A shooting near my son’s daycare center prompted us to move from California to Japan. I feel safer here.

• In 2019, a shooting near her son’s daycare center reaffirmed Genie Doi’s decision to relocate.
• Doi, 38, and her husband decided on Japan for several reasons, including its safety and affordability.
• Although Doi enjoys living in Japan, she struggled with its lack of diversity and societal expectations.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Genie Doi, an American who relocated to Osaka, Japan, with her family. She runs a law firm as an immigration attorney and works remotely. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My husband is Japanese and moving to his homeland was always an option. A .