I saw it as a good opportunity to start a new chapter in my life. I knew that it would be challenging at times and that a lot of the activities that I took part in, in the UK would come to an end. But I also knew that I would be able to develop new interests and pursuits – which in and of itself is an exciting prospect.
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Matt Okuhara / Interpreter for the Matsumoto Castle Gun Corps
Which places in Japan do you recommend that foreigners see?
Maybe Nagano! I know it’s a popular prefecture among Japanese vacationers, but it tends to be an afterthought for anyone coming from overseas, and I think it deserves to be better appreciated. Matsumoto Castle has one of the oldest original castle keeps in Japan, and it even has the cool nickname “Crow Castle”! Nagano’s onsen-loving snow monkeys are also adorable, and the wasabi farms in Azumino are fun to visit. Plus, basically everywhere you look is green and gorgeous.
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Sophia Appelbaum / Writer
What do you do in Japan? Can you talk about your job in Japan?
I first came to Japan to do Karate! I was lucky to have a Japanese instructor at my university and he recommended that I train in Japan. I trained with 2 of the most famous masters and have a 3rd-degree black belt. I studied Japanese very hard and got a very good job working for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry promoting Japanese crafts and culture overseas as well as helping with press releases and media communications. I studied wine with the Japan Sommelier Association and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and changed my career to working with wine. I now teach WSET courses at a famous wine school in Tokyo and am a Senior Wine Ambassador for Pernod-Ricard. I do training for staff, educate consumers and sommeliers, do wine-tasting events, and promote wine in general. My dream is to become a Master of Wine (Japan only has 1 MW at the moment).
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Nicholas Gardiner / Senior Wine Ambassador
What do you do in Japan? Can you talk about your job in Japan? I work as a winemaker for a premium winery called `Niki Hills Winery` in Hokkaido; Japan`s northernmost region. We make six wines: Kerner, Bacchus, Zweigeltrebe, Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Merlot.
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Mariko / Winemaker
What do you do in Japan? Right now, I have two jobs. I model as a main job, and I started a freelance tour guide activity. It’s more of a hobby than a job, but I’m trying to switch this to a proper job right now.
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Louis / Freelancer
October 2023 (VOL.192) Lisowska Magdalena Were you hesitant to relocate to Japan? No, I dreamed of coming to Japan since I was a teenager. After moving to Japan did you have any funny or interesting experiences? When I moved to Japan, I got lost so many times. I didn’t have a map either or a sim card. I just asked for directions at convenience stores. Can you talk about your activities in Japan? I enjoy teaching children as well as traveling around and discovering delicious foods with my family and friends. Japanese kids are so cute, and it is wonderful…
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Lisowska Magdalena / English Teacher
September 2023 (VOL.191) Betti FULANbut everyone calls me Fulan in Japan What is your occupation in Japan? Right now, I work in the entertainment business in Japan as a freelancer model and singer. I also compose music and do shows where I perform as a Singer and Pianist. In the future, I plan to work full-time as a musician, and I really would love to become a singer for anime and video games. What is the distinctive difference between the lifestyle in Italy and Japan? There are many differences, but the first thing which comes to my mind is the…
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Betti FULAN / Singer, Songwriter, Pianist, Model
August 2023 (VOL.190) Nic Flynn What do you do in Japan? I work a few different jobs in Japan, including as a part-time English teacher, photographer, and media assistant, while working on my own side projects with photography and video work. What is the distinctive lifestyle difference between your country and Japan? The difference that sticks out to me the most is how the two cultures perceive their space. In America, people don’t like others getting too close to them as we see them as not only possibly a threat, but we just aren’t comfortable with that. I don’t know…
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Nic Flynn / English Teacher and photographer
JULY 2023 (VOL.189) Matt Shannon What do you do in Japan? I’m a licensed public school teacher in Japan. Like many people, I came to try a year or two away from my home country and found language education being a direct fit for my studies at university. Yes, I was an ALT when I first started. However, I did take my job seriously and settled on becoming a qualified curriculum developer for schools. I took online courses, took chances to work with publishers and NPOs to get relevant experience, and specialized in some specific, standardized educational programs. Ultimately, I…
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Matt Shannon / Public High School Teacher
MAY 2023 (VOL.187) Maria What do you do in Japan? I have been involved in different projects in my 8 years of living in Japan. My recent experience, for example, was working for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Right now, I am working in an international team, leading and coordinating projects, as well as interpreting and translating. What aspect of Japanese culture is interesting to you? I like everything about Japanese culture, but since I am interested in history, I like learning about Japanese history. I have also learned about kimono and how to wear it, have been…
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Maria / Project manager, coordinator, interpreter, and translator
APRIL 2023 (VOL.186) Zak Holt Were you hesitant to relocate to Japan? No, I wasn’t. I’ve been to Japan a few times beforehand, and I knew I didn’t want to stay in the UK, so I was rather excited to move to Japan. For the most part, even if you don’t know Japanese, or have limited knowledge of Japanese, you can still get around and enjoy yourself a bit. What do you do in Japan? I work as head translator and project manager for Peak Japan, a crowdfunding team based in Tokyo, Japan. We take mainly made-in-Japan and Japanese-designed projects…
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Zak Holt / Translator, Project Manager
I’m a licensed kimono teacher and stylist. I’ve been studying the art of kitsuke (着付け, kimono dressing) for almost a decade and passed my teacher’s license after studying for 5 years in a kimono school 4 years ago.
View More I LIVE IN JAPAN / Billy Matsunaga / Kimono Teacher and Stylist