(国際的な観点から)日本の物価が安い ―― これは、地味に私にインパクトを与えています。
The low cost of living in Japan (from an international perspective) -- has had a sobering impact on me.
インバンド需要によって、海外観光客の取り込みという点では良いことでしょう。
This would be a good thing for attracting international tourists due to in-band demand.
しかし、エネルギー輸入大国日本は、ご存知の通り、大打撃を受けています。
However, as you know, Japan, a major energy importer, has been hit hard.
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I have told you several times that about 30 years ago, I was wandering alone in Asia.
未整備なインフラ、清潔とは言えない環境、通じない言葉などの問題はありましたが、アジアは私の心の拠り所でした。
Despite the problems of undeveloped infrastructure, unclean environment, and language barriers, Asia was my spiritual home.
特に中国(大陸の方)は、「私の心の支え」といっても過言ではありませんでした。
In particular, China (the mainland) was "my heart and soul".
―― 何もかもが嫌になったら、中国大陸に逃げて、姉から毎月5000円を送金して貰いながら生きていこう
"If I get sick of everything, I'll run away to mainland China and live off my sister's monthly remittance of 5,000 yen."
当時の中国は、5000円もあれば、一ヶ月間くらいなら、余裕で宿泊と飲食を賄えるほど「安い国」だったのです。
At that time, China was such a "cheap country" that one could afford to stay, eat, and drink for a month or so with as little as \5,000.
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今、凄い勢いで、「私の心の支え」は壊れつつあります。
Now, "my heart and soul" is breaking down at a terrific rate.
今や日本は、経済大国第2位の国から、私の生きている間に、ランク外まで落ち込む可能性も出てきています。
Japan has gone from being the second-largest economy to possibly falling out of the ranks in my lifetime.
私の「換金レート差額を使った不労所得戦略」は完全に瓦解し、もはや逃げ場がないという事実が、今の私を苦しめています。
The fact that my "unearned income strategy using the exchange rate difference" has completely fallen apart, and there is no longer any way out is now hurting me.
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I want to write about the past and present of this "unearned income strategy using the difference in exchange rates" in the "Engineers Unloved by Money" series -- but I don't have time for that right now.