Hello, this is Naoko Matsumoto, your Personal International Matchmaker.

It’s already June 2025.

Some may think, “There’s still half the year left,”
while others feel, “Only six months until 2026!”

Both are valid reactions.

Last month, I spent three weeks in Japan and reunited with my parents for the first time in six months. They seemed well, but I couldn’t ignore the signs of aging — both theirs and my own.

In May, I celebrated my 57th birthday in Japan.

When I was in my 20’s or 30’s, I never really thought about things like this. But as we enter the second half of life, it’s natural to start reflecting more deeply and seeing life from a broader perspective.

The truth is, one day — maybe in 10 or 20 years — my parents won’t be here anymore.

And for those of us in international marriages, it’s not easy to meet our families in Japan often.

Every time I return to the U.S., I find myself wondering:

• When will I see them again?
• How many more times will I get to see them?

There are things I regret:

• Not inviting them to Hawaii while they were still able to travel.
• Not doing more for them while I had the chance.
• Not being as filial as I could have been.

But still — there are things I can do now.
And I’m making a list of what’s still possible.
At the very least, I’ve made preparations so I can return to Japan immediately if anything happens.

Now, as I approach my late 50’s and soon my 60’s, I can roughly see the endpoint of my own life — maybe I have 20 years left?

That’s why I’ve made a decision:
While I’m still alive, I want to live without regrets. Rather than cramming everything into the last stretch of life, wouldn’t it have been better to try more, fail more, and experience more when I was younger and had more time and energy?

This reminds me of a recent conversation with one of our female members.

She said, “I’m the type who keeps testing the bridge, tapping it again and again… but never actually crosses it.”
– 「石橋をたたいて渡る」- in Japanese saying.

I said, “That means you’re cautious — and that’s okay.”

But I also think this:
Being cautious is fine, but being too cautious can stop us from ever taking action.

This applies to all of us — men and women. We don’t need to overthink everything. Sometimes, we just need to act.

Even if we fail, we learn.
Even if it’s imperfect, we grow.
Life goes by faster than we think.

As we hit the halfway point of 2025, ask yourself:
How much will I really do in the next six months? Am I just thinking — or actually doing something about it?

Only you can decide.

As for me, I’ve made my decision.
I’m committed to fulfilling my mission in this lifetime —and I will move forward with full focus, no regrets.

Let’s live this second half of life with clarity, courage, and purpose — together.

Naoko Matsumoto (まつもとなおこ）
FOUNDER&CEO
Traditional Japanese Matchmaker

Traditional Japanese Matchmaker is the best dating and matchmaking service that is specialized for single international professionals and Japanese women established in 1999. Please click the link below to get started with TJM’s Free Registration if you are truly interested. We look forward to assisting you in finding your Japanese wife.

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