Notes

SOLO, NOT LONELY

kodokushi (dying alone without being noticed)


Japanese cities make having a good life when you’re single very easy. There are vending machines on every corner (some dispense beer), all-night convenience stores, standing bars where you can strike up a conversation, and countless restaurants that cater for solo diners.

There are even capsule hotels designed solely for men travelling alone (rather than bathrooms or showers, these places often come with a communal onsen – a kind of bath spa – which requires you to be butt naked.

In the sauna, somewhere in Japan:

"Yeah, my job takes me all over the world. Being single and all only makes things easier."
"Crazy, right? I mean, I've been doing it since my fiancée broke up with me."
"Well I have a policy, you know? If you leave, don't comeback. I've gone this process of getting together with an ex-girlfriend before and it was a massive mistake."
"I learned that if you break up normally there's a good reason (or many) for the split."
"She did eventually tried to get back to me but, like, whatever her reasons (might be even that she wanted to hook up a bit before commiting definitely with me), I am just better on my own."
"Man, I have married friends; they complain, complain and complain and after seeing how shocked I am they say 'but the married life is good, though.' Good to whom, I ask?"

"Oh, the demography, oh the economy... Man, I don't want to sound selfish, but why should I sacrifice my entire life to please a hateful wife and to provide for ungrateful kids? I mean, I was a good kid to my parents but many of my colleagues were such disappointments. No thanks."