Here’s a post in the spirit of the Evangelion movies like 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone, 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance and 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo. Let’s talk about escape.

In all Japan-is-so-happy and oh-so-shiny, one of the reasons people go to Japan is because they hope it will allow them escape their reality. The shitty life they are unsatisified with back in their home country, the people they are annoyed of and also themselves, as a means of clean start. I’ve met a number of people (really great people at that), who were in Japan trying to escape their own lifes.

Lo and behold, it doesn’t work.

You won’t magically turn into a better person, just because you are some 6000 miles from your original home. When (and if) you return, you will be the same miserable old person you were. And of course to assume otherwise is foolish, how could being on another continent change you? If you want to change, you have to do this yourself. But for this, you don’t need to go to Japan, you can just as well move to the next town to start anew.

I don’t think I could convince you to spare the effort to go to Japan, and if you want to go then by all means, do so. But at least I can say “told you so” now. You’re welcome.

Sorry, no happy ending this time.