Meet Alya, a Russian musician and professional working in Tokyo. She loves Japanese culture, enjoys playing bass in metal bands, and exploring scenic spots outside the city. Alya’s dream is to become a successful musician. She encourages embracing challenges and being yourself in Japan.
Interview – Work in Japan
- WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
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Russia
- WHAT DO YOU DO IN JAPAN?
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Work in a Japanese company and spend a good time playing music (bass guitar part) in various metal bands, also go sometimes driving with friends to see beautiful places outside Tokyo.
- WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JAPAN?
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I like Japanese culture, language, and fashion When I was a teenager I loved watching Japanese anime and movies (especially movies by Akira Kurosawa and Takeshi Kitano).
- WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THIS CITY?
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Tokyo is a very big industrial city, where you can see the mix of Japanese and western cultures and that is very interesting. Also, it was interesting for me what the capital looks like as I was born in a small town in Russia.
- WHERE IS YOUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATION IN THIS CITY?
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Imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen, Russian food restaurant, Tokyo Disney Land, if you are an anime geek then Akihabara is the place for you! If you like fashion, Harajuku will become your spot!
- WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST WHILE STAYING ABROAD?
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Enjoy playing music in metal bands here. Underground music is something special here in Tokyo. Also, I enjoy driving with friends because I can see amazing sceneries outside of Tokyo.
- WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BEING IN JAPAN?
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Trying to fit yourself into the “Japanese thinking”, because no matter how you try, you are always “a foreigner” here in Japan. Japanese people are way too different.
- WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JAPAN AND YOUR COUNTRY?
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The way of thinking, Russia is more open-minded and open-hearted than Japan, and sometimes it’s hard to communicate with people here in Japan because of that.
- DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS?
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As I live here alone, I think I became stronger and grew up faster. I came in Japan when I was 22 y.o., and this is the age when you want to have fun with friends, but living alone in another country taught me seriousness and made me a fighter.
- WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
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One of my dreams is to become a good musician here in Tokyo because I love making music and watching people on stage. The way they enjoy my band’s music makes me feel really happy.
- MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS WHO WILL GO TO JAPAN.
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Don’t be afraid to challenge anything you want to challenge here in Japan. Be yourself and don’t try to fit into Japanese society too hard, they will accept you as you are, as Japan has many kind and understanding people.
- HOW DO YOU LEARN JAPANESE?
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I learned Japanese in a Japanese language school here in Tokyo. I still learning it every day at work (business Japanese for example), sometimes I learn some new slang I didn’t know before by talking to my Japanese friends. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake in Japanese, people here will correct it when needed.
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