In this episode, I explore why living freely has become increasingly difficult in modern society. Although we often hear that values are more diverse and people are free to choose their own paths, the reality may be the opposite. By comparing postwar Japan with the present, I argue that earlier eras were restrictive but gave real weight to personal choices. Today, countless lifestyle “templates” circulate through social media, making deviation feel easy but shallow. What appears to be freedom often means borrowing pre-made stories. True freedom, I suggest, requires refusing borrowed narratives and fully accepting one’s own position and responsibility.