HOw many leaving Service speak Japanese and want to live/work in Tokyo after getting out?

MAJ Michael Pauling — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:47:34 -0500

Response by MSgt Danny Hope made Mar 4 at 2016 8:17 AM

MSgt Danny Hope — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 08:17:11 -0500

Mine is prob very rusty too! However, it's kind of like riding a bike...exposure would bring most of it back.

Response by SMSgt John Love made Mar 10 at 2016 6:06 PM

SMSgt John Love — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 18:06:57 -0500

I almost returned to Japan as a civilian after I returned from Vietnam in 1970 but after working 22 months in Los Angles I reentered that Air Force and served another 23 years, Now that I'm knocking on the door or 69 years old and totally disabled I can only hope to return as an old man unable to work any more. If my 70 year old Japanese wife of 50 years decides to dump me maybe I go back to Japan and look for TWO 35 year old Japanese ladies to replace her or maybe settle for THREE 23 year olds as replacements. I served a total of 15 years in Japan and still in my heart I consider Japan to be my real home. My younger son, who grew up in Japan, did go back to live in Japan when he was in his late 20s but came back to the US to live. A couple of his high school mates, who are now in their mid 40s, still live in Japan and are so happy with their lives. I earnedt a military retirement as well as a couple of other retirement plans and am very comfortably retired but I really think I would so much happier if I had stayed in Japan all my life.

Response by Sgt Josh Hardy made Aug 16 at 2017 5:11 PM

Sgt Josh Hardy — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:11:16 -0400

A bit late to this discussion, but I would love to return. I was in Japan as a civilian studying abroad before I enlisted, and would love to go back to work there. My Japanese is a bit rusty, but I still have all my old books, and it's a long 10-12 hour flight there.