1.
to leave one's hometown; to leave the place where one grew up
Describes the significant life event of departing from one's birthplace or childhood home, usually to live elsewhere. Carries an emotional weight suggesting the difficulty of leaving behind familiar surroundings and connections.
十八歳で故郷を離れた。
I left my hometown at age eighteen.
故郷 can also be read as ふるさと, which has a warmer, more nostalgic tone. The expression carries emotional significance in Japanese culture, where hometown connections (地元) remain important throughout life. Leaving one's hometown is a common theme in literature, songs, and coming-of-age narratives.
In Japan, many young people leave rural hometowns for cities like Tokyo or Osaka for education or work, making this expression relevant to discussions of rural depopulation (過疎化) and urban migration.