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People from around the globe who put down roots in Japan offer a glimpse into their lives and the hardships they face in Japanese society.
2020
The number of people who've chosen Japan to be their new home reached the highest in history in 2019, exceeding 2.8 million. They bring new color to the country, yet many foreigners struggle to fit in. This program offers a glimpse into their lives and the hardships they face in Japanese society. More than 600 dealers from around Asia and the Middle East gather at a huge used vehicle auction. They are foreign exporters who came to live in Japan, hunting for the best deal and trying to make it big in their adoptive country. A devout Pakistani Muslim, Mian Mohammad Sadiq is one of them. We follow him in his daily struggles as he tries to compromise between his beliefs and the local values. We also look at the life of a young American woman who's studying to become a sake specialist.
"Little India" in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward is a community of about 4,000 Indian nationals first established about 20 years ago. However, they have little connection with Japanese locals and are seen mostly as outsiders. Puranik Yogendra, on whom this episode focuses, is working to change this by actively taking part in neighborhood association projects and teaching his fellow Indians local customs and habits. Also a ward council member, he now aims to set up a Japanese school for Indian children. We also visit a young Nepalese manager of an izakaya, a Japanese-style bar restaurant.
Neighborhood relations, childcare, PTA: in Japan, issues that involve women are plenty and part of everyday routine. But for women from abroad, they can be obstacles to adapting to life in Japan. Nina Hakkarainen, a Kyoto-based Finnish woman, founded an organization offering support to non-Japanese women. As we tag along in her work, we look at the struggles of foreign women to become active members of society. We also visit the kawaii side of Harajuku with a charismatic shop clerk from France.
Japan is the world's third largest economy yet its poverty rate is high, with one out of 7 children living below the threshold. Having witnessed this reality, Ghana-native Tony Justice founded a soup kitchen offering free meals to kids. But Japan's strict regulations and procedures are getting in the way of his project's success. Join us as we follow the daily struggles of this man driven by his motherland's altruistic culture. We also hop into the cab of an Austrian taxi driver in Tokyo.
The city of Toyota in Aichi Prefecture is home to some 18,000 foreigners, mainly Latin Americans of Japanese descent. We follow one of them: Keiko Uezu from Peru, who works as a caregiver assisting non-Japanese elderly and disabled people in their daily lives. Fluent in Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese, she's an indispensable source of support and reassurance for those struggling with the language barrier. We also visit a hard-working Polish salesclerk at an eyewear store in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Struggling with depopulation and a dwindling farming industry, Akitakata City in Hiroshima Prefecture has been encouraging foreigners to settle down in the area. Among them is Leonel David Maia from East Timor. Training under a veteran farmer, he started growing peanuts that now rank among the region's best-selling produce. We take a close look at Leo's efforts to reinvigorate local agriculture. We also meet an Italian craftsman eagerly promoting the use of traditional pizza brick ovens in Japan.
The coronavirus is shaking the world, and Japan is no exception with over 10,000 infected cases nationwide. The country is in a state of emergency - people are asked to stay home and a lot of businesses are closed. Most non-Japanese are unable to go back to their home country and many suddenly lose their jobs. On this episode of Where We Call Home, we touch base with people we followed in past episodes, look at how the lives of foreigners are affected and provide information to help them.
Like in the rest of the world, the coronavirus is disrupting life in Japan. As businesses shift to telecommuting or temporarily closed, foreigners working in Japan are also affected. Join us as we contact some of the people we previously met on Workpedia Japan! Seen through the eyes of an aspiring sake brewer from the US, a colorful French store clerk, a Tokyo-based Austrian taxi driver and the Nepalese manager of an izakaya, we get an inside look at how the pandemic impacts workplaces in Japan.
Chinese nationals make up about 30% of foreigners in Japan. Among the younger generations of Chinese living here, starting a business has become a trend in recent years. But with the coronavirus outbreak, many risk having to close up shop. We look at 2 such entrepreneurs: Xiaohan, who opened up a prep school for Chinese students wishing to enter Japanese universities, and Yuemei, the owner of an "izakaya" in Tokyo - businesswomen who won't give up on their dreams so easily!
A month after the state of emergency was lifted in Japan, we focus on 3 foreigners in the restaurant industry fighting for financial recovery. To save her Szechuan eatery, Aya Wu from China started takeout and delivery services. Ricardo Komori left his home in Portugal to learn authentic Japanese cuisine but the pandemic took away his chance at employment in a Kyoto restaurant. Running a tea shop in Tokyo, French-native Florent Weugue's business too has been impacted by the coronavirus.
The entertainment business in Japan has been dealt a heavy blow by the coronavirus pandemic. Join us as we look at the lives of 3 foreigners working in the industry fighting to survive the crisis: Fiona Graham - an Australian who's been working as a geisha under the artist name of Sayuki for 15 years, Iran-born Edi who manages a talent agency regrouping around 2,000 non-Japanese entertainers, and a dancer from the United States, Ice, who runs his own dance school for children.
The coronavirus outbreak has taken a heavy toll on businesses that cater to tourists visiting Japan from overseas. From the English-born organizer of countryside tours in Oita Prefecture to a caterer from Thailand working in Hokkaido Prefecture's picturesque Niseko, along with the American proprietor of an inn in a storied Nagano Prefecture hot-spring resort, this episode offers a glimpse into the struggles of foreigners in the tourism industry as they try to withstand the impact of the pandemic.
This episode takes us to the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture where we visit an inn run by Australian-born Benjamin Flatt and his Japanese wife Chikako. The secret to the inn's popularity is the couple's tasty cuisine made possible by Ben's culinary know-how accumulated while working at an Italian eatery back in Oz, and the relations he and Chikako established over the years with local farmers and fishermen in Noto. We also meet Betty, a food package designer from Taiwan living near Tokyo.
On this episode, we follow Mali-born Oussouby Sacko, who has been the president of Kyoto Seika University for the past 2 years. He's been devoting himself to fostering interchanges between Japanese students and those from abroad who've been increasing in numbers thanks to Sacko's efforts. However, the pandemic is making it harder for him to pursue his goal of a university open to diversity. We also meet Kosim Bokiev from Tajikistan, who works in the wholesale of fruit and vegetables in Tokyo.
Yokohama is home to Japan's biggest Chinatown. The neighborhood has survived war and disaster over the course of its long history. Now it's known as a culinary hotspot, attracting about 20 million visitors every year. But the coronavirus has ground business to a halt. This episode follows 3 people with deep roots to the area's storied dining industry, and looks at how they are overcoming the crisis. We also meet Vietnam-born Doan who is working to bring new development to Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.
On this episode: a taste of sweetness with traditional confections, or "wagashi," prepared at a 200-year-old shop in Kumamoto City. Training under the 7th generation owner is his son-in-law, Mexican-born Saul Garcia Torres. Join us as we spend time with Saul on his journey toward becoming a master at preparing Japanese confections and creating new sugary sensations powered by his love of sweets and family. We also follow Amelia from the UK in her work to protect wild bears in Nagano Prefecture.
This episode focuses on Vietnam-born Do Van Tuan, chairman of the Sendai Vietnamese Association. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on, he decided to roll up his sleeves and come to the aid of other Vietnamese in the area who lost their jobs due to the outbreak. His endeavor has snowballed into a volunteer project in which the local Japanese also take part. In addition, we meet US-native Kristen Shinozaki who works alongside her husband, the owner and chef of a Tokyo eel restaurant.
One of the issues many foreigners face when they come to live in Japan involves looking for an apartment. Intimidated by the language barrier, property owners often refuse to rent to non-Japanese for fear of not being able to communicate should a problem occurs. On this episode we follow Dong Xiaoliang, the director of a firm that acts as a bridge between landlords and foreigners, helping non-Japanese find a place to live. We also meet Cameroonian Wouassi Vincent Jr., a drum teacher in Tokyo.
On this episode, we meet manga creator René Hoshino from Cameroon who's been living in Japan since childhood after his mother remarried to a Japanese national. Growing up, he has often been the target of prejudice and discrimination, but using his artistic skills, he turned this harsh experience into a best-selling manga that fosters understanding as it touches on serious matters with a little bit of humor. We also drop by a café in Tokyo where Korean-born Woo Youngju works as head barista.
On this episode, we visit a coriander farm in Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture run by Thai-native Satapon Sukhanonchanapa and his wife Sysaath Seginthisack from Laos. In 10 years, what started as a hobby has grown into a highly profitable business. They now make deliveries all the way to Tokyo and its neighboring areas. But success is not without its share of hardships. Join us to find out more. We also meet with Greek-born Anastasios Pappas, a former weightlifter turned manager of a barbell factory in Tokyo.
The former village of Oguchi in Ishikawa Prefecture was home to a 400-year-old wood weaving technique using Japanese cypress. Today, with the region's ongoing depopulation, the craft is threatened to disappear. We follow Australian Susan May who has been learning the technique under master artisan Katsuki Hisayo. Susan is attempting to weave a traditional woven hat for which the fabrication method has been lost. We also meet Bulgarian-native Ilko Allexandroff, a unique photographer living in Kobe.
This episode takes us to the rural community of Kito in Tokushima Prefecture. While its population of around 1,000 is on the decline, a newcomer, Tyler Walkey from the US, is helping to breathe new life to the area. A talented video content creator, he uses his skills and a variety of methods from drones to time-lapse shooting to promote the Kito region by filming its nature and its people. We also meet Chinese-born Chen Bowen who works at a store selling materials for making lacquerware.
On this episode, we meet Nigerian-native Chris Andrews, who runs a small shop in Saitama Prefecture's Koshigaya City. Open 365 days a year, Chris's business is a gathering spot and a source of moral support for the local Nigerian community. However, with the coronavirus pandemic, he struggles to keep his shop afloat. Join us as we follow Chris and the people who have come to his aid in his fight for survival. We also visit Bangladeshi Rashel Sarkar, who makes prosthetic legs at a company in Osaka Prefecture.
On this episode, we visit American-born Janie Ikegami who grows apples in Nagano Prefecture. Wishing to recreate the taste she loved growing up in her Texas home, Janie also began using her apples to make sauce and butter, which were unfamiliar to Japanese at first, but are now a huge hit. Yet Janie doesn't stop there; she's ready to take on a tasty new challenge. Join us to find out more. Later on, we drop by another Nagano location: a storied hotel where Russian-native Lyubov Zaozerova works.
2023
Japan finally eased its restrictions on entering the country - good news for the inbound tourism industry. UK-born Paul Christie is one of the business owners getting ready to welcome tourists from abroad. He organizes countryside tours in Oita Prefecture, but the natural landscape has seriously deteriorated over the past three years under the pandemic. We look at Paul's efforts to reinvigorate the region's forests and mountains. We also meet Nepali Adhikari Santosh, a car mechanic in Tokyo.
This time, we venture into the forested mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture to meet aspiring hunter Antonia Schult from Germany. Working to help restore the balance between humans and nature and stop wildlife from damaging crops, Antonia and her senior hunters pay respect to every life they take, as according to Japanese hunting philosophy, animals are precious blessings from the gods. We also visit Italian Tommaso Puntelli, a craftsman who's been repairing violins in Tokyo for fourteen years.
This time we visit the snow-covered mountains in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, where Canadian Dave Enright runs an outdoor recreation company. A seasoned backcountry skiing guide and avalanche safety expert, Dave welcomes tourists from overseas eager to hit the powdery snow in Japan and makes sure they're prepared for the hazards of the mountains. Tune in for an exciting snowy adventure! We also meet Nepalese Ramala Ghimire, who manages a public bath in Hakone that's a hit with the local elderly.
On this episode, we meet Nguyen Quoc Dam, a nurse in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. Nine years ago, Dam took advantage of an economic partnership between his native Vietnam and Japan and was the first Vietnamese to become a certified nurse in his country of adoption. Along with taking care of patients' health, Dam puts effort into helping them cope with the loneliness that comes with hospitalization. We also follow Australian William Rhodes in his work as a garbage collector in Musashino, Tokyo.
On this episode, we head to Sakegawa Village in Yamagata Prefecture, where American Frederick Lauer organizes activities for children to learn invaluable life skills through play. Busy school life leaves Japanese kids virtually no time to have fun outdoors. Determined to change that, Fred set up a forest kindergarten based on a Danish educational method. Join us for some fun in the snow! We also meet Myanmar-born Than Htun Oo who applies a variety of patterns to leather at a factory in Tokyo's Asakusa.
It's been twelve years since the massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 hit northeastern Japan. We visit Richard Halberstadt from the UK, who works at the ruins of an elementary school in Ishinomaki City as a guide introducing the damage caused by the disaster and relating his own experience of the event. We follow him in his efforts to pass on the memories of the tragedy to future generations. We also meet Chinese Zhang Hecong, who works for a Japanese children's clothes brand.
On this episode, we step into the ring to meet Gantugs Rentsendorj from Mongolia, a coach for the sumo club of a famous high school in Tottori Prefecture. His dream of a professional sumo career cut short by injury, Gan now imparts his passion for the Japanese national sport to young aspiring wrestlers. We join him and his students as they prepare for an upcoming national high-school tournament. We also drop by Nagano Prefecture to visit Bangladeshi Shovon Majumder, an IT engineer who develops innovative solutions.
Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for some toe-tapping good time in Yokohama with Filipino Eduardo Macarat. Years ago, when Eduardo's wife was battling illness, he helped keep her spirits and energy up by dancing with her. Ever since, he's been holding regular social dance classes for Japanese students. We follow Eduardo as he trains Junko, a beginner student, for her first performance. We also visit a construction site in Mie Prefecture to meet general contractor Yan Zheng from China.
This time we visit Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture to meet Gerson Aizawa Hara, a third-generation Brazilian of Japanese descent. Passionate about cycling, he's an artisan who crafts unique bicycles. Each of his creations is one-of-a-kind, custom-made for its rider with unusual materials such as wood and bamboo. We tag along with Gerson as he develops a cargo bicycle capable of carrying large baggage with ease. Later on, we drop by a hot-spring inn in Okayama Prefecture where Nepalese Thapa Magar Kumar attends guests.
Home to a large Pakistani community, the city of Yashio in Saitama Prefecture is nicknamed Yashiostan. It's here that we meet Mian Ramzan Siddique, who opened a halal food court, a place for his fellow Pakistanis and the locals to gather. But he's having difficulty drawing in Japanese customers. To change that, he's developing a curry recipe featuring both local and Pakistani specialties. Join us for a taste! We also meet Filipino Manalo Lhee Mayrene, a caregiver at a facility for the elderly in Nagoya.
This time, we visit Shimane Prefecture to meet Vietnamese Pham Van Toi, the president of an agency that finds employment for his fellow countrymen and women who wish to work in Japan. Toi also helps them get used to life in Japan and overcome linguistic and cultural barriers. We join Toi as he organizes a soccer event to bring the Vietnamese and Japanese communities closer. We also follow French-born Sophie Lekens for a day in her work in public relations for an arts center in Aoyama, Tokyo.
This time, we visit Nagano Prefecture to meet Fidea Kobayashi, who supports orphans in her native Tanzania. Donating the proceeds of fundraising and most of her income, she even set up an orphanage and started the construction of a kindergarten. But the weak yen is now a major obstacle. We follow Fidea as she seeks help from her local community in Japan to keep her charity efforts going. We also head to Mie Prefecture where Nin Sokkcht, a technical trainee from Cambodia, works as a painter of houses and buildings.
On this episode, we visit Fussa, Tokyo, to meet American Frederick Roberts. While stationed at a local US air base, Frederick fought as a pro boxer and won the title of national champion in his country of adoption. Now retired, he runs a gym where he trains boxers, encouraging them to never give up. We accompany Frederick as he coaches promising fighter Suzuki Kensuke through a decisive bout. We also drop by a high school in Toyokawa City in Aichi Prefecture where Brazilian Rodrigo Igi teaches English.
This time, we take you out to the ballgame! Or more specifically to Sanda City in Hyogo Prefecture, home of the Bravers, an independent league baseball team. A year ago, they welcomed a new player, 16-year-old Kato Edrine, a promising pitcher from Uganda who came to Japan with the dream of one day joining the pro league. We follow Kato as he prepares for his first official match this season. We also meet Feng Li from China, who works in marketing for a long-standing throat medicine maker in Tokyo.
Mass-produced items are nice and cheap, but none have the beauty and warmth of handmade objects. This is especially true in Japan, where handcrafted houseware has long been part of daily living. We follow Terry Ellis from the UK, who from his shop in Koenji, Tokyo, promotes the appeal of folkcraft from all over the country and works to adapt it to modern lifestyles. Later on, still in Tokyo, we drop by a beauty salon in Ikebukuro to meet Chinese Shang Haiyi, who trains to become a hairdresser.
This time we go to Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture to meet Mongolian Chimedtseren Amarzul, or Amura to her family and friends. She opened a glamping facility where guests can experience her homeland's culture from sleeping in a traditional house to savoring Mongolian cuisine. But the local climate and the Japanese palate are obstacles to making her project work. Will she succeed? Join us to find out! We also visit Shiretoko in Hokkaido Prefecture where Taiwanese Lan Ping-Fang is the area's only non-Japanese tour guide.
We follow Alek Pashkowski and Vadym Bezvuliak, a Ukrainian music duo that's been entertaining audiences in Nagasaki Prefecture's Sasebo City since 2014. Though Russia's invasion of their homeland has brought many hardships, they've received support from the people of Nagasaki. To express their gratitude, Alek and Vadym are going to perform Ue Wo Muite Aruko, an iconic song from Japan's postwar recovery, at a local festival. We also visit Spanish-born Anna Fornieles Orti who runs a pottery school in Osaka.
This time, we discover the enchanting natural landscape of Miyama in Kyoto Prefecture. Drawn to the appeal of a slowly paced life in the Japanese countryside, some foreigners have settled down in the region. We follow Spanish photographer Tina Bagué as she captures images of fellow non-Japanese who moved to Miyama - an American yoga master, a French organic farmer and a German shakuhachi player. We also visit Beppu in Oita Prefecture to meet Ukrainian Denys Kralikauskas who makes and mends tatami mats.
On this episode, we visit the workshop of Habib ur Rahman, a craftsman from Pakistan who designs and builds power wheelchairs in Kobayashi City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Believing that a wheelchair can change one's life, he custom-makes all his creations to fit each user's needs. We follow Habib as he designs a new wheelchair for a teenager suffering from a muscular disease. We also meet Chinese-born Xia Siya, who works for a children's education support program set up by Yubari City in Hokkaido Prefecture.
The city of Otaru in Hokkaido Prefecture is famous for its glass making tradition. Fascinated by Otaru glassware, Chen Yu-Chin moved here from her native Taiwan to train to become a glass artisan herself. After only a year, she was already an award-winning glass artist! On this episode, we follow Yu-Chin as she prepares her latest piece for an upcoming art exhibition. We also drop by a factory in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, to meet Indonesian Nursalam Hidayat, who trains as a metal caster.
In the village of Yamakogawa in Chiba Prefecture, Brazilian Joken Fernandes trains at a temple to be a Buddhist priest. Zen meditation, reading sutras and chores are part of his rigorous daily routine, but Joken faces a bigger challenge. As future head priest, he must earn the trust of the local community that supports the temple. We follow Joken as he prepares a meditation workshop for the villagers. We also meet Indonesian Amani Amiroh who runs an amusement park souvenir shop in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture.
On this episode, we take you on a culinary tour of Saitama Prefecture's diverse international community as we meet non-Japanese restaurant owners who serve dishes from their homelands to both warm the hearts of their compatriots and delight the locals. We visit Bless from Cameroon who cooks some of her hearty banga soup in Kasukabe, Cypriot Hasan who prepares sweet baklavas in Sayama, Ukrainian-born Luda who whips up a batch of her savory pelmeni dumplings in Kawaguchi as well as a few others!
We visit the Iizuna Highlands in Nagano Prefecture where Canadian Kayla Afrin runs a popular café. Having grown up under foster care due to losing her parents at a young age, she treasures her connection to the people of Iizuna. With local friends, Kayla organizes a big festival. However, as she is getting ready for the event, life brings a new hardship. Join us to find out more. We also meet Tumi Grendel Markan from the UK, an English-speaking guide at a Japanese sword museum in Setouchi, Okayama Prefecture.
Performed at Shinto shrines, Yabusame is a ritual in which an archer on horseback shoots arrows at targets. Australian Michael No was so impressed by Yabusame that he moved to Japan to learn it. Now with ten years of experience under his belt, he's going to open the ceremony at the famous Nikko Toshogu Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture. Will his arrows strike true? Join us to find out! We also meet Tantely Rasoanjanahary from Madagascar who works at a food-processing machinery manufacturer in Higashihiroshima.
We meet Istvan Lorincz, a Romanian of Hungarian origin who's a pastor and expert herbalist in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, as well as Vietnamese Hoai Thuong who works at a hot spring inn in Shimane Prefecture.
We meet French-born Germain Guibilato who works as a personal chef for events and special occasions in Kochi City, as well as Chinese Liao Haiting, a veterinary nurse in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture.
2022
Join us as we visit Naganuma in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido where Australian Karl Diercke runs a pie shop. Among his crusty creations are meat pies, which offer a taste of Karl's homeland but with beef produced locally. We follow him as he consults with the region's farmers to find a way to cope with the shortage in ingredients and decrease in customers winter brings. We also meet Vietnamese Tran Tuan Anh, the manager of a Tokyo produce store with an international staff and clientele.
On July 3rd 2021, massive mudslides caused by heavy rainfall swept through the town of Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, leaving devastation in their wake. A day before, Chinese-born Xu Haoyu had just moved into a house he'd bought there. Like many others, his home was destroyed. Six months after the disaster, we follow Haoyu in his efforts to get back on his feet. We later meet Xia Dezheng, also from China, who develops ready-to-eat meals for the elderly at a major food product manufacturer in Hiroshima Prefecture.
This episode takes us to Shiga Prefecture, home of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It's there that a few years ago Italian-born Enrico Cupri began working at a sake brewery. Fueled by his love of sake and his determination to master the brewing craft, he diligently trains under the mentoring of Tomita Yasunobu, the brewery's 15th-generation owner. But the road to sake mastery has its obstacles Enrico must overcome. We also meet American Andrew Gibler, who works at a real estate agency in Hiroshima Prefecture.
On this episode, we visit Kamata in Tokyo, which is home to many small factories expert in machining parts for a variety of industries. In recent years, however, the lack of successors has been forcing many manufacturers to close down. But Iranian-born Mirhoseini Ahmad, a veteran metalworker and factory owner, is making efforts with other local craftspeople to give the area back some of its former glory. We also meet Bill Leonguerrero from Guam, a confectioner of Japanese sweets in Ehime Prefecture.
This time, we follow Dharma Lama, a mandala artist born and raised at a temple in his home country of Nepal who now runs a vegetable farm in Toyama Prefecture. Concerned over the future of agriculture in the region, Dharma works hard to contribute to the farming community. He set up a food processing plant to further add value to local produce. But the road to success is not without its challenges. Join us to find out more. We also meet Yang Haoyue from China who works at a popular sundries store in Tokyo.
In Osaka City is a kitchen knife shop run by Canadian Bjorn Heiberg. Promoting the quality of Japanese knives and working with local craftspeople, he's helped reinvigorate the market, which had been dominated by cheaper all-purpose imports. But the pandemic brought unprecedented hurdles for his business. We follow Bjorn in his efforts to overcome these new difficulties. Also in Osaka, we visit a firm trading in machinery where Dominican Jose Bodden is in charge of importing robots from abroad.
On this episode, we meet 2 gray-bearded North Americans passionate about Japanese traditional arts. First, we head to Tokushima Prefecture, where US-born Martin Holman leads a troupe that performs a local centuries-old form of puppet theater called Awa Ningyo Joruri. Just like Martin, about half of the group's members are non-Japanese. Then we visit the Tokyo workshop of Canadian David Bull, a craftsman who with his team of artisans produces Japanese woodblock prints following a time-honored method.
This time, we visit Okinawa Prefecture to meet Ukraine-born Katarin Honma, whose soul was shaken by Russia's invasion of her homeland. An engineer who's recently begun baking bread with carrots that are broken or too misshapen to be sold as is, Katarin stays strong with the support of Okinawan people whose memories of World War II overlap with the situation in Ukraine. We also drop by Tokyo to speak with US-native Emily Balistrieri, who translates Japanese novels and manga to English for a major publisher.
On this episode, we visit Nakanoshima Island off the coast of Shimane Prefecture to meet Myanmar-born Aung Moe Oo, who leads a fishing enterprise. As young people leave the island to live in urban areas, he worries about the lack of successors to the local fishing industry. We follow him as he mentors a young woman who left her music career in Tokyo to become a fisher. We also tag along with South African Carli Kuschke on a day in her work creating samples for a plastering company in Tokyo.
We visit Ibaraki Prefecture where 2 Sri Lankan businessmen work to support their compatriots in need. At his welding factory, Chamila trains his all-Sri-Lankan staff in valuable skills that will help them through the difficulties brought on by the pandemic. Meanwhile, Sineth provides food and shelter to fellow Sri Lankans and assists them in getting a visa to work in farming. We also meet Korean Paek Sumin, who works for an automaker's subsidiary to broaden the clientele of their car sharing service.
On this episode, we meet two Ukrainians supporting their compatriots in Japan, from before and after Russia began to invade their homeland. The archpriest of Japan's first Ukrainian Orthodox Mission, Paul Koroluk, and Oksana Piskunova, a teacher for a Ukrainian study program, talk about their lives and how the current events are affecting them and their Ukrainian community in Japan. We also visit Kochi Prefecture, where Dutch-born Rogier Uitenboogaart makes traditional Japanese paper.
On this episode, we discover a lesser-known side of Tokyo with US-born magazine Editor Lucas Badtke-Berkow. After introducing the cool and youthful culture of the capital with the hit magazine "TOKION," he now focuses on the "good old Japan" he's grown to love over the years. His latest project sets the spotlight on the city's oldest inhabitants – trees. Later on, still in Tokyo, we drop by a nail salon for a bit of nail art with Myanmar-native Nial Khan Cing, also-known-as Non Non.
On this episode, we meet Canadian Josh Grisdale. A wheelchair user due to cerebral palsy, Josh works for a social welfare group in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward, and runs a website for foreigners with disabilities that introduces a broad range of locations in Japan with barrier-free accessibility. He also works to promote a better social understanding of people with disabilities. Then later on, we watch the swift handiwork of Vietnamese Hoang Quoc Viet, a professional wallpaper installer in Saitama Prefecture.
In 2020, Yamashita Alan, a Brazilian of Japanese descent and former Japanese champion of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, founded a cultural center in Imizu, his town of adoption in Toyama Prefecture. It's a place where the foreign community loves to gather to meet and practice all kinds of sports and activities. We follow Alan as he tries to encourage the Japanese locals to join in on the fun. We also visit a farm in Gunma Prefecture where Indonesian, Miko Alasta is in charge of growing lettuce and harvesting strawberries.
This time, we meet Ukrainian Anna Kreshchenko, an entrepreneur in Kyoto who creates apps that provide support for health issues unique to women. She's backed by her scientist business partner and a team of IT specialists, many of whom are from and live in Ukraine. They're among those Anna has helped find work amid the current situation in their homeland. Later, we visit a bakery in Kamakura where Aki Lappalainen bakes bread in the style of his home country of Finland.
For women, giving birth abroad can be a daunting prospect. Luckily, the Brazilian expectant mothers of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture have an invaluable partner - fellow Brazilian Ludmilla Hirata. She's a doula, a profession still relatively unknown in Japan, who provides emotional support and advice to women before, during and even after childbirth. Join us to find out more. Later on, we also "shed light" on the work of French-born Jeff Rudge, who makes traditional Japanese paper lanterns in Ibaraki Prefecture.
On this episode, we visit Myanmar refugee Aung Myat Win who runs a restaurant in Osaka Prefecture that serves the authentic taste of his home country. Win also manages a business that provides care to people with disabilities. And with the current situation in their homeland, Win is offering support to Myanmar nationals in Japan who are struggling like he was when he arrived in the country over 20 years ago. Later on, we meet US-born James Johnson, who works for a tea wholesaler in Shizuoka Prefecture.
On this episode, we meet Yevhenii Petrenko and his wife Nagasawa Mie – two professional dancers for a famous ballet company in Ukraine. This February, as the couple and their baby boy were visiting Mie's mother in Japan, Russia began its invasion of Yevhenii's home country. We follow the couple as they rehearse for a charity ballet performance that they organized to support Ukraine. We also visit a sushi restaurant in Tokyo where Chinese-born Wen Shuqi trains to become a sushi chef.
This time we head to mountainous Nagano Prefecture where 13-year-old Artem Tsymbaliuk fled from the war in his homeland of Ukraine with his mother. Practicing Zendokai Karate since childhood, Artem was invited to Japan by the founder of this unique martial art style. Two months after his arrival, Artem takes part in a prefectural tournament. How will he fare? Join us to find out! We also visit Osaka Prefecture to follow Malaysian Yip Xue Qian in his marketing work for a world-renowned manufacturer of snack foods.
On this episode, we revisit Ghana-native Tony Justice, who runs a canteen for children from families in financial difficulties and single-parent households in Kanagawa Prefecture. Looking to keep his project going amidst the pandemic, he decided to hit the road! With a food truck, he turned his diner into a mobile canteen. We tag along as Tony prepares to deploy his diner on wheels in Tokyo! Later on, we also meet Filipino Bueno Ryan, who raises cows on a cattle farm in Chiba Prefecture.
On this episode, we head to the forested mountains surrounding the village of Totsukawa in Nara Prefecture to meet French-born Jolan Ferreri. A lover of the woodlands, Jolan works to invigorate the region with his creation, an exciting aerial recreational park held in suspension among the trees dubbed the Village in the Sky. We also visit Yugawara where Thai-native Manutchaya Chaopreecha works at the local tourist information center to promote this famous hot-spring resort town in Kanagawa Prefecture.
This time, we visit Toyama Prefecture to meet US-born Jack Lee Randall, a weaver of tales for children using shadow puppets. With an overhead projector, paper cutouts, his creativity and his audience's imagination, he adds his own twist to beloved fairy tales, much to the children's delight. We follow Jack as he collaborates with musicians for a live shadow performance like he's never done before. We also tag along with Chinese-native Weng Fei, who operates a concrete pump truck in Gifu Prefecture.
On this episode, we meet US-born Shelby Brown in the city of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture. Shelby is passionate about kendama, a traditional Japanese toy with which one can do many spectacular tricks, and that's now popular worldwide. Shelby hopes to help enliven his beloved town of adoption through kendama. We follow him as he's about to take part in the Kendama World Cup. We also take a look at the beautiful flower arrangement work of Canadian Daniel Patterson, an ikebana artist in Yokohama.
The biwa is a Japanese string instrument with a long history, and the 130-year-old chikuzen biwa is a relatively more modern type originated in the city of Fukuoka, which is where we meet Italian Doriano Sulis, a specialist in the crafting and repair of the instrument. He's in fact one of the few remaining artisans capable of doing so. We follow him in his efforts to ensure his craft endures. We also drop by a cosmetics store in Chiba Prefecture where Chinese-born Yi Liu works as the assistant manager.
On this episode, we go to Kitanakagusuku Village in Okinawa Prefecture to meet US-born Alex Hopson, who works at a restaurant that serves a kind of soup with an unusual main ingredient - venomous sea snake! It's a dish that dates back to when the Ryukyu Kingdom ruled over Okinawa. Alex has made it his mission to preserve this unique soup and the local culinary culture. We also visit a language school in Hiroshima Prefecture where Benjamin Stringer, also from the US, cleverly combines English and piano lessons.
We visit Kochi City in Kochi Prefecture to meet US-native Owen Wade, a member of a local business owners' association. With the declining population, the opening of supermarket franchises and the pandemic, small shops have been struggling. We follow Owen in his efforts to reinvigorate his town of adoption, particularly with the popular Yosakoi Festival, held for the first time in three years. We also drop by a soba noodle shop in Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, that's run by Bangladesh-born MD Chowdhury.
This time, we visit Hiroshima Prefecture to meet Ukrainian-born Hiraishi Olena and her son, budding violinist Eishin. Since Russia began invading Olena's home country, she and Eishin have been organizing charity concerts to provide support for Ukraine. They now prepare to send a message of peace to the world with a special concert in which Eishin will play a violin that survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. We also meet UK-native Sally Hancox, who crafts beautiful indigo dye creations on Awaji Island.
On this episode, we meet US-born Tim Jones in the town of Kuromatsunai in Hokkaido Prefecture. A veteran cattle farmer from Texas, Tim was 68 when two years ago, he and his Japanese wife decided to move to her home country to raise cows. In Japan where marbled fatty beef is the gold standard, will Tim be able to sell his leaner grass-fed meat? Join us to find out. We also visit a construction site in Osaka Prefecture where Vietnamese Tran Ngoc Son works as a carpenter under the Technical Intern Trainee program.
This time, we meet American Thomas Kloepfer, a farmer living in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, where he revived abandoned farmland to grow all sorts of vegetables. His new project is a café that will feature his produce and bring the local community together. But this year's scorching summer has been hard on his crops. We follow Thomas in his efforts to overcome this obstacle and keep his dream alive. We also visit a brewery in Yamanashi Prefecture, where Richard Leglise, also from the US, crafts barrel-aged beer.
On this episode, we head to Mitoyo in Kagawa Prefecture to meet French-native Jerome Rupp who grows Shine Muscats, a variety of high-end grapes born in Japan. Cultivating the luxury fruit is painstaking work that requires meticulous care. After training under a mentor, Jerome finally harvested his first grapes last year. However, some of them had been damaged by a typhoon. How will the fruit of his labor fare this season? Later on, Danish Jonas Berg introduces his work as a pipe organ builder in Tokyo.
The aging of the population and labor shortages are some of the biggest issues Japanese agriculture is currently facing. On this episode, we meet Tamir Blum, a young Israeli man who's working to lighten the workload of Japanese farmers ... with robots! From his company office in Chiba Prefecture, he and his team are developing a robot that he hopes will help farmers nationwide with physically-demanding tasks. Later on, we drop by an event in Tokyo to watch UK-born street performer Chris Peters in action.
This time, we head to Wakayama Prefecture to take in the beauty of Japanese nature captured by German-born Dominik Schmitz, a professional gardener who introduces esthetic elements from his homeland into traditional Japanese landscaping. We meet up with Dominik as he welcomes his first autumn season since he began working in the gardens of Nishimuro-in Temple, located at a World Heritage site. We also visit the workplace of Filipino Clark Ken Sacaon, a welder in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture.
On this episode, we venture into the woods of Seto in Aichi Prefecture to do some tree climbing with Canadian John Gathright. A professor at a local university, John has long studied the benefits of tree climbing as a fun activity that helps children gain confidence and a positive outlook on life. He organizes events for kids to climb trees and learn about the importance of forests. We also meet Chinese-born Kanai Matsuko, who supports foreigners living in Japan in their search for employment.
We revisit the Ukrainian families who came to Nagano Prefecture in April 2022 to flee the war in their country. The kids are students of Zendokai Karate, the founder of which invited them to Japan. The oldest of the boys is 14-year-old Artem who came with his mother. Six months later, the young martial artists are getting used to life in Japan, and their mothers have found work. However, worried for their loved ones back home and the children's education, the families must make an important decision.
2021
On this episode, we meet Bhutanese Robin Sharma who works for an agricultural company in Uwa, Ehime Prefecture. Robin has overcome many hardships since he moved to Japan. Now that he's learning advanced farming techniques, he hopes to one day take this know-how back to his homeland. However, he's now facing a new problem. Join us to find out more. We also follow Lkhagva Khanda, a Mongolian native working for a Tokyo architectural firm, as she designs her very first stand-alone house.
This episode takes us to Akita Prefecture, where Polish-born Michal Taberski runs a sausage and ham manufacturing business. To give back to the region's people who helped him achieve success, he mixes local products into his own and collaborates with a high school to foster the new generation that will ensure a future for Akita's declining meat industry. We also visit a horse racetrack in Kochi Prefecture to meet Yerdy Bravo, a groom working hard training horses to support his family back in his native Venezuela.
On this episode, we visit Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture to meet Russian-native Yulia Lev, a pianist who's been active in Japan for 20 years. As an accompanist - a specialization common in Russia yet rare in Japan - she performs with a wide range of musicians and singers, proving there are no borders in music. Her love for her work and city of adoption helps her through life's hardships. We also drop by a Tokyo gallery to watch Italian-born Greta Rossi at work organizing a contemporary art exhibition.
People from around the world who have made Japan their home must adapt to a new community, but the unprecedented issue of COVID-19 is adding to the hardships of non-Japanese. A year after the pandemic started, there is still no end in sight. We get in touch with some of the people we met in past episodes to ask how their situation has changed and get some insight on the impact the coronavirus has had on foreigners in Japan.
This time, we meet American-born Pamela Ann Matsunaga who's traveled the world with her 5 children, spending several years in Greece to finally settle down in sunny Okinawa Prefecture. Although the pandemic has forced her to close down her previous business, a restaurant, she stays positive in her new passion: making award-winning Greek-style cheese with Okinawan goat milk. We also visit Mouhamadou Dieng from Senegal, who deals in used tires he carefully chooses and exports from Japan to the world.
On January 7, 2021, a state of emergency was once again declared for 11 prefectures in Japan in response to a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases. How is the lingering pandemic affecting foreigners working in Japan? To find out, we speak online with four of the people we met in past episodes: an Italian employee of a pizza brick oven manufacturer, the chairman of the Sendai Vietnamese Association, a Russian staff member of a hot-spring hotel, and a Tokyo-based drum teacher from Cameroun.
As the pandemic shows little to no signs of abating, we continue to touch base remotely with some of the people we've met over the past year to see how they've been coping with the COVID crisis. UK-native Paul Christie who organizes tours of the Japanese countryside has started a new project refurbishing old houses, Tony Justice from Ghana is taking his canteen for kids on the road, and Chinese-born entrepreneur Tian Xiaohan is working hard to find new business avenues for her prep school.
This episode takes us to Kyoto to meet Togo-native Kabressa Deabalo. A master tailor in his home country, he specializes in bespoke, vibrantly colored clothing. He partners with Kyoto local Nakasu Toshiharu to produce garments, each one-of-a-kind, under the brand AFURIKA DOGS. Their latest project: to create tailor-made clothes African-style using traditional handmade Kyoto fabric. We also drop by the workplace of Chinese-born Yu Mei, a popular hairstylist living as a single mother in Tokyo.
On this episode, we travel to Urakawa Town in Hokkaido Prefecture where Nguyen Van Bao and Nguyen Van Hieu, 2 veterinarians from Vietnam, work as grooms at a racehorse breeding farm. Not accustomed to taking care of horses at first, they're now in charge of 20 animals each. We follow them as they tackle the busiest time of the year for horse breeders: spring, when mothers give birth. We also meet French-born Jeremy Escudero, who sells kitchen knives at a Tokyo store with more than a hundred years of history.
In recent years, the Nepalese population has been growing in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. Acting as a bridge between his fellow Nepalese and Okinawan society is Ojha Laxman, who came to Japan 10 years ago to learn karate. He now also teaches children at the dojo where he trains. We follow Ojha as he and the Nepalese community prepare to celebrate Nepal's New Year with the Okinawan locals. We also meet Vietnamese-born Pham Nhat Quan who works for a Tokyo firm specializing in foundation construction.
We follow Chinese-born Aya Wu, owner of Szechuan restaurants in the Tokyo area. To help her business survive the pandemic, she hired the services of a meal delivery company, but commission fees proved too high, prompting her to start her own delivery business. Hoping other eateries join in, Aya set up low commissions. However, getting enough restaurants to participate is harder than she expected. We also meet Yohandy De Armas from Cuba, a former pro basketballer turned gym instructor in Tokyo.
In this episode, we head to the forested Northern Alps of Nagano Prefecture with Lama Gyalu, a Sherpa and former mountain guide from Nepal. Devoted to preserving the natural environment of his beloved region of adoption, he founded his own forestry company in 2019, combining his wisdom accumulated while a guide in his native country with the knowledge acquired over the years of study in Japan. Also in forestry, we meet French-born Eric Belœuvre, who left the city's comfort to work in the woods of Gifu Prefecture.
Step right up, ladies and gents! Come witness the thrilling spectacle that is our latest episode! With thorough preventive measures against the pandemic, the Happy Dream Circus presents performers from 7 different countries as it tours western Japan. Watch top star Alan Ibarra from Mexico as he trains the only Japanese performer in the troupe to master the spine-chilling Wheel of Death! We also meet Vietnamese Dang Van Kien, who's been working as a plasterer in Japan for 7 years.
When living abroad, the language barrier can be a major obstacle. This is particularly true in healthcare, notably with the current pandemic. We focus on 3 non-Japanese who provide assistance in the medical field to foreigners in Japan: Australian-born Nicholas Rennick, a general physician doing consultations in English; Liza Ishima from the Philippines, an interpreter at a local clinic; and Peruvian-native Cesar Cabrejos, who promotes phone interpretation services for healthcare facilities.
With the pandemic, the number of foreigners in Japan who find themselves without work is on the rise. On this episode, we follow 2 people's efforts to provide support to the unemployed. Duong Thi Thuy Duong mobilized a Buddhist temple, volunteers and donors to help fellow Vietnamese who've become homeless. And, part of the staff at an employment support center for non-Japanese established in May 2020, Chinese-born Sugaya Akihiko earnestly guides people on their way to finding work.
On this episode, we visit Hiroshima to meet Mary Popeo from the US. She works there as a "Peace Guide," teaching visitors from abroad about the atomic bombing on Hiroshima, and relating the experiences of the survivors, also called "hibakusha." One of them, Ito Masao, has been encouraging Mary in her mission to raise awareness on the tragedy of the bombing. We also tag along Mongolian-native Selenge Luvsanchimed for a day in her work as a bag designer in Tokyo.
Like in many other small villages in Japan, the population of Sasama in Shizuoka Prefecture is declining due to aging. But US-native Shelley Clarke is determined to change that. To attract tourists, she's turned an old house into a cafe cum lodging facility. She's also learning a local traditional dance to help preserve it. We follow her in her efforts to reinvigorate her beloved village of adoption. We also meet Korean Kim Eun-young, whose online cooking lessons are drawing in students from all over Japan.
United by their love and passion for craft beer and their adoptive Kyoto Prefecture, Chris Hainge from the US, Canadian Paul Speed and Wales-born Ben Falck run their brewery in Japan's old capital. Business was doing well until sales dropped due to the pandemic. We follow the intrepid trio's efforts to overcome the hardships by strengthening their ties to the Kyoto community. We also visit Polish Anika Godek at the Fuchu City Hall in Tokyo where she promotes the town's appeal to visitors from abroad.
Lack of social contact due to the pandemic can cause feelings of isolation and anxiety, which can be made even worse by language and cultural barriers for those living abroad. On this episode, we follow 2 Brazilian men in Japan who are helping their compatriots fight loneliness. Psychologist Irineu Carlos offers emotional support to people suffering from problems such as depression, and Rafael Kinoshita reopened his violin and guitar school to lift children's spirits with the power of music.
On this episode, we meet UK-born potter Adam Smith who lives in Nagano Prefecture. After learning Japanese-style pottery in his native country, Adam moved to Japan to further his mastery of the craft and work with glazes made from the ash of various natural elements. He's now collaborating with a vineyard to produce cups that go well with local wine. Also, yoga instructors Mukesh Thapliyal and Sina Krickhahn introduce how they adapted their workstyle to continue to teach in Japan in spite of the pandemic.
We follow Nitin Hingarh who runs a Tokyo company selling ingredients from his native India to restaurants around Japan. With the impact of COVID on food service, he had to shift gears. He opened a branch of his grocery store in Tokyo's Little India with the help of a Japanese supermarket veteran, and is now trying to have Indian chili peppers grown for the first time in Japan. We also meet Hungarian Mate Varga, a UI designer living in Japan who's been working from home due to the pandemic.
In recent years more and more foreign workers are being hired in Japan in response to the shortage of care laborers for the elderly. But the pandemic brings up additional issues for both the aged and care workers. On this episode, we look at the work of non-Japanese care laborers, from a nursing home that set up a prayer room for its Muslim staff to a Swedish man who uses music therapy to support the elderly with dementia, as well as a Korean woman who provides care for foreign elderly in Japan.
This time, we head to Kikugawa in Shizuoka Prefecture where many non-Japanese workers live. For the children of foreign parents, difficulty with the Japanese language is a barrier to entry into elementary school. Luckily for them, Ochi Kiyoshi, a Brazilian of Japanese descent, runs a daycare center where children learn Japanese. We look at his work and how the pandemic impacted him and the kids under his care. We also meet Johan Erik Nilsson Bjork from Sweden, a professional "rakugo" storyteller in Tokyo.
We meet Maurice Torralba, a former member of the national volleyball team in his native Cuba, whose competitive career was cut short by injury. After marrying a Japanese woman he met in his homeland, he's now settled down in Miyazaki Prefecture where his athletic dream is alive and well, this time as a coach for elementary school children, high-schoolers and even a pro-level volleyball team. We also follow Taiwanese Huang Lian for a day in his work as a patterner of women's fashion in Tokyo.
On this episode, we head to Gifu Prefecture to meet German-native Bernd Kestler, a knitting artisan whose work is inspired by the prefecture's natural colors. Through his creations, he wants to help reinvigorate the textile industry in Gifu and the surrounding areas. We follow him as he collaborates with a dyehouse to produce original yarn with hues based on the region's persimmons. We also drop by a Tokyo hostel where US-born Delice Green and her colleagues work hard and stay positive amid the pandemic.
In Japan, castella cake has been popular for generations. It's the descendant of "pao-de-lo," a dessert brought to 16th-century Japan by Portuguese merchants. Also from Portugal is Paulo Duarte, a confectioner in Kyoto Prefecture who made it his mission to reintroduce Japan to "pao-de-lo." We follow his attempt at baking the "missing link" between the 2 cakes. Don't have a sweet tooth? Then tag along as we later visit the Tokyo shop of Vietnamese-born Tran Van Trung for some of his famous fish-stock ramen.
2024
We meet Italian Francesco Panto, a psychiatrist in Saitama Prefecture who develops a therapy method that makes use of Japanese anime, as well as Brazilian Silvia De Souza who works at a coating plant in Toyama.
This time, we meet Togawa Aya, a naturalized Japanese born in China who runs a cafeteria in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, as well as May Zin Chit from Myanmar, who manages a convenience store in Tokyo.
This time, we follow three Ukrainians – a teenage boy and a female entrepreneur who both came to Japan thanks to martial arts, as well as a man who works in PR for a vertical farming company.
We revisit Ukrainian musicians Alek and Vadym in Nagasaki Prefecture as they create a music video to express their prayer for peace, and meet Yuliya, also from Ukraine, who works at a restaurant in Kanagawa Prefecture.
We meet Jan Markiewicz from Poland, who trains at a Tokyo sushi restaurant in preparation for the World Sushi Cup, as well as Taiwanese Su Ling, a curator at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.
We meet Uganda-born Kalule Deogratius who teaches English at a middle school in Nagano Prefecture, and Vietnamese Nguyen Cong Quoc who works at a mandarin orange farm in Ehime Prefecture.
We meet Muhammad Nurul Elahi in Niigata Prefecture who grows lotus roots to fund an elementary school he opened in his native Bangladesh, and Moroccan Mohamed Aalla who trains at a soy sauce maker in Kagawa Prefecture.
We follow UK-born Suzanne Ross - a lacquerware artisan in Wajima - in her efforts to recover after this January's quake, and meet Chinese Tomoe Setsubai who runs a Japanese confectionery in Yokohama.
We meet Ukrainian Ivanna Berezovska, a female sumo wrestler who trains at a university club in Fukuoka Prefecture, and Indonesian Harsono, a professional who takes care of traditional Japanese gardens in Aichi Prefecture.
On this episode, we meet American Jerry Martin, an author of children's books based in Saitama Prefecture, and Daniel Muivakitonyi from Kenya, a running instructor in Tokyo.
We meet Ashley Souther from the US, who teaches a class on peace at a secondary school in Hiroshima Prefecture, as well as Sten van Daalen from the Netherlands, an apprentice potter in Saga Prefecture.
On this episode, we revisit Filipino dance instructor Eduardo Macarat in Yokohama who changed his career to support his family, and Hongkonger Tom Wong who promotes shiitake mushrooms grown in Iwate Prefecture.
We meet South Korean Kang Dong Ju who runs his own carpentry business in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, and German Max Geiger, a part-time rickshaw tour guide in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture.
We meet South Sudanese Abraham Guem, a 1,500-metres runner who trains in Japan in hope to qualify for the Paris Olympics, as well as Indian Khanu Singh, a racehorse groom in Obihiro, Hokkaido Prefecture.
We meet Richard Pearce, a British ecotourism guide who runs an NPO dedicated to Japanese giant salamander conservation in Tottori Prefecture, and Swedish Peter Paalsson, a crafter of furniture in Hokkaido Prefecture.
We meet Indian Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty who organizes a festival in Aichi Prefecture to bring the Indian and Japanese communities together, as well as Indonesian Wardah Hasanah, a 3D animator in Tokyo.
This time, we accompany Finnish native Laura Kopilow on her journey to discover tasty parfaits all over Japan, and meet Chinese Wang Ying who works at a selfie studio in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
We meet American Bianca Smith, a former pro baseball coach who now trains children and teens in Hokkaido Prefecture, and Francis Geyrozaga Lapinig, also from the US who works as an autobody refinisher in Tokyo.
In Gunma Prefecture, we meet Pakistani Aziz Ahmed who helps children that have to interpret for foreign parents with limited skill in Japanese, and Thai-native Terd Thailek, a Muay Thai trainer at a gym.
We meet French illustrator Emilie Bouquet who runs an eco-friendly farm in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, and Brazilian Suellen Taniguchi who supports kids and teens with learning difficulties in Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture.
We revisit Pakistani Habib ur Rahman, a crafter of custom-made power wheelchairs in Kobayashi, Miyazaki Prefecture, and meet Edson Moreno, a Brazilian truck driver based in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture.
In Tokyo, we meet Syrian Iskandar Salama who works to find job opportunities for his fellow Syrians in and out of Japan, then go on a river ride in Tochigi Prefecture with Nepalese Shishir Mahat as our guide.
We meet Polish Izabela Ishikawa who works to find and return the remains of those who died during World War II in Okinawa, and Hongkonger Wan Sze Ho, an instructor at a driving school in Kumamoto.
We meet Peruvian Estela Nakazaki and her daughter Namiko, both working in elderly care in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture, and English Oliver Richardson who works at a tourist information center in Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture.
We meet English-born Roland Gregory, a.k.a. Roly, who runs his own apple orchard in the Nagano countryside, and Gethmina Dinithika from Sri Lanka, who works at a ramen shop in Ueda, also in Nagano Prefecture.
We revisit Aussie chef Benjamin Flatt and lacquerware artist Suzanne Ross from the UK in their efforts to preserve the culture of their adoptive Noto in the aftermath of the quake that hit a year ago.
2025
We meet Austrian fashion designer Edwina Horl Ota who works to bring her late husband's Tokyo ramen shop back to its former glory, and Chinese Masuda Sei who cleans up bullet trains at Tokyo Station.
