Hi, I’m Rieko
I was born and raised in Japan, but I spent seven years living in Australia. When I moved overseas, I began to see Japan through other people’s eyes. Some of their impressions felt accurate. Others made me wonder whether we were talking about the same country. Then I returned home—and something unexpected happened. Japan was still familiar, but I no longer saw it in quite the same way. Everyday habits I had never questioned suddenly became noticeable: the way we apologise, soften our opinions, follow unspoken rules and quietly adjust ourselves to the people around us.
Living abroad gave me distance. Returning home made the ordinary feel interesting again.
That is where Beyond Kimono began.
Why I Write
I did not start Beyond Kimono because I wanted to become an expert who explains Japan to the world.
I started it because I needed a place to express what I had seen, felt and learned through living abroad and eventually returning home.
Spending seven years in Australia changed the way I looked at Japan, but it also changed the way I looked at myself. Things that had once seemed completely normal began to feel unfamiliar. At the same time, experiences I had overseas made me think more deeply about identity, relationships, belonging and the different ways people move through life.
Writing helps me make sense of those experiences.
Japan naturally appears in many of my articles because it is where I was born, where I grew up and where I now live again. Sometimes I write about Japanese culture, social habits or practical information. At other times, I write about emotions, human relationships, cultural differences or the ordinary moments that stay with me.
Beyond Kimono is not only a blog about Japan. It is a personal space where I can explore life through the perspective of someone who has belonged to more than one place.
Some posts may be useful. Some may be reflective. Some may begin with a small observation and lead somewhere I did not expect.
That is part of the reason I write.
My Perspective
I grew up inside Japanese culture, but living abroad taught me that what feels “normal” depends greatly on where you are standing.
I do not claim to represent every Japanese person. Japan is far too diverse for that, and I am only one person with one set of experiences.
What I can offer is an honest perspective shaped by both belonging and distance.
When I write practical or cultural articles, I use my own experiences, Japanese-language sources and a great deal of curiosity. I try not to present Japan as either perfect or completely baffling—although it can occasionally be both before lunchtime.
What You’ll Find Here
Beyond Kimono moves naturally between practical information, cultural observations and personal reflection.
You may find an article about what to bring to Japan, what to buy or how to stay safe during an earthquake. Another post may explore politeness, indirect communication or the pressure to fit into a group. And sometimes, I may simply write about a feeling, a relationship, a memory or something ordinary that made me stop and think.
The subjects may change, but they are connected by the same curiosity: how our culture, surroundings and experiences shape the way we see ourselves and one another.
Beyond Kimono is for readers who enjoy looking beneath the surface—not only of Japan, but of everyday life. Some posts are useful. Some are personal. Some are a little strange. Most are probably a mixture of all three.
Welcome to Beyond Kimono—a place for curiosity, reflection and the occasional cultural plot twist.
Let’s Connect!
I always enjoy hearing from readers. Whether a post reminded you of your own experience, raised a question or simply made you think, you are welcome to get in touch through my Contact Page.
Thank you for spending a little time here.