An emotional farewell as Layla and Cheslin Kolbe embrace at the airport as Layla leaves for South Africa.
Image: Instagram
“The end of an era.” These are the words of Layla Kolbe as she bid an emotional farewell to Japan and reflected on her family’s decision to relocate back to South Africa.
The wife of Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to the country she and her family had called home for the past three years.
Accompanying her message was a carousel of photographs and videos capturing treasured moments from their life in Japan.
Layla revealed that one of the most emotional moments of the move came at passport control, where she had to surrender her Japanese residency permit.
“9 years abroad. 3 years in 2 countries – living 24 hours apart – solo parenting. Countless memories.
“This move comes with sacrifice, but some sacrifices are worth making. Time is the one thing we can never get back, and we’ve chosen to invest it where it matters most. Leaving Japan is breaking our hearts a little. We loved this chapter more than words can say.
“But sometimes life calls you home, and we’re choosing to be closer to family and the moments that matter most. Japan, thank you for everything. Not goodbye. See you again one day,” she wrote.
During her flight back to South Africa, Layla admitted that the reality of the move was only beginning to sink in.
“A lot of thinking on this flight - reality has finally started to sink in,” she shared.
Upon arriving at Cape Town International Airport, she was welcomed home with hugs and kisses from her three children, who had travelled ahead of her.
The family had been separated for five weeks.
Layla also expressed her gratitude to the friends and loved ones they had met during their time in Japan.
“Super grateful for our Japanese family. You will be missed. See you soon. Thank you for everything.”
The family’s move comes after Cheslin concluded his three-season stint with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at the end of the 2025/26 Japan Rugby League One season.
Following emotional farewells in Tokyo, he officially returned to South Africa after signing a deal with his former side, the DHL Stormers, where he will continue his rugby career in Cape Town.
Reflecting further on the decision to leave Japan, Layla described the country as a place that gave her family some of their happiest memories.
“Japan gave our family some of the happiest, most beautiful memories we could have asked for.
“I’ve never felt so free anywhere in the world before, and seeing our children live so freely and happily here is something we will treasure forever. But in the end, time together matters more than anything," she said.
“The everyday moments. School pick-ups, birthday parties, bedtime cuddles, milestones – the little things that become the big things. These are the years you never get back."
Layla said that while leaving Japan is incredibly emotional for them, they know this decision was made from love and truly being obedient to God’s calling.
"Choosing family, choosing presence, choosing to be together for these precious years of our children’s lives. Here’s to new memories back home and hopefully one day we’ll return to Japan together as a family again - older, wiser and with even more appreciation for the place that gave us so much.”