Everyone, congratulations on surviving the Earth Era!
On November 20, 2024, the long-awaited Wind Era has finally arrived!
For me, the Earth Era was really tough.
I’m honestly hoping all those struggles weren’t for nothing
—no, actually, I NEED them to pay off!
So, as a little ritual,
I’ve decided to pour my feelings into this blog.
Table of Contents
The struggles of the Earth Era…
A lack of acceptance that “everyone is different”
In global terms, Japan’s culture of “reading the air” and adapting to others is pretty rare.
In English-speaking countries or in Taiwan, it’s common to ask questions like:
“What do you think?” or “What’s your opinion?”
But in Japan, there’s this unspoken rule that opinions flow down from the top—senior colleagues or bosses.
See how I just called it a “rule” and left it at that? Yeah, that’s exactly the problem.
When everyone is expected to “read the air and go with the flow,” people stop wanting to hear others’ opinions.🙄
Even if a junior member thinks, “Hey, I’ve got something to say,” it often gets dismissed as “overstepping.”
This leads to stagnant systems and environments, piling on stress until people literally get sick.
Even if they don’t fall ill, there’s this lingering sense of exhaustion… year after year.
Is it any wonder young people don’t want to work in this kind of society?
I spent a year unemployed.
I didn’t make any money, but the freedom I felt was incredible.
Honestly, that year was probably the happiest time of my working life.
Moving forward, I hope we can create a society where people can listen to each other and connect as equals.
Sacrificing individuality for productivity
★ 1. The impact of rapid economic growth
During Japan’s post-war economic boom, the focus was all about “faster,” “more,” and “cheaper.”
Rebuilding the economy was the nation’s top priority, and this ingrained the belief that efficiency equals good.
★ 2. Global competition and pressure
Since the 1990s, Japan has struggled through the so-called “Lost 30 Years.”
To stay competitive globally, companies pushed even harder for productivity, passing that pressure onto workers.
Over my 10 years of working, there were countless moments when I felt like my individuality was being crushed.
For example:
Me: “Hey, where does this task go once it’s finished? And who’s in charge of it?”
Senior: “Don’t worry about that. Just follow the instructions.”
In other words, I wasn’t even allowed to care about the bigger picture.
It felt dehumanizing, like I might as well be a robot.
There were so many times I thought, “If only I could see the full picture, I could do a better job.”
When we understand the bigger goal, teamwork improves, and we can create higher-quality products and services.
Sure, I get it. A junior like me sticking my nose into “unnecessary details” might be annoying. 😂
But overcoming those little annoyances is what makes teams stronger, right?
How to find your calling in the Wind Era
You don’t have to stick to just one thing—it’s all part of the real you.
Recently, I prayed:
“Please help me realize what I’m truly seeking.”
I closed my eyes, clasped my hands, and meditated for three minutes.
And then it hit me:
“Every part of you is real.”
The introverted me? Real.
The extroverted me? Also real.
The part that wants to pursue music? Real.
The part that wants to start a business? Real.
Trying to limit myself to just one identity is suffocating.
I’ve spent three years doing self-discovery exercises to find my “dream job.”
But here’s the thing:
just labeling something as your calling doesn’t bring back the emotions or excitement you felt back then.
Timing is everything.
The past is the past.
To figure out what makes you happy now, you need to ask your current self—not your past self.
So, what’s the solution?
You have to move forward and feel your way through it.
Speak up about what you want!
It’s not just about “doing what you love”;
it’s about doing it your way.
Wouldn’t that be amazing?
A world where everyone’s unique perspectives and ideas can shine through.
For example, I hate it when someone says, “I’ll take over for you!” halfway through a task. 😂
Once I’ve started something, I need to finish it myself to feel that sense of accomplishment.
That’s why I’ll say, “Please let me handle this part.”
(Yeah, I’m probably seen as a pain in the neck. 😂)
I also dislike being forced to follow someone else’s method.
I used to think I wasn’t cut out to be an employee.
But I’ve realized it’s not about that—
it’s about having an environment where you can work your way.
Imagine being told:
“As long as you hit the goal, you can do it however you want.”
Isn’t that the dream?
Of course, with freedom comes responsibility, but if you know your strengths, you can steer the project yourself.
Instead of forcing yourself to fit into a system for 40 years, why not focus on living fully right now?
That’s the kind of life I want, and I’ve already seen it come to life by building my dance school from scratch.
Finally: Letting go is your secret weapon.
Why was the Earth Era so obsessed with efficiency?
I asked ChatGPT, and it told me:
Japanese people are so focused on “reading the air” that nobody wanted to be the first to say, “Hey, can we stop this efficiency obsession?”
It would’ve felt like they were being lazy.
This is what I call the “No one can slack off” syndrome.
But guess what? It’s time to let that go.
Life-work balance is essential.
Recently, I’ve set this ambitious goal for myself:
“Work 2 days a week, 3 hours a day, and earn 100 million yen a year.” 😂
(My sister laughed her head off when I told her, but hey, dream big!)
For someone as laid-back as me, I need that kind of freedom to thrive.
Thankfully, society is starting to embrace this mindset,
with trends like minimalism and entrepreneurship.
It’s no longer about how much you can produce—it’s about redefining what truly matters to you and to society.
In February, I’ll be letting go of my home, family, friends, job, and even my country! (What?! 😂)
But the idea of leaving behind all the struggles of the Earth Era makes me so excited for what’s to come.
To everyone who’s been struggling:
This is our time. Let’s own it. 🎉
