The state of play after 1 year of HRT

[Miyuki]

I don't wear a bra for work and I don't find it particularly uncomfortable.  Maybe I just move slowly or something. Either a Japanese D cup is smaller to begin with, or I'm just blissfully ignorant of what everyone is thinking. 

Japanese bra sizes do usually run small compared to western counties. Don't ask me why I know this since, I have never been to Japan. It's just one of those random pieces of trivia you tend to pick up when you watch as much anime as I do. Here is a chart, but in practice I've heard the difference can even be as much as two cup sizes in some cases, compared to the American sizes. An American sized D cup would be pretty much impossible to hide without a binder...

By the way, I think you look great based on your current picture. I'm sure it's weird living in a country where even a woman of average height for a western country would look big, but I think in Japan they basically just feel like all westerners are huge, so maybe they wouldn't even take notice of it as much. Being able to live in Japan has always been a dream of mine. Do you mind if I asked how you ended up living there? Also, have there been any particular challenges in getting support for your transition there? I've been thinking a lot about the possibility that I could participate in a program to teach English as a second language in Japan, but there are still a lot of things I'd have to do first. Most importantly, go back to school and finish my Bachelor's degree...

[Joan]

Autumn leaf and Miyuki, thanks for the kind comments.  So that's what traps are!  I think mine have reduced a bit since starting hormones.

And Miyuki! You solved the mystery of how my breasts could be both visible and invisible at the same time! . Thanks for clearing that up.

I came here 20-odd years ago to teach English on a similar programme and never left.  It now feels more like home than home.  If you have that desire to travel and and live abroad then you should go for it.  Having a degree will never be a disadvantage whatever happens.

It was a pretty smooth ride to HRT for me here, and everyone I have come out to has been very understanding and supportive.  I'm not sure whether that will extend to coming out at work though.