Serenity in Land of Rising Sun

MENTION a holiday in Japan and many would imagine the metropolitan sights in Shinjuku or Shibuya; the colourful characters of Harajuku; the majestic view of Mount Fuji from Hakone town; or if it is winter-time, the spectacular ski attractions in Hokkaido.

For Vivienne Lim, however, none of these was in her list when she planned her maiden solo trip to the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.

“I felt that I was ready for a special experience,” said the volunteer worker, now in her 50s.

“However, I wasn’t chasing famous tourists’ sights or crowded shopping streets.

“I wanted something quieter; a personal encounter.

“I wanted to know the very heart of life and culture in Japan,” she told the writer when met in Miri recently.

‘Family is everything’

Lim has been living in Miri since age seven, but she was actually born in Kuching.

“Miri has always been my home city – I consider it the place that holds my roots,” she said.

Lim was an English teacher before she left the job to take care of her mother full time.

“Sometimes, I take care of my two granddaughters whenever my daughter is busy at work.

“My husband, TC Yung, is from Sibu and works in the oil and gas industry, but when he’s home, he is always helpful,” she said.

Energetic and enthusiastic, Lim made this writer feel very warm and comfortable.

Throughout the interview, she was always smiling.

“Smiling keeps you young,” said Lim, who could easily pass as a woman in her 30s.

She was particularly excited when the writer asked about her preparation for the Japan trip.

“My family is everything, you know.

“They knew that this trip was not going to be ‘an ordinary tourist visit’.

“It’s a long time away from them, about two weeks; as if I was on sabbatical!” she laughed.

“Yet, they fully supported my plan,” she added.

Lim wanted to visit some Sarawakian friends residing in Japan.

She, however, acknowledged that it would be quite a challenging trip, especially in terms of communication.

“I didn’t know a word of Japanese, and I knew then that it would be problematic,” she laughed again.

“You must always ‘follow a friend who knows Japanese’; otherwise, you’d be lost.”

Named after a flower

Lim did not go shopping, visit the highly-recommended tourist sites, or spend any night at the hotel.

Instead, she stayed with some friends in Yurigaoka, a neighbourhood in Asao Ward of Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture.

This small suburban residential area has 4,189 households, with a total population of 8,009.

It was named after the Yurigaoka Danchi housing development project that was running in the 1950s.

The name ‘Yurigaoka’ actually refers to the Goldband Lily (Lilium auratum) – a very sweet-smelling large-flowered lily species native to Japan.

It is the official flower of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Yurigaoka is known for its station on the Odakyu Line, which is well-connected with the rest of Japan’s Megalopolis.

“Want to know another interesting thing about Yurigaoka,” Lim teased.

“There’s a fossil found there in 1913!”

Lim was referring to the discovery of a fossil tooth of a Parastegodon – an extinct elephant relative genus – in March 1913.

The geological period is estimated to be from the late Pliocene timeline, about 2.6 million years ago.

The historical significance of this discovery indicated that while most of the present-day Kawasaki City was underwater during that period, the Yurigaoka area was likely above water, potentially marking the ancient shoreline.

Archaeological studies also show that rice has been grown in the area as long ago as third century AD.

After World War II, the district recorded a population surge, especially after the completion of the Yurigaoka Station in 1960.

“Well, these are the things that history and archaeology buffs just love,” said Lim.

There is a beautiful park in the area, the ‘Kobo no Matsu’, named after a pine tree species.

The nearby Koboyama Park is known for its extensive cherry blossom displays – with over 1,400 trees – as well as being a nice spot to view Mount Fuji from afar.

“I love Yurigaoka,” said Lim.

“The train station near my host’s place is most convenient and I love the train rides.

“The daily life in Yurigaoka moves at a gentle pace.

“During my time there, I visited some friends in Kameido and Shinjuku, but that was nothing as lovely as walking to the supermarket in Yurigaoka to find fresh produce and cooking for my hosts.

“The Japanese I met were polite and helpful when approached, and they truly respected personal space and privacy – something that I truly appreciate.

“One thing also – they politely declined to be photographed.”

Cemetery visit, meeting Chinese community

Lim said one of most memorable moments in Yurigaoka was a visit to a cemetery there with a friend, Hirosi Yabe.

“It was breathtakingly calm, with the ‘sakura’ (cherry blossoms) petals drifting in the soft spring breeze.

“I think it’s memorable because it’s my first time seeing cherry blossoms – that quiet beauty left me deeply moved.”

Lim also met some members of the Chinese community in Kameido, a district not far from the neighbourhood.

“Majority of them migrated to Japan in the 1990s.

“Having learned Japanese, they are now a part of the local culture.

“I was genuinely touched by the warmth of this Chinese community. They welcomed me as one of their own.

“We enjoyed many generous potluck lunches, and cheerful conversations.

“When I was about to return to Sarawak, a young couple hosted a farewell dinner for me.

“It’s a wonderful gesture that I will never forget.”

‘Food, food and food’

Lim said her Japan trip had presented her with ‘a culinary gift’ – the Japanese way of preparing fish for a meal.

“My stay in Yurigaoka enriched my culinary skills,” she said.

An unforgettable part of this was when she was treated to ‘unagi’.

“The grilled eel was as long and big as my forearm!” she laughed.

“It’s the best ‘unagi’ that I’ve ever tasted.

“My host also showed me how to grill sardines and prepare ‘nato’ (fermented soybeans), which has since become my favourite side dish.

“I also appreciate the culture of sharing meals in Japan, as it’s not just about the food, but also about social connection and learning.”

Ageing population

Another aspect that Lim discovered from her Japan trip was the total independence of the elderly folks there.

“I was pleasantly surprised.

“Back in Malaysia, people would readily offer their seats to the older passengers, but in Japan, the seniors would politely decline – a quiet reflection of their dignity and self-reliance,” she observed.

Japan’s elderly population is considered among the world’s largest, making up nearly 30 per cent of the total demography.

This is driven by a low birth rate and high life expectancy, leading to a shrinking workforce and increasing social welfare costs.

To cope, the Japanese government is implementing social security reforms including extending the retirement age, where there is a rising trend of elderly people remaining in the workforce to counter labour shortage.

Another interesting part of this is at present, there are more women than men in Japan’s ageing population.

“Being a former educator, I couldn’t help but observe and do research.

“The ageing segment of Japan’s population leads to a declining number of young workers, contributing to the labour shortage that affects the country’s economy and the tax base.

“The growing elderly population is said to be placing a strain on public finances due to rising medical and welfare costs.

“Moreover, a significant social challenge is the prevalence of loneliness among the elderly folks, many of whom are living alone,” said Lim.

Based on research into the 2024 statistics, she found out that 9.3 million senior citizens aged 65 and older were still in employment, translated into a ratio of one elderly worker among seven.

“On paper, these older workers continue to work because of labour shortage and the extended retirement age, as well as to supplement their pensions.

“However, another factor that I have found out is that many of these seniors still work because they need social interactions.”

In view of this, Lim opined that the Japanese government and the community had responded well to the ‘Grey Revolution’, meant to address this demographic challenge.

“On the government’s side, it has long introduced long-term care insurance and developed integrated community systems to manage social security costs and support the ageing population.

“Moreover, the regulations have been revised to improve working conditions for older employees.

“The local authorities have also been running programmes where volunteers are engaged to check in on the elderly residents and help them with their daily needs.

“This is, indeed, a good revelation for my friends in Japan, who are looking forward to going into old age in Japan.

“Japan’s elderly population is projected to continue growing, likely reaching 34.8 per cent of total population by 2040.

“What I have learnt is that the government is eyeing on leveraging technology to support the ageing population,” she elaborated.

Lim said she would definitely return to Japan, but it would be slightly different from this maiden trip.

“I plan to stay in a Japanese community; to live among them and experience their customs and culture more closely.

“My first solo trip to Japan was a gentle, yet eye-opening, journey of discovery.

“I got to learn a lot about and appreciate the beauty of connection, the strength of independence, and the immense bonding with nature,” she smiled.

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