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.”