My name is Ryo, and I’m a 24-year-old university student in Tokyo. I love hanging out with my friends, especially when we talk about big dreams. Tonight, June 23, 2025, at 7:18 p.m., six of us met at a trendy café in Shibuya. The café was busy, with colorful lights, pop music, and the smell of coffee and cakes. My friends were there: my classmate Mio, her coworker Ken, my neighbor Aya, Ken’s friend Yuki, and Mio’s cousin Haru. We were drinking iced lattes and eating cheesecake when Mio asked a fun question: “If you had one trillion yen, what kind of house would you live in?” The conversation was so exciting, full of crazy ideas and laughter. Let me share what happened, so you can feel like you were there with us.
Mio started, her eyes sparkling. “One trillion yen? I’d build a huge house on a private island in Okinawa! It would have a glass roof to see the stars, a big pool with a slide, and a beach right outside. I want rooms for my friends to visit, a movie theater, and a garden with flowers. I’d have a chef to cook sushi every day!”
Ken, who’s 26 and works at a tech company, laughed. “A private island? That’s cool, Mio! I’d build a smart house in Tokyo, super modern, with robots to clean and cook. It would have a gaming room with giant screens, a gym, and a rooftop with a hot tub. Everything would be controlled by my phone—lights, music, even the temperature. I want to feel like I’m in the future!”
Aya, a 23-year-old graphic designer, sipped her latte. “I like that, Ken, but I’d want something quieter. I’d build a big wooden house in the mountains near Kyoto. It would have huge windows to see the trees, a cozy fireplace, and an art studio for painting. I want a small farm with chickens and a vegetable garden. I’d live with my dog and maybe some cats, far from the city noise.”
Yuki, who’s 25 and a musician, nodded. “A mountain house sounds nice, Aya. But I’d go big—a mansion in Los Angeles! It would have a music studio to record songs, a pool with neon lights, and a stage for concerts in my backyard. I want colorful walls, like a rock star’s house, and a garage for cool cars. I’d throw parties for my band and friends every weekend!”
Haru, Mio’s 22-year-old cousin who’s studying to be a chef, grinned. “LA sounds fun, Yuki, but I’d stay in Japan. I’d build a traditional Japanese house in Hokkaido, with tatami mats and sliding doors. It would have a huge kitchen for cooking, a hot spring bath, and a garden with cherry trees. I want a dining room for my family to eat my food, like ramen or cakes. It would be calm but fancy.”
I thought about it, eating a bite of cheesecake. “You all have amazing ideas! I’d build a floating house on the ocean, like a giant yacht that doesn’t move. It would have solar panels for power, a deck for barbecues, and rooms under the water to see fish. I want a library full of books, a gym, and a small boat to explore. I’d live near Hawaii, with the sea all around me.”
Mio clapped her hands. “A floating house, Ryo? That’s so cool! I can visit you and swim with dolphins. But why the ocean? Don’t you get seasick?” I laughed. “Maybe a little, but I love the sea. It’s free and open, like a big adventure. I’d have medicine for seasickness! What about you, Ken? Why a smart house?”
Ken leaned back. “I love technology. A smart house would make life easy—robots do the boring stuff, so I can play games or work. I’d have a virtual reality room to visit other worlds. With one trillion yen, I’d make it the coolest house in Tokyo. Maybe I’d let you visit, Mio, if you bring sushi!”
Aya smiled. “Your house sounds like a video game, Ken. My mountain house is simpler, but it’s my dream. I want to paint every day and grow my own food. I’d have a porch to watch the sunset. With that much money, I’d also build a small house for my parents nearby, so they can visit.”
Yuki strummed an imaginary guitar. “Aya, that’s sweet, but I need excitement. My LA mansion would be loud and bright, like my music dreams. I’d have a room for my guitars and a big screen to watch music videos. I’d invite famous singers to jam with me. With one trillion yen, I could make it a legend’s house!”
Haru nodded. “I like your energy, Yuki, but I want peace. My Hokkaido house would feel like home. I’d cook for my friends and family, using fresh vegetables from my garden. I’d have a big table for dinners and a room for my cookbooks. With that money, I’d also open a small restaurant next to my house.”
Mio looked at us. “It’s so fun hearing your dreams! But what’s the one thing your house must have?” Ken said, “A robot butler to bring me snacks!” Aya said, “A big window to see nature.” Yuki said, “A stage for my music.” Haru said, “A perfect kitchen.” I said, “A library with an ocean view.” Mio smiled. “For me, a pool with a waterfall. I want to swim every day!”
Ken asked, “Would you live alone or with others?” Mio said, “I’d have friends and family visit my island, but I want my own space. Maybe a guest house for them.” Aya said, “I’d live with my pets, but my parents can come anytime.” Yuki laughed. “My mansion would always have people—friends, bandmates, maybe fans!” Haru said, “I’d live with my family, so we can eat together.” I said, “I’d live alone, but friends can visit by boat.” Ken grinned. “I’d have a girlfriend in my smart house, but she needs to like robots!”
We laughed, and Yumi asked, “What if you could add something crazy?” Yuki said, “A roller coaster in my backyard!” Mio said, “A zoo with friendly animals!” Aya said, “A secret room for my art.” Haru said, “A chocolate fountain in my kitchen!” Ken said, “A spaceship launch pad!” I said, “A glass floor to see sharks swim under my house!”
As we ate more cheesecake, the conversation got deeper. Mio said, “My island house is about freedom. I want to feel like I’m on vacation every day.” Aya nodded. “My mountain house is about peace. I’m always busy, so I want a place to relax.” Yuki said, “My mansion is about living big, like my music dreams.” Haru said, “My house is about family and food, because that’s my heart.” Ken said, “My smart house is about fun and making life easy.” I said, “My floating house is about adventure, like exploring the world.”
Ken asked, “Would you stay in your house forever?” Aya said, “Maybe not forever, but I’d always come back.” Mio said, “I’d travel, but my island is home.” Yuki said, “I’d tour with my band, but my mansion is my base.” Haru said, “I’d stay most of the time, cooking for people.” I said, “I’d sail my house to new places!” Ken laughed. “I’d stay in Tokyo, but I’d build more smart houses around the world!”
The café was getting quieter, but we kept talking. Mio said, “With one trillion yen, we could build all our houses and visit each other!” We agreed, imagining Aya painting in her mountain studio, Yuki rocking out in LA, and Haru cooking in Hokkaido. The lights in the café glowed, and our lattes were almost gone. We promised to meet again soon, maybe to talk about other dreams.
As I walked home, I thought about our conversation. One trillion yen is a lot, but our dream houses were about more than money—they were about who we are. Mio’s island, Ken’s smart house, Aya’s mountain retreat, Yuki’s mansion, Haru’s traditional home, and my floating house—they’re all part of our hopes and stories. I smiled, dreaming of my ocean home under the Tokyo stars.