“There’s this famous town in Japan that is known to have more scarecrows than people. 35 residents and hundreds of scarecrows. And they’re all made by this one little old lady, who’s like 65 years old and has lived there her whole life. Every scarecrow she makes is of a person who’s moved away fromContinue reading Scarecrow Village
“I don’t feel like I’ve had the kind of experience that everyone thinks you’ll have when you come to Japan or Tokyo. I think everyone imagines that I am going out and living this crazy life, dressing up in kimono or meeting loads of people. Actually, my seven years in Japan have been really isolated.Continue reading Otherness
“I was born and raised in Belgium to a Japanese dad and a Belgian mom. My father, who was a karate teacher, passed away when I was 14. My first job was at a Japanese credit card company in Amsterdam, to prove to the world that I could work for a Japanese company. But becauseContinue reading Hāfu2Hāfu
“The situation in Algeria is really bad. We have huge political and social problems, not to mention youth unemployment is sky high. For most people back home, going abroad is difficult. They’re even dying while attempting to cross the sea to Europe. The government limits the number of visas issued. Scholarships are scarce and goodContinue reading Hope Lives
“I was let go from my customer support job and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It motivated me to aim higher and land a sales position where my pay went up by leaps and bounds. I realized I was swimming in a small pond while a whole ocean was outContinue reading Failing Forward
“I left my job because I value my time with my family and I was looking for something that would help me run a business, to find my own meaning and purpose in life. I don’t come from a well-to-do family. My dad used to be a detective, a police officer, while my mom didContinue reading Family Bonding Time
“I was never the kid who would grow up to be a public speaker because from 7 to 17 years old, I was a victim of serial bullying. I was fat, had low self-esteem, and my legs would shake whenever I saw beautiful girls, thus making me the obvious target of bullying in school. ItContinue reading Millennial Speaking Coach
“Every country has its flaws and Japan is no exception. But sometimes small things add up. I’m half Japanese, half American and I’ve lived in Japan since I was 6 years old. Some people tell me I’m not Japanese enough and it bothers me, although I’ve learned not to let it get the better ofContinue reading Learning to be More Accepting
“I’m from Israel and I came to Japan with my Japanese girlfriend, but then we broke up a year after we moved here. We were together for 13 years. We’re still friends though and I’ve moved onto a new relationship. Right now I’m doing my postdoctoral research in neuroscience. I study motor skills and myContinue reading Postdoc
“I was born with a disability called inherited clubfoot. It’s a chromosomal abnormality in which a person’s feet are bent from birth. Imagine your feet pointing towards each other, rather than facing front. But I have never let it become a hindrance in my life. Growing up, kids used to make fun of me, IContinue reading Making the Most Out of Life
“There is no distinct native culture for people who were born and have been brought up in an international environment. As an Indian who grew up in Dubai, I find it very hard to identify a place where I are from and where I wanna be. I think this is true for anyone who hasContinue reading Where Do I Belong?
“I grew up in Miyazaki. As a hafu (Half American, Half Japanese) growing up in rural Japan, I didn’t quite fit in. Despite having a strong economic base, people in Miyazaki tend to be more relaxed, and family bonds seem stronger than that in Tokyo; life is good! Though I liked it there, I knewContinue reading Finding My Place
