Meet Malene, a Swedish professional living in Tokyo since 2022. She first came as an exchange student at Ochanomizu University and now works in a trading company’s legal department while enjoying cafés, anime, and exploring the city.
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TOC
Interview on Life in Japan
＊English Original / Japanese Translation
Where are you from? 出身はどこですか？
Sweden
スイスです。
How long have you stayed in Japan? 日本にはどのくらいいますか？
4 years
4年
What do you do in Japan? 日本では何をしていますか？
I came to Japan in 2022 as an exchange student and studied at Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. I was originally supposed to stay for only one year, but during my final semester, I secured a paid internship. That internship later turned into a full-time position, and I now work in the legal department of a trading company. I also met my boyfriend here in Japan, which has been another important reason for me choosing to stay in Tokyo.
In my free time, I love going to cafés and exploring new places around the city. My boyfriend and I also enjoy watching movies, dramas, and anime. My favorite movies are Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, and my current favorite anime series are Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Spy x Family. I also love amusement parks and Disney.
My parents had traveled to Japan several times before I was born, and during those trips they made Japanese friends who later came to visit our home in Sweden while I was growing up. I have also always been interested in anime and grew up watching shows such as Sailor Moon, Pokémon, Bleach, and Naruto, so my interest in Japan has always been there.
I also played table tennis at a competitive level for ten years, and my idol at the time was Ai Fukuhara from Japan.
Why do you choose to stay in this city? なぜこの街を選びましたか？
I’ve wanted to live in the Big T ever since I first visited in 2017. I’m not sure if it’s because Tokyo was the first place I visited in Japan, but I love that there are so many areas to explore and that there’s always something happening.
I also lived in Kansai for one semester as an exchange student before COVID. Although I really enjoyed my time there and made some close friends whom I still keep in touch with, my heart always longed for Tokyo.
Where is your local recommendation in this city? この街でのおすすめスポットは？
Kichijōji: A cozy neighborhood with a large park, great shopping, and plenty of charming cafés.
Kagurazaka: Often called “Little Paris.” It has fewer tourists and many unique specialty shops, such as amazake stores, kimono boutiques, traditional Japanese sweets shops, and tea houses. The area is also known for its excellent cafés and restaurants.
Shinjuku Gyoen: A beautiful, spacious park in the heart of Shinjuku. It’s the perfect place to escape the busy city for a while — you might almost forget you’re in the middle of Tokyo.
What do you enjoy the most while staying in Japan? 日本での生活で一番気に入っていることは？
Definitely the food. Japan has, hands down, one of the best food scenes in the world. It’s not just Japanese cuisine — you can find amazing dishes from all over the world, and they taste incredible.
I also love that Japan has so many beautiful places to visit, as well as great shopping. Although, because of my tiny apartment, my shopping habits have been on hold for a while.
What is the biggest challenge being in Japan? 日本で一番大変だと感じることは？
Coming from a country with a small population and now living in Tokyo, my biggest challenge has been the crowds. When I first arrived, Japan was still closed to tourists, so there weren’t many people, and it was easy to move around freely. However, since the country reopened, tourism has exploded, even more than when I visited before COVID, and it sometimes feels like there are simply too many people for my taste.
This has become even more challenging since I started working and now have to commute for an hour.
What are the differences between Japan & your country? 日本と母国の違いは何ですか？
The population: Tokyo alone has more people than the entire population of Sweden.
Commuting: I commute about one hour to work (one way). In Sweden, a 15–30 minute drive is considered long, and commuting for an hour would usually mean traveling to a completely different town.
Salaries: The salary here is about half of what I would earn for the same job in Sweden. With the weak yen, it can even be up to one-third of what I might earn if I were working in the capital back home.
I hope to visit many different places around the world and continue exploring new cultures and experiences. At the same time, I aspire to build a stable and fulfilling life where I can feel secure and happy.
Favorite Japanese (Anime / Artist / Song / Food / Movie)? and why? 好きな日本の作品（アニメ／アーティスト／曲／食べ物／映画）は？理由も教えてください。
Favorite anime: Currently Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Spy x Family. I enjoy anime that combines action with elements of sci-fi, which the first two definitely have. I love Spy x Family because it’s so funny and entertaining, and Anya is absolutely adorable. My boyfriend says I’m very similar to her, and I’ve heard that people often like characters who resemble themselves, so that might be part of the reason too (haha).
Favorite artist: ATEEZ — I’ve attended their concerts twice here in Japan.
Favorite food: Sushi, udon, yakitori, yakiniku, pasta, and pizza. As you can see, Japanese and Italian cuisine are at the top of my list.
