Hello Michela, and welcome to our new “Expat in Japan Interview” series! Can you please introduce yourself?
I’m Michela from Italy, and I’m 29. I live in Tokyo, in Suginami-ku, a nice area between Shinjuku and residential areas.
How long have you been living in Japan? When did you arrive?
I moved in Japan to June of 2017, so now is something more than one year.
Nice! Time flies here right… Why did you come to live in Japan?
After four trips to Japan, I’ve finally had the chance to move here. I love Japanese history, traditions, and culture, and the Japanese lifestyle and people make me feel more comfortable than the ones in my country (Italy).
I can understand that! What surprised you the most when you came to Japan for the first time? And why?
Actually, I’ve studied a lot about Japan and Japanese before I came the first time, so I was pretty ready for the cultural shock, food, opposite habits, and so on. I had very high expectations, so I was a bit worried about having a delusion, like sometimes happens in those cases. But Japan was able to exceed my very high expectations. This is the thing that surprised me most! It is an incredible country, and once you enter more deeply into it, it is a continuously amazing discovery!
Do you speak Japanese or English during your daily life in Japan? (Maybe you’ve learned a bit of Japanese before coming?)
I moved here with my Italian boyfriend, so I mainly speak Italian at home. I use English, for work and I’m studying Japanese at a language school. I also try to use Japanese in my daily life, but this is the language I speak less during the day!
Ah, I see. Good luck with Japanese studies! What do you prefer about living in Japan?
I come from a small town in the north of Italy, surrounded by vineyards…so I’m super excited to live in a megalopolis like Tokyo, where I have a lot of opportunities and from where I can easily travel for day trips, weekends, and long holidays.
What about the food? Do you like it? What are your favorite Japanese dishes? What do you think about food tours in Japan?
I love Japanese cuisine, and in my opinion, it is the only one that can compete with Italian cuisine. My favourite dish is absolutely sushi, especially fatty tuna nigiri, but I love also the taste of miso and the incredibly high number of ways Japanese people can cook chicken. I’m not a vegetable person, but here in Japan, I also love vegetarian dishes and their way of cooking and mixing vegetables.
Japan has an incredible number of dishes and so many ways to cook the same ingredients. With a food tour, you can discover new dishes and taste and enjoy typical Japanese ingredients that you can probably hardly find or try by yourself.
One place you would recommend to people coming to Japan for vacation and why?
Well, out of the golden route, I absolutely recommend Kyushu, especially for those who love nature and the countryside. And in this area, there are also a lot of famous dishes!
For you, what is the best season to come to Japan and why?
Autumn, late November, when yellow, red, and orange explode! Generally, the weather is nice, sunny, and clear, and the days are warm. Definitely my favourite season!
Do you have a funny anecdote – lost in translation/culture shock story to share?
The morning I tried nattō.
I eat almost everything, so even though nattō does not look really delicious, 95% of my Japanese friends love it. Everyone thinks that the main problem is the smell…well, you’re talking with a gorgonzola cheese lover, with no worry about smell!! Well, one day, I was in a ryokan with some Japanese people for a job, and I decided to try nattō…..there is a video with my disgusted face while I’m trying to mix it and eat that strange consistency….definitely, the smell is ok, but the taste….how can Japanese people eat it?!!!! Of course, that video is now locked somewhere.
Ah, I personally love nattō, but it’s true that a lot of foreigners don’t like it! The first experience is always surprising, but you should try it again! Finally, do you have a personal message to add?
Japan is an amazing country also for its peculiar and sometimes crazy culture and rules. Visiting Japan is a trip among contrasts, opposite cultures, and a lot of ancient habits. Don’t judge Japan or ask “why,” just take it as it comes!
Thanks, Michela, for your time and for sharing your experiences!
If you’d like to follow her daily life in Japan, please be sure to follow her on:
Twitter: @Warmcheaptrips
Facebook: @Warm Cheap Trips – Travel Blog
Instagram: @warmcheaptrips
Blog: warmcheaptrips.com
Featured Photo Credit: Fuji Sibazakura by warmcheaptrips
Want to have a unique experience with locals? Why not join one of our 3-hour food tours in Japan?
