Finding Home: Why Osaka Keeps Winning as Asia's Most Livable City

I scrolled through my Xiaohongshu posts and realized it's been weeks since I wrote about daily life, aside from work summaries.

Today, I saw the news: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its latest Global Liveability Index 2025. Osaka rose two spots to rank 7th globally, remaining the only Asian city in the top 10. It's also the only Asian city to maintain top-10 status for eight consecutive years since 2018. This year, Osaka scored perfect marks in three categories:

Stability Healthcare Education

These three factors were precisely why I brought my family to settle in Osaka after considering so many countries and cities.

Social stability, Family healthcare, Children's education.

This is our third year living in Osaka. The novelty and rose-tinted glasses have faded, yet I find myself loving this city more and more.

Last night, my friend's family and I watched the night view from the 300-meter observation deck at Abeno. Osaka's nightscape isn't brilliantly lit; instead, it reveals a certain tranquility.

The main roads aren't packed with endless traffic. Rather, the pedestrian bridge at Abeno sees a steady stream of people.

After gradually adapting to life here, our days have become much more ordinary.

The kids go to school and back on their own, heading to tennis practice and tutoring. My wife has her own circle, meeting friends for yoga, shopping at Costco, browsing second-hand stores, and even making Japanese mom friends. I've found my business direction and a few good friends.

On weekday evenings when I'm home, I cook if I have time. When I'm lazy, I grab two bentos from the supermarket downstairs—the kids are happy either way.

On weekends, we rent a car, meet up with friends, find a quiet park, pitch a tent, and lazily spend the day. Sometimes we barbecue, other times we simply stock up on food from convenience stores. We enjoy the blue sky and white clouds.

Ordinary?

Pretty ordinary.

Happy?

Pretty happy.

I no longer spend energy following politics, economics, or world events. I've reclaimed all that time to focus on myself and my family.

Simple, peaceful, ordinary.

After dinner last night, our family rode home on bicycles in the gentle breeze. The feeling reminded me of 20-30 years ago when I was a child, riding bikes with my parents along Wuhan's riverside avenue.

Life is both an experience and a cycle.

Pick up the pen, record reflections. Put down the pen, savor life.

这里是中文版。