Change Of Pace

Tell us more about where you’re from and what you do for work!
I’m from Tokyo, Japan, and I’m a hairdresser. I’ve been a hairdresser for 16 years already! I started when I was in my 20s.

What made you want to be a hairdresser?
My mum used to be a hairdresser, so it was easy to imagine myself as one too when I was younger. She used to cut my hair when I was younger, but now she’s retired.

When did you move to Singapore, and why did you choose to relocate here?
I’ve been in Singapore for five years already. I wanted to study English, but all my clients in Japan were Japanese, so I chose to move to Singapore because it’s quite international here. I also wanted to experience working with different hair textures.

I love it here and I’m trying to become a permanent resident here, but I go back to Japan every three months because my whole family is there.

Apart from family, what do you miss most about Japan?
The food and the clothes!

We can imagine! What’s the best Japanese restaurant you’ve found in Singapore?
It’s nothing special—it’s an izakaya called Niningashi in Tanjong Pagar. It’s a good sashimi izakaya.

Is that where you like to hang out on your days off?
Yes! My days off are on Mondays, so I like to drink on Mondays (laughs). But I’m quite a lazy person, so I like to drink at home too. I keep my gin in the freezer and drink it like that—I know, it’s wild (laughs).

One more question: what’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself since moving to Singapore?
I feel like I’ve become more kind to other people. Singaporeans are quite kind to strangers, so I’ve also learned to be more friendly and kind to other people.