Former interior designer returns to London after finding Japanese office culture too demanding

A British woman left rural Japan and returned to London after finding the country's office culture too demanding. She had previously worked as an interior designer in the United States, where long hours and a competitive environment led to burnout. Looking for something different, she spent around two years applying for jobs in Japan before eventually securing a position teaching English.

Life outside the office suited her well. She enjoyed the relaxed pace of rural living, the strong sense of community, and good transport links to larger cities. However, her workplace told a different story. Japanese offices, she found, placed a heavy emphasis on long working hours and competition between colleagues, problems she had hoped to leave behind. Office culture ultimately drove her decision to go home.