I have a thorough introductory post over on the Ending Note website, and I also wanted to note today’s triumph here, too.

Last December I wrote about “ending notes” – how I wanted to completed one but the Japanese versions weren’t adequate. Then I spent 9 months (on and off) creating one that is adequate: The International Resident’s Ending Note

It is a modular 60 page workbook that covers everything necessary for emergencies and end-of-life for foreigners in Japan. ‘Cause we have a lot of extra stuff that Japanese people don’t usually deal with, like numerous legal names; visa expirations; and bank accounts in multiple countries.

I also wrote a companion book, the Family Guide, that walks through the tasks required when someone dies in Japan. The Family Guide ties back to the Ending Note for easy reference.

It took a lot of research and so many revisions to get to the point where I felt comfortable releasing these books. I had lots of help along the way. I used Claude.ai like an intern but had to make my own coffee. In the early stages, Toshiko checked the Japanese and Katherina gave some very cogent feedback. I read lots of blog posts from lawyers and financial planners. I picked through a multitude of Japanese documents and websites to find details left out of English-language sources. I listened to my friends tell me how they wanted to get organised, but didn’t think they could.

And then I did design and layout – a lot of it. The most useful version of the workbook is a printable PDF that you can buy in my shop. It comes bundled with the Family Guide. I also created a Kindle version and a paperback for Amazon. To be honest, these are already outdated since I made some small updates after I submitted them last month. If you want the Ending Note, I recommend the PDF.

It’s not my first book. I’ve got titles on art, yoga, and decluttering in my shop and on Amazon. I always feel proud of myself for having created something new. But I think this book is the most likely to be useful to a wide range of people.

Now I want to get the word out. I have a whole marketing campaign (thanks, Claude) launching today. There’s a Facebook page and corresponding group. Articles on the website, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I filmed some short videos this week and I’m planning some guest appearances on podcasts. In a few months, I’ll hold a seminar to help people work on their ending note.

It going to be an interesting 2026.