What were you doing when you lived in Japan?
I was working as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) on the JET Programme. My placement was Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and it’s a beautiful part of Japan. There were places to go hiking, ocean views and seemingly endless varieties of citrus fruits! It’s like I would discover a new one every other week. I found Minamata to be really innovative with all of its environmental sustainability initiatives, and locals were used to a long line of JET participants living there over the years, so I immediately felt that I had slotted into an established and valued position in the community.
I thought that trying taiko drumming in Japan would be yet another little musical diversion. Years later, I’m still thinking and dreaming about the taiko learning journey that hopefully stretches far into the future. I think living in Japan is like that. I went on JET with ideas of what I wanted to do, but I discovered a lot of other things besides. You never know which ones will stay with you.
What interests you about Japan?
There’s something about the Japanese language that I’ve always loved. There are always challenges to overcome, but it’s so rewarding to be able to do things like work, talk with friends and family or have a music lesson in your second language, I can’t explain how much it has enriched my life.
Can you tell us about a place you like in Japan?
Anywhere there’s a festival! Australia is a multicultural country and its events reflect that, but I also love that festivals in Japan are so quintessentially Japanese and celebrate the traditions and history of their region with pride. I have an attachment to Minamata, but I also loved visiting Hamamatsu (Shizuoka Prefecture). They have a musical instrument museum that I spent most of the day looking through. And any city with a view of Mt Fuji is okay with me!
How do you imagine your future in relation to Japan?
Now I’m proud to be working as the JET Programme Coordinator at the Consulate-General of Japan in Brisbane, and it’s great to give back to the Programme by sharing my experience and supporting the next generation of JETs. Aside from that, naturally I’ve gravitated towards helping to organise the stage performances at Matsuri Brisbane, and it’s wonderful to see how both the Japanese and wider Brisbane community embrace this event. I think it’s so important for people of all backgrounds to have that forum to celebrate their culture wherever they are, and festivals provide that.
I also play with local group Brisbane Taiko, and I think it’s a great way to get people interested in Japanese culture that doesn’t require words — just the universal language of music. All these things are keeping me busy, and they all involve Japan in some way. I’ve basically spent all my adult life devoted to learning about Japan, it’s language and culture, and volunteering in the community to keep building those ties with Japan. I don’t expect that fascination to ever go away.
Can you tell us something memorable about your time in Japan?
Without waxing too lyrical about the beauty of the four seasons in Japan, it is hard to forget those days when snowflakes or sakura petals are swirling in the air. Or drumming at local festivals. Visiting schools and the kids smiling and laughing at (some of) my ridiculous jokes. Going to Tsuetate Onsen and seeing thousands of koinobori carp streamers fluttering in the breeze. But I think I’ll most remember working with colleagues who were quietly making diligent efforts every day to improve the lives of people in their community. It sets a wonderful example to aspire to.
Greg is the Cultural Affairs and Public Relations Officer / JET Programme Coordinator at the Consulate-General of Japan in Brisbane.
If you’d like to know more about the JET Programme, visit the website here.