Life in Japan, a little lesson in standing your ground. This week in Wakayama, my kitchen island is finally being repaired after months of waiting, and I’m choosing new tatami for my friend’s traditional Japanese house.

After months of back and forth, the replacement parts for my kitchen finally arrive and I have to unpack everything all over again so the island can be fixed properly.

I absolutely love my kitchen and I’m happy with the company and the product, but there was one mistake I knew I couldn’t accept. Going through the process reminded me how difficult it can be to stand up for yourself when something isn’t right — especially when you’re trying to negotiate and explain everything in another language.
It also made me realise how much unresolved problems can take up space in our minds. Even when we’re getting on with everyday life, we can still be carrying around the emails, conversations and decisions we’re waiting to resolve.

Later, I’m back at my friend’s old house in Wakayama to meet the local family-run tatami business that made the tatami for my own Japanese home. We look through different tatami designs, colours and materials, and talk about how traditional tatami makers in Japan are adapting as fewer modern homes include full tatami rooms.

I love seeing traditional Japanese crafts continue to evolve — and I’m always happy when I can support local Wakayama businesses and work again with people I know and trust.

And of course, Millie is nearby living her completely carefree life while I worry about renovations. 😂

I’m also sharing some of the lovely postcards I’ve received from viewers, adding them to my new postcard display, writing this month’s Chani Japan Postcard Club card and showing the new Japanese stamps I’ll be using.

If you enjoy videos about everyday life in Japan, living in Wakayama, Japanese houses, home renovation, traditional Japanese culture and starting over in midlife, you’re very welcome to subscribe and join me each week.

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If you are new to the channel, my name is Chani and I am a middle aged Australian who was stuck in a rut and moved to Japan to live. I bought an Akiya or empty house and started renovating. I'd love it if you subscribed and joined the community. I look forward to seeing you in the next video 😀

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#LifeInJapan #JapanVlog #Wakayama #JapaneseHome #Tatami #HomeRenovation #LivingInJapan #JapaneseCulture #MidlifeReset #ChaniJapan

00:00 - Introduction
01:11 - The Kitchen Island Problem
02:58 - Learning to Speak Up & Trusting Your Judgment
06:25 - Kitchen Fixed & Celebrating Small Wins
07:33 - The Mental Weight of Unresolved Issues
08:36 - Renovation Project: Meeting the Tatami Craftsman
10:09 - Choosing Modern Ryukyu Tatami
10:51 - The Evolution of Tatami Making
12:21 - Finding the Hidden Underfloor Hatch
13:02 - Preserving Tradition Through Change
13:55 - Postcard Club & Wrap Up