--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I lived in Japan for about two years. I…" description: "\"I lived in Japan for about two years. I spent my time equally between religiously studying Aikido in Shinjuku by day and hard partying in Shibuya and R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/sturgill-simpson-8888_aikido_i-lived-in-japan-for-about-two-years-i-s_1140771.jpg" --- # I lived in Japan for about two years. I spent my time… ![“I lived in Japan for about two years. I spent my time equally between religiously studying Aikido in Shinjuku by day and hard partying in Shibuya and Roppongi by night. On more than a few nights, those subways were my own personal stage coach to hell.” quote by Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/sturgill-simpson-8888_aikido_i-lived-in-japan-for-about-two-years-i-s_1140771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/sturgill-simpson-8888_aikido_i-lived-in-japan-for-about-two-years-i-s_1140771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02e/sturgill-simpson-8888_aikido_i-lived-in-japan-for-about-two-years-i-s_1140771.jpg) > “I lived in Japan for about two years. I spent my time equally between religiously studying Aikido in Shinjuku by day and hard partying in Shibuya and Roppongi by night. On more than a few nights, those subways were my own personal stage coach to hell.” [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He balanced disciplined Aikido practice with vibrant nightlife, using subways as a personal crucible for growth. **In simple terms:** He mixed martial arts training with intense nightlife, shaping his journey. Key Takeaway Balance discipline with freedom for personal development. Themes balance growth adventure Mood adventurous reflective Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - travel - nightlife - training - personal reflection Key Concepts self‑discovery cultural immersion Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries help balance intense pursuits? - How does environment shape personal growth? A Different Perspective Intense nightlife may hinder long‑term health and focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aikido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aikido/) [Aikido Shinjuku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aikido-shinjuku-2206465/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Lived Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-japan-421602/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [My time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-time/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Studying Aikido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studying-aikido-2206464/) [Subway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subway/) [Subways Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subways-personal-3179244/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I lived in Japan when I was younger for about two years. I spent my time equally between religiously studying Aikido in Shinjuku by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-lived-in-japan-when-i-was-younger-for-about-two-years-i-spent-my/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I lived in Japan for eight years before moving to New York, but I was looking forward to a place like America to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cai-guo-qiang/i-lived-in-japan-for-eight-years-before-moving-to-new-york-but-i-was/) [Cai Guo-Qiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cai-guo-qiang/) > [When I lived in Japan in the 1980s, I once was mistaken for Paul Newman, and I didn't have much more hair than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-saffo/when-i-lived-in-japan-in-the-1980s-i-once-was-mistaken-for-paul/) [Paul Saffo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-saffo/) > [It took me a long time to reach the decision to retire, actually, from the Art Ensemble. But it seemed more important to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jarman/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-reach-the-decision-to-retire-actually-from/) [Joseph Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jarman/) > [Aikido is the Way and Principle of harmonizing Heaven, Earth and Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/aikido-is-the-way-and-principle-of-harmonizing-heaven-earth-and-man/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [“If you try to learn with your intellect, it is more difficult to absorb the teachings on a deep level. The mind looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/if-you-try-to-learn-with-your-intellect-it-is-more-difficult-to/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [No system is better than another, but some are better for certain people. The person makes a system worthwhile, not the other way around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/no-system-is-better-than-another-but-some-are-better-for-certain/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [The air they breathe, being a living element with both physical and psychical properties, carries a subtle vital energy. This in India is named…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-waters/the-air-they-breathe-being-a-living-element-with-both-physical-and/) [Frank Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-waters/) > [When I was young I used to practice a martial art that was a mixture of karate, kung fu, Jujitsu, Yawara Kubotan, Aikido, Okinawan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-practice-a-martial-art-that-was-a-mixture/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [To rid the world of aggression and contention is the purpose of Aikido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-rid-the-world-of-aggression-and-contention-is-the-purpose-of-aikido/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [“To appreciate the best opportunity for attack and defence, you must fully understand the rhythm of movement. (Page 28).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadami-yamada/to-appreciate-the-best-opportunity-for-attack-and-defence-you-must/) [Sadami Yamada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadami-yamada/) > [“Aikido practice is a method of incorporating the fundamentals of Great Harmony, Great Love, and Gratitude into one's own heart. To integrate these fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/aikido-practice-is-a-method-of-incorporating-the-fundamentals-of/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [“O-Sensei was frequently head to say. 'Aiki is not a technique to fight with or defeat an enemy. It is the way to harmonize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/o-sensei-was-frequently-head-to-say-aiki-is-not-a-technique-to-fight/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [“Through my willingness to train every day and to dig deep in the after-class ukemi sessions, over time I earned the respect and friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/through-my-willingness-to-train-every-day-and-to-dig-deep-in-the/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) ## More by Sturgill Simpson > [London's been really good to me - England as a whole - but the Scots and the Irish especially are very appreciative because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/london-s-been-really-good-to-me-england-as-a-whole-but-the-scots-and/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I had a great job with the railroad, a good salary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-had-a-great-job-with-the-railroad-a-good-salary/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I knew I loved playing bluegrass, so I'd end up down there on Sunday nights at the bluegrass jam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-knew-i-loved-playing-bluegrass-so-i-d-end-up-down-there-on-sunday/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I've been reading about the idea of cyclical lives - it matches up to the idea of string theory and a multiverse. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-ve-been-reading-about-the-idea-of-cyclical-lives-it-matches-up-to/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [It's hard enough to sit at a table and talk to most people as it is. But we can go to some town, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/it-s-hard-enough-to-sit-at-a-table-and-talk-to-most-people-as-it-is/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I needed a writing space to get out of my house with the little guy. Because any time I try to write or sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-needed-a-writing-space-to-get-out-of-my-house-with-the-little-guy/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I don't pretend to be an astrophysicist or anything, even though I do read about certain things like metaphysics and cosmology that I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-an-astrophysicist-or-anything-even-though-i-do/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I didn't graduate from college, so I might as well be on Atlantic Records, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-didn-t-graduate-from-college-so-i-might-as-well-be-on-atlantic/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [Everybody is on drugs . . . just give 'em what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/everybody-is-on-drugs-just-give-em-what-they-want/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I just have to do what it is going to make me happy, first and foremost - what is honest and what is sincere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-just-have-to-do-what-it-is-going-to-make-me-happy-first-and/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I'll never get tired of being told I sound like Waylon Jennings, but I don't hear it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-ll-never-get-tired-of-being-told-i-sound-like-waylon-jennings-but-i/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I someday hope to find the time and coin to invest more of my creative energy towards the visual media side of releasing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-someday-hope-to-find-the-time-and-coin-to-invest-more-of-my/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I believe framing reality is one of the only ways we can ever be sure it actually exists. In that regard, I feel as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-believe-framing-reality-is-one-of-the-only-ways-we-can-ever-be-sure/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [There have been many socially conscious concept albums. I wanted to make a 'social consciousness' concept album disguised as a country record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/there-have-been-many-socially-conscious-concept-albums-i-wanted-to/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [Somebody told me once it takes an Americana song five minutes to say what a country song says in three - so I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/somebody-told-me-once-it-takes-an-americana-song-five-minutes-to-say/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) [Explore all 77 Sturgill Simpson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) ## More Aikido quotes > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [“Through my willingness to train every day and to dig deep in the after-class ukemi sessions, over time I earned the respect and friendship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/through-my-willingness-to-train-every-day-and-to-dig-deep-in-the/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [“O-Sensei was frequently head to say. 'Aiki is not a technique to fight with or defeat an enemy. It is the way to harmonize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/o-sensei-was-frequently-head-to-say-aiki-is-not-a-technique-to-fight/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [“Aikido practice is a method of incorporating the fundamentals of Great Harmony, Great Love, and Gratitude into one's own heart. To integrate these fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/aikido-practice-is-a-method-of-incorporating-the-fundamentals-of/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [“To appreciate the best opportunity for attack and defence, you must fully understand the rhythm of movement. (Page 28).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadami-yamada/to-appreciate-the-best-opportunity-for-attack-and-defence-you-must/) [Sadami Yamada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadami-yamada/) > [To rid the world of aggression and contention is the purpose of Aikido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-rid-the-world-of-aggression-and-contention-is-the-purpose-of-aikido/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [When I was young I used to practice a martial art that was a mixture of karate, kung fu, Jujitsu, Yawara Kubotan, Aikido, Okinawan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/when-i-was-young-i-used-to-practice-a-martial-art-that-was-a-mixture/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [The air they breathe, being a living element with both physical and psychical properties, carries a subtle vital energy. This in India is named…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-waters/the-air-they-breathe-being-a-living-element-with-both-physical-and/) [Frank Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-waters/) > [No system is better than another, but some are better for certain people. The person makes a system worthwhile, not the other way around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/no-system-is-better-than-another-but-some-are-better-for-certain/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [“If you try to learn with your intellect, it is more difficult to absorb the teachings on a deep level. The mind looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-holiday/if-you-try-to-learn-with-your-intellect-it-is-more-difficult-to/) [Linda Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-holiday/) > [Aikido is the Way and Principle of harmonizing Heaven, Earth and Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/aikido-is-the-way-and-principle-of-harmonizing-heaven-earth-and-man/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [It took me a long time to reach the decision to retire, actually, from the Art Ensemble. But it seemed more important to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jarman/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-reach-the-decision-to-retire-actually-from/) [Joseph Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jarman/) > [“We face the enemy and contend with him—if he turns away we let him go. (Page 13).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadami-yamada/we-face-the-enemy-and-contend-with-him-if-he-turns-away-we-let-him-go/) [Sadami Yamada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadami-yamada/) > [Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world; illuminate the path according to your inner light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/foster-and-polish-the-warrior-spirit-while-serving-in-the-world/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [The aikido term ma ai, which means "space harmony" ("ai" is Chinese for "love," and it translates into Japanese as harmonious connection) refers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gilligan/the-aikido-term-ma-ai-which-means-space-harmony-ai-is-chinese-for/) [Stephen Gilligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gilligan/) [Browse all 66 Aikido quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aikido/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I lived in Japan for about two years. 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