Two months after going back to Japan, I went to the real estate agent in Fukuoka city. Luckily, I had a knowledgeable middleman, Yamada who helped me purchase a resale condo that was likely to rise property value. After a few days, I walked with him to the condo to view it. I enjoyed talking to a man who was doing what he loved. He loved architectures, so he worked there. On the other hand, he took heavy losses in his previous business and his company went bankrupt.
Failure is an answer. I respected Yamada for having faced the challenge and learned the consequences. At that time, I was thinking of starting my own business, where there was a lively town with opportunities for growth. Fukuoka city seemed to be a fresh challenge ahead of me. I wished to make a virtue out of my limitations.
The real challenge was finding what l really wanted to do. I love English. It is one thing and quit another to teach English as a business. I knew that the basis of business is to imitate successful people, however, I did not like banality, wanting to build a blue ocean where I can reign supreme. I was having a hard time, a negative current, doing that since I left the company.
Japanese would say to those who try something new: “You can do it. I wish you the best.” This is “Tatemae”: showing what he is supposed to say in public. But I knew that in the back of their mind they mocked: “Life is not so easy,” “You’re going to screw up,” and “I’m not foolish like you.” Of course, they never say that to avoid hurting you by telling Honne: your true feeling. After the years, they would say in whisper: “See? I knew it.” “Yeah. He is over.”
Basically, Japanese is afraid of failure. Let’s say a few women, to release their stress, goes out together for dinner after work. Being pointless stories endlessly, their conversation would become lively: seeing who and who are a couple, grumbling about her husband or boyfriend, complaining her co-workers and small pay. There is a way to make it work. And then that is the most fun part: wanting to know who reprimanded who, who will take responsibility for what, who will get an ignominious transfer where. They would say: “Really?” “Incredible,” “How come?” The one thing they have in common is that they are glad it is not them. As the result, they unite and cheer up.
That is like some heartless act, only nobody support you. Trying new things is that we are bound to make mistakes Japanese are not tolerant of. For that reason, I did not dare tell Yamada that I might start my business. “I’ve yet to decide what I am going to do,” I said. “First I will live here. Fukuoka airport is near, so I can easily go overseas. If I found another place to live, I would rent out this room.” “I knew a person who lived on passive income,” said Yamada.
You would first invest in small property, a room for one person. Over time, you would save up money from the rent. Then, investment in a second one, a small room. Now you had two room, from which you receive the rent. You would save up and add a third one, a slightly larger property. Over years, you would figure that you broke even for the first one, which you can sell for money. You would keep trying to research good properties that you benefit from. Maybe four. And five. Yes! You do not need to work anymore.
“I think it is reasonable,” I laughed a little. “It’s a big decision. You should sleep on it and talk to someone. It is possible to change your mind,” he said soberly, never having tried hard sell on me. I supposed most sales representatives would not say this. They would say with a modest smile: ”What would you like to do? If you don’t decide as soon as possible, it will sell.” Like they try to unsettle me. They want me to purchase anyway.
Yamada wanted me to be happy by offering a property that met my needs. He stressed the ties with landlords having a lot of information that you should know before you buy another property. It was creeping me out even though I found it inevitable. I do not like attending work shops; exchanging business cards, smiling, talking, smiling, talking, smiling and bowing. I must pretend to be a gentleman. Then hovering, I would get nowhere and find myself alone. Ugh. That sucks. But I will have to do better. I did trust Yamada and wished to be on good term with him from then on.
