Occupation:
Manager of Foreign Staff of a Wedding Production Company
Time in Japan:
Six to ten years (on and off)
Where are you from?
Melbourne, Australia.
What brought you to Japan?
I had a business in Australia but it wasn' going very well, so I sold it. I had also
broken up with my boyfriend and was in desperate need of a change. That's when a good
friend of mine who had bee living in Japan for two years invited me to come and take a
break in Tokyo. And then my initial plan to stay for six months was just extended again
and again.
What do you do here?
I manage the foreign staff at Marie Reve, a wedding production company which also sells
jewelry. Previous to this I worked for a music publisher for four or five years as their
International Correspondence Manager, coordinating music videos overseas. Unfortunately
the recession cut out the OS budget. When I started at Marie Reve I was just helping out,
but then they asked me to stay full time - so here I am. I was recently involved with the
Miss Universe Japan pageant as the backstage supervisor cum interpreter cum Ms.
Everything, which was exciting.
What do you like about Japan most?
I definitely like the safety; the manners and politeness of the people; the countryside is
exceptionally beautiful; food, especially yakiniku and soba; onsen and rotenburo
(outdoor hot springs).
What do you dislike about Japan?
The lack of individuality; the crowds; ijime (bullying) in schools; the
brand-oriented mentality; and that vague, vacant, shocked look when you ask someone to
perform a very straight-forward task. You know the look: "If it's not in the manual
we can't do it!"
If you could take one thing back to your native country from Japan, what would it
be?
There are too many things to mention! But, I would definitely take back these four:
cuisine - one of the best and healthiest in the world. love it. Traditional Japanese
architecture - beautiful old style houses and temples. Sakura cherry blossoms - just
beautiful. And, the immigration laws - meaning that I think Australia is too accommodating
concerning immigration. More stringent screening is needed.
Where do you want to be New Year's Eve 1999?
If I'm in Japan , up in the mountains under the starts, in a konyoku(mixed)
onsen, drinking sake with my friends. Otherwise on a tropical island with my honey doing
the wold thing under the starts!
If you could change one thing about Tokyo what would it be?
The population - there are just too many people. Also, rental prices are far too high and
the key money system just has to go.
What's your recipe for a happy and successful life in Japan?
Study the language and find a form of stress release, preferably in the form of exercise.
I know that a lot of people when they first get to Tokyo get stressed and go on eating or
drinking binges. Discipline and exercise for a healthy life.
You can confine one person to eternity on the Chuo line and give on e person a
bottomless credit account at Seibu. Who would they be?
I would confine all the total rejects of society and criminals of the world. They can just
go at each other. Are you serious? I'd give the credit card to my boyfriend and put my
order in every day for some serious shopping!
Occupation:
LIFE IN JAPAN: