世界には親心しかない in KOBE

When I first thought of Kobe, I pictured a bustling metropolis. However, since moving here, I've discovered just how rich in nature this city truly is. Having mountains close by naturally means abundant nature. Parks near the mountains are lush with wildlife. Recently, I took my child to a park and saw a molehill for the first time. I suppose one could actively look for molehills, but finding one without even trying is a testament to the area's richness in nature. Although it might be hard to see, this is a photo of a molehill. Head a bit south, and you'll find the sea. On holidays, many people enjoy fishing there. It's bustling with people arriving by bike or scooter, so no need for long car rides. Where I grew up, fishing required a significant investment of time and money, making it a somewhat exclusive hobby. But in Kobe, it's a casual activity that anyone can enjoy. Despite being close to nature, Kobe isn't rural. Life here is convenient, and I find it a ve...

 ** Sometimes, I can't help but think that Japan might be experiencing a stock market bubble. Since the NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) system was revamped, even people who had no interest in investing before have started buying stocks. NISA allows individuals to invest without paying taxes under certain conditions. Currently, stocks and investment trusts including stocks are covered. For existing investors, this system is a boon as they no longer have to pay around 20% tax on profits. I think the promotion was very well done, leading many people to start investing using the NISA system. People who previously only saved their money in bank accounts have begun investing in stocks. This isn't a bad thing—in fact, it's quite healthy in times of inflation. But, as with anything, too much is never good. I don't know if there's a similar saying abroad, but in Japan, there's a market proverb that goes, "When housewives start buying stocks, the market will...

After moving to Kobe, the NISA system was revamped. As the media began to cover this, many people started investing. Numerous analysts emphasized the importance of risk reduction through diversification, leading many individual investors to diversify globally. The most popular investment is mutual funds linked to the MSCI All Country Index. These funds are favored because they allow global diversification and are offered by several management companies with very low trust fees. Some point out that the current yen depreciation is significantly influenced by NISA. Japanese investors are using NISA to buy large amounts of foreign stocks, increasing the demand for foreign currency and causing the yen to weaken. If this is true, a reversal is expected eventually. When profits are realized and converted back to yen, the demand for yen will increase, putting upward pressure on the yen. Since many are long-term investors, this might not happen for decades. Recently, high-dividend foreign stock...