Meet Declan, a business professional from Ireland leading a team in Japan with Mobal & MobalPay, enriching children’s lives in Malawi. Having lived in multiple countries, he finds Tokyo a second home. Declan cherishes Japan’s food culture, faces challenges moving, and dreams of making a difference through volunteering and helping foreign residents.
Interview – Work in Japan
- WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
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Ireland
- WHAT DO YOU DO IN JAPAN?
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I lead a team in Japan helping to enrich the lives of children in Malawi by providing SIM, eSIM, WiFi and payment solutions to foreign residents in Japan under the brands of Mobal & MobalPay.
- WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JAPAN?
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Since my first speculative trip to Japan in the summer of 1993 during which I climbed Mt.Fuji, I have always had a connection to Japan despite also living in Ireland (where I worked as a tour guide for Japanese visitors), Malawi (helping to establish a school feeding programme funded from Japan) and Poland (where I volunteered to teach Japanese to Polish students). I moved back to live in Japan in late 2023 with my family.
- WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THIS CITY?
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I have only ever lived in Tokyo but as a former exchange student I have hitchhiked (or used the Seishun 18 Kippu train ticket) the length & breadth of the country. Tokyo has also felt like a second home but that could be due to the absence of a clear ‘first’ home!
- WHERE IS YOUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATION IN THIS CITY?
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I like the Kokubunji area for exploring a more relaxed part of Tokyo but also like the energy and beachside atmosphere of Odaiba. As much as I love Tokyo’s eateries I’m equally as happy sampling street food in Ueno Park or even Nakamise Street in Asakusa.
- WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST WHILE STAYING ABROAD?
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The food- and the wide access to restaurants run by people who really care about the food and their customers. I love discovering a restaurant or cafe that care as much about the plates and food tray as the food itself- the level of care is outstanding!
- WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BEING IN JAPAN?
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Moving here! I have moved to Japan (and left it almost as many times) over the last 3 decades and while business trips have been really easy, it has always been difficult to move here. Whether that is finding accommodation or opening a bank account. Only getting a SIM card with a phone number has become easy – and that’s because of where I work! (Mobal)
- WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JAPAN AND YOUR COUNTRY?
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Japan has more rules, is more convenient and has better public transport and food compared to everywhere I have lived so far (Ireland, Malawi & Poland).
- DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS?
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In general? The best thing I ever did was volunteer in Malawi. It helped free me from any designs or ambitions on the future I may have and allowed me to be the best version of myself. I recommend volunteering to everyone who can.
- WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?
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To make a difference- whether that is by funding more school meals for kids in Malawi or helping a newly arrived foreign resident get a phone number or link their MobalPay card to Suica on their phone, it all matters.
- MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS WHO WILL GO TO JAPAN.
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It’s odd, it’s safe, it’s tasty, it’s Instagrammable, it’s open! It might not stay that way all the time and it’s not going to stay undiscovered forever- get on a plane- NOW!
- HOW DO YOU LEARN JAPANESE?
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Say yes to any opportunity to be social in Japan or to speak with Japanese people. Don’t worry about the writing system. All good things come to those who wait.
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