Reverse Culture Shock: Feeling Out of Place in the Place That Was Supposed to Feel Like Home
I felt more culture shock returning to Japan than I did moving to the U.S.
I left Japan at 18.
I then spent 11.5 years in the U.S., living in four states—Utah, Michigan, Indiana, and Massachusetts—
- studying at a language school,
- attending three universities,
- holding on-campus jobs,
- doing internships and volunteer work,
- going on road trips,
- enjoying time with friends,
- building my career, getting certifications,
- and becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
I loved my life there — well, the majority of the time.
When I came back to Japan in 2010, life shocked me.
I felt out of place in my own country.
Even ordinary things took more energy than I expected:
- paperwork,
- banking,
- formal and informal Japanese,
- business manners,
- reading and writing kanji,
- becoming a sole proprietor,
- learning about taxes,
- daily life in Tokyo.
At times, I caught myself thinking:
“Did I actually grow up here?”
Eventually, I adapted again. I rediscovered the beauty of Japan.
And I love my life here — well, the majority of the time.
Also, in the process, I came to appreciate different cultures more deeply. Living between cultures changes how you see people and how you see yourself.
It also changes how you listen.
That experience still shapes how I work and why I care so much about creating space for internationally minded people in Japan.
Through The Reflection Room and SoulStory Tarot, I offer a quiet, reflective space for internationally minded people who are navigating identity, belonging, life transitions, and the deeper questions that do not always fit neatly into ordinary conversations.
In my next blog post, I will write about how I integrated reverse culture shock into my life in Japan and slowly created an international lifestyle that works for me.
A question for you…
Have you ever felt out of place in a place that was supposed to feel like home?
About the Author
Chie Sawa is the founder of Thrive Life Design — a sanctuary for quiet, introspective leaders and visionaries in Japan.
Drawing from decades of experience in psychology and reflective practice, she now offers The Reflection Room, a non-clinical space for one-on-one conversations and intuitive tarot readings, SoulStory Tarot, that help thoughtful professionals realign with clarity, confidence, and calm purpose.
To book a session, visit the contact page.
