Some say money can't buy happiness...

Sumimasen...

Have you watched a short video on Tiktok or YouTube shorts or Instagram Reels with this audio and then suddenly, with a (sounded like a) short laugh tell you "Sumimasen... come to Japan."?

What's the connection, right? You will know when you'll be able to watch it, so I will try to post my own version of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZCK-M2VE-wE

Well, come to think of it. If you'll not be "too serious" about it, it's actually true. Let me justify why money can be a tool for someone to be happy. But before that, let me set the records straight, I am not encouraging the thought that money is the source of all happiness, the Bible actually tells something about money and its connection with evil. It says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Okay, guys, it's the LOVE of money, and not money itself.

Now, here are the reasons why the "Some say money can't buy happiness... sumimasen, come to Japan." statement is true.

• Good food. Japanese cuisine is known all over the world because of its uniqueness in terms of its ingredients, manner of preparation, and aesthetics. Back in the Philippines, I always liked Japanese food such as sushi, ramen, sashimi, katsudon, etc. And mind you, at work, whenever we have a year-end treat celebration, we would always choose restos with different varieties of all-you-can-eat food. When I went to Japan for a short trip in 2017, I was able to eat ramen noodles, and some sushi rolls, however, since the budget was tight during that time, the food that I was able to eat was only limited. Now, the budget is still tight, however, whenever I get a chance to eat out, I would always choose the ones that are authentic. They are quite expensive than home-cooked meals, but you know, you'll get what you've paid for. You know that cooking for them is an art, and you'll get to experience the art itself in every bite of their delicious, tasty food. I am gonna show some photos of the food that I've already eaten here:

  

  

  Katsudon in my favorite Katsudon place in near Kintetsu Nara Station

Unagi, Katsudon, and sushi... what else can you ask for?

Who's gonna say no to authentic ramen, yo!?

• Beautiful places. I am currently living in Nara City in Nara Prefecture, which is south of Tokyo. It is one of the prefectures in the Kansai Region, a place near several tourist destinations like Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo (Kobe). Nara is known for deers, which just roam around in the park. Actually, they roam around everywhere in Nara, even in front of my dorm! The last time I went to Japan (2017), I was able to visit Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara but only for a limited time and with a limited budget. Lol. Since last year, I've been to some places like Takayama and Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture where I experienced my first snow.

  

  

  My first snow experience in Shirakawago, Gifu Prefecture

  Together with my dormmates, we went to Kyushu area, the main southern island of Japan, particularly in Miyazaki and Fukuoka, where we spent hanami (cherry blossom viewing).

And for the first few days of the Golden week, I visited my friend in Kanto area where I visited Tokyo and Yokohama. I was totally awestruck.

I've actually also been able to go to different places around Nara because Nara is rich in history, it is viewed by the Japanese as the "cradle of civilization" and is known to be the oldest city capital of Imperial Japan, from 710 to 794. I will show photos of Nara, probably in my next article.

• Great Service. For sure, living in Japan is not cheap, especially since I come from a developing country. I've been staying here for almost 8 months now, and even if I am not a citizen, I am indebted to all the Japanese people because I am one of the beneficiaries of the government as a scholar. And from my vantage point, I can attest that the services offered to all citizens are truly what they deserve. For example, before coming to Japan, I was already vaccinated in the Philippines with Sinovac, but according to the city hall, they should have me vaccinated again with Pfizer because Sinovac is not recognized here. I should have, but I was not allowed to (sad) receive financial assistance from the city because of the effects of COVID-19. This kind of financial assistance is given to residents who belong to no/low-income families.

These are just some of the things that make me happy. Sure, money can't buy happiness, but when you have it, use it to come to Japan... and I hope to meet you by then!

ahem, sumimasen... :D