I wasn’t sure how this leadership election would turn out.
Since ordinary citizens don’t get to vote directly, we often feel as if we have no control. For a moment I worried we might go back to another era of “selling off Japan,” like what happened under Koizumi—father and son. But not this time. Times have changed, and people have awakened.
There are too many things in this world that feel off.
We cannot allow a future where Japan becomes overwhelmed by uncontrolled immigration.
This land belongs to Japan.
Our culture, our language, our technology—these are worth protecting.
To be honest, I didn’t know much about Ms. Takaichi until recently, but the more I learned, the more she stood out from other politicians. She grew up in an ordinary family, put herself through college, and worked to pay her own tuition. Something about that resonated with me.
My Life in America and the Feeling of Being an Outsider
A bit of a personal story.
Before COVID, I worked part-time and also drove Uber on weekends. Of course, I needed the extra money, but the bigger reason was to get used to speaking English.
Even though I’ve lived in the U.S. for a long time, English still doesn’t feel completely natural.
I have acquaintances I’ve known for years, yet every time we meet it feels like a first encounter.
No matter how long I live here, some part of me always feels like an outsider.
Sometimes I wonder, “Why am I here?”
“Where did I go wrong to end up here?”
Of course, I chose this life myself, and it’s my responsibility. But I can’t stand the idea of being separated from my kids. So I have to be here.
Even after all these years, I don’t feel fully blended into American society. I might even have a bit of face-to-face anxiety. Driving Uber became a kind of practice—occasionally forcing myself to make small talk with passengers.
A Conversation With a Native American Passenger
In my car, I always played Japanese music. One day I was playing a song by Shiina Ringo, and a woman asked, “What country is this from?”
“It’s Japanese,” I said.
She replied, “Japan is such a wise country. I heard that when Europeans arrived, you kept them on Dejima so they couldn’t come in freely.”
She turned out to be Native American, and it was right before Thanksgiving.
I asked her, “Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?”
In textbooks it’s portrayed as a warm harvest celebration shared with Native Americans. But in reality, it’s a holiday built on land that was taken from them.
This world is built upon layers of blood-stained history.
She answered quietly,
“No, I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. I celebrate Indigenous People’s Day instead.”
She also told me the real story of Pocahontas—how she was taken to England, exposed to unfamiliar diseases, and died so suddenly.
History is rewritten to suit those in power.
No one truly knows what the real truth was.
What I Realized After Leaving Japan
It was only after living abroad that I realized how wonderful Japan truly is.
Of course, Japan can feel restrictive at times, and I’m not even sure if I could move back right now—finding work would be difficult.
And I appreciate the good things about America, too.
But having seen both countries, I now understand Japan’s value more deeply.
Across Europe, crime rates are rising as mass immigration reshapes society.
Who is orchestrating this?
Why is this happening?
It feels as though a silent kind of warfare is taking place—one that many people don’t even notice.
My Wish for Ms. Takaichi
I sincerely hope that Ms. Takaichi stays true to her principles.
And I pray for her safety as she carries them forward.
