The Turbulent Life of Katsuo / 30s / The Kosen Graduate's Story #8

英語版も作成してみました！日本語版もあるので是非読みやすい方を！

👆Chapter 7 (Starting My Career — ) - Continued...

Chapter 8 | The Turning Point — Same Company, Different World

■ Life Was Going Well

A few years had passed since I joined the department, and work had become genuinely fulfilling. I worked closely with experienced employees in their sixties, and they often told me, “You should learn as much as you can while you're still young.” Because of that, they trusted me with a wide range of responsibilities. Of course, there were difficult moments, but strangely, I never felt overwhelmed by them.

The workplace atmosphere was good too. I rarely struggled with relationships, and outside of work, I naturally became close with my coworkers. We spent weekends hanging out, going out for meals, and enjoying life together.

Being part of a major company also came with many benefits. I could take long vacations and travel overseas. Working hours were flexible, and even the dress code was fairly relaxed.

Back in my Kosen days, I constantly wondered, Can I really survive in society? But after becoming a working adult, that fear slowly disappeared. Before I knew it, I had started thinking, I’ll probably keep working here forever. And somehow, that thought felt completely natural.

■ The Day My Father Passed Away

Then, in my sixth year as a working adult, everything suddenly stopped.

My father passed away.

To be honest, I barely remember the moment I received the call. The only thing that remains in my memory is how suddenly everything inside my head became quiet.

My mother had already passed away years before. My younger sister was now the only one left back home, and naturally one thought came to me:

I can’t keep living in central Japan anymore.

When I spoke with the company, the people around me showed incredible support. My coworkers and senior colleagues were genuinely worried about me. Even the department manager—a woman I deeply respected—sat down with me, listened carefully, and immediately said, “Let’s move quickly.”

What surprised me most was the speed of it all. Just one week after our conversation, my transfer back to Hyogo had already been approved.

At that moment, I truly felt saved by the company.

■ It Was Supposed to Be the Same Company

I still clearly remember my first day at the new office back home.

The moment I walked through the gates, I thought, Wait... this is the same company?

The buildings looked much older. The office felt darker somehow, with only minimal lighting turned on. Even the computer setup was completely different. In central Japan, having a laptop with dual monitors was normal. Here, there was only a single computer.

The work itself was entirely different too. Different products. Different industries. Different systems. It felt like everything I had built over the years had suddenly been reset.

Even the work style had changed. Back in central Japan, flexible schedules allowed me to work at my own pace. Here, everyone followed the exact same starting and finishing times.

It wasn’t that one environment was better than the other. But without realizing it, I had become deeply accustomed to my previous life.

And even after time passed, that strange feeling never really disappeared.

Still, there were kind senior coworkers, and I didn’t dislike the work itself. So I kept telling myself, I’ll probably get used to it eventually.

But at the time, I still didn’t know.

That transfer would become the beginning of a turning point—one that would completely change the way I saw my life.