What keeps you in Japan ?

[Mike Cash]

I have no intention of staying here forever and from the moment I came here the plan always was to come home someday. I say this because I'm sure that many people who come and end of staying forever at first did not intend to, and those that did probably went running home to mommy after the first year because they came with high expectations that could not possibly be lived up to

We all know the dubious nature of anecdotal evidence, but I'll say this anyway.....

I passed the "over half my life in Japan" mark a few years ago and have known a small number of foreigners who have lived here a similar amount of time. Of them, and including myself, not one had as their intention to stay here forever.

[Mikawa Ossan]

I stayed in Japan because I was comfortable there. Pretty simple, really.

I left because of familial issues, and I must admit to being more attached to my family than to any place. Otherwise I'd still be there.