On the 18th, a post titled "Returned from Japan and genuinely trying to get over Japan, but failed" appeared on China's SNS, Xiaohongshu (RED).

The poster revealed, "As the title says, I've been missing Japan ever since I came back. How long will it take to save up money for my next trip to Japan...? What's more, I keep thinking about how I can continue to live in Japan, and where I can find a job that allows me to earn money."

Furthermore, they wrote, "I'll soon be a university fourth-year student, and it's time to think about internships and job hunting. This trip to Japan made me realize that life holds many more possibilities. However, I also feel it's difficult for me to change something and take on bigger challenges. It seems tough in any industry right now. I saved for this trip by tutoring and cutting down on living expenses. Once I start working, I'll probably have even less financial leeway than I do now."

They also disclosed their conflicted feelings, stating, "The salary during my internship in Chengdu (Sichuan Province) is just over 2,000 yuan (approximately 47,000 yen). I don't want a full-time job that pays 3,000 yuan (approximately 70,000 yen)." They added, "Sometimes I think about taking civil service exams or public institution recruitment exams in pursuit of stability. The pay isn't high, but I could live a stable and happy life. On the other hand, I dislike the idea of doing the same thing every day for the rest of my life, and I feel like it would exhaust me both mentally and physically."

The poster said they are also considering attending a language school in Japan while working part-time, and they presented a plan to aim for a work visa through that path. However, they explained that people around them have said things like, "There are unpredictable risks overseas," and "Japan is suitable for travel, but actually working there can be quite stifling."

Furthermore, considering the stress of working in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, they also expressed thinking it might be better to earn money working as a convenience store clerk in an inland area. However, they worried that with such a low salary level, it would take a considerable amount of time to save money for a trip to Japan, writing, "How on earth am I supposed to save money? When will I be able to visit Japan again?" and "Beautiful Japan, and a twenties-something who keeps getting lost."

This post received many comments, especially from users living in Japan, with voices such as: "Japan is a completely different world for living versus traveling," "After going a few times, you'll stop feeling the charm," "If you're really going to live there, you should drop your rose-tinted glasses about Japan," "Life in Japan is extremely oppressive. There are many rules, and people's ways of thinking are old-fashioned," "It's inflexible. Even if you're slightly early or late for an appointment, it's a problem," "I'll give you my permanent residency, so switch with me. Crappy job, colleagues who don't want to talk to foreigners, a Showa-era boss who doesn't understand human language, a passive boyfriend – I'll give it all to you. I think your dream of Japan will completely disappear," and "Living and traveling are truly different. My family and I returned from Japan, but we still go on trips to Japan afterward."

On the other hand, there were also not a few opinions such as: "If you like Japan that much, you should come. I've been in Japan for nearly 10 years and have never once thought about returning home," "I've been living happily in Japan for 3 years. Whether it's oppressive or not is a matter of getting used to it, I think. It's suitable for people who follow rules and want to keep a certain distance from others," "I've been living in Japan for almost 10 years, and living here is quieter and more comfortable than traveling," "When I first traveled to Japan, I decided to live there. Over a decade has passed since then, and I'm living happily. Everywhere has good people and bad people," "I also like Japan's order; it calms my mind," and "Everyone says it's oppressive, but as someone sensitive to order, I really like it. If you have the desire to come to Japan, you should try it. Life is, after all, about experiences, isn't it?"

Regarding studying abroad or looking for work in Japan, supportive voices were seen, such as: "My friend studied Japanese for 7 months, reached Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 (N2), and then studied abroad in Japan. You should try it too. If you truly want to go, I'm sure it'll be fine," "If you can speak Japanese to some extent, you should come. Here (in Japan), you can live a somewhat decent life even on minimum wage," "If you've saved even a little money, why not apply to a Japanese language school? With a student visa, you can work part-time for up to 28 hours (per week). If it doesn't work out, you can just go back home. Consider it a small test in life," and "You're still young and I think you have many possibilities. Going to a language school and then looking for a job might not be the best strategy with the current exchange rate. Do you have N2? If so, you should challenge N1. With that, you can apply for sales jobs in Japan. It's better to challenge yourself a lot while you're young and stabilize your life by around 28."

On the other hand, advice was also given, such as: "Just stay put in your home country. Even if you venture out, you'll be forced to live a much harder life than in your home country until you find a good job (in Japan)," "I think it's tough to earn money in Japan, unless you've been living here (in Japan) since you were a middle or high school student," "Japan isn't just about not being able to earn money; instability is the problem. With policies constantly changing, it wouldn't be surprising if (foreigners) were expelled at any time. The reality is that good jobs don't go to foreigners. Nor are jobs without overtime easy to find immediately. It's better to just stick to traveling," and "You'll save money eventually. Once you're financially independent, you'll have another chance (to go to Japan). Also, if you enter a system (like becoming a civil servant), it seems it becomes difficult to go abroad. Your future is still long, so take your time."

In addition, comments such as these were posted: "I envy you for having the opportunity to broaden your perspective like that while you were a student," "I plan to look for work in Japan after graduation. I know myself well, so no matter how many negative things others say, I won't give up until I try it myself," "My consumption experience during my trip to Japan was indeed great. I went two years ago, and it was the best time," "I also felt a terrible loss after returning from Japan. I loved Kyoto too much. I wanted to live there for the rest of my life. I went for my graduation trip, and after returning, I became depressed and look at photos from the trip every day," and "I also went this summer vacation. I had been 고민ing whether to go or not for a long time. It's really hard to earn money (in China) now. But I really wanted to go and see it with my own eyes." (Translation/Editing by Kitada)