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“Un Italiana in Giappone” la serie – Stefania Sabia

La fratellanza fra Italia e Giappone negli ultimi anni è diventata sempre più stretta e solidale. Non è raro infatti trovare nostri connazionali che desiderano spostarsi nella terra del Sol Levante, tuttavia in pochi riescono a realizzare questo sogno. Oggi vogliamo condividere con voi l’esperienza di Stefania Sabia, italianissima ragazza che da circa due anni vive e lavora in Giappone!

JIB: Ciao Stefania, innanzitutto grazie per aver accettato di tenere questa intervista con noi.
S: Grazie a voi per avermi contattata e aver pensato al mio blog!

JIB: Raccontaci un po’ di te e di cosa fai nella vita
S: Mi chiamo Stefania, sono laureata in lingua e letteratura giapponese e da circa 2 anni vivo e lavoro in Giappone, a Tokyo.
Sono la creatrice del blog Prossima Fermata Giappone, che ho aperto insieme alla pagina Facebook 4 anni fa, durante il mio primo viaggio studio a Tokyo, seguita poi da Instagram e Youtube circa un annetto fa, che aggiorno con cura giornalmente.
Da allora continuo a raccontare con amore attraverso articoli, foto, video i miei viaggi e la mia vita quotidiana in Giappone.
Ho una passione particolare per la Shitamachi della capitale, i luoghi antichi di Tokyo mescolati al tessuto urbano moderno, ma che conservano un’atmosfera unica, spesso accompagnati da piccoli cafè incredibili.
Adoro l’esplosione di colori delle fioriture giapponesi, amo i dolci ristoranti a tema che ti strappano immancabilmente un sorriso e, quando ne ho l’occasione, amo indossare il kimono.
Esplorare e condividere questo meraviglioso Paese mi riempie sempre di una gioia immensa.

JIB: Come e da cosa nasce la passione del Giappone?
S: La passione per il Giappone nasce in seguito alla curiosità nei confronti della cultura di questo Paese. Ne ho sempre trovato affascinanti la storia, il folklore, la letteratura e anche la lingua. Potrei stare ore ad ascoltare il suono fluido del giapponese, rilassante come acqua che gorgoglia.
Una delle prime leggende ad avermi incantata, ricordo ancora adesso, è stata quella del Tanabata. Da piccola sognavo di poter partecipare un giorno ai festeggiamenti, mettere lo yukata e vedere il mare di decorazioni luccicanti tipiche della ricorrenza sopra la testa.

JIB: E alla fine ci sei riuscita! Tu ormai vivi in Giappone da qualche anno, raccontaci qualcosa sulla tua esperienza e come sei arrivata ad oggi
S: Vivere qui a Tokyo è un’esperienza incredibile, difficile talvolta, ma che in ogni caso non cambierei con nient’altro al mondo. Può essere una sfida, una prova, una sorpresa.
A vivere così lontani da casa ci sono tante prime volte, si imparano tante cose di se stessi e degli altri, e quello che magari in Italia non avevo mai fatto da sola mi sono ritrovata a doverlo affrontare.
La parte che amo di più è indubbiamente l’esplorazione, avere la possibilità di conoscere a fondo e con calma Tokyo, di svelarne a mano a mano gli strati, tutti i suoi anaba // i piccoli angoli, i cantucci segreti, i luoghi del cuore. Amo questa città con tutta me stessa.
Sono venuta per la prima volta in Giappone 4 anni fa, durante il secondo anno di università, pensando che un periodo studio mi avrebbe potuta aiutare con la lingua e i seguenti esami, così mi sono iscritta ad un corso di 3 mesi ad una scuola di lingua a Nippori (una delle zone di Shitamachi di cui vi parlavo sopra) e sono letteralmente rimasta folgorata dalla capitale.
Con il cuore traboccante di sentimenti sono tornata in Italia sapendo che una volta laureata sarei assolutamente voluta tornare.
Dopo la laurea sono ripartita dunque ancora una volta come studentessa, con l’intenzione di migliorare il più possibile il mio giapponese e provare a prendere il visto lavorativo.
Ho ottenuto il mio visto lavorativo di 3 anni circa 3 mesi fa e ora lavoro in un’azienda giapponese, io in particolare mi occupo di aiutare altri occidentali a trovare lavoro in Giappone.

 

JIB: Quale città ha catturato il tuo cuore in Giappone?
S: Forse si potrà capire già da altre risposte ma amo Tokyo con tutto il cuore. Penso sia una città unica. Una città patchwork, fatta di scampoli arcobaleno di ogni tipo e forma. Un incastro straordinario di moderno e antico. Non ha forse la bellezza classica tipica di Kyoto, ha più il fascino dei luoghi vissuti fino in fondo, al massimo, quei luoghi in grado di raccontarti ad ogni angolo una storia, di stupirti ancora e ancora senza mai fallire. Questa città è un universo a parte, non si smette mai di capirla, di impararla.
Se parliamo di luoghi straordinari per bellezza e per ricordi devo citare allora anche Takaragawa Onsen, un dei posti più magici in cui io sia mai stata in Giappone. Di questo ryokan con onsen ne ho parlato anche sul blog. Sembra provenire da un’altra epoca, adagiato in mezzo alle foreste di Gunma, lontanissimo dalle città, posato sul corso del fiume Takara. Puro incanto.

JIB: La tua storia è davvero emozionante e siamo sicuri che tu riesca a vivere quotidianamente esperienze uniche e creare tanti ricordi che ti porterai sempre nel cuore. Vorresti condividere con noi uno dei momenti più divertenti o significativi che ti sono capitati da quando vivi in Giappone?
S: Una delle esperienze che più ho amato è stata portare il mikoshi durante il matsuri del mio quartiere. La sensazione di coesione della comunità e il senso stesso dei festival è qualcosa di fantastico.
E’ stato incredibile poter vedere un matsuri nella sua interità, dal raduno dei partecipanti, al brindisi e preghiere d’inizio e avere l’opportunità di portare la divinità, all’interno del mikoshi, in modo che potesse venire ringraziata da tutti e garantire così fortuna e prosperità al quartiere e i suoi abitanti.

 

JIB: Deve essere stata un’esperienza davvero intensa. Invece da cosa è nato Il tuo blog, prossimafermatagiappone.com, e come hai sviluppato il concetto sino ad arrivare a ciò che è oggi?
S: Il blog è nato dalla voglia di riportare in parole l’amore smisurato che provo per il Giappone.
Ho sempre amato scrivere, fin da piccola, e ho pensato che raccontare di questo paese avrebbe potuto connettermi e aiutare tanti altri amanti del Giappone.
E’ un blog di viaggio, ma spesso sono i sentimenti per i luoghi a farla da padrone, un genuino e totale entusiasmo per quello che vedo o quello che faccio.
L’affetto sincero per certi quartieri, il fascino che su di me esercitano l’antico e le tradizioni, i luoghi che cantano al mio cuore. Una cosa, che penso e spero si possa capire leggendo il blog, è che non scrivo per raccontare di viaggi fini a se stessi, ma di emozioni e di percorsi.
Parto dal presupposto che spesso anche un luogo quotidiano, meno visitato o meno famoso possa in realtà riservare grandi scoperte e tanta meraviglia.
Il blog è uscito fuori così, dalla sincerità dei miei sentimenti per il Giappone, per 4 anni, quasi ogni giorno ho pubblicato racconti, foto, itinerari, consigli per chi si appresta magari a partire per un viaggio, per studio o per vivere in Giappone.

 

JIB: E’ davvero molto bello questo sentimento che ti ha mosso a creare il tuo blog, e questa è un’altra delle cose che abbiamo in comune. Tante persone come noi sognano di vivere in Giappone e fare lo stesso percorso che hai seguito tu. Tuttavia, come ben sappiamo, non è sempre oro tutto quel che luccica, e anche il Giappone, come un po’ in tutti i paesi, ha i suoi alti e bassi. Quali sono le difficoltà che hai riscontrato nei primi tempi nella terra del Sol Levante?
S: Devo dire che non ho mai riscontrato difficoltà enormi da quando mi sono trasferita. O meglio, niente che io non sia mai riuscita a superare con un po’ di impegno o niente che io consideri in realtà particolarmente negativo.
E’ divertente e di incerto risultato le prime volte che ti ritrovi a dover fare cose che in Italia avresti considerato normali, ma che qui rappresentano invece delle incognite: andare per la prima volta dal dottore, fare il contratto del telefono e più tardi imbarcarmi da sola nel contratto della casa e dover telefonare per far allacciare le utenze.
Il momento più difficile, anche quello una grande incognita, è stato la ricerca del lavoro, mesi davvero tosti e impegnativi, fatti anche di tanti no, di tanti “ce la farò? Non mollerò!”
Non è sempre facile il mercato del lavoro per uno straniero.
Per ultima ovviamente la lontananza da casa, vorrei sicuramente avere la possibilità di vedere più spesso la mia famiglia.

JIB: Quali sono i tuoi progetti per il futuro?
S: Anche se al momento il tempo scarseggia, mi piacerebbe lavorare di più con il blog. Collaborare di più con aziende locali, proporre più attività da fare in vacanza.
Sarebbe bello poter mostrare sempre più Giappone e spero di averne l’occasione.
Un altro sogno nel cassetto sarebbe quello di scrivere una guida, in particolare sulla Shitamachi, le antiche zone di Tokyo preservate, sopravvissute a incendi, terremoti e bombardamenti, queste aree ancora poco famose sono di una ricchezza unica.
Sono la mia parte preferita della città e vorrei parlarne più approfonditamente se mai ne avessi l’occasione.
Lavorativamente parlando in futuro mi piacerebbe fare in Giappone più esperienze nel campo del turismo, vorrei davvero impegnarmi in questo senso.

 

photo credits: @georgeyajima

JIB: E’ davvero molto interessante quello che stai condividendo con noi, e anche noi dall’Italia siamo convinti che ci sia bisogno di più informazioni riguardo a queste zone particolari solo del Giappone, che molto spesso vengono un po’ messe da parte dalla massa. Quali sono secondo te le connessioni più forti che trovi fra l’Italia e il Giappone?
S: si tratta penso di due Paesi profondamente diversi, ma sicuramente entrambi si portano dietro una storia millenaria, cultura e tradizioni grandissime e affascinanti. In entrambi i Paesi c’è un grande amore per il cibo, un grande amore per le proprie ricchezze artistiche.

JIB: Pensi ci sia un futuro per una collaborazione ancora più stretta fra le due nazioni?
S: Io spero di sì, soprattutto dal punto di vista turistico, penso ci sia un sempre maggior interesse per il Giappone.
I turisti italiani stanno aumentando da un paio di anni e questo interesse reciproco, questa curiosità di viaggio, spero apra le porte a nuove possibilità.
Sarebbe bello inoltre si potesse avere il working holiday anche per gli italiani in futuro.

JIB: Ti manca mai l’Italia? Pensi di tornare stabilmente qui?
S: Come dicevo prima, dell’Italia mi mancano le persone, la mia famiglia, le amicizie italiane. Se non avessi delle buone amiche italiane qui sarebbe doppiamente difficile.
L’altra grave mancanza sono i salumi e i formaggi (più che pasta e pizza che qui si trovano fatti benissimo), c’è una selezione scarsissima e costosissima per lo più. La tristezza di non potersi fare un mega panino al salame!
Forse prima o poi tornerò in Italia o in Europa comunque, ma per ora è difficile dire cosa mi riservi il futuro. Per il momento vorrei restare in Giappone.

JIB: E anche noi speriamo tu possa rimanere in Giappone! Grazie mille per il tempo che ci hai dedicato e per le bellissime parole e momenti che hai condiviso con noi. Un ultima cosa, lancia un saluto e un consiglio a tutti i nostri lettori
S: Vi ringrazio innanzitutto per l’intervista, siete state carinissime ad ospitarmi.
Sarei davvero felice se sempre più persone potessero leggere il blog e trovarvi spunti, che siano di viaggio o di vita in Giappone, io sono sempre disponibile a dare una mano a chiunque si trovi in cerca di risposte sul tema.
A chi vorrebbe magari studiare o vivere in Giappone dico di non abbandonare il proprio sogno, può essere un Paese difficile sotto certi aspetti, ma se lo si ama e si vuole tentare, perché no?
L’unico suggerimento è di venire pronti, il Giappone dà tanto ma chiede anche tanto.
E se la vita di uno studente può essere abbastanza tranquilla, quella di un lavoratore a tempo pieno ha dei ritmi spesso frenetici.
Anche il visto lavorativo richiede nel 99% dei casi una laurea, senza la quale è poco probabile che l’immigrazione rilasci il visto. Molti lavori d’ufficio o relativi al turismo richiedono inoltre spesso una capacità di parlato che sia business / N2.
Venite in Giappone tenendo in mente queste cose e perseverate finché non avrete ottenuto ciò che più vi rende felici!
Un abbraccione a tutti i lettori!

 

Segui Stefania

Blog: prossimafermatagiappone.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Prossimafermatagiappone/
Instagram: @prossimafermatagiappone

[:en]

“An Italian in Japan” the series – Stefania Sabia

The brotherhood between Italy and Japan in recent years has become increasingly close and supportive. It is not rare to find our compatriots wishing to move to the land of the Rising Sun, but few succeed in realizing this dream. Today we want to share with you the experience of Stefania Sabia, a very Italian girl who has been living and working in Japan for about two years!

JIB: Hi Stefania, first of all thank you for agreeing to have this interview with us.
S: Thank you for contacting me and thinking about my blog!

JIB: Tell us a little about yourself and what you do in life.
S: My name is Stefania, I graduated in Japanese language and literature and I have been living and working in Tokyo for about 2 years.
I’m the creator of the Prossima fermata Giappone (Next Stop Japan) blog, which I opened together with the Facebook page 4 years ago, during my first study trip to Tokyo, followed by Instagram and Youtube about a year ago, which I update daily.
Since then I continue to share my travels and my daily life in Japan through articles, photos, videos, with all the love that I have.
I have a particular passion for the Shitamachi of the capital, the ancient places of Tokyo mixed with the modern urban fabric, but which retain a unique atmosphere, often accompanied by incredible small cafes.
I love the explosion of colors of the Japanese blooms, and the cute themed restaurants that invariably snatch you a smile and, when I have the chance, I love to wear the kimono.
Exploring and sharing this wonderful country always fills me with an immense joy.

JIB: How and from what your passion of Japan was born?
S: The passion for Japan arises as a result of the curiosity about the culture of this country. I have always found fascinating its history, folklore, literature and even the language. I could spend hours listening to the smooth sound of Japanese, relaxing as gurgling water.
One of the first legends to have enchanted me, I still remember that now, was that of the Tanabata.
As a child I dreamed of being able to participate in the festivities one day, to wear the yukata and see the sea of shimmering decorations above my head, typical of this occasion.

JIB: And in the end you made it! You have been living in Japan for a few years now, tell us something about your experience and how you got to today.
S: Living here in Tokyo is an incredible experience, sometimes difficult, but that in any case I would not change with anything else in the world. It can be a challenge, a trial, a surprise.
Living so far away from home there are many first times, you learn so many things about yourself and others, and what perhaps in Italy I had never done alone I found myself having to face it.
The part that I love most is undoubtedly the exploration, having the opportunity to know Tokyo deeply and calmly, to reveal the layers of the city first hand, all his anaba // the small locations, the secret corners, the places of heart. I love this city with all of myself.
I came to Japan for the first time 4 years ago, during my second year of university, thinking that a study period could help me with the language and the following exams. So I enrolled in a 3 month course at a language school in Nippori (one of the areas of Shitamachi I mentioned above) and have literally been struck by the capital.
With a heart full of feelings, I returned to Italy knowing that once I graduated I would have absolutely wanted to come back.
After graduation I left again as a student, with the intention of improving my Japanese as much as possible and try to get a job visa.
I got my 3-year work visa about 3 months ago and now I work in a Japanese company, I especially take care of helping other Westerners find jobs in Japan.

 

JIB: Which Japanese city has captured your heart?
S: Maybe you can already understand that from other answers, but I love Tokyo with all my heart. I think it’s a unique city. A “patchwork” city, made of rainbow remnants of every kind and shape. An extraordinary interlocking of modern and ancient. It doesn’t have the typical beauty of traditional Kyoto, it has more the charm of the places that you live at the fullest. those places that are able to tell you a story at every corner, to amaze you again and again without ever failing. This city is a whole universe, you never stop understanding it, learning it.
If we talk about extraordinary places for beauty and memories, then I must mention Takaragawa Onsen, one of the most magical places I’ve ever been in Japan. I have wonderful memories of this ryokan with onsen, which seems to come from another era, lying in the middle of the forests of Gunma, very far from the city, next on the course of the river Takara. I also talked about it on the blog. It’s just pure marvel.

JIB: Your story is really exciting and we are sure that you can have unique experiences every day and create many memories that will always be in your heart. Would you like to share with us one of the most amusing or significant moments that have happened to you since you live in Japan?
S: One of my favorite experiences was to bring the mikoshi during the matsuri o my neighborhood. The feeling of community cohesion and the meaning of festivals is something fantastic.
It was incredible to be able to see a matsuri in its life, from the gathering of the participants, to the toast and prayers and have the opportunity to bring the divinity, inside the mikoshi, so that it could be thanked by everyone and therefore guarantee luck and prosperity to the district and its inhabitants.

 

JIB: It must have been a really intense experience. Also, from what was our blog born, prossimafermatagiappone.com, and how did you develop the concept until you got to what it is today?
S: The blog was born from the desire to put into words the boundless love I feel for Japan.
I have always loved to write since I was a child, and I thought that telling stories about this country could connect and help many other lovers of Japan.
It’s a travel blog, but it’s often the feelings for places that dominate, a genuine and total enthusiasm for what I see or what I do.
The sincere affection for certain districts, the fascination that the ancient and the traditions exert over me, the places that sing to my heart. One thing, which I think and hope can be understood by reading the blog, is that I don’t write just for the journeys themselves, but for the emotions and the paths that I share.
I actually think that often, even a day-to-day and less visited or less famous place can reserve great discoveries and a lot of wonder.
The blog was born like this, from the sincerity of my feelings for Japan, for 4 years, almost every day I published stories, photos, itineraries, tips for those who are preparing to leave for a trip, to study or to live in Japan .

 

JIB: This feeling that moved you to create your blog is really beautiful, and that’s another thing we have in common. So many people like us dream of living in Japan and walking the same path you followed. However, as we all know, all that glitters is not always gold, and even Japan, like any other country, has its ups and downs. What are the difficulties you encountered in the early days in the Land of the Rising Sun?
S: I have to say that I have never encountered enormous difficulties since I moved. Or rather, nothing that I could never overcome with a little commitment or anything that I consider particularly negative.
It’s funny and of uncertain result the first times you find yourself having to do things that in Italy would have been considered normal and easy, but which instead represent the unknown here. For example going for the first time to the doctor, making a phone contract and later embarking alone in the contract for the house and having to call the services to connect the utilities.
The most difficult moment was the search for a job, those were really tough and challenging months, made even by many “no thanks” and many “Will I be able to do this? I won’t give up! “. The job market for a foreigner is not always easy.
Last but so obvious was the distance from home, I would certainly love to have the opportunity to see more often my family.

JIB: What are your plans for the future?
S: Even if time is scarce at the moment, I would like to work more with the blog. Collaborate more with local companies, propose more activities to do on holiday.
It would be nice to be able to show Japan more and more and I hope to have the opportunity to do this.
Another dream would be to write a guide, particularly on Shitamachi, the ancient preserved areas of Tokyo, survivors of fires, earthquakes and bombings, these areas still not very famous are of a unique richness. They are my favorite part of the city and I would like to talk more in depth if I ever have the chance.
Work wise, in future I would like to do more tourism experiences in Japan, I would really like to work in this direction.

 

photo credits: @georgeyajima

JIB: It’s really very interesting what you’re sharing with us, and we too from Italy are convinced that we need more information about these particular areas of Japan, which are very often put aside by the masses . What do you think are the strongest connections you can find between Italy and Japan?
S: I think we are dealing with two deeply different countries, but surely both of them carry a thousand-year-old history, culture and traditions that are very great and fascinating. In both countries there is a great love for food, a great love for their artistic and historical background.

JIB: Do you think there is a future for an even closer collaboration between the two nations?
S: I hope so, especially from a tourism point of view, I think there is an increasing interest in Japan.
Italian tourists have been increasing for a couple of years and I hope that this mutual interest, this curiosity of travel, will open the door to new possibilities.
It would also be nice to have the working holiday for Italians in the future.

JIB: Do you ever miss Italy? Do you plan to come back here permanently?
S: As I said before, I miss Italy, my family, Italian friendships. If I didn’t have good Italian friends here it would be doubly difficult.
The other serious missing is the cured meats and cheeses (more than pasta and pizza that are very well done here), there is a very scarce and expensive selection for the most part. The sadness of not being able to make a mega salami sandwich!
Perhaps sooner or later I will return to Italy or Europe anyway, but for now it is difficult to say what the future holds for me. For the moment I would like to stay in Japan.

JIB: And we too hope you can stay in Japan! Thank you so much for your time and for the beautiful words and moments you shared with us. One last thing, send some greetings and advice to all our readers.
S: I thank you first for the interview, you were very nice to host me and it was amazing to have the chance to talk with you.
I would be really happy if more people could read the blog and find ideas, whether they are traveling or living in Japan, I am always available to help anyone who is looking for answers on the subject.
To those who would like to study or live in Japan I say not to abandon your dream, it can be a difficult country in some aspects, but if you love it and want to try, why not?
The only suggestion is to come here ready, Japan gives a lot but also asks a lot. And if the life of a student can be quite calm, that of a full-time worker has often a very hectic pace.
A work visa also requires a degree in 99% of cases, without that immigration is unlikely to issue a visa. Many office or tourism related jobs also often require a spoken ability that is business / N2. Come to Japan with these things in mind and persevere until you have achieved what makes you happy!
A hug to all readers!

 

Follow Stefania

Blog: prossimafermatagiappone.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Prossimafermatagiappone/
Instagram: @prossimafermatagiappone

[:ja]

“An Italian in Japan” the series – Stefania Sabia

The brotherhood between Italy and Japan in recent years has become increasingly close and supportive. It is not rare to find our compatriots wishing to move to the land of the Rising Sun, but few succeed in realizing this dream. Today we want to share with you the experience of Stefania Sabia, a very Italian girl who has been living and working in Japan for about two years!

JIB: Hi Stefania, first of all thank you for agreeing to have this interview with us.
S: Thank you for contacting me and thinking about my blog!

JIB: Tell us a little about yourself and what you do in life.
S: My name is Stefania, I graduated in Japanese language and literature and I have been living and working in Tokyo for about 2 years.
I’m the creator of the Prossima fermata Giappone (Next Stop Japan) blog, which I opened together with the Facebook page 4 years ago, during my first study trip to Tokyo, followed by Instagram and Youtube about a year ago, which I update daily.
Since then I continue to share my travels and my daily life in Japan through articles, photos, videos, with all the love that I have.
I have a particular passion for the Shitamachi of the capital, the ancient places of Tokyo mixed with the modern urban fabric, but which retain a unique atmosphere, often accompanied by incredible small cafes.
I love the explosion of colors of the Japanese blooms, and the cute themed restaurants that invariably snatch you a smile and, when I have the chance, I love to wear the kimono.
Exploring and sharing this wonderful country always fills me with an immense joy.

JIB: How and from what your passion of Japan was born?
S: The passion for Japan arises as a result of the curiosity about the culture of this country. I have always found fascinating its history, folklore, literature and even the language. I could spend hours listening to the smooth sound of Japanese, relaxing as gurgling water.
One of the first legends to have enchanted me, I still remember that now, was that of the Tanabata.
As a child I dreamed of being able to participate in the festivities one day, to wear the yukata and see the sea of shimmering decorations above my head, typical of this occasion.

JIB: And in the end you made it! You have been living in Japan for a few years now, tell us something about your experience and how you got to today.
S: Living here in Tokyo is an incredible experience, sometimes difficult, but that in any case I would not change with anything else in the world. It can be a challenge, a trial, a surprise.
Living so far away from home there are many first times, you learn so many things about yourself and others, and what perhaps in Italy I had never done alone I found myself having to face it.
The part that I love most is undoubtedly the exploration, having the opportunity to know Tokyo deeply and calmly, to reveal the layers of the city first hand, all his anaba // the small locations, the secret corners, the places of heart. I love this city with all of myself.
I came to Japan for the first time 4 years ago, during my second year of university, thinking that a study period could help me with the language and the following exams. So I enrolled in a 3 month course at a language school in Nippori (one of the areas of Shitamachi I mentioned above) and have literally been struck by the capital.
With a heart full of feelings, I returned to Italy knowing that once I graduated I would have absolutely wanted to come back.
After graduation I left again as a student, with the intention of improving my Japanese as much as possible and try to get a job visa.
I got my 3-year work visa about 3 months ago and now I work in a Japanese company, I especially take care of helping other Westerners find jobs in Japan.

 

JIB: Which Japanese city has captured your heart?
S: Maybe you can already understand that from other answers, but I love Tokyo with all my heart. I think it’s a unique city. A “patchwork” city, made of rainbow remnants of every kind and shape. An extraordinary interlocking of modern and ancient. It doesn’t have the typical beauty of traditional Kyoto, it has more the charm of the places that you live at the fullest. those places that are able to tell you a story at every corner, to amaze you again and again without ever failing. This city is a whole universe, you never stop understanding it, learning it.
If we talk about extraordinary places for beauty and memories, then I must mention Takaragawa Onsen, one of the most magical places I’ve ever been in Japan. I have wonderful memories of this ryokan with onsen, which seems to come from another era, lying in the middle of the forests of Gunma, very far from the city, next on the course of the river Takara. I also talked about it on the blog. It’s just pure marvel.

JIB: Your story is really exciting and we are sure that you can have unique experiences every day and create many memories that will always be in your heart. Would you like to share with us one of the most amusing or significant moments that have happened to you since you live in Japan?
S: One of my favorite experiences was to bring the mikoshi during the matsuri o my neighborhood. The feeling of community cohesion and the meaning of festivals is something fantastic.
It was incredible to be able to see a matsuri in its life, from the gathering of the participants, to the toast and prayers and have the opportunity to bring the divinity, inside the mikoshi, so that it could be thanked by everyone and therefore guarantee luck and prosperity to the district and its inhabitants.

 

JIB: It must have been a really intense experience. Also, from what was our blog born, prossimafermatagiappone.com, and how did you develop the concept until you got to what it is today?
S: The blog was born from the desire to put into words the boundless love I feel for Japan.
I have always loved to write since I was a child, and I thought that telling stories about this country could connect and help many other lovers of Japan.
It’s a travel blog, but it’s often the feelings for places that dominate, a genuine and total enthusiasm for what I see or what I do.
The sincere affection for certain districts, the fascination that the ancient and the traditions exert over me, the places that sing to my heart. One thing, which I think and hope can be understood by reading the blog, is that I don’t write just for the journeys themselves, but for the emotions and the paths that I share.
I actually think that often, even a day-to-day and less visited or less famous place can reserve great discoveries and a lot of wonder.
The blog was born like this, from the sincerity of my feelings for Japan, for 4 years, almost every day I published stories, photos, itineraries, tips for those who are preparing to leave for a trip, to study or to live in Japan .

 

JIB: This feeling that moved you to create your blog is really beautiful, and that’s another thing we have in common. So many people like us dream of living in Japan and walking the same path you followed. However, as we all know, all that glitters is not always gold, and even Japan, like any other country, has its ups and downs. What are the difficulties you encountered in the early days in the Land of the Rising Sun?
S: I have to say that I have never encountered enormous difficulties since I moved. Or rather, nothing that I could never overcome with a little commitment or anything that I consider particularly negative.
It’s funny and of uncertain result the first times you find yourself having to do things that in Italy would have been considered normal and easy, but which instead represent the unknown here. For example going for the first time to the doctor, making a phone contract and later embarking alone in the contract for the house and having to call the services to connect the utilities.
The most difficult moment was the search for a job, those were really tough and challenging months, made even by many “no thanks” and many “Will I be able to do this? I won’t give up! “. The job market for a foreigner is not always easy.
Last but so obvious was the distance from home, I would certainly love to have the opportunity to see more often my family.

JIB: What are your plans for the future?
S: Even if time is scarce at the moment, I would like to work more with the blog. Collaborate more with local companies, propose more activities to do on holiday.
It would be nice to be able to show Japan more and more and I hope to have the opportunity to do this.
Another dream would be to write a guide, particularly on Shitamachi, the ancient preserved areas of Tokyo, survivors of fires, earthquakes and bombings, these areas still not very famous are of a unique richness. They are my favorite part of the city and I would like to talk more in depth if I ever have the chance.
Work wise, in future I would like to do more tourism experiences in Japan, I would really like to work in this direction.

 

photo credits: @georgeyajima

JIB: It’s really very interesting what you’re sharing with us, and we too from Italy are convinced that we need more information about these particular areas of Japan, which are very often put aside by the masses . What do you think are the strongest connections you can find between Italy and Japan?
S: I think we are dealing with two deeply different countries, but surely both of them carry a thousand-year-old history, culture and traditions that are very great and fascinating. In both countries there is a great love for food, a great love for their artistic and historical background.

JIB: Do you think there is a future for an even closer collaboration between the two nations?
S: I hope so, especially from a tourism point of view, I think there is an increasing interest in Japan.
Italian tourists have been increasing for a couple of years and I hope that this mutual interest, this curiosity of travel, will open the door to new possibilities.
It would also be nice to have the working holiday for Italians in the future.

JIB: Do you ever miss Italy? Do you plan to come back here permanently?
S: As I said before, I miss Italy, my family, Italian friendships. If I didn’t have good Italian friends here it would be doubly difficult.
The other serious missing is the cured meats and cheeses (more than pasta and pizza that are very well done here), there is a very scarce and expensive selection for the most part. The sadness of not being able to make a mega salami sandwich!
Perhaps sooner or later I will return to Italy or Europe anyway, but for now it is difficult to say what the future holds for me. For the moment I would like to stay in Japan.

JIB: And we too hope you can stay in Japan! Thank you so much for your time and for the beautiful words and moments you shared with us. One last thing, send some greetings and advice to all our readers.
S: I thank you first for the interview, you were very nice to host me and it was amazing to have the chance to talk with you.
I would be really happy if more people could read the blog and find ideas, whether they are traveling or living in Japan, I am always available to help anyone who is looking for answers on the subject.
To those who would like to study or live in Japan I say not to abandon your dream, it can be a difficult country in some aspects, but if you love it and want to try, why not?
The only suggestion is to come here ready, Japan gives a lot but also asks a lot. And if the life of a student can be quite calm, that of a full-time worker has often a very hectic pace.
A work visa also requires a degree in 99% of cases, without that immigration is unlikely to issue a visa. Many office or tourism related jobs also often require a spoken ability that is business / N2. Come to Japan with these things in mind and persevere until you have achieved what makes you happy!
A hug to all readers!

 

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