So Near and Yet So Far

While working as a corporate trainer in Tokyo, I once had a conversation with a Japanese investment banker who had lived in Tokyo for more than ten years. She told me that she had never been to Akihabara. I was surprised. Even as a foreigner who had lived in Tokyo for only a few years, I had visited Akihabara many times. It is famous for electronics, games, and animation.

Years later, while teaching at a medical college in Saitama, I had a similar experience. Many of my students, who were in their early twenties, told me that they had never been to Shibuya, another famous part of Tokyo. Again, I was surprised. But these experiences taught me something important: being physically close to something does not mean that we know it, use it, or even have access to it.

In the Shadow of Harvard

Consider people who live close to Harvard University, one of the world’s best-known universities. They may be able to see the university or pass it every day. However, being close to Harvard does not mean that they can simply walk in and become a student.

Getting into a university like Harvard usually requires many years of hard work. Students may spend years preparing for exams, doing well in school, joining activities, helping their communities, and developing interests outside the classroom. Some may also travel or study in other countries.

As a result, someone who lives next door to Harvard may never study there, while a student who enters the university may have traveled thousands of miles to attend it. Physical distance is only one part of the story. Opportunity often depends on what people do with the opportunities around them.

When the Tourist Knows More

For people who live in popular tourist places, it can be interesting to watch thousands of visitors arrive every year. Tourists may visit famous places that local people hardly notice.

Japan is a good example. Tourists may go to the top of Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree, cross the famous Shibuya crossing, visit Kinkakuji in Kyoto, and take hundreds of photographs. Meanwhile, local people may walk past these places every day without giving them much thought.

This does not mean that local people do not appreciate their country. They are simply busy with work, school, family, and everyday life. Sometimes, the visitor sees more because the visitor is looking with fresh eyes.

Living in Japan Without Living in Japan

The same idea can apply to people who move to another country. Some people come to Japan, find a job, pay their rent, take the train every day, and go shopping. They may live in Japan for ten, fifteen, or even twenty years without becoming deeply connected to Japanese society.

Another person may arrive later but make a different choice. They may join clubs, volunteer, make Japanese friends, learn the language, and take part in local activities. In a shorter time, they may develop a much deeper understanding of the country.

The difference is not always the amount of time people spend in a place. Often, it is how they choose to spend that time.

Intentional Living May Be the Answer

If we live our lives only by following the same daily routine, we can easily miss the people, places, and opportunities around us. We may live close to something interesting without ever taking the time to discover it.

Curiosity can help us change this. We can visit places we have never seen, talk to people outside our usual circle, learn something new, or take advantage of educational opportunities nearby.

We do not need to travel thousands of miles to discover something valuable. Sometimes, the most interesting opportunities are already close to us. We simply need to notice them, and make the effort to reach them.

written by Everett Ofori