Julian was drawn to Japan from his first visit but he wasn't planning to move there until he met his Japanese wife here in the UK. He's been living in Tokyo for nearly four years now and became a full-time feelancer in the process. We talked about why learning Japanese dad jokes will be useful on your next trip to Japan, his favourite places to visit in spring, and a park in Tokyo all couples should stay away from.
Hi Julian, thanks for talking to us today. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, thanks for having me! I’m originally from Birmingham (UK) but I’ve now been living in Tokyo for almost 4 years. I started out in 2018 teaching guitar at a music school and now I’m working full-time as a freelance videographer/photographer/editor.
What drew you to living in Japan? How did you find it after living in the UK?
After my first visit to Japan in 2016 I was immediately drawn to the idea of living here, but it wasn’t until I’d returned home and completely by coincidence met my wife (who’s from Fukuoka) that I seriously considered it.
In a lot of ways I think British and Japanese culture are quite similar so I found assimilating quite easy. We both tend to apologise too much, have a hereditary addiction to tea and one of our shared national pastimes is the art of queuing.
How did your YouTube channel ‘Kantan Japan’ come about?
I first got into Youtube through my interest in the Japanese language. I was using a lot of material online to study and I thought making videos of things I’d learnt might be a good way to give back to the community.
About 2 years ago though I co-created a new channel called ‘Japan Go!’ that features a variety of Japan related content but on a grander scale. We’ve produced a lot of documentary videos about interesting Japanese people and these have probably been my favourite to make.
Do you have any advice for people who are studying Japanese before their first trip to Japan?
If you’re studying for a short trip vs living here, then I’d recommend just focusing on the basics you’d need on a daily basis. You won’t be reading through rental agreements or work emails, so just focus on daily conversation and casual phrases. All the textbooks I’ve seen go straight into the proper ‘keigo’ form of Japanese but when you start meeting people and have real conversations with the locals, I find that it can almost be like they’re talking another language when you’re still at a basic level.
Also, memorising a couple of simple Dad jokes (親父ギャグ) is a great way to break the ice and get people laughing.
What is your favourite place to visit in spring in Japan?
I’m very lucky to live in the neighbourhood of one of Tokyo’s biggest parks, Inokashira Park. It’s most famous feature is no doubt the Ghibli Museum, but it’s also a great place to relax or go for a stroll and take some photos. In Spring though it’s one of Tokyo’s best Cherry Blossom viewing spots. Sakura trees encircle the park’s large pond and you can rent a swan boat to ride out on to the water and enjoy the view from a different angle.
February is the month filled with Valentine's Day celebration in the UK. What would you recommend for a romantic outing in Japan?
It’s ironic actually, that the lake and swan boats I mentioned previously are known by the locals as a ‘break-up spot’! It’s an urban legend that couples who ride the swan boats together will break-up soon after, so maybe best to avoid that haha.
For a good suggestion though, perhaps one of the many winter illumination spots that are usually open until the end of February. I’d also recommend the Sky Lounge on the 4th floor of Yebisu Garden Place Tower in Ebisu. There’s a bunch of great restaurants up there and the view of Tokyo at night is Amazing.
Thank you!
You can find Julian on his Instagram, Twitter, website, and his two YouTube channels, Japan Go! and Kantan Japan.
