Randomwire Moves To Tokyo

Usually, at the beginning of each year, I write a new years resolutions post, but not in 2013 because the latter half of 2012 had been very stressful and I still wasn’t sure what the best way forward was. Now that the situation is clearer I’m happy to announce an exciting new chapter for Randomwire…

Randomwire Japan

I’ve come a long way since moving to China in 2007/8 and have spent much of the last 5 years working my way southwards – from Beijing to Shenzhen and most recently Hong Kong. Today I’m continuing my adventures in Asia, somewhere also close to my heart – Japan.

Why? I think Alan Watts sums it up best:

Forget the money because if you say that getting the money is the most important thing you will spend your life completely wasting your time. You’ll be doing things you don’t like doing in order to go on living, that is to go on doing things you don’t like doing, which is stupid.

For all the excitement involved in preparing to move countries, there’s another gut-wrenching side which requires saying goodbye to friends and familiar places. I’ve had a great time living in China/Hong Kong and feel immensely grateful to all the amazing people I met there. I certainly won’t be saying goodbye for good but now feels like the right time to try something new somewhere I’ve long wanted to go.

In China I’ve always regretted not learning the language properly, so as well as working on a number of client projects, I’ll be picking up Japanese language lessons again (after my last attempt in 2004) with the aim of learning enough for basic communication.

My base of operations for the next 6 months (at least) will be the heart of Tokyo, a stone’s throw away from Shinjuku. There are only three things I want to concentrate on during this time:

  • Learning Japanese
  • Writing lots on Randomwire
  • Stopping worrying about things I can’t control

I hope you will join me 🙂

David avatar

15 responses

  1. Gardner avatar
    Gardner

    Wishing you all the best in your new venture David . Jealous much ! I’d love to have done this when i was younger … Now i have to settle with saving up and visiting every few years . You’re probably already familiar with these already ….. but areas of Tokyo that i’m particularly fond of are Yanaka and Shimokitazawa . Good Luck 🙂

    1. Thanks Gardner – actually I don’t think I know those areas, will be sure to add to my list! Say hi next time you visit 🙂

  2. Sounds fun. I was kicking around the idea of doing the teaching thing in Korea, to follow up my language studies and get a fresh take on the Asia thing. You’ll love it. Seems you’ve already caught the Japan ‘bug’.. Great move. The Rat Race, esp. in China, is overrated.

    1. Korea was also high on my list of places I’d like to live but I’ve visited so many times that I’m not sure it would capture my imagination as much anymore. Thanks!

  3. Kenny Lee avatar
    Kenny Lee

    Best of luck David! You are doing something many people including myself can only dream about. Treasure every moment and enjoy! I am looking forward to reading your posts and learning with you.

    Thanks and happy moving!

    1. Cheers Kenny – even if you can’t live here, hope you get a chance to visit sometimes?

  4. I discovered your blog just a week ago, but boy am I glad I did. Excited to know you’re moving to Japan! I’m not really surprised to see that video on this post; it always resonated so much with me.

    I will (hopefully) finally have the chance to make the trip of my dreams and go to Japan this summer for 3 weeks. Who knows maybe we can meet then, and you can share some must-see, well kept secrets of the land of the rising sun.

    Good luck with the move — cheers, David!

    1. Thanks for your comment Filipe! Do feel free to drop me a line when you’re over here 🙂

  5. Congratulations, David! I’m excited for your move, and to see the resulting pictures 🙂

    Tokyo is one of my favorite places. I’m happy to introduce you to a couple of fun people there.

  6. This is great news! I wish you best of luck for your life in one of Asia’s most awesome cities. I hope I have the chance to visit Tokyo this year, however with a newborn baby now I’m not sure. I’d love to see the cherry blossoms, though. In case I can’t be able to visit I’m sure your blog will provide enough visual delights that will keep me happy 🙂

    Greetings from Taipei

    1. Thanks MKL & congrats on the new arrival! I got some nice pics of the cherry blossoms at the weekend so expect a new post soon 🙂

  7. Julie avatar
    Julie

    Congratulations David. You are an inspirational role model to Ella and Michael (and to me!). I loved the Alan Watts video – hadn’t seen that one before.
    Hope you have a fabulous 6 months+. Looking forward to reading all about it.

    1. Thanks Julie 🙂

  8. Hi David, just came across your website recently. How is Tokyo working out for you?

    1. Hi Cody – so far so good. The language course was pretty intense but worthwhile and now I’m on the lookout for a new job so that I can stay here longer. Contrary to what some people had told me, Tokyo is a surprisingly livable city with so much going on which is very exciting!

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