Three years ago, Kaori and her family escaped the bustle of Osaka and moved to Gojo, a small, mountain-ringed city in Nara Prefecture known for its well-preserved townhouses and abundance of nature.
In retrospect, it was a move that was ahead of the curve, with COVID-19 spurring more urbanites to show an interest in relocating to rural regions. But while Kaori has been able to avoid jam-packed commuter trains and enjoy weekend canoeing expeditions, there¡¯s been one setback: Her company doesn¡¯t allow her to work remotely.
¡°I can probably do 90% of my tasks from home, but the people at the top are against the concept,¡± says Kaori, a 37-year-old mother who works in human resources for a small manufacturer with around 50 employees, speaking on condition that she only be identified by her first name due to privacy reasons. ¡°There¡¯s this mentality among the digitally unsure older generation that it¡¯s not work unless you show up to work.¡±
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