Screw your courage to the sticking point
Was in Shikoku this week and it turns out I like it a lot here. More details in the video below, but it’s been a great trip so far.
Have also managed to talk with my wife about what we’re going to do going forward, and am much more positive about the next couple of years. A good result.
Funny how much taking a bit of time off helps in terms of clearing your head and giving you perspective.
At the same time I am coming to realise that long-term travel might not be for me. I like my routine at home, and after a week or two start to miss it.
Tactical short trips of around ten days to places we like might be the way to go going forward. It’s the rushing around that is tiring!
YouTube
Thank you for your support of the RetireJapan YouTube channel. Made a short video about Shikoku, Japan’s hidden gem.
Now that we can’t afford to travel abroad, where else should we check out in Japan? I have a fondness for islands and beautiful places and don’t care about shopping or drinking 😉
The RetireJapan Guide to NISA 2024 edition
Will finally be published on June 30th. If you have bought a previous version of the Guide, you will receive a complimentary copy of the new edition when it is released.
If you haven’t bought the Guide to NISA yet, and would like a copy, we are running a half price presale until it is published. If you buy the 2024 version you will also get free copies of new editions when they are released.
Rather revealing podcast
I was on the Plus Future Podcast this week. It’s a kind of live coaching thing in public, and I found it extremely useful but it was also very raw. Not about personal finance but goals and relationships. Borderline uncomfortable but learned a lot.
The Forum
The Forum is doing well (35,505 posts so far). Excitingly, we now have over 2,000 registered members (2,191 currently). The forum rules are here. In essense, they are:
- Be nice
- Ask any question you like
- Only answer questions when you have relevant knowledge or experience
Here are the latest active threads:
This week’s books
I read The Motive, by Patrick Lencioni. It was recommended by Alex Hormozi and is a very short, very quick read. I found it very useful though. It is about what CEO’s and leaders should do, and what they often avoid. It was spot on. Gave me a lot to think about.
Still reading The Algebra of Wealth and The Invisibles. They are both good.
This week’s links
- I would like to see a bit more diversity in Japanese politics: Time to take the CDP’s prospects more seriously
- Perspective: Is it wise to begin investing when stocks are at an all-time high?
- I love this idea and just updated mine: How and why to make a /now page on your site
- Completely agree with this: Happy Conclusion
- 40 year mortgages in the UK: Should you run away from ‘marathon’ mortgages?
- Who’s afraid of inflation? Inflation hedges: what does and doesn’t work
- Mmmmm: Careful technology
- The patient investor gets the gains: No, The Stock Market is Not Rigged Against the Little Guy
- Higher iDeCo contribution limits would be very welcome: iDeCo掛け金の上限引き上げ 政府検討、資産運用後押し
- Great overview from the Boglehead site: US tax pitfalls for a US person living abroad
- This is not fun but at least the government is paying attention: More than 1,000 Heatstroke Alerts Issued Across Japan in 2023
- The latest from Martin: Ad-hoc update and market observations
- First time to see this, looks promising (but the devil will be in the actual implementation and enforcement): Japan passes law on flexible work for parents with young children
- This story would not be out of place in Japan, except for the victim getting compensation: ‘Psychologically tortured’: California city pays man nearly $1m after 17-hour police interrogation
- This would be really useful: Japanese researchers confirm blood test predicts risk of Alzheimer’s
- Politics update: Wars of the words | This week in Japanese politics
What do you think? Anything interesting in there?
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Are you staying on the west coast? The entire Seto Inland Sea area basically from Okayama through Kita-Hiroshima and encompassing the western side of Shikoku is an extremely nice area of Japan with hundreds of beautiful islands accessible by ferry or bridge, clean beaches and lovely small towns with excellent seafood. Best part is that it still remains relatively tourist free. I have often thought it might be a nice place to retire and enjoy life by the sea. Summers are a bit hot though (but this applies to most of Japan to be honest).
That is a good call. I really enjoy Takamatsu. The little tidal pool outside the station is great. The castle also near the station which has snapper swimming around the moat that you can feed instead of carp. Also right next to the port for easy access to islands. Town is a good size too with eating and drinking establishments. Summer may be hot, but it’s not as bad as inland places like Gifu (where I live), Gunma and Saitama and at least you have beaches where you can swim!
I would recommend the Ogasawara Islands (Bonin Islands).
First thing is you can only get there by a 25 hour ferry ride from Tokyo. There is no airport and this really makes a trip to the islands special.
Second – the history. These islands were once inhabitated by foreigners and the Union Jack was hoisted over the islands. Japanese slowly trickled over to claim the islands and occupied them during World War 2 where some even resorted to cannabilism. After the war the islands were given back to the original settlers for about 20 odd years until it became Japanese territory again in 1968. There are still descendants of the settlers living on the island and Bonin English can still be heard.
Third – Remains of World War 2. There are old bunkers, caves and canons still found on the islands. There are numerous ship wrecks that you can snorkel out to and of course scuba diving is a must.
Fourth – Nature. The islands are home to numerous birds and fish that are found only on these islands. Fruit bats, fluorescent mushrooms, sharks etc. In the colder months whale watching is popular. You can swim in knee deep water with sharks or pop out to the port at night and see bigger sharks just metres away.
A truly magical place. I have been there twice and hope to go again soon.
If you are thinking about going or just interested in the islands I recommend reading Bonin by Robert Standish or Kataki by Hank Searls before you go.
And you didn’t dare to call me?
A once in a lifetime chance – would’ve really liked to meet you!
Oh, we’ll be back for sure ^-^
This time was our 20th anniversary trip, so we were mainly spending time together.
Nice one! I jumped off that very bridge last summer after an afternoon of SUPing.
I recommend Hachijojima: hiking, great food, fun to drive around and one of the bluest oceans you’ll ever see. Also interesting if you like abandoned bubble-era hotels (though Shikoku has its fair share of those, too).
Sounds interesting! Not a fan of long boat trips though…
Oh, maybe Ogasawara not for you then 🙂
Maybe some off the harder to get to prefectures then. Kagoshima/Miyazaki area is really nice. As is Tottori/Shimane/Yamaguchi – The Kyoto of the West without all the tourists.
Could you please clarify – is 1,650 yen the actual price of the NISA guide, or is it the 50% off price?
The new price of the Guide is 3,300 yen. It is 50% off during the pre-sale period (until publication on June 30th)