JAPANESE ABROAD

  • A woman with long dark hair and bangs, wearing a black leather jacket and a floral shirt, standing in front of a corrugated metal wall.

    Ono Koharu

  • Young woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiling, standing against a brick wall.

    Hara Misa

  • A young woman with long dark hair standing in a graffiti-covered alleyway, wearing a white shirt, mustard yellow fringed vest, and plaid pants.

    Rina

  • A young woman with long dark hair standing outside at a restaurant or café during the evening, wearing a black shirt and a brown jacket, with cars and a person sitting at a table in the background.

    Yuriko

  • Two women arranging flowers in bowls on a white table, with scissors and papers nearby, in a kitchen setting.

    Hanako-san

  • A young man with short dark hair stands facing the camera in a darkened room illuminated by red lighting. In the background, another person dressed in dark clothing walks along the right side of the room.

    Satoshi

  • A woman with freckles wearing a red and white striped shirt and a backpack standing near a river with a stone bridge in the background. Overcast sky.

    Yuko

  • A smiling young woman holding a bouquet of flowers stands next to a smiling young man with a backpack; they are on a sidewalk with trees and bicycles in the background during late afternoon.

    Shono

Portrait of a woman with long dark hair, wearing a beige sweater, sitting against a dark background.

Ono Koharu

Koharu is an Architect from Sapporo, Hokkaido

Koharu now is in London for an amazing

Ono koharu is an architect from Sapporo, Hokkaido.

She spent last 7 years in Tokyo, studying architecture and than working in a big company for 3 years.

During the pandemic she moved to London because curious to do a life experience abroad in an international environment.

As an Italian, the first thing that I noticed as a difference in the UK was the driving in a opposite way. It was very shocking for me that time. What’s the first thing that you noticed in the UK ?

People with a different face. In Japan 99% of the population is asian. And second, the building are made by bricks and so different from Japan: every scenery is completely different.

Do you remember what was your first feeling during your first days in London ?

Yes, I was feeling alone, nobody knew me and I didn’t know anybody.

Where did you meet the first friends and how was the first impression with international friend ?

The first thing that impressed me was the different way they laugh, they speak and they act. For example, as I am a quiet person, I don’t Like party and dancing but usually here people just join dances without any problem. Then people in London use to talk a lot, more than any japanese in Japan. In a way I think that in Japan we are more respectful of the others.

I remember one shocking episode: one of my language school class mates started eating lunch during the lesson, unbelievable !

Last thing that I observed and for me was completely unusual is the way they wear shoes everywhere: so dirty…

What were the good vibes that your friends in London gave you ?

People are less shy and not so close. I alwasy feel a warmer vibe.

In your opinion, how Japanese people in London are differente compared to Japanese people in Japan ?

Japanese in London are so different compared to Japanese in Japan. In a way they are more open mind and more opens to new things, not so convervative.

What is the differences that you observed about working in London compared to Japan ?

The working time is different and also people don’t live just for working.

What is your opinion about immigration ? Has this opinion changed after coming here ?

Immigration must be managed. If i have to choose I prefer to put some restriction and regulation, otherwise the immigration would be wild.

If possible, would you like to delete borders or do you prefer to keep immigration restrictions?

I think that it would never happen and so, to be realistic, I prefer to keep borders.

At the end of the interview I would like that you express a desire for your life in the next years. Can be a secret: this interview’s purpose is to keep people’s dreams alive.