On August 19, 2010, the author reflects on repeated invitations from a close friend in New York that he declined in favor of Hawaii. He admits that if he had moved to New York, he could have connected directly with Wall Street money, managed a top Japanese fund, and avoided the currency risks that plague Japan. Instead, Japan’s foolishness and unstable yen left investment opportunities to Chinese and Western investors, while he chose the sea over the metropolis.

A personal anecdote from 2010 about a friend’s invitation to New York. The author reflects on his decision to decline, which led him to understand the significant “exchange rate risk” that deters foreign investors from Japan. He hypothesizes that had he accepted, he could have leveraged Wall Street connections to create a leading fund and achieve a massive return on investment, while highlighting the fundamental issues that make Japan an unattractive investment for those outside of China and the West.

Around this time.
August 19, 2010.
My classmate and close friend D was working as a lawyer in New York.
When he left for the United States, I had arranged for his house to be leased as a corporate residence for a major company, sending him off without any worries.

At that time, as I was a golf enthusiast and frequently traveled to Hawaii, he sent me a letter.
“I have never told anyone, but I have thought of spending the latter half of my life in a place like Hawaii.
I have no intention of continuing to practice law there, but if I did, I would have to obtain a license to practice in Hawaii again.
Like you, I love the sea and golf.”

“Kisara, come to New York.
Summer in New York is humid, but you can play four kinds of sports in a day.
Come, New York is great.”

He invited me several times, but at that time I was devoted solely to Hawaii.
I even declared to those around me that New York was tomorrow’s Tokyo and there was no need to go.
Above all, I did not want to spend holidays in a metropolis.
Having grown up by the sea, I simply wanted to be by the ocean.

If, instead of heading to Singapore and Bangkok, I had accepted his invitation to New York, I would by now have achieved a threefold return against Japan.
I would have left this foolish country and be enjoying life somewhere in the world today.

In Japan, the only ones who can invest without currency risk are the Chinese from the mainland—since there is virtually no fluctuation in their currency—and the Westerners.
Since they are the ones moving the exchange rates, it is self-evident that they would never move them to lose, only to profit.

Through his connections, I would have been directly linked to Wall Street money in no time and would have been running one of Japan’s leading fund companies.
When it comes to judging Japanese real estate, I have confidence and pride that I fall behind no one.