feel like I am not using journaling in the way I originally intended. But journaling is probably supposed to be flexible anyway. So I think I will keep doing it like this.

[kalbi-duamm]

[catchymemes]